Fujifilm Offers ‘GetPix’ Photo Centers To Retailers
Fuji Photo Film U.S.A. is offering retailers a new line of “GetPix” digital photo kiosks. Now a broader spectrum of retail environments can tap into the digital photo printing market because of Fujifilm's customizable components that offer on-site printing options to meet each retailer's needs.
Fujifilm’s new line of digital photo kiosks were designed to keep the cost of entry low, while providing scalable solutions to fit the varied needs of different kinds of retailers.
The five kiosk configurations feature an intuitive and tilting touch screen terminal. GetPix Photo Centers provide retailers with flexible configurations that meet their business needs, creating the ultimate photo destination for consumers; orders can be ready instantly or for pick up after shopping.
eAnytime Offers 24/7 Professional Photo Finishing Kiosk
eAnytime has released its new Professional Photo Finishing (PPF) integrated DropOff and PickUp or Mail station for supermarket, convenience, drug, retail and service chains.
The eAnytime PPF station has a small 30"Wx28"Dx80"H foot print and is designed to compliment on-site processing, enable chains to centralize off-site processing or contract with an outside service provider such as KODAK.
Customers who register one time at a PPF station, standalone or on a network, can communicate directly with the service provider at the station, and are empowered to select when they want to pick up their order: same day, next day, or any day within a two week window, allowing for just-in-time service provider processing and delivery to the PPF station. The customer can also select to have an order mailed to their address.
Motorola & Oakley Promote Bluetooth Enabled Eyewear
Motorola and Oakley have launched RAZRWIRE Bluetooth eyewear at select Cingular Wireless retail stores.
RAZRWIRE is the world’s first eyewear to combine patented Oakley optics with Bluetooth wireless technology.
“Seamless mobility is here, now with the availability of RAZRWIRE,” said Bruce Hawver, Vice President of Companion Products, Motorola’s Mobile Device business. “Motorola and Oakley are bringing innovative wearable technology to life. With this one-of-a-kind Bluetooth-enabled mobile eyewear, active consumers can stay connected while moving from one environment to the next.”
The tagline for promotional and point-of-purchase display materials is “Fashion For A Wireless World.”
Disney’s Soda Fountain & Studio Store Opens On Hollywood Boulevard
Disney’s Soda Fountain and Studio Store has opened on Hollywood Boulevard offering old fashioned ice cream, homemade candies and unique Disney items.
The Soda Fountain, which offers an old fashioned ice cream parlor experience with some fun new twists, will serve ice cream custom prepared by Dewar’s, a fourth generation family business based in Bakersfield, CA. The Studio Store will feature a wide assortment of Disney DVD titles, as well as access to Buena Vista Home Entertainment’s entire available catalog via an interactive kiosk designed for the store, where guests can find the largest selection of Disney DVDs and videos.
“Hollywood Boulevard has a rich tradition for amazing ice cream, and we are excited to be reviving this great experience,” said Lylle Breier, Sr. V.P., Worldwide Special Events, Buena Vista Pictures. “Guests are going to love the Studio Store, where they’ll discover original and exclusive Disney merchandise.”
Build-A-Bear Workshop Flagship Store Opens On New York’s Fifth Avenue
Build-A-Bear Workshop’s new flagship store has opened on Fifth Avenue in New York City, offering guests an interactive make-your-own stuffed animal retail-entertainment experience.
The New York City Build-A-Bear Workshop feature the first-ever Pawsonalize It station, which combines technology with a child’s artistic talent to create unique stuffed bear-sized t-shirts. Guests will be able to explore cultures worldwide through a line of international themed bear-sized outfits and indulge sports fantasies by dressing their stuffed animals in officially licensed uniforms from NFL, Major League Baseball, NBA and the NHL teams.
Tower Records Runs “Snap And Win” Promo
Warner Music Group and Tower Records have launched a sweepstakes that gives music fans a chance to win a trip to see Warner Music Group artists on the VANS Warped Tour.
Warner and Tower Records have made it easy for music fans to "Get Your Hands on the Bands" by featuring CDs from performing artists in custom standup displays at Tower Records stores. These 6-foot stand-up displays are the focal point for the sweepstakes powered by Mobot, a leader in visual search and recognition technology.
Customers visiting Tower Records can enter by taking a picture with their mobile camera phone of the official “Get Your Hands on the Bands” logo located on the retail displays. Mobot's visual technology recognizes the image and, within seconds, sends back a message to the phone confirming entry into the sweepstakes.
Best Buy Opens “Stores-Within-A-Store”
Best Buy stores in 12 major cities are opening customized “store-within-a-store” experiences for small business owners and home theater enthusiasts alike.
