Polo Ralph Lauren Launches Interactive Window Shopping
Polo Ralph Lauren, a quintessential luxury lifestyle brand, launched an Interactive Store Window at the Company’s 888 Madison Avenue store in New York City.
Cutting edge technology combined with stunning design created an environment where customers could experience the brand in a new way-by browsing content and products directly on the outside of the store window. Projected on the store window, is a 67" image featuring the latest in touch sensory technology.
Consumers can shop even when the store is closed by clicking on the window glass.
This cutting edge technology was launched in conjunction with the Company’s sponsorship of the 2006 US Open and highlights the stylish Polo Ralph Lauren US Open apparel and accessories created exclusively for the tournament.
“After watching Steven Spielberg's Minority Report, I really wanted to find a way of making that technology a retail reality,” said David Lauren, Senior Vice President Advertising, Marketing & Corporate Communications. “We are thrilled to offer such a unique way for our customers to further explore the world of Ralph Lauren; with this initiative we are reinventing the concept of shopping anytime.”
The Interactive Store Window was produced for Polo Ralph Lauren by Selling
Machine Partners, LLC, (www.sellingmachinepartners.com) an Old Lyme, CT-based interactive marketing firm.
Olay Brand Experience Opens At Kenwood Towne Centre
The global vision of Olay beauty has been brought to life in a freestanding boutique inside the Kenwood Towne Centre in Cincinnati, OH.
Consumers can experience the brand in a new way with interactive tools, product testing and on-site beauty consultations. Also designed as an educational tool for consumers, the Olay Experience will attract new consumers and increase Olay’s customer base.
The Olay freestanding boutique is clearly organized into three categories: cleansing, moisturizing and anti-aging. Merchandise is organized in easy to navigate “coves,” brought to life via photography that glorifies beautiful skin.
Lighting adds warmth and highlights featured anti-aging categories: Definity, Regenerist, and Total Effects.
Beauty images support product presentation and are topped by the Olay equity band to create the essential wall unit. Olay equity colors are freshly reflected in black and white with clean accents of metal and glass.
The Olay black equity band is clearly visible and becomes a stopping element. Gold linear elements are used to 3-dimensionally create the Olay visual identity that is seen in print marketing.
Dual-sided testing allows customers to approach either side of the counter for ease of use. Cleansers and water activated products are positioned by the sink to encourage customer participation.
The Olay Brand Experience was designed by Benchmark, a Cincinnati, OH-based in-store design firm.
Nokia Flagship Store Opens On NYC’s Fifth Avenue
Nokia has opened a Flagship Store on New York City’s Fifth Avenue, providing an interactive, retail environment dedicated to pairing customers with the perfect wireless device.
The store invites guests to explore its three levels of retail space. Each product is displayed on a backdrop of multimedia displays and color-shifting walls. When a customer picks up a device, the multimedia screen behind the product changes from being part of a continuous band of full-motion graphics, to interactive information listing the features of that device. The second level of the store houses the Nseries Lounge, featuring Nokia’s most advanced wireless devices. The third level houses Nokia’s luxury line of handsets created by Vertu.
“A Fifth Avenue address is synonymous with superior service and an elegant shopping experience, which is what we are delivering in our New York Flagship location,” said Cliff Crosbie, Director, Retail & Trade Marketing for Nokia.
Motorola Pilots Robotic Retail Stores
Motorola has launched a pilot program to offer its products to consumers through robotic retail stores.
Leveraging small format robotic stores operated by Zoom Systems, the new retail option will be placed in high traffic locations.
“Continuing our effort to reinvent mobile retail culture and transform the consumer experience, this on-demand retail solution is an interesting approach to the many extensions of our retail strategy,” said Jason Few, V.P., Global Retail, Motorola.
These robotic stores will be branded “InstantMoto” and will be deployed in airports and malls nationwide.
IntelliMat’s Floor Displays Tested At Toronto-Area Malls
IntelliMat, Roanoke, VA, (www.intellimat.com) is launching a pilot program with The Source by Circuit City to place its digital video signage display mats in stores located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada- area malls.
The IntelliMat is a wireless computer embedded in a thin mat made of a lightweight thermoplastic alloy. With four LCD screens, IntelliMat creates a 30-inch diagonal display with full multi-media capability for lots of color, motion and sound.
The content on the Intellimat's LCD backlit video display can be changed easily and instantly, allowing the retailer to target customers by demographics and day parts. Retailers can highlight specific products or sales, and even broadcast messages.
