Best Buy Rolls Out Health & Fitness Products
Best Buy has rolled out health and fitness products at 600 Best Buy stores across the country. Best Buy’s offerings enable consumers to connect technology with wellness and with others who share their fitness goals. Available products include personal gear related to running, walking, swimming and yoga as well as other fitness accessories.
A 30-foot-long in-store health and fitness presentation area enables consumers to sample many of these devices before they buy. On display are state-of-the-art heart rate monitoring watches, pedometers, special MP3 players, earbuds, headphones, yoga mats, scales and blood pressure monitors.
Flix On Stix Deploys Self-Serve Kiosk
Flix on Stix has begun a national roll out of its kiosk system that securely delivers digital entertainment content. Flix on Stix has developed a revolutionary encryption technology and interface, designed to allow consumers to download movies, music, and television programs from a self-serve kiosk to a portable memory stick. In addition to offering an almost limitless array of titles, this unique system also provides first-run movies before they are available on DVD or Blu-ray, through internet subscription services or vending machines. The Flix on Stix Kiosk utilizes a secure internet connection and proprietary download encryption technology to transfer content onto any portable flash drive in seconds. The digital content can be viewed on any PC or Mac, or through a set-top box to a television.
The Flix on Stix system is the world’s first method that allows the studios to completely control the transfer and distribution of their content in a secure, real-time environment. For consumers, the system eliminates the need for returning an item to the store or to the DVD vending machine. At the expiration date, the title simply disappears.
Kodak Unveils PYNK Smart Print System At Kodak Kiosks
Eastman Kodak has introduced the new KODAK PYNK Smart Print System, a new concept in premium photo products. The PYNK System generates professional-looking framed collages in seconds at any PYNK Ready KODAK Picture Kiosk. Consumers will no longer have to hassle with cropping, cutting, laying out and taping their photos - Kodak's intelligent software does it all for them, right at the kiosk.
“Consistent with our strategy to deliver innovative, easy to execute high retailer margin solutions that solve real consumer problems, we’ve thoroughly consumer tested the PYNK Smart Print System from concept to execution, and consumers love it,” said Nicoletta Zongrone, General Manager, Retail Systems Solutions, Eastman Kodak.
Bell Displays Tent Card To Promote Its Services
As Canada’s largest telecommunication company, Bell communicates with customers about the innovative things it is doing through point of sale materials. Thousands of these die cut tent cards were created for Bell and shipped to locations across Canada. Proprint Services, (www.pop-online.com), a Toronto, Ontario Canada-based display firm produced these point of sale materials for Bell.
Videotron Opens Interactive Flagship Store
Videotron has opened its flagship store on Canada’s premier shopping street. The 4,500 sq. ft. emporium on Catherine St. West in Montréal will offer customers a new concept in shopping with cutting-edge communications equipment. The store has been designed to bring the Videotron brand to life and create a compelling hi-tech environment. After they step into the Videotron universe, visitors can use the giant smartphone to take a picture or video of themselves and send it to a friend. The next thing visitors notice is the multimedia staircase leading to the second floor, the only one of its kind in North America. Equipped with 150 high-definition LED screens, the staircase promises to be one of the store’s main attractions. On the second floor, visitors can immerse themselves in a TV high-definition experience in two sound-proof glass booths equipped with 85" screens. At the mobile phone bar, equipped with six touch screens, visitors can pick their user profile and find the best handset and plan for their needs.
Remodeled Nintendo World Store Reopens In New York
The 10,000 square foot Nintendo World store in New York has reopened its doors to the public after a brief remodeling, including new Nintendo graphics, new flooring and fun new ways for visitors to interact with Nintendo games and products. People who stop by the lighter, brighter store will encounter images of classic Nintendo characters, including Mario™, Donkey Kong™, Princess Peach™, Yoshi™ and Bowser™, as well as much-loved characters like Pikachu™ and other Pokémon™. The store has also expanded its second-floor Nintendo Showcase to twice its previous size. The new circular display shows off a variety of Nintendo collectibles, a sampling of limited-edition and imported Nintendo DS™ Lite hand-helds, a working Game Boy™ damaged in the Gulf War and more. Visitors will see new interactive stations for Nintendo DSi™ and Nintendo DSi XL™ systems and upgraded TV monitors throughout the store. The new flooring is made from bamboo, a “green” and renewable source.
