DigKiosk Debuts
DigMedia, San Diego, CA, has unveiled DigKiosk, a free-standing interactive retail music gateway that allows consumers to sample promotional music, purchase music in MP3 and CD format, transfer MP3s to their portable MP3 players, access dLocker (a branded virtual storage by DigMedia) and forward songs to their friends.
“DigKiosk will offer retail consumers new methods for high-speed downloading of digital music,” said Pedro Vargas, Chairman of DigMedia. “The presence of these self-service kiosks in retail outlets and shopping malls will make them a universally popular platform, as well as an economic vehicle to increase traffic and revenues.”
To utilize DigKiosk, consumers employ a finger touch selection system that displays, samples and downloads a wide selection of Web-based music. A docking station offers high-speed transfer of music to a portable MP3 player.
Learning Company CD-ROM Software Display
This spinner display was designed to be a free standing unit in Staples stores, created for The Learning Company, a marketer of CD-ROM Software products.
The unit was manufactured from both wire and metal and then powder coated. Inserts and header cards were four-color styrene.
The display was created for The Learning Company by CDA Industries Inc., an Ontario, CAN-based p.o.p. display firm.
Self-Service Phone Display Placed In Supermarkets
Cricket Communications needed a POP display durable enough to stand up to supermarket traffic, light enough to ship overnight, and attractive to draw customers to the wireless phones it holds.
Harrison-Williams Fixtures of St. Louis, MO, selected Sintra Material, manufactured by Alusuisse Composites, for the display.
Supermarket shoppers select a phone and accessories from the display, pay at the checkout counter, then activate through Cricket Communications. The separately attached 4-color header, printed on 3mm white Sintra Material, reads, “Cricket comfortable wireless.” The sides and back are fabricated from 6mm white Sintra Material, with text that positions the product as, “The around-town phone everyone’s comfortable with.”
School Zone Displays Feature Electronic Workbooks
School Zone Interactive, has published Electronic Workbooks under the On-Track Software brand.
Electronic Workbooks include exercises with easy instructions, instant grading, thousands of variations for repeat play, fun-filled games for “recess,” personalized printouts, progress reports, and certificates. All Electronic Workbooks, mass market priced at $19.99, come packaged with a traditional School Zone pencil-and-paper workbook, and are available for both Windows and Macintosh systems.
Colorful corrugated displays promote On-Track Software at retail.
Golden Books & Pillsbury Run ‘Peter Cottontail’ Promo
Golden Books Family Entertainment (GBFE) and Pillsbury are celebrating the 30th anniversary of Peter Cottontail with an in-store campaign. Consumers will have two ways to gain savings on Golden Books and Pillsbury products this Easter.
A coupon featured on an eye-catching Peter Cottaintail-themed GBFE display will enable shoppers to instantly save $1.00 off the purchase of Pillsbury Refrigerated Shape Cookies when they buy any two GBFE Easter book titles. Additionally, a coupon will be inserted within 100,000 GBFE Here Comes Peter Cottontail videos. Consumers will be able to save $1.00 off the purchase of any Golden Book title when they buy two Pillsbury Shape Cookies.
GBFE’s p.o.s. display features a giant Peter Cottontail plush header displayed above an oversized Easter basket. The basket houses all of GBFE Easter titles and Peter Cottontail plush.
Slim Jim & MTV To Grant Spring Break Fantasy
Slim Jim has partnered with MTV to conduct a Spring Break Sweepstakes offering a chance to win a VIP trip for two to MTV Spring Break 2001 including hotel accommodations, round-trip airfare and an MTV Goody Bag. In addition, 500 instant winners will receive Slim Jim “Eat-Me!” T-shirts.
Slim Jim point-of-sale displays encourage consumers to enter the Spring Break Sweepstakes.
“Slim Jim, MTV, the sun, the sand, miles of fresh flesh..what could be better?” said Shannon Wright, Brand Manager for Slim Jim, a product of GoodMark Foods, Inc., Raleigh, NC.
