Sprint Kiosks Placed In Movie Theaters
Sprint is placing kiosks in movie theaters nationwide to reach movie goers. Sprint customers can scan in a code from their phones, and the kiosks will print coupons for snacks and drinks. Through this promotion, Sprint is rewarding its mobile phone customers as well as attracting potential customers with a Sprint branding message.
The kiosk works by instructing Sprint customers to text a certain word to a certain phone number. The customers then receive a text message code. The kiosk includes a computer screen next to a scanning device, and people hold up their cell phones, scan that code and can browse through a few offers on the screen. The customers select their offer, and the kiosk prints a receipt that people can take to the concession stand.
T-Mobile myTouch 3G On Display In Stores Nationwide
T-Mobile is displaying the new T-Mobile myTouch™ 3G with Google™ which is offered with an array of accessories and customized shells. “myTouch 3G can be personalized to wholly reflect your individuality, making it 100% you,” said Denny Marie Post, chief marketing officer, T-Mobile USA. “We’ll help this come to life from the get-go at our retail stores, where unique sample personas will be displayed to illustrate some of the many customization options.”
Customers will be able to design their own shell using a variety of methods, including uploading a personal photo, graphic design, or selecting text, shapes, icons or logos. The final design is custom-printed onto the shell, then shipped. On its inside, myTouch provides customers with the ability to richly personalize the entire theme of the device with new widgets, icons and wallpapers.
Rosemount Wines Promote Partnership With ‘Hell’s Kitchen
Rosemount Estate wines has formed a one-year exclusive wine partnership with Hell’s Kitchen, the reality series in which aspiring young chefs are put to the ultimate culinary challenge with Gordon Ramsay, world-renowned celebrity chef As part of the agreement, the wines of Rosemount Estate will be prominently featured on Hell's Kitchen Seasons Six and Seven with both product integration and appearances by Rosemount Estate brand ambassadors. To coincide with the airing of the show, Rosemount is running a comprehensive national campaign featuring in-store merchandising, wine and food pairing suggestions from Chef Ramsay, and online/mobile components. The Rosemount Estate/Hell’s Kitchen p.o.s. materials will be placed in grocery, drug and independent food stores as well as restaurants.
ELAN Home Systems Displays Elios Speakers
ELAN Home Systems, a leading manufacturer of Multi-Room audio/video systems, has introduced its new Elios™ Speaker Line of 19 high-performance in-wall and in-ceiling architectural and cinema speakers.
Elios incorporates never before used technologies and one-of-a-kind mechanical designs into its entire line of speakers.
The speakers feature a new hybrid tweeter design, which bonds a titanium/aluminum nano coating to a teteron dome substrate delivering the high frequencies, precision, speed and transient response of metal tweeters with the desirable smooth and silky sound of soft dome tweeters.
Also unique to Elios is a new drywall leg clamping system, which will provide installers with the easiest, installation of any speakers on the market today. ELAN is providing its dealers with a high-quality point-of-purchase display and limited edition posters to help introduce the speaker line.
Nature’s Escape Featuring Interactive DVD Display
Allegro Media Group, Portland, OR, is using this tri-fold interactive display to encourage consumers to turn their home or office into a peaceful sanctuary with these Nature’s Escape DVD/CD combinations.
The interactive display allows consumers to listen to a sampling from each Nature’s Escape CD so that they can purchase the one that will provide them with the ultimate escape. The compact counter display also merchandises six different DVD/CD’s.
EA Displays Its Newest Sims Game
Electronic Arts recently introduced its highly anticipated 'The Sims™ 3' game. Players stormed retail displays recently making it the best-selling PC launch in EA’s history.
Rod Humble, Head of the EA Play Label, said, “The volume of items created with The Sims 3 and downloaded online is a testament to how passionate The Sims players are. It's their world now, we can't wait to see everything players create and share.”
Alienware Launches New Store-Within-A-Store
Alienware has opened the first Alienware Experience, a new store-within-a-store, at the Micro Center in Paterson, NJ. As Dell’s premier gaming brand, Alienware is bringing a new level of excitement to the retail marketplace with The Alienware Experience giving hardcore gamers and tech-savvy computer enthusiasts the opportunity to experience Alienware first hand.