New Best Buy For Business locations will provide business solutions for small businesses. Best Buy For Business will offer a broader selection of technology products, professional advice and 24/7 IT support via the Geek Squad service.
Magnolia Home Theater is a specialty store within Best Buy for enthusiasts of state-of-the-art home theater. Demonstration rooms encourage personal interaction with premium home theater brands. The product offering will be combined with expert service from home theater consultants, in-home system designers and same-day installation.
Snapple Theater Center Opens On Broadway
The Snapple Theater Center is opening its doors on Broadway, featuring the longest-running, non-musical play in New York history, “Perfect Crime.”
Following the famous ball drop on New Year’s Eve, Snapple will light up Times Square on January 1, 2006 with an illuminated “ribbon” billboard, stretching 9' x 175' to wrap around the Snapple Theater Center. The Snapple Theater Center concession stands will feature a wide selection of Snapple iced teas and juice drinks as well as additional products from the Cadbury Schweppes Americas Beverages portfolio, including Dr Pepper and 7 UP. The Company will host meetings, entertain customers and extend Snapple’s community outreach efforts with special youth and adult programs at the Center.
IFC Center Opens In New York City's Waverly Theater
IFC Center Opens In New York City's Waverly Theater
The IFC Center has opened it s doors in New York City’s landmark Waverly Theater. The state-of-the-art facility includes three theaters dedicated to independent films, and a large café and meeting area.
In addition to showing new films from both IFC Films and other independent film companies, IFC Center will present a film program that will reflect the eclectic film audience in New York. In a move unique to the Center, rather than show advertisements before films, each film screening will begin with a film short. Spearheading the project since its inception has been Jonathan Sehring, President of IFC Entertainment, who envisioned a bricks and mortar home for the IFC brand.
New T-Rex 'Edutainment' Concept Includes Dining With Dinos
T-Rex is a new "edutainment" concept created by Schussler Creative in partnership with Levy Restaurants.
T-Rex, which will offer guests an adventure into prehistoric times while enjoying high quality food, will be launched in up to eight markets across the U.S. The first restaurant will open in Kansas City, MO in early 2006 near the NASCAR speedway.
Designed with the elements of water, fire and ice, the experience comes to life in cascading waterfalls, bubbling geysers, animatronic dinosaurs, a real fossil dig site, a paleo laboratory and an ice cave.
CEA Reports On Electronics Shopping
The most popular places for consumers to shop for home audio and video equipment are mass merchant retailers and general big box electronics stores, with 62% and 57%, respectively, of consumers frequenting those outlets. Some 15% of consumers report shopping for audio and video equipment at specialty, high-end stores, according to the study, “Understanding Specialty, High-end Electronics Shoppers,”conducted by the Consumer Electronics Association.
While specialty, high-end electronics stores draw a smaller percentage of consumer electronics shoppers, consumers who frequent specialty stores report the quality of available product as the primary driver. The strongest motivations for shopping at other types of stores are price and convenient store locations.
CEA research shows that the average U.S. adult consumer spends $1,178 on home audio and video products each year. By contrast, those who shop at specialty, high-end electronics stores spend $1,985 annually.
Nearly Half Of Consumers Have Played Either Online, Video Or Cell/PDA Games
Video games have evolved in popularity to rival other traditional family-fun activities, according to a new survey commissioned by AOL Games. The survey found that four out of five (79%) “gamers” ages 12-55 have played video games with their families. Correspondingly, nearly half (46%) of all U.S. consumers, ages 12-55 have played an online, video or cell/PDA game.
Games, which have traditionally been a teenage pastime, have infiltrated the adult world. The survey found that almost two in five (39%) adults, ages 18-55, have played games either on their computer, console or cell phone phone/PDA. The survey also found that about one-third (34%) of 12-55 year olds that play online games have purchased a computer game in the last six months and out of all gamers, 18% of them have purchased an online or video game mainly because it features a movie character such as Spider-man or James Bond.
Paid Digital Music Gaining Share
Although the paid download digital music marketplace continues to grow and demonstrates the potential for more growth in the future, downloading free digital content from peer-to-peer (P2P) services continues to draw the vast majority of downloads in the U.S., according to The NPD Group. In March 2005, 243 million songs were downloaded from P2P services. By comparison, 26 million songs were purchased from digital music stores during that same month, states NPD.
