Restaurateurs know that although the food is critical, it’s only one of the factors that determines success. In this extraordinarily competitive market, the guest experience has always mattered and today it’s more important than ever. Whether your restaurant brand is fun and raucous or elegant and luxurious, paying attention to every point along the guest’s […]
Creating the Holy Trinity of Restaurant Experiences Read More »
Do you understand your customer? It’s no longer enough to just know their age bracket, gender, and general interests. Do you know what emotions they’re feeling while looking to satisfy their needs? What thoughts go through their head when walking through a retail store? What online platforms they browse and what time of day they
How to Develop a Customer Journey Map Read More »
Every retail brand on the planet is talking about consumer data and it’s being pitched as the magical key to personalization, which in turn promises greater loyalty and repeat purchases. Having Amazon prompt you to repurchase an item like toilet paper might seem innocuous and maybe even helpful. However, the line between personalized and downright
Why Should Consumers Share their Data with You? Read More »
All across North America, the decriminalization or legalization of cannabis has given birth to a brand-new industry, and in many places you can now easily purchase cannabis online or in a store. Today we’re speaking to Steffen Schenk from mīhī cannabis. He’s the SVP of Customer Experience, and we are going to talk about how
Legal Cannabis and the Retail Experience Read More »
The relevance of retail banking is under siege. Banks are responding with new formats, smaller footprints, and a nimbler approach to change. While banks have focused intensely on driving cost down through automated digital technologies, this has put retail banks at risk of losing their human connection with customers and losing marketshare to non-traditional banks.
Think: The Future of Retail Banking 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 »
With an ever-growing need for things that are faster, smarter and better, customers expect a lot from the brands that they support. Despite this, there are still dreaded friction points along the customer journey that hinder them from buying products and services, making them privy to abandoning their carts and falling right into a competitor’s
How to Avoid Customer Friction Points Read More »
E-commerce is becoming more robust with each passing year, and there is no turning back. According to Statista, online sales corresponded for almost 12 percent of all retail sales worldwide in 2017, and close to 22 percent of the world population currently buys on the internet. These numbers are only increasing. Here are some driving
The Future of E-Commerce is Now Read More »
Personalization is at the top of every retailer’s list of goals. Win in personalization, and you win loyal customers who spend more. As technology improves, it will become possible to go even deeper and provide customers with highly specific service. In this blog we will explore the top experiences in personalization that are currently available,
Innovative Trends in Retail Personalization Read More »
Over five years ago, SLD introduced the word “immersive” into our company vision, and identified the term as the new definition of customer engagement. At the time, the idea of creating immersive experiences focused on how technology such as Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR) would shift the way consumers engage with brands and
The Four Levels of Immersive Experiences Read More »
Saying that a company’s staff is the best ambassador to its brand has become incontestable. After all, who knows more about a business’ product, service, or culture than someone who works there? Consumers usually see the way an employee portrays a company as more credible than advertising or other marketing efforts. However, the company and
How to Turn Staff into Brand Ambassadors Read More »
New technology has a history of disrupting entire industries. It creates new possibilities and shifts in behavior that transform society. And yet, it is difficult to predict how an emerging technology will evolve and if it will be accepted by the majority of people. It is easy to overestimate the future impact of novel technology
The Future of AR and VR in Retail Read More »
Shikatani Lacroix Design is happy to announce the launch of Think Retail, a new podcast that features top designers, strategists, thought leaders and business people discussing what’s next in the world of retail and design. The podcast will include members of the SLD team as well as guests from around the globe, and focus on
SLD Launches New Podcast: Think Retail Read More »
Technology has changed the retail landscape dramatically over the past 10 years, so much so that many people proclaimed digital shopping would kill retail altogether. In reality, technology has enabled retailers to connect with consumers better than ever before, and for those brands willing to innovate, it has provided them with a significant advantage in
The retail experience: plugged or unplugged? Read More »
Posting food images on social media has extended the communal aspect of preparing, presenting and eating food beyond the table. For foodservice brands it offers a powerful way to deliver the drool factor right to customer’s phones. Will this powerful trend continue? How can foodservice brands, small and large, take advantage of #foodporn now, and
The Impact of Social Media on Foodservice Read More »
In this digital era, it’s no longer a surprise to see “Welcome back,” followed by your name on the home screen of an app or website. The consumer is increasingly conditioned by e-commerce giants, such as Amazon, to expect a certain degree of personalization. In the words of Dave Carnegie, “a person’s name is, to that
Personalization Strategies for Banks Read More »
Headed to DSE? Our very own Marcos Terenzio will be presenting a conference session on Thursday, March 28, and also taking part in the full-day Content Workshop on Friday, March 29. At the Thursday session, Marcos will speak on “Delivering Content that Connects Emotionally.” During the half hour presentation, attendees will learn how to effectively implement digital content
DSE Digital Signage Expo 2019 Read More »
How much time do you spend on your mobile phone each day? In the United States, the annual average continues to increase, with 2018 setting a new record among adults, who now typically spend 3 hours and 35 minutes per day looking at their phone. Not surprisingly, the majority of this time (over 90 percent) is
Why Your Retail Store Needs a Mobile App Read More »
Once upon a time a retailer could offer products with a generalist, one-size-fits-all approach. Foodservice operators could present the same menu across their entire network. Banks could offer the same products and services at every branch. Apparel stores could stock whatever fit into their store. And people would buy. As anyone in the retail industry
Retail Storytelling Through Curation Read More »
As 2018 comes to a close, it is time to look ahead to what will influence the banking industry in 2019 and your goals for the new year. Do you have a plan for key strategic initiatives that you want to accomplish? Major trends of digital transformation and customer centricity will continue to be relevant,
The Three Biggest Opportunities for Banks in 2019 Read More »
