Having just presented at ShopTalk Atlanta, here is a brief recap of some of the trends we see coming forward over the course of the next 12-15 months.
Overall, it truly comes down to evolving our interests as consumers based on the experiences we have. However, those experiences are extending beyond the traditional borders we are used to with the continued evolution of technology (specifically mobile). With this evolution, retailers need to not only evolve to keep up with this shift but also come at it with an entrepreneurial mindset based on adaptability and nimbleness.
We as a bricolage consumer are searching for those unique experiences that we can share, and at the same time adapt to our lifestyle. — bricolage: noun (in art or literature) construction or creation from a diverse range of available things.
- We are seeing the evolution of the “bricolage” consumer, where identities are being shaped based on things they collect, assemble and experience.
- Technology is being used to help us become more borderless, thus creating a generation of nomadic consumers. Consumers no longer believe in linking their activity to any specific place.
- Retail isn’t just about buying stuff anymore, nor is it only about experience; it has evolved into making unique and intimate connections that connect the consumer to the place they are in.
- Hospitality is no longer just about lodging, but also about lifestyle. It’s about traveling to new destinations and being able to connect with the culture, people and places through technology and experiences.
- As more people make the move from rural living into urban, at present, 54% of the world’s population lives in an urban area and according to the U.N., this proportion is expected to rise to 66% by 2050, new city structures are changing consumers habits by bridging the gap between infrastructure must-haves and lifestyle nice-to-haves.
Are you going to be in the NYC area for Digital Signage Week and want to continue this conversation? Here is where you can catch us: CLICK HERE
Introducing the OpenEye Global Partner Blueprint
As an agency, we are a collection of our combined experiences. It’s that human-capital that gives us an edge to other creative shops. But staying small and nimble possesses its fair share of challenges, especially when you consider the breadth of projects we are working on.
We are often only as good as the team of partners we assemble.
As we begin to close out on our biggest year ever (see our latest wins HERE), there was a constant that we became aware of, but needed a way to articulate it. Our partners are paramount to the success of what we create, but with deadlines, schedule conflicts, and life, it is almost impossible to keep everyone up-to-date all the time.
That is where the idea for our partner blueprint came from.
Because it is more than just a partnership for us. It is an opportunity to continue to create inspiring and moving experiences for some of the coolest brands on the planet. But this is unlike any old typical blueprint. It’s our perspective on the benefits of a good partnership with us.
And it is included in our quarterly partner packet which will be distributed every quarter. It’s our way of going the extra mile to ensure you know what is going on in the OEG world because lets face it, busy called back in 2010.
OpenEye Global’s Bryan Meszaros aka “Big Cheese” On Tour
Happy Autumn, friends. Easily one of my favorite times of the year. Not just because of playoff baseball, but also because I get to add some continued influence to an industry that has treated me so well for so many years.
SO I’M GOING ON TOUR…
October and November have me leading discussions at 3 awesome events as well as being a recipient of the SmartCEO awards for company culture.
Truly Grateful!
10/13/2016 ShopTalk hosted by NanoLumens
Gain insight on the cultural shifts and innovations that will shape the retail industry this year, next year, and even five years from now. Understand the data-based drivers behind the shifts and why they matter to your organization. The presenter will share ideas on how to use data on psychographics, technology changes, demographics, brand impacts, visual and design trends, and more to reach new markets and changing consumer demands. Updated on a quarterly basis, this presentation is targeted to retail planners, visual merchandisers, designers, consumer brands, marketers, and advertisers, or anyone who wants to stay in front of the ever-changing consumer and retail trends.
10/25/2016 Digital Signage Week “Coffee & Controversy”
Coffee & Controversy – A Breakfast Debate and Times Square Tour brought to you by Digital Signage Federation and Digital Signage Expo. A spirited panel discussion during New York Digital Signage Week on Tuesday, October 25 from 8:30-10:30 am at Guy’s American Kitchen and Bar near Times Square. Following the breakfast participants will be led through Times Square on a tour of digital signage installations using a smart-phone app.