Though paid digital music download services have hurdles to overcome, they are making progress as an alternative for many digital music consumers. According to NPD's MusicWatch Digital Service, 4.2 million households tried paid digital music services in 2004. NPD's estimate of the current market potential is 30 million consumers. Both broadband and computer-enabled music activities are on the rise, which continues to raise the ceiling on the number of potential customers. More than most other factors, better technology offerings also helped drive the upswing in digital music downloads. 41% of digital music consumers say they began to download because of faster Internet access, 30% said it was because they had purchased a better computer and 22% attributed their digital music consumption to the fact that they had recently purchased a digital/MP3 player. Promotions were also important to consumers: 34% reported that they first downloaded music legally because of a special offer.
One-Third Of Americans Expect To Purchase Three High-End Digital Products By Year End, Study Shows
Over 39% of Americans expect to purchase an average of three high-end digital electronics products by the end of 2005, according to a new Ziff Davis Media’s “Digital Life In America.”
During the first six months of 2005, Americans said their households bought digital cameras, desktop PCs and MP3 players more than the other digital technology products included in the survey. By the end of 2005, and in time for the important holiday buying season, the study reveals that twice as many Americans expecting to get the video game consoles for their households as acquired them in the first half of the year (11% compared with 6%). Furthermore, sales of digital video recorders and Internet-based telephone services (VoIP) will grow.
VSDA Reports On DVD & VHS Markets
Consumers spent more than twice as much money buying and renting DVDs and VHS cassettes in 2004 than in purchasing tickets at the theatrical box office according to The Video Software Dealers Association (VSDA) 2005 Annual Report.
Consumer spending on home video in 2004 exceeded $24 billion. Sell-through accounted for over $16 billion, an increase of 15% over 2004. Rental generated $8 billion, remaining flat with 2003. In 2004, the major motion picture studios generated $21 billion worldwide from home video, 47% of all worldwide studio filmed entertainment revenue.
Nearly 60% of U.S. households had at least one console DVD player by the end of 2004. If portables are included, 73% of U.S. households had the capacity to view a DVD. For the first time, DVD players began to replace rather than supplement the venerable VCR as VCR penetration actually declined in 2004. Sales of single-disc “TV on DVD” releases increased 74% between 2002 and 2004.
Console video game software sales totaled $6.2 billion, a 7.5% increase over 2003. Video game rentals totaled $700 million. The average game player is 30 years old. 47% of Americans plan to purchase one or more games in 2005.
Mass merchants had a 50% market share of sell-through consumer spending on home video.
The top three rental chains (Blockbuster, Hollywood, and Movie Gallery) collected more than 50% of consumer dollars spent on video rental transactions. Independently owned video stores held a 38% market share of consumer dollars spent on rental transactions.
Video Game Console Systems To Increase Software Sales To $26 Billion In 2010
The new video game console systems from Microsoft, Nintendo and Sony are expected to increase worldwide interactive entertainment software sales from about $18 billion in 2004 to about $26 billion in 2010, according to the latest forecasts from DFC Intelligence.
“The video game industry continues to exceed our expectations,” said David Cole, DFC President. “The next generation of console systems will connect to broadband networks right out of the box and this should significantly expand revenue possibilities.”
Lexar’s LDP-200 Offers Style & Affordability
Lexar Media has introduced the LDP-200, a compact, stylish and affordable digital music player that provides unlimited music storage using inexpensive SD memory cards.
The LDP-200 also doubles as an SD card reader, making it a handy data transfer device. The LDP-200 joins Lexar’s full line of popular digital music players all supporting both MP3 and WMA music formats.
Kopin & 3001 AD Bring Virtual Reality To Games
Kopin announced that virtual gaming developer 3001 AD, LLC has incorporated the BDM-230K into its Trimersion virtual reality system, which for the first time will bring virtual reality gaming to the Microsoft Xbox, Sony PlayStation and PCs.
“For years, virtual reality game systems were prohibitively expensive, available only to high-end arcades,” said Jimmy Barker, 3001 AD CEO. “With the Trimersion, viewers will no longer be playing games: they’ll be living them.”
Slingbox Gives Consumers TV ‘Anywhere-Anytime’
Sling Media, Inc., has introduced the Slingbox, which transforms PCs and laptops into personal on-the-go digital TVs. The Slingbox allows individuals anywhere-anytime access to their own living room television experience with no additional monthly service fees.
The Slingbox redirects or “placeshifts,” a TV stream from a cable box, satellite receiver or PVR to the viewer’s PC located anywhere in the home. If the Slingbox is coupled with a broadband Internet connection, the viewer’s live TV stream can be “placeshifted” via the Internet to a PC anywhere in the world.
Panasonic Launches Oxyride Battery
Panasonic has created a new advancement in battery technology: Oxyride. Oxyrides are a powerful, durable and disposable energy source that last up to twice as long as traditional alkaline batteries at a similar price.
