transforming retail trough design thinking

sustainable & innovative products for an FMCG retail shelf

Client: Shell

Brief: Come up with innovative ideas for sustainable FMCG products for the retail shelf at Shell Café that will position Shell Bulgaria as a leader in the field within the Shell Group.

Approach: We first trained a change-makers team in Design Thinking and Agile Development. Then we did a sprint in the form of a series of 4 workshops to brainstorm ideas, develop concepts and plan prototype and development phases.

The result: Two concepts for new FMCG products, based on the company's current strengths, were developedas a priority and a plan of prototyping, testing and implementation was set in place, while a roadmap of braver concepts and follow-up activities was outlined as well.

Success factors: Visionary brief from the CEO; participation of the CEO in all sessions; top-performing leadership team with dedicated time to work on the field research and prototype testing.

Quote from the client:

As leaders, it's essential to step beyond the daily routine and create space for our teams to envision the future. We must give them the opportunity to dream, explore, and redefine how the company could be positioned for tomorrow. One of the best ways to do this is through a dedicated, structured project or workshop spanning several months, facilitated by an external partner using innovative methodologies not typically found in our everyday business practices—and ideally, held off-site.

 

Selecting the right partner is crucial, and looking back, we’re confident we made the right choice with launchlabs Sofia. Their expertise in design thinking helped us quickly conceptualize and test innovative ideas through a series of collaborative sessions. The outcome was a decision we believe will differentiate our business and add significant value moving forward. We are now in the final stages of testing customer reactions and evaluating market opportunities for these new concepts.

 

The team involved in this process found it to be an invaluable experience, unlocking creativity and fostering out-of-the-box thinking. It was a powerful reminder of the role everyone in the organization can play in shaping the future. Special thanks to the facilitators from launchlabs Sofia, who guided us expertly and encouraged strong collaboration within the team, resulting in remarkable outcomes.

- Kamelia Slaveykova, Chairman of the Board of Directors, Shell Bulgaria