10/27/2016 SEGD presents XLab
Digital Innovation and the Future of Experiential Design, New York will be once again be filled with recognized leaders of the digital experiential graphic design world at SEGD’s upcoming Xlab conference.
11/1/2016 SmartCEO Culture Awards
The Corporate Culture Awards program honors companies that foster a creative, collaborative workplace culture to enhance performance and sustain a competitive advantage. Smart leaders understand that culture is a company’s greatest asset, driving performance and growth. What’s more, a successful culture is actively and intentionally cultivated and developed.
Managing a digital signage program for over 700 domestic branches for Santander Bank, we know a thing or two about installations, CMS deployments, and overall system maintenance.
Recently, Chan and Ed took a trip from NYC to Rodin Square in Philadelphia to install a new branch, and along the way, even had time to sightsee and partake in a Philly tradition (a roast pork sandwich from Johns).
Check out some of the photos below. And for even more fun, check out our INSTAGRAM to see Chan do his Rocky impersonation.
OEG Culture – 15 Years in the Making
When I started OpenEye Global in my mother’s basement in 2002, I never thought I’d be leading a team of the most innovative and passionate creatives around. But more than that, they are my extended family, friends, and some of the closest people to me.
That’s why getting nominated for the 2016 SmartCEO Corporate Culture Award is such an honor. Never did I think I would see this level of success, and to quote the great Frank Sinatra, to do it “my way” is even cooler.
So I sit here today (originally written down on a cocktail napkin at the new local brewery down the street), writing this as more of a collection of my inner-thoughts than a traditional blog post.
- Getting nominated for this award really shows how unique and special our culture is. It came together organically and we wholeheartedly believe that what we have created is very special and wouldn’t trade it for the world.
- We say family and I truly mean it. We come together as agency & family, working in what some may call a “unique environment”. But that is because of our culture creates an environment for innovation and creativity, celebrating our uniqueness and leveraging it as one of our biggest strengths.
- Being nominated doesn’t fall solely on my shoulders. As a leader, I can only hope to inspire the team and set an example moving forward. It boils down to our hard work and our maturity of knowing how well we work with each other.
- We’ve evolved as an agency, and how we have figured out that balance of enjoyment and discipline. We do not take that for granted.
- After years of trying to figure out who we really are, I think we’ve reached our stride. There is a confidence and humbleness to learn, which only mirrors the work ethic I set for myself.
But in the end, all that really matters is that I get to work with the greatest team and on our terms. That is what our culture is about, and once again, I’m damn proud! (or do we say, tramps like us were born to run!?)
– Bryan
The Superheroes: Recently Featured in Platt Retail Institute
“We are not the heroes. We reserve that role for the most prized group of people we work with. Usually the group we have the least amount of contact with, the group that is the most fickle, but at the same time, the most sought-after and influential. The heroes are our customers, and without them, our brand’s purpose ceases to exist.”
That is just an excerpt from our latest piece titled: “The Superheroes”, which was recently just featured in the Platt Retail Institute‘s Journal of Retail Analytics.
To download our article CLICK HERE and look for “Journal of Retail Analytics 2Q 2016.”
5 Ways To Lead a Team of Digital Nomads
For years we struggled with the type of agency we were going to become when we “got older.” We had an office for a few years in NYC, but as the team grew, not just in size but also in geography, we had a decision to make. Centralize ourselves or embrace our nature.
We chose the latter: Embrace our nature as digital nomads and creatives and essentially, build the agency of our dreams.
So as the self-proclaimed “Big Cheese” of this at times, motley crew, here are my top 5 Ways To Lead a Team of Digital Nomads
- Our culture defines who we are, in some respect it’s our calling card. It inspires our creativity and helps shape the experiences we create for our clients. What I love the most is that the culture of OpenEye is very much organic and never forced and embraced amongst everyone. It has always been a passion of mine to travel and get out there. You can do more from the road than just sitting at home, call it an eagerness to explore the world and learn from it. Each trip, each encounter I had helped to shape the landscape of the culture today for OpenEye.
