We’ve all heard that imitation is supposed to be the sincerest form of flattery, but that doesn’t make this imitation any less transparent.
These are “Samsung Experience Shops,” and their purpose is to bridge any gaps that customers may experience after purchase. As Samsung’s VP of Retail Marketing explains;
“Although the carriers and retailers today provide a solid retail experience for our consumers, what we find is a lot of buyers’ deeper questions just aren’t answered.”
Set to pop up in U.S. Best Buys within the next couple months, consultants donning blue shirts will be available to answer questions, solve problems, and generally appear to be Mac Geniuses who have somehow ended up in the wrong store.
Obviously Apple doesn’t own this “experience-providing” tactic. Others have done it before, others are doing it now, and others will do it in the future. But should these stations not be tailored and customized uniquely to the provider and their brand? Isn’t the cookie-cutting method a bit thoughtless (of the company) and insincere (to its consumers)?
While Apple may have been able to make this work, and while Samsung may even be able to make this work, the overt resemblance is a little troubling.
Especially if your customers are thinking, “Which company is this again?
The simplest way is often the best way.
And in our line of work, we’re always looking for the simplest way to show something, say something, solve something.
It’s those simple yet brilliant designs/concepts that end up hitting home runs. But don’t think you have to look in a particular place to be inspired.
Yes, we deal with a different type of design. We focus on paper and pixels, not pedals. But when you have a chance to bear witness to design like this, it’s hard not to be taken aback.
Here are some examples of simple ideas that turned into brilliant executions. Completely functional, ideal for everyday life, and so simple, even a Director of Business Development can appreciate it.
Check out the 2013 International Bike Design Competition here.
Joe Oppedisano
Director of Business Development
C. 416.618.7841
T. 905.273.PINK (7465) ext 226
E. joe@pemarketing.com
Actually, especially if you don’t want to. Here’s why…
Think back to high school English class.
Now think about how you were taught to write an essay.
Now think about how you used to build an essay outline.
Now think about how much the rest of the assignment seemed like fluff after the outline.
Exercise complete.
The point is that unlike your English teacher, no one in their right mind wants to sift through garbage to find what they need. Ain’t no web browser got time fo’ dat. And even more than desktop users, mobile/tablet users are trying to accomplish something specific when they browse.
Whether you apply this principle to design, content, or both (as you rightly should), the rules are generally the same across devices:
Be direct and to the point. Avoid wasting time. Give users what they’re looking for, and make it easy for them to do whatever it is they came to your site to do.
When it comes time to update an existing website, or even build one from the ground up, thinking about how it might appear as an app or mobile site will provide heaps of help when it comes time to slapping it on a fixed computer screen.
At the moment of truth, you don’t actually have to build it that way. But if you did, how might it be different?
Want more tips about how to do this? Visit Smashing Mag for some guidelines.
