Musicmaker & Photo-Me Sell Custom CDs At Kiosks
Musicmaker.com., a Reston, VA-based provider of downloadable music on the Internet, and UK-based kiosk manufacturer, Photo-Me International, have formed an alliance to introduce walk-up music kiosks in retail music stores and shopping malls. The kiosks allow consumers to create custom CDs on a song-by-song basis within 5-7 minutes and to personalize the case with a personal title or graphic art. The kiosks will also support the MP3 format, allowing consumers to download one hour of MP3 music to an MP3 player in just 2-3 minutes. Each kiosk will contain up to 10,000 digitized tracks from musicmaker.com’s library of 750,000 licensed songs.
“This is a new distribution system for music at the retail store level,” said Bob Bernardi, Musicmaker.com’s Chairman. “Consumers can choose the specific songs they would like to have on a CD or an MP3 flashcard and have it produced to order on the spot.”
Ace Hardware Installs In-store Kiosks
Ace Hardware has formed a strategic partnership with Our House, Inc., to produce an industry-first “home solutions portal” that will combine products, projects, information, service, installation and an on-line community. Ace will act as the fulfillment house and provider of total home improvement project solutions for consumers by initially offering some 22,000 individual products. The site will target total project solutions for do-it-yourself enthusiasts and home remodelers.
Consumers will have the option of purchasing a wide selection of items directly from the OurHouse.com Web site or by visiting participating Ace stores with in-store kiosks, for instant access to the site.
“Ace retailers can now expand on their image as the ‘helpful hardware folks’ by offering yet another convenient service to existing customers while tapping into the entirely new cyberspace consumer,” said David Hodnik, Ace Hardware President and CEO. “Stores will no longer be limited by space parameters.”
Vitamins.com To Install Kiosks In Phar-Mor
Vitamins.com has entered into an exclusive marketing agreement with the Phar-Mor drug store chain. Vitamins.com will be installing Web kiosks in selected Phar-Mor high volume stores, allowing customers to have real-time access to authoritative nutrition, health and wellness information. The agreement also calls for Vitamins.com to put its logos on 100 million Phar-Mor’s prescription and general merchandise bags and other high visibility customer merchandising materials.
“We are pleased to add Phar-Mor to our preferred affiliate program,” said Robert Haft, Chairman of Vitamins.com. “This strategic relationship extends and further validates our clicks and mortar business strategy.”
Wherehouse & DiscoverMusic To Provide Full-Store Music Previewing
Wherehousemusic.com is joining with DiscoverMusic to test DiscoverMusic listening stations in select Wherehouse stores, enabling customers to preview any CD.
The partnership between Wherehousemusic.com and DiscoverMusic will enable the consumer to sample every recording in a store for the first time ever. A customer can pick up any disc, scan the bar code and immediately hear selections from that disc, listen to a review, read the artist bio and receive recommendations on similar CD’s.
These systems, currently installed in two Wherehouse.com stores, provide an unprecedented level of information by linking to the world’s largest database of music samples. The DiscoverMusic systems are remote solutions; 20% of the store’s music is stored locally and 80% is stored remotely. Therefore, if a customer wants to listen to or purchase any music that may not be stored at that particular location, DiscoverMusic systems will enable the buyer to listen no matter the location of the actual CD.
Staples To Open Airport Stores
Staples, Inc. announced the opening of a new airport retail store concept with the first store at the Philadelphia International Airport. This new store concept will offer travelers three ways to shop: traditional retail, a kiosk linked to Staples.com and a direct phone line to Staples catalog representatives. Customers can order supplies and have them delivered to their final travel destination, home or office.
“The airport store is the latest way Staples will help customers keep up with their business while on the road, especially for last-minute supplies or services.,” said Jim Peters, President, U.S. Stores, Staples. “This new concept offers three sales channels we have never combined in our retail stores before.”
Phar-Mor Launches Online Pharmacy With Same-Day Prescription Pick-Up
Phar-Mor, Inc., the Youngstown, OH-based discount drugstore chain, announced it is now filling prescriptions online with same day pick-up at any Phar-Mor retail store location. The Company has also launched a nationwide advertising campaign to promote ShopPharMor.com, Phar-Mor’s online destination.
Phar-Mor’s online pharmacy, CyberRxExpress, offers complete prescription services and same-day in-store pick-up to customers in all 24 states where the Company’s retail stores are located.
David Schwartz, President and COO of Phar-Mor, said, “Phar-Mor’s online pharmacy is now open for business, bringing a new level of convenience and Phar-Mor’s everyday low prices to our customers.”
Emporio Armani And LAUNCH.Com Create Music And Style Partnership
Emporio Armani and LAUNCH.com have developed a music and style project that will feature hot, up-and-coming DJs every Saturday on the LAUNCH.com Web site and at all the Emporio Armani boutiques across the country.
