Environmental Design

Inspiring Retail Concepts from 2019

Customer Experience, Design Innovation, Retail Design / Sebastian Maynard

In 2019, the retail landscape experienced a significant transformation, shifting from traditional stores to innovative concepts that embraced the idea of “retail PLUS.” These forward-thinking retail spaces redefined the shopping experience, emphasizing more than just the act of purchasing. Instead, they became places for experimentation, entertainment, learning, and play. One such trendsetter in this evolving […]

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Increasing Sales With The Five Emotional Levers

Brand Engagement, Customer Experience / Sebastian Maynard

Emotions drive the majority of our purchase decisions and most are at a deep rooted subconscious level. Our previous blog on neuroscience research reviewed the new tools available for marketers that are wanting a stronger understanding of how their customers feel towards various research stimuli. However, there are a variety of factors marketers and retailers can consider

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SLD and U.S. Bank Win Best Branch Experience

Leave a Comment / Sebastian Maynard

Shikatani Lacroix Design and U.S. Bank are proud to have been awarded First Place in the Best Branch Experience category at the 2019 Bank Customer Experience Summit. The award is in recognition of a new branch design created with U.S. Bank. “Winning Best Branch Experience is a tremendous honor,” says Jean-Pierre Lacroix, President of SLD.

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How Telco Companies Can Remain Relevant

Leave a Comment / Brand Strategy, Business development, Customer Experience / Sebastian Maynard

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

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“The Most Interesting Store in the World”

Customer Experience, Environmental Design / Sebastian Maynard

It’s fairly bold to dub yourself the most interesting anything, so if nothing else, Showfields, and their “most interesting store in the world” gets points for audacity. But dig a little deeper into the mysterious retail experiment, House of SHOWFIELDS, and it’s hard to deny that there is something interesting indeed about the concept. Showfields is

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Gen Z’s Perspective on Retail Experience

Brand Strategy, Customer Experience, Digital Experiences, Environmental Design / Sebastian Maynard

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

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The Future of Fashion Retail

Leave a Comment / Brand Strategy, Business development, Customer Experience, Retail / Sebastian Maynard

We all know that fashion changes over time but what about the business model for fashion retailers? For a long time, it was a simple process. Customers go to a store, try something on and hopefully make a purchase. However, this is no longer the case as online shopping and subscription and rental services allow

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Five Strategies for Implementing a Smart Bank

Digital Experiences / Sebastian Maynard

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

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The Impact Mixed-Use Spaces Can Have on Retail

Retail / Sebastian Maynard

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

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Service Design and the Banking Experience

Customer Experience, Design Innovation, Environmental Design / Sebastian Maynard

Seamlessness is now an expectation in our service-oriented society. Customers have little patience for services that are inconvenient, frustrating, and inefficient. We don’t want to wait in line, have to repeat ourselves, or deal with mistakes. Many major companies are selling services instead of physical products and are differentiating themselves based on customer experience. Brands

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SLD Recognized for Excellence in Design and Execution

Leave a Comment / Sebastian Maynard

Shikatani Lacroix Design is proud to have been inducted into the Class of 2018 at Retail Design Institute’s 48th International Store Design Competition. In celebration of Nu Xtore, an experience center designed by SLD for health and beauty company Nu Skin, this year’s judging panel recognized SLD for excellence in design and execution. The Retail Design

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The Four Levels of Immersive Experiences

Financial Services / Sebastian Maynard

Over five years ago, SLD introduced the word “immersive” into our company vision, and identified the term as the new definition of customer engagement. At the time, the idea of creating immersive experiences focused on how technology such as Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR) would shift the way consumers engage with brands and

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Tip Top Unveils New Retail Store Design

Leave a Comment / Sebastian Maynard

Tip Top has partnered with Toronto branding and design firm Shikatani Lacroix Design (SLD) for a transformative rebrand of their company. To support the modernization of the Tip Top brand, SLD led the creation of a new visual identity, retail store design, digital experience, value proposition and brand manifesto. As a Canadian brand rooted in

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Retail Storytelling Through Curation

Retail Design / Sebastian Maynard

Once upon a time a retailer could offer products with a generalist, one-size-fits-all approach. Foodservice operators could present the same menu across their entire network. Banks could offer the same products and services at every branch. Apparel stores could stock whatever fit into their store. And people would buy. As anyone in the retail industry

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Our Favorite Retail Pop-Ups of 2018

Retail / Sebastian Maynard

While pop-up stores have been around for decades, their popularity seems to be at an all time high. They are a great way to connect with consumers and build awareness around a brand or new product launches, not to mention the opportunity to create the “wow factor” and the possibility to leverage consumer’s sense of

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SLD Designs New Experience Center for Nu Skin

Leave a Comment / Sebastian Maynard

On November 23, 2018, Nu Skin officially unveiled their new experience center, Nu Xtore, in Shenzhen, China. Designed by Shikatani Lacroix Design (SLD), the state-of-the-art Nu Xtore features an increased focus on the customer experience and incorporates the latest in design and technology. Jean-Pierre Lacroix, SLD’s president, and Teddy Ma, Managing Director, Pacific Rim, were

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Design Considerations for Different Retail Formats

Retail Design / Sebastian Maynard

As customer needs change and emerging technology enables new possibilities, retail channels need to adapt in order to stay relevant. This pattern has been demonstrated throughout history. For example, before the 1900s, personal cars and home refrigerators were not widely used, so people would visit markets and convenience stores fairly often. After sub-urbanization began and these

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The Influence of Digital Technology in the Shopper Journey

Digital Experiences / Sebastian Maynard

Digital technology has changed retail. You can now buy an item from your phone and have it shipped to you without ever visiting a store. If shoppers actually visit a retailer, they often encounter digital technology such as screens, mobile app integration, augmented and virtual reality, and mobile payments. These digital experiences can help attract,

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Designing More Comfortable Retail Spaces

Retail Design / Sebastian Maynard

Comfort can have different meanings. It can mean physically comfortable, with soft seating and moderate temperature. Or, a person can be mentally comfortable, where a space is calm, safe, and welcoming. In a retail context, store design can play a large role in making customers feel more at ease. Have you ever walked into a

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Renovate or Relocate? Six Things to Consider

Retail Design / Sebastian Maynard

Retailers and food operators are finding it harder to find new locations with strong growth potential, as much of the population growth is happening in congested urban centers, and the majority of great locations are already occupied. This phenomenon is not limited to North America, as many countries have too many stores, and are seeing

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Inspiring Retail Concepts from 2019

Increasing Sales With The Five Emotional Levers

SLD and U.S. Bank Win Best Branch Experience

How Telco Companies Can Remain Relevant

“The Most Interesting Store in the World”

Gen Z’s Perspective on Retail Experience

The Future of Fashion Retail

Five Strategies for Implementing a Smart Bank

The Impact Mixed-Use Spaces Can Have on Retail

Service Design and the Banking Experience

SLD Recognized for Excellence in Design and Execution

The Four Levels of Immersive Experiences

Tip Top Unveils New Retail Store Design

Retail Storytelling Through Curation

Our Favorite Retail Pop-Ups of 2018

SLD Designs New Experience Center for Nu Skin

Design Considerations for Different Retail Formats

The Influence of Digital Technology in the Shopper Journey

Renovate or Relocate? Six Things to Consider

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