Creative Online

CREATIVE AUTOMOTIVE MERCHANDISING
February/March, 2005



Suzuki Launches Square Retail Brand Image Program

American Suzuki Motor Corporation recently debuted Empire Suzuki in Dallas and Airport Suzuki in Irving, TX, as part of its nationwide network of next-generation dealership facilities specifically designed to take the stress out of shopping for and buying a new car.

Among the first dealerships to be built in Texas as part of the automaker’s Suzuki Square Retail Brand Image Program, the new facilities feature open-air marketplace designs, bold visual styling and themed displays showing how Suzuki cars and SUVs fit a wide range of customer lifestyles.

“The Suzuki Square Retail Brand Image Program enables Suzuki to capitalize on its plans to launch nine new vehicles in five years, in addition to attracting customers and showcasing the company’s more than 80-year brand heritage,” said Ken Nishida, Retail Brand Image Manager. Eventually, more than 330 Suzuki Square dealerships are planned nationwide, representing an investment by Suzuki and its dealers of more than $230 million.

Suzuki Square is the dealer-development cornerstone of

American Suzuki's aggressive plan to triple its U.S. sales by 2007 and propel it further into the U.S. automotive mainstream. According to Empire Suzuki owner Tom Georgalis, “The Suzuki Square design makes our new dealership striking and inviting-and we expect it to attract record numbers of new buyers.”



Kar Kaddy Featured On High Impact Floor Displays

This 50-count corrugated floor display merchandises Kar Kaddy, the new multi-functional molded plastic tray designed to address the in-car eating issues of safety, convenience and cleanliness.

“With over 50% of all fast-food sales coming from drive-thru, we believe the introduction of Kar Kaddy is extremely timely and fills a real consumer need,” said John Sgrignoli, President of Performance Display Group and creator of Kar Kaddy.

As a convenient food and drink tray, Kar Kaddy will appeal to commuters, contractors, sales and service professionals, families and anyone who spends a lot of time in their car.

“Kar Kaddy will certainly be an impulse purchase so we’ve created a family of high-impact displays and a character ‘Trey’ to communicate the features and fun of Kar Kaddy at retail,” said Sgrignoli.



Castrol SYNTEC Partners With Hip Hop Icon Funkmaster Flex

BP Lubricants is teaming up with hip hop car culture icon Funkmaster Flex to put the Castrol SYNTEC motor oil brand in front of his devoted fan base. Marketing plans include Castrol SYNTEC product and logo placements on “Ride With Funmaster Flex” and the “Funkmaster Flex Super Series,” auto-performance shows that air on Spike TV. A custom Castrol SYNTEC car will be featured on Flex’s TV show, and shown throughout his “Celebrity Car Show Tour,” a traveling car/music show.

“Flex’s passion for finely tuned and customized vehicles is inspiring and we’re thrilled to forge this partnership, putting our highest performing motor oil brand-Castrol SYNTEC-alongside his highly acclaimed shows, events and fans,” said Mike DeBiasi, Castrol SYNTEC Brand Manager.



W Hotels Partners With Chrysler To Launch ‘Car Concierge’ Service

W Hotels Worldwide and Chrysler are partnering to offer a new Car Concierge service, which will provide VIP shuttle service and test-drives in Chrysler 300s and Chrysler Crossfires at select W Hotels.

Chrysler 300s, adorned with the W logo and signature flourish, will be staffed with a fully trained driver, who will whisk guests away to their desired destination. Guests staying at the W Los Angeles and W San Francisco are invited to take one of three Crossfires for a test drive for up to 24-hours.

W Hotels and Chrysler are promoting the Car Concierge with on-property Chrysler Concierge kiosks.


STERLING PROMOTIONAL CORP.

Jacuzzi Teams With Ferrari Designer To Create Whirlpool Bath Tubs

Jacuzzi has unveiled a new series of Whirlpool baths that were designed in conjunction with Pininfarina, legendary for their Ferrari car designs. Morphosis is a new Jacuzzi initiative focused on seeking out ventures in order to combine the best design aspects from outside the bath industry with the performance and technology Jacuzzi is known for.

