English Ideas Introduces Cyber Beauty Advisor
English Ideas, Ltd., is integrating advanced computer technology into the cosmetic department with the introduction of the Cyber Beauty Advisor. This sophisticated interactive touch screen computer marries video and film to create a multimedia experience that is accessible to the consumer in exclusive cosmetic departments.
The Cyber Beauty Advisor has been developed to address unresolved cosmetic issues, provide beauty tips, answer cosmetic questions, and deliver professional advice. Consumers are able to select information and then test products within arms reach. Rebecca Pflueger, President of the English Ideas line, is also the spokesperson and beauty authority hosting the interactive multi-media program. The English Ideas Cyber Beauty Advisor is currently in better department stores including Bloomingdales and Macys.
NCR/Infopoint Kiosk Speeds Photo Processin
NCR Corp., Atlanta, GA and Infopoint Systems, Galway, Ireland, have introduced Xpress Film Check-In, an interactive kiosk that makes it more convenient for consumers to submit film or negatives for printing. The consumer initiates a transaction by touching the screen of the NCR web kiosk, swiping a credit, or store loyalty card, and presenting a roll of film to the built-in bar code scanner. The unit prompts the customer with choices, then prints the order on a film-processing envelope or a label.
"Xpress Film Check-In is for consumers who enjoy photography but have little time to hassle with time-consuming conventional film processing transactions," said Dan Bogan, NCR’s V.P., Retail Industry Marketing.
Levi’s Retail Store Features Interactive Installation
Levi-Strauss has installed this retro, interactive "art" television system in its Levi-Strauss store located on the third floor of Canal Jean Co. in SOHO. The concept of the installation is to create a playful environment that keeps consumers wondering what is real and what is imaginary.
The installation consists of 4 retro 1970’s television sets mounted throughout the store. An inconspicuous surveillance camera broadcasts live images of customers shopping in the retail environment to television monitors. Interspersed throughout the live video feed are 20 "out of the ordinary" vignettes that appear to be live, but are actually pre-recorded. Clips include a boxing match, circus acts and an alien landing.
"This store marks the first time that Levi-Strauss has created an experimental retail environment," said Jimmy Hornbeak, Retail Marketing Manager, Levi-Strauss. "The installation allows the consumer to interact with the brand, making their connection with Levi’s stronger."
The interactive installation was developed for Levi-Strauss by Dennis Interactive, based in New York City.
Pixel Magic’s Photo Ditto Prints In Minutes
Pixel Magic Imaging, San Marcos, TX, features its Photo Ditto Copy And Enhancement System, allowing photo retailers to profit by offering print enhancements in a matter of minutes.
Features include new voice prompts, which walk customers and employees through the entire process; the ability to create photo packages and remove red-eye; save images to floppy, Zip and CD; print from digital cameras; remove cracks and scratches; add custom text and borders to photos; create greeting cards and announcements; and send images via email.
Retailers can also customize their Photo Ditto, allowing store personnel the full range of functions. Photo Digital can work with a variety of peripherals such as printers and film scanners.
Digital Kiosk Is New Wave In Music Retailing
Digital On-Demand, San Francisco, has announced retail agreements with Virgin Entertainment Group and Trans World Entertainment whereby RedDotNet, a Digital On-Demand company, will install its Red Dot Network and Digital Distribution Machines (DDM’s) to offer major label and on-line content in selected retail locations nationwide.
This announcement comes on the heels of an agreement between Digital On-Demand and Sony Music Distribution that enables RedDotNet to distribute much of Sony Music’s catalog over Digital On-Demand’s proprietary Red Dot Network, a dedicated high-speed network which downloads music and other digital content directly to music stores. The product is accompanied by full-color liner notes, cover and CD art that is identical to a traditionally manufactured product.
"Now brick and mortar store customers can choose from the same full music inventory as on-line shoppers," said Tom Szabo, CEO of Digital On-Demand.
Kinko’s and eBay Form Joint Marketing Agreement
Kinko’s, a retail provider of document-copying and business services, and eBay, an online trading community, have formed a cooperative marketing agreement. The agreement provides customers of both companies with greater access to eBay through Kinko’s computer and Internet services at more than 900 Kinko’s locations in the U.S. It also creates linkages to a wide variety of Kinko’s support services to make the online trading process easier and more effective.
