Creative Online

CREATIVE Marketing Trends
June/July 2009


Dedicated Shop In Toys"R"Us Stores Features Kid-Focused Assortment Of Snacks, Candy, Home & Healthcare Items

To help make shopping even more convenient for time-strapped parents, Toys"R"Us, Inc. has introduced "R" Market, a new, dedicated shop featuring an expanded assortment of consumables and commodities in select Toys"R"Us stores nationwide. Located at the front of more than 260 of the company's 585 Toys"R"Us stores, "R" Market will roll out to additional locations across the country later this year.

"R" Market features nearly 1,300 essential and discretionary products from trusted brands. ranging from favorite snacks and beverages for lunchboxes, to a broad selection of candy for family movie night.

This shop bolsters the company's position as a one-stop shopping destination for families and kids. “As part of our business strategy, we are continually focused on improving the shopping experience for customers in our stores. This includes looking for new ways to provide busy parents with the convenience of finding everything they need for their kids under one roof," said Jerry Storch, CEO, Toys"R"Us.


Marbles: The Brain Store Opens in Chicago

Marbles: The Brain Store has opened in Chicago. The Brain Store offers more than 250 products, including word puzzles, brain teasers, educational games, and brain-fitness software, that enhance memory, critical thinking, coordination, visual perception and word skills.

The Brain Store was created by two Chicago entrepreneurs who, after hearing their parents express concern about Alzheimer's and dementia, were inspired to provide a place where people can find new, engaging activities to keep their brains active and also learn about the brain.


Economy Motivates Bass Pro To Provide Free Family Summer Activities

Bass Pro Shops has decided to do something to help families enjoy activities together as a family at an affordable price - absolutely free! Family Summer Camp events will be held at Bass Pro Shops destination retail stores across America and Canada. Every weekend stores will be offering free craft activities for the kids including decorating a fishing bobber, making key chains, designing their own birdhouse, creating plaster animal tracks and painting a souvenir wooden lure for Dad. The whole family will enjoy free outdoor workshops about hiking, camping and fishing basics. Other workshops include bird watching, archery, animal identification, plants & insects, and even how to make campfire S'mores. Kids will earn a collectable pin for every workshop completed. Store activities will include a laser shooting gallery and casting pond.


EA SPORTS Launches Fitness Campaign For Women

With the launch of EA SPORTS Active™ for the Wii, Electronic Arts is launching its first fitness product advertising campaign specifically targeted to women.

The “I’m Active” campaign, an integrated campaign that includes media and event marketing, is designed to empower women to reach their personal fitness goals. With EA SPORTS Active, they can fit a workout into their daily routine. EA SPORTS Active is the first in a line of virtual fitness products intended to inspire and enable the training and well-being of people of all ages and fitness levels.

“EA SPORTS Active is an exciting new category for us and expands our marketing well beyond traditional video game advertising,” said Dana Marineau, Ad Director Electronic Arts.


7-Eleven Plans Aggressive Expansion

7-Eleven, Inc. is focused on growing its store base to expand its convenience offering in the U.S. and Canada. While many retailers are contracting or limiting expansion, 7-Eleven is aggressively growing and expects to add more than 200 new stores this year.

7-Eleven has a multi-pronged approach to growth that includes in-line, end-cap space in shopping centers, freestanding stores, urban locations in light industrial sites, city residential areas and suburbia.

7-Eleven’s latest growth vehicle is its Business Conversion Program, where the company looks for existing independent retail store operators who want to convert to the national chain and become a part of 7-Eleven's franchise system.


Jamba Juice Transforms Retail Concept With Grab And Go Food

Jamba Juice has launched the most significant addition to its menu offerings since its opening in 1990, with the California rollout of Grab and Go food, flatbreads and cold tea infusions. The food debut is part of the chain's broader strategy to transform its overall retail concept, expanding beyond its smoothie roots to become a mealtime destination for a complete range of simple and healthy lifestyle options.

The Grab and Go food consists of four different wraps, including an Asian Style Chicken Wrap, Chimichurri Chicken, Greek Goodness (which is vegetarian) and the Greens and Grains Wrap (which is vegan). Jamba will also offer a Gobble'licious turkey sandwich and two salads--Caesar the Day! and CousCous & Produce.

In addition to the introduction of food, Jamba Juice is extending its drink offerings with the launch of Fruit Tea Infusions--an infusion of organic green tea and natural fruit juices served over crushed ice.


Coca-Cola Introduces New Proprietary ‘Freestyle’ Fountain Dispenser

Coca-Cola has introduced “Coca-Cola Freestyle,” its new proprietary fountain dispenser “Coca-Cola Freestyle brings to life the refreshingly positive outlook that has always been associated with Coca-Cola," said Chandra Stephens-Albright, Sr. Marketing Director for the brand. “It brings back the magic of the fountain of the past, re-imagines it for the future and then takes it a step farther by celebrating the idea that consumers can truly have their say at fountain.”

The new self-serve fountains are touch screen operated, enabling consumers to select from more than 100 calorie and no-calorie brands - including varieties of waters, juices, teas and sparkling beverages that have never been sold in the United States.


Pepsi And MTV's Rock Band Team Up For ‘Drink Up, Rock Out’ Promotion

MTV Games and Pepsi have formed a multi-platform “Drink Up, Rock Out” promotion that will give away thousands of Rock Band DLC music tracks and games. Specially-marked packages of 20-ounce and 1-liter bottles of Pepsi, Diet Pepsi, Pepsi Max and other Pepsi products encourage consumers to look under the cap for a code and then go to www.PepsiRockBand.com to enter the code for a chance to win prizes. During the promotion, MTV and Pepsi will give away a Rock Band(R)2 Special Edition bundle every hour and thousands of Rock Band downloadable tracks each day.

“MTV’'s Rock Band has quickly established a new gaming platform that is extremely popular with music fans and gamers alike,” said Ralph Santana, VP of cola marketing, Pepsi-Cola.


Carl’s Jr. Opens Green Flagship

Carl's Jr. has opened its new flagship restaurant in Carpinteria, CA, an environmentally friendly unit where sustainability, conservation and energy efficiency will be evaluated for potential company-wide implementation at both Carl’s Jr. restaurants and at sister-chain Hardee’s.

Green features of the new Carl's Jr. flagship restaurant include: Highly efficient ENERGY STAR rated equipment; Roofing material that is solar reflective and cuts heat absorption into the restaurant; A rainwater reuse system that collects for use during drier seasons; A smart irrigation system that senses existing ground moisture and effectively determines how much to water landscaping; An energy management system that is electronically controlled; there are no light switches in the building, all systems are controlled electronically; More efficient LED parking lot lights; Construction with low-emitting material, including: adhesives and sealants, paints and coatings; and a catalyst which converts charbroiler particulate into carbon dioxide and water, reducing smoke, odors and emissions.


Eco Shoppe Chooses Austin, TX For First Retail Location

The first Eco Shoppe has opened in Austin, TX, owned and operated by The Vitamin Shoppe. Eco Shoppe will bring the best in green living products to consumers. Departments include apparel, home & garden, gifts, office, pets, kids & baby, yoga and conservation. Products in Eco Shoppe are purchased from fair trade and/or small independent eco friendly manufacturers as well as leading eco brands.

Eco Shoppe is expecting to receive LEED certification. The fixtures have 42% recycled content. Rapidly renewable materials used in the store include Bamboo composite products and veneers, as well as solid Douglas fir lumber. Eco Shoppe will also make most of its signs on specially made "seeded paper." Once Eco Shoppe is done using the sign, it will be cut up and given out free to customers. Customers can then plant the paper and watch beautiful flowers grow.


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