During the promotion, a series of DJs will take their turntables into Emporio Armani boutiques to spin for the shoppers. The events will be promoted through Emporio Armani window displays and on an Armani web-site available through LAUNCH.com. The site will feature streamline videos of the Emporio Armani Men’s and Women’s Collections, weekly promotions such as printable Emporio Armani merchandise certificates and an on-going contest.
HMG Worldwide, has entered into a marketing agreement with Pacific Softworks to create “smart” displays using embedded Internet technology. HMG will now offer Internet-enabled displays that will give clients the ability to manage their displays and communicate with consumers at the point of sale. For more information, contact HMG Worldwide, 475 Tenth Ave., New York, NY 10018; (Tel) 212-736-2300; (Fax) 212-564-3395
High Level Interactive Systems offers its Web System with Sound Dome display, for conveniently bringing the internet to the in-store environment. The sound dome on the display allows customers to listen to dynamic a/v presentations without disturbing other customers. The unit may be customized to exact requirements. Leasing options are available. For more information, contact High Level Interactive Systems, 4400 Coldwater Canyon Ave., Studio City, CA 91604; (Tel) 818-769-7700; (Fax) 818-769-7133
Infrared of New Jersey offers two versions of its economical traffic sensor, which are ideal for counting people and monitoring traffic patterns at kiosks, and P.O.P. displays. The sensors incorporate a pyroelectric motion detector, Fresnel optics, and electronics in a compact, panel mounting, plastic housing. The sensor is compact and lightweight. For more information, contact Infrared of New Jersey, 77 East Halsey Rd., Parsippany, NJ 07054; (Tel) 973-428-8485, (Fax) 973-428-8218, (Web) www.irnj.com.
Advantech Technologies has introduced the PPC-150T, a 15” Panel PC. The unit’s advantages include: 15” 1024 x 768 color LCD touch screen; unique two-module construction for easy LCD upgrading; and 14” panel PC pricing. The system is designed for kiosks, and point of transaction applications. For more information, contact Advantech, 15375 Barranca Parkway, Irvine, CA 92618; (Tel) 949-789-7178, (Fax) 949-789-7179, (Web) www.advantech.com.
Universal Studios & America Online Form Marketing Alliance
Universal Studios and America Online have announced a marketing alliance. The first project is the installation of AOL interactive kiosks at Universal Studios Islands of Adventure in Orlando.
These kiosks enable AOL members to send and receive e-mail, view AOL content and access Universal’s Web sites. Potential AOL members will see a demonstration of the service. AOL members will also have access to a Universal content page on AOL providing park information.
Gilbarco Develops Web-Enabled Gas Dispensers
Gilbarco Inc., Greensboro, NC, has developed Web-enabled gasoline dispensers allowing retailers to display a wider range of information and ads to consumers while they are fueling.
The color InfoScreen display, mounted in the dispenser at eye level, prompts customers before and during a purchase. The dispensers also offer new e-commerce opportunities at the pump.
Captivate Network Is New Ad Medium
Captivate Network, has introduced a new ad medium, which delivers news, sports, weather, stock market and traffic information from the Internet to people in office buildings and hotels via flat panel screens installed in elevators.
Captivate offers access to upscale business professionals, when they are usually not available to receive ad messages, in a viewing environment with few distractions.
For more information, contact Captivate Network, 133 Littleton Rd., Westford, MA 01888; (Tel) 978-392-4441, (Fax) 978-392-0312, (Web Site) www.captivatenetwork.com.
Metacom Displays Mood Music CD’s
Metacom worked with Brookdale Plastics, Plymouth, MN, to redesign a new interactive p.o.p. display for its line of Mood Music CD’s and cassettes.
Each display is made from vacuum formed plastics and styrene-based materials, finished with a faux wood grain. Originally the displays were manufactured using maple wood panels, but the new design has reduced costs significantly
Pokemon Snap And Blockbuster Team For Consumer Contest
Nintendo and Blockbuster have teamed up to offer consumers the opportunity to enter their best Pokemon Snap snapshot for a chance to win an Australian “Outback Safari Adventure,” digital cameras and more. .
Pokemon Snap takes players on a virtual photo safari, where they must take photos of the different Pokemon inhabiting Pokemon Island. After players select and save their best snapshots, they can visit a Blockbuster store to print out their snapshot stickers. Players purchase a collectible Pokemon Snap Smart card for $3.00 to activate a specially designed Pokemon Snap station. Players plug in their Snap game cartridge and print out a sheet of 16 stickers. To enter the contest, contestants affix their best snapshot sticker onto a tear-off entry form at Blockbuster stores.
“As the nation’s leading renter of video games, and the exclusive retailer of the Pokemon Snap promotion, we’re delighted to continue to provide addition in-store entertainment for our members,” said Steve Lundeen, V.P., Interactive Merchandising for Blockbuster.
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