Time and tide wait for now one. Consumers change, environments evolve, even technology causes disruptions. Branding can get out-dated, monotonous, or plain irrelevant. With these changing times and customer preferences, companies have to re-invent their marketing to stay in the game -and this is hard. Here are some inspirational stories of brands that were the victim of out-dated branding and how they got back into the game.

Apple:

16 September 1985 marked the fall from grace of Apple Computers when Steve Jobs was cast out by the team. A decade later, when he came back, Apple saw a bunch of dramatic moves that transformed the branding strategies. Since Apple produced a variety of products, the company’s name was changed from Apple Computers to Apple Inc.

Elegant simplification became the mantra. Jobs always tried to keep the marketing plans simple but interesting. The taglines, the messages, and even the sentences spoken in ads were kept simple and to the point. Even then logo dispensed with the multiple rainbow colours and become monotone.

The marketing strategies were kept innovative; focusing on the revolutionary aspects of the products and avoiding points that made the messaging boring, geeky or monotonous. The marketing expanded to different areas like lifestyle and fashion to break free from stereotypic technology journalism and appeal to the end customer audiences of multiple sectors.

The rebranding worked like magic and turned an almost bankrupt company into a profitable industry behemoth. The new Apple was simple, shiny, new, and very very effective.

Hero Honda Separation:

The Japanese Honda Motor Company and the Indian Hero MotoCorp decided to part ways in 2011. The reasons cited was that the Honda, the Japanese counterpart of the coalition was not ready to allow Hero Honda to start their own Research and Development, neither did the coalition allow the export of automobiles to countries except Sri-Lanka, Nepal, and Bangladesh. Business drove the break-up but left the new brand a mountain to climb. Gone were the Japanese engineering legacy, the Honda name and racing heritage, and the international models. But post the separation, Hero came out with some excellent rebranding strategies to regain that ground.

They changed their logo, which gave a fresh visual impact. The logo presented a different representation of the “H”, a nod to the all-new Hero. The logo also emphasises the Indian-ness by blending in the quintessentially Indian boys toy, the catapult -also a symbol of leaping forward. The company also collaborated with A.R Rehman to launch their anthem, “Hum may hai hero”, which went viral. With Indian celebrity ambassadors and well-crafted effective marketing campaigns, the company took off. In fact, it now comfortably leads Honda’s own sales in India. A new old brand that’s on the right track even after negotiating some bumps.

Burberry:

Burberry is a classic example of how innovative marketing can turn a bad situation around for a brand. In the early 2000s, Burberry’s name was hackneyed. It was too closely associated with the working class of the British population, dragging down its image, and sales. This was a steep fall from when they used to be the choice of the rich and famous. They were a symbol of luxury and style in several key overseas markets. When things got sour, they used their company’s history to create a new image of the product. Angela Ahrendts took over, and used a strong thread of social media to create a fresh and evolved image of Burberry for a younger, more connected audience.

Live streaming of fashion shows, bright social media updates, and an updated website gave the company a classy digital footprint. Also, they doubled down on their British image by hiring British celebrities to endorse their brands, thus leveraging the essentially British image of the company.

Old Spice:

Old Spice’s brand evolution shows how a planned repositioning can help drive a makeover for the whole company. Since 1938 Old Spice has been a staple of the men’s grooming market. With body perfumes and body washes, they enjoyed a great run. In the early 2000s however, the Old Spice brand got stuck with the image of the products of old men. The company faced a crisis in sales. The brand came out with a new marketing strategy, which included appealing to the younger audience and carving out a market in body washes. They hired actor and athlete Isaiah Mustafa to be the face of the product, which was a marvellous decision.

They aired their commercials strategically during the super bowl, which also proved to be successful. The ads were tongue-in-cheek, deliberately over the top, and subtly making a joke at their own earlier “manly” image. The irreverence effectively delivered the message of the innate freshness of the product to the younger audience in a language, tone, and meter that they understood. This, clearly, was the man they wanted their man to smell like!

Airtel:

The Indian consumer has been exposed to so many disruptions in the last few years driven by the telecom and the internet revolution, and has embraced them all. This has placed huge pressure on the telecom companies that address the rapidly changing needs, motivations, and, even, values of these consumers. Airtel Telecom has undergone rebranding to keep pace, with constant changes in the logo, Airtel anthems, and celebrity endorsements over the years.

The brand’s tagline was changed from ‘Touch Tomorrow’ to ‘Live Every Moment’ to reach today’s internet generation. The plans they sold were named ‘Freedom Unlimited’, to give a fresh, younger and international vibe to the brand. The logo was changed to reflect the more free, less rigid persona.

 

It’s been said often that the only thing constant is change. This is true of brands as well. Branding is linked to the audience, the market and how they view the brand. That being the case, changes in the dynamics of the market will force the brand to alter its branding too. As these examples show, that can be a great new beginning too.

 

Looking to rebrand your brand? Write to us on info@lokusdesign.com.

Do consumers know about your brand and what it represents? That’s the crux of Brand Awareness. Do you search on the net or do you Google? Do you use a mobile wallet to conduct a financial transaction or do you PayTM it? That’s the holy grail of what brand awareness can do for you. It can embed the consciousness of the brand and the value it can deliver into the daily lifestyles of the target market. On the flip side, no matter how good your product or how apt the price, without brand awareness there can be no recall and no recognition of your name by consumers.

