Any business that relies on bringing people together has been forced to pivot quickly in 2020. In some cases, innovation and resilience has shone through. In other cases, a lack of preparedness had meant closures and bankruptcies. At SLD, we have decided to take a longer view of how current trends and events have altered […]
Using Strategic Foresight to Understand the Future of Large Gatherings Read More »
Any branded environment tells a story and a big part of that story is visual. Today, we’re talking to Cybelle Jones, CEO of SEGD, a not-for-profit professional organization for designers from all over the world who focus on shaping content-rich experiential spaces. Trained as an architect, she’s worked on many projects that involve historical and
How Experiential Design Can Help Tell Your Brand Story Read More »
What is around the next corner? Another pandemic? A trade war? Fully autonomous vehicles? While the possibilities may seem overwhelming, the brands that properly prepare for the unknowns of the future will be better equipped to withstand any unexpected occurrences. All one has to do is look at the numerous bankruptcies and closures due to COVID-19
SLD’s Guide To Future-Proofing Your Organization Read More »
A Fresh Face We designed an impactful, fun, fresh design for Teriyaki Experience that would break through the food court clutter and capture the attention of hungry customers. CLIENT Innovative Food Brands PROJECT Teriyaki Experience Store Design RELATED SERVICE Retail Design Service Design THINK Our design needed to be modular and to promise a high
Teriyaki Experience Read More »
FRESHLY BAKED ARYTZA needed a website for their Canadian clients that would help them find product information and also offer ideas and inspiration. CLIENT Aryzta Food Service Canada PROJECT E-Commerce Website RELATED SERVICE Web Design Digital Strategy THINK ARYZTA needed a Canadian site that would help their sales’ representatives engage customers with product information and
Aryzta Foodservice Read More »
COVID-19 has significantly impacted almost all major industries, including foodservice, banking, retail and CPG by slowing down some aspects of day to day operations while accelerating others; for example technology adoption. These disruptions have also affected consumer perceptions about the future and therefore are changing their shopping preferences. Our recent studies clearly identified that consumers are
The Two Customer Personas of COVID-19 Read More »
The Fan Experience A place where every sports fan can come to watch big games and support little leagues… a place where the fan experience is what it’s all about. CLIENT Boston Pizza PROJECT Flagship Design RELATED SERVICE Digital Experiences Retail Design Environmental Graphic Design Digital Signage UX/UI Design Service Design THINK The landscape
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 »
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 »
Amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, BXP and VMSD Magazine partnered to host a webinar focused on the current customer landscape and how it might change in post-COVID-19 reality. Titled “A Look Ahead: Insights for Retailers & CPG Brands in a Post-COVID-19 World,” the webinar featured guests from The Kroger Co., Walgreens, Soapbox and Westwin, as well as
Insights for Retailers & CPG Brands in the Post-COVID-19 World Read More »
Not since the second world war has the entire planet been so focused on a singular event. Stories about economic impact, charts of the curve… it’s all consuming and can feel exhausting. But in the midst of the anxiety and very real impact, there are also stories of inspiration – people doing what they can
The Best Brand Responses to COVID-19 Read More »
The foodservice industry has not lived through a global crisis of such magnitude since World War II. Arguably even great wars failed to impact the foodservice industry as significantly as COVID-19. Built on the social value of sharing time with others, during other crises the foodservice industry offered a meaningful way for people to connect.
COVID-19: Foodservice’s New Reality Read More »
To help foodservice operators better understand how to handle COVID-19, SLD has conducted consumer and industry studies to determine how consumer needs, behaviors, and loyalty have been impacted by the current pandemic. The results of these studies, as well as tactical strategies for foodservice brands, are shared in the webinar below. Watch as Jean-Pierre Lacroix, President
COVID-19: How Foodservice Brands Can Remain Relevant Read More »
In this episode, Jean-Pierre Lacroix, President of SLD speaks with Manpreet Juneja, a Design Strategist at SLD about a study we recently conducted on the subject of future readiness and strategic foresight. The study asked brands to consider the subject of the future and how well prepared they think their organization is to cope with change. Transcript Melinda:
Discussing SLD’s Future Readiness Report Read More »
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 »
COVID-19 has accelerated what was starting off to be a shaky start to the new year with trade conflicts leading to fuel wars, as one example. Our “new normal” means social distancing, washing our hands more in one week than we did through all of 2019, working remotely, worried about whether it’s safe to buy
2020: The Lost Year Read More »
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 »
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 »
For the majority of indie start-up brands, design seems like something of a luxury. Indie operators end up doing a lot of the work on their own, relying on an ad hoc internet education to patch together something that feels like an image. Once they grow and have a bit of money, then investing in
Why Design Deserves a Seat at the Table Read More »
Held in partnership with Digital Signage Expo 2020, SEGD Branded Environments is set to take place in Las Vegas for the fourth year in a row. An event focused on “the design of brand-centric customer experiences,” SEGD Branded Environments promises a great lineup of speakers, tour offerings, and opportunities to network. As part of the
SEGD Branded Environments 2020 Read More »
