McDonald’s Announces New Flagship Store
McDonald’s Announces New Flagship Store
McDonald’s announced plans to open a new flagship restaurant in Chicago, Illinois. The new restaurant, slated to open in April 2005, will meld the past with the future by incorporating the ‘red and white’ design of the first McDonald’s 50 years ago, while offering customers a contemporary restaurant with Wi-Fi and other innovative features.
This destination will replace the “Rock ‘n’ Roll McDonald’s.” Highlighted by two 60-ft. tall Golden Arches, the flagship site will serve twice as many customers in the drive-thru, thanks to a new double-lane drive-thru feature. Seating capacity will also double to more than 300 seats when the new restaurant opens.
Mike Roberts, President, McDonald’s USA, said, “The re-imaging of our restaurants is just one part of our overall plan to continue the momentum of improving the customer experience at McDonald’s. At this important site, we are building a flagship restaurant that will showcase the great moments from out past, while also looking ahead to McDonald’s bright future.”
America Online Partners With Wal-Mart For Broadband Rocks Concert Series
America Online is sponsoring the Broadband Rocks Concert Series at Wal-Mart stores across the country.
Customers in more than 2,600 Wal-Mart stores will have the chance to view a series of televised concerts featuring some of the biggest names in music on the Wal-Mart Television Network, operated by Premiere Retail Networks (PRN).
The regularly scheduled AOL Music broadcasts will be shown on select Friday nights throughout the year, reaching an estimated 105,000 Wal-Mart television screens around the nation. Past Live Broadband Rocks events have included performances by Avril Lavigne, Usher, Alicia Keys and Hilary Duff.
“We are excited to give our customers front row seats to experience some of today’s hottest music stars,” said Troy Steiner, Marketing Director for Wal-Mart stores. “This is one of many ways we utilize the Wal-Mart Television Network to deliver nonstop entertainment to our customers during their shopping trip.”
Toys ‘R’ Us Camp Geoffrey Offers Creative Summer Activities
Toys ‘R’ Us recently invited kids and their parents to Camp Geoffrey this summer.
The Camp was the perfect place for parents to spend time with their kids as they explore the power of play by participating in fun and creative summer activities, from creating their own book to building their own birdhouse. All activities at Toys ‘R’ Us were free and several included a gift for kids.
mark, Avon’s New Beauty Brand Forms New Lifestyle Alliances
mark, the new beauty business from Avon Products, has formed four new strategic marketing alliances aimed at increasing the scope of the business as a multi-faceted, lifestyle brand. The partnerships with Loews Cineplex Entertainment, Nextel Communications, New Line Cinema and MTV, represent the leading areas in telecommunications, theater/entertainment and broadcast.
mark was named in celebration of young women making their ‘mark’ in the world today, and comprises over 300 products including cosmetics, skincare, fragrance, accessories, jewelry and handbags.
As part of its relationship with Loews, mark is distributing over 200,000 magalogs in 10 regional cities by placing free-standing newsstands in theater lobbies in each market. There will also be giveaways of year-long movie passes and valuable movie ticket offers.
Nextel is offering free Nextel phones with 3 months of free service. New Line Cinema is offering invitations to movie screenings.
mark will also be the exclusive retailer of the MTV Fitness 2-pack DVD, MTV Yoga and MTV Power Yoga through the meet mark magalog and sold solely through a mark representative or at meetmark.com.
OshKosh B’Gosh Opens Lifestyle Stores
OshKosh B’Gosh Opens Lifestyle Stores
OshKosh B’Gosh is rolling out a new family lifestyle store concept. The new OshKosh B’Gosh family lifestyle stores provide a unique shopping experience in which families can have fun exploring together. Every detail of the store, from the product assortment to the informal architecture harkens back to a simpler time and is a reflection of OshKosh B’Gosh’s American Heartland history.
Farmhouses and small town buildings inspire the store’s interior, which features old time ads painted on the whitewashed walls and classic washboards used as sign holders. The merchandise sits on natural fixtures that are based on American lifestyle icons such as barn doors and picnic tables.
Enesco Campaign Targets 'Tween Market
Enesco Group recently launched a ‘tween-focused marketing initiative, to raise interest in its Precious Moments collection. “PM Rocks!” is the theme that connects a group of figurine “rock stars” with a music-oriented mobile marketing campaign. The PM Rocks! Tour is a 15-week, grassroots tour that offers 'tween girls a chance to interact with the PM Rocks! band, dress up and pretend to be a diva for a day, as well as purchase Tour-exclusive merchandise.
“This strategic initiative is positioned to introduce the Precious Moments brand to a new generation of consumers,” said Tom Bradley, CEO. “Most Precious Moments enthusiasts started their collections at an early age, which led us to focusing on a younger pool of potential customers. This campaign is the first of many strategic initiatives aimed at the 'tween demographic.”
