The term “cult brand” describes any brand that sparks obsessive, fanatical loyalty in their customers. But how much do cult brands really resemble actual cults? Is there something in human behavior that drives this kind of fanatical response? In this white paper you will learn: What brands can learn from cult and tribe psychology What […]
Cult Brands and How to Build One Read More »
On Thursday, September 20, Shikatani Lacroix hosted a book launch in celebration of the release of Jean-Pierre Lacroix’s newest book, Desire by Design: What Data-Driven Marketers Should Know About Driving Desire for their Brands. Taking place at The Broadview Hotel in Toronto, the event consisted of a keynote presentation, panel discussion, and book signing. Jean-Pierre’s
Shikatani Lacroix Celebrates Release of Desire by Design Read More »
Conventional thinking has brands constantly scrambling to give customers what they want. But what if wanting is no longer enough? A customer may want a great mobile phone, for example, but a huge majority will choose the now iconic iPhone, regardless of what other phones are available. This is not simply about wanting. It’s about
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 »
Does the design of your store or restaurant reflect your brand’s personality? Or is it out of sync with the message that you want to convey? Retail design is a physical representation of a brand that shapes customer experiences. Lighting, color, materials, fixtures, layout, commercial retail graphics, and digital signage all influence perceptions and express
Using Retail Design to Bring Your Brand to Life Read More »
The importance of customer personas is becoming increasingly recognized as personalization becomes more possible, and specificity wins sales. But how exactly do you develop customer personas, and how detailed should they be? In this whitepaper we describe the process of developing personas and explain how to communicate them to your team. Fill out the form
Is Your Business Targeting the Right Personas? Read More »
In a recent article by Foodservice and Hospitality Magazine, the publication takes an in-depth look at Canada’s millennial generation and their value to restaurateurs. From millennial mannerisms to their eating habits, the article breaks down what restaurants need to consider when it comes to this large market and how to ensure success going forward. SLD’s
Millennials and their Value to Restaurateurs Read More »
The investment in developing a new supermarket design is significant, and the risk is enormous. With most supermarket and grocery chains consisting of thousands of locations, converting to a new concept can be laborious and span many years. On average, most good operators renovate about 5 to 10 percent of their stores per year, putting
What is the Lifespan of a Supermarket Design Concept? Read More »
Getting what you want from your design agency can sometimes feel like a game of Broken Telephone – you think you’re being clear and helpful, the creative team thinks they’re offering solutions that work, but at the end of the day, the final deliverables aren’t quite right and no one knows who is to blame.
Write So Designers Will Listen: 5 Mistakes to Avoid When Writing a Design Brief Read More »
In the presence of the most prestigious awards in hockey, Shikatani Lacroix was honoured to attend PepsiCo’s annual Marketing Awards on Thursday, March 29 at the Hockey Hall of Fame. The event was an opportunity to celebrate the best PepsiCo marketing work from 2017, and we are proud to have been recognized with the Best Innovation
SLD Wins PepsiCo Marketing Award for Best Innovation Read More »
If beauty is in the eye of the beholder, it makes sense that ugliness should be as well. However, some brands are almost universally regarded as unappealing when compared to competitors. Many of those ugly packages, websites, and environments develop cult followings from loyal customers, much to the frustration of brand managers who pour their
Digital technology has impacted almost every industry in recent years, including the grocery category. You can now use your computer or phone to have someone else pick up your groceries and deliver them to your doorstep. These delivery and shopping services, such as Instacart and AmazonFresh, are meeting a key need for convenience and putting
Helping Customers Navigate Your Grocery Store Read More »
Shikatani Lacroix has won a Gold APEX Award at the Digital Signage Expo (DSE) for designing an immersive restaurant bar experience for Boston Pizza. Shikatani Lacroix received a Gold APEX award in the Food & Beverage category, selected by an independent panel of 10 industry experts and journalists. The award was presented at the DSE 2018 APEX awards gala
Shikatani Lacroix Wins Gold APEX Award Read More »
With Amazon Go’s “just walk out” grocery store finally up and running as of January 2018, everyone in the supermarket industry from cashiers to CEOs are watching with bated breath. Is Amazon intending to implement throughout the Whole Foods network? Will other grocers adopt the same strategy? Will governments start taxing and regulating automation with rollouts
Will Your Customers Love or Hate Automation in 2025? Read More »
Supermarkets are as vulnerable to disruption, competition, and shifting customer needs as any other industry. Staying ahead of new technology and innovative threats like Amazon Go is crucial – but all the gadgets and gimmicks in the world won’t add up to success if your brand is not rooted in a strong, authentic brand story
Telling Exceptional Supermarket Brand Stories Read More »
The c-store is built around the “C”, and for modern, hectic lives, convenience is crucial. As brands aim to grab more market share, many are considering how else they can simplify the lives of their customers, and private label foodservice programs seem like a natural fit. Convenience is a critical factor in our lives, but
The Five Rules for a Successful C-store Foodservice Private Label Program Read More »
A trend that is bubbling up in neighborhoods across the continent is the resurgence of the corner store, that’s more than just a place to buy milk. There are community hubs that double as meeting spots. There are delis and bodegas that boast daily line-ups for their legendary sandwiches. And there are urban reinventions of
Hot Trend: The Corner Store as a Destination Read More »
A trend in package design that has managed to persist and become more of a direction than a fad is the use of vintage or retro cues to denote a more artisanal and higher-quality product. Even your average grocery store stocks crackers, chips, and ice cream packaged with a clear look back in time through
Is a Retro Package Design Right for Your Product? Read More »
Big brand grocery stores dominate the Canadian and US marketplace. From Trader Joe’s to Loblaws to Costco, whether you want cheap groceries or specialty items, the grocery wars are being waged with all guns blazing: private label programs, new interior design that mimics marketplaces, and deals, deals, deals. It seems as though there might not be room left for a
6 Ways Local Grocers can Beat Big Brands and Thrive Read More »
The convenience of Amazon Go – a completely automated shopping experience, free of cashiers, queues, and check-out counters – hasn’t quite materialized as quickly as promised. When the retail giant first announced its ambitious concept, it promised to bring the idea to the public by early 2017, but so far the project seems to be floundering. While
How Retailers Will Compete with Amazon Go Read More »
