The first quarter of 2026 is the perfect time to hit the reset button and give your retail strategy and marketing plans a fresh start. After a busy holiday season, it’s the ideal moment to take a step back, see what worked and what didn't, and use those insights to shape your strategy for the year ahead.
Get it right in Q1, and you’re not just starting the year off well, you’re setting the tone for a year full of growth and long-term success.
During Q1, shoppers are more willing to try new things, whether that means taking part in Dry January, giving Veganuary a go, or jumping on the latest wellness trends. The start of the year is also a great chance to take a step back and tweak your strategy, taking a look at what worked last year, spotting new opportunities, and turning those insights into actions that will make a difference. Do this and you will head into 2026 in a much stronger position, ready to boost sales and stay ahead of the competition.
The UK retail world doesn't leave much room for mistakes. With rising costs, unpredictable shopping habits, and trends quickly changing, you need to make sure you are making smart, quick decisions.
Here is how you can set up your retail strategy for a successful year ahead:
Before launching new initiatives, make sure to take the time to review last year’s performance. Look at what resonated with your audience and where engagement might have fallen short. For example, January usually presents spike in post-holiday returns which can put pressure on logistics and affected profitability. Retailers who respond with clearer sizing guides, extended returns windows, and improved reverse logistics may able to reduce costs while keeping customer satisfaction high.
At Dee Set, we take these insights and turn them into action. By analysing retail data and past performance, we help optimise promotions, highlight high-performing SKUs, and guide stock allocation so your inventory is in the right place at the right time. This means you can start Q1 with a strategy grounded in real performance results and avoid repeating previous challenges.
January is a time for fresh starts and self-improvement, making it the perfect time to shape your campaigns around popular New Year themes such as goal-setting, budgeting, and wellness. During the start of the year, consumer interest in mindful living, healthy routines, and Dry January peaks, creating the perfect opportunity to connect your brand with the behaviours people are most focused on
At Dee Set, we help you turn these trends into action while using data to help guide decisions. By keeping an eye on search trends and retail performance, we can spot the categories performing best in Q1, whether that is health-focused grocery, fitness, supplements, or non-alcoholic drinks.
Our team also makes sure your Q1 campaigns are executed across every touchpoint, from in-store activations and merchandising to omnichannel fulfilment and retail analytics. This approach means your campaigns reach the right people, your inventory is in the right place, and every display performs at its very best.
Physical stores are still one of the most important ways to drive sales and connect with your customers, especially in Q1 when people are motivated by resolutions, wellness trends, and new routines. Making sure every store is ready for your campaigns can be the difference between a promotion that really works and one that misses the mark.
At Dee Set, we help bring campaigns to life on the ground. Our field marketing and merchandising teams set up in-store activations, create eye-catching point-of-sale displays, and check planogram compliance to make sure products are presented exactly as you intended.
Q1 is the perfect time to experiment. With consumer behaviours shifting after the holidays, running small-scale tests early in the year gives you a chance to see what resonates with your consumers before committing to bigger campaigns later on. Whether it’s trying out new promotions or product placements, these experiments provide valuable insights that can help you optimise your strategy for the rest of the year.
At Dee Set, we make testing more accessible and actionable. Our field teams can deploy campaigns in selected stores or regions while our data tools monitor performance metrics, from display compliance and visibility to stock movement. You will be able to see early indicators of what is working and what is not, giving you the insights to adjust campaigns, optimise any underperforming elements, and continuously improve your results throughout Q1 and the rest of the year.
If you want to kick off 2026 strong and make sure you are making the most of every Q1 opportunity, Dee Set is here to help. We specialise in field marketing execution, retail auditing, POS optimisation, and data-led activation, giving you everything you need to turn insights into action.
Dee Set can help you:
Get in touch and let us help execute your most successful Q1 yet, setting your brand up for a strong and profitable year ahead.