- It’s all based on trust, that is a huge currency for us. There is no way we could grow OpenEye without trusting each other and trusting the decisions we make. We have been given this unique opportunity to work in a setting that allows for individuality and creative freedom without the confines of a “physical office” But that comes at a price. We have to trust each other to help maintain the standards we hold for ourselves and the work we expect to deliver for our clients.
- We are a family, we celebrate the good times and pull together through the bad. A win is huge for us, it’s a sign of everyone’s collective work and dedication to growing the agency. We are in it together. It’s a confidence builder, it’s a “hey we can do this” moment that puts a smile on our face and extra shot tequila in the margarita. It’s not about bragging, or putting out press releases it’s about celebrating our skills and being provided the opportunity to shine again.
- Monster.com is for job seekers who have a defined skill set, OpenEye is for those who operate outside the box, think for themselves and can do way more than what’s written on a one-sheeter. We are the crew who you don’t see coming, we are the people who can talk to you one moment about tech and the next minute design you an experience that would take another group hours to do and several people to complete. We are the crew who rolls up their sleeves and dives in blue collar style.
- Respect… without respect there is no OpenEye, without respect we are an agency who will never learn from others. We have a tremendous amount of respect for each other knowing that we have all traveled down paths that have helped shaped our personalities. We have respect for agencies in our industry who are passionate and pushing the boundaries of what is possible. We respect the opportunities we are given by our clients and never take that lightly.
Wayfinding, Digital Signage, & Interactive Technology
In this interview from Digital Signage Expo 2016, Bryan Meszaros gives insight into the budgets and research that goes into expanding technologies such as wayfinding, digital signage, and interactive technology. Bryan has been working in the digital interactive space for over 14 years and has worked with global companies such as Westfield, Madame Tussauds, and much more.
The Q&A below is a quick insight into what you’ll see in the video.
Q. What does it mean to have such an integral role in DSE and the future of the organization?
A. DSE has long been a huge supporter of OpenEye. It’s an exceptional organization that has helped to increase awareness towards the Digital Signage Industry. It’s groups like DSE that have helped the Industry establish an identity for itself and promote all that is significant with the use of visual & interactive media. I have been very fortunate to serve on the Advisory Board since 2008 and also recognized as a distinguished faculty member. It means a great deal to be part of an organization that has enabled me to establish a voice in the industry and share my experiences with the community. DSE continues to push the boundaries by encouraging prominent organizations to showcase their innovations and set the stage for groups, like OpenEye, to be recognized and allow to flourish as an agency. Their growth not only helps the industry but helps us continue to succeed.
Q. Since DSE, what has been the one thing that has stuck with you that you’ve implemented into your current executions and/or strategy?
A. Walking the floor and sitting through the education sessions at DSE it’s hard not come away with some ideas or strategies towards improving our efforts. Successful customer engagement is crucial for us, both from a technology “wow” factor and our ability to understand the audience and communicate effectively. At DSE we discovered several new types of display technology and some cool transparent/hologram displays from Real Fiction that we will be using for an upcoming project with Madame Tussauds in New York City. We also sat through session talks with Walt Disney Parks, American Eagle Outfitters, Blinds.com and Microsoft Retail listening to their thoughts on the use of big data, content development tactics and how to create more immersive retail experiences. We came away from each session with a notebook full of ideas and insights that otherwise we would have never come across from just sitting at home.
In the video below you will find more Q&A and insights into wayfinding, digital signage, and interactive technology.
After watching the video if you have any questions for our founder, we encourage you to reach out here on our contact page, or tweet him directly @Bryanmeszaros
The Worst Advice We’ve Heard About Digital Signage
We’ve been in the digital signage game for a number of years now. Before it was even an industry, we were tinkering and experimenting with signage, content, and visuals, seeing how they could play synergistically in a physical space.
No easy task for an industry that didn’t exist up until recently.
As you can imagine, throughout the years, we’ve heard great advice from industry veterans and trailblazers, but we’ve also heard some really horrible advice as well from the common Joe that thinks it’s as easy as “sticking it up on the wall.”
