zync

Retail Brand: Armtec

noauthor — Tue, 15 May 2012 16:28:45 +0000

Zync began the strategic process by analyzing Armtec’s current retail assets and making specific recommendations on how they could uniquely position themselves within the landscaping and home improvement markets.

THROUGH PRODUCT INTEGRATION AND SOCIAL MEDIA WE HELPED ARMTEC ENHANCE THEIR RETAIL PRESENCE AND INCREASE MARKET SHARE.

From the beginning, it was clear that their products are part of everyday life and manufactured to the same world-class standards as their commercial structures. We also saw promise in their ability to stand behind the products and commit to ensuring complete satisfaction, while helping customers bring great ideas to life. These were the messages we wanted to focus on.

Recognizing the key differences between retail and corporate markets, Zync knew the retail component of the Armtec brand needed to be built using concise headlines, striking images and easily accessible content. Developing a bold online presence with a retail-specific website had to be the first step. Through intuitive navigation, complete social media integration and an essential “where to buy” section, we worked with Armtec to create a content-managed site that allows users to automatically find products specific to their location, get help from the pros and stay up-to-date on the latest product information and customer favourites.

In conjunction with establishing the website, Zync also focused on implementing other important elements of the Armtec retail brand:

A well-organized landscape catalogue, filled with beautiful on-location photography, product measurements and colour palettes
Retail brand and merchandising templates to align the in-store packaging of many different Armtec sub-brands like Brooklin, BOSS and Platon
A series of product installation videos and online advertising banner ads.

The city springs to life

noauthor — Wed, 09 May 2012 13:00:46 +0000

Spring marks a fresh start. Over the last couple of weeks, we went out to take pictures of what is most inspiring as the cold grey days become sunny and warm. These are some of the things that help spark our creativity. What inspires you?

Is all social media brand worthy?

Gabi — Thu, 03 May 2012 12:45:55 +0000

New social media channels are constantly emerging. While it’s tempting to be everywhere, you need to be sure your audience is there as well — and whether each of these channels provides value to your brand and marketing efforts.

We’ve gathered highlights of some of the most popular channels to help you decide if they meet your goals (i.e. brand awareness, traffic and lead generation to name a few):

FOURSQUARE – Connects your brand directly offline and rewards users for “checking in”

20M users
2 billion check-ins for engagement
50% US citizens, 50/50 male/female, budget conscious, curious, adventurous, competitive

What it does well:
Rewards loyalty, real-time discovery of local spots and offers an avenue to provide promotions

Popular with:
Universities, museums, libraries, cities, restaurants and local shops

Examples:
Starbucks and History Channel

INSTAGRAM — Photo site that shows the many facets of your brand

50M users
60 photos per second (via App), 300M views per month (via Web), for engagement
iPhone and Android owners, ages 25-34, participatory, emotive, artistic

What it does well:
Showcases a brand from another viewpoint/lens, global reach and hashtags allow for unlimited contributions

Popular with:
Retailers, consumer goods, tourism, news organizations, fashion labels, restaurants and sports teams

Examples:
Maersk and Washington Post

TUMBLR — Connection site that helps tell a more integrated story about your brand

46.2M blogs, 120M visitors
40M posts per day, 15B views/month, 89 avg. minutes per visitor, for engagement
50% of users under age 25, 40/60 male/female, artistic, visually expressive

What it does well:
Short snippets, ease in browsing, visually pleasing formats that create captivating content

Popular with:
Fashion labels, retailers, publishing, broadcast media, large companies as a culture blog

Examples:
Kate Spade and The Atlantic

PINTEREST – Curating for visual brands and products

11.7M users
11.7 million unique monthly visitors, 89 avg. minutes per visitor, for engagement
20/80 male/female, hobbyists, DIY’ers, artistic, visual, expressive, planner, organized

What it does well:
Displays content in a simple manner, fostering discovery and curating by sharing spotlight with others

