In today’s fast-paced retail landscape, brands are increasingly bringing their operations in-house, particularly in sales and retail management. This shift is driven by several factors, including cost savings, access to a more favorable talent pool, and the desire for tighter control over business processes. Many brands are also making the move because they believe no one knows their products better than their own employees. And while they may be right, this doesn’t necessarily mean that going entirely in-house is the best move for every aspect of their operations.

At BEST Agency, we believe that brands can still derive immense value from partnering with a specialized advertising agency. From our experience, the challenge often isn’t with the agency model itself but with how many agencies are structured. Too many agencies prioritize hyper-growth at the expense of service quality and client retention. That’s why we emphasize customer-centric values, team retention, and delivering consistent, high-quality results for our clients.

Here are three key reasons why brands can benefit from keeping a media agency on their team or even bringing one in if they don’t already have one:

1) Lower Risks and Costs

Managing retail media in-house often introduces significant risks and hidden costs. While brands may think they’re saving money by bringing operations in-house, the reality is that the overhead costs can quickly add up. Research shows that employees can cost companies 25-40% more than their base salary when you factor in benefits, taxes, training, and turnover costs. This is particularly challenging during times of business turbulence or market shifts, when you may need to scale up or down quickly.

Agencies, on the other hand, can often offer a more cost-effective solution. Many agencies, including ours, are willing to adjust prices year-over-year to ensure long-term relationships and mutual success, something that’s harder to do with in-house teams who expect regular salary increases and benefits.

In addition, when managing ad campaigns in-house, there’s the added risk of turnover, especially during key seasonal periods. Employees with specialized skills in retail media management often expect performance bonuses, generous PTO, and other benefits- things many brands can’t provide. If an employee leaves mid-campaign, your brand could be scrambling to find a replacement, potentially jeopardizing the performance of your ads and campaigns.

2) Greater Visibility Across Categories

One of the unique advantages of working with an agency is the ability to gain insights across a wide range of categories and clients. Agencies like BEST Agency have the benefit of seeing how various brands perform on retail media platforms such as Amazon, Walmart, Instacart, and others. This broad visibility gives us the ability to identify best practices, spot trends, and recognize what’s working and what isn’t- insights that are invaluable for our clients.

For example, when one of our clients was being pushed to opt into a value-added program, we advised against it after seeing poor results from another client who had tried the same program. Without this kind of visibility and data from working with multiple clients, brands would be more likely to make decisions based on limited or siloed knowledge. Agencies help brands avoid costly mistakes by providing informed recommendations based on extensive experience in the space.

3) Higher Expertise and Specialized Knowledge

Retail media agencies like BEST Agency focus exclusively on advertising brands across retailer platforms. This specialization allows us to be experts in our field. Unlike in-house teams that may juggle various tasks, agencies can hone in on one thing: ensuring our clients’ ads perform optimally on the platforms that matter most.

Additionally, agencies offer a collaborative environment where team members bring diverse perspectives to the table. This dynamic creates an opportunity for continual improvement and better decision-making. As the old saying goes, “two heads are better than one,” and having an agency’s collective expertise behind your campaigns is an invaluable asset, especially for long-term account management.

The Urgency Behind the In-House Shift

The trend of brands moving operations in-house is not without its challenges. The shift is largely driven by frustration with agency performance in the wake of the pandemic. Many brands have experienced poor service or underperformance, with agencies promising big results but failing to deliver. Some agencies overpromise, claiming to have a “secret sauce,” only to roll out cookie-cutter strategies across all clients. Others prioritize their own growth at the expense of their clients’ success. This kind of misalignment in values has led to a significant erosion of trust in the agency model.

It’s no surprise that brands are turning to in-house solutions as a remedy. After all, if the agencies they’ve worked with aren’t living up to expectations, why wouldn’t they bring things in-house? However, this approach is not always the silver bullet it seems. In-house teams can be stretched thin, and without the right expertise or resources, brands may find themselves in the same position they were trying to avoid—scrambling to manage advertising campaigns without the proper support.

Why BEST Agency is Different

When we founded BEST Agency, we were determined to build a team that prioritized client success and individual fulfillment. To us, success is a partnership- when our clients win, we win. This philosophy drives everything we do. Unlike agencies that prioritize quick growth at the expense of service, we focus on long-term relationships and sustainable success.

At BEST Agency, we start every client relationship with dedicated brand education sessions. We understand that to advertise effectively, we need to know our clients’ products inside and out. We also provide transparent reporting, so our clients can easily track performance, see where improvements are needed, and adjust strategies accordingly. Our approach is hands-on, focused on quality service and building meaningful, long-lasting partnerships.

If you’re a brand looking to optimize your retail media advertising strategy, we believe partnering with the right agency can be the key to unlocking your full potential. Whether you’re currently managing campaigns in-house or considering an agency partner, the right support can elevate your brand to new heights.