Mobile Media Station Helps Retailers Sell Mobile Content
ClearSky Mobile Media, Inc., Orlando, FL, is providing retailers with the ability to tap new revenue opportunities created by today’s new cell phones with its Mobile Media Station.
By providing a way for subscribers to select mobile content such as ringtones, wallpaper and games to download on their phones, retailers can tap what promises to be one of the largest aftermarket opportunities in wireless.
At the same time, the Mobile Media Station’s fun and interactive printing capabilities enable camera phone or digital camera owners to create memorable prints that will motivate them to come back time and time again. Using an intuitive touch screen interface, virtually anyone can learn about their mobile device and then make a purchase using the credit card swipe or optional bill scanner.
Polaroid Kiosk Produces Instant Digital Prints
The new Polaroid Instant Digital Prints Kiosk has the capability to print digital camera photos in seconds. As simple and fast as an ATM machine, the Polaroid Kiosk lets customers select, print and pay for 24 snapshots in less than two minutes.
The Kiosk is completely self-service. The digital prints look and feel like those from traditional 35mm film developing. Unlike traditional prints, Polaroid digital prints are tear-proof, waterproof and fingerprints can be wiped away.
Features include remote administration capabilities and reporting for chain-wide deployment. It can also offer credit card processing capabilities. The Polaroid Instant Digital Print Kiosk is ideal for retail establishments that welcome a self-service environment.
Merchandisers Support Last Samurai DVDs
“The Last Samurai,” starring Tom Cruise and Ken Watanabe, available on a double-disc DVD and VHS from Warner Home Video, will be backed by a multi-million dollar national marketing campaign targeting adults 25-49.
Retail support includes point-of-purchase merchandisers available in 12-, 24-, 36-, 48-, 60- and 90-unit configurations (DVD).
The two-disc DVD has special features including director Edward Zwick’s video journal, recount of a warrior’s journey by Tom Cruise, and a behind-the- scenes look at the costuming, weapons and training for the film.
TCM, Barnes & Noble & WHV Run ‘31 Days Of Oscar’ Promo
Turner Classic Movies recently partnered with Warner Home Video and Barnes & Noble for a promotion tied to TCM's 31 Days of Oscar festival.
The promotion was designed to attract new subscribers and viewers to TCM by touting the programming event featuring Academy Award winning and nominated movies, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The promotion also highlighted the extensive DVD catalog available on Warner Home Video. Barnes & Noble featured these titles, among others, with in-store displays in more than 400 stores nationally.
The promotion gave customers who purchased a WHV classic DVD title from the 31 Days of Oscar DVD display at Barnes & Noble, a free sampler of five new-to-DVD Academy Award-winning short films. The DVD sampler was a Barnes & Noble exclusive.
Floor Display Presents New Trident Cool Rush
Trident is introducing Trident Cool Rush sugar-free gum, offering an invigorating mint flavor experience that cools consumers’ mouths as it cleans their teeth. Building on Trident's success, Cool Rush's cooling technology and flavor crystals deliver the rush of an exciting new flavor.
To launch and promote its latest flavor introduction into the Trident and Trident White families, Trident Cool Rush created a 4-page advertorial series featuring LeAnn Rimes, Ashanti, Michelle Williams and the cast of ABC’s “I'm With Her.” This series is the first celebrity-driven print campaign for the brand. Trident Cool Rush is targeted to a younger demographic (18-34), and celebrity involvement is an effective way to reach this audience and give the product a young, hip feel. At the retail level, a floor display invites consumer trial with a “Feel The Cool Rush. Buy One, Get One Free” offer.
Cat In The Hat Standee Displays Film On DVD And VHS
This 48-count standee merchandises the film 'Dr. Seuss' The Cat in The Hat' on DVD and VHS. The film, released by Universal Studios Home Video, stars comic favorite Mike Myers and is based on the beloved book.
The DVD offers special entertainment features and captivating animated menus, where characters from the film lead the viewer into a whimsical Seussian world. The DVD also features 20 outtakes with hilarious bloopers from Mike Myers as The Cat and other cast members as well as never-before-seen footage.
The standee takes the shape of the ‘Hat’ and conveys some of the film’s magic with the image of the rambunctious Cat, tail and all.
