In spite of new agreements such as CUSMA (the new NAFTA) and the China – US managed trade pact, trade wars can be expected to continue as long as protectionism remains a global trend. For foodservice operators, this presents a destabilizing pressure as food costs and availability fluctuates, in some cases wildly. Consider the proposed tariff on […]
What Rising Food Costs Mean for Foodservice Brands Read More »
Purchase behaviors are often recurring in nature and performed in specific places. Over time repetitive buying behaviors are less driven by goals and intentions leading us to develop purchase habits. When habits have been formed, environmental cues can activate practiced responses in the absence of conscious decision-making. Purchase decisions can also be influenced by elements better
How to Strategically Design Purchase Drivers Read More »
For the majority of indie start-up brands, design seems like something of a luxury. Indie operators end up doing a lot of the work on their own, relying on an ad hoc internet education to patch together something that feels like an image. Once they grow and have a bit of money, then investing in
Why Design Deserves a Seat at the Table Read More »
Held in partnership with Digital Signage Expo 2020, SEGD Branded Environments is set to take place in Las Vegas for the fourth year in a row. An event focused on “the design of brand-centric customer experiences,” SEGD Branded Environments promises a great lineup of speakers, tour offerings, and opportunities to network. As part of the
SEGD Branded Environments 2020 Read More »
If brands could correctly predict the future, product and service development would be a lot easier. Strategies could be planned well before disruptors emerge, and there would be advanced warnings for customer attitude shifts and upcoming trends. Unfortunately, it is highly unlikely that anyone will be 100 percent correct in future predictions. Luckily, there are
Worksheet: Techniques to Plan for Future Trends and Scenarios Read More »
Soaring property values, increased urban dwelling, housing shortages and stagnating salaries are just some of the factors that are keeping younger generations out of the housing market. Many millennials now say they do not think they’ll ever be able to afford a home, and things are even bleaker for Generations Z and Alpha. And for
How A Decline in Home Ownership Will Impact Brands Read More »
In this episode, SLD’s Jean-Pierre Lacroix has a conversation with Simon Stenning, a consultant who works exclusively in the foodservice and hospitality sector, providing brands with actionable market intelligence. Simon’s background includes working with huge names like Hilton and Compass. Transcript Melinda: Hi, I’m Melinda from SLD, and you’re listening to Think Retail. Today, SLD’s
Luxurious vs. Value Experiences in Foodservice Read More »
The new year ushers in a need to confirm and reassess an organization’s business plan to determine how to reach their overall goals. While these key success factors in business are commonplace, business leaders often take for granted some of the basic things found within them, such as the difference between strategies and their supporting tactics. We
The Differences Between Strategies and Tactics Read More »
If you’ve ever managed a brand transformation, you know that it can often be a juggling act. With potentially hundreds of balls In the air at once, it’s hard to shake the nagging feeling that you’ve forgotten something. We’ve put together this handy checklist to help calm your concerns. Fill out the form below to
Check Off Every Step of Your Brand Transformation Read More »
Is your delivery process enhancing feelings of excitement or is it making customers feel worried, frustrated and/or upset? How and when products are received has a strong impact on the overall experience a customer has with your brand. An order that arrives late or damaged, is incorrect, goes missing or stolen, or is handled by
The Future of Shipping and Delivery Read More »
We are nearing the end of 2019 with the milestone year 2020 arriving in just couple of days. The ushering in of a new year brings an abundance of predictions of what to expect and solutions to consider. These predictions will most likely include the continued growth of Fintech, the ongoing omni-channel shift, the further
Using Strategic Foresight to Look Ahead to 2030 Read More »
Agency Spotter has released its latest Top 50 Branding Agencies Report, and SLD is proud to have ranked #9 on a list in which almost 2,000 branding agencies were evaluated. Based on credentials, expertise, client feedback and project work, Agency Spotter’s quarterly report highlights the top branding agencies from around the globe. SLD is just
SLD Makes “Top 50 Branding Agencies” List Read More »
Consumers have made a significant shift to shopping and banking online and through their mobile devices. Despite this, the promised benefits of utilizing mobile to make the bricks-and-mortar experience more convenient and engaging have not yet come to fruition. Mobile devices have evolved significantly, but the bandwidth that serves as their backbone has not, leaving
5 Insights for a 5G World Read More »
Where will disruption in the banking industry come from next? Just when banks have caught up to digital banking platforms innovated by Fintechs and are embarking on building meaningful, trusting relationships with customers, something else will come along and throw a wrench in the works. Knowing what’s coming is half the battle. Read this white
The Three Big Changes That Are Coming to Banking (And How to Handle Them) Read More »
The majority of companies today are going through varying degrees of transformation to remain competitive. The changes range from improving efficiencies through new technologies and processes to rethinking supply chain in order to gain greater value. Irrespective of the degree or area of change, the biggest challenge in ensuring organizational change is executed quickly is
5 Ways To Ensure Your Employees Embrace Change Read More »
Retail banks have spent years catching up with the wave of technological advances that shook the industry with the impact of startup fintech companies. Now that the dust is settling and most large banks are well on their way to providing seamless digital banking solutions, what will differentiate one bank from another? How will retail
Why the Bank Branch is Still Relevant Read More »
As the applications for Artificial Intelligence (AI) become broader, we are told to expect a brave new world. In spite of the hype around smart machines, the truth is that we don’t know how an onslaught of robot workers will change the planet, and for retailers, how that will directly affect their business. What we
How Retail Brands Can Leverage AI Read More »
Part of SLD’s team recently had the opportunity to attend a Capital Markets workshop hosted by CIBC. The event focused on the current global economic cycle and discussed whether a new financial crisis could be on the horizon. CIBC’s top analysts also provided great insights and trends on the Merge & Acquisitions market. Here are our
Highlights from CIBC’s Capital Markets Workshop Read More »
As retailers look to provide a credible response to the online-only threat of companies such as Amazon and eBay, the option for buying online and picking-up in store (BOPIS) is gaining traction. The initiative is part of a larger focus on providing customers with greater convenience, from speeding up delivery and reducing inefficiencies, to better leveraging
How to Deliver the Best BOPIS Experience Read More »
There was a time when everybody made their own clothes or had them made by a tailor or seamstress. You had only a few things in your wardrobe, but they fit you perfectly and were made to last. Fast forward to today, we’ve got ubiquitous, cheap, fast clothing in abundance but there’s a wave rising
The Keys to a Bespoke Apparel Experience Read More »
