Sebastian Maynard

Diverse group of people wearing masks

Four Ways That Brands Can Encourage Mask-Wearing

Brand Engagement, Communications, convid retail /

WHY ARE SOME PEOPLE AGAINST MASKS? The vocal minority of anti-science activists appear to be hogging the spotlight as the pandemic surges on, with anti-mask communities spreading misinformation on social media to the general public. This misinformation ranges from dangerously believable to full conspiracy theories. One approach is spreading “alarmist” statements, for example claiming that […]

Four Ways That Brands Can Encourage Mask-Wearing Read More »

Store owner wearing mask looking out window as she opens store

Why Retail Stores Are More Important Than Ever

Brand Strategy, convid retail /

COVID-19 has accelerated many trends, one of which is the demise of poor performing retail chains. In recent recent news, brands such as Brooks Brothers and Pier 1 Imports have joined an extensive list of retailers filing for Chapter 11. For many retailers, even before the pandemic the size of their network was bloated and brought down the overall performance

Why Retail Stores Are More Important Than Ever Read More »

Hand holding phone with 5G capabilities

How 5G Will Change the Banking Industry

Brand Strategy, Customer Experience, Digital Experiences /

2020 will surely be remembered for a lot of things. From a global pandemic to growing social movements, 2020 has presented enormous obstacles as well as opportunities for those that rise to the challenge. For financial institutions, one way to take advantage of these opportunities for transformation is through 5G. Some experts estimate that within five years,

How 5G Will Change the Banking Industry Read More »

Photo of glasses that are half full and half empty

How Retailers Can Help Reduce Consumer Anxiety

Brand Engagement, convid retail, Customer Experience /

While COVID-19 has been the primary concern for brands around the world over the past few months, the recent killing of George Floyd and subsequent protests in both America and abroad have changed the focus for many brands. Over the weekend it became common to see companies voice their support for racial equality and the

How Retailers Can Help Reduce Consumer Anxiety Read More »

Animation of shop owner reopening after covid-19

Strategies For Retail Brands During and After COVID-19

Brand Strategy, convid retail, Customer Experience /

Amidst COVID-19, many retail industry experts’ response to the pandemic has been to question the future relevance of the bricks and mortar retail channel. They argue the pandemic has accelerated the current damage created by trade wars, the consumer shift to online retailers and the fact that North America is over stored, leading to the

Strategies For Retail Brands During and After COVID-19 Read More »

People standing in line for waiting to use an atm

What Banks Can Learn From China’s Handling of COVID-19

Brand Strategy, Business development, convid banking, Financial Services /

Download This Report and Take It With You! China’s post-pandemic shift to a new normal started more than a month ago, with the majority of businesses fully operational. The pandemic has temporarily slowed China’s growth, due in part to the disruption in exports as most Western countries’ manufacturing and service industries remain significantly impacted by

What Banks Can Learn From China’s Handling of COVID-19 Read More »

Illustration of people in line at grocery store

Short-Term Strategies for CPG Brands Amidst COVID-19

Brand Strategy, convid CPG, Food and Beverage, Packaging Design, Retail /

The past few months have been a whirlwind of ups and downs for CPG brands as the COVID-19 crisis presents new challenges and opportunities. From manufacturing and processing plant contagion to panic buying and empty shelves, CPG brands are under pressure and as part of the food supply chain, that pressure isn’t going to let

Short-Term Strategies for CPG Brands Amidst COVID-19 Read More »

Close up of bath bomb dissolving

Why Retailers Should Embrace “Little Luxuries”

Brand Strategy, convid retail, Customer Experience, Digital Experiences /

Following the recession in the late 2000’s, consumers tightened their proverbial belts and ushered in an era that was dubbed the New Frugality. At the time, economists predicted that consumers would be more conscious about what they were spending their money on and a renewed focus would collectively be placed on making the most of every

Why Retailers Should Embrace “Little Luxuries” Read More »

Animation of a man delivering food

Strategies for Foodservice Brands Amidst COVID-19

Brand Strategy, Business development, Communications, convid foodservice, COVID /