Sheetz Opens Convenience Restaurant
Sheetz has opened the Company’s first Convenience Restaurant in Altoona, PA, a hybrid concept that combines quick-casual dining and convenience concepts. The 10,000 sq. ft. Convenience Restaurant is more than double the size of the average Sheetz convenience store. Equipped with digital menu boards and touch screen order points, the brightly decorated facility features a broad menu prepared in a food theater.
Features include a gourmet salad station, homemade gelato and a full service Coffeez Expreso Bar with the first touch screen order point for gourmet coffee. The facility features drive thru and dine in options and has Wi-Fi access, DVD Rental and five large screen TVs.
“The Convenience Restaurant is a revolution in both the food and convenience industries,” said Steve Sheetz, Chairman of the family-owned firm. “The concept combines a top-quality restaurant with a state-of-the-art convenience store.”
Papa John’s & Coca-Cola Offer Free Music
Papa John’s Intl. announced a new addition to its “Pizza and Entertainment” campaign, “4 & More,” featuring a Coca-Cola “4 To Go!” Music Edition Carrier with four free digital music track downloads from Musicmatch.
“Research tells us pizza is the number one food choice of teens, and hanging out with friends and listening to music are top teen activities,” said Gary Langstaff, Chief Marketing Officer, Papa John’s. “The combination of Papa John’s pizza, Coca-Cola 20 oz. beverages and free Musicmatch Downloads is a great way to provide a better experience to our customers. Utilizing the ‘4 & More’ makes it easier for the whole family to share the experience.”
Office Depot Introduces New Retail Concept
Office Depot has opened its first Millenium2 (M2) store in Venice, FL. M2 was developed to be less expensive to open, more efficient to operate and easier to shop.
“M2 is designed specifically for the way people make purchase decisions,” said Bruce Nelson, Office Depot’s CEO. “Products are grouped in highly visible, strategically located pods, with core supplies at the outer perimeter of the store, and furniture and technology at the center to better support consultative sales.”
The store’s color scheme is vibrant and cheerful, and incorporates a contemporary color palette featuring bright orange, lime green, aqua and purple. Other features include a new way-finding system making it easier to navigate the store and use of gravity-fed or spring-loaded shelving to organize products.
CVS Offers Camera-Phone Photo Printing
CVS/pharmacy has become the first national retailer to give consumers the ability to print photos in-store directly from mobile phones equipped with cameras. “The use of camera phones by consumers represents a revolution in digital photography and CVS is first with an easy, simple, customer-focused solution for printing images directly from your mobile phone,” said Grant Pill, Category Manager of Photo Processing. “
Last year, camera phones outsold conventional digital cameras 2-to-1 and in 2004, camera phone sales are expected to grow from 7.5 million to 21.3 million. Following instructions on the touch screen, the customer beams the image to the store’s Kodak Picture Maker. Prints are ready in minutes and cost 29 cents; the same price as prints from traditional or digital cameras.
‘The Scene’ Targets Teens At GGP Malls
‘The Scene’ Targets Teens At GGP Malls
General Growth Properties is partnering with Pepsi for “The Scene,” a teen event at 128 GGP malls in 12 major markets. Cotton Inc., Fuji Film, the DK BMX Bike Team, Joico, CosmoGIRL! and The N, the nighttime network for teens, join Pepsi as GGP event partners.
At The Scene, teenagers will visit the Pepsi Smash screening party, meet stars from The N’s teen TV drama “Degrassi” and enter to win a walk-on part on the show. Teens will also be able to step inside the CosmoGIRL! Cool Room!, watch DK BMX bike stunt shows, and create their own “scenes” at the Fuji-Film digital green screen.
“GGP’s interactive mall experiences continue to build and enhance one-on-one relationships with the important teen consumer,” said Melinda Holland, Sr. V.P., Bus. Dev., GGP.
Guitar Center Partners With Elite Brands Of Sports & Entertainment
Guitar Center is targeting the youth audience through its DJ/Turntable “Spin Off” Competition developed in partnership with Scion, Nike, Warner Music Group, XXL Magazine, SCRATCH Magazine and XM Satellite Radio. “We created the ‘Guitar Center Spin Off’ to reach some of our most influential customers that cannot be communicated to through traditional events or media outlets,” said Jack Sonni, V.P., Marketing Communications.
Guitar Center Spin Off provides DJs with the opportunity to compete for prizes. Along with taking home thousands of dollars in gear, the winner will earn the chance to record with Warner Music Group, receive a new 2005 Scion xB and design their own shoe with Nike.
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