In today’s highly competitive and quickly-changing banking industry, the pressure is on for banks to prove their relevancy to their customers and outperform their competition. Banks today understand the critical need to connect with customers emotionally and to develop services to fulfill their unmet needs. And yet, innovation can be a difficult process to nurture […]
How Financial Institutions Can Drive Innovative Culture Read More »
In “Key Considerations When Vetting Your Strategic Partner,” we determined how you should vet your strategic design agency by exploring the three tiers of strategic requirements. Design Thinking Strategy, focused primarily on how to link the package design to underlying, unrealized opportunities in the marketplace. Brand Strategy includes a wide range of strategic tools, from positioning,
Questions to Ask When Hiring a Package Design Firm Read More »
There are more than 21,000 creative professionals in the top three largest cities in North America alone. When you factor in all mid to large cities in North America, it’s daunting for any company to select a strategic design agency to tackle their packaging brand transformation. A key factor in selecting the right firm is
Key Considerations When Vetting Your Strategic Partner Read More »
With so much access to information these days, decisions can be hard. We are all generally more informed, but there are also more options to consider, opinions to hear, and claims to be validated. Simplification can help address this issue, and many industries have leveraged it in their branding and business strategies in order to
How to Simplify the Banking Experience for Customers Read More »
No one doubts that artificial intelligence and automation will change the role of staff in retail environments. The question is, how? A new theory is starting to play out in some industries and may come as a surprise: the reaction to an automated experience is a yearning for more human interaction. In a way, though,
What Automation Means for Staffing in Retail Read More »
Great retail brands such as Starbucks, Apple, Harley Davidson and Zappos have prospered by effectively aligning their internal corporate culture with the needs of their most loyal customers. A strong culture ensures that every brand representative the customer interacts with, over the phone, in person or online, is consistently delivering cultural values that are aligned
How to Foster a Strong Retail Brand Culture Read More »
Will AI and big data live up to the hype? Will they become another fad? In this white paper we explore the usefulness of these new technologies for marketing and retail, and discuss how they must feed a fundamental human need for emotional connection. Using Hotspex, a research firm that taps into the core feelings
What Is Your Retail Brand’s Emotional Equity? Read More »
The banking industry is in an era of tumultuous change to say the least. It makes logical sense to look at your competitors, but what exactly are you looking for? Knowing how to mitigate the risk and optimize the return on investment for such huge initiatives requires a lot of background work from the start,
Worksheet: Benchmark Marketing for Banks (and How to Use It) Read More »
Who doesn’t love a great bad guy? As brands embrace storytelling, it’s important to define the villain who is vanquished by the product or service you provide. In this white paper we explore how brands are using the idea of the villain and some key tips on how to leverage this character for your brand.
Four Strategies for Creating a Compelling Brand Story Villain Read More »
So, you are ready to introduce a new design for your brand. It looks modern and appealing, and you think it will create a strong impact. But how can you be sure that your customers feel the same way and that this design resonates with them? Reflecting on how you, or your agency, developed and
Which Type of Design Research Should You Use? Read More »
The importance of brand authenticity came to the forefront more than ten years ago when demographers started to raise awareness of the buying power of Millennials. With the failure of banks in 2008, and many corporate scandals making the headlines, it’s not surprising Millennials were looking for brands that were authentic and approachable. The Mirriam-Webster
Five Important Factors in Achieving Brand Authenticity Read More »
Banks are transforming their branches at an unprecedented rate – but will they get it right? Given the enormous amount of time and resources these projects require, it is critical that they be carefully considered as more than just an aesthetic update. New branch formats are emerging based on the idea that expedience is what
Branch Formats and Archetypes for the Future Read More »
Edge computing is a new way to process data that has the potential to revolutionize the banking customer experience. Although we are in the early stages of seeing this technology applied, banks stand to benefit enormously from this method of triaging data – it has the potential to reduce costs, increase security, provide highly curated
Banking on the Edge: The Digital Implications Read More »
Disruptive forces have been causing chaos in virtually every industry, and the retail world has been staggering to catch up. Some brands are ahead of the curve, innovating and growing while others still have some work to do. In this whitepaper we will explore some trends that are challenging current value propositions in order of
Four Disruptive Trends that Will Threaten Your Brand’s Relevancy Read More »
The Financial Brand Forum is one of the most attended banking conferences in North America. It is a leading event globally, as it focuses on current and future trends in banking. This year’s conference, held in May, was attended by more than 2,000 banking professionals, in addition to more than 50 keynote speakers covering all
Digital Transformation Checklist for Banks Read More »
Most banks claim they put the customer first – but who is really delivering on this claim? Every year J.D. Power, Forbes, and industry publications like The Financial Brand research which banks are doing the best job at putting consumer’s needs first. They don’t always agree on which bank is top of the list, but common
Major Banks Excelling at Customer Service Read More »
For many years, banks have contributed to established charities, sponsored artistic events and institutions and, in many cases, created their own foundations or charities. However, Millennial and Generation Z consumers are less likely than previous generations to view these efforts as being authentic, and they may have a point. These contributions, many of which come with tax benefits and
The Future of Corporate Social Responsibility Read More »
When customers think of your bank, does it have a narrative? Does it stand for something? If not, it may lack a compelling brand story – that means that it’s becoming lost in the competitive financial institution landscape. Not standing out can be a problem, especially when banking is a service that often has a reputation as
Does Your Bank Have a Compelling Brand Story? Read More »
How far can self-service go? What conceptually is self-service, and what does it have the potential to be? Self-Service Banking Europe 2018 features more than 40 speakers from leading banks and industry experts from around the world. Join SLD president Jean-Pierre Lacroix as he presents on the limits of the channel and examines how banks can get
Self-Service Banking Europe 2018 Read More »
Banks are beginning to recognize that high value customers, if they are to be kept, increasingly demand recognition of their special status. Though this may be irksome to those of us with little more than a mortgage, credit card, and checking account, the reality is that banks are no longer in a position to be
Attracting High Value Customers with a VIP Experience Read More »
