Mannington Unveils “Coordinations” Display System
Mannington’s new “Coordinations” color wardrobe system is designed to create beautiful, durable flooring that coordinates with existing furnishings and cabinetry. This display is organized by color to help consumers coordinate flooring purchases.
New laminate plank designs featured in the Mannington Coordinations display include: Meridian Cherry, suited for use with lighter cherry cabinetry; Centennial Cherry, a deeper cherry color to complement darker cherry woods; and Georgian Hickory, a slightly more rustic look. The hickory, oak and maple looks are designed to complement a wide range of woods.
Sta-Green & Lowe’s Run ‘Golden Ticket’ Promotion
Sta-Green and Lowe's stores have joined forces for the “Golden Ticket” promotion whereby a consumer who finds a Golden Ticket in a bag of Sta-Green Winterizer or Winterizer Weed & Feed wins a $10,000 Lowe’s Gift Card. Up to 10 lucky winners may find a Golden Ticket each worth $10,000.
In association with the Golden Ticket promotion, Sta-Green will donate a total of $25,000 to the Home Safety Council, founded by Lowe’s and $2,500 to each winner's local chapter of Habitat for Humanity.
Sta-Green wants everyone to benefit, so with every purchase of Sta-Green Winterizer and Winterizer Weed & Feed, customers receive a mail-in form with details printed on the register receipt for a $2 Lowe’s Gift Card on a 5,000 sq. ft. bag, and a $5 gift card on a 15,000 sq. ft. bag.
Colorful point-of-purchase signage supports the promotion.
Battery-Biz Launches National Display Program
Battery-Biz, a premier manufacturer of secondary market rechargeable batteries, has embarked on a national rollout of its extensive product line in retail stores under the Hi-Capacity label. The company's 1500 product SKU line of rechargeable Li-Ion, NiMH and NiCad batteries as well as universal recharging systems is slated for nationwide distribution through retail outlets in Q4, 2003.
Battery-Biz has developed an extensive branding and positioning campaign aimed at users of personal consumer electronics such as camcorders, digital camera, laptop computers and cellular phones.
By introducing new retail packaging and point of sale floor and counter-top displays, Battery-Biz intends to make a big impression upon entering the retail channel.
The display is designed in 2 pieces so that you can use only the top half (the first 12 products) as a counter display or the entire thing as a floor display.
Hilti Featuring Merchandisers In Home Depot
Hilti is featuring this merchandiser in the Home Depot Rental Department to showcase the many quality Hilti tools available for rent by the DIY customer.
Helpful tool specifications and instructions are easy to find, and product storage is convenient and attractive. The display also merchandises and promotes consumables.
This display was created for Hilti by D&S Creative Communications, a Mansfield, OH-based promotion agency and display firm.
Duracell Power Station Appears In Wal-Mart Stores
Duracell created this Power Station, which was shipped to Wal-Mart stores nationwide. The display was designed for three months of use in the fourth quarter as part of Wal-Mart's holiday promotion.
The Power Station features sturdy construction using multi-materials. One of the main advantages for Wal-Mart is that the display arrives at retail fully loaded with nearly 2,000 pounds of batteries. Wal-Mart gives the display optimal placement including positioning in the toy aisle, electronics department, action alley and in the grocery divider alley of stores that have grocery departments.
The Duracell Power Station was produced by New Dimensions Research, a point-of-purchase display firm located in Melville, NY.
Sears Grand Offers An Off-Mall Concept
Sears Grand, an off-mall concept complementary to Sears’ mall-based Full-line stores, has made its debut in West Jordan, Utah. In addition to carrying everything a Sears Full-line store offers, Sears Grand also will provide convenience-inspired goods in a location located closer to more customers’ homes.
“We’re providing those everyday solutions customers have told us they need as part of their busy life,” said Jerry Post, Sr. V.P., Growth Strategy, Sears, Roebuck and Co.
Sears Grand maximizes the retailer’s strengths, including its comprehensive mix of high-quality proprietary and national brands, complimented by related services found only at Sears. While browsing hundreds of national and Sears-exclusive brands or perusing the garden center, Sears Grand customers can also have their car serviced, get their eyes examined, sip a cup of coffee at the cafe, have keys made, get window blinds cut or have custom paint mixed.
Todd Oldham Designs La-Z-Boy Line
Designer Todd Oldham has partnered with La-Z-Boy, a leading manufacturer of upholstered furniture, to design a line of furnishings for the living and family rooms, including sofas, accessories, occasional furniture, and of course, reclining chairs.
“Todd Oldham’s focus on stylish yet practical designs makes him a great fit for La-Z-Boy. He’s also perfect for the La-Z-Boy customer -- someone who appreciates the comfort and quality of La-Z-Boy furniture as much as the look,” said Doug Collier, V.P., Marketing for La-Z-Boy. “And, with a presence on MTV as well as a successful collection for Target, Todd is well-known among young, fashion-conscious consumers.”
Home Depot Opens Two-Level Store In Chicago’s Lincoln Park
Home Depot has opened its first two-level store in Chicago’s Lincoln Park. The two-level store breaks the design mold of traditional Home Depots with its airy open spaces and natural light exposures. The interior design also departs from tradition with home décor products placed in a serene second-floor setting, while hardware, plumbing and building materials occupy the street level.
The store marks Home Depot’s deepest foray yet into a modern urban environment. Jim Warrington, Global Product Merchant, Home Depot, said, “A regular Home Depot wouldn’t fit here. But by choosing the merchandise in demand within the neighborhood, we can get the job done in a smaller store.”
