Inside the Digital Revolution of Retail Advertising with Adam Zimmerman
- Evan J. Cholfin
- Jul 31
- 2 min read
How Ideal Is Reinventing the Weekly Circular with Video, Data, and Digital Storytelling
By Evan J. Cholfin
What if the weekly circular you used to flip through at the hardware store suddenly came alive? It became smarter, faster, and way more engaging? How can retailers leverage digital tools to boost ad effectiveness while keeping that familiar feel of print?
In the latest episode of A Healthier, Happier You, I sit down with Adam Zimmerman, co-founder of Ideal, to unpack how his company is transforming retail advertising with a cutting-edge digital circular platform. Adam shares how a simple frustration from clients sparked a big idea, and how that idea quickly became a game-changer for retailers worldwide.
Adam and I dive into:
🧪 Why client feedback sparked a rapid pivot from agency to ad tech
📊 How real-time analytics empower smarter retail ad spending
🛍️ Why digital circulars are driving better customer engagement than print
🎥 The power of video content to educate and captivate shoppers
🚀 Ambitious growth plans for 2025: scaling up and expanding retail sectors
The Digital Circular: Familiar Yet Future-Ready
Traditional print circulars have been a retail staple for decades, but their limitations are quite clear. Adam explains how retailers struggled with static ads that didn't capture shopper attention or provide measurable results.
Ideal's digital circular solution preserves the familiar feeling of print while delivering a vastly enhanced user experience. Interactive, easy to navigate, and enriched with video, these circulars give customers a new way to shop smarter.
✅ Shoppers engage longer and with more interest than with traditional print
✅ Retailers gain immediate insights into what’s catching eyes and driving clicks
✅ Video content transforms static ads into dynamic storytelling and education.
Data-Driven Retail Advertising
One of the biggest advantages Adam highlights is the power of analytics. Moving beyond gut instinct and guesswork, retailers can now track real-time customer engagement, fine-tune campaigns on the fly, and maximize their advertising ROI
At Ideal, this covers that completely with:
✅ Analytics uncover which ads truly resonate with customers
✅ Retailers can shift budgets toward what’s working — fast
✅ More efficient ad spend means better business outcomes and happier shoppers
Scaling Up: Growth, Partnerships & Referrals
Ideal's journey from startup to transforming into a industry led company is fueled by solid partnerships and a commitment to client success. Adam shares how existing client referrals remain their strongest growth driver as they expand into new retail sectors in 2025.
✅ Established media partnerships make scaling distribution straightforward
✅ Referrals create a trusted network effect that drives new business
✅ Expansion plans target diverse retail verticals beyond hardware
Retail media is evolving at breakneck speed, and Adam believes digital circulars represent just the beginning of a bigger transformation. Video content, interactive formats, and data-powered strategies will redefine how retailers connect with customers.
Listen to the Full Episode
If you’re interested in the future of retail marketing or want to learn how digital innovation is reshaping your shopping experience, this episode is packed with actionable insights and a forward-looking perspective.
Are you ready to rethink retail advertising?
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