Barnes & Noble Launches In-Store NOOK Boutiques
Barnes & Noble is expanding its in-store NOOK displays to full-service eReading NOOK Boutiques to accommodate this rapidly growing segment of Barnes & Noble's business. The boutiques, which will begin rolling out this summer and through the fall, mark yet another enhancement to the in-store experience which drives book lovers to visit Barnes & Noble stores.
"We entered the eBook market a year ago confident our bookstores would be a huge competitive asset, and a year later, the role of our retail channel in the success of NOOK and eBooks, and the popularity of our in-store eReading features have crystallized this advantage," said William J. Lynch, CEO of Barnes & Noble. "No other company is doing what Barnes & Noble is doing, utilizing its store footprint and innovative technology to add value to the customer's eReading experience - including unique features such as digital eBook lending, free Wi-Fi connectivity, in-store browsing of complete eBooks and exclusive content, and more."
The 1,000 square-foot boutiques will feature demonstration tables and multiple operating NOOK devices for trial. An adjoining wall and large flat panel display will feature video demos of NOOK eBook Readers and display more than 100 accessories, including NOOK covers by popular designers such as kate spade new york, Jack Spade, Jonathan Adler and Lilly Pulitzer. Each NOOK Boutique will be fully staffed by knowledgeable booksellers who will offer book lovers device demonstrations, help customers download Barnes & Noble's free NOOK software to their mobile or computing devices, and provide ongoing support.
Paper Jamz Toy Guitars Displayed At Walgreens
Walgreens is featuring an interactive Paper Jamz display to give customers the opportunity to try out the guitar in store.
“We believe Paper Jamz will be the hot new toy and technology for kids,” said Bryan Pugh, Walgreens Vice President of Merchandising.
Produced by WowWee, Paper Jamz instruments are battery-operated guitars and drum sets that feature Active Graphics™ Technology, meaning that music is played based on embedded touch sensors.
Panini America Displays Toy Story 3 Stickers
Panini America, Arlington, TX, is displaying its Official Toy Story 3 Sticker Album/Stickers Collection. The Disney Toy Story 3 album is designed to encourage the fun family-friendly activity of sticker collecting.
The official Toy Story 3 Sticker Album features stickers of the Toy Story series' favorite characters including Buzz, Woody, Jessie and Bullseye and introduces new characters from the movie such as Lots-o'-Huggin' Bear, Buttercup, Trixie and Mr. Pricklepants. The 40-page album features 180 stickers and depicts scenes from the Toy Story 3 movie.
The Toy Story 3 Album and Sticker packets (8 stickers per packet) are available at major U.S. retailers including Walmart, Target and Toys R' Us and retails for a suggested retail price of $1.00.
Gateway Newstands Co-Branded With Public Mobile Phones
Gateway Newstands retail locations are being co-branded with Public Mobile and will start selling Public Mobile Phones.
Public Mobile signs and/or kiosks will begin opening in Gateway locations in Toronto and Montreal.
Combined with the 66 Public Mobile stores that are already open in Toronto and Montreal, Public Mobile will have in excess of 200 retail locations exclusively dedicated to selling Public Mobile phones in Toronto and Montreal.
“Gateway is the perfect partner. They're everywhere we want to be. Public Mobile wants to make it easy and convenient for customers to own a cell phone. What could be more convenient than making your payment, or buying a new phone on your subway ride home?” said Public Mobile CEO, Alek Krstajic.
“We’ve aligned ourselves with Public Mobile because they understand the importance of providing simple and affordable service,” said Michael Aychental, CEO of Gateway Newstands.
Mobilicity Opens Stores
New wireless company Mobilicity has just opened 38 stores in Canada. Every detail of the new retail stores was designed to convey Mobilicity's brand message of unbeatable value coupled with a new approach to wireless.
Mobilicity wanted to create an instantly recognizable design that was clean, fresh and straight forward with emphasis on the colour magenta. The new stores had to have an urban theme and communicate the simplicity of the brand proposition.
DMD Retail Design, (www.dmdltd.com), a Toronto-based retail design firm, created this retail design and fixture program.
Sharp Interactive Display Features TVs At Best Buy
This end cap fixture for Sharp at Best Buy balances the needs of the brand and the retailer as it fits well within the branded interior of the store while still amplifying the Sharp brand message.