The foodservice industry has not lived through a global crisis of such magnitude since World War II. Arguably even the greatest wars have not matched the impact of COVID-19 on the foodservice industry. Built on strong social values of sharing time together, during other kinds of crises the foodservice industry has offered a meaningful way

Strategies for Foodservice Brands Amidst COVID-19 Read More »

Social distancing animation

Strategies for Retail Banks Amidst COVID-19

Brand Strategy, Business development, convid banking, COVID /

The globe is being disrupted due to the rapid transmission of the COVID-19 pandemic. In response, retailers and financial institutions have initiated social distancing strategies to minimize the spread of the virus. These initiatives include marking safe distances within waiting queues, limiting the number of customers in the store, adding plexiglass screens to separate staff

Strategies for Retail Banks Amidst COVID-19 Read More »

Women greeting in the street by touching elbows

What Brands Can Learn From China’s Handling of COVID-19

Brand Strategy, convid retail, Customer Experience /

As Europe and North America hunkers down amidst the peak of COVID-19’s assault on our part of the world, in Asia people are emerging from their extended quarantine to a new world. SLD’s Managing Director of Asia Pacific, Teddy Ma, who lives in Shanghai, shared his experiences with us about how consumers are responding in China.   What was the quarantine experience like in

What Brands Can Learn From China’s Handling of COVID-19 Read More »

US One Dollar Bill with Wheat and Grains

What Rising Food Costs Mean for Foodservice Brands

Brand Strategy /

In spite of new agreements such as CUSMA (the new NAFTA) and the China – US managed trade pact, trade wars can be expected to continue as long as  protectionism remains a global trend. For foodservice operators, this presents a destabilizing pressure as food costs and availability fluctuates, in some cases wildly. Consider the proposed tariff on

What Rising Food Costs Mean for Foodservice Brands Read More »

Man and woman sitting on bench shopping bags

How to Strategically Design Purchase Drivers

Brand Strategy /

Purchase behaviors are often recurring in nature and performed in specific places. Over time repetitive buying behaviors are less driven by goals and intentions leading us to develop purchase habits. When habits have been formed, environmental cues can activate practiced responses in the absence of conscious decision-making. Purchase decisions can also be influenced by elements better

How to Strategically Design Purchase Drivers Read More »

small kitchen with white cupboards

How A Decline in Home Ownership Will Impact Brands

Brand Strategy, Business development /

Soaring property values, increased urban dwelling, housing shortages and stagnating salaries are just some of the factors that are keeping younger generations out of the housing market. Many millennials now say they do not think they’ll ever be able to afford a home, and things are even bleaker for Generations Z and Alpha. And for

How A Decline in Home Ownership Will Impact Brands Read More »

Talking vs Doing Street Signs

What The Intention-Action Gap Means for Brands

Brand Strategy, Communications /

We’ve all been there: excited and passionate to do something and then…we don’t do it. Often this can be seen with forgotten New Year’s Resolutions, unopened books, and abandoned gym memberships.  This phenomenon, defined by behavioral psychologists as the “intention-action gap,”  has been a challenge for marketers, who know all-too-well that enthusiastic consumers in surveys and

What The Intention-Action Gap Means for Brands Read More »

Playing chess outside

The Differences Between Strategies and Tactics

Brand Strategy, Business development /

The new year ushers in a need to confirm and reassess an organization’s business plan to determine how to reach their overall goals. While these key success factors in business are commonplace, business leaders often take for granted some of the basic things found within them, such as the difference between strategies and their supporting tactics. We

The Differences Between Strategies and Tactics Read More »

Who
Services
Our Work
Markets

Insights
Connect
Team Client
中文

TORONTO

jplacroix@sld.com

(416) 367-1999

SHANGHAI

fli@sld.com
+86 15618129532

Proud Member of

Screen Shot 2021-09-16 at 10.43.10 AM

© 2024 Shikatani Lacroix Inc.

Linkedin Twitter Instagram Facebook Apple Spotify Youtube
RSS Feed    Privacy Policy    Legal    Contact Us