Should I build a mobile web site?

by Muna on August 31, 2012

As I visit a website using my smart phone and find myself looking at yet another website that looks really small, I wonder when is the right time for a business to invest in a website especially designed for mobile devices.CarCostCanada Web Site as seen on a mobile browser

I don’t know about you but I know when I come across a web site on my smart phone that doesn’t offer a mobile optimized experience I tend to leave the site; I leave very quickly.  In web lingo this event is known as  a BOUNCE.

I am sure that the people who own that web site did not have this in mind.

As the owner of a small business I often ask myself the question. When is the right time to invest in a Mobile Web Site? Should I invest in a mobile web site, or a mobile application (aka an App)?Pottery Barn is open for business, regarless of what device you are using.

During the coming months I will try to address these and other questions.

Clearly there are many factors that need to be considered. But I will attempt to focus on the issues relating to branding and design.

Before we get started we need to understand that the rate of technological adoption of mobile devices is increasing rapidly. In the fast growing markets of Asia and South America mobile usage already surpasses that of desktop computing devices. In North America and Europe usage of mobile devices is also growing rapidly.

You have to look no further than Wall Street to see that the most valuable company in the world is an organization whose primary success drivers are mobile devices. Apple is now worth more than  to 1.5 more than the next most valuable company in the world Exxon Mobile. Apples’ market cap is 2.5 times Microsoft’s.

Apple’s success with its iPhone line of smart phones and its iPad tablet device have allowed it to leave other former technology giants such as HP and Dell in the dust.

The African Lion Safari Mobile web siteThe choice as to whether to deploy a mobile App or a mobile website is a tough one. It will most likely be driven by your organization’s financial resources.

If you can afford it developing an app will allow you to provide your users with the most finely tuned user experience. Because there are four major platforms achieving full coverage will be expensive.

Therefore for those people who are on a tighter budget developing a website that is optimized for smart phones could be the way to go.

A well designed and produced mobile website can deliver a common user experience across all platforms. Other than your budget, what else should you be considering?

I will touch on this subject in my next post.

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PLMA LIVE! – Store Brands and Center Store

by Muna on June 22, 2011

From PLMA Live- http://www.plmalive.com/

A great discussion Jodi Daley news anchor and Brian Sharoff President of PLMA talk about Center Stores. How 73% of store sales and 77% percent profits come from the Center of traditional super market. Mr. Brian Sharoff says says that consumers trend is to purchase the various ingredients for a specific meal such as tonight’s dinner, next day’s breakfast, school lunches etc….. Consumers want to make things as good as a restaurant without all the time and trouble that a traditional meal would take.

They interview Todd Hale Senior Vice president of Nielsen Company, says that stores have seen a great innovation within the store perimiter versus in the center store.He says that shopper are in the store to shop the entire store. They don’t go to buy a category. They are their to buy a meal solution, whether it is for breakfast, lunch or dinner. A party or a special occasion.Retailers need to understand how best layout their stores for the right meal solutions. He suggests that stores can be more mission focused. So having a breakfast section in the stores,  assortment of dry grocery, refrigerated, frozen and fresh in a section focused. So to have several mission focused sections throughout the stores versus category focused.

John Stanton, Proffessor in Food Marketing, St. Joseph’s University.
Says that retailers have to look at alternative actions. How to compete in the future and not do the same thing. He says that the world is changing every day. That grocery stores are not changing enough. That Tesco is changing and the walmarts are changing. All these new formats, yet the super market industry is not changing. Says that mass merchants and the deep discounters are taking the sales away.

He recommends that stores need to have more offerings and to focus on variety, and at the same time, make sure that you have private label at every point. His second recommendation is to focus on Customer service has to be a better job. Make your stores that people are happy to go to. Like Disney etc…. That you do not have to go that extreme. But custoner service is key and can be improved.

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PLMA Show-November 2010 – Chicago

June 15, 2011

At PLMA show in Chicago. The best part of it was the Innovation and trends section. It was on a floor on its own. There were a lot of products on display. Below are some of the photos that were taken of the various different companies and their work/innovations.

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Pantone Hotel-Brussels Belgium

June 10, 2011

The PANTONE HOTELTM is a new concept in hotels. A boutique hotel that has state-of-the-art accommodation.
It is all about the Pantone colours. It plays on how colour effects how we feel. Pantone, is totally a designer’s world when it comes to selecting colours. It is the one language for colour selection that is used all [...]

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SIAL Toronto 2011

June 8, 2011

WHAT A GREAT SHOW!
The SIAL Canada show which took place May 11, 12 and 13 in Toronto, Canada at the Metro Convention Centre was an excellent show. There were more than 12,000 visitors from many countries (61 in fact). There were vendors galore (697 from 37 countries). Not too bad for a food show in [...]

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Why I love what I do; Graphic Design

July 21, 2010
PC Clumping Cat Litter, one of my award winning projects

Before I went to college and chose the degree that I wanted to major in, I discovered the world of Commercial art. Graphic design etc….
I loved the idea that I can make a living being an artist. That is exactly how I ended up studying graphic design. Even though given the opportunity, every time I [...]

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