This display features an engaging interactive device that magnifies the pixels on the screen, allowing shoppers to see Sharp’s addition of yellow pixels to the RGB mix for more accurate color representation. This display was created for Sharp by AMD Industries, (www.amdpop.com), a Cicero, IL-based p.o.p display firm.
faceVsion Displays Its HD Products At Fry’s
faceVsion Technology, Fremont, CA, a manufacturer of premium HD video communication products , has broken into the U.S. retail channel with its TouchCam N1 and FVexpress Combo video call/chat products, now on display at Fry’s Electronics, which operates 34 stores in Northern/Southern California, Texas, Idaho, Illinois, Georgia, Arizona, Oregon, Indiana, Nevada, and Washington. To support the rollout of faceVsion products at Fry’s, customers could buy one faceVsion TouchCam N1 and get another free instantly during the introductory period.
faceVsion’s lineup of HD VideoCams are the only currently available video communications products that offer genuine 720p HD video streaming over the Internet and feature advanced hardware H.264 video encoding and a host of other features to deliver a stunning HD experience.
Sharp Interactive Display Features TVs At Best Buy
This end cap fixture for Sharp at Best Buy balances the needs of the brand and the retailer as it fits well within the branded interior of the store while still amplifying the Sharp brand message.
This display features an engaging interactive device that magnifies the pixels on the screen, allowing shoppers to see Sharp’s addition of yellow pixels to the RGB mix for more accurate color representation. This display was created for Sharp by AMD Industries, (www.amdpop.com), a Cicero, IL-based p.o.p display firm.
Cost Plus World Market Ties In With ‘Eat Pray Love’ Film
Cost Plus World Market recently partnered with Sony Pictures Entertainment's film, “Eat Pray Love,” to license a line of Eat Pray Love products organic to the film's themes, including leather journals, prayer beads, clothing, accessories, and wines from Italy.
As a company whose buyers shop the world - including the key locations of Italy, India, and Indonesia - to bring back unique, authentic, and affordable items to its retail locations, World Market was the perfect choice to partner with Sony Pictures Entertainment. World Market locations highlighted an in-store shop, which featured Eat Pray Love-licensed products as well as items from the retailer's collection, including jewelry from India, gourmet food baskets, incense, mats, lanterns, an Indonesian bench, and an Italian bistro table set.
Customers could enter a sweepstakes in-store for a chance to win a grand prize trip for two to one of the three destinations featured in the film - Italy, India, or Bali; a $1000 World Market gift card, and a private movie screening of Eat Pray Love. . Throughout the promotion, World Market will be sampling The Republic of Tea's Eat Pray Love Tea at select stores. The tea blends flavors from Elizabeth Gilbert's three destinations of self-discovery - succulent blood oranges from Italy, smooth black tea from India, and heartwarming cinnamon from Indonesia.
SUBWAY Launches 'Fiery Footlong Frenzy' With Sony PlayStation
SUBWAY restaurants and Sony Computer Entertainment America have formed a marketing alliance that will offer SUBWAY diners and PlayStation fans the opportunity to instantly win PlayStation prizes. The prizes will total more than $1 million and will be awarded at the rate of one prize per minute during the promotion period.
“This alliance brings SUBWAY consumers another fresh first; the opportunity to experience the new PlayStation Move before anyone else,” said Tony Pace, Chief Marketing Officer, Subway. The Fiery Footlong Frenzy Fueled by PlayStation, will feature SUBWAY restaurants' spiciest sandwiches to date.
'Banana Republic & ‘Mad Men’ Run Joint Promotion
Banana Republic and AMC’s “Mad Men,” recently ran a promotion in all of Banana Republic’s North American retail locations. The “Mad About Style” campaign was featured in more than 400 Banana Republic stores.
Banana Republic created a Style Guide featuring the versatility of stylish dressing - from 9-5 and dinner at 8, from the corner office to VIP lounge. The Guide features "Mad Men" characters and images alongside Banana Republic looks. Banana Republic windows showcased “Mad Men” imagery. AMC and Banana Republic also co-sponsored a Casting Call contest customers could enter to win a walk-on role for an upcoming “Mad Men” episode.
“Banana Republic is known for its versatile fashions, with modern takes on 1960s icons like the pencil skirt, cardigan, and suit - which is why our collaboration with Mad Men is a natural fit,” said Jack Calhoun, president of Banana Republic.
shopkick Unveils New Location-Based Retail Technology At Best Buy Stores
Best Buy has unveiled shopkick’s’ mobile shopping application. shopkick offers the first location-based mobile application that promises consumer offers and rewards for just walking into a retail location. Unlike traditional GPS location-based services that require a shopper to “check in,” “shopkick Signal” technology requires no consumer check in.
For Best Buy, shopkick is part of an experiment to explore the likelihood that consumers will redeem rewards points and offers through mobile retail applications. Customers may walk up to the cashier, provide the mobile phone number connected to their shopkick app, and any applicable personalized discounts immediately appear on their receipt.
4G Mobile Consumer Service Revenue Will Exceed $70 Billion In 2014
As 4G network deployments gather momentum, a substantial 22% of device subscription revenues will come from suites of operator-branded premium services. Total 4G mobile consumer service revenue - including mobile Internet services - will grow rapidly to exceed $70 billion worldwide in 2014, according to ABI Research.