Brand recognition is correctly identifying a brand by its colors or logo. Brand awareness takes it a step further. It helps you recall the feelings you had about the brand. Like how you recall the smell, and in-fact start craving for fried chicken just by looking at the KFC logo. Brand awareness can enhance customer loyalty and ensure good word of mouth, which subsequently result in increased sales and enhanced brand equity. But how do you generate that brand awareness in today’s distracted world? Here are 5 ways.

1. Designing memorable visual assets to capture the customer’s imagination

A half-eaten apple, a swoosh, and a yellow M are more than enough to remind us of these iconic brands. These logos are shining examples of logo design to improve recall and awareness. They belong to different industries but have the same underlying principle. First, they are simple. They try to do more with less. But that’s easier said than done. Even a simple logo must convey the brand story along with the values the brand stands for. Amazon’s logo with an arrow pointing from a to z conveys that that have all the products that the world can offer. A simple swoosh of Nike conveys their “just to it” spirit. To successfully convey that sense in a logo and craft an identity in a symbol one must have a strong understanding of the target audience and how to drive the point home to them.

2. Building brand awareness leveraging traditional channels like TV ads, Magazine & radio

The primary advantage of traditional channels is the reach. Compared to other digital channels which are yet to reach large swathes of the population, TV, Newspaper, and radio has reached every nook and cranny of the globe. The key strategy here to make a mark in the customer’s mind is to come up with a simple yet catchy tagline coupled with a hummable tune. Then comes a carefully considered channel selection and repetition strategy to appear in the eye line (ear line?) of the target consumer. Notes like “Haan main crazy hoon” of Coca-Cola and “Abki bar Modi sarkar” played a big role in driving up the awareness of these mega brands.

3. Leverage digital channels

The advent of the digital channels has opened a plethora of new opportunities to spread brand awareness amongst the millennials, even without having to pay for the airtime and ad space. Nike leveraged YouTube to the fullest during the 2012 London Olympics. Even though Adidas was the official sponsor, Nike used the digital channel in such a way that many believed that they are the official sponsor. Though digital comes with its own set of challenges, like your content getting lost in a tsunami of content, the problem can be addressed through a scientific approach. Techniques like Google Adwords and SEO help make brand content more visible to the audience that is searching for that information. This is a great way to appear in the eye line of an audience that is searching with intent.

4. Double down on social media

To increase brand awareness, one cannot ignore the impact of social media today as a bimodal communications channel. Apart from broadcasting their own messages and what they stand for, social media offers a rare opportunity for consumers to communicate back to the brand as well. Brands get invaluable exposure to the voice of the customer – what they want, their reviews of the brand, their view of competitors etc. One brand that comes up while talking of social media marketing is Red Bull. The brand leverages social channels not to directly promote their products but to feature the careers of sponsored and unsponsored athletes. The social channels convey a sense of the spirit of soaring adventure that Red Bull embraces -and its audience does too!

5. Get Influencers and the referrals

For today’s connected generation every product category is replete with influencers who can sway the decision of most buyers. They are the opinion-makers for that product category. Consider the case of Hush Puppies, which had fallen out of favour with consumers and had slipped out of the consciousness of the market. The brand suddenly came back into vogue -back from the brink, as it were. If Gladwell is to be believed, it was because a very famous fashion blogger happened to be at an obscure fashion show where the shoes caught his fancy, and the rest is history. It’s important for a brand to identify the right influencers, have them test the products, and get a comprehensive and unbiased review out of them. Customer referrals too, go a long way in creating awareness. Some reports suggest that 92% of people will trust a reference from another person -even if they do not know that person personally! Brands now actively seek referrals from customers to grow their audience -virally.

These methods will help brands generate awareness. But there are no universal templates. For instance, referrals will work for luxury products, but traditional ads may not. The only universal truth is whatever tactic or strategy you choose to drive up brand awareness, it must be rooted in what the brand truly represents. The authentic message is most likely to resonate with the most relevant audience. And, that’s the best form of awareness.

 

Looking to build awareness for your brand? Write to us on info@lokusdesign.com.

A good design is to a brand what oxygen is to living beings. Irrespective of what sector the brand caters to, a good product, packaging, and logo design help a brand stand out and thrive.

Good design here is an umbrella term which includes brand logos, retail experiences, product, packaging, web presence et al. To create a brand impression in the market you need to ace them all.

Let us look into these interesting design concepts involving products, logos, and packaging that helped these brands generate curiosity, grow their audience and build a distinct identity in the competitive markets.

1) Mini Cooper:

 

The British Motor giant came about as an outcome of the Suez crisis back in 1956 which restricted the fuel imports thereby causing an acute shortage of fuel supply. The think tank behind what Mini Cooper today is – Austin Seven & Morris Mini-Minor were handed the task of coming up with a powerful design which would help not only in tackling the fuel crisis but also minimize the imports of German cars in the country. With this vision in sight, designer Alec Issigonis came up with the revolutionary Mini Cooper. The care was small but bold. The frugal look and features only emphasized the conditions in which it was born. The Min took the markets by storm at that time and still holds sway.

2) The Coca-Cola Bottle:

No “design” post can afford to ignore this legend! The beverage giant, Coca-Cola has been known for its revolutionary product and marketing strategies over the century of its existence. The contour bottle that you now recognize and associate with carbonated drinks was the brainchild of designer Earl R. Dean who was handed the task of creating a design that would be distinct and easily recognizable in the dark. Now, you might wonder what’s distinct about it. Well, this genius of a design concept dates back to 1915. Earl R. Dean wanted to design a bottle that would reflect the ingredients of the drink which would be either a coca leaf or Kola nut. Since he failed to find a pictorial reference to either, he took the design inspiration from the cocoa pod from the encyclopaedia and that’s where those ribs in the bottle come from. This design is iconic, familiar and comforting, and merges form and function so well that it’s an evergreen inspiration.

