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The Delta Group, Europe’s premier visual communications specialist delivering dynamic multi-channel marketing services to consumer brands and retailers, is pleased to announce a 5-year multi-million (£) contract win for Global’s Outdoor print production, after a competitive tender process in 2021.

Global is one of the leading Outdoor companies in the UK with over 235,000 sites reaching 95% of the UK population. Global’s extensive and diverse outdoor portfolio encompasses Transport for London’s Underground network, almost all major UK airports including Gatwick, the UK’s largest portfolio of roadside posters and premium digital screens in prime locations, as well as the UK’s largest network of buses including all major cities.

Delta will be providing an end to end solution, powered by their Workstream X technology platform,  delivering creative / digital print services, multi OOH format print production, fulfilment and distribution.

Adrian Lovejoy, Operations Director at Global said: “Our tender process reflected our need to find the best long-term partner to deliver maximum value to our customers. We have successfully transitioned to Delta over the past few months and are already seeing the benefits of the partnership and supply chain come through, especially as we align our technology capabilities. Delta is also heavily focussed on the environment and sustainability which closely aligns to our strategy. The partnership will enable Global to deliver a seamless media booking and production end-to-end solution, driving efficiency and improving time to market and supporting future growth.

Jason Hammond, CEO of the Delta Group, said: “This was a very complex tender process, and we are naturally delighted with this award, strengthening our position in the OOH and emerging digital print market. To be appointed to work with a market leader like Global is very exciting and provides assurance that our investment strategy, innovation, can do culture, services and unique infrastructure add real value for our clients. We will be working very hard to deliver exceptional value to Global over the contract term.  

Press Contact:

Dean Smith,

Chief Sales & Marketing Officer

Dean.smith@thedeltagroup.com

+44 (0) 7957 633652

The Delta Group, Europe’s premier visual communications specialist delivering dynamic multi-channel marketing services to brands, retailers, and studios across the globe, announce the appointment of Starzeus Hassan-McGhee as Sustainability Director.

Starzeus will report directly to Jason Hammond (CEO) and will be responsible for driving our award-winning Delta Net Zero strategy. This will include working in collaboration with Delta’s procurement team to further enhance best practise supply chain practises, the development of Delta’s sustainability innovation lab and most importantly proactively engaging through the Delta Net Zero ‘Collaborate’ pillar to support our client’s goals and objectives.   

Starzeus, Sustainability Director of the Delta Group, said: “The clarity of Delta’s Net Zero strategy, and how their pillars drive collaboration and measurable results is fantastic and a platform that will deliver real change. This combined with their passion and forward-thinking culture made this an easy decision for me. I’m very much looking forward to engaging with my Delta colleagues and clients to drive successful outcomes”.   

Jason Hammond, CEO of the Delta Group, said: “Our Delta Net Zero strategy is a key differentiator, with ambitious 5-year objectives. Starz’s is an inspiring all-rounder with an impressive educational background in sustainable development and environmentalism. He’s also delivered award-winning climate change initiatives and worked on complex International Development programmes for UNICEF, DFID, ECHO, USAID and Comic Relief. To capture such a talent is great news for Delta and most importantly our clients”

Since Pokémon Go brought Augmented Reality (AR) to the mainstream five years ago, the technology has been increasingly adopted by brands looking to incorporate it into their marketing material. The onset of the pandemic, which has seen consumers increasingly connecting with brands on mobile, is now making these kinds of dynamic digital signage activations even more important.

Done right, AR can make mobile experiences more interactive, immersive, and informative. But is AR in retail really maturing enough to make this a reality? Speaking to Retail Dive, Allison Ferenci, co-founder and CEO of software company Camera IQ, argues that it is.

“Not only are brands using AR as an always-on format, but they’re also using AR as a full-funnel solution. They’re trying to use AR at every customer touch point from driving awareness, to getting deeper consumer engagement, to increasing conversion at checkout.”

Allison argues that AR offers brands the potential to give new and existing customers more control over their experience. Today, the most popular applications include virtual try-ons of clothes and cosmetics, and photorealistic demonstrations of home furnishings. However, wider applications are likely.

The future of AR in retail

Continuous improvements in smartphone technology, combined with the rollout of higher speed 5G networks, will make AR content easier for consumers to download and interact with. These technological leaps are also giving brands more creative freedom when developing AR strategy.

“The big thing when it comes to AR is to not just focus on that bottom-of-funnel conversion,” Ferenci said. “Instead, think about the creative format and that you’re really delivering an experience to your customer. The opportunity is to deliver an experience in an always-on format.”

