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Hollywood Ready: This Gift Bundle Reaches the Stars

The high-octane action-thriller, John Wick 3, enjoyed a successful opening weekend that far exceeded critics’ expectations. In fact, the movie took the top spot at the box office only 10 days after its release in May. 

The cast and crew celebrated as the film was crowned most successful box office entry among the franchise. In addition to the esteem, the actors, producers and film crew received some remarkable gifts. Among them, a high-impact, fully customized tech bundle with the latest Apple devices:

Highly visual artwork from the movie is printed on the back of each iPad Pro. Inside the tablet is a designated app featuring the film’s images and videos.
Highly visual artwork from the movie is printed on the back of each iPad Pro. Inside the tablet is a designated app featuring the film’s images and videos.
Every iPad Smart Cover is personalized for each member of the film cast and crew.
Every iPad Smart Cover is personalized for each member of the film cast and crew.
The customized Apple Pencil is a replica of the gruesome tool as seen in the film.
The customized Apple Pencil is a replica of the gruesome tool as seen in the film.
The design of the Apple AirPods captures the essence of the movie.
The design of the Apple AirPods captures the essence of the movie.

Customized by FUSION OF IDEAS, each product was designed with stunning artwork from the movie exclusively for the recipient. And the movie’s key art pieces were used on the iPad Smart Covers. The vibrant artwork on each device is permanently printed and bonded with UV so it will not fade, chip or scratch. 

We also developed a dedicated John Wick 3 application for the iPad that housed posters, clips and images from the movie.

The film's posters, videos and images are loaded into the dedicated movie app.
The film’s posters, videos and images are loaded into the dedicated movie app.

The stunning cinematography of the movie helped deliver the striking images that were used to create this ultra-sleek gift experience. Ultimately, these gifts were presented to the film’s actors, producers and key members of the crew.

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Perfecting the Unboxing Experience

We’ve all watched them. Unboxing videos to reveal the latest phone, the season’s hottest toy or a new beauty product. There are countless online videos, and even YouTube channels, dedicated to unboxing products.

What is “unboxing”?  

‘Unboxing’ is just what it sounds like: the action of taking something out of a box. Done well, a package that creates a memorable unboxing experience demonstrates thoughtfulness from the sender and makes the brand stand out from the crowd.

Why does it matter to businesses?

For companies, a great unboxing experience can boost your content marketing efforts, drive engagement, increase sales, as well as improve the way the recipient feels about the product. But it’s not just relevant for retail or e-commerce businesses. Creating a memorable first impression lets the brand’s personality shine for all companies in all industries.

People care about the unboxing experience because it provides additional value for the recipient and the business by way of creating a positive first impression —ideally, one that’s both memorable and shareable, hence all the unboxing videos you see.

What does it take to create a memorable unboxing experience?

  • Great Packaging – The very first impression the recipient has of your product comes from the packaging. One way to ensure your business stands out from the crowd is with custom packaging, such as a box or gift wrap that is customized with your company logo, slogan or brand colors.

For a mobile device or accessory, an easy, yet impactful, way to personalize your package is with a customized device sleeve that fits over the manufacturer’s box.

Custom box created for Apple iPad with a custom designed device sleeve
Custom packaging delivers an impactful unboxing experience. Pictured here: Custom box created for Apple iPad with a custom designed device sleeve.
  • Personalized Message – A note, such as a welcome or thank you message, adds one more touchpoint in the unboxing experience. Take it one step further and personalize it to make that one-on-one connection with the recipient.
Personal note from sender included with a gift card.
A little personalization goes a long way. Pictured here: Personal note from sender included with a gift card.
  • Branded Product – While this is not part of the unboxing experience, customizing the product inside the package with corporate artwork or branding truly makes the product one of a kind. Pro tip: If you go this route, consider getting the product re-packaged with shrink wrap to create the same effect of opening a new, untouched product.
Custom branded Apple iPad Mini and smart cover, and customized device sleeve
Create a lasting impact with an immersive brand experience. Pictured here: Custom branded Apple iPad Mini and smart cover, and customized device sleeve.

When it comes to creating an immersive brand experience, we consider every customization point that can create a positive impression on your brand. The unboxing process is just one of the ways we customize to elevate and take your business to a new level. Contact us today to see how you can create an unprecedented unboxing experience for your customers.

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In the News: MoneyInc.

Our CEO, Russ Taylor, is the newest business contributor on MoneyInc., an online business and finance outlet that covers personal finance, technology and travel. The outlet reaches 1.1M visitors on average, per month. As a regular contributor, Russ will be sharing his perspective on mobile technology, and how businesses can maximize the use of mobile devices in their organizations. Check out his first article, Top 5 Corporate Gift Ideas This Holiday Season.

 

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In the News: Russ Taylor on “Into the Corner Office” Podcast

Our CEO, Russ Taylor, was interviewed for a recent episode of the “Into the Corner Office”, a podcast hosted by Brandt Handley of Resource Options International, Inc. This is the 23rd episode of the podcast, which focuses on various CEOs and their stories. Russ talks to Brandt about his approach to business, leadership and talent management, and the driving forces behind our success at Fusion of Ideas. The episode is available at the link below or via Apple Podcasts.

https://go4roi.com/podcasts/russ-taylor-into-the-corner-office-episode-23/

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Neiman Marcus: The Ultimate, Interactive, Client Gifts

By Jennifer Fujimori

To many people, Neiman Marcus and other department stores might warrant the occasional stop when wandering the mall or looking for something in particular. But for an elite circle of customers dubbed the “Chairman’s Circle,” shopping at Neiman Marcus is part of a lifestyle – and one that comes with perks. Members of the Chairman’s Circle (the highest loyalty level under the InCircle Neiman Marcus reward program) must reach a designated annual spend using a private label credit card. Once they’ve met those requirements, customers unlock a treasure trove of exclusive benefits, including in-store dining, salon services, access to tickets for in-demand events, hard-to-get restaurant reservations, and premier getaways.

It was the last item on that list that Neiman Marcus sought to optimize with Fusion’s help. Working with the team at Neiman Marcus, our app developers created a completely custom mobile app for Chairman’s Circle members. When a user opens the application on an iPad (customized of course!), a message is displayed describing the purpose of the app, which is to detail the amenities available at Chairman’s Circle level. The app then shifts its focus to one particularly notable amenity: a complimentary trip to one of eight destinations around the world. Using the navigation at the bottom of the screen, users can tap an icon labeled “Itineraries.” This leads to a selection of clickable photographs with destination names, which users can click to view the details of the excursion and corresponding hotel.

To present this as a gift from Neiman Marcus to Chairman’s Circle members, we created a fully customized package including an iPad wrapped in matte silver Stealth Armor, a sleeve to house the iPad box, and a high-quality box with magnetic closure encasing the entire bundle. It’s the best kind of gift: one that contains another gift inside.

We have worked with high-end retail clients before and we dove into this project headfirst, gathering information from the client until we felt confident enough to build the app they were looking for. “Neiman Marcus knew they wanted to gift their Chairman’s Circle members with a free trip, but they were looking for a truly memorable way to package that information,” said Hollie Go, App Development Project Manager. “Instead of sending a letter or an email, this app is an interactive way for recipients to see full color photos and details about each destination.” With Fusion’s custom branding, packaging, and mobile app services, Neiman Marcus found the level of prestige they were looking for in a gift for their most valued customers.