The new batteries are designed to power today’s MP3 players, digital cameras and portable gaming devices.
Directed Mobile Media Debuts Portable Player
Directed Electronics is introducing its Portable Media Player model PMP3520. This lightweight, pocket-sized video and audio player stores digital content on a 20 Gigabyte hard drive, and plays it back on a 3.5” digital LCD screen. The device allows users to transfer video and audio content from TVs, camcorders, computers, and memory cards.
Jim Minarik, President, Directed Electronics, said, “We see the portable media players market as a logical extension of the popularity of portable MP3 players.”
Hannspree Launches Design Driven Televisions
Hannspree California is drawing upon contemporary interior design trends to introduce televisions that uniquely accent any room and give expression to any taste or lifestyle with more than 100 original designs to choose from. For example, one TV echoes the classic wooden lines of a cello while another uses hand-stitched leather to replicate the look of a baseball.
Hannspree’s TVs come in three themed product lines: Style, Fantasy and Sports.
For E3 2005, Microsoft decided to introduce its new brand-Xbox 360-with an installation that would break the standard tradeshow mold. Gamers were greeted by a monolithic 24' entrance portal that communicated the evolution of the new Xbox 360 system through a series of 4' display portals and 42" plasma screens.
The main gaming floor is landscaped with four custom designed gaming stations offering different levels of gaming immersion. The VIP lounge overlooked a massive 35,000 sq. ft. environment to convey the attitude of the new brand while offering a safe haven from the hectic show floor for Xbox’s invited guests.
The “Willow” gaming station offers five gamers the opportunity to rest on plush shag seating while passers-by watch the action on externally mounted LCD screens.
The “Trough” gaming tubes create a cavernous environment
for up to eight gamers. The “Aviary” theatre is a fully upholstered environment inviting attendees to relax and take in a performance on wireless headsets. The “Moto” gaming rings allow solo gamers to climb onto the only gaming station guaranteed to take them where they want to go. Multiple position footpegs, custom motorcycle seating and animated LED perimeter lighting complete the experience.
The 35,000 sq. ft. Xbox branded environment at E3 was created by Purepartner by design, a New York City-based design firm, and fabricated by Taylor Group.
Southern Comfort Teams With New Orleans Rock Band & Unveils New Bus Wrap
Southern Comfort Teams With New Orleans Rock Band & Unveils New Bus Wrap
Southern Comfort is joining with New Orleans' rock band Cowboy Mouth and its tour bus for a joint promotion. Southern Comfort has commissioned a New Orleans-influenced piece of art from artist Matt Rinard that now appears as the 2005 wrap for the band's well-traveled bus.
“We enjoy Cowboy Mouth’s music and New Orleans energy, they share the same vibe as Southern Comfort,” said Jeff Stum, Assistant Brand Manager, Southern Comfort. “This is the fourth year of Southern Comfort’s sponsorship of the band and they have taken Southern Comfort right along with them as they’ve toured the United States. It’s a truly great ride to be on, their listeners are our customers.”
Budweiser Ties Into “Wedding Crashers”
Budweiser tied into the release of New Line Cinema’s “Wedding Crasers ”with irreverent television ads and retail promotions.
“Wedding Crashers is a perfect fit with Budweiser,” said Jim Schumacker, V.P., Creative Development& Branded Entertainment, Anheuser-Busch. “Budweiser is known throughout the world as a fun brand and many of our adult consumers are big fans of “Wedding Crashers.”
Budweiser’s “Wedding Crashers” promotions featured counter cards, table tents, banners and posters, plus promotional giveaways including a Budweiser-Wedding Crashers garter, tuxedo shirt, visor and ball & chain key ring.
Cingular Launches ‘Raising The Bar’ Photo Contest & Sweepstakes
Cingular is asking consumers to take their best shot and submit images that bring to life the Company’s five “Raising the Bar” signal bars wherever and whenever they see them, by sending a picture message from their Cingular Wireless phone for a chance to win a grand prize of $50,000.
The campaign reinforces Cingular’s message of “service everywhere” and plays off of the Company’s “Raising the Bar” ad campaign.
“When people began sending us unsolicited photographs of ‘bar raising scenarios,’ it confirmed our brand was positively resonating with the America public,” said Marc Lefar, Chief Marketing Officer, Cingular.
Each week, five winners will receive $50 for their photo submission. Additionally one winner each week will receive $500 and be named “Photo of the Week” by a panel of judges. Customers will select from five finalists by voting for their favorite photo via text messaging. The photo with the most votes will receive the $50,000 Grand Prize.
