In Canada, an ethnically and culturally diverse country, it’s not hard to find CPG products imported from Asia. What can CPG brands in North America learn from their designs? From the sleek simplicity of Japanese packages to the playful charm of South Korean designs and the intricate artistry of Indian creations, the variety and creativity […]
What Can CPG Brands Learn From Packaging Design In Asia? Read More »
This three-part blog series on the future of the store focuses on insights from the Future Stores Conference in Seattle, Washington. In the first two parts, we discussed the changing role of retail and how retailers need to shift from focusing on the consumers to front-line associates. The third and final section will focus on how brands
Part 3: The Future of the Store Read More »
This three-part blog series focuses on insights from the Future Stores Conference in Seattle, Washington. Part 1 of The Future of the Store discussed the renewed value of brick and mortar locations as part of retail’s growth strategy, as well as the importance of tailoring the store experience to the given trade area while creating a strong
Part 2: The Future of the Store Read More »
After over two years since the last live gathering of senior retail executives in operations, design, digital, and technology, this year’s Future Stores Conference took place in Seattle, Washington, on July 14 and 15. The seminar explored various topics and opportunities in retail and featured sessions on how leading retailers integrate a hybrid approach to their in-store
Part 1: The Future of the Store Read More »
2021 was not the year many had hoped for. The pandemic, natural disasters, inflation, supply chain issues and a persistently polarized planet has put humanity’s resilience to the test. Yet, with the new year’s arrival, there is renewed hope that conditions will stabilize and provide retailers with a clearer look ahead. As a future-focused strategic
What Will 2022 Look Like for Retail Brands? Read More »
CPG brands are trying their hand at direct-to-consumer e-commerce with mixed success. In our 2021 E-Commerce for CPG Brands consumer study, one of the takeaways was that respondents would consider going to a CPG site for a better price. While brands like Unilever have offered bundled subscriptions with a deep enough discount to achieve some
How CPG Brands Can Succeed With Direct-to-Consumer Platforms Read More »
So, you have a great brand, exciting product, and are eager to share it with the world. You run advertisements and in-store campaigns, partner with influencers, and make sure that your product is available to be purchased online. However, without one crucial component, finding success may prove to be a challenge. Whether online or in-store,
The Art and Science Behind Good Packaging Design Read More »
There are many lessons to be taken from COVID-19 and how consumers have changed their shopping habits. From online versus in-store to big box versus mom and pops, some shifts may have longer-term ramifications than others. One interesting (if not surprising) result of the current pandemic is that brand loyalty is often replaced in favor
The Four Characteristics that Define Indie Brands Read More »
Digital experiences and communications, including websites, social media and digital content, play an essential role in influencing shopper decisions, but first it has to reach the right audience. Since the outbreak of the pandemic, online interactions have increased, as has competition for your consumer’s attention. Inclusive communication and marketing design is now more important than
How to Ensure Your Digital Experience is Inclusive Read More »
2021 brings an air of tentative optimism as we near the distribution of an effective COVID-19 vaccine. We all look forward to putting this year’s challenging times behind us – but it is important that what we learned in 2020 is not lost, because consumer behavior has changed and will not return to pre-COVID “norms.”
Packaging Design Strategies for 2021 Read More »
As we approach 2020 and a new decade, there are arguably more questions than there are answers for what the future of retail design will look like. Every year it seems we have a new “most interesting store in the world” that boasts the latest technology and design trends, but what has staying power still remains to
What Will Retail Design Look Like in 2020? Read More »
In 2019, the retail landscape experienced a significant transformation, shifting from traditional stores to innovative concepts that embraced the idea of “retail PLUS.” These forward-thinking retail spaces redefined the shopping experience, emphasizing more than just the act of purchasing. Instead, they became places for experimentation, entertainment, learning, and play. One such trendsetter in this evolving
Inspiring Retail Concepts from 2019 Read More »
Packaging is a complex and evolving topic. It’s one third of CPG and one fourth of the 4 P’s of Marketing, therefore a crucial consumer-facing element in any strategy. So it comes as no surprise that a great technique to generate buzz and potentially gain viral status is leveraging the best and most accessible canvas:
Packaging Strategies That Will Get People Talking Read More »
Imagine the day a car can become an extension of your living room, where you can continue your leisurely activity of choice while being transported to your final destination. Well, it could be coming as soon as 2030! Self-driving cars are all over the news, with much publicity and anticipation as this futuristic marvel is quickly
How Self-Driving Cars Will Impact Retailers Read More »
Marie Kondo has made the old adage “less is more” feel fresh again. In her popular Netflix show she helps people de-clutter homes by asking them to decide if the items they own spark joy. Anything that doesn’t meet this standard simply shouldn’t be in your home, she posits. The idea, one that resonates with many, is
What the End of Mass Consumption Means for Retailers Read More »
The facts are sobering: according to the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, by 2050 the ocean could contain more plastic than fish, and plastics could be consuming 20 percent of oil production and 15 percent of the carbon budget. Only 14 percent of plastic is recycled across the planet – the rest is tossed out, filling landfills, rivers
What Retailers Need to Know About the Circular Economy Read More »
Seamlessness is now an expectation in our service-oriented society. Customers have little patience for services that are inconvenient, frustrating, and inefficient. We don’t want to wait in line, have to repeat ourselves, or deal with mistakes. Many major companies are selling services instead of physical products and are differentiating themselves based on customer experience. Brands
Service Design and the Banking Experience Read More »
Plastic, a useful and cheap material once seen as the solution to every packaging problem, is choking the planet. Although most plastic is recyclable, only about 9 percent of it is actually recycled. This means billions of tonnes of plastic end up as trash. Globally we have reached a maximum capacity for our recycling plants,
The Best Eco-Friendly Packaging Options Read More »
Fundamental Elements to Design Briefs The foundation of any design project is the design brief. The two major facets included in effective design briefs are the landlord/base building requirements and the client requirements. The information below briefly outlines the key elements required to rollout an existing retail design concept into a new or existing space.
Everything Retailers Need to Know About Writing a Design Brief Read More »