She recommends that the next step for AR in retail is for marketers to start focusing on AR content based closely around their overall brand objectives, whether that be driving awareness, direct sales, or both.

The potential for awareness campaigns is significant and varied. Brands can include elements that encourage consumers to engage with an AR object, and to familiarise themselves with a brand and share on social media.

“That’s how the creative that you authored starts to change based on where the consumer is and what your goal is in the outcome,” Ferenci said. “In an AR experience, there’s actually a lot of nuance based on the objective you have.”

At The Delta Group, in addition to our manufacturing of quality printed marketing display materials, we also provide a wide range of digital solutions including AR content generation. Get in touch to find out more: hello@thedeltagroup.com.

Dec, 2021 LONDON

The Delta Group, Europe’s premier visual communications specialist delivering dynamic multi-channel marketing services to consumer brands and retailers, is pleased to announce a contract win for McColl’s retail marketing ‘Point of Sale’ contract, after a competitive tender process.

McColl’s convenience stores and Martin’s newsagents have a network of 1,265 sites across England, Scotland and Wales, serving over 4 million customers with their 16,500 colleagues across the business.

The Delta Group will be providing complex retail campaign execution through its WorkstreamX technology providing integrated artwork, creative, digital automation, POS production, fulfillment and distribution to McColl’s for their promotional in-store campaigns, leaflet drops and magazine production.

Mandy Hodson, Head of Marketing at McColl’s, said: “Our tender process was focused on finding a partner that understood Retail, and could provide us with the ability to execute campaigns at pace, allowing us flexibility to maximize in-store promotions for our customers. Delta clearly demonstrated an advanced understanding of retail campaign execution and highlighted how their unique infrastructure, retail technology and in-house end to end services will help McColl’s drive ‘Continuous Improvement’.”

Jason Hammond, CEO of the Delta Group, said: “We are thrilled with this award, particularly as it came through a complex tender process that left no stone unturned. To be appointed to work with McColl’s is very exciting and provides us assurance that our culture of ‘Can do’ and focus on continuous improvements, investment in people, services and manufacturing are being recognised as the market leading retail grocery / convenience strategy.

Press Contact:
Dean Smith, Chief Sales & Marketing Officer
Dean.Smith@theDeltaGroup.co.uk
+447957 633652

Effective marketing operations are a must for any business to run smoothly. Central to that is a digital asset management (DAM) system. However, with many companies still relying on outdated DAM systems, effective marketing operations can sometimes prove to be rather elusive.

These legacy systems have been described as little more than digital filing cabinets or the place where digital assets got to die, reports The Drum.

A recent webinar staged by The Drum and Hyland addressed this issue. Here’s a summary of the key points discussed.

Importance of media assets post-pandemic

The pandemic has triggered a rapid growth in the importance of digital assets for most companies. Many have moved towards more of a digital-first model, with digital content acting as a key differentiator in the customer experience. With an estimated 50% of consumer interactions happening online, we are fast approaching the tipping point when online revenue will exceed that of in-store revenue.

With this increased focus on online content comes a greater need for more personalised, visually driven, modular content delivered across different platforms and channels. Organisations are looking for content that serves a purpose for a specific moment in time, stepping away from the long-form content that has populated websites and print media for so long.

DAM systems that are fit for purpose

Tailored content essentially means a greater volume of content and more variants on that content (e.g. colours, backgrounds, sizes and seasonality). As a result, assets need to be tracked, stored, easily located and recombined with speed and ease. And the best way to do that is through a modern DAM system.

Legacy DAM systems are often clunky, sitting outside of web content management systems, and making it hard to find the digital assets needed. Other challenges include inconsistent search results (because tags, keywords and metadata need to be entered manually), as well as issues accessing and sharing assets (leading to duplication and difficulties tracking them).

Add to this the fact that traditional DAM systems are more time-consuming, have limited recording functionality (leading to compliance and rights management issues), and often come with file restraints. 

The need for next generation DAM is crucial. According to Alan Porter, director of product marketing at Hyland, a next generation DAM system should be cloud native, low code, scalable (in both directions), API first, and have an integrated workflow.

With WorkStream X your business can take one step closer to seamless marketing operations. It’s already helping some of the world’s largest retailers take back control of their campaign management. What could it do for your company? Get in touch to find out more: hello@thedeltagroup.com.  

While many feared that the pandemic would result in deserted high streets, the reality is that more retail stores have opened than have closed. According to one study from over the pond, shared by Retail Customer Experience, national retailers have announced 3,199 store openings but just 2,548 closures in the past year to date.

