Retail Mashup

05/07/2023

Beyoncé partners with Holt Renfrew for a one-of-a-kind pop-up experience called the RENAISSANCE FLAGSHIP. The luxury retailer transforms the third floor of its downtown Toronto location to become an immersive space with a retail component featuring a 21-piece collection designed by the superstar and fashion house, Balmain, an installation of the couture collection celebrating the parent album, act i RENAISSANCE, and an immersive space featuring exclusive art.

Toronto is the first stop of the North American leg of Beyonce's RENAISSANCE tour. It is also the first in the continent to have this pop-up experience running from July 5 to 11, 2023.

Beyoncé will start the North American leg of her tour in Toronto. In celebration, she partners with Holt Renfrew to bring the RENAISSANCE FLAGSHIP to the city.

24/04/2023

IHOP changes its menu adding many old favorites and new items. Taking customers and employees into consideration, these changes will surely be big hits.

iHOP is changing their menu based on customer and employee feedback. This podcast episode explores how they did it and how can brands maximize by listening.

13/04/2023

Blockbuster is coming back to popular culture. Beyond the Netflix comedy show from 2022, the ill-fated company is making a comeback with a new business model. Ahead of the launch, Retail Mashup explores the brand resurrection concept, how it works, and what brands need to do to survive the second time around.

Brand resurrection is not a new concept. However, it is increasingly being used to engage consumers chasing after nostalgia. This insight explores the trend.

10/04/2023

Did you know the popular power tool brand Makita Suomi sells cooking tools, too?

Find out why they decided to get into the microwave business in this latest Retail Mashup podcast episode.
https://retail-mashup.com/makita-retail-outside-the-box/

Makita Tools are known for their reliable and sturdy tools. This podcast explodes why they created a microwave - something their competitors haven't thought of.

06/04/2023

Do you or your brand use the Twitter Verified Program? You would want to read this Retail Mashup insight as it goes into how the program has changed and how your brand may be affected.

https://retail-mashup.com/twitter-verified-are-retail-brands-in-trouble/

What is the Twitter Verified Program?On March 23, 2023, Twitter tweeted on its Twitter Verified account that they were sunsetting the legacy verified program

03/04/2023

Do you play with LEGO blocks?

The latest Retail Mashup podcast episode explores how The LEGO Group continues to excel in the marketplace through customer experience design, engagement, and partnerships.

https://retail-mashup.com/how-lego-builds-loyalty/

LEGO

Lego has stayed relevant as a toy supplier worldwide for more than nine decades. This podcast explores the secret behind their success.

30/03/2023

Do you go to Starbucks to work or have some alone time? Many people pick Starbucks as their "third place" away from work or home.

The coffee chain's new CEO is trying to reinvent the brand to bring these customers back.

Starbucks served as a home away from home.

27/03/2023

Mint Mobile is one of the most highly-rated mobile companies in the United States. Find out what makes them so beloved in this Retail Mashup podcast episode. Hint: Customer Experience

Mint Mobile is a beloved mobile company fronted by Ryan Reynolds. This podcast showcases why the brand is so popular with the public. Hint: customer experience

24/03/2023

Retail Mashup posted about the power and challenges of OpenAI's GPT-4 model earlier. Various versions of the data model technology have been employed through chatbots from Google, Microsoft, and OpenAI.

Have you used a chatbot before?
What do you think of them?
Do you think GPT-4 will make a better chatbot with its natural language interface, machine learning, vast datasets, and artificial intelligence?

Have Your Say™ in this post.

In this Have Your Say entry, we ask our audience whether OpenAI's new GPT-4 model will power the next versions of retailers' chatbots.

23/03/2023

Smaller brands can often make a big impact with amazing physical branding. This Retail Mashup insight showcases four examples where brands create a better customer connection with physical branding.

https://retail-mashup.com/smaller-brands-physical-branding/

This insight explores how smaller brands can use better physical branding techniques to showcase their products and capture an audience to their stores.

21/03/2023

On its latest podcast, Retail Mashup discussed how a newly passed bill can hinder consumers, customer experience, innovation, and job growth.

Specifically, we explored how Mississippi's HB401 may not provide more choices and competition for vehicle-buying consumers while potentially impacting job growth through electric vehicle manufacturing.

Mississippi recently approved a law that changes how car dealerships are operated. This podcast explores how the law impacts customer experience practices.

16/03/2023

OpenAI just released GPT-4 to the world. The multimodal language system can now take the image and audio inputs along with texts in providing users with specifically asked outputs.

The technology received significant public exposure for its showcase product, ChatGPT, over the past six months.

This insight explores both and considers the questions:
- What are the pros and cons for them?
- What should retailers do next in incorporating AI into their customer experience strategy?

This insight explores OpenAI's newly released GPT-4 system and how it can impact brands' customer experience operations positively or negatively.

13/03/2023

Bank of Montreal acquired LoyaltyOne after the latter company filed for bankruptcy protection. LoyaltyOne operates Air Miles, one of the biggest loyalty programs in Canada with more than 10 million members.

This Retail Mashup Insight explores the acquisition and how it impacts the Bank, consumers, and merchants. Find out who can benefit from this major loyalty program disruption and who will suffer.

Bank of Montreal entered an agreement to purchase the Air Miles program. This insight explores the potential impact for loyalty program's members and the Bank.

06/03/2023

Target's Drive Up Service has been a big success with customers since its introduction in 2017. The general merchandise retailer is now expanding the program with a new feature that allows customers to return products without leaving their cars. How come no one thought of it sooner?

This Retail Mashup insight discusses the new feature, how it impacts the customer and the retailer, and what will drive its success.

Over the next few months, Target will introduce a drive through option for returns. This makes it easy for shoppers to return merchandise.

