Service: Brand Audit
Leading brands know that great instore delivery makes for the best sales performance. But how do you know if your brand is living up to its potential?
That’s where getting our expert assessment and in-depth analysis on your brand delivery can provide the answers you need for more effective long-term retail development strategy. As pioneers in this specialist research field, our experience, expertise and service is unrivalled.
Visual Thinking brand audits offer an integrated, multi-disciplined approach and provide authoritative feedback on what’s happening instore and explain the reasons why. We research all aspects of brand delivery including; visual merchandising, store operations and retail training and development needs.
Our research is used to to support a wide range of brand delivery objectives, including; market insight and competitor benchmarking, and for assessing the quality, effectiveness and consistency of VM methods, customer service and retail standards.
We have an enviable reputation for detailed and accurate reporting, expert analysis and objective feedback. Unlike basic mystery shopping activities, which still leave many unanswered questions, our brand audits provide in-depth retail critiques that give clarity on the key issues to maximise effective decision-making. As a result, our brand audits are used for strategy development and many practical brand delivery improvement projects, within all market sectors.
Using a range of effective information gathering techniques, we collect qualitative and quantitative measurement data including; comment based findings, statistics and photography.
Information is compiled into clear and comprehensive summary management reports for client presentation and discussion. We can also provide feedback on interactive online platforms to cascade information quickly and effectively across an organisation to maximise the value of the insight gained.
Global insight and expert analysis for trusted advice.
Case Studies:
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Client: Lacoste Footwear
Project: Brand Audit
Brief:
Lacoste Footwear asked Visual Thinking to complete a detailed review of its visual merchandising delivery in selected outlets across its UK and French distribution network.
The brief was to identify improvements to enhance the customer experience by introducing increased levels of brand appeal and ‘retail theatre’ into the showroom environment.
Solution:
The Visual Thinking team visited a number of stores including Lacoste boutiques, key accounts, multi-brands, department stores and independent retailers. The review involved three consultants – one French speaking – and was delivered over six weeks at locations in London, Manchester, Paris, Tours and Lyon. The review involved an observational critique including photography and detailed discussions with staff to explore store presentation issues.
The exercise concluded with a presentation to the client’s international brand marketing team. This involved proposals for enhanced brand delivery, product presentation and appeal, showroom visibility, street presence and brand engagement. Recommendations included improvements to shop equipment design, VM methods, retail guidelines and staff training to maximise VM effectiveness and sales performance.
“You highlighted some important improvement areas. Lacoste SA can make a big difference using the audit feedback”.
Delphine Varenne – International Marketing Manager, Lacoste Footwear. (January 2011)
