The Kitchen Counter Newsletter - 01.09.2025

LG's New Smart Microwave Has a Screen Bigger Than Your TV

Author

Zihan Lyu
January 09, 2025 • Estimated Reading Time: 7 minutes

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Welcome to The Kitchen Counter, your essential newsletter for commanding the digital marketplace ecosystem as a kitchenware brand. It’s 2025, and we’re kicking things off with fresh ideas to supercharge your campaigns and keep your customers hooked.

Top Reads 🌟

🚀 AppLovin’s Breakout Year
Early data from Fospha shows AppLovin is a top 3 channel for acquiring new customers and the 2nd largest source of paid traffic for some brands.

🛍️ Social Commerce Boom (Hello, TikTok Shop!)
Social commerce is set to hit $80B in the US, with TikTok Shop leading the way with its seamless shopping experience.

📱 Third-Party Sales Channels on the Rise
As disposable incomes are squeezed, shoppers are turning more to Amazon, but also its budget competitors like Temu and Shein. In 2024, Temu quietly became the most downloaded app on the US App Store.

The challenge? Brands still struggle to understand how their advertising on platforms like Meta and TikTok drives demand on third-party sales channels.
(Stay tuned—Fospha is working on a solution for 2025! 👀)

ClickZ is Live at CES—Let’s Spotlight Your Vision🌟

CES 2025 is here, and ClickZ is in action!

As part of our coverage, we’re hosting exclusive interviews with visionary thinkers to spotlight groundbreaking ideas, unveil new innovations, and engage a global audience of decision-makers. To share a few…

🎥 Live from CES 2025: Meet Karthik Ganesh, CEO of OnMed!

With OnMed, accessing healthcare becomes easier for communities with limited options. Their innovative “clinic-in-a-box” solution is already active in six states and is expanding to over 25 states in 2025.

🎧 Learn more about their mission and what’s next for OnMed

Hear what Jiayin had to say about Sooca’s marketing strategy

Soocas is revolutionizing oral care with their multi-functional toothbrush, combining brushing and flossing in one device—a unique concept designed to solve a common issue: People skip flossing because it’s inconvenient.

Soocas is using influencer marketing and Instagram to connect with their audience and build brand loyalty.

Meet Prima Shi, Marketing Director at Birdfy!

The cutest thing we found so far! Birdfy has taken home a CES Innovation Award for their Birdfy Feeder 2, an AI-powered smart bird feeder that tracks, identifies, and captures birds in stunning detail. 🏆

This is your chance to share your vision and connect with a worldwide audience! 👇

Sector Spotlight 🎥

Tineco, a leader in smart home technology, showcases its latest innovations at CES 2025, highlighting advanced products like the FLOOR ONE S9 and PURE ONE STATION 5. These offerings underline Tineco's commitment to enhancing household efficiency and maintaining its pioneering role in smart cleaning technology.

Smart induction cooktops offer sleek design, Wi-Fi connectivity, and energy efficiency, appealing to tech-savvy chefs. However, high costs, specific cookware needs, reliance on electricity, and potential operational challenges pose significant barriers. Balancing these pros and cons is essential for those considering these innovative kitchen appliances for enhanced culinary experiences.

LG's new Signature microwave features a 27-inch display, reflecting the trend of integrating screens into home appliances. This aligns with LG's shift towards a platform-based service model. The product promises remote cooking monitoring and entertainment, highlighting a broader strategy of replacing traditional controls with digital interfaces.

Influencer Corner 📣

Influencer Marketing in 2025: Where Should Brands Invest?

With over 50% of brands set to increase creator budgets in 2025, the question isn’t if influencer marketing will grow—it’s how brands should allocate these dollars.

Experts emphasize the shift toward scale and centrality in the marketing mix. Brands need to align spending with their goals—whether driving sales or boosting awareness.

Sarah Levinger on LinkedIn: 3 Rules for DTC Success

Timing is everything—especially for DTC brands. Sarah Levinger highlights how delivering incentives at the right moment can make all the difference. 💡

In her recent post, Sarah breaks down the 3️⃣ golden rules of timing that every brand should know.

A small spoiler: Action + reward = happy brain 🧠, reward key behaviors, and… well, you’ll have to read the full post for the rest.

Performance Pulse 📈

As e-commerce evolves, growth in 2025 hinges on mastering the basics: clarity, optimization, and personalization. SMART goal-setting ensures campaigns stay focused, while refined website usability and core platform expertise enhance customer experiences. By leveraging deep audience insights and streamlining ad strategies, marketers can prioritize long-term, sustainable growth over fleeting trends, positioning their brands for measurable success.

Retail experts predict the convergence of physical stores and digital innovation, like live shopping, will transform retail by 2025. Physical stores will evolve into interactive experience hubs, integrating omnichannel strategies.

Key tactics include:
- blending digital with in-store journeys
- utilizing AI
- enhancing customer engagement through personalized experiences

Influencer Marketing

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Global Marketing

📍 Los Angeles, CA

Marketing & Comms

 📍 Austin, TX, USA

ClickZ is a Contentive publication in the DTC Ecommerce division