Samsung Experience Opens In NYC
The Samsung Experience, a 10,000-sq. ft. interactive venue featuring virtual reality experiences and technology, has opened at the Time Warner Center in New York City.
The site features hundreds of Samsung products in unique technology demonstrations such as a virtual world in a 360-degree interactive simulation, a map of the city that can be manipulated with hand gestures, and a digital fashion collection created by one of New York’s hottest designers.
The Samsung Experience is not a store and is always free of charge. Visitors are invited to learn how the latest devices can enrich their lives. “Samsung Experience is digital convergence in its purest form; where you can see, hear, touch and create the art of the possible,” said Dong Jin Oh, CEO of Samsung Electronics NA. “The venue will become a great educational resource, communicating the benefits of digital technology without the pressures of a sales environment.”
Samsung will also pioneer an innovative loaner program. Visitors to the Samsung Experience will be able to take a hard-disk based camcorder with them to shoot video around New York City. Once they return, they can edit the footage at kiosks inside the Experience, burn their movies onto DVDs and return home with a digital souvenir. Visitors will also be able to use Samsung Napster MP3 players to download songs off Napster to CDs, and also download ring tones to their cell phones.
RadioShack & Sprint To Place Kiosks In Nation’s Top Shopping Malls
RadioShack Corporation and Sprint have reached a multi-year agreement to develop, deploy and operate Sprint-branded kiosks in approximately 500 of the nation’s leading shopping malls.
“This expanded kiosk program will accelerate our Retail Services business which will be an integral part of our growth strategy for the coming years,” said Leonard Roberts, RadioShack’s Chairman and CEO. “Wireless is a cornerstone of our business thanks in part to our great relationship with Sprint over the past eight years. The Sprint Kiosk test proves we can reach additional customers with minimal cannibalization to our existing wireless business.”
According to the agreement, RadioShack will provide Sprint with a turn-key retail solution that leverages its own infrastructure. Through the kiosk program, RadioShack and Sprint intend to capture a greater share of the high-end, youth and pre-paid market through locating kiosks in malls and by including Virgin Mobile in the product line-up. The kiosks will be stocked with the full assortment of Sprint phones, including PDA and multi-media phones.
Rock The Vote Features Voter Registration Kiosks In 7-Eleven Stores
Rock the Vote recently partnered with Sunkist Orange Soda, 7 UP and 7-Eleven in an effort to mobilize 20 million young people to vote this year.
The nation’s leading nonprofit, non-partisan youth voter organization and Sunkist Soda plan to distribute at least 1 million voter registration forms via voter registration kiosks placed in participating 7-Eleven stores across the country. In-store signage will help drive customers to the Rock the Vote kiosk. An in-store coupon at the kiosk will offer savings on Sunkist, 7 UP, and Super Big Gulp drinks.
“We realized we had a landmark opportunity to empower consumers with a retail partner program, and 7-Eleven was the right retailer,” said Tony Jacobs, V.P. Sunkist Soda. “It’s a great destination to house Rock the Vote information, and it’s heavily frequented by two customer segments less likely to be registered to vote: 18-22 year-olds and Hispanics.”
“Participating in Rock the Vote is a great way for us to reach out to the 18-22 year old segment, as well as make voter registration easy and convenient for them,” said Doug Foster, Managing Director of Marketing for 7-Eleven.
Snapfish Opens Premier Concept Store
Snapfish, a leading online photo service, has opened a concept retail store in Alexandria, VA, combining the value, ease of use and selection of its online services with the convenience of a retail store.
Now local Snapfish customers can order prints online and pick-up their order at the retail store. Multiple Snapfish Station kiosks offer free online access to Snapfish. The store will also demonstrate to retailers how online services can increase sales and profits for existing photo retail businesses. Snapfish’s selection of over 70 unique photo products will also be on display in the concept retail store.
Neil Cohen, Chairman of Snapfish, said, “With this new store Snapfish has come up with the ideal way for retailers and online services to combine their strengths and offer customers a better experience than either one could on their own.”
HP Offers Fairmont Hotel Guests ‘Picture Perfect’ Vacations
HP and Fairmont Hotels & Resorts recently conducted a program allowing vacationers to experience digital photography. Hotel guests at 10 Fairmont properties across the U.S. could use the newest HP Photosmart digital cameras and printers during their stay.