The busiest shopping season is almost here, and with Black Friday just around the corner, now is the time to get your field marketing strategy locked in. Recent figures show total till sales growth has risen to +4.1%, up from +3.7% the previous month, as shoppers begin to plan their year-end spending. While consumer behaviour is settling back into a more normal rhythm post-summer, inflation and rising costs mean customers are more alert than ever to value-driven deals, discounts, and promotions.
Black Friday has evolved into one of the biggest retail moments of the year. In today’s economic climate, many consumers see it as a chance to stretch their budgets, secure bargains before Christmas, and discover promotions that offer both savings and novelty.
In this blog, we share 5 practical Black Friday marketing tips to help you stand out, capture spend, and convert browsing into buying, to make it your most successful Black Friday yet.
Black Friday offers huge opportunities, but it also brings its own set of challenges, from price pressure and stock management to overwhelming competition and shopper fatigue.
Here are the key ones to watch out for:
With some clever thought and planning, you can overcome these challenges for a successful Black Friday.
Don’t leave your strategy to the last minute. Map out your promotions, signage, retail merchandising deployment, staffing and logistics early. Plan for challenges in supply or display build-outs and build in buffer time to avoid stockouts and execution gaps.
At Dee Set, we work with you to map out every stage of your Black Friday activity, from promotion planning to merchandising rollouts. Our team helps anticipate potential supply or display challenges and provides practical solutions to ensure smooth execution across all stores.
Review your analytics to see what worked (and what didn’t) last year. Which SKUs sold best? Which promotions got the highest uptake? Which stores had inventory issues or missed merchandising deadlines? Use this insight to forecast demand, set realistic sales goals and allocate stock more intelligently, helping you meet demand while protecting margins in the face of inflation-driven price sensitivity.
At Dee Set, we transform retail data into actionable insights, highlighting high-performing SKUs, optimising promotions, and guiding stock allocation to ensure inventory is in the right place at the right time. Using tools like Reapp Insight and Recognise, we combine advanced analytics with human expertise to help you make informed decisions and boost performance.
Many consumers are spreading their spending earlier, looking for deals well in advance of the main Black Friday day. Introduce early offers, whether a sneak-peek for loyalty card holders or mid-October promotions, to lock in spend early and get ahead of the competition.
At Dee Set, we can analyse past sales patterns to identify which products and offers resonate most with early-bird shoppers. We help you plan targeted early promotions and ensure visibility in stores so you capture sales before competitors do.
During high demand, it’s easy for stockouts, misplaced POS or poor display setups to erode sales. Having a field marketing team carry out regular retail audits is essential to keep execution strong. Our field marketing team ensure POS is placed correctly, shelves are fully stocked, displays are clean, visible and working as intended. This prevents in-store execution gaps from costing you sales.
At Dee Set, we have dedicated field marketing teams to audit stores, check POS and displays, and address gaps in real time. We ensure your Black Friday campaigns are executed consistently across every store to protect revenue and maximise shopper impact.
[Insert video: Dee Set Support Asda Black Friday 2024]
Make the shopping path obvious by ensuring entrances, main aisles and point-of-sale displays guide shoppers to your key deals. Use strong, clear signage to highlight discounts, bundle offers and urgency such as ‘limited stock’ or ‘ends midnight’ to cut through fierce competition. In-store experiences like engaging displays can boost engagement and convert browsers into buyers, even when price sensitivity is high.
Black Friday provides you with the rare opportunity to set the tone for the rest of Q4. If you combine thorough planning, on-the-ground execution, visible promotions, and strong shopper experience, you won’t just survive the season; you can lead it.
At Dee Set, we advise on shopper flow, signage placement, and in-store experiences to optimise the customer journey. We ensure displays and messaging are visible and compelling, helping turn browsers into buyers while supporting your key promotions.
If you’re feeling overwhelmed or want to ensure you’re maximising every opportunity, this Black Friday, we’re here to help. At Dee Set, we specialise in field marketing execution, retail auditing, POS optimisation, and data-led activation.