“This first series of tubs coming out of the Morphosis initiative are luxury whirlpool baths designed for the most discerning homeowner,” said Kent Baker, President of Jacuzzi Whirlpool Bath.



3D Toyota Tacoma Image Wraps Luxor Hotel

Toyota Motor Corp. recently debuted the largest 3D Toyota Tacoma to date as part of the launch of its new brand campaign titled “Moving Forward.” Toyota enlisted the help of Michigan-based visual effects company Division X to achieve that goal.

The pinnacle element of the campaign was an image of the 2005 Toyota Tacoma wrapped on the exterior wall of Las Vegas landmark, the Luxor Hotel. Toyota wanted it to appear as if the Tacoma was breaking through the glass wall of the hotel. The 140' digital image was “shrink-wrapped” to the hotel.



Through-Glass Digital Screen Attracts Buyers

Silver Beacon Media, Davenport, IA, recently placed a through-glass digital merchandising installation at Betts Auto Campus, Des Moines, IA’s dealership for Cadillac, Hummer, Jaguar, Lexus and Volvo.

The unit enables Betts Auto to project commercial messages and community service announcements to thousands of drivers daily. Betts installed the through-glass projection screen because it helps draw attention to Betts instead of other car dealerships nearby, said Lori Mooney, Betts Sales Coordinator.



‘E-Z Read’ Display Is Launched

Up, Up & Display has introduced its “E-Z Read” display system that spotlights digital graphics. The easy-to-install system is designed primarily for light poles. It comprises sturdy frames and UV-laminated digital graphics.

For more information, contact Up, Up & Display, LLC, 950 N. Lemon St., Orange, CA 92867; (Tel) 800-734-9599, (Web) www.UpUpDisplay.com.



Webpavement Powers Barco LED Billboard In Times Square

Clear Channel Spectacolor is using Webpavement digital signage solutions to power a new Barco LED electronic billboard spectacular. The large-format electronic billboard spectacular is the highest resolution LED billboard in Manhattan’s Times Square.

The billboard’s primary sponsor is General Motors. Lowe Worldwide, GMC’s ad agency, will produce the multimedia creative for the electronic billboard. Mike McGraw of Clear Channel Spectacolor, said, “We chose Webpavement because the system is web-based, offers proof-of-play reporting and requires no technical script writing to schedule multimedia to electronic billboards.”



Visual Marketing Inc., Chicago, IL, will be showing this Scott USA Motorsports merchanadiser featuring offroad motorsports goggles. The display is a spinning unit that pops in retail locations. It offers sturdy metal fabrication to support a design that can be adapted to accommodate various retail formats based on size and account needs while giving consumers 360 degree accessibility. To learn more about this display, contact Rich Gausselin at Global Shop, Booth 463 SFS; or call 800-662-8640 Ext 101.


Bacou-Dalloz Harley Davidson Helmet Display

The challenge for this display was to create a unit that would attractively display 3 welding helmets while taking up as little footprint as possible. The decision was to display the helmets vertically in order to minimize the footprint. Each display also included clips and brackets so that the unit could be mounted on slat wall or pegboard, if counter space was unavailable. Each helmet rests on on brackets mounted in such a way that the consumer can take the helmets off the display to touch, feel and try on the product. The brand is displayed on a large, prominent H-D. Welding logo on the header. The sides of the display is a bright, vibrant color to grab attention of the shopper from any point in the store. The display units require little or no assembly. The Bacou-Dalloz Harley Davidson Helmet Display was created by Menasha Display Group, 601 E. Erie Ave., Philadelphlia, PA 19134.


Navigational System Information

This counter display provides product information and also offers literature. The unit is a Navigational System Information display. It features a combination of shapes and is constructed from metal and Wire. This permanent counter Navigational .System Information unit was created by Nashville Display, 306 Hartmann Dr., Lebanon, TN 37087.


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