At the Alienware Gaming Area, gamers can test drive the latest games available on Alienware systems. Several award-winning products will be showcased including the recently introduced Alienware M17x, the world's most powerful 17-inch gaming laptop, the M17 and Area-51 m15x laptops and the Area-51 X58 desktop.
“Having an expanded retail presence to showcase Alienware’s design, performance and power is extremely important to us and our fans,” said Michael Tatelman, V.P., Marketing for Dell’s global consumer business.
Barnes & Noble Stores Nationwide To Offer Complimentary AT&T Wi-Fi
Barnes & Noble has teamed with AT&T to provide complimentary in-store Wi-Fi. All customers shopping in Barnes & Noble stores can now freely download and preview any of the over 700,000 eBook titles with hundreds of thousands of public domain titles available from Google.
“Barnes & Noble pioneered the concept of retail stores as community centers,” said Steve Riggio, CEO, Barnes & Noble. “By providing no-fee Wi-Fi access, we are extending the sense of community that has always been in our stores.” Customers will be able to opt-in to receive Barnes & Noble coupons on their Wi-Fi enabled devices when they enter the store.
Consumer Electronics Retailer hhgregg Plans New Store Openings In 2010
hhgregg, a specialty retailer of consumer electronics, announced accelerated growth plans with 22 new store openings planned in 2010. During the past year, competitive dynamics within the consumer electronics industry have created significant opportunities for the company to expand at growth rates greater than previously projected. The company now expects to open between 20 and 22 new stores during the current fiscal year. These store openings will include the launch of three new multi-store markets: Tampa, Florida; Memphis, Tennessee; and Richmond, Virginia. In addition, the company expects to open between 40 and 45 new stores during fiscal 2011, with the majority of these new stores located in large and mid-sized metropolitan markets in the Mid-Atlantic region, including Philadelphia, Baltimore, and Washington, D.C.
Technomic Finds Growing Consumer Interest In Entertaining At Home
Over a third of consumers (36%) report they are entertaining at home more often than a year ago, according to a new Technomic study. Only 13% said they are doing so less often.
“Consumers tell us that they are enjoying reconnecting with friends in their homes,” said Melissa Wilson, Technomic Principal. “The appeal is tied to socializing in a very casual atmosphere where everyone brings a dish to share, often sourced from local restaurants or food retailers.”
The findings come from Technomic’s POP: Parties Off Premise study, a detailed evaluation of consumer catering opportunities for restaurants and food retailers. From box lunches and party platters to parties complete with off-site food preparation, catering is one of the strongest segments of the foodservice industry and appears somewhat immune from recessionary spending cut-backs. Related findings include: Over the next year 40% of consumers expect to entertain at home more often, in order to socialize with friends and family.
In terms of sourcing food for these occasions, restaurant usage is comparable to the use of retailers (68% versus 69%, respectively). More than half of consumers (53 percent) report buying platters and other prepared foods for the Fourth of July holiday, the largest holiday usage for these type of purchases after Christmas (66 percent) and Thanksgiving (61 percent).
Market For Green PCs Will Exceed $190 Billion By 2013
Computer and server vendors are making their products increasingly green according to a study by NextGen Research.The newest equipment consumes less electricity than legacy hardware; toxic substances once used in their construction have been replaced with more environmentally friendly materials; and most vendors will take their products back at end of life cycle for reuse/recycling. As a result, purchases of green desktop and notebook computers and netbooks will grow from less than a sixth ($37 billion) of the $249-billion PC market in 2009, to nearly two-thirds (more than $190 billion) of the $323-billion PC market in 2013.
The study’s author, analyst Laura DiDio said, “Desktop and server vendors are introducing new, more-efficient servers that run cooler, consume less power, and still deliver the processing power needed to satisfy the demands of even the most compute-intensive data centers.”
CEA Reports American Households Spend $1,200 Annually On Consumer Electronics
The average U.S. household spent $1,229 on consumer electronics (CE) products in the past year, according to a new study released by the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA). On average, men continue to spend more on consumer electronics than women, spending $902 annually compared to women, who spent $558. Young adults spent more than any other age group. Consumers ages 18-24 spent $1,056 last year on CE devices, an increase of nearly $100 from the prior year.