Let’s partner to:
Get in touch today, and let’s plan your most successful Black Friday yet, to make Q4 2025 the strongest retail finish you’ve ever had.
Halloween in the UK has transformed into far more than costumes and candy, it’s a anticipated retail event with so much opportunity. With consumer enthusiasm rising and tactical field marketing becoming ever more important, brands that lean on insight and execution stand to gain more than just a short-term boost, they set themselves up for key Q4 momentum (leading into Black Friday and Christmas).
According to a recent YouGov poll, 57% of British adults who celebrate Halloween make their plans just a week in advance, signalling the “last-minute” nature of this window. Meanwhile, consumer spending is modest, with 55% spending less than £25 on Halloween last year (YouGov). From a market size perspective, one source estimates UK Halloween spending will reach £779 million in 2025 (finder.com). Though alternative forecasts cite slightly different numbers, the take-away is clear: this is a sizeable, time-sensitive opportunity.
For Dee Set, this means: get your field-marketing infrastructure ready, fast. Visibility, availability and value must align to capture the spend during this compressed window.
More than half of Halloween shoppers indicate that their planning period is very short. From a field-marketing standpoint, that elevates in-store readiness and rapid deployment of merchandising assets. A display set up late September or early October may already be late.
While the total market is large, many consumers are watching their wallets. The YouGov numbers show a majority spending under £25. Another forecast reveals that growth this year is projected at just 3.2% in the UK, reaching £537 million, slower than prior years and reflective of inflation and weaker consumer sentiment. The implication: promotions, value messaging, and multi-buy bundles will resonate stronger than premium-only plays.
DIY costumes, second-hand pieces and online shopping are on the rise. For example, 42% say they’ll make their costume themselves and 47% will buy online. For field marketing teams, this means the physical store space must earn its keep: bold visuals, strong POS, easy availability. The online channel may capture the browse, but in-store execution will capture the impulse.
Halloween isn't just sweets and pumpkins, it extends into snacks, drinks, home décor, beauty and even apparel. Distinctive execution here provides the “early Q4 lead” many marketers crave. In other words: if you get Halloween right, you build the bridge into Christmas.
Create visual theatre. End-of-aisle displays, checkout towers, seasonal merchandising islands, all should scream Halloween. Field teams should ensure compliance in store, check planogram fidelity, and reinforce the theme early (mid-October or earlier).
A brilliant display is useless if stock is trailing or missing. Field teams must monitor stock levels in real-time, report gaps, and ensure replenishment is swift. For seasonal lines, this means starting early and forecasting for the spike period rather than reacting.
Because many shoppers are price-sensitive this season, brands that combine novelty with savings will perform best. Multi-packs, bundles, early-bird offers (mid-October) and loyalty incentives are effective. But they only work if field teams ensure signage, placement and promotional execution are consistent in-store.
Given the last-minute nature of shopper behaviour, timing is everything. Aim to have core display, stock and promotions live before the wave hits (often mid-October) so you’re capturing early spend and not reacting when the shelf-space is already saturated.
Halloween is effectively the opening act for Q4. Get it right and you carry momentum into Black Friday and Christmas. Fail to act and you risk playing catch-up when the spending frenzy is already underway. Field marketing is no longer “nice to have” for Halloween, it’s a strategic lever.
At Dee Set, we combine field execution, data monitoring and retail insight to give brands the edge. Whether it's Halloween or the festive rush to come, the brands that win are those that execute early, execute well, and connect emotionally with the shopper.
Ready to move from planning to performance? Get in touch with our team today. Let’s build a seasonal strategy that delivers through to year-end.
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It’s clear that we’re on the brink of another upheaval—this time led by artificial intelligence. Dubbed the ‘Fourth Industrial Revolution,’ AI is already reshaping industries with tools like voice assistants and data-driven decision-making. Its potential feels limitless, hinting at a future rich with innovation.
