Hands-on consumers

Shoppers who touch a product are more likely to perceive that they own it... which makes them more likely to buy it. Encouraging touch in retail environments can help increase consumers' feelings of ownership, and the amount they are willing to pay for products. (Journal of Consumer Research)

Mobile display for Hill’s Pet Nutrition

Delivering heavy-duty durability for man’s (and woman’s) best friends.

For every pet named Fluffy, Bella or Lady, there are others with monikers like Rocky, Buster or Bandit. To help keep all of them healthy and happy, Hill’s® Pet Nutrition makes specialized food products that devoted pet owners count on to nourish their furry friends. Hill’s, a Harbor Industries client for more than 25 years, asked us to come up with a heavy-duty solution that would display the company’s premium feline and canine products, and that also would withstand wear-and-tear from pets of all shapes and sizes—especially those who live up to their names.

We delivered with a mobile cart capable of holding more than 1,000 pounds of pet food. Because Hill’s nutrition products are sold in both veterinarian offices and big box pet stores, our design needed to be adaptable and fit well in very different environments. To withstand potentially wet surroundings (slobbery dogs, anyone?) and other hazards, we made the display out of rust-resistant metal that can be easily recycled. Plus, we developed the two-sided cart to give pet owners easy access to the products they need. Which makes our solution sweet, smart, superior—or whatever you want to call it.