Nourison Unveils Interactive Kiosks For Dealers
Nourison, a leading importer and manufacturer of oriental rugs, headquartered in Saddle Brook, NJ, recently unveiled an interactive kiosk. The kiosk program, developed in collaboration with First Wave, Inc., allows dealers to lease a kiosk to provide consumers with instantaneous access to a virtual inventory of thousands of rugs.
“The Nourison kiosk is an excellent addition to any dealer’s showroom,” said Thomas Dust, Nourison’s Director of Multimedia. “It allows a consumer to browse 46 of Nourison’s collections and search through them by size, color and style, or any combination of criteria.”
The Nourison kiosk is easily updated remotely via phone lines so the latest rug collections and styles are always featured. Additionally, the kiosk automatically runs a customizable attract loop during periods of inactivity. This allows dealers to display sales promotions, store hours or other information. The kiosk also provides reports on consumer preferences.
“The dealer instantly expands their inventory by thousands of rugs while giving up only two square feet of showroom space when they install the kiosk,” said Dust.
Honda Features Interactive Displays
American Honda Motor Co. Inc. is using this interactive display cabinet at its dealers nationwide.
The display cabinet is made from high pressure laminate over MDF and features a laser cut logo. The secure cabinet provides a pull out tray for a keyboard and mouse for dealer use only. The display cabinet is size-flexible for future hardware modifications and is designed to fit with the existing and future dealer image.
The Honda interactive display cabinet was produced by R/P Creative Sales, Burbank, CA.
U.S. Postal Service Tests Self-Service Kiosk
Neopost Online, an Internet-based postage and shipping solutions provider, and Northrop Grumman Corp., have received U.S. Postal Service (USPS) approval to test the first browser-based self-service kiosk for online postage in the U.S.
Neopost Online will power the kiosks with its proprietary browser-based Simply Postage technology and integrate it with Northrop Grumman’s kiosks. The kiosks will include a touch-screen computer monitor, a credit card reader, and an integrated printer. The companies intend to place the kiosks in high traffic retail locations.
The Simply Postage kiosks offer cost effective advantages over traditional stamp vending machines that require substantial security and high maintenance. The kiosks are enabled by the Internet to print postage on demand. The kiosks use Neopost Online’s proprietary secure self-adhesive labels, which have no monetary value, thus eliminating the need to control preprinted stamp inventories.
Xerox Pixography Systems To Be Placed At Retail
Xerox Corp.’s new Pixography Solution is a personal imaging center that puts customized color documents at the fingertips of walk-up consumers in quick-print and retail environments. Consumers can create business materials, greeting cards, calendars and invitations by merging their own words and pictures with a wide selection of fully designed templates and backgrounds to print colorful, personalized documents in minutes.
The Pixography Solution is currently being tested in major quick print and retail accounts. Using a walk-up system with an easy-to-use touch screen, the Pixography Solution is simple for both the service provider and consumer.
A Pixography demonstration has been a part of a Xerox exhibit at Epcot at Walt Disney World. Using the touchscreen kiosk, visitors create personalized souvenirs by placing their own digital image into one of many backgrounds and then creating their own message.
Customers Find Greatest Satisfaction With Multi-Channel Operations
Customers Find Greatest Satisfaction With Multi-Channel Operations
The e-tail sites associated with brick-and-mortar stores are delivering the best overall customer satisfaction, according to the results of a survey by Andersen, an accounting and business advisory firm. The survey revealed that 49% of online users perceive that companies doing business both online and at physical locations are better at providing customer service for online transactions than companies that exclusively operate online. Only 9% of users find greater customer satisfaction from pure-play Internet retailers.
Despite the high ratings of multi-channel operations, almost 50% of respondents believe that a lack of coordination between channels is somewhat of a problem. Other key findings from the Andersen survey include: Six-out-of-ten online users (58%) are satisfied with customer service when transacting online, a 10% increase over last year, according to respondents. The most dramatic increase was found amongst women who were satisfied with their online transactions almost 70% of the time.
Photo Kiosks Will Be Big Hit In 2001
Photo kiosks will play a key role in the transformation of consumer photography in 2001, according to Dataquest Inc., a unit of Gartner Group. By the end of 2000, digital photographers comprised more than 10 million U.S. households, and as a result, there are currently great opportunities for photo kiosk vendors. The worldwide installed base of photo kiosks is projected to double by the end of 2001, reaching 60,000 devices.
In the past, photo kiosks had been used mostly to copy photos. The new photo kiosks allow consumers to input digital images or scan photos to print or upload to a Web page. “The most important contribution photo kiosks will make to digital photographers will be to deliver an attractive combination for digital photo printing: high quality prints at a low cost and within a familiar, convenient environment,” said Andrew Johnson, V.P. Gartner Dataquest. “We believe digital photographers will flock to digital photo kiosks as an attractive alternative to home printing.”
Jestertek has introduced the JestPoint kiosk system. Using large flat screen video displays to captivate customers, a user stands in front of the kiosk and by simply pointing at the screen, navigates and controls the media presentation. These new kiosks incorporate JestPoint technology and are delivered ready to use with custom software. For more information, contact Jestertek, 317 Adelaide Street W., Toronto, ONT M5V 1P9 Canada; (Tel) 416-340-9290, (Fax) 416-348-9809, (Web Site) www.jestertek.com.
