MISSION Launches 'Active Lifestyles' Skincare Destinations Exclusively At CVS/pharmacy
MISSION Skincare®, the innovative skincare company founded by tennis star Serena Williams, soccer professional Mia Hamm, and other world class athletes, will be launching "Active Lifestyle Skincare Destinations" in the beauty aisle of more than 5,000 CVS/pharmacy locations across the country. Stocked with innovative lip, face, body and sun care products, MISSION and CVS/pharmacy have set out to establish the latest category in the marketplace - "Active Lifestyles" - designed specifically for consumers who live an active and healthy lifestyle.
To celebrate the partnership, MISSION will be launching six new products - Revitalizing Lip Therapy Gel in Peppermint, Mega Balm Antioxidant Lip Refreshers in Blueberry-Pomegranate and Acai-Lemonade, Replenishing Hand + Body Moisturizer and Rejuvenating Face Moisturizer. The nourishing skincare and lip care products featuring vitamins and antioxidants will be available exclusively in the "Active Lifestyle Skincare Destinations" at CVS/pharmacy.
MISSION co-founder Serena Williams said she is "extremely excited to be working with CVS/pharmacy to launch this new skincare destination, because people who exercise regularly as part of a healthy lifestyle often overlook the fact that they have different skincare needs."
"When we started the company, we knew there was a huge opportunity to establish a new standard in skincare for the active lifestyle," said Mia Hamm, Professional Soccer player and Co-Founder of MISSION Skincare. "Products that help moms, dads and kids of all skin types, all ethnicities and all levels of athletic activity have been missing in the marketplace - until now. Having the opportunity to work with CVS/pharmacy to bring our skincare innovations to 'soccer moms' and families across the US is a huge opportunity for our company."
Select Retail Locations To Feature Kiosks That Download Entertainment Titles To SD Memory Cards
NCR Corp. and MOD Systems, Inc. have taken the first step in changing the way consumers purchase, rent and play entertainment titles on electronic devices with a digital download kiosk pilot program. The movie rental experience is transformed into a simple, three-step process: choosing from more than a thousand movies and TV shows stored in a kiosk, quickly downloading the title to a secure digital (SD) memory card, and playing the movie on a home television.
The pilots, being conducted in select BLOCKBUSTER® locations and other retail stores, are the first step in an ambitious initiative to leverage breakthrough portable digital storage technology. The NCR and MOD Systems pilots offer the potential to revolutionize how consumers download movies, TV shows, music, books, games and other digital content outside of the home, and then play them on home televisions, computers, and other mobile devices, regardless of brand. The initial deployment will offer consumers a choice of more than 1,000 new release and classic movie titles, with the catalog increasing to more than 1,500 titles by early 2010.
The MOD Retail Digital Content Distribution System helps retailers bring an expansive library of digital content into their stores and sell it in convenient concierge and self-serve models via the NCR kiosk. Anthony Bay, chairman and CEO of MOD Systems, said, "We have been working diligently with partners, studios and retailers to deliver on our vision of making it easy for consumers to access and download digital content from kiosks in a wide variety of locations outside the home. We're encouraged by the early positive feedback and results, and we look forward to a more expansive rollout in 2010." (Web site) www.ncr.com
Clear-Lite Holdings, a leading innovator of eco-friendly, energy-saving "natural" lighting, is the patent-pending ArmorLite™ SAFETY ECO CFL™, which is expected to revolutionize the Compact Florescent Lamp (CFL) market. By wrapping the ArmorLite CFL in a patent-pending SX4000™ ECO Safety Coating that helps capture broken glass and mercury, ClearLite's SAFETY ECO CFL helps address the serious issue of mercury contamination from conventional CFLs with liquid mercury when they break in the home, office or hotel room. As a further environmental precaution, ClearLite's CFLs contain no liquid mercury. Instead, ClearLite uses Amalgam, an alloy of mercury with other metals in a solid form, helping make compliance with government regulations for mercury reduction easier to meet.
"ArmorLite represents the next generation of lighting technology and we are pleased to make it available to consumers, especially at very affordable prices," said Thomas Irvine, president and CEO of ClearLite.
iMemories Teams With Blockbuster For Digitizing, Preserving And Sharing Home Movies
iMemories, a premier Web destination for digitizing, storing and sharing home movie films and videos, has formed an agreement with BLOCKBUSTER to market film and video transfer services and online video sharing to Blockbuster customers through blockbuster.com and through kiosks at select BLOCKBUSTER retail stores. With the iMemories service, consumers can experience their personal videos on DVD, on the Web or on mobile devices.
"Home movies take us back in time to priceless moments in our lives that we cherish. But, unfortunately the volume of aging and unwatched home videos and films in American households today is staggering," said Mark Rukavina, founder and CEO of iMemories. "iMemories offers people a safe and convenient way to digitally preserve their treasured family movies so they can be enjoyed now and shared forever."
iMemories' customers can choose to store and share their personal videos online through password-protected, individualized websites or produce customized DVDs. Unlike other home movie film and video transfer services, iMemories offers a customer-friendly "watch before you buy" program allowing customers to view their transferred media on the Web before they choose what they want to purchase on DVD.