But here’s the catch: how many businesses are actually reaping the benefits of AI? According to Forbes, only 5.4% of companies are leveraging it effectively. The real challenge lies not just in adopting AI but in identifying use cases that deliver meaningful results.
Joe Peers, our Senior Head of eCommerce, states, “In the race to adopt AI, it’s easy to get caught up in the hype. But businesses shouldn't implement AI just to check a box. The real value lies in identifying impactful use cases that solve specific challenges or unlock new opportunities. Whether it's improving customer experiences, optimising operations, or driving innovation, AI should be a tool for strategic transformation—not a trend to follow. Start with the problem, not the technology, and let the use case guide your AI journey.”
At Dee Set, our mission is clear: leverage AI to enhance human work, drive real outcomes, and make every minute count. This has been central to our 2024 strategy, delivering stellar results for our clients. By doubling down on innovation, we’re poised to redefine excellence and efficiency across industries.
Exploring How AI Can Maximise Productivity and Purpose in Every Role
With a robust team of 3,500+ colleagues, Dee Set thrives by prioritising people. We ensure every individual shines by amplifying their strengths while fostering personal growth. Time is valuable, and our focus is on high-impact tasks that bring purpose and productivity to every role.
Fast-paced industries like retail pose unique productivity challenges. In 2024, explosive demand for point-of-sales (POS) materials tested our limits. To meet this challenge, we emphasised training and coaching while leveraging AI to streamline operations and deliver unparalleled results.
Addressing the Business Challenge: How AI Helped Us Scale
Faced with growing demand for POS merchandising, we needed a solution to maintain quality, gather actionable data, and scale operations. Our traditional QA methods consumed 12 hours weekly per retailer, most of which was spent on redundant checks.
Enter AI. By adopting a tailored QA solution, we automated repetitive tasks and empowered our teams to focus on strategic decisions. Our AI analyses images submitted via the Reapp Perform app, comparing them against reference setups to ensure compliance. The impact? QC time slashed from 12 hours to 3, with 75% of images requiring no human review. This breakthrough enables our QA team to focus on tasks that add value.
Built by Senior Data Scientist Dr. Zhanna Mileeva using Microsoft Azure, this end-to-end solution has revolutionised our operations. Zhanna states: “The advantage of implementing this AI solution to streamline our operations is remarkable. By equipping our colleagues with the right tool, we have enabled them to effectively do 4 times more than they could do before. It also unlocked a proactive response to any emerging challenges while the job is still live, thus, contributing to a strong culture and excellent service of unparalleled quality. From a business perspective this is a perfect example of human and machine collaboration with tangible results internally as well as for our clients. So, it is a win-win for everyone”.
Zhanna continues: “We have adhered to the best practices and ensured utilisation of the latest technological advancements on Azure platform by staying in close contact with Microsoft. The development of a POC project was rapid. Low cost, reliability and quick deployment make this solution a gate opener for new business opportunities. Following the evaluation of its success we are now trialling a scaled up version. With aims to increase the processing capacity exponentially, we’re keen to see what the future holds for this clever piece of tech!”.
The Results: AI as a Game Changer in Quality Assurance
AI has transformed our QA processes, enabling our team to focus on personalised coaching, top-performer recognition, and operational excellence. By seamlessly integrating human intelligence and cutting-edge AI, we’ve scaled operations while cutting costs—a win-win for Dee Set and our clients.
In Conclusion: Beyond the Hype, AI Delivers Value Where It Matters
We expect that the hype around AI will continue for a while. Whilst many businesses will be excited about the ‘newness’ of this technology, here at Dee Set we’re focused on how we can utilise it when it comes to making it work in practical, meaningful ways that can benefit our employees. The business challenge we faced with scaling POS operations wasn’t solved by just adopting AI—it was about finding the right AI solution and ecosystem architecture to support our teams and enhance the quality of work we deliver to our clients.
