Annika Carroll

Six boxes of Crave frozen pizza, with flavors including "CRAVE" and "CRUMPLE".

Why Established Brands Are Losing to Messier Competitors

Digital Experiences /

In recent years, branding has been all about polished storytelling, aspirational lifestyles, and curated perfection. But somewhere between the perfectly aligned flat lays and hyper-curated copy, something got lost: realness (a.k.a “authenticity”). Some brands are trading polish for personality, control for chaos, and perfection for raw, messy humanity. We see the anti-brand strategy commonly adopted […]

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A well-lit storefront with a blue and white color scheme, featuring a large sign that reads "WHOLE HEALTH" on the front wall.

How to Successfully Offer Health Services at Retail Pharmacies

Digital Experiences /

Healthcare systems around the world are struggling to meet the needs of patients. Governments hope pharmacies can fill the gap by allowing them to offer a wider range of services. In many countries, patients are accustomed to seeking out a pharmacist’s advice, often in place of going to a doctor. North American consumers, however, see

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A bottle of cold sore care medication.

A Quick Guide on How to Use Shape and Color Choices to Influence Buying Decisions

Digital Experiences /

Color and shape not only catch the eye, but they also guide our perception and emotions. Together, these elements transform a logo into an icon, a package into a feeling, and a brand into a relationship. Studies show we process images 60,000 times faster than text, as the majority of information we absorb is visual,

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A can of Montezuma lime soda on a wooden table next to a glass of water with lemon slices.

The Role of Social Commerce in CPG: Designing for the Scroll, Click, and Buy Journey

Digital Experiences /

A new aisle for CPG brands has fragmented the path to purchase. As the line between social media and e-commerce gradually blurs, platforms like TikTok and Instagram aren’t just influencing buying decisions they’re becoming the shelf. With 34% of consumers shopping online at least once a week and 70% of online purchases influenced by social

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How To Turn Around Poor Customer Service In Retail

Digital Experiences /

The Decline of Customer Service  According to Forrester’s CI Index, customer service is the worst it’s been since they first started collecting data in 2016. Other reports from Cavell, Customer Contact Week Digital and the National Rage Survey confirm the findings: around half of consumers feel service has gotten worse in the past few years.

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A digital graphic with an overlay of various business-related icons, including graphs, charts, and financial symbols, superimposed on a photograph…

Open Banking Isn’t Coming. It’s Already Reshaping What Branches Are For.

Brand Strategy, Packaging Design /

The State of Open Banking As we enter the next decade, Open Banking will accelerate from the regulatory to the implementation stages in North America. Look no further than Europe for positive clues of the impact on consumer banking with now more than 63 million Open Banking users led by the UK, followed by Germany,

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A collection of colorful Nutella jars displayed in a grid pattern, each featuring different designs and colors on their labels.

Package Design In 2025 – What’s Hot and What’s Not

Brand Strategy, Packaging Design /

In 2024 brands continued to push for personalization, sustainable materials, and big shelf impact with their package design. What trends can we expect in 2025 and what will lose momentum? Here are our predictions for the coming year. Front-Of-Package Nutritional Warnings – What’s Coming  In Canada, the final push to comply with new nutritional Front

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A sunset over a road with the year "2025" prominently displayed on it, suggesting a future time frame.

Think Ahead for 2025: What Undercurrents Beyond Trends Brands Need to Know

Brand Strategy, Packaging Design /

“Predicting the future” is not as daunting as it might sound. If you’re paying attention, the future is already here. For the past ten years, we’ve shared potential future scenarios brands and marketers should note as they consider new initiatives. Many of these potential futures have become reality: for example, in 2018 we explored a

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A display of Moosehead Ale beer cans and bottles, featuring a can of pale ale and two bottles of moosehead ale, set against a wooden background.

Decoding Nostalgia: Why Brands Are Looking Backward

Brand Strategy, Packaging Design /

Emotional connection is critical for a brand because it creates a deeper connection with consumers, influencing loyalty, purchase behavior, and overall brand perception. By evoking fond associations with a particular era, product, or cultural moment, brands can establish a bond with consumers, through a sense of comfort and trust. Human decision-making is greatly driven by

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The Top Trends in Brand Strategy and Positioning

Brand Strategy, Packaging Design /

Brand strategy and positioning are like a compass and a spotlight for your business. A compass guides decision-making and operational actions, keeping you on track toward your goals. A spotlight highlights your unique strengths and values, helping you clearly stand out in a crowded market. This blog explores the top trends shaping brand strategy in

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nu skin interior room with round table

Stores Don’t Just Sell Anymore. The Best Ones Make You Feel Something.

Brand Strategy, Packaging Design /

Trends in novelty retail experiences are redefining how brands connect with consumers. These immersive and unexpected spaces offer a sense of discovery, tapping into customers’ desires and behaviors. In this blog, we introduce some of the latest trends in novelty retail experiences and explore how they may be shaping the future of retail. Multi-sensory Retail

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Illustration depicting a person standing next to a light bulb, with the word "SOLUTION" in large letters above them.

Future Of Cash in Retail Banking: Notes From Cash in USA Conference October 2024

Brand Strategy, Packaging Design /

The Cash in the USA conference, held on October 22nd in Nashville, explored cash’s current and future role in retail banking. The conference was well attended, and presenters reflected the diversity of the industry sectors that manage cash within the banking industry. SLD shared insights on how cash and its management are no longer a

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Self checkout kiosk in a grocery store.

What Not To Automate: A retailer’s guide to smarter service experiences

Brand Strategy, Packaging Design /

Technology as part of the customer experience is everywhere. That isn’t always a good thing. Although there are many ways in which automation and digital experiences have enhanced, expanded, and sped up service, not every touch point is ideally served through tech. In this blog we’ll explore key aspects of the customer experience where a

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A living room setting with exercise equipment, including dumbbells, a yoga mat, and a water bottle, on a wooden floor next to a window.

How the Huberman Podcast is Influencing Retail

Brand Strategy, Packaging Design /

The wellness industry has been growing rapidly, with technology solutions such as wearables, personalized products such as 3D printed vitamins, and in-home gym and workout equipment. In the retail sector, hot trends in healthy lifestyles are changing certain categories and creating new ones. In today’s blog, we’ll explore how trends in wellness are reshaping health-focussed

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An orange maze graphic with a person walking through it.

Elevating The Banking Customer Experience: Notes from the 2024 ICX/BCX Summit

Brand Strategy, Packaging Design /

At the 2024 Networld Media Group Banking Customer Experience Summit in Charlotte, experts gathered to discuss how AI, sustainability, and evolving consumer behaviors are reshaping the customer journey across industries. From retail banking to tech-driven customer experiences, the summit highlighted the importance of aligning business strategies with customer needs in today’s digital age. Sustainability and

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docbraces

How Dentists Are Leading The Way in Healthcare Clinic Design

Brand Strategy, Packaging Design /

Dentistry is one of the most aesthetic of the medical professions, so it’s no surprise they lead the way when it comes to clinic design. Modern dental practices have moved away from the sterile, often tired-looking office spaces towards bolder and brighter settings that merge function, hospitality, and style. Ultimately, dentists have proven that interior

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