02/03/2023

As reported by Retail Insider, Best Buy Canada introduces a new laptop subscription service which enhances the customer experience with discounts, exchanges, and service. This insight discusses the implications of the subscription service on revenue generation, customer engagement, and customer acquisition.

Best Buy Canada extends customer experience with a new subscription service for laptops. This service can potentially save customers money over time.

27/02/2023

Apple's new Live Activities feature released on iOS16.1 and enhanced on iOS16.2 creates new avenues for retail brands to engage, acquire, onboard, and maintain customers.

This insight answers the questions for executives:
- What is Live Activities?
- How can retail brands use this feature to improve customer relationships and curate new revenue streams?

Apple introduced Dynamic Island and Live Activities in new iPhone 14 Pro series. This insight explores how businesses can use for better customer experiences.

24/02/2023

After the success of using variable pricing for movies like The Batman and Spiderman - No Way Home. AMC extends the model to charge customers US$1-2 more for seats with better "sightline" while offering a US$2 discount for typically undesirable front-row seats for select loyalty program members.

Variable pricing is not new to movie-goers in other parts of the world. Select movie theater chains in Canada, Hong Kong, and the United Kingdom implemented up-charging schemes for better seats years ago.

As movie ticket sales continue to dwindle with continued COVID concerns and streaming competition, will AMC benefit from this new initiative? Find out more in this Retail Mashup insight.
https://lnkd.in/gxWyeEV6

21/02/2023

This episode of Retail Mashup podcast explores 1. How retailers can use brand refresh to navigate around product/service changes and 2. Customers should never be left in the dark. What can luxury retailers do to show care after purchase?

This episode explores two new concepts: 1. Impacts of brand refreshes, and 2. How can luxury brands use automation to make customers feel engaged and supported.

06/02/2023

This episode of Retail Mashup explores two concepts: 1. How supermarkets may miss out on customer opportunities with kiosks, and 2. How a coffee chain may build customer loyalty in the wrong direction through program changes.

In both cases, will revenue be impacted?

This podcast episode explores two concepts: Impact of supermarket kiosks to revenue and How loyalty program changes affecting customers.

06/01/2023

Arden's Garden - the juice expert based in Atlanta expands into the supermarket scene with a unique positioning. Instead of finding a place in the juice section, the brand decided to find its home in the health food section.
https://retail-mashup.com/ardens-garden-expands-to-wholesale

29/12/2022

Retail Mashup was launched in October 2022 to showcase retailers' journeys to customer experience successes and failures. This insight highlights key 2022 trends, popular posts, and what's next for the content platform.

Moving forward, what do you think retailers should do in 2023 to maximize engagement, satisfaction, and revenue?

https://lnkd.in/gpVqMprA

DeAnn Campbell and Larry Leung launch Retail Mashup in October 2022 to discuss customer experience triumphs, failures, and journeys in between.

27/12/2022

The 2022 holiday season will be remembered for a once-in-a-generation winter storm sweeping through North America. A special edition of Retail Mashup the Podcast discusses how retailers can better manage winter storm disruptions through customer experience.

This episode explores the once-in-a-generation winter storm sweeping through North America and tips on how retailers can drive success with customer experience.

23/12/2022

Happy Holidays from the Retail Mashup family!

22/12/2022

In its latest podcast episode, Retail Mashup continued the discussion about brand identity and ventured into concepts like assessment, data gathering, and training that brand leaders can use to overcome identity disruptions.

It also included examples from Balenciaga, JCPenney, REI, and Chick-fil-A Restaurants.

Part 2 of the brand identity podcast focuses on assessment, data, customer experience, training, and successes.

16/12/2022

Retail Mashup explored brand identity in the retail industry in this latest podcast episode. The discussion included the impacts of aligning too much to specific social media platforms, influencers, or founders.

How can brands stay true to their values without sacrificing creativity and innovation?

https://lnkd.in/g9czwQyB
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This podcast episode focuses on brand identity and how the association with different social media platforms and influencers can alter viewpoints.

14/12/2022

The first modern convenience store chain was created in 1921 in Dallas, Texas, United States. Each store is a small retail business that stocks a variety of everyday items such as quick pick-up and-go meals, snacks, beverages, produce, to***co products, publications like newspapers and magazines, toiletries, over-the-counter drugs, etc.

This edition of Have You Say takes inspiration from an insight piece Retail Mashup published on convenience stores’ new chapter.
https://retail-mashup.com/convenience-stores-part-2/

Have Your Say by following this link to access the poll:
https://retail-mashup.com/convenience-stores-poll/

14/12/2022

Convenience stores have been a staple of towns and cities for decades. Recently, we published an insight into Deliverloo’s physical storefront to provide consumers with more choices.

With that said, is it time for convenience store owners to reimagine how the customer experience should change based on the ever-changing consumer lifestyle choices?

This insight discusses key revenue generators of convenience stores and how they need to be evolved.

Follow this link to access the insight.
https://retail-mashup.com/convenience-stores-part-2/

Brands cited: Target Walmart

14/12/2022

The first Retail Mashup podcast episode had a great response.

DeAnn and I decided to build on the discussion with Part 2 focusing on how music artists, entertainers, and other brands can prolong engagement with fun pop-up experiences.

Follow this link to access the insight.
https://retail-mashup.com/pop-up-experiences-part-2/

Brands cited: Harry Styles LEGO Macy's Beyonce Kylie Jenner Nashville Predators

14/12/2022

Concert experiences have not changed in many decades.

This insight discusses the current experience featuring Taylor Swift and how she and other artists can evolve it into a journey featuring multiple engagements, retail-driven experiences, and immersive fun.

Follow this link to access the insight.
https://retail-mashup.com/the-best-concert-experience-taylor-swift-edition/

Brands cited: Ticketmaster Kacey Musgraves