As businesses explore the potential of AI, the key is to cut through the noise and focus on solutions that truly drive value, improve productivity, and empower people. For us, the journey has just begun—and we’re excited about where AI will take us next.
Want to get involved with our powerful AI tech? Just get in touch and we’ll show you how it’s done!
We’ve been experts in the field marketing world for some time now, and if anything, our vast experience has provided us with the rare opportunity to develop and strengthen our skill set and strategies over time. This means that we can ensure that we have the capabilities to consistently meet the demands of our clients and the ever-changing retail industry, using our suite of field sales solutions for your success!
To ensure that we remain pioneers in the industry, we must keep an eye on new technological developments, key societal shifts, and consumer behaviour – all whilst we continue to provide our full scope of services for our clients.
As we’re sure you know, the industry evolves in quick time, which is both exciting and pretty daunting! Luckily for us, we’ve grown accustomed to this rollercoaster ride and have developed, trialled and trusted strategies that provide us with some much-needed stability. As we will soon move into 2025, we know that it will be vital to focus on adopting innovative solutions that not only enhance the efficiency of the business, but will also greatly improve client satisfaction.
In this blog, we’ll explore five key field sales solutions that will set you up for success for today and beyond. Whether you’re looking to leverage cutting-edge order fulfilment technology or you want to focus on more customer-centric approaches, we think these strategies will keep your team on top form throughout.
In the meantime, if you’d like to partner with the best field marketing company in the UK right now, you can get in touch here.
Keep reading to find out more…
Before diving into the specific field sales solutions we offer, let’s first delve into the wonderful art of field sales…
If you weren’t familiar with this part of the retail avenue already, field sales jobs typically involve sales teams working outside of the traditional landscape of the office. Field sales break the mould by engaging with clients face to face, intending to build strong business relationships in the process.
When it comes to field sales solutions, they’re your tools, techniques and strategies that help your field teams operate more efficiently, from managing territories and optimising sales routes, all the way through to improving customer interactions and closing deals.
These days, the field sales industry embraces more of an untraditional and innovative approach.
Thanks to the development of advanced technology like AI, machine learning, and retail data analytics, our field sales teams have the capabilities and technology needed to provide real-time insights and automation. This data then empowers your sales teams to deliver personalised experiences, reduce inefficiencies, and close more deals (we’ll delve more into this soon!)
If you’re new to the world of field sales and field marketing, it may seem difficult to wrap your head around at first. However, our talented team of retail marketing professionals is here to help you, giving you five of our top field sales solutions for success in 2024.
Let’s dive in!
The age of data is here, which means that the constant guesswork many experience in the field sales industry can finally be avoided! Hurrah!
Thanks to data analytics, sales teams can make data-led, informed decisions based on precise data, rather than relying on gut feelings. Consequently, this means that spotting consumer trends and identifying potential sales territories should become a stress-free process for your brand.
Data is invaluable as it possesses the potential to completely transform and revolutionise a business. By analysing patterns and trends, businesses can better understand their market dynamics, making it easier to allocate resources, focus efforts on high-potential clients, and streamline sales cycles.
One retailer that we’ve seen truly use data to their advantage is Tesco. Since developing their savvy Customer Clubcard Challenges via their loyalty scheme (which successfully utilised shopper behaviour to develop personalised experiences), they recently announced a partnership with The Trade Desk to provide brand partners access to its Clubcard data. Brands who sign up for access will be able to use Tesco’s first-party Clubcard data (instead of relying on third-party cookies) to plan targeted campaigns, prompted by in-store and online shopping behaviours.
Tesco aren’t the only ones to see the importance of leveraging data though…
Convenience retailer Co-op recently announced their partnership with their media network and global media and marketing agency Dentsu. “The initiative allows brands to tap into UK’s first convenience retail media network, providing secure access to Co-op member and customer data, offering insights into shopping behaviours”. This collaboration is set to help the retailer drive innovation and build more value for their shoppers.
