Starbucks Launches In-store CD Burning
Starbucks Coffee Co., through its Hear Music brand, has launched a retail digital music service, enabled by HP, that makes it easier for customers to discover, acquire and enjoy music while they enjoy their coffee.
The Company recently opened the Hear Music Coffeehouse in Santa Monica, CA and plans to deploy the Hear Music CD burning service to select Starbucks stores, offering customers the ability to burn more than 20,000 full length albums and hundreds of thousands of songs available from a comprehensive digital library. Customers can enjoy a Starbucks beverage while sitting at the Hear Music listening bar, which is staffed with music experts who can personally suggest new artists and guide customers to new genres, while burning a personalized CD. Customers can also explore themed recommendations throughout the store at listening stations featuring music, video and editorial format.
“Innovations like our exclusive music compilations, the Starbucks Card and placing Wi-Fi access in Starbucks stores have transformed the way that millions of our customers enjoy their coffeehouse experience,” said Howard Schultz, Starbucks Chairman.
Allied Domecq Launches Atelier Courvoisier Luxury Goods Label
Allied Domecq PLC has launched Atelier Courvoisier, a signature luxury brand line, in Spring 2004 under the creative design direction of renowned fashion designers Brian Wolk and Claude Morais of Ruffian.
The duo has joined Atelier Courvoisier to create a Men’s and Women’s Luxury Apparel and Accessories collection that captures the essence of the Courvoisier brand, dating back to the 1800’s and Napoleon.
The Atelier Courvoisier collection will be sold in boutiques and select department stores in key cities in fall of 2004.
“Allied Domecq believes that the influence of the Courvoisier trademark has already transcended the beverage alcohol industry, earning it attention and respect from fashion tastemakers around the world,” said Kim Manley, Chief Marketing Officer, Allied Domecq PLC. "We are making an investment to develop what we believe will be products that capture the imagination of consumers, but retain the essence of the Courvoisier trademark.”
Hansen Beverage Targets Gen-X Market With Lost Energy Brand
ansen Beverage Co., has formed a partnership with surf industry icon Lost International to develop Lost Energy drink, targeting the skeptical, hard-to-reach Gen-X beverage consumer.
Mark Hall, Hansen’s Sr. V.P., who heads up the new Lost Beverage Company, said, “We see tremendous opportunity to leverage the equity in the Lost brand.”
“From the very beginning, the Lost brand represented the attitude of people who didn't follow the mainstream-didn’t fit into the typical groove,” said Joel Cooper, CEO of Lost. The strong identification with our brand has created a dedicated following. When Hansen's proposed branding its new energy drink with the Lost persona, it seemed a great opportunity for both companies, one we could not turn down.”
Piggly Wiggly Rolls Out Pay By Touch
Piggly Wiggly Carolina Co. and Pay By Touch Inc., San Francisco, CA, have formed a partnership that will give grocery customers in South Carolina and Georgia the option of paying for purchases using a finger scan linked to their financial accounts.
The one-time enrollment process for Pay By Touch at a store takes less than a minute-shoppers scan their finger, enter a search code and swipe reward cards and/or payment cards as well as checking account information to build their Pay By Touch eWallet. The Pay By Touch finger scanning technology creates a set of geometric points that allows for a secure identity match at retail point of sale. After enrollment, customers simply scan their finger and select their preferred payment method, eliminating the need for cash, cards or checks.
“We’re confident our customers will embrace this faster, safer way to pay in our stores,” said David Schools, Sr. V.P., Piggly Wiggly Carolina Co. “Pay By Touch allows us to get them through check-out faster, and to make their payments more secure.”
Argo Entertainment Opens Mall-Based ‘Virtual Store’
Silicon Valley-based Argo Entertainment recently opened its first Mall-based HD theater dubbed, “Metropolis Shopping and Entertainment” in a new upscale mall in San Jose, CA. This is the first of a planned network of “virtual store” marketing and entertainment centers in shopping malls across the U.S.
The free-theater offers consumers a constant barrage of high-definition quality entertainment videos-15-minute product “stories” that show continuously during open hours. The videos interact directly with in-seat, touch-screens to access proprietary online technologies, newly developed sound systems, holograms and sign-up technologies to draw consumers. In less than 15 minutes, consumers can experience what a Hummer really can do, or watch a mini-feature produced by Nissan to show what one of their cars can do in a city that has been literally shut down and order information online to be delivered to a personal Web Site.
‘Club NOGGIN’ Opens At Malls Nationwide
NOGGIN, the commercial-free, educational network for preschoolers, is teaming up with General Growth Properties (GGP) to launch Club NOGGIN, a new interactive educational experience for young children at GGP malls around the nation.
