Dell Opens Retail Experience Store
The Dell Retail Experience recently opened in Dallas’ NorthPark Center offering consumers a hands-on approach to Dell's direct sales model.
The store delivers a unique and differentiated retail experience that is consistent with Dell's brand persona and is a hybrid concept of Dell's direct model and a conventional electronics store. Products on display include PC desktops, lap tops, home theater systems, plasma TVs and digital cameras. However, consumers cannot take the product with them. Instead, consumers order product on-line in-store with home delivery. The Retail Experience store mimic's Dell's direct-sale model where the product is actually purchased and shipped to the customer. Dell has been selling its products from free-standing kiosks in malls since 1994. The Retail Experience is an evolution of the kiosk concept because it allows for customer interaction with assistance from a product savvy sales staff.
The Dell Retail Experience was designed by Fitch, a retail design firm located in Powell, Ohio.
Pepsi-Cola Unveils New Global Look And Marketing Approach
Pepsi-Cola is reaching out to consumers in a different way then ever before via a global brand restyle-a 360-degree marketing campaign that will be reflected all over he world on TV, radio, print, packaging, in-store and online.
The first effort will be new package graphics for Pepsi-Cola that change every few weeks to reflect themes close to the hearts of teens and young adults, such as sports, music, fashion and cars, marking the first time that Pepsi has altered its look so frequently. This steady rotation of designs reflects the fast, ever-changing interests of the elusive "millennial" generation. Not only will the packages look different, Pepsi bottles, cans and cups will give consumers access to exclusive online content, games, contests and sweepstakes through unique web addresses on each of the designs. The restyle will also come to life in-store with merchandising, account-specific promotions and point-of-sale materials that will showcase an array of packaging.
“On the surface, this might look like a packaging update, but it's much more than that,” said Cie Nicholson, Sr. V.P. & Chief Marketing Officer of Pepsi-Cola NA. “We’re changing the way we interact with consumers-and now we’re doing it on their terms. When people pick up a Pepsi, they'll be getting much more than a great tasting cola. They'll be getting a passport to the things they enjoy most.”
“We’ve learned that young people embrace change and seek discovery, connectedness, personalization and multiculturalism,” said Ron Coughlin, Chief Marketing Officer, PepsiCo International. “We believe this restyle touches on all these trends.”
AT&T Launches Re-Branding Campaign To Incorporate Cingular Wireless Name
AT&T has launched a re-branding campaign transitioning the Cingular Wireless name into the iconic AT&T brand.
“Around the world, our customers recognize the AT&T brand for meaningful innovation, a commitment to customer service, high quality and reliability,” said Edward Whitacre Jr., Chairman and CEO of AT&T. “AT&T, BellSouth and Cingular are now one company, and going forward under one brand is the right thing to do.”
Each transition campaign element will conclude with the Cingular and AT&T logos coming together. The campaign will kick off with several creative executions called “Raising It Higher,” which morphs Cingular's familiar “raising the bar” logo with the AT&T globe.
Approximately 2,000 nationwide company-owned wireless retail outlets and store kiosks will be transitioned with AT&T-branded signage. Parallel with its re-branding efforts, AT&T is creating an in-store “emerging media experience” where consumers can experience products and services before they purchase.
Trained consultants will help customers learn about a range of AT&T wireline services that they can bundle with their wireless services and order AT&T Yahoo! High Speed Internet service as well.
Maui Wowi Hawaiian Opens Stores Within H-E-B Supermarket Chain
Maui Wowi Hawaiian is opening retail outlets inside H-E-B supermarkets throughout Texas and Mexico. Mau Wowi Hawaiian is the only franchise that offers authentic natural Hawaiian products, fresh fruit smoothies, blended Hawaiian coffee beverages and genuine Hawaiian lifestyle products.
The first eight stores will serve as test sites for the Maui Wowi Hawaiian/H.E.B. collaboration. “Our relationship with Maui Wowi Hawaiian will enhance the retail experience of H-E-B customers by offering them an escape from the ordinary,” said Cyndy Garza, H-E-B. “It will be a place where they'll be able to purchase authentic Hawaiian products and healthy, all-natural beverages.”
Kroger Pharmacies Offer Free Interpretation Service
Three Kroger Pharmacies in Central Ohio have launched the Martti interpretation service from Language Access Network. Martti (My Access Real-Time Trusted Interpreter), which is free to customers, will allow Kroger pharmacies and their non-English speaking customers to connect to live interpreters in over 150 languages including American Sign Language, Japanese, Russian, Somali and Spanish. Pharmacists will be able to provide drug counseling and answer customers' questions about their medications in their preferred language during normal pharmacy hours.
