Retail

Attracting Gen Z to the Retail Industry: The Changing Needs of Younger Talent

Labor shortages have hit the retail industry hard. COVID may have been the catalyst for many to leave the industry, but the conditions for this crisis pre-date the pandemic. Employee motivation in the retail sector has been on the decline for ages. Conditions today are challenging for retailers: economic uncertainty, inflation, and supply chain issues […]

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Reducing Inflation Anxiety in Retail: Strategies for Creating a Positive Shopping Experience

In many households across the world, inflation has become a source of concern. This includes Canada, where inflation reached 8.1% in the first six months of 2022 and grocery prices rose at the fastest rate since 1981. With 55% of Canadian respondents in recent studies concerned about inflation, compared to 39% globally, it’s clear that

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Future-Proof Your Company: Top Metrics to Measure for Resilience and Innovation

Brand Strategy, Thought Leadership / Matthew Wilson

Planning for future disruptions is critical to remain competitive. Predicting change far into the future is becoming more challenging. According to our recent study on measuring what matters, focusing solely on return on investment is no longer the best predictor of performance and resilience. Estimating a company’s future value or investment involves metrics such as

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4 Reasons Why Your Company Needs an Employee Rewards Program

Retail / Matthew Wilson

Companies are increasingly using rewards programs to motivate and retain employees and customers. Industries can benefit from an employee rewards program, which combines various elements to recognize employees for their work and dedication. For instance, finance, a sector often plagued by high customer attrition and average employee satisfaction, can significantly improve its outlook with such

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Brand Implementation: What it is, Why it’s Important, and How to Succeed

Brand Strategy, Retail / Matthew Wilson

Successful brands understand their true value is not a product or service, but the consistent delivery of an idea that resonates with their consumer. Nike sells empowerment, not shoes. Apple sells innovation, not computers. Sephora sells self-expression, not cosmetics, and so on. But simply identifying a powerful position is not enough. How consistently and authentically

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No More Plastic Bags: What’s Next For Sustainable Packaging?

Packaging Design / Matthew Wilson

The growing public demand to reduce wasteful packaging materials that harm the environment is forcing businesses to look elsewhere. Consumer packaged goods (CPG) companies are shifting to more sustainable packaging, signaling the end of the era of single-use plastic. Straws, plastic cutlery, takeout containers, six-pack rings, and other plastic packaging are being phased out around

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Unlocking the Power of Customer Experience Assessment: Best Practices for Evaluating Your CX Program

Brand Strategy / Matthew Wilson

The pandemic deprived many of engaging in physical experiences for too long, driving a heightened need for customers to connect with live people and physical experiences. However, this hunger highlighted the importance of brands in delivering a high level of service and overall positive customer expectations. A key challenge in meeting these needs is the

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How Brands Are Delivering High-Touch Service Experiences In 2022

Retail Design / Matthew Wilson

In 2022, in spite of inflation and the threat of a recession, consumers flocked to stores, restaurants, and other in-person experiences after several years of COVID-related barriers. Concerts were sold out, restaurants were booked weeks in advance, and wedding season was outright crazy – all while venues, stores, and kitchens were understaffed. Although consumers may

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What Will 2023 Look Like For Retail Brands?

Brand Strategy, Retail, Thought Leadership / Matthew Wilson

We are emerging from the pandemic and should expect a period of chaos as customers establish new values, such as working from home, inflation, and the recession. At the same time, companies try to respond to remain relevant. Our predictions for 2022 were fairly accurate, citing increased automation, the need to go green, the emergence

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SLD’s 2023 Trends Report

Retail / Matthew Wilson

As the calendar turns to the new year, brands have faced numerous challenges throughout the year. From growing digital workforces to the latest NFT craze, brands have found success by listening to what their customers and audiences truly want. 2023 is set to be a year when brands show their appreciation for not only their

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Why Digital Signage Content Design Is The Best Way To Connect Locally

Brand Strategy, Customer Experience, Digital Experiences / Matthew Wilson

With the introduction of digital displays and, more importantly, the limitless possibilities of digital signage content designs, signage has entered the technological era. Any screen that a company can use to display any type of content, such as public information, internal content for employees, product and service offerings to customers, and promotions driving brand awareness,

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How the Circular Economy Builds Customer and Brand Loyalty

Retail, Retail Design, Specialty Retail / Matthew Wilson

Circular retail services are gaining popularity among businesses looking to limit their environmental impact and remain relevant in a changing landscape. With society in the early stages of developing effective closed-loop business models, we set out to investigate best retail practices within the circular economy. The study focuses on three key sections – refill, return,

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5 Promising Examples Of Prosperous Brands Using Circular Business Models

Packaging Design / Matthew Wilson

The global prevalence of climate-related disasters has increased the focus on finding solutions to the climate crisis. According to the most recent Nielsen Global Corporate Sustainability report, 66% of consumers, up from 50% in 2013, are willing to change their purchasing habits to help the environment. Brands with sustainable initiatives have grown by 4% in

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The Circular Economy Webinar

David Magnus

The world as we know it is changing. Human reliance on plastic, combined with its long lifespan, has resulted in a global buildup of plastic waste. According to research, the average American generates nearly 221 kilograms of plastic waste per year, creating billions of tonnes of waste worldwide. With this in mind, and with increased

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11 Best Better-For-You Food Packaging Design Strategies For Grocery Store Success

Brand Strategy, Packaging Design / Matthew Wilson

The trend towards better-for-you foods and beverages has been ongoing and continues as the pandemic reignited our desire to be healthy. In fact, 93% of people say they eat healthy some of the time, while 63% say they eat healthy most or all of the time, and 52% follow some kind of eating pattern, up

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Why Multi-Use Retail Spaces Are Key To Successful Retail Stores

Retail, Retail Design / Matthew Wilson

The number of multi-use retail spaces has increased dramatically as retail stores have become increasingly focused on providing a unique, memorable experience for their customers. Retailers are increasingly blurring the line between a shopping destination and a lifestyle destination, with more stores offering multiple in-store experiences that go beyond shopping. Experimenting with innovative in-store concepts

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Overcoming Bad Press

Brand Strategy / Matthew Wilson

No brand is immune to falling from grace even beloved brands have come under fire for both serious misconduct and things that are completely beyond their control. Some have managed to regain consumer confidence while others stumbled for years or even completely faltered. In today’s conversation, we’re talking about how brands need to address negative

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How to Hire More Retail Workers with a Powerful Employee Value Proposition

Brand Strategy, Corporate Identity, Retail / Matthew Wilson

In the midst of a global labor shortage, retail brands are dealing with chronic understaffing in their stores. Frontline employees are the face of retail brands; they provide service, advice and guidance, and assistance with complex transactions. A positive experience with an engaged employee can have a significant impact on the customer experience. However, with

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5 Interesting Ways to Humanize the Banking Customer Experience

Financial Services, Retail / Jean-Pierre Lacroix

The Banking Experience Summit recently convened leading bankers from three continents in Chicago to discuss the industry’s challenges and the future of banking. The two-day event drew more than 40 top institutions, ranging from large national and regional banks like JP Morgan Chase and Regions Bank to a diverse range of mid-sized institutions and credit

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Understanding Customer Segmentation