Displays Promote ‘Looney Tunes Back In Action’
Warner Home Video (WHV) has released “Looney Tunes Back in Action” on DVD and VHS, featuring Looney Tunes favorites Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, Tweety, Taz, Yosemite Sam and Marvin the Martian as well as an all-star ensemble including Jenna Elfman, Brendan Fraser, Steve Martin, Joan Cusack, Heather Locklear and Timothy Dalton. The DVD has special features such as an exclusive-to-DVD Looney Tunes animated short, a personalized on-set tour with Bugs and Daffy, additional scenes and more.
WHV is supporting the release with a marketing campaign targeting kids 4 to 11 and moms of kids 4 to 11. 24- and 48-unit merchandisers in DVD and mixed formats are available. Consumer promotions include tie-ins with General Mills fruit snacks.
Disney Displays Support W.I.T.C.H. Book Launch
Disney Publishing Worldwide is launching W.I.T.C.H., a new book series for tween girls in the U.S. market. An emerging girl property, W.I.T.C.H. is already the fastest growing girls’ comic magazine in the world. The first title will offer a hybrid format that combines four-color comics with a traditional chapter book.
Capitalizing on the synergies created through The Walt Disney Co., the W.I.T.C.H. publishing program has an unparalleled marketing campaign behind it, including national print advertising, a dedicated website, value-added giveaways, book samplers at promotional movie screenings and point-of-purchase displays. A holographic paper is used to print the floor display, to make it appear 3D and reflect light.
Crayola Conducts ‘Nick Trick Drawing Tips’ Promotion
Binney & Smith, manufacturer of Crayola crayons and Nickelodeon, have partnered for the “Nick Trick Drawing Tips” promotion. Each package of various Crayola drawing products contains a special in-pack promotion, featuring a free stencil and easy-to-follow “how-to-draw” instructions for one of five Nick character favorites: Jimmy Neutron, SpongeBob SquarePants, Eliza Thornberry, Hey Arnold and Tommy Pickles.
“Tying together our strong equity with the popularity of Nickelodeon enables us to drive home just how much fun Crayola is,” said Lisa Cuppett, Manager, Consumer Promotions, Binney & Smith.
“Partnering with Crayola brings together two of kids' favorite things: coloring and Nickelodeon,” said Laura Nowatka, VP Promotions Marketing, Nickelodeon.
The promotion is supported at retail with free-standing displays. The promotion was created for Binney & Smith, by Think 360, a Tarrytown, NY-based promotion agency.
Starbucks Launches In-store CD Burning
Starbucks Coffee Co., through its Hear Music brand, has launched a retail digital music service, enabled by HP, that makes it easier for customers to discover, acquire and enjoy music while they enjoy their coffee.
The Company recently opened the Hear Music Coffeehouse in Santa Monica, CA and plans to deploy the Hear Music CD burning service to select Starbucks stores, offering customers the ability to burn more than 20,000 full length albums and hundreds of thousands of songs available from a comprehensive digital library. Customers can enjoy a Starbucks beverage while sitting at the Hear Music listening bar, which is staffed with music experts who can personally suggest new artists and guide customers to new genres, while burning a personalized CD. Customers can also explore themed recommendations throughout the store at listening stations featuring music, video and editorial format.
“Innovations like our exclusive music compilations, the Starbucks Card and placing Wi-Fi access in Starbucks stores have transformed the way that millions of our customers enjoy their coffeehouse experience,” said Howard Schultz, Starbucks Chairman.
Argo Entertainment Opens Mall-Based ‘Virtual Store’
Silicon Valley-based Argo Entertainment recently opened its first Mall-based HD theater dubbed, “Metropolis Shopping and Entertainment” in a new upscale mall in San Jose, CA. This is the first of a planned network of “virtual store” marketing and entertainment centers in shopping malls across the U.S.
The free-theater offers consumers a constant barrage of high-definition quality entertainment videos-15-minute product “stories” that show continuously during open hours. The videos interact directly with in-seat, touch-screens to access proprietary online technologies, newly developed sound systems, holograms and sign-up technologies to draw consumers. In less than 15 minutes, consumers can experience what a Hummer really can do, or watch a mini-feature produced by Nissan to show what one of their cars can do in a city that has been literally shut down and order information online to be delivered to a personal Web Site.
‘Club NOGGIN’ Opens At Malls Nationwide
NOGGIN, the commercial-free, educational network for preschoolers, is teaming up with General Growth Properties (GGP) to launch Club NOGGIN, a new interactive educational experience for young children at GGP malls around the nation.
Club NOGGIN invites parents to bring their children (3-6 years) to the mall for a free, one-hour and 15-minute session where kids can play educational games and participate in large and small group activities supervised by trained activity leaders.