‘Lyle, The Kindly Viking’ Videos & DVDs Displayed
“Lyle, The Kindly Viking,” is the new, fully-animated, direct-to-video release from VeggieTales creator Big Idea Productions.
Lyle, the Kindly Viking will be supported by a comprehensive marketing campaign including television and print advertising, as well as a special Chick-fil-A meal promotion of 650,000 free Kid’s Meals coupons (with purchase) inserted in specially marked videos and 1.6 million ‘Lyle, the Kindly Viking’ bag stuffers in Chick-fil-A Kid’s Meals.
Retailer support includes VHS merchandisers available in 12-, 18-, and 24-unit counter displays and 18-, 24-, 36- floor displays.
Mixed configurations for VHS and DVD will be available in 24- and 36-unit floor displays.
‘Miss Congeniality’ Release Supported By P.O.P.
Warner Home Video is inviting consumers to pick up a copy of “Miss Congeniality” when it arrives for sellthrough in time for Mother’s Day. “With increased Mother’s Day and end of school year store traffic, the demand for female-targeted, $100 million plus box-office sellthrough titles peaks in early May,” said Mike Saksa, WHV V.P., Marketing.
The Miss Congeniality VHS and DVD release will be supported by a multi-million campaign. Dedicated VHS and DVD merchandisers in 24-, 36- 48- and 60-unit configurations are available for in-store support. Additionally, there will be mixed VHS/DVD merchandisers in 51-, 60- and 90-unit configurations.
Sprint Installs Bill Payment Kiosks
Sprint has awarded NCR Corp. a contract to install bill payment kiosks in Sprint PCS retail stores nationwide, making it easier for Sprint’s customers to pay in person.
“Providing a simple, self-service payment option in our retail stores enhances our ability to meet the needs of our existing customers,” said Ali Zanjani, Sprint PCS V.P., Retail. “The Automated Payment Center based on the NCR Web Kiosk enables us to increase our level of customer service quickly and easily, while focusing our resources on sales and new customer acquisition.”
The Automated Payment Center, includes the NCR Web Kiosk, integrated scanner and receipt printer, and accepts cash, check and credit cards for Sprint PCS customers’ airtime bill payments.
DreamWorks Launches Promos For ‘Shrek’
DreamWorks Consumer Products has announced promotions supporting the computer animated comedy, ‘Shrek,’ coming to theaters this May. The Shrek promotional campaign, with partners such as Burger King, Chevron, Heinz, American Licorice and Baskin-Robbins, will be prominently featured in more than 20,000 retail locations.
Baskin-Robbins will offer an eight-week promotion featuring Shrek-themed ice cream flavors. Burger King will offer 10 collectible Shrek kids premiums. Chevron will feature a fun Shrek game that will cross many product categories. Heinz new EZ Squirt products will feature the Shrek character on all the green bottles and Princess Fiona on the red bottles. Sour Punch, an American Licorice brand, will offer Shrek-themed candy packages.
Alloy & Sam Goody To Co-Market
Alloy Online, a convergence media company targeting Generation Y, and Musicland Stores’ Sam Goody, are joining forces to leverage their strengths with Generation Y shoppers. Alloy will provide Sam Goody with a powerful “virtual” link to the teen demographic while Sam Goody provides Alloy with access to the same demographic in a “real world” environment.
Samantha Skey, V.P., Sponsorships at Alloy, said, “This relationship will elevate Alloy’s brand awareness in the offline world. Securing in-store exposure extends our reach outside our current customer base..”
Alloy will reach Sam Goody’s teen shoppers through signage in all 650+ Sam Goody stores, and frequent rotation of Alloy television ads on Sam Goody’s in-store TV station.
TMA Projects 6% Sales Increase In 2001
After experiencing the largest increase in a decade in 1999, toy sales dropped 1.4% last year, from $16.6 billion to $16.4 billion, according to the Toy Manufacturers of America (TMA). Patrick Freely, Chairman of the TMA, said, “History is on our side in 2001,” he said. “Therefore, my prediction is that the traditional toy market in the U.S. will grow by 6% this year, consistent with prior years.”