Ben Arnold, CEA’s Sr. Research Analyst, said, “Ownership of nearly all products measured are higher compared to last year showing that consumers continue to buy CE products but are purchasing them at lower price points."
TVs are the most owned CE device in the U.S., with 99% of households owning a TV. Fifty-two percent of households own at least one HDTV, an increase of 11% from last year and double the penetration rate from 2007. Ownership of plasma and LCD screens as well as sets over 40-inches are also on the rise. DVD players (93%) and cell phones (90%) are the next most commonly owned CE devices.
Arnold said, “With fewer Americans traveling and going out for entertainment, they are, in turn, choosing to stay home, save money and watch high-definition content in the comfort of their own living room.”
Laptop Computers Record Record Shipments
Notebooks represented three out of four computers shipped to the U.S. consumer market during the second quarter of 2009. IDC’s PC Tracker indicates that the consumer appetite for mobile computers remains unchallenged despite the economic malaise.
The U.S. PC market, which includes desktops and laptops, contracted by just 1.4% compared to an earlier projection of -3.1%. Of the four major PC markets - consumer portables, consumer desktops, commercial portables and commercial desktops - only consumer portables managed positive growth while the others had moderate to severe contraction. What is even more indicative of unabated consumer attraction to mobile computing is that the consumer notebook growth is estimated at a solid 63% year on year. While the commercial desktop and notebook shipments fell by 25% as a result of substantially reduced IT budgets, and the consumer desktop market was down by 9%, the consumer notebook market expanded to a new record of more than 6.3 million units.
Notebook prices continue to fall with high-performance units available at bargain prices, often below $600. Another factor that is helping the consumer notebook market maintain momentum is the emergence of the mininotebook or netbook form factor. This is a product that is designed for maximum mobility at a fraction of the standard notebook price.
Sixty-Eight Percent Of U.S. Households Play Computer Or Video Games
Sixty-eight percent of American households play computer or video games, according to new research from the Entertainment Software Association. The number of households playing games increased three percent over 2008, illustrating the expanding use of entertainment software across all demographics.
Other findings of the survey include: Forty-two percent of American homes have a video game console; Adult gamers have been playing for 12 years on average, a decrease from 2008, an indication that more Americans are picking up video game controllers for the first time; The average game player is 35 years old; Almost half of all games sold (45 percent) are rated 'E' for Everyone and, Forty-three percent of online game players are female.
Nike Introduces Nike+ SportBand
NIKE has introduced the new Nike+ SportBand, giving runners real-time performance feedback on their distance, pace, time and calories burned with just a glance at their wrist. Runners who enjoy listening to music may continue to hear their run details through the Apple iPod nano, iTouch or iPhone systems.
GPS Safety Camera Locator Now Available From Cobra
Cobra Electronics has released the new SL3 GPS Safety Camera Locator with AURA Camera & Driving Hazard Database. The SL3 is a standalone GPS-enabled device that warns drivers to thousands of driving threats that include red light cameras, speed cameras and caution areas. These driving threats could cause unintended traffic violations as well as accidents. The SL3 provides drivers with heightened situational awareness.
“The SL3 GPS Safety Locator provides a simple, safe way to warn drivers of potential danger,” said Tony Mirabelli, Sr. V.P., Marketing.
Senario To Sell My Secret Circle For Girls
Senario is partnering with Tween Brands’ Justice retail stores to launch My Secret Circle, the first secure social networking world designed for girls ages eight to 12 and their Internet-cautious parents.
This “plug-’n-play” product allows girls to interact with one another and share pictures in a secure, invisible online world. In addition to security, other key features of My Secret Circle include: All-About-Me profile pages with a Diva Designer avatar tool, an online journal that can be kept private or public, instant messaging, games and an extensive photo feature in which girls can upload photos, add text, décor and even create slideshows.
Nintendo Events Launch Wii Sports Resort Game
Nintendo recently celebrated the launch of the Wii Sports Resort game, the next chapter in the Wii Sports experience, by bringing in 50 tons of sand to transform Manhattan’s famed Military Island in Times Square into Wuhu Island, the fictional setting featured in the game.