Said Rebecca Graf, V.P., Strategic Partnerships GGP, “NOGGIN’s educational content combined with GGP’s kids’ clubs provides our consumers with a fun, interactive environment that encourages the joy of learning.”
Twentysomethings Dominate Wireless-Only Phone Use, Study Shows
A recent analysis by Integras, a division of market researcher Claritas Inc., showed that the world of wireless-only telephone users is dominated by twentysomethings, and the trend is growing.
Though the analysis showed that young adults were more likely to be wireless-only subscribers in both 2001 and 2003, changes surrounding this trend became more dramatic during these two particular years as consumers under 30 years old were about two times more likely to be wireless-only in 2001 and three and a half times more likely in 2003. In addition, the age range for those more likely than average to have wireless-only service extended to all age ranges below 54 years old. By 2003, that had changed and only those under 35 were more likely than average to be wireless-only consumers.
“These results clearly demonstrate a real opportunity for telecommunications providers to market specific products that appeal to this segment’s truly ‘wireless’ lifestyle,” said David Tedrow, V.P., Integras.
DFC Intelligence Reports On Convergence Of Video Game, Music & Movie Industries
Two reports by market researcher DFC Intelligence highlight the increasing similarities between the video game and interactive entertainment industries with the music and movie industries. In “The Business of Computer and Video Games 2004,” DFC President, David Cole, notes, “Revenue for the video game industry could pass the music industry in the next five years. More adults are playing games, and the industry is expanding on a worldwide basis.” A companion report, “The Impact of Licensing in Interactive Entertainment,” discusses the growing importance of licensed brands in the video game industry. According to author Dave Watson, “Companies are quickly learning that for certain well-known properties licensed from other media, having the best brand can be better than having the best game play.”
According to DFC, in the U.S., household penetration of console game systems is about 43% and has not substantially grown in recent years. Market growth has come from increased usage of game systems within households. More households have several users, own multiple systems and have a tendency to purchase more software per system.
Women Over 40 Are Making Big Ticket Technology Purchases
Women over 40 are becoming a growing segment of technology consumers, purchasing tech products in line with their different views of what it means to grow older, according to a new study by marketing consultancy Frank About Women. The hottest tech items for women over 40 are cell phones, digital cameras, DVD players and computers. 47% of women in this age group said they recently bought or will soon buy a wireless phone, 45% said they just purchased a digital camera or will soon buy one, and a DVD player was named a recent or near-future purchase for 42%. Some 38% said they recently got a computer or intend to buy one in the next 6-12 months.
“As technology products become easier and more intuitive to use, they provide ways for women to stay connected and remain independent as they age,” said Caryn Harbour of Frank About Women.
More Consumers Printing Digital Photos At Retail Locations
Fuji Photo Film U.S.A’s latest Digital Camera Retail Printing Study reveals that more consumers are printing their digital photos at retail locations. Today, more than 30% of U.S. households own at least one digital camera, and this number is expected to reach 40% by the end of 2004.
"With the rapid adoption of digital cameras, we know consumers are looking for ways to manage their pictures, including printing images at home and at retail,” said Joe Welch, Director of Marketing, Retail Digital Systems. According to Fuji Film’s study, 68% of consumers now know their local film developing locations can print photos from a digital camera. This dramatic rise in consumer awareness, from 34% in 2002, has led to a significant increase in retail printing of digital photos.
The study reports that 17% of digital camera owners who print snapshots are now printing their digital images at local retailers, up from just 5% in the 2002 survey. Digital camera owners who print at retail cited quality and cost savings as factors for choosing to print at retail. Digital camera users currently print one-third of the photos taken per month. This number is expected to increase as users become more aware of their printing options.
New Batwave Toy Uses VEIL Technology
Warner Bros. Consumer Products has partnered with Mattel, and VEIL Interactive Technologies to merge action figure and vehicle play with interactive television. VEIL (Video Encoded Invisible Light) technology transmits encoded digital data directly from the recently announced “Batman” animated series. The encoded data, captured exclusively by Mattels new Batwave toys, unlocks new capabilities in the toys and provides more information about the show.
Coinstar Kiosks Bring “New York Minute” To Supermarkets
Coinstar, Inc., the leader in self-service coin counting, recently partnered with Warner Bros. Pictures to promote the movie “New York Minute,” starring Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen.