On the other hand, enhanced data analytics also gives field sales reps the ability to personalise their pitches and engagement strategies based on individual consumer shopper behaviour. For example, a rep can use purchase history, demographic data, and even social media activity to tailor their approach, making it more relevant and likely to convert.
Unless you’re living in a cave, you’ll have seen the rise and dominance of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML), two tools that are quickly transforming the field sales landscape. As time progresses, we know that many people will soon start to utilise these tools on a daily basis to help optimise their strategies, helping them to automate and assist with tasks like customer segmentation.
One of the key benefits of AI is its ability to learn and adapt. By analysing historical sales data, AI algorithms can identify patterns and make recommendations on the best time to engage prospects or which products to offer.
Here at Dee Set, we’re no strangers to the use of AI and we use it to improve the processes of our field teams. During our data-led calls, our team of Territory Sales Managers utilise our industry-leading AI image recognition software to enhance efficiency. This technology collects crucial stock availability and comparative data from selected brands, enabling them to guarantee full store compliance and ensure planograms are followed. The adoption of this data ensures that our field teams can quickly identify on-shelf availability and address problematic stock situations without issues.
Another helpful use of AI that we’ve seen is the introduction of AI chatbots and virtual assistants. These tools have the ability to take care of routine customer queries, freeing up field reps to focus on more complex, relationship-building tasks. This leads to higher efficiency, lower costs, and better customer engagement.
Machine learning is a specialised branch of AI, focusing specifically on data-driven insights and algorithms that power its functionality. While not all AI systems incorporate machine learning, every machine learning application is inherently a part of AI. Machine learning is great at helping sales teams to fine-tune their campaigns over time, using predictive analytics to forecast customer behaviour and sales outcomes with remarkable accuracy.
Your core business wouldn’t thrive without your shoppers, so ensuring that they have the best possible customer experience will only improve your business for the better…
Epsilon research has shown us that customers respond better to a more personalised approach, which means that you must discover and understand their individual needs and preferences. A successful field sales team will go beyond the one-size-fits-all approach, using a deep understanding of their customers to create tailored, meaningful experiences for all.
This means that your field reps should focus on active listening, understanding customer pain points, and addressing their specific challenges with the right solutions. By building trust and demonstrating value, sales teams can foster long-lasting relationships that lead to repeat business and customer loyalty.
With consumers more eco-conscious than ever, sustainability isn’t a choice: It’s becoming a business imperative. Research by D. Tighe revealed that globally, about 44 percent of consumers said they were more likely to buy from a brand with a clear commitment to sustainability. Because of this significant cultural shift, field sales teams must react by aligning their practices with sustainability goals to remain competitive.
Sustainability in field sales can be approached in several ways. One example involves reducing the carbon footprint of your operations by optimising travel routes with technology, minimising unnecessary travel, or adopting electric vehicles for your fleet.
Additionally, by championing sustainable services in your sales conversations and highlighting any partnerships you have with sustainable causes, your teams can appeal to customers who prioritise environmental responsibility, creating a unique value proposition that resonates in today’s market.
Customer feedback is so underrated, but it’s one of the most valuable tools for any modern sales team. Knowing exactly what your clients think about your products, services, and overall sales experience allows you to refine your field marketing strategy and better meet their needs.
These engagement hubs can take various forms - from physical locations to digital landing pages where customers can share or rate their experiences directly. With instant feedback, sales teams can adapt their strategies, make improvements to products, and address issues quickly. Moreover, engagement hubs can serve as platforms for customers to connect with sales reps, discuss challenges, and explore new products or services in an interactive environment.
By consistently listening to customer feedback and acting on it, field sales teams can improve customer satisfaction and retention, ultimately driving more business growth in the process.