Popular with:
Lifestyle brands, tourism, retailers, food brands, magazines

Examples Include:
Whole Foods and HGTV

BOTTOM LINE
Here are five tips as you consider joining some of these niche social media networks:

Think of your audience and their perception of the network. Here are some distinct attributes of the various channels:
- Foursquare is where I discover my surroundings
- Instagram is where I see beauty
- Pinterest is where I plan and dream
- Tumblr is where I’m entertained and inspired
- Twitter is where I get my news
- Facebook is where I connect
Avoid the fear of missing out. Just because a channel is popular, doesn’t mean you should be on it
It’s much easier to influence customer behavior in a smaller environment
Check your resource availability. You might have to think “Pinterest instead of…” rather than “Pinterest in addition to…”
Measure your success and adjust as required

Based on webinar “Nailing Nice Networks,” (March 8, 2012), by Jay Baer of Convince and Convert, and Eric Boggs of Argyle Social

App and away

noauthor — Thu, 03 May 2012 12:30:26 +0000

From its launch eight months ago to over 100,000 downloads today, Zync has been working with Sun Life Financial on a series of ads in Benefits Canada and EnRoute Magazine to promote it’s member app My Sun Life Mobile to the masses. The app for iPhone and Blackberry, along with a new mobile web app for additional smartphones, has been a bonafide success since it’s release. In addition to making the iTunes “What’s Hot” list, the app has been mentioned in social media and traditional media on numerous occasions and has more than doubled projected download targets. It’s a great start to putting Sun Life at the forefront of connecting with members in the fast-growing mobile arena.

Helping to reshape the retail landscape

noauthor — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 16:54:10 +0000

As part of our ongoing branding initiative with one of the largest infrastructure and construction companies in Canada, Armtec looked to Zync when they wanted enhance their retail presence and increase market share.

Read the full case study here

Zync in The Globe and Mail

noauthor — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 16:03:59 +0000

Zync’s cutting-edge responsive design website — one of the first in Canada — was recently featured in The Globe and Mail online, including a great interview with our design director Jeremy Linskill. Click below to see the full article.

Open for business!

noauthor — Tue, 17 Apr 2012 15:43:44 +0000

The new Trump International Hotel and Tower officially opened on Monday, April 16. Congratulations to the whole team! Read more about our marketing campaign for the luxurious residences at Trump International.

Zync wins Graphis Gold 2011

noauthor — Tue, 27 Mar 2012 15:08:48 +0000

Zync is honoured to be a 2011 Graphis Gold 100 Best in Design award recipient for our work with Salon M Squared.

Salon M Squared is a new salon focused on exquisite service, high quality products and progressive hair design. The salon approached Zync to help with a strategic, creative brand that would signal its arrival and define the salon’s full range of services and client experience. In a crowded, competitive field, Salon M Squared needed to stand out so we developed a look and feel that embodies a professional, fashion-forward and relaxing experience to appeal to the salon’s sophisticated clientele.

Graphis publications feature the best in Design, Advertising, Photogrophy and Illustration.

Check out our Work pages to see other Salon M Squared images. Or if you would like to find out more about the award, visit the Graphis website.

Zync supports Snowball 2012

noauthor — Fri, 16 Mar 2012 18:27:09 +0000

Zync was happy to be the Brand sponsor of the 2012 Snowball – a fundraising evening in support of Casey House. We donated our time and services for design of all event materials including invite, tickets, posters, ads, program and more. The event held on February 25th, raised over $340,000! We are proud to support Casey House and the compassionate healthcare they provide to our community.

Business Creative event

noauthor — Thu, 08 Mar 2012 14:55:10 +0000

To launch Business Creative, Zync hosted an event for clients and friends on February 7 at Arta Gallery in the Distillery District. With guest speaker Dianne Buckner from CBC’s Dragon’s Den – along with great food, drink and company – the launch was a big success.