New Build-A-Bear Mobile Store Visits Sporting And Entertainment Venues
Build-A-Bear Workshop, the make-your-own stuffed animal retailer, is touring a mobile store to sporting and entertainment venues throughout the country this year, with the official premier at the Super Bowl.
“Build-A-Bear Workshop On Tour allows us to be in more places where families have fun,” said Maxine Clark, Founder and CEO.
While the tour crosses the country, guests are able to create a special memory with their family and friends as they create their new stuffed animal. Guests will also have a variety of clothing and accessory choices, including official licensed sporting gear specific to events. Similar to the bear-making process in mall-based stores, guests will walk through the stations of Choose Me, Hear Me, Stuff Me, Stitch Me, Fluff Me, Name Me, Dress Me and Take Me Home, all while at their event of choice.
PepsiCo Conducts Smart Spot Promotion
PepsiCo is conducting a major national retail promotion supporting its Smart Spot program and products. The Smart Spot designation indicates the product meets nutritious criteria based on the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the National Academy of Sciences. More than 100 products from PepsiCo including brand names like Tropicana, Quaker, Dole, Gatorade, Diet Pepsi and Baked! Lay’s carry the Smart Spot symbol.
The national promotion will be featured at PepsiCo’s largest U.S. retail customers. Significant point-of-purchase displays will include Smart Spot products in categories ranging from snacks to breakfast products to sports drinks, juices and other beverages.
The promotion also features a national sweepstakes, national rebates on the purchase of Smart Spot products and special offers.
‘Healthy Heart’ Screenings Conducted At Wal-Mart Stores & Sams Club
Wal-Mart stores and Sam’s Club pharmacies nationwide recently hosted a Healthy Heart event to raise awareness about heart disease. Consumers were offered cholesterol and blood pressure screenings at no charge, samples of heart-healthy products, and educational information in an effort to help shoppers identify, manage and reduce the risk factors for heart disease.
Bayer Healthcare, maker of Bayer Aspirin and One-A-Day multivitamins and Novartis, the maker of Benefiber and BP Success Zone, were the sponsors of the Healthy Heart event.
Sears Launches ‘Sears Essentials’
Sears, Roebuck & Co. has launched the Company’s newest off-mall format called Sears Essentials. This new mid-sized store format will leverage the best of Sears along with convenience-inspired items. Alan Lacy, Sears Chairman and CEO, said, “This new store format enables Sears to grow its brand off-mall and better meet the everyday needs of our customers.”
Sears Essentials will offer Sears’ product categories that are integral to home and family life, such as appliances, lawn and garden, tools, electronics, apparel and home fashions along with routinely purchased convenience items such as health and beauty, pantry, household and paper products, pet supplies, and toys.
Castrol SYNTEC Partners With Hip Hop Icon Funkmaster Flex
BP Lubricants is teaming up with hip hop car culture icon Funkmaster Flex to put the Castrol SYNTEC motor oil brand in front of his devoted fan base. Marketing plans include Castrol SYNTEC product and logo placements on “Ride With Funmaster Flex” and the “Funkmaster Flex Super Series,” auto-performance shows that air on Spike TV. A custom Castrol SYNTEC car will be featured on Flex’s TV show, and shown throughout his “Celebrity Car Show Tour,” a traveling car/music show.
“Flex’s passion for finely tuned and customized vehicles is inspiring and we’re thrilled to forge this partnership, putting our highest performing motor oil brand-Castrol SYNTEC-alongside his highly acclaimed shows, events and fans,” said Mike DeBiasi, Castrol SYNTEC Brand Manager.
Expedia Launches Expedia!fun Kiosks
Expedia, Inc. is launching its new Expedia!fun brand via 36 newly branded kiosks in Hawaii, which provide travelers with a physical location for booking vacation activities, tours and attractions during their trip. The brand launch is an evolution of Expedia’s commitment to helping travelers with every part of their trip, whether in the planning or purchase process or while consumers are at their destination.
“Expedia is bringing its expertise in travel to help customers plan and have great vacations, and that includes what you do when you get there,” said Jamie McDonald, V.P., Destination Services, Expedia. “Expedia!fun extends our brand beyond the Internet and provides travelers with an easy and trusted way to book travel services.”
Participating hotels have the opportunity to reward guests with certificates that can be redeemed at the Expedia!fun desks.
W Hotels Partners With Chrysler To Launch ‘Car Concierge’ Service
W Hotels Worldwide and Chrysler are partnering to offer a new Car Concierge service, which will provide VIP shuttle service and test-drives in Chrysler 300s and Chrysler Crossfires at select W Hotels.
