To most, shopping means paying a visit to your favorite store or mall to give yourself a feel-good experience that results in instant gratification. You leave the store feeling satisfied and well taken care of. Often, retail associates are there to offer assistance every step of the way, and, most importantly, give a sense of […]
Online Personalization Strategies for Fashion Retailers Read More »
Brainstorming is a practice that most businesses need to employ from time to time, but it’s not as simple as just getting a bunch of people together with a whiteboard and some sticky notes. It’s a real skill. It requires a lot of preparation, guidance, structure and a plan. You need to be able to
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WHY ARE SOME PEOPLE AGAINST MASKS? The vocal minority of anti-science activists appear to be hogging the spotlight as the pandemic surges on, with anti-mask communities spreading misinformation on social media to the general public. This misinformation ranges from dangerously believable to full conspiracy theories. One approach is spreading “alarmist” statements, for example claiming that
Four Ways That Brands Can Encourage Mask-Wearing Read More »
What does the store of the future look like? The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted the entire world, and retailers are no exception. While countless well known brands have closed their doors for good, others have adapted with new and innovative ways of doing business. An accelerated move to online shopping, the ability to buy online and pick up in
Think: Inspiring the Future of Retail Read More »
COVID-19 has accelerated many trends, one of which is the demise of poor performing retail chains. In recent recent news, brands such as Brooks Brothers and Pier 1 Imports have joined an extensive list of retailers filing for Chapter 11. For many retailers, even before the pandemic the size of their network was bloated and brought down the overall performance
Why Retail Stores Are More Important Than Ever 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 »
We all know COVID has changed the game for many retail categories. Some have been obvious winners and others are feeling extremely strained. For the fashion industry, some are saying the pandemic may be a day of reckoning and there are many news about fashion now a days including information about the famous Paul Smith’s
What COVID-19 Means for the Fashion Industry Read More »
Your brand’s reputation does a great deal of heavy lifting: it draws in and retains loyal consumers while paving a path to long-term success. Unfortunately, brand reputation is also the most fragile asset your brand owns. As Warren Buffet put it, “it takes 20 years to build a reputation and five minutes to ruin it.”
How to Overcome Negative Brand Perceptions Read More »
The retail industry is one that has been significantly impacted by technology with the growth of online-only retail platforms, the rising cost of labor and the growth of alternative payment platforms such as mobile wallets. Ironically, in spite of this disruption, our retail consumer study conducted in May clearly identifies that retail stores remain a
COVID-19: Retail’s New Reality Read More »
To help retailers better understand how to navigate through COVID-19 and its eventual aftermath, SLD has conducted consumer and industry studies to determine how the needs and behaviors of shoppers have been impacted by the current pandemic. Watch as Jean-Pierre Lacroix, President of SLD, and Lance Itkoff, President and CEO of Grafton Apparel (parent company of Tip
COVID-19: How Retailer’s Can Remain Relevant Read More »
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 »
Amidst COVID-19, many retail industry experts’ response to the pandemic has been to question the future relevance of the bricks and mortar retail channel. They argue the pandemic has accelerated the current damage created by trade wars, the consumer shift to online retailers and the fact that North America is over stored, leading to the
Strategies For Retail Brands During and After COVID-19 Read More »
As cannabis legalization sweeps through North America there’s been a corresponding race for brands entering the market in what has amounted to a gold rush turn green. And Organigram is one such brand, they’ve been in the market from the time that medical cannabis became legal in Canada in 2013 and they now offer a
The Highs and Lows of the Legal Cannabis Industry 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 »
https://www.sld.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/TipTop_banner2.mp4 Fitted Confidence Tip Top leverages an updated brand and store design to revitalize their brand for a new generation. CLIENT Grafton Apparel Ltd. PROJECT Tip Top Store Experience RELATED SERVICE Brand Strategy Visual Identity Design Digital Experiences Retail Design THINK Tip Top wanted to appeal to a younger demographic – but without alienating their
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 »
Following the recession in the late 2000’s, consumers tightened their proverbial belts and ushered in an era that was dubbed the New Frugality. At the time, economists predicted that consumers would be more conscious about what they were spending their money on and a renewed focus would collectively be placed on making the most of every
Why Retailers Should Embrace “Little Luxuries” Read More »
https://www.sld.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/ReceptionMeshWall_FINAL_1280.mp4 THE FOUNTAIN OF YOU More than just a place to buy products, Nu Xtore blurs the line between gallery, science center, community hub, and event space. CLIENT Nu Skin PROJECT Nu Xtore RELATED SERVICE Brand EngagementDigital ExperienceEnvironmental Design THINK The Nu Xtore had to achieve a variety of goals: to promote Nu Skin’s innovation
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
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