Retail

Think Ahead for 2025: What Undercurrents Beyond Trends Brands Need to Know

Brand Strategy, Packaging Design / Annika Carroll

“Predicting the future” is not as daunting as it might sound. If you’re paying attention, the future is already here. For the past ten years, we’ve shared potential future scenarios brands and marketers should note as they consider new initiatives. Many of these potential futures have become reality: for example, in 2018 we explored a […]

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2025 SLD Trends Report

Retail / Annika Carroll

The road to 2025 is marked by shifting priorities and expectations. As consumers redefine their values in response to economic pressures and cultural changes, brands will need to prove their relevance by delivering meaningful, personalized experiences that go beyond traditional offerings. Our 2025 Trends Report explores four pivotal themes shaping the upcoming year: the increasing

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The Power of Nostalgia: Designing for Instant Emotional Impact

Brand Strategy, Packaging Design / Annika Carroll

Emotional connection is critical for a brand because it creates a deeper connection with consumers, influencing loyalty, purchase behavior, and overall brand perception. By evoking fond associations with a particular era, product, or cultural moment, brands can establish a bond with consumers, through a sense of comfort and trust. Human decision-making is greatly driven by

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The Top Trends in Brand Strategy and Positioning

Brand Strategy, Packaging Design / Annika Carroll

Brand strategy and positioning are like a compass and a spotlight for your business. A compass guides decision-making and operational actions, keeping you on track toward your goals. A spotlight highlights your unique strengths and values, helping you clearly stand out in a crowded market. This blog explores the top trends shaping brand strategy in

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Novelty Retail Experiences: Trends and Predictions

Brand Strategy, Packaging Design / Annika Carroll

Trends in novelty retail experiences are redefining how brands connect with consumers. These immersive and unexpected spaces offer a sense of discovery, tapping into customers’ desires and behaviors. In this blog, we introduce some of the latest trends in novelty retail experiences and explore how they may be shaping the future of retail. Multi-sensory Retail

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What Not To Automate: A retailer’s guide to smarter service experiences

Brand Strategy, Packaging Design / Annika Carroll

Technology as part of the customer experience is everywhere. That isn’t always a good thing. Although there are many ways in which automation and digital experiences have enhanced, expanded, and sped up service, not every touch point is ideally served through tech. In this blog we’ll explore key aspects of the customer experience where a

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How the Huberman Podcast is Influencing Retail

Brand Strategy, Packaging Design / Annika Carroll

The wellness industry has been growing rapidly, with technology solutions such as wearables, personalized products such as 3D printed vitamins, and in-home gym and workout equipment. In the retail sector, hot trends in healthy lifestyles are changing certain categories and creating new ones. In today’s blog, we’ll explore how trends in wellness are reshaping health-focussed

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The Impact of Exterior Signage on Customer Connection

Brand Strategy, Packaging Design / Annika Carroll

Exterior signage is your brand’s calling card to the world. It’s a simple element with a massive impact, a visual cue that tells people who you are, what you stand for, and what they can expect inside. In this blog, we dive into why exterior signage matters and how it works. A-Pillar of Brand Identity

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How Dentists Are Leading The Way in Healthcare Clinic Design

Brand Strategy, Packaging Design / Annika Carroll

Dentistry is one of the most aesthetic of the medical professions, so it’s no surprise they lead the way when it comes to clinic design. Modern dental practices have moved away from the sterile, often tired-looking office spaces towards bolder and brighter settings that merge function, hospitality, and style. Ultimately, dentists have proven that interior

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Tackling The Billion-Dollar Returns Waste Crisis

Annika Carroll

Online retail has provided a new channel for growth, but it has also revealed a significant challenge. With return rates averaging 30-40% and soaring to 50% in the fashion industry, the industry is facing a pressing issue. Consumers return products worth a staggering $743 billion annually, constituting about 14.5% of total retail sales. Most of

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Five Signs it’s Time to Update Your Packaging Design

Brand Strategy, Packaging Design / Melinda Deines

Sometimes it’s hard to know when to make a change, and when it comes to packaging design, there is no set rule. However, like any aspects of a brand, packaging can become outdated or ineffective over time. But knowing when to refresh your design can make a huge impact on how your products perform in

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Innovation Meets Recognition! SLD is Proud to Bring Home Four Awards at the 17th Edition GRANDS PRIX DU DESIGN

Annika Carroll

We are excited to announce that SLD has been recognized at the GRANDS DU PRIX DESIGN Awards for our design works on the Chongquing Rural Commercial Bank (CQRC), the Child Development Institute (CDI), Clover Leaf Seafoods, and Merryberrybublé. “Awards are a testament to the strength of our partnerships and the hard work and innovation SLD brings