3) Sony VAIO Logo:

VAIO was a brand introduced by Sony in 1996. VAIO is an acronym for Visual Audio Intelligent Organizer. This product set catered to the electronics giant’s PC and phone segments until 2014 when in a restructuring bid Sony sold VAIO to Japan Industrial Partners. The logo is not far short of pure genius. It was created by Teiyu Goto who was a supervisor of product design at Sony. The VA in the logo is designed to depict a sine wave and the IO depicts the binary digits 1 and 0 – a visual representation of an amalgamation of the digital and analog signals. This captured perfectly the tipping point at which the telecom and personal computing industry were at that time. The products, like the logo, were beautiful, functional, and often included innovative combinations. The combinations went places other products hadn’t -for eg. integrating a webcam into the laptop for the very first time, adding in an FM tuner, MiniDisc player, and built-in amplifier into a desktop, and for the very first time, introducing a stylus and a tiltable screen for a laptop.

4) State Bank of India Logo:

The State Bank of India is the largest bank in the country. The bank’s logo has gone through various changes over the years but the element that has remained constant is the circle at its heart. This is a logo that every Indian recognises -and associates with banking. The logo can be interpreted in different ways. The most direct representation is that of a keyhole. For the common people of the country, this represented the safety the bank promised them as they trusted it with their savings and valuables. At another level, the logo represents an individual being enveloped in SBI’s protection. The common man was not the focus of the banking, financial, and business community for a long time. Post-independence, SBI’s identity contributed to the Government’s efforts to change this perception.

5) Asian Paints Logo

Founded in 1942, Asian Paints is the largest paint companies in the country today. In the year 2012, the brand revived its image by revealing a new logo. The design brings to mind a free-flowing ribbon that forms the brand’s initials AP. The ribbon is used as a depiction of the easy and smooth flow of the paint. The colours on each surface are clear, vibrant, and glossy -in keeping with the preferences of consumers today.

6) The Welcome Group Logo

The logo of the Welcome Group chain of hotels. owned by the ITC, is inspired by the traditional Indian saying ‘Atithi Devo Bhava’ which means that the guest is next to God. The logo depicts two folded hands gesturing Namaste -the traditional way of welcoming people in India. Looking deeper, the logo also suggests a path leading forward to a set of doors that is opening -reflecting potential and possibilities. The ITC tapped into their identity as a truly Indian hospitality brand with this cultural depiction in their logo. The group is now the second largest traditional hotel chain in the country with over 100 properties.

7) The Axis Bank Logo

Axis Bank is one of the highest performing banks in the country today with a strong base of over 55 lakh customers across the country. The bank’s logo is the epitome of simple yet powerful communication. The logo depicts the letter A which is divided into two blocks. The lower block depicts the bank’s strong customer base and the top one depicts an upwards growth path which implies that the bank aims to achieve high growth with its customers’ support as the strong foundation. The bank is now India’s third-largest private sector bank and consistently ranks among the top 10 when it comes to customer service. The Bank also scores well on most parameters related to providing services to their customers in innovative new ways or in communicating with their customers -clearly, the customer is the Axis on which their growth is leaning.

There is, of course, a lot that goes into the conceptualizing and designing of a logo, product, service or brand identity. The aim of every brand is to leverage design to narrate a unique story to its customers that is based upon the core values and vision of the brand. As these examples show if that happens the business is sure to benefit.

 

Looking to drive business value from design? Reach out to us on info@lokusdesign.com.

To make a brand powerful – it requires thought, planning, and consistency in communication. A brand needs to fit into a consumer’s life and value set seamlessly. Making a brand is not just about your product or your service anymore –it is about showcasing what makes the brand tick.

Here are some points for brands to consider while designing their communication:

1) Precise Communication / Positioning – It is crucial for brands to know what they stand for before the launch and that should be the focal point of your communication. A detailed positioning exercise must be carried out before the launch of your brand so you have a positioning statement that is your brand truth. The key to this is to remember that you’re not just selling a product or service – you’re selling a brand with very specific values. A brilliant example of brand positioning is Coca-Cola – the brand has stayed true to its positioning for years and all their communication revolves around this – from their ATL advertisements to their BTL activities – they only talk about happiness. That’s one thing that the brand realized early on and has very beautifully integrated into all that they do.

Another important thing to remember is that the realization of this value begins at home – so when Coca-Cola says happiness – its employees must be happy too, it should have a happy work environment, the entire chain has to be happy.

2) Understanding your Target Audience – Every brand must define its Target Audience and must align its efforts keeping the target audience in mind. For eg. a brand that targets youngsters must reflect their ideologies – it should be peppy, have strong beliefs, liberal in today’s context. A luxury brand – must be suave, must not sell the product – should focus on the opulence of the brand experience. In many ways, a brand’s personality is defined for its relevance to the target audiences – the decision-makers as well as the influencers.

A wonderful example here is Maggi Noodles – while they are targeting children and teenagers – their communication is targeted more towards the decision (buying) makers – the mothers. Of course, there are key elements to attract their end customers too. Children, teenagers mainly, have evening hunger pangs and need a quick evening snack – which has to satisfy their taste buds but the mothers want something healthy for their children – Maggi has answered both these problems beautifully in many of their communication and is, therefore, today, one of the most successful brands – almost synonymous with instant noodles.