Under the agreement, Kinko’s Web-site links will be featured on eBay site pages in the computer, business/office and big-ticket categories. eBay will receive in-store signage in Kinko’s locations across the country. In addition, eBay site visitors will receive 15 minutes of free computer-rental time at a participating Kinko’s branch.
Trans World Entertainment Forms In-Store Relationship With Yahoo!
Trans World Entertainment, a leading retailer of entertainment products, has formed a relationship with Yahoo! Inc., a leading global Internet media company. The relationship will incorporate an innovative marketing and merchandising concept created by Yahoo! called "Yahoo! Picks" that allows consumers to determine what products will be highlighted within Trans World’s retail stores. The relationship leverages the highly recognizable brand names of both companies to benefit both online and traditional retail customers.
Each month, through the Yahoo! Picks campaign, Yahoo! users will have an opportunity to participate in online polls available on Yahoo Movies! and Yahoo! Games. The following month, the top five picks from each poll will be displayed with "Yahoo! Picks" stickers and additional signage in Trans World’s retail stores. Customers who purchase a designated number of Yahoo! Picks titles will receive a complimentary Yahoo! gift.
Sony Computer Entertainment Opens First Dedicated PlayStation Store
Sony Computer Entertainment America will open a first-of-its-kind PlayStation retail store at Metreon, the new Sony Entertainment Center in downtown San Francisco, CA. The stand-alone, concept retail outlet will serve as the PlayStation flagship store designed to promote and broaden the PlayStation brand.
"Our new store at Metreon provides us the best opportunity to offer our loyal fans a one-stop shopping environment for everything that is PlayStation," said Kaz Hirai, President and COO, Sony Computer Entertainment. "This store will also provide the ideal venue for us to test new merchandising and promotional concepts which will benefit our retail partners.
The 5,531-square-foot store is outfitted with more than 30 interactive gaming stations, each including displays for at least four top titles at a time. This PlayStation "arcade" offers the most innovative, interactive sampling experience for consumers.
Budget Rent A Car Launches BidBudget
Budget Rent A Car Corp. has launched BidBudget, a new online bidding car rental program. BidBudget will be available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at Budget’s Web site. Placing a bid with Budget is as easy as a click of the mouse on the BidBudget icon. Within a day, Budget responds with an email notifying the customer if the bid was accepted.
"As an innovator in the industry, it seems only natural for Budget to be the first car rental company to offer an online bidding program to meet the needs of consumers who embrace Internet technology," said Sandy Miller, Chairman and CEO of Budget Group.
Kiosk Installations To Increase Four-Fold
The total number of kiosks installed in the U.S. will increase dramatically from 210,000 to 785,000 by 2004, according to a projection by Computer Economics, an independent research firm based in Carlsbad, CA.
"We estimate that the greatest growth in kiosk installation will occur during the years 2003 to 2004 with 140,000 new interactive kiosks being installed," said Michael Erbschloe, Director of Research and Advisory Services. The Company estimates that the number of kiosks will increase steadily during the next five years. The rate of growth to be greater with each year, except from 2001 to 2002, which will have a slightly slower amount of growth than the preceding year.
Reflex International, Inc. offers the SlimTouch product line, comprising complete "turn-key" LCD Touchscreen Kiosk Systems. These systems are available with an active matrix or DualScan LCD Module with Integrated Touchscreen, Pentium Computer and Stereo Speakers. Reflex also offers a complete line of CRT kiosk systems and integrated touch monitors including CRT and LCD models. Its tiger studios division offers complete multimedia development, including kiosk and presentation applications. For more information, contact Reflex International, 6624 Jimmy Carter Blvd., Norcross, GA 30071-1727, (Tel) 770-729-8909, (Fax) 770-729-8805, (Web) www.reflexintl.com.
RTC Industries Inc,. has introduced a Wireless Interactive LCD, which provides shelf-edge technology to allow remote wireless updates of shelf-edge electronic catalogs and product information centers. The primary benefit of this technology is that it can be updated via its built-in nationwide paging receiver. It may be battery powered and can be mounted right next to the product on the shelf-edge. For more information, contact RTC Industries Inc., 2800 Golf Road, Rolling Meadows, IL 60008; (Tel.) 847-640-2400; (Fax) 888-581-8274; (Web Site) www.rtcind.com.