Chrysler 300s, adorned with the W logo and signature flourish, will be staffed with a fully trained driver, who will whisk guests away to their desired destination. Guests staying at the W Los Angeles and W San Francisco are invited to take one of three Crossfires for a test drive for up to 24-hours.
W Hotels and Chrysler are promoting the Car Concierge with on-property Chrysler Concierge kiosks.
The Home Depot’s ‘Virtual Apartment’ Takes Center Stage In Manhattan Store
The Home Depot recently opened its second Manhattan store bringing 108,000 sq. ft. of home improvement ideas to Midtown Manhattan. Shoppers will find a unique offering of high-end décor items and expanded customer services, like custom closet design and the largest tool center in Manhattan.
Additionally, the store differentiates itself with a “virtual apartment” in the lobby, a 1,400 sq. ft. space exhibiting project-based, real-life expressions in a mock one bedroom apartment.
“The new 59th Street store embodies the spirit of Manhattan and is designed to inspire our customers by helping them see the potential to improve their urban spaces,” said Tom Taylor, Eastern Div. President, Home Depot. The ‘virtual apartment’ gives The Home Depot an opportunity to showcase our most innovative and distinctive products in a way that is relevant.”
Lowe’s & Dremel Conduct Derby Car All-Star Design Contest
Lowe’s and Dremel have launched the Derby Car All-Star Design Contest, offering four kids the opportunity to win a trip to Lowe’s Motor Speedway where NASCAR driver Jimmie Johnson will award them with a trophy.
To enter the competition, kids ages seven to 10, are encouraged to design a unique derby car and submit their design to Lowe’s at Lowes.com/Dremel.
To give kids a head start, Lowe’s will offer Dremel demonstrations in select stores to help children plan and execute their design. The goal of the demonstration is to share tips and derby car building techniques with children and parents.
Tweeter Opens Las Vegas Prototype
Tweeter Home Entertainment Group has opened its new Tweeter Entertainment Architects prototype store in Summerlin, NV. “The Las Vegas store offers discerning home and mobile entertainment buyers a new way to shop and provides a new array of solutions and services from industry partners like HP and Microsoft that share our vision for the future,” said Jeffrey Stone, Tweeter’s CEO.
The store features HP's Digital Entertainment Center, and will provide a living demonstration of this technology in a digital home setting. The HP Media Center PCs will connect the rooms of Tweeter’s home-like showroom consisting of a living room, kitchen, bedroom, sports bar, office and even an outdoor setting.
First HDTV Warehouse Opens
HDTV Warehouse, a new specialty retail concept stressing selection, price and service, has opened in Orange, CT. The pilot location will feature 50 different models of high definition LCD, Plasma and Rear Projection HDTV sets on display, with price points ranging from $369 for a 13" LCD to $14,999 for a 65" plasma set. “Humanizing the HDTV buying experience is part and parcel of our mission,” said HDTV Warehouse CEO, John Mlynski, who previously was President of Gateway Country.
HDTV Warehouse seeks to differentiate itself from big-box consumer electronics stores by offering a more personalized level of service, a greater selection and lower pricing. Said Mlynski, “For those customers who prefer to browse on their own, the store’s layout, informational literature and display units, and other graphic elements are specifically designed to take them on a complete journey that promotes understanding and clarifies the range of products offered.”
Richmond American Homes Introduces Home Gallery Concept
Richmond American recently opened its flagship Home Gallery store in Denver, CO. The Home Gallery offers thousands of options for customizing a new home all in one convenient location.
The 11,000 sq. ft. Home Gallery features flooring, countertops, lighting and plumbing fixtures, cabinetry, paint, appliances, home entertainment, security and technology wiring and closet solutions. The Color Studio enables homebuyers to view color schemes that have been coordinated by design consultants. Buyers can view interactive information kiosks and video screens or receive individualized attention from a team of new home specialists.
In 2005, Richmond American plans to open up to 10 Home Galleries nationwide.
Homebuilder D.R. Horton & DIRECTV To Market New DIRECTV-Ready Homes
D.R. Horton, a leading homebuilder, and DIRECTV, have announced a marketing agreement that will enable DIRECTV to showcase its services in D.R. Horton model homes, showrooms and design centers across the country. D.R. Horton model homes and design centers will feature home theatre systems with DIRECTV service. Homebuyers will have the option to purchase a DIRECTV-ready home from D.R. Horton.
“Our relationship with D.R. Horton provides DIRECTV the opportunity to market directly to consumers who are buying a new home and making the initial decision about their entertainment services,” said Daren Benzi, V.P., Sales Development, DIRECTV. “We believe a ‘DIRECTV-ready’ home will resonate with our customers and play a role in their home-buying decision,” said Ric Rojas, V.P., D.R. Horton.
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