Every project needs to be clearly defined from the onset to ensure the efforts and investment provide the greatest chance for success. A poorly defined direction or desired outcome has the potential of creating internal strife, anxiety and lack of cohesion, putting at risk not only the given initiative but many future projects as companies […]
Worksheet: Project Charter Read More »
Cable, internet, and mobile phones have been the bread and butter of telcos for many years, however, growth in these categories is dwindling and brands are beginning to feel the heat. Today, we speak to Will Gibson, a telco retail and marketing expert who’s seen the industry shift from his days at Blockbuster to becoming
How Telco Companies Can Remain Relevant Read More »
Restaurateurs know that although the food is critical, it’s only one of the factors that determines success. In this extraordinarily competitive market, the guest experience has always mattered and today it’s more important than ever. Whether your restaurant brand is fun and raucous or elegant and luxurious, paying attention to every point along the guest’s
Creating the Holy Trinity of Restaurant Experiences Read More »
Customer Segmentation is the division of a specific market into buckets of customers who share similar characteristics. However, gone are the days that big financial institutions can afford to segment their customers by merely using demographic criteria, including age and income, or firmographic attributes such as industry or company size. With fierce competition from fintechs and
Useful Customer Segmentation Methods for Banks Read More »
Do you understand your customer? It’s no longer enough to just know their age bracket, gender, and general interests. Do you know what emotions they’re feeling while looking to satisfy their needs? What thoughts go through their head when walking through a retail store? What online platforms they browse and what time of day they
How to Develop a Customer Journey Map Read More »
Since the breakthrough of technology, Millennials have changed the way retailers must accommodate shopping patterns. However, as “digital natives” Gen Z shoppers are creating an even bigger impact and challenge for retailers to provide the desired retail experience. Although Gen Z’s are typically thought of to be heavily reliant on technology, their shopping habits are
Gen Z’s Perspective on Retail Experience Read More »
Imagine the day a car can become an extension of your living room, where you can continue your leisurely activity of choice while being transported to your final destination. Well, it could be coming as soon as 2030! Self-driving cars are all over the news, with much publicity and anticipation as this futuristic marvel is quickly
How Self-Driving Cars Will Impact Retailers Read More »
Every retail brand on the planet is talking about consumer data and it’s being pitched as the magical key to personalization, which in turn promises greater loyalty and repeat purchases. Having Amazon prompt you to repurchase an item like toilet paper might seem innocuous and maybe even helpful. However, the line between personalized and downright
Why Should Consumers Share their Data with You? Read More »
Not only does a successful brand clearly define a unique and ownable position in the market, they also deliver on their promise and make an emotional connection with their customers. Brand assets such as tradition and performance are still relevant to consumers; however, these are ceasing to determine solely whether a person buys from one
The Evolution of Brand Activism Read More »
Marie Kondo has made the old adage “less is more” feel fresh again. In her popular Netflix show she helps people de-clutter homes by asking them to decide if the items they own spark joy. Anything that doesn’t meet this standard simply shouldn’t be in your home, she posits. The idea, one that resonates with many, is
What the End of Mass Consumption Means for Retailers Read More »
In celebration of Jean-Pierre Lacroix’s latest book, Think: The Future of Retail Banking, SLD recently held a book launch in Toronto. Along with an enlightening panel discussion, Jean-Pierre delivered a keynote presentation that focused on what the bank of the future will look like, and what emerging customer needs and disruptors banks should be aware of.
Think: The Future of Retail Banking Book Launch Presentation Read More »
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 »
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 »
Smart Banking promised to herald in the convenience of digital technology and more personalized customer service. Today most would agree what was imagined as utopia has yet to materialize for banks pioneering this new branch format. Early attempts have demonstrated that consumers remain attached to in-branch human interaction and are skeptical of the merits of
Five Strategies for Implementing a Smart Bank Read More »
From focus groups and brainstorming sessions to virtual reality and neuroscience, Jean-Pierre Lacroix’s newest book, Think: The Future of Retail Banking, leverages extensive research and design concepts to present a hypothesis on what the bank of the future could look like. In celebration of the new book, which is available for free download, we sat down with
An Interview with Jean-Pierre Lacroix Read More »
Shikatani Lacroix Design (SLD) is excited to announce the release of their newest book, Think: The Future of Retail Banking. Written by Jean-Pierre Lacroix, founder and president of Shikatani Lacroix Design and SLDNXT, the new book is now available for free download. Think: The Future of Retail Banking is based on extensive research conducted by SLD. Through the use
Think: The Future of Retail Banking Available for Download Read More »
The relevance of retail banking is under siege. Banks are responding with new formats, smaller footprints, and a nimbler approach to change. While banks have focused intensely on driving cost down through automated digital technologies, this has put retail banks at risk of losing their human connection with customers and losing marketshare to non-traditional banks.
Think: The Future of Retail Banking 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 »
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 »