Companion Systems, a leading builder of compelling retail environments for ATMs and electronic retail services, is now producing interactive kiosk enclosures. The company works with a wide variety of materials, with all electronics built in.For more information, contact Companion Systems, 645 West 200 North, North Salt Lake, UT 84054; (Tel) 801-936-8082, ext. 352, (Web site) www.CompanionSystems.com.
High Level Interactive Systems offers the CDLS 406T countertop design Listening Station, designed to maximize space. This marketing tool measures 25.5" W x 13.75" D x 27.25" H, holds 48 pieces of product (8 pieces per title) and allows the customer to listen to 6 full-length CDs. Stock finishes for this model include Berry Red and Royal Blue. Custom finishes are also available. For more information, about the CDSL 406T countertop CD listening station, as well as a complete line of floor model listening stations, contact High Level Interactive Systems, 4400 Coldwater Canyon Avenue, Studio City, CA 91604; (Tel) 818-769-7700, (Fax) 818-769-7133.
K2kiosks has announced the development of its Client/Server based networked kiosk technology. With availability of low cost, high performance Thin Client platforms, the next step is to integrate the technology into kiosks that require constant upload of information. The network allows a simpler process to monitor and distribute the information to the kiosk. For more information, contact Unique Products Systems, 4900 N. Dixie Hwy, #3, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33334; (Tel) 954-351-2277, (Web) www.k2kiosk.com.
New Interactive System For Restaurant Advtg.
Entertainment Systems Technology (EST) has introduced FunPad, an entertaining hand-held device that lets restaurant diners play games, select food and beverages and browse rich media content while waiting for their meals. This combination of high impact entertainment and marketing messages directed to diners creates a cost-effective medium.
Entertainment Systems Technology is deploying complete systems in California restaurants this summer including TGIFriday’s, Planet Hollywood, and National Sports Bar.
FunPad displays rich media advertising messages, ranging from full-motion video to multi-user games, all of which are accessible using Web-styled interfaces. Twin audio speakers, microphone, CCD camera and thermal printer allow customers to see, hear and print pictures. An iButton input device accepts personalization data from customers. FunPad can also be used to purchase tickets and vended merchandise at nearby entertainment and sports venues.
For more information, contact Entertainment Systems Technology, 17011 Beach Blvd., Huntington Beach, CA 92647; (Tel) 877-4-FUNPAD, (Web) www.funpad.com.
Zoom Systems Launches E-Stations
Zoom Systems has launched its E-station product line, an intelligent delivery system designed to provide consumers immediate access to both products and product selection information. "Gower Smith, CEO of the San Francisco, CA-based company, said, "Zoom’s E-station solution will give consumers the capability to buy a wide range of products anytime, anywhere. E-Stations give consumers the kind of fast information access they get from the Internet, as well as the instant product delivery they expect from vending machines.
AT ATM-like E-Stations, shoppers use interactive touch screens to easily access the information that will lead them to the products they wish to buy. The E-Station solution offers creative opportunities to retailers of both impulse and urgent-need products to expand their business reach.
For more information, contact Zoom Systems, 40 Gold Street, San Francisco, CA 94133; (Tel.) 415-788-1400; (Web site) www.zoomsystems.com.
Sony Signatures, the Licensing Division of Columbia TriStar Motion Picture Group recently asked Route 66 Products, a Los Angeles, CA-based multi-media production firm, to develop a custom, touch screen program for its trade show exhibits. For its 1999 Licensing Show exhibit, Sony featured 12 different touch screen units to provide convenient, instant access to Sony’s promotional materials for booth visitors.
PEARLSON DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION
8960 SW 87 Court
Miami, FL 33176
Tel. 305-598-3018
FAX 305-598-7161
E-Mail: kioskinfo@pearlson.com
Web Site www.pearlson.com
"The PDC-2300 Series, PDC-2600 Series", and PDC-2900 Series" are a complete family of free-standing, interactive, multimedia kiosks. Our contemporary 24 to 36 inch diameter designs are available in 28 models. Low-profile, tower, and sit-down units are appropriate for trade shows, retail point-of-sale, multimedia uses in museums and libraries, and for many public access applications. Rectangular and "flat front" cylindrical designs are also available. An optional keyboard support is available when a touchscreen is not being used, and a "telephone" type handset speaker can be used for those applications that include a "private"audio program. All of our kiosk designs meet the new ADA Accessibility guidelines for wheelchairs."
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