The pandemic has, though, inspired some digital pure plays to reconsider their customer journey and launch physical stores. Such brands are new to in-store operations and in-person experiential retail, meaning they need to create new competencies and capabilities that meet consumers wherever they may be – and on their terms. 

Here are three tips to help retailers succeed when adjusting to the ‘real world’.

1. Understand customer expectations 

Product discovery is a key factor tempting shoppers in-store – in fact, a pre-pandemic Oracle study found that this was a priority stage in the buyer journey for 36% of consumers. A good reason to make stores immersive, exciting and potentially interactive spaces to trial new products.

Empty shelves are a huge bugbear among shoppers, however. An Oracle study from this year found that out-of-stock items topped the list of what constitutes a poor shopping experience for 34% of consumers. A third (33%) admitted that they would try another brand rather than wait for the item to come back in store, while 27% admitted they’d go to another retailer. A fully-stocked inventory is therefore a must. 

Understandably, a safety-first approach is key for retailers opening stores. Eight in ten shoppers say they’d be willing to visit a physical store provided there are safety precautions in place, including robust cleaning procedures and mask wearing. 

2. Utilise retail tech 

Digital brands already have a wealth of tools and technology insights at their disposal; they now need to work out how to translate these into the real world. Harnessing the correct technology is key, and selecting a quality POS and retail platform will also be crucial to in-store operational success. 

Regardless of channel, shoppers prioritise convenience from their experience with brands. In-store, this takes the form of measures such as self-service checkouts, pay-by-link/QR code and BOPIS (buy online pick up in-store).

Other essential technology includes a forecasting platform that enables retailers to estimate daily foot traffic and get prepared ahead of the notoriously busy end-of-year season. 

3. Upgrade staff training 

Consumers are returning to stores with renewed expectations and demands, and staff must be trained sufficiently in order to meet these. Shoppers will want to know what’s on offer, if more stock is available, and which check-out lane is fastest. Over four in ten (44%) shoppers said unhelpful staff defined a poor shopping experience. 

Retailers moving from online to in-store can empower their staff with technology such as mobile devices or tablets. These tools can help staff find items and inventory, highlight individual shopper profiles, make recommendations and even double up as a POS – ultimately, helping them deliver an exceptional in-store experience. 

If you need help perfecting your in-store strategy, we’ve got the skills, tools and know-how – get in touch: hello@thedeltagroup.com.

While there are many people who don’t like to hear the ‘C’ word mentioned until at least the start of December, retailers will no doubt be keen to keep abreast of trends in holiday shopping ahead of the festive season. 

A study from American Express, shared by Forbes, revealed that almost half (48%) of consumers have kicked off their holiday shopping earlier this year, rising to 63% among millennials. This is in part down to fears around product shortages and supply chain problems that could impact retailers in the weeks to come. 

While Amex quizzed US consumers for its study, the results would no doubt be similar among Brit shoppers. 

Stephanie Schultz, VP and head of emerging partnerships at Amex Digital Labs, said the data from the Amex Trendex “points to a more festive holiday season” compared to 2021, with consumers not only shopping earlier but also putting up decorations to get in the festive spirit. 

So, what are people buying? 

The survey results seem to indicate that health and wellbeing-related products remain a priority among shoppers. Almost three quarters (73%) of respondents told Amex that they wish to buy presents that will help the recipient de-stress.

The pandemic saw support for local shops surge – and this hasn’t gone away. In fact, 81% of those polled for the survey believe that it’s important to buy small gifts that support local and/or small businesses, and 72% said the same for decorations.

Sustainability is still front of mind for many consumers, too: over six in ten (63%) believe that it’s important to buy ethically sourced gifts and 56% said this of decorations. Similar percentages said that they are shopping for presents or decorations that are sustainable or limit their impact on the environment, at 64% and 61% respectively.

The results clearly indicate that people are ramping up the festive cheer this year. Almost half (48%) plan to get the decorations out earlier in order to feel merrier, while 51% are doing so to make their homes feel more festive as they plan to spend more time there than usual. Over half (52%) said they are looking forward to creating new Christmas traditions. 

If you need any help perfecting your festive strategy, why not find out more about our services and solutions? Get in touch with our experts today: hello@thedeltagroup.com.

There was a time when beauty was considered something of a luxury – products you bought for a special occasion. Not any more.

Today, beauty is about giving people the means to express themselves. Thanks to social media, digital access and huge volumes of online content, the beauty industry has been transformed. Consumers are doing their research to discover product ingredients, trending items, and the latest skincare regimes. Through this research they are also starting to explore the worlds of D2C brands, digital shopping platforms, beauty tech, and VR.

Millennials and Gen Zers are leading this change and have turned the industry on its head over the past few years.