Nintendo is conducting unique promotional events around the nation to support the launch.
‘Disney’s A Christmas Carol’ 40-City Train Tour
Disney is conducting an interactive 40-city train tour including a 3D sneak peek of film footage from the upcoming movie “Disney's A Christmas Carol,” starring Jim Carrey, The Train Tour is being launched with HP on board as the title and technology sponsor and driven by Amtrak. This family event is free to the public. Highlights of the tour include costumes and props from the film; and a chance to morph your face into one of the film’s characters using HP TouchSmart PCs.
Haier Home Tour Hits The Highway
Haier America, a leading manufacturer of home appliances and electronics, recently hit the open road with its Haier Home Tour. The 53-foot tractor-trailer will fold down into a fully accessible front porch with a three-room walk-through for visitors. Each room will be furnished with Haier products, including Haier air conditioners that will cool the entire mobile home.
The living room will showcase a mounted R-Series 42" HDTV that will play footage of NBA action, as Haier is the official HDTV of the NBA. The kitchen will have a wide variety of Haier products. The laundry room will feature a working washing machine and dryer. The Haier products will have forms available for mail-in rebates from $20.00-$100.00.
The tour will also offer the chance to win a line of Haier appliances.
AT&T Launches Mobile Store Initiative
AT&T's Vermont sales team is embarking upon a mobile retail tour to better assist customers in areas where AT&T has limited brick-and-mortar locations. Traveling in a 31-foot AT&T-branded retro-fitted RV equipped with the latest wireless devices, the team of sales and service experts will traverse Vermont making more than two dozen stops over several weeks.
“There is a lot of ground to cover. We’re looking forward to getting out there and meeting our customers, especially those transitioning from Unicel, and helping them find the right wireless solution to meet their individual needs,” said Steve Krom, vice president and general manager, AT&T New England. “If we can save some folks a little time and gas money by bringing our store closer to their home, that’s a nice bonus as well.”
Logitech Floorstand
Logitech Canada required a display for production parts which could be used in multiple channels. This display’s metallic looking trim, along with its matte-metal grey color lends a high-tech, permanent look to the completely corrugated display. This Logitech Floorstand was created by Add Ink, Division of Atlantic Decorated & Display, 36 Overlea Blvd., Toronto, Ontario Canada M4H 1B7 (Web site) www.atlantic.ca
Nintendo Mixed Mario Pallet
The objective for this Nintendo Mixed Mario Pallet for WalMart was to create a pallet display that would showcase Nintendo's new Wii release, "Mario Super Sluggers" and also merchandise/advertise 3 other existing Mario games. It was important to develop a visually compelling merchandiser that followed both Nintendo and WalMart guidelines. This Nintendo Mixed Mario Palletdisplay was created by Great Northern Corp., 1800 South Street, Racine, WI, 53404 (Web site) www.greatnortherncorp.com
PurNRG Locker Display
This corrugated display, the PurNRG Locker, was used to create a one-stop-shop for fans of the popular Christian girl group. The display merchandises CD's of the Christian girls group along with shirts, and was distributed at Christian retailers across the U.S. The PurNRG Locker Display was created by U.S. Display Group, 8l0 S. Tullahoma, TN 37388 (Web site) www.usdisplaygroup.com
Mattel Wal-Mart Barbie Display
This display was created to support the launch of the Barbie Peek-a-boo Doll and to create an exclusive end cap at Wal-Mart. The display was developed to encourage repeat visits to purchase more dolls with each visit. Graphics of the dolls were featured on the oversized two sided header. Shoppers could flip open the window to reveal items on the PDQ trays. The side panels "Peek-a-boo" window was designed based on a child's height. The Mattel Wal-Mart Barbie Corrugated Display was created by Justman Packaging & Display, 5819 Telegraph Road, Los Angeles, CA 90040 (Web site) www.justmanpackaging.com
AMD Industries created this end cap display for Best Buy to Showcases Sony's new energy saving ECO HDTV. The display is designed with minimal structure to accentuate a light airy feeling and make the TV appear as if it were floating above the rest of the unit. A functioning watt meter gives a reading in real time of the TV's power usage relative to a standard HDTV. Durable construction and interchangeable graphic panels insure a long display life span. Best Buy's upper management stated that “The Sony ECO TV End Cap display is where Best Buy's displays need to be for 2010 and beyond.” For more information contact AMD Industries, 4620 W. 19th Street, Cicero, IL 60804 (Web site) www.amdpop.com