Wal-Mart Mexico Launches Digital Signage Network
Group Televisa and Wal-Mart Mexico have launched an in-store media network covering 292 Wal-Mart stores across Mexico.
Consisting of over 5,000 digital signage displays and touchscreen kiosks, the network is centrally managed using FireCast software and media player hardware from WireSpring Technologies, Fort Lauderdale, FL.
Content is delivered through large-screen LCD displays in key store locations, as well as touchscreen kiosks in the pharmacy and other areas. Televisa has outsourced the content delivery technology and in-store playback software to WireSpring, to retain its focus on content production and advertising sales.
Verizon Online DSL Displayed At Wal-Marts
Millions of shoppers at Wal-Mart stores can now get connected with Verizon Online DSL when they visit the stores' Wal-Mart Connection Center departments.
“Now that more than half of all new broadband customers are choosing DSL over cable high-speed Internet service, Wal-Mart is the perfect place for us to educate consumers about our DSL services and to sign up customers,” said Mary Yarbrough, Vice President of Channel Development, for Verizon.
Specially trained Wal-Mart Connection Center associates at the stores will help shoppers use an easy, automated ordering system that checks eligibility for Verizon DSL service and then lets them quickly and easily place their order.
Showcraft
OfficeMax Launches “Creation Station”
Responding to the Gen Y “Customization Generation,” OfficeMax is offering a new line of customized back-to-school supplies that allows students to express their unique personalities.
OfficeMax locations now include a “Creation Station,” where students can create their own customized notebooks, quickly and easily. The “Creation Station” is stocked with a variety of covers-including an array of textures, colors and finishes-as well as papers and dividers, offering students an opportunity to take the most ordinary of school supplies-the notebook-and make them extraordinary-in a way that fits their personality best.
“From cell phones to MP3 players to back-to-school supplies, students today are looking for unique ways to personalize everything they own” said Bob Thacker, Sr. V.P., Marketing & Advertising at OfficeMax.
UPS Store Canada Installs Digital Video Signage
The UPS Store in Canada has selected CCi’s Retail Digital Media Solution to provide dynamic digital video signage to reach customers with targeted and branded messages at the point-of-purchase.
“Increasing customer awareness of all our products and services is critical to our mission of being the destination for the best and most convenient small business and individual consumer business services,” said Malcolm Houser, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of The UPS Store Network in Canada. “Digital signage is an excellent medium to deliver relevant and timely messages to our in-store customers to further enhance The UPS Store experience and educate them on all we have to offer.”
CCi, a retail automation solutions firm, has partnered with Real Digital Media whose NEOCAST® digital signage solution has been designed to withstand the challenges of the in-store retail environment.
Kodak Debuts Digital Printing Center In Supermarkets
Kodak wanted to create a digital printing center that works in a variety of Supervalu supermarket store formats. It also wanted to create a space efficient alternative to its traditional Kodak Picture Maker cabinet which consumes a large footprint in-store and can only handle one customer at a time.
This 4-sided digital printing center island removes Kodak’s printing equipment from its traditional Kodak Picture Maker cabinet, creating savings in floor space. The familiar Kodak graphics and signature color create immediate awareness of the function as a photography destination. The unit is engineered to be modular and can be reconfigured or added onto at store level.
The 4-way Kodak Digital Printing Center was designed and produced by Mechtronics, a White Plains, NY-based p.o.p. display company.
m-Venue Debuts At McDonald’s
McDonald’s at Woodfield Mall in Schaumburg, IL has launched m-Venue, a patent-pending entertainment and marketing platform from Akoo International, that enables McDonald's customers to search, select and “activate” in-store digital content-including music, music videos, and movie previews-with their mobile phones or Internet-connected mobile devices.
m-Venue allows patrons to choose a wide variety of audio and video content from Sony BMG Music Entertainment, Universal Music Group, and Sony Pictures, among others, via text messaging, the mobile internet, or a Wi-Fi-enabled laptop. Selections are performed on demand in designated multimedia zones within the restaurant.
Since the m-Venue platform also tracks consumers’ usage behaviors and preferences in a non-intrusive way, McDonald's locations will be able to employ more effective mobile-based promotions, loyalty and rewards programs, and opt-in targeted marketing campaigns.