Club NOGGIN invites parents to bring their children (3-6 years) to the mall for a free, one-hour and 15-minute session where kids can play educational games and participate in large and small group activities supervised by trained activity leaders.
Said Rebecca Graf, V.P., Strategic Partnerships GGP, “NOGGIN’s educational content combined with GGP’s kids’ clubs provides our consumers with a fun, interactive environment that encourages the joy of learning.”
Gymboree Launches Janeville
Gymboree Corp. has launched Janeville, a new retail test concept targeting women in their mid-30s. Janeville will be the second brand created and launched by Gymboree Corp. since the introduction of Janie and Jack in 2002.
“We found that there was a specific target within the women’s market that was being underserved and created a new lifestyle brand to meet this need,” said Lisa Harper, Gymboree Corp’s Chairman & CEO. “Women in their mid-30s and older comprise two-thirds of the women’s apparel market, yet most retailers base fit, cut and styling on either a much younger contemporary or older conservative model. Janeville apparel will be modern, trend-infused and comfortable and include novelty items as well as essentials.”
Federated Department Stores And Cosi Pilot In-Store Foodservice Partnership
Federated Department Stores, Inc. and Cosi, Inc. have formed a foodservice partnership, offering a new shopping experience to Macy's customers. Cosi plans to open 10 restaurants this summer and fall at some of the largest Macy's stores.
“Federated’s collaboration with Cosi is another step in our reinvent process, focusing on meeting our customers’ expectations,” said Tom Cole, Federated. “Our customers want to 'rest and refresh’ when shopping, without having to leave our store.”
Kevin Armstrong, Cosi’s President and CEO, said, “Macy’s established national footprint provides Cosi an excellent means of entering highly attractive new markets with immediate brand exposure to large volumes of our target customers.”
Rooms To Dream Superstore Opens
Rooms to Dream has opened a new 13,000 sq. ft superstore in Cherry Hill, NJ, designed to provide a shopping experience that parents and kids will love to do together. Designed for kids and their personal spaces, Rooms to Dream offers furniture for newborns, for the child’s first big girl or boy bed, right through to college and everything in between.
Rooms to Dream is interactive and encourages the kids to use their imaginations. There is a fire truck for kids to climb on, sit in the driver’s seat and play with all of the controls. There is a motorcycle for kids to ride on and interactive TV screens with games for kids to play while parents shop. The store goes beyond kid friendly; and treats kids as the most important customers to walk through the door.
Whole Foods Market Opens Largest Supermarket In Manhattan
Whole Foods Market, the worlds largest natural and organic supermarket has opened in the new Time Warner Center in Manhattan combining modern sensibility and architectural innovation with the highest quality foods.
The store features a 248-seat café; a Jamba Juice smoothie retailer serving blended-to-order fruit smoothies; a full service Sushi Bar by Genji Express; a Greenhouse showcasing fresh cut and exotic flowers; a Wine Shop serving more than 700 varieties of wine; and a Chocolate Enrobing Station offering just about anything covered in chocolate. Whole Body™ at Whole Foods Market features the largest selection of natural body care items in New York and there is also a Beauty Pod for makeovers and a Trial Bar, offering take-home samples of any personal care item in the department.
CrownClub Targets Luxury RV Owners
The new CrownClub has opened as the first members-only sales and service center dedicated to pampering luxury RV owners. With the mantra “Making Customers For Life,” recreational vehicle dealer Lazydays RV has introduced CrownClub to serve buyers of luxury RVs ($250,000 to more than $1 million) to an extent never seen before in the industry.
“Buying a luxury RV is not unlike buying a luxury yacht or vacation home,” said Don Wallace, CEO and Founder of Lazydays. “CrownClub is our way of exceeding their expectations with service in a private club that makes our customers feel special.”
The CrownClub clubhouse has a pool, lounge and dining room serving two meals a day. A 35,000 sq. ft. service center has certified technicians specializing in luxury RVs.
Virgin Atlantic Opens Clubhouse At JFK
Virgin Atlantic has unveiled its new Clubhouse at New York’s JFK Airport. The 7,000 sq ft Clubhouse, positioned across from Virgin Atlantic’s check in counters features a glittering waterfall, which flows into a 90 ft long reflecting pool that runs along the length of the Clubhouse.
The main dining area runs alongside the interior bank of the pool acting as an acoustic barrier from the main terminal. There is a full menu service available or alternatively passengers can help themselves to a range of snacks or sandwiches at the Snack Bar. The Clubhouse is equipped with the latest wireless technology throughout, and there are booths offering i-Mac computers positioned in the Business Area that are individually screened for ultimate privacy. The bar area offers views of the runway as well as 42" plasma screens.
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