3) Design a unique identity – Having a brand mascot or a brand ambassador helps to solidify your brand’s personality and give it tangible, relatable shape. That said, it’s crucial that your brand ambassador/mascot must reflect your brand values. When Lux talks about luxury – it has only taken stars that all of us can relate to – from Kareena Kapoor to Shahrukh Khan. Lux has, in a commendable way, covered the entire aspirational spectrum of an average middle-class family – from the lady of the house to the husbands and the kids.

At the same time, when you see Ronald McDonald seated outside every McDonald’s outlet in the country, you know your kids are going to be attracted to the place – not just because of the product or service but because they love Ronald McDonald too.

4) Being Consistent – Arriving at a positioning statement and understanding what your brand stands for is crucial, but being consistent in your messaging plays a vital role too. Commit to your marketing strategy for the long haul – if your messaging is not working, go back to the drawing board – tweak it a little. Don’t try to change your brand truths. Consumers today crave transparency and authenticity above all other values and brands that appear opportunistic will pay the price -on social media and in the store.

5) Be a good story-teller – Every brand has a story –your consumers must know your story. It gives them a view of everything that’s gone into the making of your brand. This helps them understand why a brand espouses certain values and what drives it – an idea of the legacy and the hard work of hundreds of people associated with it. This also helps your consumers connect to your brand on a personal level. Take the case of ready-to-use spices maker MDH Masale. The brand’s story has been told often. Consumers know how it emerged from the dark days of Partition and was built brick by brick on the charisma and accessible personal appeal of its founder Mahashay Dharampal Gulati. This Indian brand has become the runaway leader in its category.

6) Don’t try to imitate another – what works for one brand will not work for another. We all know the “key formula” to advertise men’s deodorant – after Axe did it wonderfully in their advertising, every other men’s deodorant brand only followed. The result? Axe still grew – by leaps and bounds while everyone else only got lost in the crowd. Imitating another successful brand is like a race to the bottom. Succumbing to the entropy and chaos of the market will only suck up time, energy, and money for little impact. Therefore, it is imperative to stick to your brand truths and strategize accordingly.

A brand is what your consumers make of it. You understand your brand best – the ideals and the values behind it. Once you have zeroed in on your brand truths – use them to form the foundation of the personality the brand projects. Like Howard Schultz said, “Advertising can build brands but authenticity is what makes them last. If people believe they share values with a company, they will stay loyal to it.”

 

Looking to design effective communication for your brand? Write to us at info@lokusdesign.com

In the day and age of online shopping, it has become harder than ever to entice customers into a retail store. How do you persuade shoppers to visit your store amidst the traffic and crowds when they can buy what they want from the comfort of their homes? As the convenience of e-commerce becomes more and more evident, a retail store has to be much more than a place to showcase products. If you want customers to get out of their homes and take the effort to visit your store, you need to offer an exclusive store layout, stunning interiors, awe-inspiring experiences, and exemplary customer service. We’ve turned our attention to 8 of the best retail spaces ever designed – from car manufacturers to fragrances, toy stores to home accessories, footwear to apparel – these retail spaces are bringing the brick-and-mortar era back, and how! Join us, as we take you on a ride!

Adidas, Berlin:

In a market where competition is so intense, you have to think out-of-the-box to truly strike a chord with your customers. That’s exactly what sporting goods manufacturer Adidas began, with its neighborhood or NBHD concept stores. With the aim of plugging into the pulse of local trendsetters, artists, and streetwear fans, Adidas’ Berlin store is the perfect amalgamation of brand consistency and localized store design. The NBHD retail concept stores, now also operational in Shanghai, Seoul, and London translate the spirit of each city into a regional store adaptation that connects with the local youth culture. The end result? An exclusive store in each city, that offers products based on deep-rooted knowledge of local artists and influencers and gives each store a unique buzz and differentiation. The Berlin store offers a vibe that’s very local, keeping up with the city spirit through resident manifestos, graphic designs, and physical installations.

Bulgari, Rome:

Italian luxury brand Bulgari’s Rome store exudes luxury in every manner possible. Redesigned and refurbished for the brand’s 130th anniversary in 2014, the space is inspired by its Ancient Greek and Roman roots. Positioned perfectly at the base of the popular Spanish Steps, the interplay between contemporary and traditional lies at the core of the store’s eclectic and captivating décor. The store showcases a wide variety of the brand’s jewelry, fragrances, watches, accessories, and all things luxury. The sparkling finishes of some of the world’s finest jewelry is infused in an indulgent retail space with one foot in the past, one in the present.

H&M, Melbourne:

Swedish apparel brand H&M’s Melbourne store offers all of H&M’s clothing, kids, home and beauty range under one roof for a complete brand experience. What makes the store truly unique is its Victorian-era interiors with white walls and mirrors as far as the eye can see – a perfect blend of fashion and extravagant architecture that is every shopper’s delight. The former General Post Office, now a stunning 1600-square foot H&M store is spread over three spacious floors. The striking Victorian architecture offers a magnificent setting, with its columns, clock tower, and magnificence of the postal hall. Get mesmerized by the sheer grandeur of the building and enjoy its alluring features such as the checked stone flooring, arched doorways and elaborately ornamented staircases as you shop.

