Breaking Marketing Insights (BMI)

In this eleventh episode of BMI (1st episode of Season 2), we are thrilled to introduce Dr. Ann Kronrod as our guest. Ann is an Associate Professor in Marketing at the University of Massachusetts-Lowell, in the U.S., and has recently visited RH Business School as part of our distinguished visiting scholars’ scheme. She is one of the world’s leading experts on language in marketing and is most well-known for her extensive background in linguistics. She has published in top UTD journals, including the Journal of Consumer Research, the Journal of Marketing Research, and the Journal of Marketing. Today, we will sit down with Ann to explore the fascinating world where linguistics meets marketing-and why the words we choose matter more than we think.

In this tenth episode of BMI, we are thrilled to introduce Nayoung Yoon as our guest. Nayoung is a PhD candidate in Marketing at Aalto University in Finland and currently visiting RHUL. Nayoung studies experiential marketing and the critical examination of excess and desire in contemporary capitalism. In the episode today, Nayoung will share with us about her fascinating research on Korean pop-up store boom-a retail trend that’s not only about shopping, but also about spectacle, emotion, FOMO and more. Nayoung will explain why this retail phenomenon is so unique and what implications it has for marketers and retailers.

In this ninth episode, we are thrilled to welcome Pauline Maclaran, an Emeritus Professor of Marketing and a consumer culture expert at Royal Holloway, University of London. Pauline’s research explores the fascinating intersections of marketing, culture, and contemporary consumption. And today, Pauline takes us behind the scenes of how the royals have adapted to life in today’s consumer-driven world. In this episode, we chat about:- What inspired Pauline to study the royals through the lens of consumer culture - How the monarchy works like a brand - The five dimensions of the “Royal Brand” - Why people across the world stay hooked on royal events

In this eighth episode of BMI, we sit down with Dr. Lucy Gill-Simmen, Vice-Dean for Education & Student Experience at Royal Holloway Business School, to explore her recent publication in the European Journal of Marketing. We discuss how marketing education must evolve to meet the demands of today’s tech-driven and socially conscious world. From the impact of AI on learning to embedding ethics and sustainability in practice, Lucy shares how a sociocultural and praxis-based approach can prepare students not just for their future employability, but for responsible and reflective marketing practice.

In this seventh episode, join us exploring the art market with Dr. Derrick Chong. Derrick is a Senior Lecturer in Marketing at Royal Holloway, and he has a deep and wide-ranging expertise in the field of art markets. He is also a contributor to the book Global Art Markets: History and Current Trends. We chat about how art markets differ around the world, what’s changed over the years (some of it might surprise you!), and how digital art and NFTs are shaking things up. Derrick also talks about how online platforms have uniquely impacted art transactions compared to other sectors. Hope you enjoy this episode.

In this sixth episode, Dr. Paul Haynes from Royal Holloway Business School discusses "cultural appropriation" as a timely topic in the contemporary marketing discipline. Paul first explains what is meant by cultural appropriation with real-life examples and how it differs from just borrowing other cultures and its relevance to cultural repurposing. He then gives a range of real-life cases about cultural repurposing being implemented by different marginalized groups, and offers valuable advice to global brands in avoiding cultural appropriation and dealing with different cultural themes.

In this fifth episode, we sit down with Dr. Xing Fang, who is a Lecturer in Marketing at Royal Holloway-University of London and recently published a research article in the Journal of Marketing. His research explores how information cues within recommender systems influence consumer search and purchase behavior on e-commerce platforms. We discuss key insights from his study and how businesses can optimize their recommender systems by strategically managing the information they present to consumers. Whether you’re an e-commerce professional, a researcher, or simply curious about how recommendations shape online shopping, this episode is packed with valuable takeaways.Related article: Fang, X., Kim, S., & Chintagunta, P. K. (2025). Too Many or Too Few? Information Cues in Recommender Systems and Consequences for Search and Purchase Behavior. Journal of Marketing. https://doi.org/10.1177/00222429251326941

In this fourth episode, Marketing Professor Andreas Chatzidakis from Royal Holloway-University of London discusses “care” and “carewashing” as a growing concern in the marketing field. Andreas first explains what are meant by care and carewashing and how they are relevant to markets and marketing. He then highlights some dangers for firms involved in carewashing practices with real-life brand examples and how consumers become more skeptical of this marketing phenomenon.  

In this third episode, Dr. Mikael Andéhn from Royal Holloway-University of London talks about his research on online counter-culture. Mikael discusses how these groups use technology to create emotional responses and social cohesion, often resisting mainstream narratives. Mikael also explores the role of technology in spreading these ideologies and the challenges of maintaining meaningful social interactions online. He outlines future research directions, including the study of victimhood narratives and the marketing of radical ideologies.

In this second episode, Marketing Professor Alan Bradshaw from Royal Holloway-University of London shares insights from his recent publication, Could commodities themselves speak? An introduction to the agnotology of the spectacle, which explores the hidden realities of the global supply chains by looking into the intersections of agnotology, the uncanny, and the spectacle.