Inflatable "Siemens Image Towers"
The inflatable "Image Towers" were developed with Siemens branding and product pictorials. The l0-ft tall inflatables were produced with changeable graphic "skins". They were used in the promotion of Siemens mobile phones to "drive" sales at Siemens sales/distribution centers. The inflatables increased customer awareness and traffic, resulting in increased unit sales whenever the "Image Towers" were used. The Inflatable "Siemens Image Towers" were created by The Inflatable Marketplace, l8l0 Gillespie Way, Suite 202, El Cajon,CA 92020.
Nintendo DS Toys R Us Launch Island
This display was to designed to merchandise the Nintendo DS (short for dual-screen) out of category, at Toys R Us. The display had to highlight the product's twin color screens, sharper graphics and the feel of a PDA. The display claimed permanent front end real estate for Nintendo at Toys R Us while also providing flexibility for long-term product mix. The unit merchandises traditional Nintendo along side the Nintendo DS units. The graphics feature twenty-something consumers who dominate the graphic panels, which is the target consumer. The color palette of the display is cool and sophisticated, a departure from Nintendo's traditional use of bold colors. The Nintendo DS Toys R Us Launch Island was created by New Dimensions Research Corp., 260 Spagnoli Road, Melville, NY 11747.
Zima Cell Phone42" Inflatable
The Zima brand required an eye-catching point of sale piece to help promote their cross promotion with MSN. This inflatable cell phone turned out to be a perfect solution. The Zima Cell Phone is easy to inflate and set up. Inflatables make terrific displays for maximum impact at an economical cost. The Zima Cell Phone 42" Inflatable was created by Sterling Promotional Corp., 30l0 Westchester Avenue, Purchase, NY 10577.
Pay Spot Floor Display
The Pay Spot Display was designed to provide a highly visible permanent floor display to merchandise a good selection of phone calling cards. The attractive 3-sided display is constructed from wood and metal and has a curved, die cut header sign to attract consumers. Signs may be interchangeable. Metal and wood parts have a powder coated finish. The display received positive feed back from the field. The Pay Spot Floor Display was created by Nashville Display, 306 Hartman Drive, Lebanon, TN 37087.
Rand McNally l/4 Pallet Display
The main objective of this display was to create more brand awareness for Rand McNally's map books. The display trays hold both horizontal and vertical product. Another important objective was to create a display footprint that would be able to be used in both home improvement and office supply stores. This l/4 pallet is constructed of all corrugated components. Trays are flexo printed with a UV coating and graphic panels are mounted lithos on e-flute. The Rand McNally 1/4 Pallet was created by Great Northern Display Group, P.O. Box 044740, Racine, WI 53404.
New Dimensions Research Corp. created the Blockbuster Poster Frames to provide an in-store controlled opportunity to focus and cycle promotions of new movie and game titles. The Blockbuster frames create awareness of new releases and pre-sells while providing an in-store system that is easily managed by store personnel. The design makes the featured movie the star by having the frame blend into the background showcasing the product. Side rails with a top slot were engineered that allow easy placement of additional graphics with changeouts taking seconds. For more information, contact New Dimensions Research Corp., 260 Spagnoli Road, Melville, NY 11747.
"Inuyasha The Movie 3 " Mobile Tour
"Inuyasha The Movie 3" is being given a highly visible send off to retail with an innovative big screen 15-city mobile theater tour, created by Revolution Marketing in a joint effort with VIZ Media. Revolution Marketing has developed a 92-seat, state of the art, mobile movie theater that will travel to one Wal-Mart in each of l5 cities. Wal-Mart will host the theatrical premier of a DVD title they will be selling. More than 4,000 lucky fans will have the opportunity to screen the animated movie for free in cities such as Los Angeles, Chicago, San Francisco, Boston, Atlanta and Seattle. There will be three viewings in each city in the custom built theater. In addition to the viewing, fans will receive limited-edition Inuyasha merchandise. For more information, contact Revolution Marketing, 110 E. 42nd St., New York, NY 10017.
Budweiser True Music Double-Deck Trailer
Anheuser-Busch built its newest branding vehicle which would maintain the "wow" factor" for Bud World and provide consumer experience and b-to-b hospitality events. This double-deck trailer has 7 plasma screens, eight LCD monitors, 6 touch-screen kiosks, l7 computers, 26 speakers and 45 headphones. Visitors gain access by registering at All-Access kiosks that print personalized backstage photo passes. Above the rig is a stadium-sized large-format Barco Wall monitor broadcasting videos streamed from cameras throughout the truck. The Budweiser True Music Double-Deck Trailer was designed by The Spark Agency, St. Louis and built by Craftsmen Industries, 3101 Elm Point Industrial Drive, St. Charles, MO 63301.
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