LEGO, London:

Danish toy manufacturer LEGO’s London store at Leicester Square is the brand’s largest store in the world. Opened in November 2016 and spanning 9,800 square-foot, LEGO London offers amazing experiences: get welcomed by the Leicester Square mascot, participate in the store’s monthly mini-build and get the opportunity to build your very own, one-of-a-kind LEGO mosaic portrait using the LEGO Mosaic Maker – just step into the photo-booth, have a picture snapped and get printed instructions and bricks to build your own LEGO portrait. You can also enjoy several photo-ops with life-size LEGO installations including the London Tube made from 637,903 blocks, the 20-foot tall Big Ben, Sherlock Holmes, a Royal Guard, a mosaic map of London, and more.

Prada, Tokyo:

Italian luxury fashion brand Prada’s Tokyo store is one of Japan’s largest flagship stores that’s causing ripples in the retail space. The stand-alone glass building with its diagonal grid design is a distinctive work of architecture – sure to catch the eye at first glance. With six floors of products ranging from menswear to womenswear, fragrances to fashion accessories, the store offers brand enthusiasts and new visitors all that they desire. The store also houses several lounges and event spaces – and aims to blend the concept of shopping and pleasure with consumption and culture. The façade appears as an interactive optical crystal as you walk past it, and the glass walls with its structural cores and horizontal tubes not only support the ceiling but also morph into elevators and stairs, fitting rooms and display shelves – giving it a sense of unending shopping space that’s deeply integrated into the architecture.

Sabyasachi, Delhi:

With designer boutiques sprawling across the Indian subcontinent, Sabyasachi’s flagship store in Delhi gives grandeur and opulence a whole new meaning: from hand-painted chandeliers to antique carpets, Tanjore paintings to studio portraits – the space offers a unique heritage experience to shoppers. Spread over 13,500 square-feet and two wings – one showcasing women’s bridal wear and jewelry and the other men’s wear and ready-to-wear sarees and kurtas –the retail space houses a large heritage monument and a grand colonial era-inspired staircase that is sure to transport you back to a historic era.

Swarovski, Innsbruck:

The home of Swarovski, the crystal store in Innsbruck is a glittering jewel nestled in the Austrian Alps. With a unique design concept and the widest range of dazzling sensations spread across two floors, the Innsbruck store is Swarovski’s largest and is sure to invigorate anyone and everyone with its sparkle. From spaces replete with enchanting crystal figurines by world-renowned artists to an exceptional range of contemporary and classic jewelry, the store brings together numerous Swarovski product lines under a single roof. The five-meter high chandelier is undeniably the masterpiece of the showroom and the art space on the first floor offers stunning satellite views of illuminated buildings of cities such as Athens, Rio de Janeiro, Johannesburg, New York or Dubai – an expressive symbol of Swarovski’s global network. As for post-retail therapy, The Bar offers a delectable range of refreshments.

Tesla, Manhattan:

Although Tesla spaces worldwide feature the latest concept models of the electric car, with more than 3 million people visiting every year, what makes the 10,900-square foot Manhattan space truly unique is the immersive educational experience it offers to visitors around Tesla vehicles and energy products in general. The store has been thoughtfully designed to appear contrastingly different to your traditional car dealer and greatly emphasizes the uniqueness of the brand: an entire wall is dedicated to showcasing Tesla’s competence in sustainable energy; the design studio allows you to design your own Tesla using a configurator. And if you want to learn more about electric cars, just head to the seating area and get all the information you need from the highly enthusiastic staff on electric vehicle tech in general, not just Tesla.

A common thread running through these amazing stores is that the design, interiors, layout, and the concept of the stores stand out not for their empty opulence but for the fact that the stores represent the very essence of that retail brand. The best-designed stores reflect the brand in subtle but meaningful ways. Bulgari is about heritage, Prada about opulence, Lego about building things, Tesla about responsible innovation -it’s all apparent. A visitor to the store instinctively knows what the brand stands for -and buys into it even while being captivated with the décor and the layout. And, that’s the key. So, which of these iconic stores are you planning on visiting first?

 

Looking for help in designing your retail store? Reach out to us on info@lokusdesign.com

Nations such as India and Brazil are seeing tremendous economic growth. With that growth comes a significant rise in the disposable income of the people. These more well-off consumers are changing their buying preferences, consumption habits, and requirements too. One of the changes this affluence has sparked is an interest in higher value and better designed personal care products. As it happens, the APAC geography is doing particularly well in the global personal care products segment. Marketers anticipate a sustained growth rate of over 5% and India is among the major contributors.

As consumers become more sophisticated and demanding, the personal care packaging is also witnessing major transformations. The lifestyle influences and aspirations of consumers have inspired brands to carve out enthralling, sophisticated, and, yet, functional designs.

And… this is where companies are finding the need to implement innovative new packaging trends. Here are 6 personal care packaging designs that caught our eye:

Art Stick Liquid Dip – Multinational marketer and producer of personal care products, the Estee Lauder Companies Inc. have taken a step forward in designing innovative and premium packaging products. The company, in an endeavor to impart the sense of a playful experience while applying Lipstick, packaged a convenient BobbiBrown Art Stick Liquid Lip in a disposable container.

Especially targeted at the Millennial audience, the concept of colour cosmetics in the form of Art Stick brought to mind a childhood staple -the crayons from art class.

