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 »
Welcome to SLD’s second annual trends report! Last year, we were in the midst of a global pandemic that called into question what the future of design and business as a whole could look like. Though a lot of those questions still linger, 2021 has at least provided some clarity on the trends that will
SLD’s 2022 Trends Report Read More »
As we look back on 2021, it would be nice to be able to view COVID-19 in the rearview mirror with a sigh of relief. But to quote Michael Corleone, “just when I thought I was out, they pull me back in!” This must be the way a lot of brands are feeling right now,
The Best Brand Pivots of COVID-19 Read More »
No industry or brand has been immune to the disruption of the past decade. From technological advances and start-ups to a global pandemic, change has become the only constant. The health and wellness industries are no exception – and as patient/consumer demand pushes the sector down a new path, brands must reassess their business models
How Disruption is Driving Business Model Reinvention in Healthcare Read More »
As banks look to retool their branch networks, how can they align customer needs with a larger brand transformation? Join SLD’s Jean-Pierre Lacroix on Wednesday, October 13, as he discusses this shift to new formats and how it can improve the customer journey. Hosted by the team at Engageware, attendees can expect to learn: The future
Aligning Customer Banking Needs to a New Branch Strategy Read More »
In North America, demographic changes are creating a more diverse customer base. This means brand strategy and marketing needs to become more inclusive quickly. But some marketers are nervous about making mistakes trying to speak to audiences with different experiences. Today our guest is Puja Prakash, a graduate student at OCAD, completing her Master’s in
Why Authenticity and Inclusivity Must Go Hand-in-Hand Read More »
The future is unfolding in real-time, all the time, but most retail brands are in a state of constant catch-up – just being at par before another innovation appears. This is partly a result of fast-moving times, but it’s also the result of an industry that’s been somewhat lackadaisical about innovation. To really become a
Business Leaders, Bold Thinkers, and the Brand of the Future Read More »
Innovation and design thinking are new hot topics in board rooms these days, but anyone who has tried to make a company more innovative through strategic design knows that it’s really challenging. Newer companies that are starting off with innovation as a foundational principle have a big advantage over older organizations with legacy systems, ingrained
The Importance of Innovation and Design Thinking for Brands Read More »
Virtual and augmented reality are two of the most exciting technological developments of the last 20 years. Already widely used as a training tool in the military, healthcare, and professional sports, VR has many potential uses in a consumer-facing industry such as retail. Augmented reality is already starting up with fun extras, like augmented packaging,
Exploring the Possibilities of Augmented and Virtual Reality Read More »
As we hit the halfway point of 2021, one trend that we have been particularly interested in at SLD is the continued rise of fake news and misinformation. While our recent DeepReal research elevated the conversation around real versus fake, the publishing of Facebook’s State of Influence Operations 2017-2020 Threat Report has helped validate our own findings and further
What Facebook’s Threat Report Means for Brands Read More »
Many of the attitudes and behaviours that have driven decision making for retail brands have been called into question by the pandemic, but there are other forces disrupting the consumer-brand relationship. At SLD, one that we think is critical is the rise of fake news and misinformation, especially on social platforms. We wanted to determine
DeepReal: Strategies for Banks in the Age of Misinformation Read More »
Many of the attitudes and behaviours that have driven decision making for retail brands have been called into question by the pandemic, but there are other forces disrupting the consumer-brand relationship. At SLD, one that we think is critical is the rise of fake news and misinformation, especially on social platforms. We wanted to determine
DeepReal: Strategies for Retailers in the Age of Misinformation Read More »
The rising concern about misinformation and fake news is a top concern of people around the world, whether we’re talking about Russian interference with foreign elections or an organic seal on a carton of milk. Skepticism is high and consumers expect it to become even harder to figure out what’s true in the future. Today,
Discussing SLD’s DeepReal Study With Jean-Pierre Lacroix Read More »
In a world where distribution channels are becoming more and more tailored to specific locations, consumers and products, technology is enabling innovation that would have been impossible only a few years ago. Today we’re speaking to Corey Yantha, CEO of Dispension Inc. about a very unique way to sell a specific kind of product and
The Future of Distributing Regulated Products is Already Here Read More »
From Fake News to Deepfakes, it is no surprise that consumers have become wary of the information they receive – whether it comes from the news, social media, or a brand. To help understand how current market trends are impacting a consumers ability to make confident decisions, and what they expect from brands in an age
The inability to tell fact from fiction is being driven by a number of factors and is challenging the way that consumers perceive and engage with brands. To help gain a better understanding of how consumers discern information and make their purchase decisions, SLD conducted a study among 2000 respondents in January, 2021. As part
DeepReal Part 2: The Blurring Line Between Fact and Fiction Read More »
The Ins and Outs of Robot Greeters How Can Robot Greeters Improve Your Customer Experience? These electronic greeters are available 24/7, multilingual, responsive, always smiling and capable to handle an almost infinite amount of information. Their strength also lies in the fact that they can be “emotional” and “non-emotional.” Their “emotions” powered by
How Robot Greeters Are Changing the Service Sector Read More »
Even before COVID-19, the shopping mall was under siege. As more consumers turned to online shopping and local, independent bricks and mortar retailers, it was not uncommon to see spaces for lease within malls and empty parking lots outside. In some cities, malls were being turned into mixed-use spaces, condos or distribution warehouses. Then the
The Future Of The Mall – A Design Exploration Read More »
After a tumultuous 2020, the banking industry is transforming itself from being the root of the issue in the last financial crisis (2008) to being part of the solution in this one. Not surprisingly though, different banks are at different stages of transformation. In this article, we look at some of the best practices from
What Does Smart Banking Look Like in 2021? Read More »
2020 was a tough year for many, and although 2021 is looking a little more hopeful, the fact remains that our way of life will be very different moving forward. As a result, brands should consider how to best support their customers. A year marked by a global pandemic, widespread social protests, and man-made environmental
Show Me You Care: Building a Social Brand in 2021 Read More »
