Brands that stand out in the AI era are the ones willing to run the longer race. The real advantage comes from discipline, proprietary knowledge, and creative judgment—not just more content. By Eric Fulwiler, Co-founder & CEO, Rival Every company suddenly has the ability to generate content and marketing campaigns using artificial intelligence (AI). These days, […]
Synthetic performers and consumer trust By Eric Fulwiler, Co-founder & CEO, Rival When New York’s synthetic performer disclosure law went into effect in early June, it became the first state to require advertisers to clearly disclose when they use synthetic performers instead of human actors. While the legislation was opposed by various technology and marketing […]
Creative strategy breaks from category by celebrating joys of life outdoors Rival, an independent integrated marketing consultancy with offices in Boston, London and Cape Town, South Africa, is launching an integrated advertising campaign for Lawn Doctor that veers away from “perfect lawn” category conventions in favor of a raucous, relatable approach. The creative strategy, encapsulated in the […]
Rival has been named to The Sunday Times Best Places to Work 2026 list in the Small Organisations category, following an anonymous employee survey conducted in partnership with workplace engagement platform WorkL. Published annually by The Sunday Times, the programme recognises organisations across the UK for employee engagement, workplace culture and employee experience. According to WorkL survey data […]
Rival, the independent, integrated marketing consultancy with offices in Boston and London, has published the 2026 edition of its “Brands To Watch” report, one of the industry’s most innovative sources of analysis on the global, regional and local brands that are remaking and redefining the categories in which they compete. This year’s Brands To Watch […]
Developed with integrated marketing consultancy, Rival, Good Foods is launching its first brand campaign — and it’s less about introducing the brand than putting a feeling into words. The family-run, Wisconsin-based company has built a loyal following by making food that people don’t just eat, but pass around. Dips, spreads, guacamoles, and salsas that disappear faster than expected. […]
Creative Leader Brings Award-Winning Experience On Client & Agency Side To Fast-Growing Shop Rival, the independent, integrated marketing consultancy, has recruited Tim Bildsten to serve as Creative Director of its creative department. Bildsten brings a unique and expansive knowledge about marketing that includes senior roles on the client side and at a number of top creative […]
At Money20/20 Las Vegas, Elliptic, the global leader in digital asset decisioning, partnered with marketing consultancy Rival to launch “Lost Wallets,” an activation designed to drive awareness and engagement in a dense fintech conference environment. The idea centered on placing hundreds of branded wallets in high-traffic areas around the conference, including the entrance to the official luncheon and adjacent public spaces within the venue. […]
Rival, the independent integrated marketing consultancy, has appointed Kostas Voudouris as partner and chief product officer—a new position. The move underscores the consultancy’s commitment to reinventing the agency model through tech-enabled and AI-native services. With more than 15 years of experience in advertising and marketing, Voudouris has led transformative work at WPP agency, EssenceMediacom and […]
Rival, the global marketing research and consulting firm, and Imperial College’s Business School, London, today announced the launch of The Rival 50, a new global index revealing the top 50 challenger brands that redefine the standard for success across today’s increasingly complex global marketing landscape. The list analyzes and celebrates the brands that have challenged the conventions […]