The back story
BrandSensory® is a concept and methodology developed by Gerri Hansen which innately grew out of both her personal influences and professional experiences working in the marketing industry for over 20 years with global, luxury brands.
Daughter to a seamstress and boutique owner, exposed from an early age to the intuitive relationship with textures, colours and design, it was a seed planted by the Coutts private bank CEO - the challenge to ‘get people to feel the aura’ - that allowed Gerri to experiment with sound, sight, design, scent and multi-sensory experiences across key client touchpoints. This experience compelled her to translate her natural instinctive approach to brand design, and create uplifting and meaningful opportunities to drive connections, talkability and express the brand’s essence beyond traditional channels.
As the consultancy grew, this unique take on brand experience design was honed and refined over a number of years with several industry leading brands including redefining the brand strategy and guest experience executions for each of the Exclusive Collection hotels (Pennyhill Park Hotel & Spa, South Lodge Hotel & Spa, Lainston House, The Manor House Hotel & Golf Club, Royal Berkshire, Fanhams Hall, The Castle Inn, Ansty Hall), and propositional product design for Ridgeview English Sparkling Wine Estate. These progressive businesses (all certified B Corporations) were seeking fresh brand experience strategies and executions to help them stand out in a competitive luxury brand marketplace to target HNW/UHNW clients. Excited by the prospect of something new, they embraced a refreshingly human and intuitive approach that streamlines their marketing briefs, drives differentiation, and creates compelling connections on a sensory level with their customers.
With further insight from leading industry experts and several piloted projects, with overwhelmingly positive feedback from both brand owners and their agencies, BrandSensory has been built to offer businesses a unique opportunity to stand themselves apart from the masses, designing a truly distinctive, unforgettable brand.
“Our brand is no longer just words on a page. It speaks, feels and even tastes like us.
"It has been a joy collaborating with Gerri and Brand Sensory has been transformational in our approach to developing our brand. From the very beginning of our sensory journey, they brought an extraordinary depth of insight, creativity, and care to every interaction. Gerri has played a pivotal role in helping us bring our brand to life - not just as a concept, but as a fully immersive experience for our guests. The work on initiatives such as flavour profiles for the biscuits we serve with coffee, tone of voice development, uniform standards, and guest facing behaviours has helped us communicate our identity in ways that are both authentic and memorable. We're incredibly grateful and look forward to continuing this journey together. "