Borders Renews Strategic Focus On Kids With New Products, Events & Partnerships
Borders is expanding its focus on kids with a slate of enriching events, new products from leading brands and strategic partnerships. Borders has reorganized and refreshed its Children’s sections earlier this year to create an easy and intuitive shopping experience for parents and all gift givers.
The Children’s area is now organized by chronological age so customers immediately know where to go when looking for the perfect gifts for the children in their lives. In addition, Borders added thousands of educational toys and games to its superstores.
The company has teamed up with Build-A-Bear Workshop to introduce the Build-A-Bear Craftshop product line in each of Borders’ more than 500 retail stores nationwide.
Barnes & Noble Opens ‘Ultimate Playroom’ Mega-Boutiques In Stores
Barnes & Noble has created the ultimate play room for children with the initial rollout of 3,000 sq. ft. boutiques in five test stores: Enfield, CT; Manchester, CT; North Brunswick, NJ; Holmdel, NJ; and Bronx, NY. The expansive play spaces incorporate interactive displays, creativity and learning through activities, scientific discoveries, and favorite children’s characters. In unique strategic partnerships with world renowned toy and games manufacturers, Barnes & Noble has created five interactive play areas - Building, Learning, Imagining, Creating and Playing - that offer children hands-on learning experiences in a fun, and engaging environment.
“Barnes & Noble has always been a destination for families who want to foster a life-long love of reading. We’re enriching that experience with these expansive play areas, and fun and interactive activities,” said Jaime Carey, Chief Merchandising Officer, Barnes & Noble.
Taylor Swift Is Face Of New COVERGIRL Cosmetic Line, NatureLuxe
GRAMMY award-winning star, Taylor Swift, will represent a new generation of makeup - COVERGIRL NatureLuxe. “Taylor’s naturally polished and beautiful look fits perfectly with the new luxury makeup line,” said Vince Hudson, General Manager, COVERGIRL Cosmetics. “NatureLuxe provides luxury that isn’t extravagant, but rather simple, modern elegance inspired by nature.”
Barnes & Noble Debuts NOOK kids™
Barnes & Noble has introduced NOOK kids, a digital reading experience for children. NOOK kids is the first platform to offer the largest and growing collection of nearly 12,000 popular children’s picture and chapter books in an enhanced and engaging digital format.
“We are thrilled to introduce NOOK kids and offer parents and children a new way to experience timeless children's classics and new favorites like never before,” said Jamie Iannone, President of Barnes & Noble Digital Products. “We’ve worked with the top children’s publishing companies and used advanced technology to bring these stories to life.”
Belkin Conserve Gateway™ Provides Energy Insight
Belkin has launched its Conserve Gateway, a router system that pairs with a smart meter to provide real-time insight about home energy use. Conserve Gateway delivers this information via a web interface, which allows people to easily track and reduce energy use in their homes.
Amtrak Promotes TLC’s ‘Cake Boss’ With Train Wrap Images
TLC recently filmed an episode of “Cake Boss”with Amtrak. To promote the episode, FLEXcon’s Full Train Wrap System was utilized by ABC Imaging, (www.abcimaging.com), a Washington DC-based graphics firm to wrap the Acela express train with graphic imagery of Buddy Valastro, star of the show, and some of his amazing cake creations. The wrap on the train appears on both sides of the locomotives and all eight cars of the train, providing maximum exposure.
The wrapped train runs on the corridor between Philadelphia, Washington, DC, New York and Boston, which is the nation’s busiest for train travel.
AARP/Walgreens Wellness Tour Offers Health Screening Across The Country
The AARP/Walgreens Wellness Tour is a national mobile tour that has been on a mission to provide free health screenings to residents in more than 3,000 underserved communities throughout the United States and Puerto Rico. The AARP/Walgreens Wellness Tour is comprised of nine custom-equipped buses with dedicated staff of certified health screeners that travel separate routes canvassing the country. Each bus spends several days in designated cities providing free services at local events, community centers, Walgreens store locations and other select locations with a special emphasis on underserved communities. After the screenings are performed, a pharmacist or staff member instantly provides the results and reviews them with the consumer. Visitors also have access to free educational information on a variety of health and wellness issues.
