Yahoo! To Showcase Products In Marshall Field’s Chicago Store
Marshall Field’s and Yahoo! Inc. have opened a Yahoo!-dedicated area within Marshall Field’s State Street store in Chicago. Located on the main floor and designed in tones of yellow and purple, the Yahoo! Lounge will be contemporary and inviting, providing a perfect backdrop for its computer kiosks and multi-media presentations. Whether guests are Internet novices or experts, they will be able to sample and experience some of Yahoo!'s hottest consumer product offerings. Marshall Field’s also plans to sell Yahoo!-branded products that include digital cameras, webcams, keyboards, and speakers.
“This initiative gives us the opportunity to put Yahoo! into the hands of the consumers in a retail environment,” said Murray Gaylord, Yahoo!’s V.P., Brand Marketing. Ralph Hughes, Marshall Field’s Regional Director, said “We wanted to bring a resource to our guests that would be relevant and fun. Yahoo! will give our guests an opportunity to find out about other exciting ways to use the Internet.”
The lounge will be staffed by team members dedicated solely to providing assistance on the sampling of Yahoo! products, and will feature a different Yahoo! product or service each month. Yahoo! will also be featured in a window at the State Street store.
Sears Grand Offers An Off-Mall Concept
Sears Grand, an off-mall concept complementary to Sears’ mall-based Full-line stores, has made its debut in West Jordan, Utah. In addition to carrying everything a Sears Full-line store offers, Sears Grand also will provide convenience-inspired goods in a location located closer to more customers’ homes.
“We’re providing those everyday solutions customers have told us they need as part of their busy life,” said Jerry Post, Sr. V.P., Growth Strategy, Sears, Roebuck and Co.
Sears Grand maximizes the retailer’s strengths, including its comprehensive mix of high-quality proprietary and national brands, complimented by related services found only at Sears. While browsing hundreds of national and Sears-exclusive brands or perusing the garden center, Sears Grand customers can also have their car serviced, get their eyes examined, sip a cup of coffee at the cafe, have keys made, get window blinds cut or have custom paint mixed.
Todd Oldham Designs La-Z-Boy Line
Designer Todd Oldham has partnered with La-Z-Boy, a leading manufacturer of upholstered furniture, to design a line of furnishings for the living and family rooms, including sofas, accessories, occasional furniture, and of course, reclining chairs.
“Todd Oldham’s focus on stylish yet practical designs makes him a great fit for La-Z-Boy. He’s also perfect for the La-Z-Boy customer -- someone who appreciates the comfort and quality of La-Z-Boy furniture as much as the look,” said Doug Collier, V.P., Marketing for La-Z-Boy. “And, with a presence on MTV as well as a successful collection for Target, Todd is well-known among young, fashion-conscious consumers.”
Vans Shoes And Urban Decay Cosmetics Team Up To Target Teens
Vans, Inc. and Urban Decay Cosmetics, LLC. are teaming up to bring back one of Vans’ best-selling shoes from the Nineties, a limited edition “Urban Decay” Vans Plat Sidestripe, which comes packaged with a bonus gift of custom-created, hot pink “Vans Plat” Urban Decay XXX Shine Lip Gloss. Additionally, Vans and Urban Decay are partnering to bring teens a sweepstakes with one lucky person winning a year's worth of Vans shoes and Urban Decay cosmetics.
Gary Schoenfeld, CEO of Vans, said, “Urban Decay’s edgy and fun attitude is the perfect match for our brand and our target customer.”
The Vans Plat Sidestripe will be available in the exclusive Urban Decay black/hot pink style. The new Plat Sidestripe is accented with over-sized ribbon laces, the new Vans girls logo and special Urban Decay edition packaging. The custom “Vans Plat”" XXX Shine Lip Gloss is only available for a limited time with purchase of the “Urban Decay” Plat Sidestripe.
‘The Experience’ Opens At Macy’s
The Experience At, LLC, a unique retail consumer electronics concept has opened its first flagship location at Macy’s Herald Square in New York City.
The Experience At Macy’s encompasses 1,850 sq. ft. of retail space and provides a “mall within a store.” The Experience carries limited in-store inventory thus maximizing the branding and merchandising of the retail selling floor. The Experience At Macy's services customers with manufacturer supported direct to consumer logistics.
“Macy’s Herald Square is an ideal launch location for our business,” said Ken Sternfeld, CEO. “The department store channel uniquely converges in-home services, life style products, and a loyal customer base.”
The key selling features of The Experience At Macy’s are lifestyle solutions to home theater that give the consumer the opportunity to purchase an individual product or to purchase the home theater environment in its entirety -- furnishings and all.
Best Buy Kiosks Offer Digital Music
The Rolling Stones’ historic recordings for EMI Music’s Virgin Records are now available in digital format for the first time, through RealNetworks’ RHAPSODY digital music service. This marks the first time that The Rolling Stones’ albums have been available though a legal online music service.
