For our physical health, we have doctors and personal trainers. For mental health, therapists can help. But do you have someone to assist you with your financial well-being? As digital capabilities continue to improve, the need for convenience has largely been met. But what about financial advice? Most institutions offer solid transactional services, but providing […]
How To Improve Your Bank Customers Financial Health Read More »
Is it your dream to work from home? Imagine being free to set your own schedule and avoid office distractions while wearing what you want and travelling where you please. Or is this your nightmare? Would it be an isolating experience where you miss social interaction, struggle to be disciplined, and spend too much time
Strategic Considerations For Retailers and Coworking Spaces Read More »
Creating a name for a company, a service or a product is an important part of the overall branding strategy for a business. A great name helps convey what a brand stands for and is aligned with both the brand personality traits and its value proposition, helping build brand equity. Inviting employees and/or customers to
Naming Strategies for Your Business, Product, or Service Read More »
Plastic, a useful and cheap material once seen as the solution to every packaging problem, is choking the planet. Although most plastic is recyclable, only about 9 percent of it is actually recycled. This means billions of tonnes of plastic end up as trash. Globally we have reached a maximum capacity for our recycling plants,
The Best Eco-Friendly Packaging Options Read More »
How much time do you spend on your mobile phone each day? In the United States, the annual average continues to increase, with 2018 setting a new record among adults, who now typically spend 3 hours and 35 minutes per day looking at their phone. Not surprisingly, the majority of this time (over 90 percent) is
Why Your Retail Store Needs a Mobile App Read More »
In our recent white paper, How Banks Can Leverage a Walletless World, we discussed how new entrants in the financial industry, including start-ups and tech giants, are threatening banks by offering services in areas in which clients are being underserved. In this blog, we will discuss how banks can go beyond a simple brainstorming session and
Alternative Ideation Methods for Banks Read More »
Emotions are very powerful drivers in purchase decisions, and positive emotional experiences will build brand loyalty. The following five strategies can help retailers create a strong and memorable connection with customers, including eliminating key friction points, telling a compelling story, ensuring a coherent omni-channel strategy, delivering a unique experience, and catering to the senses. Strategy
How to Create a Positive Retail Environment Read More »
Private labels used to be synonymous with “no name” brands. Also known as “store brands,” the benefit to consumers was a lower cost on everyday items. However, the world of the private label is evolving to include everything from shoes to furniture, and companies from Amazon to high-end fashion retailers are rolling out their own
Private Label Is Taking Over Retail Read More »
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
Retail Storytelling Through Curation Read More »
An RFP, or Request for Proposal, is an official document that notifies potential suppliers of a new project and asks for a detailed response of their proposed fees, team members, and process. This method aims for fairness and clarity in competition for the work. A clear and concise RFP will make searching for a supplier
Checklist for an Effective RFP Read More »
As 2018 comes to a close, it is time to look ahead to what will influence the banking industry in 2019 and your goals for the new year. Do you have a plan for key strategic initiatives that you want to accomplish? Major trends of digital transformation and customer centricity will continue to be relevant,
The Three Biggest Opportunities for Banks in 2019 Read More »
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
Our Favorite Retail Pop-Ups of 2018 Read More »
Another year has come and gone, and that means it is time to do some reflecting. 2018 saw a lot of companies (including ours) undergo a rebrand, and as with every year, some turned out better than others. While there are many reasons that a company may opt for a rebrand, one thing is certain:
Our Favorite Rebrands of 2018 Read More »
Banks have been slow to adopt what is often referred to as content marketing, or content strategy – but now that the return on investment is becoming clear, it’s important for financial institutions to catch up. What exactly IS content strategy, and why do banks need to make this investment? Content strategy is the planning,
Why a Content Strategy for Banks is Important Read More »
The increasing amount of waste production is not exactly a new environmental concern, but it is still an issue that is far from being resolved. According to a disputable yet shocking report released recently by the World Economic Forum, it is estimated that by 2050, the oceans will contain more plastic than fish in terms of
Retail Trends: The Packaging-Free Movement Read More »
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
Design Considerations for Different Retail Formats Read More »
Brainstorming is a common technique used by many organizations to create new concepts and products. In a typical brainstorming session, a small group of people discuss potential ideas and solutions. The goal is to generate and record as many thoughts as possible by postponing judgement and analysis, and encouraging unusual or far-fetched contributions. In theory,
How to Run a Better Brainstorming Session Read More »
In today’s highly competitive and quickly-changing banking industry, the pressure is on for banks to prove their relevancy to their customers and outperform their competition. Banks today understand the critical need to connect with customers emotionally and to develop services to fulfill their unmet needs. And yet, innovation can be a difficult process to nurture
How Financial Institutions Can Drive Innovative Culture Read More »
In “Key Considerations When Vetting Your Strategic Partner,” we determined how you should vet your strategic design agency by exploring the three tiers of strategic requirements. Design Thinking Strategy, focused primarily on how to link the package design to underlying, unrealized opportunities in the marketplace. Brand Strategy includes a wide range of strategic tools, from positioning,
Questions to Ask When Hiring a Package Design Firm Read More »
There are more than 21,000 creative professionals in the top three largest cities in North America alone. When you factor in all mid to large cities in North America, it’s daunting for any company to select a strategic design agency to tackle their packaging brand transformation. A key factor in selecting the right firm is
Key Considerations When Vetting Your Strategic Partner Read More »
