Which statement best describes a retail media network?

• A. A third-party display advertising network used by multiple retailers.
• B. An influencer marketing platform used by retailers.
• C. A retailer-owned advertising platform that monetizes on-site inventory and data, enabling targeted ads within and beyond the retailer's properties.
• D. A customer loyalty program integrated into online checkout.

Answer: (C)

Retail media networks are the retailer‑owned advertising ecosystems that monetize the retailer’s own real estate and data to run targeted ads, both on the retailer’s sites and apps and on external sites. They use first‑party data from shoppers to target and measure campaigns, helping brands reach people in a shopping mindset. Because the network sits on the retailer’s inventory and data, it can serve ads inside the retailer’s properties and extend that reach through programmatic placements on partner sites or other channels. This combination of owned inventory, data-driven targeting, and cross-channel reach is what sets retail media networks apart.

This is why it’s the best description: it emphasizes a retailer‑owned platform that monetizes on-site inventory and data and enables targeted ads within and beyond the retailer’s properties. The other options describe different concepts—third‑party networks not owned by a single retailer, influencer platforms, or loyalty programs—not the integrated, data‑driven ad network operating across the retailer’s ecosystem.