Art Purchasing Enters The Mass Market
“Today over 40% of U.S. households buy art for their walls. As a result, art is moving from the niche fringes into the mass consumer marketplace,” according to Pam Danziger, President of Unity Marketing, a Stevens, PA-based research firm. “As the art market goes more mass, the art business is no longer dominated by a single type of consumer.”
According to new research, two key market segments emerge which offer art marketers their best sales opportunities. Danziger said, “At the luxury end, art connoisseurs, representing over one-fourth of the total art market, are projected to be the most active buyers. Their appetite for art is undiminished by world events, as they have been the most active segment buying art in the first quarter of 2003. This segment is comprised mainly of affluent and highly-educated baby boomers who view themselves as collectors, who shop primarily in art galleries and framing shops and for whom decorating takes a back seat.”
The other segment holding the most promise are home decorators, 28% of the market. This segment is largely budget-minded young marrieds who have a need to buy art to fill empty walls in new homes. “Many home decorators expect to buy more art in the coming year and are likely to continue frequenting mass merchants and home furnishings and furniture stores for the already-framed prints they favor.”
Yankelovich Issues Report On ‘Hiving’
Yankelovich, a marketing consultancy, has identified a new trend in American living called hiving. Like a beehive, abuzz with activity, hiving represents engagement, interaction and connection with the outside environment.
“A hive is a home designed to open out and facilitate connection,” said J. Walker Smith, President of Yankelovich. “Since 9/11, there has been a lot of publicity about the return to home. It has been described as the new cocooning. But the return to home pre-dated 9/11 and cocooning is not the appropriate metaphor for characterizing the ways in which people are returning home.”
Unlike cocooning, a term used to describe how Americans retreated to their homes to disconnect from the rest of the world in the late 1980s, the hiving phenomenon engages and connects people.
“The return to home today is about reaching out to others,” he said. “Across all generations, family is more important than ever. People see more value in community. Through hiving, home is the best place to reestablish relationships and reconnect with others. Home is command central for this new lifestyle.”
Trends that demonstrate hiving and Americans’ need for greater connection through the home: Popularity of TV programs that offer tips and ideas for making home a more inviting, stylish living space; Wireless phone companies selling ‘family plans’ to keep family members connected; Popularity of board games and ping pong tables; Development of lifestyle villages and Increase in DVD sales and rentals.
Kitchen Remodeling Is Top Design Choice
Kitchen renovations top the list of desired home improvements according to research recently conducted by American Standard, Corp. One in four (26%) chose a kitchen renovation; a central heating and cooling system upgrade was close behind with 20%. Next was building a deck (15%), followed by a bathroom renovation (9%), master bedroom expansion (9%) and creating a wine cellar (2%). Nineteen percent have other home renovations in mind.
Home-cooking seems to be a shared responsibility with only slightly more women (29 percent) choosing a kitchen renovation than men (23 percent). Home Cookers: A kitchen update was most popular with adults ages 55-64, with one-third (32 percent) choosing this as their top home renovation.
Both Men And Women Seen As Equal In Home Improvement Abilities
A national survey of male and female homeowners, commissioned by Lowe’s, reveals men and women acknowledge gender equality when it comes to learning about home improvement and executing do-it-yourself projects. In fact, 83% (82% of men and 83% of women) agree that men and women have equal abilities when it comes to learning about home improvement.
“Both genders are taking less of a ‘he said, she said’ approach to home improvement ability -- they actually prefer to collaborate on projects and learn new skills together,” said Melissa Birdsong, Lowe’s Director, Trend Forecasting and Design.
Today, more women (62%) consider themselves to be between an intermediate and an expert do-it-yourselfer.Women initiate 80% of all home improvement projects, according to Lowe’s research. Most women (81%) own basic hand tools plus a few power tools, and 20% of women own an extensive collection of hand and power tools.
Weber Q Portable Gas Grill Is Introduced
Weber-Stephen has introduced the Weber Q portable gas grill. “The Weber Q is the hippest thing to hit grilling,” said Christina Schroeder, Weber’s V.P., Marketing.
While other portable grills are griddles (a flat surface), Q is a true grill that sears and smokes food. Weighing just 41 pounds, it is compact enough to take to the park, beach or tailgating party.
Schlage Lock Floor Display
Schlage Lock is using this floor display to present a selection of locks and door hardware and accessories. The freestanding display provides a rich background to display the locks, enhancing the Schlage brand image. The unit displays a comprehensive selection of products in a mininum of floor space. This Schlage Lock Floor Display was created by Mark Novak & Associates, Inc., 149 North Northwest Highway, Park Ridge, IL 60068.
Whirlpool Accessory Floor Display
This display can be used in-line or as an end cap. It has four shelves and loop prongs to merchandise accessory items for major home appliances. The display is constructed from metal, tubing, wire and slatwall and features an interchangeable header sign along with side wing end panel signage. The metal parts have blue textured powder finish. This display offers retail chains a vehicle for merchandising a wide selection of accessory items supporting the Whirlpool home appliance business. This program increased distribution and sales of accessory items. The Whirlpool Accessory Floor Display was created by Nashville Display, l4l5 Elm Hill Pike, Nashville, TN 372l0.
Blyth Colonial Etagere
This display was designed to merchandise a high end of various glass scented candle products.To convey the elegant style of this product, additional add on components were used for tapered and votive candles. The 72" high étagère with 4 adjustable glass shelves features a wood base with vacuum pressed panels. Laser-cut tempered glass shelves have cut outs to allow the vertical posts to go up through the shelves giving the shelves an appearance of floating. The curved headers are screened and foil stamped to communicate Colonial’s image. The unit also provides storage for product back up. The brand identity and product benefits are clearly communicated increasing impulse buying and sales. The Blyth Colonial Etagere was created by Harbor Industries, Inc., l4l30 l72nd Street, Grand Haven, MI 494l7.
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