New ‘Graze’ Brand Targets Youth At Sam Goody Stores
Musicland Group has launched Graze, a new brand that invites youth to experience digital products and content in a non-traditional retail environment. Graze will be featured in Musicland’s Sam Goody retail stores and as a stand-alone kiosk in select malls.
“Musicland is reinventing itself as an entertainment lifestyle destination while celebrating our music heritage,” said Jack Chadsey, Musicland’s CEO. “Graze is more than a physical location extending into the digital space; it will evolve into a youth-inspired way of thinking, doing and living that captures the vibe of a generation.”
Graze stores have recently opened throughout the Philadelphia area with flagship prototypes in Deptford, NJ and Mall of America, in Bloomington, MN. Graze offers a unique gathering place that encourages community and engages all five senses through interactive table displays, directional sound, a see-through video wall and scent machines. Lounge guests hear various environmental sounds, have their sense of smell awakened by pleasant aromas, and watch the latest concert on the video wall, all while sampling the latest digital products. Customers can experience the latest digital wireless devices including pre- and post-paid phones, MP3 players, portable video games and digital cameras in an environment that encourages product exploration and interaction with others. Graze visitors can also access the latest mobile content such as ringtones, wallpaper, and games; burn customized CDs and create digital images to share within the Graze community.
The company is also reinventing existing categories, including posters and t-shirts. Both initiatives fall within the company’s on-demand strategy-offering consumers more choice and control of their shopping experience. To enhance its poster offering, the “Off The Wall” section allows customers to access thousands of posters and art images from kiosks and print them in the store.
As mobile and digital technologies continue to converge, Musicland will evolve Graze to ensure cutting-edge product offerings and a fresh shopping experience.
First Chevy Showcase Retail Store To Open At Mall
Kravco Simon Co., manager of King Of Prussia Mall and General Motors’ Chevrolet division have formed a marketing alliance that will bring a unique retail concept-ChevyShowcase-to King of Prussia Mall.
The ChevyShowcase store will feature five to six Chevrolet vehicles. Staffed by a team of Chevrolet specialists, this concept will allow Chevrolet to showcase its vehicles to a broad audience of customers.
“The driving concept behind our ChevyShowcase retail store is to show consumers the wide variety of Chevrolet products designed to fit every lifestyle,” said Dave Klemm, Regional Marketing Manager, Chevrolet. “The partnership with King of Prussia Mall gives Chevrolet a premier marketing venue to attract new customers. Our existing customers will get a chance to see the latest updates to their favorite vehicles.”
Other elements of the deal include vehicle displays positioned at key locations in the mall outside Philadelphia; Chevrolet-produced events throughout the year; strategic signage and promotional materials throughout the mall; and on-site test drive opportunities.
Gizmondo Kiosks Placed In Top Malls
Tiger Telematics, Gizmondo is launching a $30 million marketing campaign to launch the Gizmondo multi-entertainment handheld in North America.
Part of the new marketing retail initiative will be placement of mall kiosks coast-to-coast in the U.S. where consumers will be able to experience every aspect of the hardware, presented by well-trained Gizmondo staff. The kiosk will spur sales in retail outlets unrelated to Gizmondo from the marketing aspects of displaying, testing and sampling the units.
Carl Freer, Chairman, Tiger Telematics, said, “We’re excited about the enormous marketing potential represented by the Kiosk initiative. This gives us the opportunity to engage the consumer on a one-to-one basis and walk them through the awesome entertainment experience only available on the Gizmondo handheld.”
Dell Direct Stores Now Reach More Than Half Of U.S. Population
With the opening of the 145th Dell Direct Store in San Francisco, CA recently, Dell announced its convenient shopping kiosks are now within reach of more than 50% of the U.S. population.
Dell Direct Stores were launched in 2002 as a hands-on complement to Dell.com and phone sales. The stores showcase an assortment of Dell's newest plasma and LCD TVs, notebook and desktop computers, printers, music players and digital cameras. Direct Stores are staffed by representatives ready to assist customers with questions or help with their online purchases.
Alienware Opens First Retail Location
Alienware, manufacturer of high-performance desktops, notebooks, media centers, servers and professional systems, has opened its first retail location at Dadeland Mall in Miami, FL. The new location allows customers to try out the latest Alienware products, speak face-to-face with technology experts, sign up to take instructional classes and play the hottest PC games, as well as test drive, custom configure and buy Alienware systems. The retail location marks the launch of Alienware's initiative to create an incredible user experience.
“The mission of our new retail location is to create an exuberant user experience that has been thrilling thousands of Alienware customers since 1996,” said Nelson Gonzalez, CEO for Alienware. “The retail location represents an opportunity for customers to see the entire line of Alienware systems, as well as never-before-seen products, in a personal and interactive manner.”
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