I have been reflecting upon how much our work in the world of marketing design in the retail industry has changed over the years. Now that I'm working from home and have a staff that is communicating online rather than in person, I have taken a deeper look at how our industry has changed. We need to continue to evolve as agencies and clients need to tap into our resources. A … [Read more...]
Were QR codes ahead of their time?
I remember first learning about QR codes and thinking "finally, print and digital has merged". I especially loved the idea of using them on packaging. A brand could put forth engaging information about their product or provide access to videos with set up instructions, recipes, content details and the list goes on. The second place I could see using them was in-store on shelf … [Read more...]
Are QR codes poised for a come back?
I remember first learning about QR codes and thinking "finally, print and digital has merged". I especially loved the idea of using them on packaging. A brand could put forth engaging information about their product or provide access to videos with set up instructions, recipes, content details and the list goes on. The second place I could see using them was in-store on shelf … [Read more...]
The Ultimate Dissection of a Band-Aid® Package
This Band-Aid package is a great example of how to tell a brand story Every element of this Band-Aid package is deliberate and communicates the Band-Aid brand story. I can tell that the brand and design team took their time and put a lot of effort into the creative. Most people will take that for granted, but if you are in this business, you can see the attention to detail. … [Read more...]
4 Obstacles to Succeeding Online and In-Store
I have been researching what obstacles brands face when trying to succeed online and in-store through my contacts on LinkedIn. It has been very enlightening and has confirmed some of what I already suspected and opened my eyes to other barriers. Most of the conversations started out with my contact saying either, "how long do you have to talk" or "you sure have opened a can of … [Read more...]
The Death of the Brand at Retail For CE Products
In a market where there are many similar products, such as in consumer electronics, how important is the brand? I want to say it is VERY important. However, it is difficult for any brand to stand out in-store or online in this ever-evolving retail world. This blog explores how online shopping has changed how brands present themselves and the retailer's role in downplaying the … [Read more...]
4 Pain Points for Consumer Technology Marketers: Brick-and-Mortar
Having worked on the agency and client side, I can identify several pain points that are universal for many marketers of consumer technology products today. In this blog I will explore a few of these issues as they relate to selling product at a brick-and-mortar store. Pain Point 1: Store sales reps don't know my product's features and benefits. I often go to my clients … [Read more...]
The earBudeez Brand Story
As a design agency, we are lucky enough to work with clients who trust us to deliver creative that fulfills their design criteria and creates brand advocates. We assisted with Audiovox's "Mobility Expanded" rebranding effort several years ago. One of the brands, earBudeez, took on a life of it's own. This earbud product line was focused on the tween demographic at a price point … [Read more...]
Ice-Watch Wins at Retail with Great Merchandising
I was in Macy’s several months back and the "Ice-Watch" display and packaging made it impossible to walk by without checking them out. This is exactly what great merchandising should do. I had never heard about Ice-Watch before this day. The Importance of Color and Merchandising At first it was the color overload that stood out from the conservative jewelry counters. Then … [Read more...]
RavPower: Unremarkable Product with Awesome Packaging
In our never-ending quest to extend the lives of our portable gadgets, we came across this little gem RavPower. While the product itself is rather unremarkable, being a simple powerbank, it is clear that the manufacturer has put some thought into the design of the packaging to set themselves apart in the sea of similar products. Packaging Design The clean and elegant … [Read more...]