Celebrating one year of Very Media Group with Tom Goulden

Just over 12 months ago we relaunched our retail media proposition in the form of Very Media Group, and what a year it has been!

Retail media is a vital part of the marketing funnel, and over the past year, we’ve achieved some incredible milestones. We started off strong – from the moment we launched, we were already planning for an unforgettable Black Friday and Christmas. Although it’s not all about golden quarter, here are just a few of my personal highlights: 

Our first-ever retail media conference

In April, we hosted Unboxed – Very Media Group’s first-ever conference in Liverpool. The event brought together colleagues from across the business and key strategic brand partners to explore the exciting world of retail media. From thought-provoking discussions to big reveals, the energy in the room was electric.

One of the big reveals of the day was the unveiling of our in-house creative agency, HelloStudio. Just like Very Media Group, we’ve got strong foundations in the creative space, having had our own studio for many years, but we’re now offering this service to brands outside of Very.

Activations with our brand partners

Over the last 12 months, we’ve teamed up with our brand partners to create unforgettable experiences to bring their products to life for Very’s customers. While there have been so many standout moments, here are few that really shine:

• Isle of Flamingo - a sun-soaked trip to Marbella for Very’s flock of influencers, designed to deliver content which aligned with Very’s Haus of Flamingo campaign. The result? Nearly 150 organic social posts reaching a combined audience of over 8.3 million – a true wave of creativity and connection.
• Very VIP screening – as part of our latest LEGO campaign, we invited customers to a very special screening of The LEGO Movie. This event seamlessly linked physical brand moments with digital activations, sitting at the heart of a fully integrated campaign celebrating the joy of LEGO play
• Live Very Well - back in January, we launched a campaign encouraging customers to embrace a gentler, more sustainable approach to wellness. Partnering with 10 of our brands, we hosted an event focused on rejuvenating, moving and eating well.

Spotlighting our experts

While we’re sometimes seen as a new retail media network, the truth is we’ve been shaping this space for over a decade.

Very Media Group combines The Very Group’s in-house creative expertise with a unique blend of personal, shopping, and financial data. Together, these elements create a dynamic test-and-learn environment, empowering brands to optimise their marketing strategies and achieve success. However, this simply wouldn’t be possible without the dedication and expertise of our team. Their hard work and creativity are at the heart of delivering successful campaigns for our brand partners.

Over the past 12 months, our talented team of experts have taken to stages across the country, sharing their insights at some of the industry’s biggest events. They’ve brought our retail media proposition to life, showcasing standout campaigns and connecting with industry leaders to inspire and innovate. 

To top it off, Very Media Group was shortlisted in the ‘Best B2C Campaign’ category at this year’s Prolific North Marketing Awards for the Live Very Well campaign. 

It’s been an incredible year, and there are many more things to come for Very Media Group and its partners. Watch this space!

Tom Goulden is customer commercial director at The Very Group