American Eagle Outfitters To Open Destination Flagship Store In NY's Times Square
American Eagle Outfitters plans to open its 25,000 square foot flagship store in NYC's Times Square featuring four levels of shopping, including dedicated floors for AE denim, as well as aerie, the company's intimates and dormwear brand.
Jim O'Donnell, CEO, American Eagle Outfitters, said, "American Eagle Outfitters' goal is to offer them a retail experience unlike anything they've experienced before-even by Times Square standards."
The American Eagle Outfitters Times Square flagship store will feature exclusive AE product not available anywhere else in the world. This includes more fashion forward merchandise, such as outerwear in faux fur and leather, sequin-embellished tops, and graphic t-shirts designed by New York graffiti artists. The Times Square assortment will also include a collection of premium denim and an expanded footwear selection.
The store design is completely new, featuring an eclectic combination of materials, from wood to brushed metal to polished concrete, as well as oversized subway tiles and custom lighting throughout. The rooms are more delineated, creating an intimate experience that optimally showcases the product and brand. Elements such as 15-foot ceilings and a 13-foot video wall add dramatic impact.
The store will also feature a customer experience called "15 Seconds of Fame." With a purchase, customers will be invited to pose in a mini photo studio. Moments after, the customer's photo will be projected onto the 15,000 square feet of LED screens (25 stories high) outside the store, for all of Times Square to see. The LED screens will feature content 18 hours per day.
To deliver an impactful, creatively ground-breaking visual experience in Times Square, American Eagle Outfitters partnered with: The Barnycz Group,® an experiential design firm specializing in the creation of unforgettable, large-scale interactive dynamic content environments.
The firm conceived the design, integrated the technology, and is overseeing the installation of this dynamic architectural facade of synchronized LED displays, as well as the store's interior A/V systems. Barco, a global technology leader specializing in high-resolution LEDs and displays, provided the 12 panels that wrap the building's exterior, with a total pixel count nearing 3.3 million, along with the LCD monitor wall at the store entrance. R/GA, digital agency and global leader in designing retail and digital environments, is creating content for the interior and exterior signage displays, and proprietary technology that powers "15 Seconds of Fame." ABC Regional Sports & Entertainment Sales is the exclusive advertising sales representative for the technically advanced sign. Numerous advertising options, ranging from real-time delivery to simultaneous showcasing of multiple products, will be offered. The association with AE's target customer of 15- 25-years old adds heightened value for advertisers across many categories such as music, movies, TV, computers, phones, food, beverages, autos and travel.
Sprint Redesigns Accessory Packaging For Eco-Conscious Consumer
Sprint has launched environmentally friendly packaging for its extensive wireless accessory line. Accessories sold at Sprint retail stores and online at www.sprint.com will be packaged within a fully recyclable casing that is 20 to 40 percent smaller than previous accessory packaging - which Sprint estimates will save 647 tons of waste annually. The new accessory packaging is expected to result in a 35% reduction in accessory packaging costs generating an annualized savings for Sprint of approximately $2.1 million.
Additional highlights of Sprint's new accessory packaging include: The packaging clamshell replaces PVC with PET 1, a more recyclable and environmentally friendly material. Soy and vegetable-based inks replace petroleum-based ink, exceeding the American Soybean Association SoySeal Standards and reducing the level of volatile organic compounds (VOCs). The paperboard is Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified.
"Sprint is proud to launch more sustainable packaging for our accessories," said Ralph Reid, vice president of Corporate Social Responsibility for Sprint. "As we introduce greener products like the Samsung Reclaim™ and the SOLIO Charger, it only makes sense to implement more eco-friendly solutions that reduce the environmental impact of Sprint products and packaging."
Monster And Beats By Dr. Dre Launch New In-Store Experience In Best Buy Locations Nationwide
Best Buy Co. has introduced Club Beats™, a new in-store destination created in partnership with Monster and Beats by Dr. Dre.™ As people continue to evolve their ways of consuming music, Club Beats provides a destination for consumers to learn how to create and individualize their listening experience.
"Our customers have always looked to us as a resource for music in a variety of formats," said Brian Dunn, Best Buy's CEO. "With Club Beats, the latest in sound quality and music technology will be available to all of our customers who want to bring music to life in a fresh way and unleash their inner DJ."
Existing in concert with many Best Buy Musical Instrument stores, Club Beats offers a full service entertainment experience that encourages interaction with the latest and greatest in music, audio, entertainment and technology products including DJ equipment, Beats by Dr. Dre headphones and in some locations, the newly introduced HP Envy 15 Beats Limited Edition laptop. Club Beats will be staffed by Best Buy's Blue Shirt employees, who share a passion for music and are equipped with the tools and knowledge to help customers listen and create music in new ways.
The Beats by Dr. Dre headphone line in partnership with Monster was created to reproduce the full spectrum of sound that musical artists and producers hear in professional recording studios. The Club Beats experience falls right in line with this mission by inviting customers into a unique environment to hear first-hand what they've been missing in music. Employees: 140,000.
