Inspiring the Future of Consumer Experiences
Inspiring the Future of Consumer Experiences
It’s always fun to wrap up a year with a retrospective on the most interesting brand stories. However, 2023 was not exactly a fun year. With the overwhelming number of gravely serious events unfolding around us, good news has been hard to come by. In our look back on 2023, we won’t avoid some of […]
The Best and Worst Brand Stories of 2023 Read More »
In the previous blog, we explored how culture influences creativity, starting with inspiration from the continent of Asia. This time, we’re heading to Europe, a place where packaging design has a long and fascinating history. European packaging design is known for its versatility, combining both classic and modern styles of design. It’s a diverse world
What can CPG brands learn from packaging design in Europe? Read More »
Starting a business is like building a house – there are some fundamentals you must get right to ensure it stays standing and provides a foundation for the future. From building a business case to naming and branding, this toolkit will help entrepreneurs and indie brands build a solid foundation. This easy-to-follow worksheet will help
Indie Brand Launch Kit: How to Set Your Brand Up for Success Read More »
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
Brand Implementation: What it is, Why it’s Important, and How to Succeed Read More »
Social media is constantly evolving. Something as little as removing the number of likes can make a big difference in the way users respond to a post. Just when marketers feel like they figured it out, a new platform, a new trend, or a tweak to the algorithm switches it all up again. Today, we’re
Social Media Trends In Retail Read More »
Every other day, you read a headline about labor shortages hurting restaurants and hospitality. In some places, companies are recruiting 14-year-olds, while others are offering big signing bonuses. Many restaurants are closing their doors several days a week because they don’t have enough staff to stay open, further hurting businesses that have managed barely to
The Future of the Hospitality Industry Read More »
The GRANDS PRIX DU DESIGN Awards are an annual celebration of the “designers and architects who improve our quality of life and the built environment.” Now in its 14th year, the first round of winners were recently announced, and SLD is proud to have been recognized with awards for our work with bbtease, Maxwell House,
SLD Takes Home Four Awards at Grands Prix Du Design Read More »
From fitness and nutrition to sleep and mindfulness, wellness means something different to everyone, and COVID-19 has led a lot of people to place a renewed emphasis on living happier and healthier lives. This trend is not going away, even post-pandemic, and as such, consumers are looking for holistic and inclusive offerings from the health
Exploring the Future of Wellness Brand Experiences Read More »
In North America, demographic changes are creating a more diverse customer base. This means brand strategy and marketing needs to become more inclusive quickly. But some marketers are nervous about making mistakes trying to speak to audiences with different experiences. Today our guest is Puja Prakash, a graduate student at OCAD, completing her Master’s in
Why Authenticity and Inclusivity Must Go Hand-in-Hand Read More »
Already trending before COVID-19, online shopping for groceries and other consumer packaged goods has skyrocketed during the pandemic. As CPG brands look ahead, many are asking how sticky this new behavior will be, what they can do to stand out on a virtual shelf, and how to approach their own e-commerce sites. This study will
E-Commerce for CPG: Key Consumers & Emerging Behaviors Read More »
If video games weren’t hot already, the pandemic sent gaming through the roof as more kids and even adults searched for something fun to do during lockdowns. Even as economies open up and the bump eases, video games are, now and forever, a deeply entrenched part of young people’s lives. Retail brands hoping to engage
Retail and Video Games – Exploring What’s Possible Read More »
Inclusive brand marketing has become a hot topic, and for good reason. By 2036, the number of Canadians who are foreign-born will about 1 in 3, with around 35 percent belonging to one or more visible minority groups. Today, nearly 4 in 10 Americans identify their race or ethnicity as something other than white, with
Inclusive Brand Marketing 101 Read More »
Many of the attitudes and behaviours that have driven decision making for retail brands have been called into question by the pandemic, but there are other forces disrupting the consumer-brand relationship. At SLD, one that we think is critical is the rise of fake news and misinformation, especially on social platforms. We wanted to determine
DeepReal: Strategies for CPG Brands in the Age of Misinformation Read More »
From Fake News to Deepfakes, it is no surprise that consumers have become wary of the information they receive – whether it comes from the news, social media, or a brand. To help understand how current market trends are impacting a consumers ability to make confident decisions, and what they expect from brands in an age
At SLD, part of what we do is trends analysis. And since clients are always asking for our perspective on various emerging innovations and ideas, we thought we would make this part of what we share with you on the podcast. Today I’m joined by podcast producer and Digital Marketing Strategist, Sebastian Maynard – you may recognize his
Trends in Online Social Engagement Read More »
The wellness industry is booming. From yoga-mats and home gyms to the ever-growing organic aisle of the supermarket, consumers are seeking out products that encourage and nurture their wellbeing. As the industry grows, so does the need for a cohesive brand image that promotes wellness values. As always, product packaging speaks volumes- and for brands
The Importance of Sustainability for CPG Brands Read More »
Generation Z is poised to overtake Millennials as the main demographic brands want to target and understand. However, it’s problematic to lump an entire generation together simply based on their birth date. There is a tendency for media and marketers to make sweeping statements that often don’t go very deep. While trends can help point
Micro Markets and How to Engage Gen Z Consumers Read More »
There are many lessons to be taken from COVID-19 and how consumers have changed their shopping habits. From online versus in-store to big box versus mom and pops, some shifts may have longer-term ramifications than others. One interesting (if not surprising) result of the current pandemic is that brand loyalty is often replaced in favor
The Four Characteristics that Define Indie Brands Read More »
It has been quite telling over the years working with retail brands, whenever you bring up the subject of employee engagement, it’s usually not a top priority. Everybody is so focused on e-commerce and social media that employees are often treated as an afterthought. And while digital is, of course, critical for any brand in
Training Your Staff to Become Better Leaders Read More »
2020 was a tough year for many, and although 2021 is looking a little more hopeful, the fact remains that our way of life will be very different moving forward. As a result, brands should consider how to best support their customers. A year marked by a global pandemic, widespread social protests, and man-made environmental
Show Me You Care: Building a Social Brand in 2021 Read More »