But just when the industry was poised to undergo a massive transformation, the pandemic hit. And this was when things started to get really interesting…

Covid-19 created a new normal for the beauty industry. Skincare, haircare, body health, hygiene and safety have all grown in importance as self-care and at-home pampering took centre stage. With access to beauty stores limited, DIY and home care remedies became the norm. And thanks to mask-wearing, the sale of eye make-up also shot up.

There was a drop in makeup sales, but this is not expected to last. What is predicted to stick, however, is the focus on skincare, haircare and bodycare.

Customer behaviour also changed. Consumers want more ease and convenience from their shopping experiences and to be able to discover, evaluate and purchase products online. This quest for greater personalisation is driving more customers to use virtual try-on tools, video consultations, WhatsApp shopping and home delivery.

Expectations around delivery have also shifted, with fast, cheap, direct to consumers’ doors being seen as must-haves rather than nice-to-haves.

Consumers are increasingly looking for affordability and value for money. Many feel unsure what the future holds in terms of employment. Potential job losses and a decline in disposable income are creating an uncertain future.

As a result, products and brands in the mass and masstige markets will be well placed in the coming months – especially if they are able to deliver superior ingredients, product performance, and efficacy. There has also been a rise in the number of skin minimalism and multipurpose products available at affordable prices.

No one can deny the economic impact Covid has had on the entire retail sector. However, the signs suggest the beauty industry may be more resistant to the magnitude of lockdowns, restrictions and the emergence of the new normal than many of us suspected.

There have been signs of recovery within bricks and mortar stores. Even with digital transformation happening alongside, physical retail spaces are still looking strong. This is down to a number of reasons, one being that millennials and Gen Z are very particular about their beauty needs. Many want to buy products in stores where they can hold, smell and trial products before they make a purchase. 

There’s also the fact that consumers in general have been keen to get back onto the high street. Needless to say, the beauty industry is hoping to maximise on this resurgence and certainly won’t go down without a fight.

One way they are preparing themselves for that battle is through technology. By using tech to deliver data and enrich insights, beauty retailers are able to better understand what customers want from their retail experience.

Today’s consumers want to know more about the products they are buying and the ethics and identity of the brands behind those products. They want the items they buy to reflect who they are. Specifically, they want things like sustainability, inclusivity, adaptability, empathy, and relevance placed high on the agenda.

At The Delta Group, we help beauty brands and retailers show they have purpose, offer value for money, and are prioritising the environment and society. Get in touch with the team today to find out how we can help your business showcase your sustainability and purpose.

Drop us a line: hello@thedeltagroup.com.

Talk of sustainability is rife within the retail sector, especially since COP26. Brands are knuckling down on sustainability messaging, and in many cases technology is being utilised to bring such initiatives to life. 

As Computer Weekly explains, before the pandemic retail tech innovation focused on merging digital and physical assets, delivering frictionless customer journeys, AR experiences and big screens. While these are still very much front of mind for retailers, tech is now increasingly being used to support their green agendas. 

So says retail analyst Miya Knights: “It’s not a fad that will be here today but gone tomorrow […] It’s certainly the new shiny thing, but it’s also a permanent fixture.”

Knights explained how retailers often provide services that fill a gap among local council services, for instance offering collection schemes for hard-to-recycle plastics, which are backed by tech. This tech is both innovative and supports long-term shifts in retailer and shopper behaviour. 

Scan to recycle 

Boots is leading the pack when it comes to scan to recycle schemes. In September it revealed that 700 of its stores would offer a Scan2Recycle service, where shoppers could recycle beauty product packaging and receive loyalty Advantage points in return. 

After registering on the Scan2Recycle app, shoppers simply scan their empty packaging and when they have five products in their virtual basket, use a QR code to deposit the products at an in-store collection point. Advantage points totalling £2.50 are issued for every five products recycled. 

Over half a million empties were taken back during the initiative’s trial period, despite the enduring pandemic and numerous lockdowns that took place during that time. 

“We hypothesised that – because of the reward – it appeals to consumers who wouldn’t traditionally recycle,” noted Alistair Morelli, co-founder of Metrisk, which is running the scheme and built the technology. 

Data is central to the scheme: Boots can learn exactly which brands and items consumers recycle the most, as well as popular locations. 

Aside from beauty, scan to recycle technology is helping supermarkets including Morrisons and Co-up to collect unwanted electrics, helping limit e-waste in the UK. 

QR codes and blockchain 

Digital re-commerce business musicMagpie is another company helping to support more recycling of electricals. 

