All across North America, the decriminalization or legalization of cannabis has given birth to a brand-new industry, and in many places you can now easily purchase cannabis online or in a store. Today we’re speaking to Steffen Schenk from mīhī cannabis. He’s the SVP of Customer Experience, and we are going to talk about how […]
Legal Cannabis and the Retail Experience Read More »
We all know that fashion changes over time but what about the business model for fashion retailers? For a long time, it was a simple process. Customers go to a store, try something on and hopefully make a purchase. However, this is no longer the case as online shopping and subscription and rental services allow
The Future of Fashion Retail Read More »
How well do you know your competition? You know your own business inside out, but when it comes to your competitors, chances are your knowledge is limited to a reactionary perspective. That is, you know your competition about your brand. What if we told you that studying your competition as well as, brands that are
Worksheet: How Brands Can Learn From Their Competitors Read More »
Things used to be so simple. We bought nails at the hardware store, books at the bookstore, coffee from a coffee shop. We lived in communities made up primarily of dwellings, and commuted to work away from our homes. It was an easy time to be a retailer: put up a sign, stock your shelves
The Impact Mixed-Use Spaces Can Have on Retail Read More »
Consumers are more empowered and educated than they’ve ever been throughout the history of modern capitalism. They want to know where their shoes are made, how their coffee was grown, and what conflicts their diamonds might have created, and they can find out in a matter of seconds. Environmental sustainability is a key issue that
Can Brands With A Purpose Be Heroes? Read More »
During the opening night of this year’s ICX Summit, The Interactive Customer Experience Association held their annual Elevate Awards, and SLD is happy to announce that we were awarded Best Retail ICX for the Nu Skin flagship experience center, Nu Xtore. The award is focused on the technological aspects of Nu Xtore, which serves as the
SLD Wins Best Retail ICX at Elevate Awards Read More »
PAC Packaging Consortium held their 2019 Canadian Leadership Awards on June 4, and Shikatani Lacroix Design is proud to have taken home two awards at this year’s event: 2019 New Brand, Food & Beverage and 2019 Rebrand, Non-Food. In the New Brand, Food & Beverage category, SLD was celebrated for the Crave packaging done for
SLD Takes Home Two PAC Canadian Leadership Awards Read More »
With an ever-growing need for things that are faster, smarter and better, customers expect a lot from the brands that they support. Despite this, there are still dreaded friction points along the customer journey that hinder them from buying products and services, making them privy to abandoning their carts and falling right into a competitor’s
How to Avoid Customer Friction Points Read More »
Is bigger always better? Large retailers with multiple locations and a global reach seemingly have infinite capital and resources, but this can come at a cost. The decision makers in these companies are often far removed from their customers, and any initiative to lead change can be met with differing opinions and agendas. Those smaller,
What Big Brands Can Learn From Independent Retailers Read More »
You’re damned if you do, and you’re damned if you don’t. That’s the overwhelming response when you ask foodservice operators about third-party food delivery apps like UberEats, Skip the Dishes and Foodora. Such services say they are opening the door to new customers – but this isn’t what restauranteurs are seeing on the ground. The increase in ordering through
Should Foodservice Embrace Third-Party Delivery? Read More »
Shikatani Lacroix Design is proud to have been inducted into the Class of 2018 at Retail Design Institute’s 48th International Store Design Competition. In celebration of Nu Xtore, an experience center designed by SLD for health and beauty company Nu Skin, this year’s judging panel recognized SLD for excellence in design and execution. The Retail Design
SLD Recognized for Excellence in Design and Execution Read More »
The environmental impact of plastic packages has become an issue customers, brands and governments can no longer ignore. The EU is poised to ban certain single-use plastics within a few years, and other governments are exploring similar policies as we speak. Younger consumers place an even higher importance on environmental issues, making this an important
Beyond Materials: Sustainability in Packaging Read More »
E-commerce is becoming more robust with each passing year, and there is no turning back. According to Statista, online sales corresponded for almost 12 percent of all retail sales worldwide in 2017, and close to 22 percent of the world population currently buys on the internet. These numbers are only increasing. Here are some driving
The Future of E-Commerce is Now Read More »
Shikatani Lacroix Design has added to its strategy team with the addition of two experienced professionals, Kunal Chopra and Glenn Dixon. Kunal is a collaborative and results-oriented business transformation leader and management consultant. With over 20 years of experience within the financial services industry, Kunal focuses on business effectiveness and will bring a new skill
SLD Expands Strategy Team Read More »
Personalization is at the top of every retailer’s list of goals. Win in personalization, and you win loyal customers who spend more. As technology improves, it will become possible to go even deeper and provide customers with highly specific service. In this blog we will explore the top experiences in personalization that are currently available,
Innovative Trends in Retail Personalization Read More »
What was once thought of as pure fantasy is no longer a far-fetched idea: humans inhabiting other planets and bodies in space. NASA is running a design competition for houses that could be 3D printed on Mars. Elon Musk’s SpaceX promises to take tourists on private trips to the moon in the near future. It’s
Why Brands Must Start Thinking About the Moon Read More »
In Desire by Design, Jean-Pierre Lacroix unravels the irrational element of desire and explains how brands, designers, and marketers can tap into the emotional high that elicits such passion for certain brands. Jean-Pierre shapes high-level ideas and insights from neuroscience, cult fanaticism, and behavioral psychology into practical worksheets that explain the “how-to” in creating desire for a brand.
Decisions in the Blink of an Eye Read More »
Retail brands know the key to success is understanding what the customer really wants – ideally before they even know they want it. Market research and consumer data analysts all promise to help retailers answer this tricky question. Most techniques rely on direct consumer feedback – and this may sound reasonable, but the results aren’t
How Neuromarketing is Changing the Retail Industry Read More »
Saying that a company’s staff is the best ambassador to its brand has become incontestable. After all, who knows more about a business’ product, service, or culture than someone who works there? Consumers usually see the way an employee portrays a company as more credible than advertising or other marketing efforts. However, the company and
How to Turn Staff into Brand Ambassadors Read More »
As digital technology enables new opportunities for automation across various industries, it makes sense that subscription services have evolved and gained popularity in recent years. These services, such as Netflix and Birchbox, are essentially automated shopping – improving efficiencies in the lives of their customers while generating recurring payments and building strong brand relationships. According
What is the Future of Subscription Services? Read More »
