In keeping with an ongoing tradition, a few industry players gave us their take on the year for our annual opinion harvest. Here’s what Juanita Neville-Te Rito, chief executive of Hotfoot, thought about 2014.
1. Favourite local campaign that isn’t yours
New World’s Fruit & Vege pro. Every time it brings a smile.
2. Favourite campaign that is yours
It’s not a campaign but I am extremely proud of the consolidation and rebranding of the Green Cross Health retail network to the new look Life Pharmacy and Unichem. 307 stores all moved from five brands to two. No mean feat.
3. Favourite international campaign
I love a great Christmas campaign and the Brits are the best in the business. If the Boots TVC doesn’t bring a tear to your eye or at least a lump in your throat, check your pulse as your heart may have stopped beating.
Top Shop and Cara Delevingne, just because the music is so, so very cool.
And BK in your home. My kids would love me forever.
4. Least favourite campaign
Sealord. Another bloody reality TV star fail. Say no more.
5. Your own biggest success
Having survived the Westfield Retail Study Tour for 2014 (five international cities, 50 presentations and hundreds of retailers over three weeks), taking over 3600 photos and being appointed as the New Zealand ambassador for the 2015 tour. Want to join me? NYC, Berlin, Amsterdam, London, Tokyo. Email me [email protected] #makingretailhappen
6. Favourite magazine/website/TV show/radio show/podcast/news service/app/song/other
International retailers: And Other Stories (Stockholm), Vincon (Barcelona), Zara Home (Barcelona), Eataly (NYC)
Local retailers: Citta Design within The Bloc, The Hip Group cafes (anywhere), Barker’s.
Visual merchandising and window displays: Selfridges, London
Retail innovation: deliv, Hointer
Magazine: The Denizen
App – Uber, Air NZ (especially for pre-ordering your coffee), Fitbit
TV Shows – The Blacklist, Louis Theroux (anything), Silicon Valley
7. Most ridiculous buzzword
Giganaire.
8. Best innovation
Lewis Road Creamery chocolate milk.
9. Most over-hyped ‘innovation’
Lewis Road Creamery chocolate milk.
10. Best brands
11. Best stoush
Patrick Gower and the library boy (even though it was a parody).
12. Heroes
Sheryl Sandberg, Angela Ahrendts, Malala Yousafza
13. Villains
Retailers who continue to under-invest in their store environments and staff training making shoppers endure a hideous and painful experience.
14. Predictions for 2015
Retail experiences come alive (finally).
According to Font’s recent survey, 43 percent of marketing professionals in New Zealand are looking to change jobs next year and 65 percent will be re-evaluating career plans over the Christmas period. So check out some of the roles Font has on offer here and have a gander at the infographic based on the survey results here.