It’s never too early to work on a fail-proof strategy and as we gear up for 2025, adopting innovative solutions and new field marketing software will be crucial to staying ahead of the competition. By leveraging enhanced data analytics, implementing AI and machine learning, focusing on customer-centric strategies, embracing sustainability, and creating engagement hubs, your sales team will be well-equipped to thrive in the dynamic retail market.
If you’re on the lookout for an industry leading field marketing agency that already specialises in dynamic field sales solutions, empowering people to perform at their best – you’re in the right place. Whether you’re looking to streamline your sales processes or enhance customer engagement, our expert team can help you navigate the future of field sales with confidence. Let us support your journey toward sales success in 2025 and beyond.
Get in touch today and see how we can help you!
As industry leaders in the field marketing world, we are extremely grateful for our vast years of experience, providing us with a treasure trove of knowledge and expertise that sets us apart from the competition. Over the years, we’ve gained a thorough understanding of our sector, including our co-packing strategies. Through continuous research and development, we are pleased to be in a position where we feel confident about the services we provide to our clients.
Here at Dee Set, our end-to-end e-commerce services offer brands maximum support, from pick and pack, rework, clip strips and warehousing to merchandising, FSDU's and collecting data to provide actionable insights at the shelf edge, our clients trust us with their most critical retail operations. They know that we consistently deliver results that drive growth and enhance brand visibility.
Our dedicated team works closely with clients to tailor solutions that align with their unique needs, ensuring seamless execution from start to finish. We’re committed to helping brands thrive in an ever-evolving retail landscape, taking pride in our ability to innovate and adapt, enabling our clients to stay ahead of the competition and achieve their goals efficiently.
In our latest blog, we chat with Jess Westwood, our Co-Packing Account Manager, who provides us with exclusive insights into Dee Set’s comprehensive end-to-end services - from the design stage all the way up to retail merchandising and POS (Point of Sales) on the shop floor…
Hey Jess! Thanks for taking the time to chat with us today! Okay, first question…
A: At Dee Set, we’ve partnered with Polly POS, a leader in Point of Sale solutions, to ensure seamless execution of all our projects. This partnership allows us to collaborate closely, providing expertise at every stage of the process, which guarantees a smooth delivery for our clients.
Here’s an example of how the process works: When we receive an inquiry that requires full-service support—whether it's for printing, product reworking, or merchandising—we begin by scheduling a call with the client. This conversation helps us understand their specific needs and any challenges they might face, so we can tailor our support accordingly.
Next, we develop a comprehensive quote that covers all the required services in one package. Once the pricing is agreed, we proceed with structural and transit testing to ensure the unit’s durability and functionality.
The major benefit for our clients is convenience: They receive all the services they need under one roof, with a single point of contact and one consolidated invoice, streamlining the entire process.
A: We begin with a thorough consultation to discuss the client’s brief, objectives, sales targets, retail environment, and location. With Polly POS, we ensure that every display is designed to meet optimal retailer guidelines while maximising the product's visibility and appeal.
Our team of experts are also available to help guide clients through the retailer approval process, offering advice on artwork, structural requirements, and distribution centre presentations. We are dedicated to ensuring your projects are seamless and successful from start to finish.
A: Effective communication is at the heart of every successful project. Once a project is confirmed, we provide a detailed timeline to ensure clear visibility of each phase, helping all parties stay aligned. We understand that challenges may arise, so we proactively prepare solutions to address any potential issues that could disrupt progress.
Additionally, before production begins, we complete a ‘gold seal’ process. This provides clients with full transparency by allowing them to review and approve a finished prototype, ensuring the final product meets their expectations and our high standards.
A: A great example of our co-packing services delivering outstanding results is our collaboration with Noisy Snacks, a vibrant, emerging snack brand. They had a last-minute opportunity to supply Tesco with 1,376 quarter-pallet free-standing display units (FSDUs) for a seasonal promotion, marking their largest retail project to date. The challenge was significant: Noisy Snacks had never produced an FSDU before and needed full guidance to meet a very tight deadline.