Mr. Freely cited several factors that contributed to soft holiday sales, which in turn resulted in flat industry growth, including the stock market adjustments, the Presidential election, the dot-com failures and the talk of an impending recession. Despite these adverse conditions affecting consumer confidence and sales, Mr. Freely revealed several successful toy trends in 2000: Scooters, which boosted sales in the “Ride-Ons” category by 49% and increased the “Skates and Skateboards” sub-category by 120%. The convergence of educational and high-tech items in the “Infant/Preschool” category, which rose 11.2% to nearly $1 billion. A 5.5% uptick in the “Activity Toys” category, with increases in such classic playthings as reusable compounds, fashion/role play accessories and paint/paint supplies. The term “pet owner” taking on a new meaning, with the virtual stampede of robotic dogs and cats in the marketplace. Tiger’s Poo-Chi and Manley’s Tekno helped drive the “All Other Toys” category by 5.3%, taking the “Robotic Virtual Pets” sub-category from $5 million to $159 million.
SII Is Launched
Seiko Instruments Inc. (SII) in collaboration with AU-System, has produced a new type of watch with fully interactive functions.
SII Wrist Companion has a Bluetooth link which, via a mobile telephone, gives the user access to the Internet, the possibility to send and receive SMS messages, store contact details and a new talking style. AU-System has enabled this interactivity by integrating its AUS WAP Browser into the watch.
VTech Debuts Ready To Read Robots
VTech Industries, LLC, recently introduced a friendly alien robot, Alien Bot, and Alphabert and Sprocket, The Ready To Read Robots, who engage children in an interactive experience as they learn letters and phonics. For 2001, the Company has introduced a total of 66 new electronic learning toys.
Rio Volt CD Player Ships
Rio, a division of SONICblue, has shipped the Rio Volt, the first portable CD player in the family of Rio digital audio players. The Rio Volt plays standard music CDs and recordable CDs containing MP3 and Windows Media Audio files making it possible to store and play more than 250 songs on a single CD. “More people are creating custom CDs from the music collections stored in their computers,” said Jim Cady, President of Rio. “The Rio Volt is ideal for people who enjoy creating personalized music CDs.”
RCA Unveils LCOS High-Definition Television
RCA is introducing super-light, flat-screen television receivers that utilize Liquid Crystal on Silicon (LCOS) technology. Optimized for reception of both over-the-air and satellite HDTV signals, the RCA L50000 is a 50-inch widescreen HDTV display.
“This technology has the potential to revolutionize the television industry, because of its new approach to image creation and display,” said Michael O’Hara, Sr. V.P., Thomson Multimedia.
Logitech Ships Dual Purpose Internet Video Camera
Logitech has introduced the QuickCam Traveler, which combines an internet video camera with a digital still camera. When detached from the PC, the camera can store up to 200 images. With the one button QuickSync feature, users can instantly transfer the pictures to the PC.
La-Z-Boy And WebTV Launch New ‘E-Cliner’
La-Z-Boy and WebTV Networks have introduced the “Explorer,” the first “e-cliner.” Those who purchase “Explorer” will receive a Sony WebTV Plus Internet Receiver, keyboard and two free months of WebTV Plus interactive service. “This relationship allows WebTV Networks and La-Z-Boy to reach new audiences,” said Kevin Wixted, Marketing Director, La-Z-Boy. “We’ve developed the most technologically advanced recliner for consumers to be comfortable with interactive TV, e-mail and the Internet.”
Hard Rock Cafe Offers Beatle Bus In Sweeps
The Hard Rock Cafe is commemorating the 30th anniversary of the Beatles by giving away the Beatles’ Magical Mystery Tour Bus, Hard Rock’s largest and most prized piece of music memorabilia, to one lucky fan in a sweepstakes promotion.
The promotion also includes a tour of the bus. Beatles fans can register to win the Magical Mystery Tour Bus on-line or at their local Hard Rock Cafe.
