In previous posts here at Tech Trends we’ve talked a lot about the convergence of the online and offline worlds and how that applies to shopping and the retail sector, where omnichannel marketing is proving the way forward.

A bit part of that is enabling businesses that do depend heavily on having a physical presence to remain competitive. Many of us love shopping in our “mom-and-pop” stores but whether we like to admit it or not, technology has changed our expectations of what a good shopping experience looks and feels like.

Many of us love shopping in our “mom-and-pop” stores but whether we like to admit it or not, technology has changed our expectations of what a good shopping experience looks and feels like
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We want to support local businesses, for sure, but we expect them to cater to our newly found tastes for customized, on-demand, sleekly presented fare. We want to be able to engage with them on social media with compelling video content, and we want them to “look the business” and not like a tired relic from a bygone era.

But all of that costs money, right? Well yes, but not quite as much as you might think. Like with a lot of areas, technology has brought disruption, but also enabled hacks that mean small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs) can achieve dramatic rebranding results with only a fraction of the budget a larger enterprise would spend.

One great weapon in that arsenal is the ability that companies like StickerYou offer to produce customized branding materials which literally enable a business to quickly don a new, fresh skin with no mess and very little in the way of resources.

We want to support local businesses, for sure, but we expect them to cater to our newly found tastes for customized, on-demand, sleekly presented fare
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Companies like StickerYou offer small businesses the ability to produce customized branding materials which enable them to quickly don a new, fresh skin with no mess and very little in the way of resources
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To prove that point, the Canadian company ran a Make It Better contest across North America, inviting small businesses to enter and win a top-of-the-range makeover. Over 700 applicants applied for the prize (which had an estimated value of $10,000) From the 23 finalists, The Knight Butcher was finally crowned the winner, receiving a comprehensive makeover including with window decals, hours signage, floor decals, signs for fridges and freezers and true decals.

The Knight Butcher – a genuine mom-and-pop business owned by husband and wife team Terri and Chad Knight – emerged renewed from its improvements within a single day, highlighting the fact that revamping a bricks-and-mortar shop can be as easy as adjusting the design on your website, as long as you get the right people to help out!

The Knight Butcher - a genuine mom-and-pop business owned by husband and wife team Terri and Chad Knight – emerged renewed from its improvements within a single day
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Revamping a bricks-and-mortar shop can be as easy as adjusting the design on your website, as long as you get the right people to help out!
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For more information on how your business can also get a very affordable makeover, check out the StickerYou website, or if you’re in Toronto, be sure to check out their own brand new store, which is also the largest sticker store in the world.

Tech Trends offers a broad range of Digital Consultancy services to guide companies, individuals and brands in effectively leveraging existing and emerging technologies in their business strategy.

Alice Bonasio is a VR and Digital Transformation Consultant and Tech Trends’ Editor in Chief. She also regularly writes for Fast Company, Ars Technica, Quartz, Wired and others. Connect with her on LinkedIn and follow @alicebonasio on Twitter.

The post Making Rebranding Stick appeared first on Tech Trends.

Many influential brands such as Coca-Cola and IKEA have used VR and AR to create campaigns to enhance the customer experience. Collectively known as XR, these technologies are becoming much more accessible to retailers looking for additional tools to create engaging experiences.

Many influential brands such as Coca-Cola and IKEA have used VR and AR to create campaigns to enhance the customer experience
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One example of this is the use of technology to create multi-sensory environments, whereby these brands can leverage not only visuals, but also smells, sounds, and touch to heighten those experiences.

The entire StickerYou store is an experiential space designed to surprise and hopefully delight visitors
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Whiskey brand Diageo has experimented with playing the crackling sound of an open fire at the bar, while a, a pop-up for home fragrance brand Glade designed each room inside the location to match a particular scent, aiming to create an emotional response that resonated with visitors.

StickerYou is a trend-setter in its space, deploying an omnichannel strategy that lets its customers engage with the brand both online and in a physical location
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Yet immersive experiences don’t necessarily involve the use of XR technologies, however, they can also achieve this by using physical objects and textures.

Take Canadian e-commerce brand StickerYou, for instance. They are global leaders in providing custom-printed, die-cut products that empower businesses and consumers to create professional-grade materials for marketing, packaging, decor and personal expression, which is a fancy way of saying they have been making awesome stickers since they started their business with one machine back in 2008.

Immersive experiences don’t necessarily involve the use of XR technologies. They can also use physical objects and textures
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Fast forward to today, and StickerYou is a trend-setter in its space, deploying an omnichannel strategy that lets its customers engage with the brand both online and in a physical location. This is why they’ve just opened the world’s largest sticker store in Toronto on August 12. The idea is for the store to serve as a continuation and extension of the online experience, and customers seamlessly switch between the two as an when it’s most convenient, appropriate, or fun to do so.

Most marketers now recognize there is much more value in cultivating a long-term relationship with a customer
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Below you can check out a time-lapse video showing how the amazing 3-storey tall vinyl graphic (installed in collaboration with applied sciences giant 3M) was put in place for the eye-catching store frontage.

UPDATE: Following the news of @StickerYou setting up shop in Toronto with the world’s largest sticker store, here’s a time-lapse of the building’s exterior vinyl graphic being installed. https://t.co/XqKvZAZ7N9 pic.twitter.com/aEjLupM3SW

— Digital Labels & Packaging (@DigitalLPack) August 7, 2019

The entire store is an experiential space designed to surprise and hopefully delight visitors, giving them something to remember in whether or not they choose to make a purchase at that time.

That last point is also important, as most marketers now recognize there is much more value in cultivating a long-term relationship with a customer, rather than merely trying to cash in on the short term and dealing with people on a purely transactional basis, which builds no loyalty.

Some of the experiential features in the store include:

• Stickerbombed walls

• Custom experience space where customer can see other user-created sticker designs

• Kiosks for creating your own stickers using StickerYou’s online StickerMaker

• Sticker museum (located in the basement) taking visitors through the history of stickers and what has it such a popular art form.

• Sticker art exhibition (slated for the fall) which will feature work from artists from all over the globe, including Shepard Fairey and Matthew Hoffman.

• The brainchild of Toronto e-comm startup and customized die-cut sticker company StickerYou, StickerYou: The Store

“We are proud to open the world’s largest sticker store in Toronto,” says StickerYou founder and CEO Andrew Witkin. “We are excited to give customers the chance to interact with our products and experience the creative potential of stickers for business or personal expression. At StickerYou, we make what matters stick.”

If you happen to be in Toronto, be sure to check out the StickerYou store at 677-679 Queen Street West

Tech Trends offers a broad range of Digital Consultancy services to guide companies, individuals and brands in effectively leveraging existing and emerging technologies in their business strategy.

Alice Bonasio is a VR and Digital Transformation Consultant and Tech Trends’ Editor in Chief. She also regularly writes for Fast Company, Ars Technica, Quartz, Wired and others. Connect with her on LinkedIn and follow @alicebonasio on Twitter.

The post Moving Towards Experiential Marketing appeared first on Tech Trends.