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 »
A field of study that previously was seen as something of an academic niche is now emerging as a key tool that can help brands not only stay relevant, but if leveraged to its full extent, can even help them leapfrog ahead and become leaders. That field is strategic foresight and future studies. Today, we’re
Strategic Foresight and How It Can Help Brands 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 retail banking industry is one that has been significantly impacted by technology with the growth of Fintech alternative banking platforms, the shift of consumers away from branches towards digital channels and the rise of alternative payment platforms such as mobile wallets. Ironically, in spite of this disruption, our Future Readiness study conducted in January
COVID-19: Retail Banking’s New Reality Read More »
The Future of Retail Banking is in Your Hands As COVID-19 continues to shake global economies, retail banking has found itself at a cross-roads. Financial institutions can either continue on the same path and hope that their customers will come back to them in a post-pandemic world, or they can be proactive and try to
COVID-19: How Retail Banks Can Remain Relevant 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 »
The globe is being disrupted due to the rapid transmission of the COVID-19 pandemic. In response, retailers and financial institutions have initiated social distancing strategies to minimize the spread of the virus. These initiatives include marking safe distances within waiting queues, limiting the number of customers in the store, adding plexiglass screens to separate staff
Strategies for Retail Banks Amidst COVID-19 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 »
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 »
If brands could correctly predict the future, product and service development would be a lot easier. Strategies could be planned well before disruptors emerge, and there would be advanced warnings for customer attitude shifts and upcoming trends. Unfortunately, it is highly unlikely that anyone will be 100 percent correct in future predictions. Luckily, there are
Worksheet: Techniques to Plan for Future Trends and Scenarios Read More »
Soaring property values, increased urban dwelling, housing shortages and stagnating salaries are just some of the factors that are keeping younger generations out of the housing market. Many millennials now say they do not think they’ll ever be able to afford a home, and things are even bleaker for Generations Z and Alpha. And for
How A Decline in Home Ownership Will Impact Brands Read More »
We’ve all been there: excited and passionate to do something and then…we don’t do it. Often this can be seen with forgotten New Year’s Resolutions, unopened books, and abandoned gym memberships. This phenomenon, defined by behavioral psychologists as the “intention-action gap,” has been a challenge for marketers, who know all-too-well that enthusiastic consumers in surveys and
What The Intention-Action Gap Means for Brands Read More »
On February 17, 2020 President Jean-Pierre Lacroix will be a special guest speaker at INSIGHT 2020 hosted by the Ringling College of Art and Design in Sarasota, Florida. The annual INSIGHT event brings professional artists and company representatives from a variety of backgrounds to campus on one day to share experiences, creative expertise, and industry
In our 2030 predictions blog we included two of many likely scenarios. One of these we called the “Fortress Society,” which would see the increased rise of isolationist movements, a move away from global trade and a growing division between an Asian versus North America centric economy. This scenario was driven by the rise of buying locally,
The Evolving Definition of “Local” Read More »
The new year ushers in a need to confirm and reassess an organization’s business plan to determine how to reach their overall goals. While these key success factors in business are commonplace, business leaders often take for granted some of the basic things found within them, such as the difference between strategies and their supporting tactics. We
The Differences Between Strategies and Tactics Read More »
The following is an excerpt from Jean-Pierre Lacroix’s Desire by Design. To learn more about the book, click here. Brand loyalty is the ability to build sustainable relationships between brands and consumers by providing both a functional and emotional benefit that meet the meaningful needs of the consumer. Certain circumstances or triggers have to exist
The Key Triggers That Drive Brand Loyalty Read More »
If you’ve ever managed a brand transformation, you know that it can often be a juggling act. With potentially hundreds of balls In the air at once, it’s hard to shake the nagging feeling that you’ve forgotten something. We’ve put together this handy checklist to help calm your concerns. Fill out the form below to
Check Off Every Step of Your Brand Transformation Read More »
For years now, Millennials have been the most researched and targeted demographic group in the history of brand marketing. Today, Millennials are approaching middle age, and as their needs shift, Generation Z is stepping into the spotlight. Born in the late 1990s and early 2000s, they’re now coming of age and represent 25 percent of
Designing for Generation Z Read More »
We are nearing the end of 2019 with the milestone year 2020 arriving in just couple of days. The ushering in of a new year brings an abundance of predictions of what to expect and solutions to consider. These predictions will most likely include the continued growth of Fintech, the ongoing omni-channel shift, the further
Using Strategic Foresight to Look Ahead to 2030 Read More »
