McDonald's is using the new colour screen payment machines to advertise their food, their drinks and their charity contributions.

If you’ve been shopping, eating or even just walking around London in 2012 you’ve perhaps noticed the new digital street marketing or the new colour screen card reading payment machines in retailers around the capital?

I took this photograph in McDonald’s in Moorgate, London in May. The world’s leading quick service restaurant chain has been fast to adopt this new technology. With larger, full colour screens, these PIN machines go far beyond accepting your Big Mac payment.

They are set to display a series of messages. These particular units showed a repeating cycle of images including promotions for muffins, promotions for McDonald’s freshly ground coffee and an awareness raising image for  Ronald McDonald House Charities.

When you put your card into the machine to pay, you can’t help but see at least one of these messages, maybe two or three. And you may start watching even more, your attention attracted by their movement as you wait for your fast food to be served. Whether you see one or more, it’s a great opportunity for retailers to [..]

Rule Britannia. Can we have more from you please Mary? Loving your work!

Can we have more from you Mary, please?

Here in the UK, Mary has long been our ‘Queen of Shops‘ consumer champion and as the nation’s number one Retail Consultant she’s a familiar face across the media. But did you see her recent series “Mary’s Bottom Line” on Channel 4? The series follows Mary’s audacious attempt to bring clothing manufacturing back to Britain.

I get that this was edited for TV, but it was a moving account of selecting the right people – and giving a chance to some who may not have been the ideal employee on paper – and trying to revitalise the once bustling and productive British Rag Trade.

You can watch the show now on 4oD. [..]

Retail Branding Masterclass – learning from Kiehl’s since 1851.

The trademark vintage Ducati motorcycle found in every Kiehl's store. Not because it's the shop sells bikes. Because the founder liked them. That's all. Beautiful. Interesting. Differentiating.

As the recession lingers and talk of the Double Dip continues, many retailers are looking for ways to up their game. In my opinion, they could learn a lot from New York skincare brand Kiehl’s since 1851, which opened its first UK store in Covent Garden in 2002. And you don’t have to be a boutique to apply their brilliance to your business.

So what’s with the motorcycle?

Why on earth would a skincare retailer have a vintage motorcycle in their store? What a waste of space. Actually, no. It’s not just any motorcycle. And it’s not a ‘nice to have‘. It’s part of the core of the visual expression of the brand.

Even though the brand now has stores around the world, the Kiehl’s brand team do a meticulous [..]