Product Management

Four ways Tiger is transforming the in-store retail experience

If you’re ever in need of batteries, bunting or a bumper-pack of highlighters, Tiger is the place to go. Sort of like a ‘posh Poundland’ – you’ve probably noticed its brightly coloured presence on a high street near you.

So, just how has Tiger become so successful? Here’s a bit of insight into what it’s been doing right. 

Why hackathons are valuable for marketers as well as techies

Hackathons aren’t a new concept, far from it. But I recently attended one that was aimed at marketers rather than coders, which to me was a new experience.

Traditionally hackathons are an event where people (usually techies) dedicate a day to building something. It might be an entirely new product, a solution to an existing customer problem, or just a new idea for using some software or an API.

andrex dash

What can marketers learn from SaaS (software-as-a-service) businesses?

You may have noticed the rise in subscription services and business models – the likes of Spotify in music, Netflix in video and, of course, Dollar Shave Club in FMCG, which was recently bought by Unilever for $1bn.

On US-based My Subscription Addiction, a portal detailing available subscription services, there were 2,000 in operation as of March this year. And visits to subscription ecommerce sites have gone up 3,000% in the past three years. The average subscriber receives seven subscription packages and has at least 12 on their wish list.

Knowing what you’re not: defining your design principles

Successful products and services are those with a definite point of view, those that avoid an identity crisis by knowing exactly what they’re not.

Government Digital Service (GDS) has garnered much praise for its transparent and reasoned approach to design.

And whilst smaller organisations may not need ten principles (like GDS), those with a distinctive approach to digital experiences are gaining competitive advantage.

Here’s a revealing case study, from a tech startup founded in 2011, that I think provides food for thought for any business creating new online services.