“As one of the nation's largest retail grocers, Kroger is setting the standard in providing high quality interpretation services to their limited English proficient customers,” said Michael Guirlinger, CEO of Language Access Network.
Lucky Strike Lanes Opens As America’s First Bowling Lounge
Lucky Strike Lanes has opened in West Nyack, NY. This hip hangout is not your typical bowling alley. Lucky Strike Lanes offers quality food, dramatic ambience, a bar, upscale game room, private lounge and a sophisticated A/V system programmed with art, videos, media and sports.
With a capacity for nearly 700 patrons, Lucky Strike's newest location features: 12 state-of-the-art lanes; custom lounge seating replacing the traditional molded plastic chairs; a 100-foot by 10-foot video wall featuring cutting-edge images of artwork from today's hottest emerging artists of all genres, as well as music videos, a menu featuring over 100 gourmet selections; 6 custom pool tables and the country’s first “Killer Spin” lounge featuring state-of-the-art ping-pong tables.
New Butterfly Life Fitness Centers More Than A Workout
Butterfly Life is a first-of-its kind 30-minute fitness franchise designed specifically for women to achieve a healthier overall body and mind. With an emphasis on the motivation and psychology behind what it takes to maintain total health, Butterfly Life provides its members with a support network and the tools necessary to help women meet their fitness and/or weight loss goals.
Mark Golob, CEO, said “Butterfly Life is the only fitness center with a truly holistic approach to weight loss that inspires women to achieve personal success and inner health and beauty in a completely safe, non-intimidating and non-competitive environment.”
VuPOD, a Real Estate Immersion Room, To Make Real Estate Shopping Easier
REdi, a Phoenix, AZ-based research and design company for the real estate industry, has introduced the VuPOD, a real estate immersion room and an ideal tool for the active real estate buyer. Any home for sale can be imaged and viewed on the VuPOD, arming buyers with data such as floor plans, exposures, and 360-degree images of every livable area.
With the VuPOD immersion room, home shoppers are literally surrounded by a 360-degree image projected on the wall around them. To the viewers it feels as if they were literally teleported to the prospective property. “Property elimination has never been easier,” said Sean Lee, REdi CTO and Co-Inventor of the VuPOD.
Vonage Introduces Kiosks For Instant In-Store Activation
Vonage America, a leading provider of broadband telephone services, is launching in-store activation through kiosks in retail stores. Consumers can now purchase Vonage hardware on premise and register at in-store kiosks to immediately subscribe to its full featured service.
This process makes it easier for less technology-savvy consumers to walk into the store and get phone service in a box. Retailers can now offer consumers the option to activate their Vonage service immediately in-store, thus shortening the activation process.
“GetConnected’s kiosks offer Vonage the tools it needs to make our customer's experience easier from the minute they purchase our devices,” said Mike Snyder, CEO of Vonage. “This new campaign takes one-stop shopping to the next level and helps us make the Vonage retail experience among the easiest in the industry.”
Rehability Lifestyle Store Opens
Rehability, Good Shepherd Rehabilitation Network’s new 3,300-square-foot lifestyle store, has opened in Allentown, PA, revolutionizing access to products and services for people with disabilities.
The store is the first of its kind in the country and provides a unique, personalized shopping experience for people with disabilities and their caregivers and family members. Unlike other stores that sell durable medical goods, Rehability is designed to provide an upscale, boutique-like shopping experience for common and hard-to-find products that will help inspire life solutions, adaptation and new options. Rehability provides many products and services for older adults, from a simple reacher to an electronic home monitoring system, which can help them improve their chances of living independently or as they transition back to their homes from a hospital or nursing home stay.
Humana Medicare Shows The Movie Classic, ‘Casablanca’
Humana Medicare is bringing the 1942 classic “Casablanca” to select movie theatres nationwide as part of a campaign to introduce those eligible for Medicare to its Medicare Advantage health plans in an entertaining environment.
The nationwide program, produced in conjunction with National CineMedia’s CineMeetings & Events, takes place in select AMC, Cinemark, Regal Entertainment Group theatres.
“By combining information with classic entertainment in the comfort and convenience of movie theatres, Humana is able to communicate with its customers in a unique and enjoyable way,” said Michael Schonberger, V.P. Sales & Marketing with National CineMedia’s CineMeetings & Events.
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