Bubble-Shaped HDPE Bottles from Soaper Duper

Several global brands are stepping up to save the planet from the devastating effects of over-exploitation of its natural resources. Soaper Duper is one such brand. This brand is a leading maker of naturally-derived body and bath products. The company has designed a bubble bottle with one hundred percent Post-Consumer Recycled Plastic. The bottle is playfully shaped like a set of soapy bubbles, as a reminder of the utility. These green-hued HDPE bottles are making a notable difference to our environment.

Head & Shoulders’s shampoo bottle with 25% recyclable beach plastic

Spreading awareness of plastic contamination in our oceans and beaches, Head & Shoulders’ introduction of recyclable beach plastic bottles design was awarded the United Nations Momentum for Change Award. The P&G brand had partnered with SUEZ and TerraCycle to launch their shampoo bottle produced out of 25% recycled plastic. The material used was recovered beach plastic and the bottle itself was designed to be recycled. The users have the satisfaction of caring for the environment, even as they gave their hair the very best in care.

Stackable, clickable makeup concept by Trinny London

Trinny London, a personal care company based in London has launched a brand-new line of products with a customized packing concept. The packaging allows women to stack and arrange their personal care products based on their needs. They could create stacks for specific purposes such as eyes, cheek, and face. This customizable kit comprises 5ml pots, an epitome of state-of-the-art technology. The containers are superb for portability, comfort, and fulfilling the individual requirements of each user.

The base of all the transparent jars (or pots) is equipped with click-fit functionality that latches with another jar upon stacking. The transparency and the labeling of the pots in hues like statement lip, smoky eye, starter pack, and fresh face look pots, allows the makeup wearer to decide the combination of hues and functions that make the most sense to them.

LBK Nails’ introduce Gel polish with multifunctional cap bottle

Consumers have often complained of notable differences in the actual and the displayed colour of a nail polish. Kemeny’s LBK brand eliminates this problem with a packaging design innovation. This Gel Polish is UV-protected with multifunctional cap and an opaque bottle. The bottle is equipped with a hinge containing a fingernail-shaped pop-up piece painted with the polish that is sold inside the bottle. The advantage of the design is that it allows the customer to overlay the pop-up piece over their fingernail rather than opening the bottle and trying the gel polish. Style and extreme utility are both at the fingertips of the consumers!

 

With personal care products, it is individuality and style that must be in focus. In that scenario, packaging that catches the eye, while revealing the inner core of the product is essential to connect with the consumers and rack up the sales. When it comes to personal care products, consumers today prefer a packaging design that is responsible, sleek, science-backed, and beautiful. And these brands here have made an awesome statement!

 

Reach out to us on info@lokusdesign.com

By 2020, the food packaging industry in India will soar to $65 Billion from the current $40 Billion. Being one of the five biggest packaged food sellers globally, India has established its position as a key market globally. The volume makes it Asia’s second largest country with over 34 Million tonnes of sales volume. Despite these promising developments and predictions, it is fair to say that India is still an evolving market for packaged food. This evolution is driving changes in the food packaging too.

Some prominent reasons for developments in F&B packaging include:

1. Urban lifestyle changes
2. Rising incomes of consumers
3. Changing need for preserving food quality
4. Encouraging reduced amounts of food preservatives
5. Drive to reduce food wastage
6. Protection against external and chemical damages
7. Informing customers and marketers about the food quality and its ingredients

2019 F & B packaging trends

Consumers are becoming increasingly aware. F & B brands are encouraging production in close alignment with high-quality, clean, fresh, organic foods, and sustainable or eco-friendly packaging. Undoubtedly, quality certification still remains the top priority. This trend is gaining momentum among marketers and consumers at large. Crowded grocery shelves demand product characteristics and offerings that can make the brand stand out.

Here are some of the top trends in F & B packaging that could transform the food and beverages industry in 2019.

Artistic impression – Artistic impression in F&B packaging often proves to be incredibly effective. Quite the emotional way to connect with consumers, it has been in the trend for almost a year now. Although the design implementation has been sporadic, artistic impression could well work wonders in 2019. More and more brands are incorporating this design trend. Packages will carry intriguing graphics conveying a message from the brand to its customers.

Absolut Chicago has been a trendsetter in this category. Teaming with Chicago’s acclaimed design community, Threadless, to carve an appealing city series edition that portrays the style, heritage, and unique flavor of the city.

Packaged to carry – Consumers on-the-go often resort to making online purchase. Brands face cut-throat competition and must go above and beyond to get loved and consumed by people. In this scenario, packaging could literally help the brand stand out.

Garcon Wines, the first and the leading manufacturer of flat, full-size, innovative wine bottles is a leader of this very trend. The brand presents a 100% eco-friendly, sustainable, convenient, and economical solution by using the post-consumer recycled PET in their bottle packaging.

Reinvigorating the staid look – This worked great for the Rice Ramen Noodle line. The company was actively trying to re-introduce their instant noodle cup into the comparatively healthier, flavorful, and sustainable rice noodle category. Rice Ramen was launched in the Red Miso, Masala Curry, and Tom Yum flavors. With Bulldog Drummond’s concoction of clever language, bold typographic look, playful patterns, and bright hues, the packaging clearly helped the brand showcase their different outlook.

Hues for you – Global brands are making a bold move by introducing bright, contrasting colors on packaging to shine on the shelf and bolster brand recall. Brands are also offering their customers a rare experience by personalizing their products. It’s not only the world’s biggest brands like Coca-Cola or Nutella are up for this. 2019 will witness the rise of smaller brands personalizing their design to attract customers.