According to ABI Research practice director Philip Solis, “Operators of 4G networks will offer suites of 'smart services’ - some internally developed, others via partnerships with third party suppliers - that will be provided over ‘smart networks’ enabled with all-IP technologies, IMS infrastructure and cloud-based storage.”
These 4G services will be optimized to enable a proliferation of mobile devices, such as smartphones, netbooks and PNDs, and many operators will be offering pooled device subscriptions: one user subscription, many activated devices. Internet access service will be the “killer 4G service.” However, a suite of premium services will drive significant consumer adoption, revenues and profits, including: Location services, such as turn-by-turn directions and POIs; Multimedia services, such as VoD and P2P video sharing; Media broadcast services, such as pay-per-view TV and digital radio; and Gaming services, such as multi-player and augmented reality games.
Experian Simmons Reveals Five Segments Of Mobile Consumer Population
Experian Simmons has issued a report that identifies five distinct segments of the mobile phone market. The five Mobile Consumer segments are: Mobiriati (19% of mobile phone owners) who represent the first generation to have grown up with mobile phones. Mobile phones are a central part of their daily life, and they cannot imagine life without them. Social Connectors (22% of mobile phone owners): Communication is key for Social Connectors, and their mobile phone is the portal they use to keep up to date with friends and social events. Pragmatic Adopters (22%): who are in the early stages of realizing that there’s more that they can do with their phone besides say, “Hello.” Mobile Professionals (17%): who use their mobile phone to keep up with work and family life. Basic Planners (20%): Technology is not of interest to Basic Planners. The basic mobile package serves all their needs.
Facebook Credits Gift Cards Launch At Target
Facebook Credits gift cards are launching at Target stores. Target will be the first brick-and-mortar retailer to carry Facebook Credits gift cards. While Facebook is free, Facebook Credits are an easy and convenient way for people to buy digital goods in more than 150 popular social games and applications offered by independent developers on Facebook.
Energizer Introduces Inductive Charger
Energizer has introduced its first inductive charger built with Qi technology, the new universal charging standard developed by the Wireless Power Consortium. Qi will bring consumers the freedom to charge their smartphones, MP3 players, cameras, or any device 5 Watts or less, regardless of manufacturer.
“By leading the way with one of the first Qi products, we are meeting a clear need for a product that makes charging devices easier by eliminating cords and clutter,” said Jim Olsen, VP, Marketing, Energizer, NA.
Ricoh Completes Times Square’s First 100% Solar Powered Billboard
Ricoh Americas Corp.has completed its 100% solar powered electronic billboard, the Ricoh Eco Board in New York City’s Times Square. The Ricoh Eco Board, which is 47 feet high by 126 feet long, is the first billboard in Times Square to be totally lit by solar energy. It is powered solely by 62 solar panels and 24 thin-film PV solar modules.
ESPNU Launches 2010 College GameDay Tour
ESPNU is bringing the ‘“ESPNU College GameDay Tour” to all 14 regular-season College GameDay stops for the 2010 season. The new experiential marketing tour, featuring a fully customized ESPNU minibus, will include a DJ booth, as well as a college-themed body and face painting station.
Fans will be able to visit the painting station before kickoff to uniquely express their true fandom in the stands. The tour will also include several LED televisions showing live coverage of the College GameDay telecasts. Another focal point of each stop will be the ESPNU monument (a 24-foot monument in the likeness of the ESPNU logo), which will be displayed on each host campus. Revolution, Chicago, is the promotion agency.
The Children's Museum Of Indianapolis Partners With Mattel For Barbie® Exhibit
In partnership with The Children's Museum of Indianapolis, Mattel has introduced an immersive brand experience for the Barbie brand with Barbie™: The Fashion Experience, a family destination that encourages children and adults to design and have fun playing with fashion.
Stephanie Cota, Senior Vice President, Barbie Marketing for Mattel, said, “Girls from all over the world can engage with the brand like never before through a one-of-a-kind, high-touch, high fashion experience that only Barbie can deliver.”
Visitors can also enjoy one-of-a-kind Barbie™ collectibles never seen by the public and learn first-hand about the art of Barbie® through collecting. Barbie™:
The Barbie Fashion Experience is expected to welcome more than 1 million museum visitors during the 14 months it will be open. The Barbie exhibit at the Children’s Museum of Indianapolis is open until mid-February 2011.
Stoli Launches Celebrity-Driven Promo
“Would You Have a Drink With You?” This is the question posed by industry innovator Stolichnaya Vodka in a new ad campaign that will feature multiple celebrities launching with Playboy magnate Hugh M. Hefner. The campaign features multiple celebrities who represent a spirit of originality, people who, like the brand itself, are ground-breakers in their field. Furthering the brand’s relationship with Hugh Hefner and Playboy, Stoli will release a limited edition bottle of Stoli Ohranj featuring the iconic Playboy bunny logo.
