covid 19

Man and woman watering a plant with money in the background

Show Me You Care: Building a Social Brand in 2021

2020 was a tough year for many, and although 2021 is looking a little more hopeful, the fact remains that our way of life will be very different moving forward. As a result, brands should consider how to best support their customers. A year marked by a global pandemic, widespread social protests, and man-made environmental

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Scientists in a lab testing a COVID-19 vaccine

What Brands Can Learn from the COVID-19 Vaccine Trials

The world continues to struggle to contain the COVID-19 pandemic, and in its wake, consumer behavior, and therefore, brand service design, is being rewired. The good news is the recent announcements by Pfizer Inc. and Moderna regarding the viability of their vaccines energized financial markets and provided a much-needed sign of hope. The race to

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Digital Distrust: How Brands Can Navigate a World of Disruption

Technology has been a salvation during the pandemic and has thrust us into the age of omni-channel once and for all. And yet, there is a looming threat to the digital brand experience: a growing sense of mistrust in technology and the cyber-verse. Fanned by the flames of fake news, online hate and political interference,

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The Shift to Digital Ecosystems

The COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated digital transformation initiatives by financial institutions and retailers, bringing the need for a robust digital ecosystem to the forefront. In a study we recently conducted with over 500 banking and retail executives, we have seen that though many realize a digital transformation is essential, there is still some confusion as

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Online Personalization Strategies for Fashion Retailers

To most, shopping means paying a visit to your favorite store or mall to give yourself a feel-good experience that results in instant gratification. You leave the store feeling satisfied and well taken care of. Often, retail associates are there to offer assistance every step of the way, and, most importantly, give a sense of

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Diverse group of people wearing masks

Four Ways That Brands Can Encourage Mask-Wearing

WHY ARE SOME PEOPLE AGAINST MASKS? The vocal minority of anti-science activists appear to be hogging the spotlight as the pandemic surges on, with anti-mask communities spreading misinformation on social media to the general public. This misinformation ranges from dangerously believable to full conspiracy theories. One approach is spreading “alarmist” statements, for example claiming that

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Store owner wearing mask looking out window as she opens store

Why Retail Stores Are More Important Than Ever

COVID-19 has accelerated many trends, one of which is the demise of poor performing retail chains. In recent recent news, brands such as Brooks Brothers and Pier 1 Imports have joined an extensive list of retailers filing for Chapter 11. For many retailers, even before the pandemic the size of their network was bloated and brought down the overall performance

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Animation of shop owner reopening after covid-19

Strategies For Retail Brands During and After COVID-19

Amidst COVID-19, many retail industry experts’ response to the pandemic has been to question the future relevance of the bricks and mortar retail channel. They argue the pandemic has accelerated the current damage created by trade wars, the consumer shift to online retailers and the fact that North America is over stored, leading to the

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What Banks Can Learn From China’s Handling of COVID-19

Download This Report and Take It With You! China’s post-pandemic shift to a new normal started more than a month ago, with the majority of businesses fully operational. The pandemic has temporarily slowed China’s growth, due in part to the disruption in exports as most Western countries’ manufacturing and service industries remain significantly impacted by

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Illustration of people in line at grocery store

Short-Term Strategies for CPG Brands Amidst COVID-19

The past few months have been a whirlwind of ups and downs for CPG brands as the COVID-19 crisis presents new challenges and opportunities. From manufacturing and processing plant contagion to panic buying and empty shelves, CPG brands are under pressure and as part of the food supply chain, that pressure isn’t going to let

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COVID Toolkit

THE SLD COVID-19 TOOLKIT Insights and Strategies on how to thrive in a post-pandemic world COVID-19 Toolkit To help brands better understand how COVID-19 will impact their business, SLD has conducted consumer and industry research to determine how needs, behaviors, and loyalty will been impacted by the current pandemic. Below is an assortment of resources

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Animation of a man delivering food

Strategies for Foodservice Brands Amidst COVID-19

The foodservice industry has not lived through a global crisis of such magnitude since World War II. Arguably even the greatest wars have not matched the impact of COVID-19 on the foodservice industry. Built on strong social values of sharing time together, during other kinds of crises the foodservice industry has offered a meaningful way

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Social distancing animation

Strategies for Retail Banks Amidst COVID-19

The globe is being disrupted due to the rapid transmission of the COVID-19 pandemic. In response, retailers and financial institutions have initiated social distancing strategies to minimize the spread of the virus. These initiatives include marking safe distances within waiting queues, limiting the number of customers in the store, adding plexiglass screens to separate staff

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