Telling customers what’s important – Browsing the shelves for protein bars? There are dozens of them right there and you will have absolutely no idea what they can do to your health. And RxBar was one of them until its packaging was redesigned to give all the vital information the health-conscious consumer could ever need -in big, bold fonts displayed all over the package. In a world where consumers are much more conscious about what goes into their bodies expect this transparency to become the norm in packaging.

RxBar lists out its ingredients and calorie count in one unit on its packaging. A clever idea to save time and efforts of customers in knowing everything they need to know while buying a protein bar!

Eco-friendly, the need of today and tomorrow – A commendable move from Veuve Clicquot! The brand packaging clearly showcased its concern and commitment towards the environment by showcasing products sold in 100% recyclable packaging. The most intriguing part is the material used to develop its packaging – Transformed Grape Skin! Veuve Clicquot has managed to stand up to its commitment of being an eco-friendly brand by reducing waste and carbon-emission percentage. And, it’s done that while staying true to its roots (or should that be its vines?).

Eco-friendly packaging or ingredient-based packaging have already been introduced. We expect that trend to rise, indeed to dominate in 2019. The trends, in this fast-evolving space are changing at a breakneck speed. This is all driven by changing customer values and technological development. Brands will need a visual style that can help them boldly make their presence felt -and it could be by adopting one of these packaging trends that they may achieve that!

 

Reach out to us on info@lokusdesign.com.

From your coffee maker to your electric toaster – your hairdryer, your smartphone, washing machine your electric toothbrush – it’s all in the consumer durable category. But what makes a brand more successful than the others? It may be down to how the brand is perceived by its consumers.

Consumers may not know the specific tangible differences between two brands – however, they still have preferences and these preferences are only created because of a brand’s image and its positioning in the markets.

Isn’t your company name and logo enough as branding?

The answer is No. Your company (product) logo and name are part of your company’s identity. They do not convey everything that your brand stands for – the quality, the values and most importantly – the core values and Purpose of your brand. A comprehensive branding and positioning exercise is extremely important for your brand – for this is going to be your product truth for years to come. To put it simply – the perception of your brand, your reason for existence, your logo and the advertising – all of these must come together in your brand identity.

Branding your product properly improves recognition, it helps your consumer build trust in your brand, it helps you build relationships with your consumers better. It adds financial value and generates new customers too. But, even when branding is so crucial for consumer durables, companies make these 7 common mistakes while branding their products:

1. Not aligning with your purpose and core values

For a brand, the most important part of their positioning exercise is to understand what their purpose and their core values are. A brand and the core team driving it– need to define what their brand stands for. Then all the actions the brand takes must be aligned with that Purpose. Any divergence creates dissonance, lack of trust, and, eventually, chaos.

2. Underestimating or underplaying your brand

Another common mistake most brands make is underestimating their brand story– it is important for you to not just believe in your brand, but also to believe in its true potential. A brand is only what you make of it. You cannot expect your consumers to buy into a story even you are not completely convinced of.

3. Keep it simple, silly!

The KISS philosophy is universal– and even more so for consumer-focused brands like durables. If your communications are unclear you are only going to confuse your audience. A classic example of this is Onida – one of the most popular brands in the 80s and the 90s – Onida was rightly called “neighbour’s envy, owner’s pride”. The devil with his two red horns became the identity for Onida and in fact, took the brand to new heights. It was easily one of the best marketing strategies of all time for Indian consumer durable products. The connect it established with the audience was so strong that Onida was initially able to withstand the big-bang entry of the Korean TV brands, LG and Samsung. Over time the brand’s influence has waned as a new generation unfamiliar with the devil came in. Life has come full circle as in 2018, the devil has made a comeback and has become the focus of Onida’s efforts to capture more market share.

4. Using cliché design elements that make you merge into the background with other brands

It is extremely important to have well-considered and relevant design elements feeding into your Brand identity. Using elements just because they are trendy or popular, essentially succumbing to the entropy of the marketplace can hurt the brand. Microsoft, for example, while introducing Edge, created a logo uncomfortably like the Internet Explorer logo. Everyone from the early days of the internet have their own stories of that departed browser. And the Twitterverse along with the critics delivered their judgement, a big no! Why make a new browser and give it almost the same identity – colors and logo?

5. Inconsistency across channels

It is important for every brand to have a strong and consistent message on every channel – from your ATL advertising, your social media to your outdoor and your BTL activities – if your brand truth is not changing – why should your messaging? Of course, you may extend your messaging and talk in context when it comes to social media and BTL but overall –consistency is critical. For example, when Apple launched iPhone 6 with a brilliant campaign – focusing only on the phone camera, the campaign was a simple, one-line statement – “Shot on an iPhone”. And from their social media to their ATL to their BTL, you only saw them talking about the wonderful camera features. They even crowd-sourced their social media content by asking people to click pictures on their iPhone and share them. That’s a great example of the consistency a brand needs.

6. Managing your social media responsibly

Even the biggest brands have made the mistake of not managing their social media responsibly – Right after the launch of iPhone 6 Plus, many users were worried about their iPhones bending in their pockets and breaking. This is when someone from LG’s (France) social media team decided to be creative and tweeted an image of some bent phones and copy that read “Your LG phone won’t bend”. As it happens, this tweet was sent from an iPhone and, sure enough, the world noticed. Needless to say, the tweet was soon deleted but it sure went down in the history of biggest social media fails by brands. For every brand, small or big, managing their social media responsibly is crucial.

