Disney’s Soda Fountain & Studio Store Opens On Hollywood Boulevard
Disney’s Soda Fountain and Studio Store has opened on Hollywood Boulevard offering old fashioned ice cream, homemade candies and unique Disney items.
The Soda Fountain, which offers an old fashioned ice cream parlor experience with some fun new twists, will serve ice cream custom prepared by Dewar’s, a fourth generation family business based in Bakersfield, CA. The Studio Store will feature a wide assortment of Disney DVD titles, as well as access to Buena Vista Home Entertainment’s entire available catalog via an interactive kiosk designed for the store, where guests can find the largest selection of Disney DVDs and videos.
“Hollywood Boulevard has a rich tradition for amazing ice cream, and we are excited to be reviving this great experience,” said Lylle Breier, Sr. V.P., Worldwide Special Events, Buena Vista Pictures. “Guests are going to love the Studio Store, where they’ll discover original and exclusive Disney merchandise.”
Wal-Mart Opens Experimental Supercenter
Wal-Mart has opened a new supercenter in McKinney, TX, which will also serve as an experimental store that could change the way the retail industry designs, constructs, and manages facilities as it relates to the environment.
"”We see it as a next step in evaluating the impact we leave on the environment as we look toward smart growth and sustainability in the building of our new stores,” said Mike Duke, CEO of Wal-Mart Stores USA. “This store will contain many of the best resource conservation and sustainable design technologies to minimize the use of energy and natural resources.”
Wal-Mart plans to share the results of the store’s experiments with the rest of the retail and development industry, which could turn low-volume, rare technologies into industry standards. Wal-Mart hopes to learn new environmental conservation best management practices and benchmarks that will serve as future design standards in the retail industry when it comes to land development and building construction.
Build-A-Bear Workshop Flagship Store Opens On New York’s Fifth Avenue
Build-A-Bear Workshop’s new flagship store has opened on Fifth Avenue in New York City, offering guests an interactive make-your-own stuffed animal retail-entertainment experience.
The New York City Build-A-Bear Workshop feature the first-ever Pawsonalize It station, which combines technology with a child’s artistic talent to create unique stuffed bear-sized t-shirts. Guests will be able to explore cultures worldwide through a line of international themed bear-sized outfits and indulge sports fantasies by dressing their stuffed animals in officially licensed uniforms from NFL, Major League Baseball, NBA and the NHL teams.
Hershey Opens Chicago Retail Experience
The Hershey Co. has opened a unique 3,600 sq. ft. interactive store on Chicago’s Magnificent Mile.
The Hershey’s Magnificent Chocolate Works machine allows visitors to become “Official Hershey’s Factory Workers,” complete with “employee” photo Ids, and the opportunity to package Hershey’s products. The products cascade through intertwining chutes and drop into a whimsical candy machine to produce a personalized assortment. Hershey’s Chicago also features Cookies and Coca-To-Go, a presentational bakery where “Hersheyizers” entertain visitors as they custom decorate a selection of cupcakes, cookies and brownies.
Best Buy Opens “Stores-Within-A-Store”
Best Buy stores in 12 major cities are opening customized “store-within-a-store” experiences for small business owners and home theater enthusiasts alike.
New Best Buy For Business locations will provide business solutions for small businesses. Best Buy For Business will offer a broader selection of technology products, professional advice and 24/7 IT support via the Geek Squad service.
Magnolia Home Theater is a specialty store within Best Buy for enthusiasts of state-of-the-art home theater. Demonstration rooms encourage personal interaction with premium home theater brands. The product offering will be combined with expert service from home theater consultants, in-home system designers and same-day installation.
Tower Records Runs “Snap And Win” Promo
Warner Music Group and Tower Records have launched a sweepstakes that gives music fans a chance to win a trip to see Warner Music Group artists on the VANS Warped Tour.
Warner and Tower Records have made it easy for music fans to "Get Your Hands on the Bands" by featuring CDs from performing artists in custom standup displays at Tower Records stores. These 6-foot stand-up displays are the focal point for the sweepstakes powered by Mobot, a leader in visual search and recognition technology.
Customers visiting Tower Records can enter by taking a picture with their mobile camera phone of the official “Get Your Hands on the Bands” logo located on the retail displays. Mobot's visual technology recognizes the image and, within seconds, sends back a message to the phone confirming entry into the sweepstakes.
Snapple Theater Center Opens On Broadway
The Snapple Theater Center is opening its doors on Broadway, featuring the longest-running, non-musical play in New York history, “Perfect Crime.”
Following the famous ball drop on New Year’s Eve, Snapple will light up Times Square on January 1, 2006 with an illuminated “ribbon” billboard, stretching 9' x 175' to wrap around the Snapple Theater Center. The Snapple Theater Center concession stands will feature a wide selection of Snapple iced teas and juice drinks as well as additional products from the Cadbury Schweppes Americas Beverages portfolio, including Dr Pepper and 7 UP. The Company will host meetings, entertain customers and extend Snapple’s community outreach efforts with special youth and adult programs at the Center.
IFC Center Opens In New York City's Waverly Theater
IFC Center Opens In New York City's Waverly Theater
The IFC Center has opened it s doors in New York City’s landmark Waverly Theater. The state-of-the-art facility includes three theaters dedicated to independent films, and a large café and meeting area.
In addition to showing new films from both IFC Films and other independent film companies, IFC Center will present a film program that will reflect the eclectic film audience in New York. In a move unique to the Center, rather than show advertisements before films, each film screening will begin with a film short. Spearheading the project since its inception has been Jonathan Sehring, President of IFC Entertainment, who envisioned a bricks and mortar home for the IFC brand.
ethel’s chocolate Launches New Retail Environment
ethel’s chocolate, Chicago’s newest gourmet chocolatier, has opened innovative chocolate lounges that enable chocolate lovers to relax and savor the new ethel’s chocolate collection.
ethel’s chocolate lounges revolutionize the chocolate experience. Visitors can choose from more than 50 easy-to-identify pieces using a straight-forward grouping and icon system designed to help consumers locate their favorites.
The new ethel's chocolate line, created by champion French pastry chef Patrice Caillot, is handmade using the Company's warm-blended signature process.
“We are launching two firsts-the first approachable gourmet chocolate for everyday and the first chocolate lounges,” said John Haugh, President of ethel’s chocolate. “In our research, women told us they wanted an approachable place to select, purchase, and hang out and enjoy chocolate more frequently.”
New T-Rex 'Edutainment' Concept Includes Dining With Dinos
T-Rex is a new "edutainment" concept created by Schussler Creative in partnership with Levy Restaurants.
T-Rex, which will offer guests an adventure into prehistoric times while enjoying high quality food, will be launched in up to eight markets across the U.S. The first restaurant will open in Kansas City, MO in early 2006 near the NASCAR speedway.
Designed with the elements of water, fire and ice, the experience comes to life in cascading waterfalls, bubbling geysers, animatronic dinosaurs, a real fossil dig site, a paleo laboratory and an ice cave.
Back to Top
To See previous issues of Marketing Trends click here
To See Previous Issues of Online Weekly in Creative's Archives, click here.
To See other Creative Online Newsletters click here