As we begin to gear up for a monumental DSE this year in Las Vegas, let’s take a look at the past 13 years and read some of the worst advice we’ve ever heard about digital signage.
1. “Just stick it on the wall, it’ll be fine”
You have to appreciate this approach. I’m sure the Romans thought the same thing as they were constructing their aqueducts “Just put the stone on top, it’ll work fine”. NO! Be smart in your approach and deliberate in your methodology. “Sticking it on the wall” does not constitute a digital signage strategy. It shows a lack of brand pride.
2. “Content is King”…
Yes, we all know that by now! Please provide a better explanation instead of just saying “you need great content” It’s an overused term. Think about your signage program from the eyes of the consumer. Curate content that is thought-provoking, insightful and one that sparks an action.
3. “Content Development is Easy!”
“The software does most of the work” is one of our favorites. Right. The software is is creating content specifically for your customers as soon as you plug it in. Think again. Content development is hard work. You have to know who you are talking to and what motivates them to perform an action. You need to figure out a way to tell the stories you want to tell. You have to constantly be one step ahead, ensuring your strategy is proactive. It takes an experienced group to truly craft and deliver great content, don’t be fooled.
4. “We Got This”
When first starting out as an agency, we were naive ourselves. We had clients that would say to us: “we can handle the day to day operations ourselves” and our answer was always “sure.” Sure is an interesting word because in one aspect, we were allowing them to move forward with day-to-day management, but on the other hand, “sure” was used in a “you’ll be back” kind of way. Usually, they did come back because day-to-day management of a digital signage program takes a collection of true professionals because you are dealing with hardware, software and content creation & management. Now, we don’t even engage if we cannot handle the day-to-day because we have seen too many horror stories in our career.
5. The design is good enough!
We love good design. It inspires us to create for our clients and provides an outlet for us all in our downtime. But when designing for digital signage, good design only isn’t going to cut it. It has to be designed not only within the brand guidelines, but it must be rooted in strategy meant to produce an ROI.
And there it is. Some of the worst advice we’ve ever heard about digital signage.
Want to learn more about implementing digital experience into your company?
Click here to download our A-Z Guide To The Digital Experience Approach
What is The Digital Experience Approach?
In our latest ebook, The A-Z Guide To The Digital Experience Approach, we look at the 360° degree approach to crafting a true branded customer experience, from first digital in-store touch to utilizing the latest consumer technology tools.
Here are our 6 reasons why you should be thinking about The Digital Experience Approach as collected by a few of us here at OpenEye Global.
- Content doesn’t live on only one screen, we use multiple devices throughout the day. Ensure your content is optimized from mobile, tablet to web. A one size fits all approach doesn’t work here. Your content needs to be adaptive to each unique customer journey.
- A well-thought out digital experience strategy provides you with a blueprint that builds a solid foundation. It also provides a clear-vision, breaking down a massive endeavor into achievable goals. What can seem like a monumental challenge is often the sum of many small wins.
- The best brands aren’t using guesswork. Every move, every action has been thought-out and scrutinized to ensure only the right message is going out at the right time. In your foundation, your team must think about every possible customer scenario. The strategy and process needs to be defined and re-defined at constant iterations.
- User Experience is really important. The lines between user and experience is blurred in such a way that the experience is often being defined by the user. Be adaptive in approach and plan for the unexpected and latest trends. The best UX pushes boundaries when necessary and embraces a world of change.
- Empathize with your audience. While we are all fighting for market-share, try and grow heart and mind share by building a scalable brand strategy based on insights and data.
- Data is our friend in the Digital Experience Approach. We use it to set goals, measure performance, and help us make better creative decisions. Data driven design, less of an oxymoron and more of a smart approach to creating, is shaping our world in more ways each and everyday.
There you have it. Reasons why you need to be thinking about The Digital Experience Approach.
Looking for more detailed reasons why you should be thinking about The Digital Experience Approach, download our A-Z Guide here.