7. Poor Customer Service

Customers are your priority – that’s where your focus should. In a world where every customer is capable of becoming a broadcaster, and every poor experience has the potential to “go viral”, customer service is also a part of the overall brand experience. This is especially true in the durable space where the products costs more and is expected to last longer. Customers with problems should be handled with caution. Focus on creating intuitive and effective customer care processes and on training your customer care executives. Pay attention to the online universe for negative comments and complaints -and be ready to provide a customer care experience that fits into the overall brand story seamlessly.

Don’t let your consumer-durable product become a victim of poorly-considered branding. Take expert help, know your brand’s essential truths and stick to them. Remember – products are made in factories but brands are created in the mind!

 

Looking for help in branding of consumer durables? Write to us on info@lokusdesign.com.

In the e-commerce world, sales are entirely web-based or app-based. Your website/app is your hub and sales are driven by online advertising and branding. It’s “No branding, no sales” in the competitive e-commerce space -there’s always another site available for the consumer! How do you create and promote an online brand and how is it different from the traditional?

While the principles of branding are universal, the online world is multi-channel and provides data on customers in a way unheard of in traditional businesses. Connections are rife, with lots of interplay with social media.

Online Branding- Old and New Challenges

The internet provides customers with more information, wide choice, options, and comparisons. Savvy customers hold the power, not the seller. How do you master this new domain and build a bond with customers online? Can old branding strategies adapt to the online world?

The online experience is about getting into the eye line of prospects and then capturing their attention. Much branding and communications is focused around driving “uniques” or “first time” visitors -essentially folks trying the site out. The key requirement from an e-commerce brand creation effort is to build Trust that will make customers actually transact and pay online and then visit again and again. Trust can be gained by creating an unmatched customer experience and making it consistent over time.

Here are some of the E-commerce branding best practices that can help you build a strong brand:

Basics:

Make sure the product name is unique and impactful. Good tag lines are critical.

See the OYO rooms tagline” Aur Kya Chaiye”. Oyo Rooms disrupted the hotel business in India by providing serviceable rooms, standard features, and brand name recognition at affordable costs. The #AurkyaChahiye campaign of OYO, highlighted that good rooms were available for as low as Rs 999 -what else does a traveler want? The self-booking domestic traveler lapped it up and, as it happens, so did the previously unbranded local hotels and inns that suddenly became part of a mega brand.

Choice of Voice and tone of messaging is very crucial in building a relationship with the buyers. The more human the voice and tone, the better.

Hotstar created a digital entertainment revolution in India. The HotStar app had 2 Million downloads in the first 10 days itself. Today it is the largest provider of entertainment content in India.

Hotstar used tone effectively in its ads. For launching the Game of Thrones content, they had a witty, sarcastic tone that took on the sneaky torrents way of viewing content. They launched with the slogan Torrents Morghulis’ (torrents must die), a smart reference that spoke directly to GoT-fanatics.

Designing Your Digital Display Shelf:

Your website/app must use the appropriate visual elements: design, colour palette consistent with the brand, relevant imagery, and typography that contributes to the branding. Note that far more purchases happen via mobile apps than via websites. The approach, thus, must be “mobile first”.

The quality of the company’s website and app is directly related to the level of trust the buyers will have in the brand.

The more information the site gives about the product the better. The more intuitively it is presented to the buyer the better it is. The easier it is for the buyer to transact, the more likely the transaction will take place.

The buyers must be able to get an almost “touch and feel” like experience on the website. This must be consistent with any offline channels the brand may be exploring. Brand communications and the site itself must reflect the multi-channel nature of the brand and include information from offline campaigns to present a cohesive picture.

User Experience:

Most people will reach your site and product page via a Google search. This suggests branding considerations unique to the online world. The first being to choose a good domain name and clear URL, easily typed out (and now apt for voice search!), and intuitive.

The online buyer worships convenience. This means the brand must ensure smooth transactions, interactive and engaging elements, and provide comprehensive and intuitive search options.

“Branded Content” has a key role to play. Good content creates customer engagement. It creates a story around the brand and its offerings. It presents a compelling reason for the user to buy. Content also drives the search results that bring people to your site/app.

Social and sharing:

Social Media is a force-multiplier for the online retail brand. This is a channel to reach out and connect with the target audience, engage the former customers, and solidify a relationship with the loyal customer. This means the communication on the social channels must also be consistent with the brand messaging and communications across the other online and offline properties.

Social media posts must be engaging and impactful, with high-quality images and succinct messaging. This content has the potential to “go viral” -so creating content that is inherently shareable because it fits with the values the buyers share with the brand is key.

The beverages brand Paper Boat was known for home-made juices. The product had an association with childhood memories. Paper Boat used an innovative way to drive content and engagement in one sweet mix. They asked their audience to share their childhood stories on social media. The Facebook page of Paper Boat is a delight and replete with users’ comments.

The Big Question:

In a branding world made more complex by the emergence of the online store, a natural question for Brand Managers is how to maintain consistency across all these channels? Especially in an environment when any social missteps can explode into the public consciousness? The answer is to ensure that all branding, communications, and indeed, all other activities be driven by the core values, the Purpose, that is at the heart of the brand. If this is the touchstone by which the aptness of all decisions is measured, then not only is consistency sure to follow but the relationships formed with the target audience will also be more authentic and longer-lasting.

 

Looking for help to design your E-commerce brand? Write to us on info@lokusdesign.com