Miller Genuine Draft Jet Tour Sweepstakes
With former Miss USA Ali Landry as official spokesmodel, Miller Brewing’s Genuine Draft beer is giving music fans the chance to party like rock stars, via private jet. “The Miller Genuine Draft Jet Tour is an ideal way for retailers to reach a key demographic group, and advance their sales,” said Joe Jones, Director of Brand Promotions.
A special element of the on-premise promotion is the MGD Limited Edition Jet Tour bottle. Consumers have the chance to win by removing the neck label from their MGD or MGD Light bottles. A Grand Prize trip will be given away on the MGD.com Web site once a week for four weeks. Displays featuring Ali Landry will be featured both on- and off-premise. Display kits include case cards, static stickers, danglers, banners, table tents, and streamers.
Toys ‘R’ Us Plans ‘Power Rangers Time Force’
Saban, Bandai America and Toys “R” Us have allied to create the Power Rangers Time Blaster Sweepstakes and the first-“Power Rangers” virtual reality tour.
The grand prize winner will have the opportunity for the Time Blaster virtual reality ride to land at his or her local Toys “R” Us store complete with private VIP party and special visit from the Quantum Ranger costumed character. The winner will also receive the full line of Bandai Power Rangers Time Force toys.
Produced by Provision Entertainment, this time-traveling production is housed in a 40-foot trailer. The ride will land at 40 Toys “R” Us stores in 20 cities nationwide. The Time Blaster ride will transport kids to a new dimension in Power Rangers Time Force adventure. The attraction is complete with custom 3-D film footage and 4-D elements including kid-friendly smells, mist, and warp-speed motion.
Traveling Mall Demo Created For Microsoft
Communicator\e, a digital marketing company based in Chicago, IL and GMR Marketing, an event marketing agency based in Milwaukee, WI, developed The Meet Me Tour, to bring Microsoft’s (Windows Me) directly to consumers across the country. The tour features three interactive 1,024-sq.-ft. traveling displays.
The Tour gives consumers the opportunity to test-drive the operating system as if it were in their homes.
‘Take-Off With Olympus’Promotion Launches
Olympus America has launched a campaign for its Stylus cameras, featuring a gift with purchase offer for a free companion airline ticket with every purchase of a Stylus Zoom 140 or 115 camera as well as a sweepstakes to win Samsonite luggage. This promotion will be supported with in-store displays in over 3,000 retail outlets.
Martin Lee, Director of Marketing, Olympus America, said, “We are redirecting our efforts to reach more consumers in different ways and build the Olympus brand. Our campaign positions the Stylus on its design, which has made it the best-selling camera series in the world.”
Hawaiian Punch Launches Movie Promo
Hawaiian Punch has announced “Hawaiian Punch Takes You To The Movies” promotion, targeted at 12- to 15-year-old multicultural teens.
Teens can win free admission to a theater with “Movie Cash.” Other prizes include special feature film screenings complete with movie tickets, snacks, prizes and Hawaiian Punch. Special point-of-sale materials will grab teens’ attention.
International Holographic Paper, Chalfont, PA, will be showing a TV Guide Custom Hologram of Elvis Presley Posters and Covers. IHP is a leader in holographic technology. The company has created five commemorative collector edition holographic Elvis Presley TV Guide Covers using their new iSCAN® system. These collector edition covers are a unique combination of state of the art holography with high-end lithographic reproduction. To learn more about this display, contact Phil Maniscalco at POP Marketplace, Booth 8627; or call 215-997-8006.
Phoenix Display/International Paper, Thorofare, NJ, will be showing this Yanni Floorstand which highlights the artist as opposed to the normal highlighting of the album. This Yanni's first album in two years which made it imperative that the display capitalize on the brand equity created by the artist himself. The merchandiser portion of the display was designed using simple, smoothing colors and rounded edges. This allows the display to highlight the standee part of the display, a lie size cutout of Yanni, bringing the larger then life allure of Yanni alive at retail. To learn more about this display, contact Andy Edelman at POP Marketplace, Booth 7438; or call 800-569-3500.