The main challenge was the time-sensitive nature of the project, as Noisy Snacks also had little prior experience with such large-scale visual merchandising displays. In addition to the timeline, ensuring flawless execution—from design and assembly to delivery—was crucial to meet Tesco’s high standards.
We overcame these challenges by leveraging our full suite of services, from structural design to printing, assembly, and logistics, to deliver an end-to-end solution. Our structural designer worked closely with Noisy Snacks to create and sign off the FSDU plans quickly. Once approved, we printed and assembled the units in-house to meet the rapid turnaround time. We also coordinated product filling and delivery, ensuring that all units reached the six Tesco distribution centres on schedule.
Thanks to our integrated approach, Noisy Snacks successfully launched their largest retail promotion to date. Our ability to manage every aspect of the project—from concept and design to assembly and delivery—enabled them to meet all deadlines and present a visually impactful in-store display that boosted brand visibility and sales. This case underscores our expertise in handling complex retail projects and delivering high-quality results, even under tight time constraints.
We also teamed up with Whole Earth, responsible for supporting them with the end-to-end assembly and fulfilment of FSDUs in Sainsbury's stores across the UK. The FSDUs themselves aimed to promote the brands' Drizzler collection - the latest addition to their range of squeezy peanut butter.
Through our group capabilities, our warehouse team were responsible for assembling 274 shippers, which were distributed into Sainsbury's distribution centres. Our Tactical Solutions team were then responsible for the in-store merchandising. In total, 1314 cases were merchandised – 265 onto fixtures and 1058 into displays to ensure stock availability.
Adding to this, we also teamed up with plant-based protein bar brand Trek to support them with the end-to-end assembly and fulfilment of new in-store FSDUs in Sainsbury's across the UK. Through our group capabilities, our warehouse fulfilment team were responsible for setting up 440 main store stands and 147 PFS stands, which were then distributed into Sainsbury's distribution centres.
Find out more on our dedicated Case Studies page.
A: When adapting our co-packing strategies to meet emerging trends, we focus on three key areas:
This way, we stay aligned with evolving market demands while maintaining efficiency, consumer satisfaction and the customer experience.
A: We prioritise clear communication with all stakeholders to guarantee a smooth project flow. We employ a dedicated quality control (QC) checker and provide regular training for all team members to maintain high standards.
Additionally, we produce gold seal samples that are easily accessible for reference by all colleagues. To ensure product integrity, pallets are thoroughly inspected before leaving Dee Set, and our operational supervisors and team leaders are always available to offer support whenever needed.
A: The future of co-packing is poised for continuous growth year after year. One of our key initiatives for the coming year will focus on implementing security tagging to help retailers reduce shrinkage. By addressing shrinkage, we can ensure that your in-store inventory counts remain accurate, allowing for correct stock replenishment based on sales data.
We are constantly evaluating our processes to enhance efficiency, ensuring we deliver the highest quality service to our clients. Additionally, we're exploring opportunities to automate wherever possible, which will not only streamline operations but also drive cost savings for our customers.
As we look towards the future, our focus remains on continuous improvement—whether that’s through adopting new technologies, optimising our co-packing processes, or embracing sustainability. Our commitment to adaptability and excellence ensures that we will continue to help brands thrive in the competitive retail landscape. By fostering close partnerships and staying ahead of industry trends, we aim to empower our clients to achieve long-term success in no time.
Tackling the complexities of order end-to-end fulfilment doesn’t always have to be a stressful process when you have the right partner by your side. Here at Dee Set, we excel at providing reliable, tailored fulfilment solutions that ensure orders are delivered accurately and efficiently, every time. With 99.8% picking accuracy, comprehensive support, and real-time data analytics for actionable insights, we make fulfilment smooth and hassle-free.
Ready to elevate your fulfilment process? Our collaborative approach and proven track record across the UK make us the trusted choice for brands seeking innovative strategies. Get in touch with us today and let’s find the right solution for your business and customers!