“Stoli, with its rich heritage as a pioneering brand, looks forward to bringing the Would You Have A Drink With You? campaign to life for our consumers and trade alike via events, sponsorships, and on- and off-premise programs,” said Lisa Pfenning, Category Director, Stolichnaya Vodka, William Grant & Sons USA. “We are excited to see how Stoli fans across the country interact with this exciting program.”
SKYY SPIRITS Adds Ginger Infused Vodka To SKYY INFUSIONS
SKYY Vodka recently added Ginger Infused Vodka to its All Natural SKYY Infusions line. SKYY Infusions Ginger is crafted using a signature infusion process, where premium vodka is carefully infused with real ginger. Ginger beverages from ginger ale to ginger beer are posting impressive growth in popularity, according to SKYY Spirits, which developed Ginger Infused Vodka to capitalize on this trend. “Mixologists and chefs alike have embraced Ginger as the hot new ingredient,” said Andrea Conzonato, Chief Marketing Officer, Skyy Spirits.
Mattel /Kmart Barbie Half Pallet Display
This display was designed to merchandise Barbie licensed apparel along side Barbie dolls and accessories in Kmart stores. The two 1/2 pallet displays are placed next to each other in the Kmart toy aisle to provide an impactful Barbie shopping experience. Back panel graphics are designed so either of the 1/2 pallet displays can also be placed alone. The 1/2 pallet displays are constructed with Litho-Laminated and Flexo Printed Corrugate. This Mattel Half Pallet display was created by Justman Packaging & Display, 5819 Telegraph Rd., Commerce, CA 90040.
Omnimount is using this display to merchandise its TV Wall Mounts in all Sam’s Club USA retail locations. The display features a 10.2" interactive touch screen monitor in front, which plays an instructional video. Clear acrylic panels allow customers to view and interact with the mounts. The unit is shipped in kit form split up into three sections for easy shipping and assembly. This Omnimount display was created by Kosakura, 2215 S. Standard Ave. Santa Ana, CA 92707.
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.
Jabra is using this Halo Interactive Floor Display to merchandise its wireless Stereo blue tooth head sets. The high end display offers interactive audio and a back lit panel which provides product information. It is constructed primarily of steel. The unit offers an edge lit acrylic header to capture the consumers’ attention. For more information, contact Flair Display Inc., 3920 Merritt Avenue, Bronx, NY 10466.
Sony is using these signs to renforce brand awareness at the retail level. The signs are full color printed and mounted on foam board for stability. Two easels are applied to the back to ensure that it stands up straight. The rigidity, size and ease of set up ensured the longevity of this on-site pop piece. The crisp and clear graphics and to the point message attract attention and draw shoppers to Sony products. This Sony signage was created by PROPRINT Services Inc., 5621 Finch Avenue East, Unit 5, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, M1B 2T9.
LG has developed an immersive shopper experience to promote its mobile phones within independent AT&T and Verizon retail locations across the country. This modular program is easily adapted to a variety of store environments. The displays provide extensive customer interaction with live phones and they explain special phone features through video tutorials. In addition, the displays provide strong visual identification for the LG brand. This display program was created for LG Mobile Phones by AMD Industries, Inc., 4620 W. 19th, Cicero, IL 60804.
Synsor Corporation has developed an innovative camera bar display for Eastman Kodak Company for use in select Sears' stores. The display features an interactive LCD. The LCD has a continuous silent attract loop and on-demand consumer information feed. This interactive display design capture the consumer's attention with a brightly lit, flat panel LCD screen playing an attract loop. Consumers push the bright-red button to launch a voice-over segment about Kodak's Pulse Digital Frame. The displays are shipped to Sears' retail locations ready for installation. For more information, contact Synsor Corp., 1920 Merrill Creek Pkwy., Everett, WA 98203.
Ninja Master Prep is using this counter display to merchandise its food processing products.This display is made from a combination of CNC cut plywood, acrylic, Sintra and a simulated brushed aluminum substrate. The base is screen printed two colors. The back panel has a laminated litho print mounted to a styrene panel. All items are permanently affixed to prevent theft. The objective is to entice people to try the product so that consumers upgrade from a traditional blender to the ninja products when they see and feel the quality of the Ninja. This Ninja product display was created by Heritage Sign and Display, 344 Industrial Road, Nesquehoning, PA 18240.
UPEC is using this counter display to merchandise its Eikon digital privacy manager. The display features a compact 7” commercial media player that features a video loop explaining the products. This display was created for UPEC by Avante Kiosks, 4725 Iris Road, Okanagan Falls, BC, Canada V0H 1R0.
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