EA Sports Launches Event Marketing Tour For FIFA Soccer 11
Electronic Arts recently conducted the “EA SPORTS™ FIFA Soccer 11 Takeover Tour,” showcasing EA’s acclaimed FIFA Soccer 11 videogame and PlayStation®3 (PS3™) computer entertainment systems. Two vehicles outfitted with 15 TVs along with 15 PS3™ systems, plus a full-time crew, traveled around the nation. At each Tour stop, fans had the opportunity to play FIFA Soccer 11, and receive free prizes including Adidas-branded FIFA Soccer 11 T-shirts and PSP® go systems or a PS3™ system. The EA SPORTS FIFA Soccer 11 Takeover Tour was supported by an integrated marketing campaign to drive attendance at Tour stops.
Good Earth Tea Runs ‘Bold Taste, Bold Sounds’ Promotion
Good Earth Tea recently teamed up with EMI Music to offer consumers free music with every purchase of specially marked boxes of Good Earth Tea. Good Earth Tea consumers could download a free song from EMI’s long list of well-known artists. With over 25 different varieties of Good Earth Tea and more than two hundred thousand songs to choose from, consumers could enjoy both tea and music to suit any taste.
“At Good Earth Tea, we are all about creativity and imagination. That’s what inspired our connection with creative, one-of-a-kind artists,” said Deborah Glasser, Marketing Director for Tata Global Beverages, which owns Good Earth Tea. “Music offers yet another way to celebrate the uniqueness of our customers, and EMI’s musical line-up is as distinctive as our teas.”
Consumers could download one song for each purchase, with no purchase limit. The “Bold Taste - Bold Sounds” promotion was supported via point-of-purchase displays.
Acer’s Global Launch Event Features Latest In Interactive Displays
Acer recently worked with spinTOUCH, (www.spintouch.com), an Orange County, CA-based interactive marketing company, to design and deploy a series of interactive, multi-touch surfaces to showcase the new Acer products at a recent launch event.
spinTOUCH created 6 interactive bars, a "Minority Report"-like 78" multi-touch display, and several 65" multi-touch screens.
Paul Hashemi, CEO, spinTouch, said, “For this event, we were able to serve Acer’s messaging and branding objectives by integrating their product images and marketing collateral onto the multi-touch surfaces and create an interactive, playful and engaging environment.”
Urban Tornado Promotes Discovery Channel’s ‘Storm Chasers’ Series
Inwindow Outdoor has launched the “Urban Tornado” at Storescape locations to promote the Discovery Channel series “Storm Chasers.”
As a pedestrian approaches the storefront screen, they see the image and sounds of the approaching tornado. One location even had high-powered fans blowing gale-force winds on passers-by to enhance the experience. As the on-screen tornado approaches the user, virtual debris flies through the air, even sending a stop sign crashing through the strorefront window. Once complete, the pedestrian can opt to receive a photograph of themselves via SMS and has the option of uploading that image to their Facebook page and the Storm Chasers Facebook fan page. Steve Birnhak, CEO, Inwindow Outdoor, said, “We created a unique experience that is sure to drive awareness of Storm Chasers.”
Shrek: The Whole Story Debuts In Box Set
All four films of DreamWorks Animation SKG, Inc.’s Shrek franchise have been offered together for the first time ever on Blu-ray in “Shrek: The Whole Story.” Remastered for the most brilliant viewing experience, the collection encompasses the entire saga, delivering over 13 hours of extraordinary entertainment.
Full Color Posters Promote Scooby Doo Mystery Show
In order to promote the Scooby Doo Mystery Incorporated show, these full color Heidelberg printed posters were produced and distributed across Canada. They were printed both sides on 10pt card stock by Proprint Services, (www.pop-online.com), a Toronto, Ontario, Canada-based point-of-purchase display firm.
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