'Industry-first' collaboration targets retail
Merchandising and point-of-sale specialist SDI has joined forces with M3, an advertising agency, to bring an end-to-end solution for the retail sector.
Friday, 19 Jul 2019 10:30 GMT
(L-R) Stuart Tilley and Ian Wright, SDI; Glen Pawson and Nick Lovett of M3; Matt Evans and Ashley Parr, SDI
The new partnership is expected to generate £2.5m of new sales with the possible creation of up to ten new jobs across the two businesses.
“It’s a partnership that makes perfect sense; we’re pretty much fusing together the best of point of sale and retail displays with experts in advertising, marketing and digital,” says Matt Evans, retail sales director at SDI.
“What would normally happen is that the retailer or brand would use one, two or even three agencies to come up with the plan and the idea, then attempt to bring in a display specialist like ourselves to try to make it happen. As many people in the sector will tell you, this can lead to a lot of failed dreams and expensive mistakes.”
The two businesses have already delivered their strategic collaboration to their first client, 3D smartphones manufacturer ROKiT, which has appointed SDI and M3 to look after its fit-out and digital engagement strategy for its first retail outlet.
Evans adds: “What we are doing with this collaboration is offering a single solution where both parties are involved from the outset. This will help us deliver our value-added expertise earlier on in the process and should speed up lead times, be more cost effective for the customer and, importantly, unlock customer engagement.
What we are doing with this collaboration is offering a single solution where both parties are involved from the outset”
“Between the two companies we have a client book that features fantastic brands, including Dior, F1 Autocentres, Harley Davidson, Harrods, Marks & Spencer, Marston’s and Tesco.”
M3 managing director, Nick Lovett, comments: ““Both companies thrive on creativity; SDI deliver it through the latest techniques, finishes and the technology it builds into its displays and visual merchandise, whereas our team of specialists can provide the digital disruption.
“All retailers and brands are looking for their displays to work harder so they get the consumer engaged, drive footfall, promote special offers and deliver successful proximity marketing. Our collaboration gives them a clear way of achieving the best of both worlds.”
SDI is celebrating 40 years of producing and installing point-of-sale and visual merchandising retail displays. M3 provides brand development, creative and digital marketing series from its offices in Birmingham, London and Wolverhampton.
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