Brand Strategy – Page 16

Shikatani Lacroix Celebrates New Maplewave Transformation

Maplewave, formerly Master Merchant Systems (MMS), has partnered with Toronto branding and design firm Shikatani Lacroix for a transformative rebrand of the company. To support the reinvention of the MMS brand, Shikatani Lacroix led a process with Maplewave’s company leadership to help develop a new name, logo, website, and cohesive brand experience across all collateral […]

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Embrace Social Responsibility with New Ethics Standards

Financial Services / Sebastian Maynard

Banks have been offering ethical funds as part of their investment offerings for some time now. However, the same way that packaged goods companies have been criticized for greenwashing, (using language that suggests environmentally-friendly qualities that a product does not actually possess), banks are also going to find themselves under increasing scrutiny when it comes

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Channel Strategy and the Bank Brand

Leave a Comment / Financial Services / Sebastian Maynard

The longevity of bank branches and other legacy channels have been called into question. As channel strategy shifts, so must the ways that financial institutions interact with their customers. In this white paper, independent banking adviser David Cavell explores the value of bank brands, branches, and channel strategy. Fill out the form below to download

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Financial Brand Forum 2018

Leave a Comment / Sebastian Maynard

Crafting a ‘Branch of the Future’ Design Strategy in the Digital Age As the role of branches continues to evolve, banks and credit unions alike are wrestling with big questions about their retail strategy. How do you ensure your branch network remains relevant with today’s digital consumers? Should you consider alternative branch formats, and if

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6 Ways Local Grocers can Beat Big Brands and Thrive

Food Service / Sebastian Maynard

Big brand grocery stores dominate the Canadian and US marketplace. From Trader Joe’s to Loblaws to Costco, whether you want cheap groceries or specialty items, the grocery wars are being waged with all guns blazing: private label programs, new interior design that mimics marketplaces, and deals, deals, deals. It seems as though there might not be room left for a

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Are Smart Banks a Smart Idea?

Leave a Comment / Financial Services / Sebastian Maynard

“Smart banking” is a catchy phrase that implies that the banking experience is better for customers. But the reality is that smart banking isn’t any smarter than banking used to be. This white paper explores the limits and possibilities of the smart banking trend and will help you decide if it’s right for your financial institution. Fill out

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What Drives Customer Loyalty?

Financial Services / Sebastian Maynard

The biggest challenge in any industry, from foodservice to banking, is the fact that customer loyalty is always diminishing. With new start-ups, disruptive platforms challenging the status quo, and aggressive competitors who want to win at any cost, the quest for customer loyalty has never been more difficult. It’s not that the factors or metrics

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Bagged or Boxed? The Future of Retail

2 Comments / Sebastian Maynard

Experts often define the future of retail by the digital innovations shaking up the industry. But those definitions fail to consider the most important factor: how customers feel about the shopping experience. James Cook, Americas Director of Research, Retail, at JLL, sat down with Shikatani Lacroix president Jean-Pierre Lacroix to discuss the information behind “Bagged

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Shikatani Lacroix Expands North American Team

Leave a Comment / Sebastian Maynard

TORONTO – Branding and design agency Shikatani Lacroix is expanding its team and US presence with the addition of Ian Magrisso and Carlos Garza to its roster. “We are thrilled to welcome Ian and Carlos to our team,” said Jean-Pierre Lacroix, president of Shikatani Lacroix. “Their combined skills and experience will amplify our impact across

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Predictions for Retail Banking in 2018

Leave a Comment / Financial Services / Sebastian Maynard

2017 marked a strong shift in the political climate with the election of a controversial American president. Nationalist and liberal factions are widening around the globe, climate change is lashing out at the planet with increased flooding, hurricanes, and wildfires, and NAFTA appears to be hanging by a thread. What does all this mean for banks?

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Who Customers Turn to for Financial Advice

Financial Services / Sebastian Maynard

If you had a problem with your mortgage, which of these experts would you trust for advice? A) A bank advisor; B) a television personality; C) your parents; D) the internet. The answer might seem obvious, but you’d be surprised how many people would have trouble figuring out the solution. We’ve talked before about the advice

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No, Your Bank Doesn’t Need a Coffee Shop

Financial Services / Sebastian Maynard

There is a growing trend for banks to partner with millennial-friendly retailers in the hopes of driving traffic and relevancy for their branches. From credit unions to large banks, such as Capital One’s foray into cafe experiences that rival some of the best coffee chains, the allure of finding a complimentary partner to drive branch

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Building Stores for the Future – Where We Buy

Leave a Comment / Sebastian Maynard

Jean-Pierre “JP” Lacroix of Shikatani Lacroix Design shows how technology has blurred the lines between the physical and digital world, both in the store and in the retail design process. The firm uses VR tools to do fast iterative design of retail environments and test them with customers. A digital shoe display knows which pair of Adidas one is examining in the

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What Will Channel Strategy Look Like in 2025?

Financial Services / Sebastian Maynard

Defining the future of banking is a difficult endeavor we have decided to take on, and one key aspect we are often asked about is whether or not the channel structure will resemble anything we are familiar with, or if it will drastically change. Before we look at how we believe the channel strategy will

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Are Convenience Stores Becoming the New Quick-Service Restaurants?

2 Comments / Food Service / Sebastian Maynard

Traditionally, food from convenience stores often focuses on packaged snacks, and hot food offerings may be perceived to be of dubious quality. Yet according to research from Nation’s Restaurant News, convenience store food quality is improving, shifting consumer perceptions and becoming a threat to fast food restaurants. However, if a fast food restaurant has moved in

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Should Supermarkets Launch their own Foodservice Brand?

Leave a Comment / Food Service / Sebastian Maynard

Grocery chains, food specialty stores, even convenience stores and gas stations are serving up hot meals to millions of hungry, hurried customers – 2.4 billion meals in 2015 as a matter of fact. From Loblaws’ bakery-cafes serving coffee and cupcakes, to food halls with servers and salad bars at Whole Foods, grocers are tapping into

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7 Novelty Experiences for Retail Banks

Financial Services / Sebastian Maynard

Virgin Money got some well-deserved attention this week for its new UK retail space, which features bowling, air hockey, pool, and other lounge elements to redefine the banking experience. In an industry often seen as stodgy and old-fashioned, Virgin Money did the unthinkable – it made banking fun. So, whether you’re planning your own exciting new branch

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Preparing Your Bank Transformation RFP

Leave a Comment / Financial Services / Sebastian Maynard

Preparing an effective Request for Proposal (RFP) can make the difference between a successful or an unsuccessful bank transformation. This white paper covers six strategies for creating a strong RFP based on three decades of experience on both the client and supplier sides of the experience. Fill out the form below to download the full

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Branch Transformation 2017

Leave a Comment / Sebastian Maynard

Avoid Branch Disruption The death of branches is a topic of many boardroom discussions, but has been greatly misunderstood and even exaggerated. From channel restructuring to branch footprint downsizing, as well as the use of new digital technologies to reduce the cost of transactions, banks have done a great job of reducing the customer experience to

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Is Online Shopping the Demise of (Some) Retailers?

Retail / Sebastian Maynard

How does anyone in retail sleep at night? Hundreds of retailers have filed for bankruptcy this year, including Toys “R” Us with over $5 billion USD in debt, making it the third largest retail bankruptcy in history. Some forecast that “Retail is Dead”, and with the collapse of companies like Sears it’s not hard to

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