What we do
We specialise in understanding human behaviour. We identify the commerical significance of what we uncover in order to make business decision making simpler. We apply this across 4 pillars:
Insight
We fell in love with this industry because of the tranformative power of a genuine insight. It can re-write rules, bend hackneyed principles and generally move games, big and small forward. So it's rather a shame the word has been bandied around to the point of obsolescence! We seek to re-dress that.
Strategy
We really like a well thought out strategy. We've seen it do some truly life enhancing things for our clients as well as the end users...especially when handled with passion and considered nuance. Not to mention a healthy dose of derring-do.
Innovation
As society and culture constantly evolves, the opportunity to innovate never ceases. So it's entirely fitting that George Bernard Shaw once said that "Progress is impossible without change". We like to think that innovation should always make change feel like progress. Not just change for change's sake.
Communications
We've had the pleasure of being in and around the communications industry for a long time. The power of beautifully crafted storytelling is unquestionable. Our observation is that storytelling should be treated as a privilege and not a right. And rightly so.
Our work
We have over 20 years of experience working with both clients and creative agencies. Our journey spans cars to chocolate, wine to wealth, healthcare to happiness and beyond. Here's a taster of our recent work.
RETAIL CX
Inchcape (global) and Subaru (Australia) commissioned Selvedge to carry out a significant 'future retail landscape' project to ascertain the impact of adjacent category retail trends on the automotive industry. Global retail trend analysis as well as customer and dealer interviews led to the adoption of 5 new retail mantras for the businesses and an immediately deployed growth driver innovation strategy.
VW EMISSIONS
VW Australia and DDB contacted Selvedge to work with them to better understand the impact of the emissions crisis. Spanning commercial implications, strategic solutions and communications opportunities, we uncovered the true considerer, customer, and dealer principle sentiment. We carried this out in both 2016 and 2017.
cochlear IMPLANTS
Global qual study on the influence and impact of new advances in audiology software. Using scenario planning we understood how these advances will shape the future of the category and the practice of cochlear implant audiology, and were able to deliver to our clients a recommended MVP to address their need for a quick product launch, with a longer term perspective on software and service innovation.
“We take the beautiful complexity of humans and turn it into wonderfully simple insight”
Cam Fairweather | Co-Founder
Sector Experience
Doctor or Patient, Car Buyer or Dealership; Selvedge love to understand the human wonder in all categories and industry sectors, and to turn this insight into a real business or brand strategy.
Healthcare
With entrants from outside the traditional healthcare space bringing new levels of entrepreneurship and consumer acumen to the sector, and with greater pressure on traditional players to offer more for less, innovation and diversification in product and service are increasingly pertinent. Now is the time for a rewiring of healthcare businesses to deliver an elevated experience to highly empowered and connected customers and patients.
Automotive
Did someone mention diesel? EV vs PHEV? What about the declining hold that the ICE has over the desirability of cars? Not only this, but our ideas around mobility are being redefined, with access, rather than ownership, already becoming the new normal. However, within this utopia (or dystopia!) the ways in which we negotiate the automotive choices available to us still provide strenuous exercise for our conscious, and subconscious brains. What a truly fabulous time to take stock and imagine where we will be in 5 short automotive years!
Retail
Pioneering retailers are stepping up their game to create immersive, seamless and omni-channel experiences for consumers, even combining e-commerce with in-store shopping to create a truly connected experience. It is now behoven to all retailers to better find ways of understanding and augmenting the customer experience of today, delivering to modern shoppers needs, whilst at the same time gearing up for a very different retail offer for tomorrow.
FMCG
The mainstream squeeze is ever-evident amongst today’s FMCG consumers; reflected in the success of own-brand and premium brand products on the shelves in grocery stores, and the strong performances of discount grocers, warehouse clubs and online retailers such as Amazon Fresh and Ocado. The realities for mainstream FMCG companies are a focus on reducing their cost base and driving continual efficiency; however of equal significance is building consumer and shopper insights that uncover opportunities to create growth and generate value to the top line. However there is plenty of evidence of smaller players and new entrants who are still making compelling headway through an exceedingly strong and meaningful consumer connection.
Financial Services
The omnipresence of the internet has led to an inherent desire to receive products and services instantly. But beyond expecting a seamless experience, consumers today want it be elevated, individualised and accessible in an affordable way. The relatively recent explosion of agile Fin Tech entrants has shaken the market to its core (TransferWise to name but one) and is reinventing the user experience, whilst disrupting a traditionally staid industry. As a consequence, there is an increased imperative for brands to pre-empt and deliver upon customer needs (and un-met needs!) as they arise.
Beer, Wine & Spirits
Consumer tastes continue to evolve, and different takes on classical styles are continually emerging. We see new regional focuses, recipes, production stories; and old, forgotten wine varietals as well as viticulture techniques that are being revived. This makes for powerful brand stories that help to connect to consumers on a deeper level. The craft beer movement (juggernaught) has decimated the once power players. Spirits are stealing market share from brewers, and whiskey, gin and vodka continue to diversify and grow, with an explosion of local artisanal brands and reimagined flavours and botanicals. On top of it all, contemporary funding and distribution channels – online, crowdfunding, manufacturer-owned premises - are gaining share from traditional outlets. And did we mention the quiet revolution around format?
We'd love to work with you
If you currently have any burning issues or briefs that you’d like us to apply our thinking to, please get in touch.