Mark Hamstra

CONTRIBUTOR

About Mark

Mark Hamstra is a freelance business writer with experience covering a range of topics and industries, including food and mass retailing, the restaurant industry, direct/mobile marketing, and technology. Before becoming a freelance business journalist, Mark spent 13 years with Supermarket News, most recently as content director, where he was involved in all areas of editorial planning and production for print and online. Earlier in his career he also worked as a reporter and editor for other business publications, including Financial Technology, Direct Marketing News, Nation’s Restaurant News and Drug Store News.

Areas of expertise include:
• Company financial performance
• Technology deployments
• Supply chain strategies
• Product marketing, merchandising and procurement
• Retail real estate, design and construction
• Labor issues

Latest—

Analog Marketing Platforms Appeal to Tech-Weary Consumers

Brands including the ad firm OpenFortune, YouTube star MrBeast, dating app Hinge, and others seek to stand out amid the digital clutter.

Three Company Founders Disclose How They Discovered Their Niche

Entrepreneurs who launched Chefman, VenHub, and Dolphin Air Fresheners seized opportunities when they arose, turning insights and industry knowledge into customer demand.

Chefman Founder on Building a $400 Million Business and AI as the Future of Automated Cooking Appliances

Ralph Newhouse expands from sleek, functional appliances to smart devices with digital connectivity.

Reddit Exec on the Tools Fueling Small Business Growth

The discussion platform allows brands to insert themselves into the right conversations with the right messages to boost credibility and reach

CIO of Sports Products Brand HEAD on How It Drove a 20% Increase in E-Commerce Sales

A streamlined content management system also helps meet demands for brand ‘storytelling,’ Gerhard Spari tells CO—.

How AI Is Speeding Up Decision-Making for Businesses

Companies from Walmart to Crayola are tapping AI to expedite everything from managing product returns to maximizing social media trends, imparting best practices for businesses large and small.

Founder of Wine Recommendations App CellarTracker Expands User Base by Supercharging Crowdsourced Content with AI

Former Microsoft Engineer Eric LeVine taps artificial intelligence to help wine drinkers learn from the trove of data he has from its 10 million collectors.

OpenFortune Expands by Putting Brand Messages—Literally—Into the Hands of Consumers

The fortune-cookie marketing company is building its fortune by attracting big advertisers across industries that seek to engage with consumers in real life at the dinner table.

Brands From Kraft Heinz to Marriott Drive Heightened Customer Engagement — and Sales — with QR Codes

Product packaging, restaurant check-out, and gamified customer experiences are among the growing use cases for the scannable technology that are generating a return on investment for businesses.

How Companies Use AI With Social Listening Trends

High-tech monitoring of online conversations helps brands respond more effectively to customer feedback.