Kiosk Information Systems (KIS) announces the KC500 Component series kiosk, designed for use in applications that require small size, durability and functionality. The KC500 series offers flexible, space saving configurations with durable cast aluminum, water-resistant construction. Counter, pole or wall mounting options help the KC500 Series integrate into most any location. For more information, contact KIS, 224 Commerce Street, Broomfield, CO 80020; (Tel) 303-466-5471, (Fax) 303-466-6730, (Web site) www.kis-kiosk.com.
Gyricon Media, Inc., a Xerox spin-off, will market SmartPaper technology in conjunction with a uniform software solution—MaestroSign Systems. This application will enable retailers to electronically change point-of-sale sign displays, while synchronizing prices with those at store cash registers. The prices, text and graphics can be displayed in any size using SmartPaper based signs. For more information,contact Gyricon Media, Palo Alto, CA, (Tel) 800-642-9221; (Web Site) www.gyriconmedia.com.
Cybertotems specializes in the production of interactive multimedia systems. Saturn is its standard multipurpose interactive multimedia terminal, which catches the eye anywhere with its soft, elegant shape. Ideal for information transfer and collection, but with specific accessories, it can easily function for reservation booking, e-retailing or as an internet cyberportal. The front panel can accommodate a logo or an eye-catching ad. For more information, contact Cybertotems, 12277 SW 55th Street, Cooper City, FL 33330; (Tel) 954-252-5728, (Fax) 954-252-5786, (Web site) www.cybertotems.com.
Travel Centers’ Kiosk Program Launched
Travel Centers of America and Apunix Computer Services have announced the launch of Travel Centers’ RoadKing Club Kiosk Program. The RoadKing Club Kiosks are designed to provide a loyalty program for professional truck drivers. Drivers can check their loyalty point balance and redeem points by printing instant redemption certificates at the kiosk.
All of the content creation, content updates and database interfacing was done remotely by Apunix in San Diego, CA, (www.apunix.com.)
Filmfly Places Kiosks In Movie Theatres
Filmfly Entertainment is setting up TouchPoint kiosks at movie theatres, enabling movie goers to purchase retail merchandise including sound tracks, DVDs, clothing, accessories and posters, while accessing entertainment news.
The kiosks are currently in operation at Famous Players’ Paramount Theatre in Toronto Canada. Jeff Rush, V.P., Famous Players, said “These kiosks allow us to provide our customers with even better value for their entertainment dollar. When consumers can step out of a theatre and have the ability to immediately order the sound track from the latest blockbuster, that’s something they can’t do anywhere else.”
Digital Video Dynamix, Inc. is helping IBM recruit the next generation of technology workers. DVD recently put the finishing touches on the master for a Spectral Imagery hologram produced by Holophile Inc. for IBM’s College Relations and Recruiting Division. IBM is using the presentation at over 200 college career fairs annually to attract traffic to its exhibit booth. Contained in a tabletop kiosk, the presentation is complete with full-color 3D moving images, sound track and graphics, and features the IBM spokesperson, Leonardo DaVinci. The 10-inch high, 3-dimensional image of DaVinci is projected onto a miniature stage set as a museum gallery. Paul Barefoot, President, Holophile said, “This presentation system can convey huge amounts of information in a stimulating and highly memorable way. It’s an excellent vehicle to differentiate the company on a crowded exhibit floor.”
LeapFrog Interactive Kiosk
LeapFrog produced for Toys R Us nationwide, a merchandising environment that establishes the LeapFrog brand as a leader in producing educational interactive toys that inspire a lifelong love of learning. Products are displayed in a consumer-friendly manner that maximizes product flow. One hundred seventy concept stores are showing the LeapFrog line with an interactive touchscreen kiosk that has been designed to fit into an array of store configurations; inline, at an endcap or freestanding. Company and product brand signage will be used in 500 traditional TRU stores and other key account retail environments, with plans to expand the program to more TRU stores. The LeapFrog Interactive Kiosk won a Gold OMA in the Sports, Toys and Accessories Category as well as Display of the Year - Permanent. It was created by Design Phase, Inc., 2840 Maria Avenue, Northbrook, IL 60062.
Kia Information Center
An interactive kiosk produced for Kia Motors American, combines video and printed brochures in a user-friendly, space efficient and easily accessible display. It provides one-stop information retrieval for the customer and employs DVD technology for expanded memory and touch-screen navigation to dealers’ existing touch-screen monitors, enabling dealer cost-savings and maximum customer participation. Strong branding with the Kia logo and trademark colors makes the Center easy to locate on the showroom floor. This display, which won the Gold OMA in the Interactive Category, was created by DCI Marketing, 2727 W. Good Hope Road, Milwaukee, WI 53209.
General Motors Interactive Brand Center. This state-of-the-art GM video display consolidates promotional displays and maximizes selling showrooms with minimal use of retail space. A DVDi industrial player with hard-drive storage holds 27 hours of video and presents 51 GM models with 16 different 3-4 minute video segments as well as access to additional product information via the internet. Created by DCI Marketing, 2727 W. Good Hope Road, Milwaukee, WI 53209. SILVER AWARD.
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