Best Buy is the exclusive brick and mortar retailer offering subscriptions to RHAPSODY during The Rolling Stones exclusive period. Best Buy is bringing RHAPSODY to customers through interactive kiosks in more than 560 retail stores.
MICHAEL K. Store Features Concept Shops
MICHAEL K. has opened in New York’s SoHo district, housing 20 different concept shops. The store-within-store spaces let fashion leaders display their attitude and aesthetic.
That means the Puma lab, displays its footwear in refrigerators - because it’s that cool. North Face’s shop centers on a wind-and-rain room where customers can test drive products. Vendors like Timberland, Polo Jeans, Fred Perry, Lacoste, and Adidas use their spaces to showcase their top-of-the-line pieces.
MICHAEL K.’s large story walls are made up of video screens, signage, and recessed display cases. Story walls display content changes weekly. The store is built to resemble a state-of-the-art nightclub complete with programmable lighting, concert-quality sound and video technology with 200 large projection screens, plasma monitors, LCDs and floor-mounted small screens throughout the store. Three ground-floor stages allow for live performances.
Apple Opens Retail Store In Chicago
Apple has opened its first high profile retail store in downtown Chicago.
The Apple Store North Michigan Avenue features: an Internet cafe where visitors can check email and use Apple’s new digital video cameras to video conference with friends and family; a class Studio that overlooks an eco-friendly greenroof garden; a 40’ long Genius Bar, where anyone can ask the Mac “Genius” questions; “solution centers” where visitors can learn about the latest Apple solutions for digital photography, music and movies; an expanded kids section with seven computer stations connected to the Internet; and a 48-seat theater, where customers can watch demonstrations of Apple’s latest innovations, take classes and attend “Made on a Mac” events.
Home Depot Opens Two-Level Store In Chicago’s Lincoln Park
Home Depot has opened its first two-level store in Chicago’s Lincoln Park. The two-level store breaks the design mold of traditional Home Depots with its airy open spaces and natural light exposures. The interior design also departs from tradition with home décor products placed in a serene second-floor setting, while hardware, plumbing and building materials occupy the street level.
The store marks Home Depot’s deepest foray yet into a modern urban environment. Jim Warrington, Global Product Merchant, Home Depot, said, “A regular Home Depot wouldn’t fit here. But by choosing the merchandise in demand within the neighborhood, we can get the job done in a smaller store.”
Albertsons Opens First Hispanic Format Store In San Diego
Albertsons has opened its first Hispanic format, full-service ‘Super Saver’ store in the San Diego area. “Our Super Saver stores better serve our Hispanic customer base by providing authentic products and specialized services at competitive prices,” said Dave Simonson, Albertsons Southern California Div. President.
Albertsons has been expanding its ethnic food variety over the past few years. Super Saver takes Albertsons' commitment to neighborhood marketing to the next level through enhanced service and fresh departments and bi-lingual ads, in-store signage and associates.
Super Saver will provide authentic merchandise and made-to-order products including Nopales, tomatillas, an enhanced variety of chiles, peppers and fruits. The Carniceria is piled high with marinated meats including milenesa, carne asada and tripe.
Payless ShoeSource Express Opens In Grocery Stores
The first Payless ShoeSource Express store in a grocery store has opened at the new 78,000-sq. ft. HEB grocery store in Laredo, TX. John Haugh, Chief Marketing Officer for Payless ShoeSource, said, “This is the first time we’ve executed a full store-within-store setup in a grocery store. Consumers will appreciate the convenience this approach delivers.”
The new Payless ShoeSource Express in HEB is a 700-sq. ft. store featuring women’s and kids’ products to match the grocery shopping demographic. Payless ShoeSource Express stores offer a subset of the seasonal collection found in a full-scale Payless store.
Thalia Collection Merchandised At Kmart
Actress and singer Thalia Sodi has collaborated with Kmart Corp. on a new Collection, to be sold at select Kmart stores across the country. “This new merchandise is designed to meet the needs of the new American neighborhood-a melting pot of culture, lifestyle and trend,” said Julian Day, Kmart CEO. The Collection includes apparel for women and girls, footwear, accessories, jewelry, intimates, hosiery and bed and bath products.
The Thalia Sodi Collection is merchandised in “boutique” style. Apparel and accessories are merchandised together so that creating a coordinated outfit is effortless. Bright pink signage features photography of Thalia wearing her apparel and the Thalia Sodi signature logo. The Thalia Sodi Collection will be promoted throughout Kmart’s advertising circular and Spanish-language publication, “La Vida.” In-store signage highlights the unique qualities of the Thalia collection, with language such as, “Be Bold,” “Be Original,” and “Be Yourself.”
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