BIC BLOCKBUSTER BTS PALLET DISPLAY. This display utilizes many standard components, such as trays, base and dividers, maximizing versatility from promotion to promotion. Changing the graphics and header design produces a completely unique unit. Multiple slot locations in the trays, as well as different divider widths, create a tray versatile enough to handle virtually any stationery product mix. Created by Triangle Display Group, 601 East Erie Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19134. POPAI AWARD ENTRY.
OREGON LOTTERY KENO MOTION SIGN. This display was designed to increase impulse buying of tickets for the Oregon Lottery's Keno game. By capitalizing on the fact that time-conscious consumers generally look at clocks while waiting in the check-out line or sitting at a lunch counter, this unique clock uses polarized motion to remind consumers that it's “Time For Keno”. Created by Heritage Sign & Display, 344 Industrial Drive, Nesquehoning, PA 18240. POPAI AWARD ENTRY.
ECG SERIES HEART RATE MONITER WATCH DISPLAY. The display design challenge was to incorporate the familiar Freestyle Watch fine shape in a high tech looking fixture for the new line of Freestyle ECG Heart Rate Monitor Watches. The display combines a small footprint, merchandising flexibility for product categories, casters for display mobility, product security by using locking cabinets and a product storage area. Created by Concept Displays, 1140 S. Rockefeller Avenue, Ontario, CA 91761. POPAI AWARD ENTRY.
CREATE-A-CASTLE. The base of the display was constructed by laminating the customer's wallcovering product to 200# Bleached, White/OS, B-flute corrugated. The graphic panel formed the back of the display. The cloud background was printed 1-color direct flexographic print and the customer's product was laminated to the center of the display to create the castle tower. The display riser consisted of a 4-color process full litho label. Created by Oxford Innovations, Division of Tim-Bar Corporation, 201 S. College Avenue, P.O. Box 189, New Oxford, PA 17350-0189. POPAI AWARD ENTRY.
ANGELINA BALLERINA FLOORSTAND. This display was designed to promote the Angelina books, book sidelines and Angelina plush sideline to consumers through face-out exposure in a visible location in bookstores. The unit was designed not only to attract its target audience, but to meet the needs of retailers to achieve placement. Created by Great Northern Display Group, 1800 South St., Racine, WI 53404. POPAI AWARD ENTRY.
Verizon Wireless Wall Display
This display was designed to promote brand awareness and provide a complete in-store marketing solution with products and information available to consumers in an interactive and appealing format. This store within a store wall display features logo shaped side panels and a complete slatwall backdrop with dimensions of 8' wide 8' high. This unique wall display features both an illuminated center column and header sign. The display is completed with security based phone holders and snap frame poster holders and collateral holders. The unit provided a quick and easy fixturing solution for independent store owners thereby broadening Verizon's distribution, brand awareness and sales results. The Verizon Wireless Wall Display was created by Palmer Promotional Products, 23001 W. Industrial Drive, St. Clair Shores, MI 48080.
Motorola Flip Phone Inflatable Replica
This inflatable is a point-of-purchase 45" replica of the new Motorola Flip Phone. Deflated it ships in a 12 x 12 x 2" compact package and at the point of usage it blows up to be a large display. The new design draws attention to the Flip Pone in a very competitive retail market. The phone is printed with all details of the actual phone. As always the Motorola products sales goals were achieved using this very attractive eye-catcher. The Motorola Flip Phone Inflatable Replica was created by Alger Creations Inc., 91-31 Queens Blvd., Elmhurst, NY 11373.
Contempo Design Inc. created this exhibit for Adobe who had a complex show schedule with a full exhibit program. The exhibits were utilized at up to six concurrent tradeshows and had to provide a consistent look and branding message. The flexible, modular design works well in one large space and functions in small venues as well. Ergonomic workstations were provided that allow for keyboard adjustment, varied placement of monitors and storage for CPUs. For more information, contact Contempo Design Inc. 1800 Industrial Drive, Libertyville, IL 60048.
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