Masonways Indestructible Plastics produced this display for Best Buy, merchandising DVD's. The display features a plastic base with metal grid wall display. It includes ten 6" long hooks and top sign holder. The base measurement is 48"W x 36"D x 12"H. The metal grid wall height is 48" from the floor. The display is versatile and may be used as an end cap or stand alone island. For more information, contact Masonways Indestructible Plastics, 580 Village Blvd. #330, West Palm Beach, FL 33409 (Web site) www.masonways.com
One Source Industries designed this interactive display, the Sr slotRadio™ to educate the consumer on the ease of use of the new slotRadio play and slotRadio cards from SanDisk. The display draws the consumer in to engage use with the actual player. A motion sensing educational video loop plays on a 7in LCD w/speaker. The consumer can use the display’s headphones to experience slotRadio's new way of listening to music without the need of computers or downloads. For more information, contact One Source Industries, LLC, 15215 Alton Parkway, Irvine, CA 92618 (Web site) www.onesourceind.com
Northern Wire Products produced this three sided DVD Waterfall Family Entertainment Tower. This sturdy metal display is capable of holding up to 4l6 DVD Movie/Game products within a 4 sq. ft. store footprint. The display features colorful graphics to attract shoppers. For more information, contact Northern Wire Products, 6601 Ridgewood Rd, St Cloud, MN 56303 (Web site) www.norwire.com
Nashville Display created this Blu-ray End Cap Display from metal as well as screened plastic end panel signs and header sign. The metal parts have a bright silver powder finish. This display stocks Blu-ray players and movies, and features a 37” wide screen HDTV, and Blu-Ray player to demonstrate its superior resolution. This Blue-ray End Cap display was created by Nashville Display, 306 Hartman Drive, Lebanon, TN 37087 (Web site) www.nashvilledisplay.com
Red Leaf Retail Concepts created this vibrant 12’ display for Samsung to launch its new LED television series. By using translucent acrylic Red Leaf was able to provide layering of the communications, creating an emotional connection to the national ads while re-enforcing the thin and light characteristics of these TVs. Additional product oriented layers were completed with an interactive podium, allowing consumers to easily access specific feature and benefit information on screen. The graphic application system was designed to be easily updatable for future product launches. The fixture currently holds the LED TV Series 6 & 8® but was constructed to be expandable and easily retrofitted for future and additional products. This display was seamlessly integrated into Best Buy’s fixture system. For more information, contact Red Leaf Retail Concepts, 411 Four Valley Drive ,Unit 41, Vaughan, Ontario Canada L4K 5Y8 (Web site) www.redleafretail.com
Kosakura created this Linksys Wireless Home Audio display. For more information, contact Kosakura, 2215 S. Standard Ave. Santa Ana, CA 92707. The interactive display demonstrates the Linksys Wireless Home Audio, Router, and Media Player. Product information videos are engaged by the customer. All Linksys product is securely mounted for theft resistance. The display is constucted of powder coated metal, frosted plexiglas and direct printed MDF. or more information, contact Kosakura, 2215 S. Standard Ave. Santa Ana, CA 92707 (Web site) www.kosakura.com
$450,000
This exhibit was built for NBC Universal Television Networks, Sci-Fi Channel. The exhibit is a departure from traditional exhibit design as it comprises one continuous sculptural figure which becomes a free standing autonomous object in which furniture, audio, video and multimedia are imbedded within. The development of the Sci-Fi stand called for intensive 3D modeling and machining. A model was utilized with a computer to produce a full scale sculpture made from high density foam from which panels were molded. Finishes were selected including the nova lilac pearl high gloss enamel on the sculpture, which looks gray in one light, yet glows softly purple in the next. Imbedded hardware projects customized multimedia onto the surface of the sculpture. For more information, contact GRAFT, 3200 N. Figueroa Street, Los Angeles, CA 90065 (Web site) www.graftlab.com
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