Customers who process at least $10 worth of change at Coinstar Center kiosks in participating supermarkets will get their cash plus a sweepstakes entry to win the grand prize of a New York Minute themed trip for four to NYC, including a $1,000 shopping spree, Broadway tickets and a city tour.
“Coinstar’s high traffic visibility in more than 10,000 U.S. supermarkets, combined with their customer base of teens and parents, make this a unique opportunity for Warner Bros. to provide added value to our New York Minute movie experience,” said Erin Corbett, Sr. V.P., National Promotions, Warner Bros. Pictures.
Joint marketing efforts include promotional signage installed on Coinstar Centers.
Diet Coke Ties Into Comedy “13 Going On 30”
Diet Coke recently tied into the romantic comedy “13 Going on 30” through a promotion that features a grand prize trip to Hollywood to meet a star from the film. Point-of-sale materials for the promotion featured actress Jennifer Garner.
During the promotion, one in three packages offered a free companion ticket to see the movie.
NOKIA Picture Yourself Wall Display For AT&T Wireless
This display was created to promote the new Nokia 3650 Camera Phone in AT&T Wireless retail locations. The display attracts attention in the store from a compact footprint of just 34" x 9" x 98" A total of 950 displays featuring the new Nokia phone with digital camera, were shipped for a duration of eight weeks. This display which won the Gold OMA in the Personal Products and Accessories Category, was created by Tracy Locke Partnership, Dallas, TX., and Rapid Displays, 4300 W. 47th Street, Chicago, IL 60632.
X-Men Standee
This Standee was designed for Musicland Stores to dominate the front of the store. The retail specific unit creates excitement and provides information on the upcoming release of X-Men 2. The Standee structure of the logo is instantly recognized from a distance. This display which won the Gold OMA in the Entertainment Category, was created by Smurfit-Stone Display Group, 5200 Anthony Road, Sandston, VA 23l50.
Finding Nemo Freezer Topper
This display dangles bait over the aisle in the frozen food section to immediately grab the consumer's attention from a distance, long before a Finding Nemo fan could get up close to see the on-door elements of this promotion. The display was packed fully assembled and the route driver just had to unpack and place it on top of the freezer door. It was a great use of space because it took up none. This display won a Gold OMA in the Grocery and General Merchandise Products Category. It was created by Rapid Displays, 33l95 Lewis Avenue, Union City, CA 94587.
Alpine Navigation Display. This display demonstrates the Alpine Car Navigation System. It is fully functional and interactive. Significant increases in Navigation sales were reported following the rollout of the display. Created by RP Creative Display, Inc., l7932 Sky Park Circle, Suite A, Irvine, CA 926l4. BRONZE AWARD.
Duracell EZ Tab Hearing Aid Counter Display. This display required a small footprint in order to gain access into major drug, supermarket and mass market chains. The display, of transparent acrylic, takes up minimum counter space in the small pharmacy area of major chains. Units arrived in store pre-packed and ready for immediate selling. Created by New Dimensions Research Corp., 260 Spagnoli Road, Melville, NY ll747. BRONZE AWARD.
Microsoft Xbox l/2 pallet. This display was designed to gain short term position in a key traffic area in the store. The unit maintained the Microsoft image while still meeting standards of the store. The price had to be kept low and was similar to what a corrugated display would have cost. Created by Harbor Industries, Inc., l4l30 l72nd Street, Grand Haven, MI 494l7.SILVER AWARD.
Shrek "2" Inflatable
This display was created to promote the upcoming "Shrek 2" animated movie in theater lobbies worldwide. The inflatable adds a special 3-D element to the corrugated display. The sealed inflatable is 72 inches and constructed of 0.3 mm yellow PVC, with a special 2-color printing to create the "look" of the Shrek character skin. Jerry Johnson & Associates designed the display and created the corrugated piece. For more information, contact The Inflatable Marketplace, l8l0 Gillespie Way, Suite 202, El Cajon, CA 92020.
Giant Cold Air Inflatable Telephone
This giant inflatable is l0 ft. wide and was made for Cox Communications to be used at the point of sale to bring attention to their communications packages. The telephone comes with a motion activated sound device that make the telephone ring whenever someone passes in front of it. The unique sound device is customized to provide four different sounds/messages and can easily be reprogrammed to fit various promotions. The giant cold air inflatables can be made in sizes up to 40 feet in any shape. For more information, contact Sterling Promotional Corp., 30l0 Westchester Avenue, Purchase, NY l0577.
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