CyberTouch has introduced the Orion 32, an Industrial - Grade 32" wide-screen (16 x 9) integrated Touch Screen LCD monitor designed for wall-mount display applications. The Orion 32 utilizes a 32.0” diagonal color TFT LCD as display and a resistive touch screen as input device. CyberTouch also offers a 20” integrated Touch LCD Screen System for desktop display applications. For more information, contact CyberTouch, Inc., 853 Lawrence Drive, Newbury Park, CA 91320; Tel. 805 499-5000; Fax 805 499-5888; (Web) www.cybertouch.com.
Elo TouchSystems has introduced acoustic pulse recognition (APR), a new and unique way of detecting touches on a display. Consisting of only a glass overlay mounted in front of the display, together with a small electronic controller board, Elo APR technology provides a new set of benefits that have been only partially achieved by other touch technologies. Elo will initially direct APR touch technology toward the retail POS markets. According to Elo Product Manager David Chen, the new APR operates by listening for a touch. “Elo’s APR touch technology is more cost-effective and not economically limited to very large displays,” said Chen. For more information, contact Elo TouchSystems, 301 Constitution Drive, Menlo Park, CA 94025; (Tel.) 800-ELO-TOUCH (Web Site) www.elotouch.com.
Mvix(USA), Inc., has introduced the Mvix player, a simple cable hook up that allows instant download capabilities from any computer for digital signage programs. Any video, audio or digital photo that is playable on a computer, whether it has been downloaded over the internet or uploaded from a CD, may be saved to the Mvix for play with any standard television or large screen plasma unit. The user may then connect the multi-media player to any selected screen and start a series of videos, advertising, or product explanation. Such video may also be placed in a repeating loop option. For more information, contact Mvix(USA), Inc., 11725 Lee Hwy, Suite A-19, Fairfax, Va 22030; (Tel.) 866-310 4923; (Web Site) www.mvixusa.com.
Electronic Art has Introduced the Easy Ship Kiosk. Many kiosks need to be shipped via truck on a pallet, but the Easy Ship Kiosk is modular in design and can be shipped via UPS in separate boxes. It is available in black powder coated steel or custom colors. For more information, contact Electronic Art, 118 William Howard Taft Rd., Cincinnati, OH 45219; (Tel.) 513-321-1771; (Web Site) www.electronicart.com.
Caccia Fashions Selects iGotcha Media For Digital Signage
Caccia Fashions, the exclusive licensee of Marc Ecko Enterprise Brands in Canada, has selected iGotcha Media to manage its EckoTV digital signage campaign across the country.
Launched recently at Athlete’s World 23rd Street in the Yorkdale Shopping Centre in Toronto, EckoTV airs on four 42-inch LCD screens positioned at key locations in the Ecko Unltd. Boutique. EckoTV airs product information and entertainment including music videos.
“iGotcha's digital signage is an innovative and cost effective medium that provides direct access to prospective buyers on the shop floor,” said Brian Berenson, Brand Director, Caccia Fashions.
For more information, contact iGotcha Media, 4020 St-Ambroise, Suite 268, Montreal, Quebec, Canada H4C 2C7; (Tel) 514-448-4016; (Fax) 514-907-1957; (Web) www.i-gotcha.com.
H&M’s Flagship Displays Interactive Window
CeeLite, Lansdale, PA, (www.ceelite.com) collaborated with BluOcean Media, New York City, to create an interactive illuminated window display for H&M’s New York flagship store.
The display introduced pop icon, Madonna as H&M’s new celebrity spokesperson.
BluOcean Media’s large format graphics illuminated by CeeLite's Light Emitting Capacitor (LEC) panels, were suspended from the ceilings of floor-to-ceiling windows. The project utilized 72 3' x 5' CeeLite LEC panels to illuminate five two-story high images of Madonna.
‘Be Iced’ Features Unique Visuals
Be Iced wanted an in-store environment that supported its brand as an upscale purveyor of fine jewelry.
Be Iced worked with ScreenPlay, a designer of customized audiovisual environments, to create the in-store visuals for the flagship Be Iced store. ScreenPlay developed a silent video program that conveyed Be Iced brand messages through full-motion media, and custom animation on a 42” plasma screen.
Healthnotes Connect Offers Turnkey Kiosk
Healthnotes Inc. has launched Healthnotes Connect, a turnkey in-store merchandising solution delivering health and wellness product information, lifestyle articles, and targeted promotions to consumers via interactive touchscreen kiosks.
Healthnotes Connect empowers consumers to make educated decisions and drives product sales in-store by delivering health, food and lifestyle information. Healthnotes remotely manages the kiosks, and updates seasonal healthy living features. For more information, visit the Healthnotes Web Site at www.healthnotes.com.
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