It will be in 295 Asda stores by 2022, with consumers able to utilise its facilities to get a recycling quote for their mobile, dispose of their device and get a sum of money for it immediately. A trial rolled out across 40 stores proved a great success; musicMagpie took in approximately 3,000 phones in 10 months, paying around £800,000 to customers.

Fellow supermarket giant, Tesco, is playing its part by encouraging shoppers to download the Loop app via QR codes, which grants them access to a reusable grocery packaging scheme. 

Then there’s Costa Coffee, which has rolled out a six-month reusable cup scheme ‘Burt’ – borrow, use, reuse, take-back. Coffee drinkers put down a £5 deposit to access the scheme and receive a metal drinks container. 

Scanning the QR code on the drinks container, customers can pair it with their personal account which is tracked via blockchain technology. When the cup is taken back to a Costa, it’s unlinked from the person’s account and machine washed before being used for the next Burt consumer.

These are just some of the many ways tech is helping to support brands’ sustainability initiatives. No doubt the topic is high on your agenda, too – if you need a little help turning ideas into action, get in touch: hello@thedeltagroup.com.

With rising emissions and global temperatures, the 2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26) in Glasgow couldn’t have happened soon enough. Massive cuts in carbon are required if the Paris Agreement targets (limiting global warming to well below 2°C, ideally under 1.5°C), are to be met. At present, the world is not coming anywhere close to meeting either target. Something needs to happen. And fast.

We’ve heard all sorts of ESG announcements from businesses. However, the fear is that these pledges – like so many others – will fall by the wayside.  

Retail, just like every other sector, needs to step up in the fight against climate change. Moving away from empty promises, retailers have a duty to make significant changes that offer customers simpler, more convenient ways to shop sustainably. In other words, retailers need to close the gap between what they say and what they actually do to improve their sustainability practices. 

Covid-19 has fast-tracked social consciousness into the minds of consumers. As a result, the ongoing pandemic is also informing the decisions being made by retailers and brands to give customers what they want. Today’s consumers increasingly expect retailers to demonstrate genuine net zero commitments in their activities.  

We’re already familiar with trends such as omnichannel and a move towards more frictionless or virtual marketplaces. But what can we expect in 2022? Looking to the coming year, we can expect retailers to hone in on key sustainability trends including renewed focus on the circular economy, returns, and partnerships.  

Here’s a look at these three trends in more detail. 

1. Circular economy: Good news for the consumer, business, and the planet 

Companies that upcycle and recycle clothes are increasing in popularity among consumers. In 2022, we will see a surge in investment in these companies. Second-hand products offer consumers items that are unique and more affordable than other options. And who can deny the thrill of finding a bargain one-off piece?

Circular fashion that extends a product’s lifecycle makes perfect sense for the planet. But it also makes good business sense: according to research by Forrester, 49% of the UK’s consumers prefer to buy environmentally sustainable products. And where consumers go, business always follows. It’s estimated that the circular economy will attract billions of pounds worth of investment in 2022. 

2. Returns: Time to move into the spotlight 

For a long time, returns have been placed in the ‘boring but necessary’ category of retail. But after months of lockdowns and restrictions, consumers appreciate how important a smooth, stress-free returns process can be. Now is the time for the humble return to shine and retailers will find that returns will soon become a hot differentiator.  

Around three in five UK consumers prefer retailers that offer free returns, while about two in five would sooner shop with retailers that provide refunds via the original form of payment. Retailers will also be interested to hear that fear of returns processes actually deters a third of consumers from making an online purchase.  

The way retailers will address this in the coming year is through more investment (e.g locations, issuing of refunds, and more streamlined processes). They will also do what they can to share data internally and upgrade how products are presented to consumers to reduce the number of items being returned in the first place. 

3. Partnerships: Unlikely bedfellows will become incredible retail partners 

Retail partnerships of all shapes and sizes will hold the key to growth in 2022. Faced with a market in turmoil (not helped by the pandemic), smart retailers and brands realise they need to reinvent themselves if they are to continue to appeal to consumers. For many looking to improve their business agility, this will mean partnering with organisations they would have previously dismissed.  

We can expect to see established retailers partnering with direct-to-consumer brands who are keen to expand their reach in often prime locations. Plus, we’ll see more retailers investing in retail media networks (ad placements sold on retailer websites and in-store to brand partners and marketers) to boost revenue. These ad formats offer an effective – and often highly profitable – revenue stream that reaches active, alert shoppers. 

At Delta, we’re committed to helping retailers and brands breathe life into their sustainability plans, and making sure spoken promises turn into positive actions. To find out how we can help your business take sustainability to new levels, get in touch with the team today: hello@thedeltagroup.com.