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How Private Labels Can Capitalize on Value-Based Grocery Shopping

Brand Strategy, Packaging Design / Matthew Wilson

In an uncertain economy, grocery stores have a unique opportunity to win over customers through pricing as food costs continue to rise. With the rapid expansion of private label brands across North America, grocers have been able to introduce excellent private label offerings that deliver both selection and value. With this rise, how can grocery

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How to Deal with FOP Warning Labels and What to Expect

Digital Experiences / Melinda Deines

In Canada, the new front-of-pack labels for foods high in sugar, salt, and saturated fats are the latest in a wave of packaging regulations attempting to help consumers make healthy food choices. In today’s blog, we’ll ask some of the SLD team to weigh in on how they’re working to address the new FOP regulations,

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Digital Signage Study: Impact And Insights

Retail / David Magnus

THINK Digital signage in bank branches has become essential in transforming customer experiences and communication methods. However, there remains a debate in many institutions on the value of investing in digital platforms within the branch. This report confirms the significant impact of digital signage from consumer and banker perspectives, identifying opportunities to improve digital signage

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Creating an Inclusive Environment that Appeals to Gen Z

Digital Experiences / Matthew Wilson

Inclusion has become part of the vocabulary of almost every retailer. While some have introduced inclusive aspects into their retail designs, many still have not met consumer expectations. Gen Z has consistently called for more inclusive environments, with 66% of respondents from our Inclusivity in Retail study indicating that inclusive retail elements enhanced their shopping

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Unlocking Consumer Insights: Best Practices and Tips for Effective Design Concept Research

Digital Experiences / Matthew Wilson

Before launching a new package, store design, logo, or brand design, it’s important to gain consumer insights and feedback. It’s never been easier to research design concepts: platforms like SurveyMonkey, Qualtrics, and Pollfish provide sophisticated testing tools and access to consumer panels across the continent. However, not all research is created equal. To get the

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Why Prioritizing Physical Accessibility In Retail Will Create Brand Loyalty

Digital Experiences / Matthew Wilson

Creating accessible environments is crucial. Retailers invest billions of dollars annually to optimize their retail spaces for customer appeal. However, many do not prioritize inclusive design. Our comprehensive white paper on inclusivity in retail highlights that an accessible store is not just a legal obligation but a strategic asset that enhances customer satisfaction and loyalty

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The Power of Puzzle-Solving and Lotteries for CPG Brands

Brand Engagement, Brand Strategy / Matthew Wilson

In an age of information overload, consumer attention is more divided than ever. CPG brands are constantly searching for new strategies to not only capture attention but to hold it. This brings us to the simple yet powerful tool of gamification. Our 2023 research “Gamification for CPG: The Power of Simple Games and Rewards” demonstrated that

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Navigate And Win The Branch Transformation Race

David Magnus

Many of the world’s largest banks are investing in redesigning their physical networks to better serve their customers. As financial institutions realize the impact that branches have on customer loyalty, it has become increasingly important to prioritize the physical experience. How can mid-size or regional banks keep up? Our webinar, “Navigate And Win The Branch Transformation

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Think Ahead for 2025: What Undercurrents Beyond Trends Brands Need to Know

2025 SLD Trends Report

The Power of Nostalgia: Designing for Instant Emotional Impact

The Top Trends in Brand Strategy and Positioning

Novelty Retail Experiences: Trends and Predictions

What Not To Automate: A retailer’s guide to smarter service experiences

How the Huberman Podcast is Influencing Retail

The Impact of Exterior Signage on Customer Connection

How Dentists Are Leading The Way in Healthcare Clinic Design

Tackling The Billion-Dollar Returns Waste Crisis

Five Signs it’s Time to Update Your Packaging Design

Innovation Meets Recognition! SLD is Proud to Bring Home Four Awards at the 17th Edition GRANDS PRIX DU DESIGN

How Private Labels Can Capitalize on Value-Based Grocery Shopping

How to Deal with FOP Warning Labels and What to Expect

Digital Signage Study: Impact And Insights

Creating an Inclusive Environment that Appeals to Gen Z

Unlocking Consumer Insights: Best Practices and Tips for Effective Design Concept Research

Why Prioritizing Physical Accessibility In Retail Will Create Brand Loyalty

The Power of Puzzle-Solving and Lotteries for CPG Brands

Navigate And Win The Branch Transformation Race

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