“Together with Fairmont, HP is providing a unique digital photography experience in a natural setting; vacations, where consumers can appreciate the ability to easily capture and instantly share memories of their trip,” said Kathy Stromberg, V.P., Consumer Marketing, HP. “This is the latest example of HP’s experiential marketing approach, including in-store kiosks, and mobile digital photography tours.”
Laurentian Launches Espresso Bank-Café
Laurentian Bank is providing customers with a more relaxed and friendly environment with the debut of the Espresso Bank-Café. Laurentian Bank and Van Houtte Café are pooling their knowledge to offer their customers the products and services that have made their reputation, in a warm atmosphere with upscale décor.
With the concept of the Espresso Bank-Café, Laurentian Bank and Van Houtte Café share a common space in an open area, where they will offer their products and services in a distinct but well-integrated way. A lounge section in the center allows customers to relax.
“Our objective with the Espresso Bank-Café is to create an attractive and surprising point of sale,” said Rejean Robitaille, Exec. V.P., Retail Financial Services at Laurentian Bank. “We want customers who come into the branch to have a different experience. As a neighborhood bank, we will also provide information seminars to demystify personal banking.”
Seattle’s Best Coffee Opens In Borders
Borders and Seattle’s Best Coffee, a subsidiary of Starbucks Corp., have formed an agreement in which Borders will operate Seattle’s Best Coffee cafes in more than 400 Borders Books & Music stores.
“Enjoying a great cup of coffee is an important part of the shopping experience at Borders and is one reason our customers spend more time with us,” said Vin Altruda, President, Borders Stores. “With the conversion to SBC cafes, Borders is improving on what is already a compelling distinction in our stores.”
The agreement highlights Starbuck’s commitment to growing the SBC brand while leveraging its experience and expertise in licensing.
Meow Mix Café Opens In NYC
The Meow Mix Café recently opened in New York City offering a unique culinary experience for cats, as well as interactive games for both cats and owners, themed to a host of the featured entrees.
Feline entrees at the Meow Mix Café feature seven varieties of new Meow Mix Wet Food Pouches, including Cluck-a-Doodle-Doo, Deep Sea Delight, and Fillet Meow. For each Meow Mix flavor, owners will be able to enjoy a comparable dish. The café features toys and games for cats and owners alike, including games based on new Meow Mix flavors, such as Hook, Line and Sinkers, where owners and their pets will be able to fish for valuable prizes. The Meow Mix Café will include a gift shop.
The flagship Meow Mix Café is an experimental concept. Based on its success, Meow Mix will either open a chain of cafes or create a mobile café on wheels.
P&G Launches Tide With Touch Of Downy
For the first time, Procter & Gamble has brought together two of America’s most trusted brands, Tide and Downy, to launch new Tide with a Touch of Downy. P&G has committed significant marketing weight with an innovative marketing campaign.
P&G identified an unmet need among a sub-set of women who want clean and soft laundry, but were either unwilling or forgetting to add liquid fabric softener. The marketing campaign has a consistent theme celebrating softness and clean and includes advertising, in-store programs and product sampling.
Consumers will also see a variety of displays in-store including soft and clean pillows touting the product in the laundry aisle and end-aisle.
World’s First Large Format, High-Fidelity Cinematic Salon & Spa Opens
FX Studios in Baltimore, Maryland, is redefining grooming and esthetics by making the entire experience more enjoyable and less intimidating. FX Studios features four home theatre waiting areas with 16-foot screens, an Internet lounge and complimentary beverages including beer and wine while you wait for your stylist or esthetician.
Inside the cinematic salon and spa, guests are amazed at the 19 individualized hair studios complete with Dolby surround sound and 15-inch flat screens showing Hollywood films. According to the Company, by focusing on the experience, FX Studios presents a dynamic new business model for a “stop-and-chop” nation.
Loews Cineplex & Lavalife Introduce ‘Click At A Flick’ Singles Program
Loews Cineplex Entertainment and Lavalife have formed a partnership to host “Click at a Flick,” special Wednesday night movie screenings in major metropolitan areas designed for singles. Single moviegoers have the opportunity to mingle in the theater before the lights go down as part of a pre-movie party sponsored by Svedka Vodka and Joe Boxer, featuring complimentary cocktails, sexy surveys and music to help singles connect.
“Loews is always happy to bring people together to share the love of movies,” said John McCauley, Sr. V.P., Marketing for Loews Cineplex. “We are pleased to partner with Lavalife, and our sponsors Svedka and Joe Boxer, and believe they will help launch a program that will be the impetus for many to enjoy subsequent dates at the movies.”
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