Element Hotels Offer Nintendo DS And Personal Trainer: Cooking Software To Guests
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide and its new eco-chic brand, Element Hotels, have formed a partnership with Nintendo to provide Nintendo DS™ systems pre-loaded with Personal Trainer™: Cooking software to hotel guests. The software, which acts as an interactive culinary coach, makes it easy for travelers to choose recipes, prepare shopping lists and cook meals in the comfort of their fully equipped in-suite kitchens. This is the latest in a series of initiatives being launched by Element Hotels to cater to eco- and health-conscious travelers looking to maintain a well-balanced, healthy lifestyle on the road.
Guests at all Element hotels have the option of checking out a complimentary hand-held Nintendo DS system that comes with a copy of the Personal Trainer: Cooking software. After selecting recipes based on cooking requirements such as calorie count, cooking time or skill level, guests can view ingredients, watch how-to videos and even set an on-screen timer. The intuitive software provides help every step of the way through voice-led instructions, text, images and video. Users can choose from more than 245 recipes from a variety of regions around the world. The touch-screen controls of the Nintendo DS system let users browse recipes or mark ingredients to buy with a tap of the stylus. If your hands are busy with cooking, Personal Trainer: Cooking also accepts voice commands to continue to the next page, repeat a step or go back.
"We know that many of our guests, especially our longer stay guests, don't necessarily want to eat out every night of the week, but they also don't have the time to come up with recipes and create shopping lists," said Brian McGuinness, Senior Vice President of Specialty Select brands for Starwood Hotels. "Providing our guests with this best-selling hardware and intuitive software that serves up healthy meal options at the touch of a button makes it easy for travelers to customize meals that please the palate in their own kitchens."
To further promote whole, healthy living while traveling, every Element hotel also has an on-site, 24 hour a day pantry, Restore, which features an array of all-natural and local, when possible, ingredients, pre-prepared meals, snacks and beverages. In addition to fully-equipped in-suite kitchens, guests who want to prepare a meal in the great outdoors can take advantage of each hotel's communal outdoor grilling areas. A complimentary shuttle service takes guests to nearby grocery stores and local farmers markets, when possible.
SUBWAY Restaurants To Brew Seattle's Best Coffee
Freshly brewed Seattle's Best Coffee will now be served exclusively as part of SUBWAY® restaurants' breakfast offerings, more than 9,000 SUBWAY® restaurants in the U.S. will feature Seattle's Best Coffee, with plans to expand into more restaurants during 2010. Additionally, an agreement was signed to bring Seattle's Best Coffee to a group of more than 800 SUBWAY® restaurants in Canada.
"Today, consumers are looking for and expect a high-quality, premium coffee experience wherever they are," said Michelle Gass, president, Seattle's Best Coffee. "We are confident that our brand has wide-ranging appeal and believe that Seattle's Best Coffee's Uncommonly Smooth™ taste will pair perfectly with SUBWAY's fresh, quality offerings."
"We are proud to be able to offer the high-quality, fresh brewed Seattle's Best Coffees in many of our locations. We recognize that a great cup of coffee can be an integral part of one's day. The blend selections available from Seattle's Best Coffee will wonderfully compliment our breakfast menu," said Suzanne Greco, Director of Research & Development at SUBWAY® restaurants.
Best Buy Forms Strategic Relationship With Sonic Solutions To Offer Digital Content Delivery Powered by Roxio CinemaNow
Best Buy Co. and Sonic Solutions have formed a strategic relationship that will result in a new on-demand movie and entertainment service powered by Sonic's Roxio CinemaNow™ and allow consumers to have access to buy or rent a vast library of premium content.
To power this offering, Best Buy has entered into a multi-year agreement in which Best Buy plans to license and deploy Sonic's Roxio CinemaNow™ technology and services platform to make on-demand digital content delivery a standard feature on connected consumer electronics devices sold throughout U.S. Best Buy retail stores and BestBuy.com.
To foster the consumer appetite for obtaining on-demand premium content electronically, Best Buy intends to embed the Roxio CinemaNow technology on a wide array of devices - web-connected television sets, portable media players, PCs, Blu-ray Disc players, set-top boxes, and mobile phones - from a variety of manufacturers. Best Buy expects to undertake a marketing program to educate consumers about the increased convenience, flexibility, and choice digital content delivery affords. With the new Best Buy service, consumers will have access to buy or rent an extensive library of premium content including new movies, TV shows, independent films, and older catalog movies, which they will be able to access on devices in the broad ecosystem. It is anticipated that new titles will often be available on the same day they become available on DVDs in retail outlets. Together with their Studio partners, Best Buy and Sonic plan to also collaborate on new service and content offerings, including those that leverage digital copies to bridge physical disc sales and electronic sell through.
"Best Buy is in a great position to expand the market for on-demand home entertainment," said Thomas Gewecke, president, Warner Bros. Digital Distribution. "The combination of Sonic's platform with Best Buy's expertise in selling consumer electronics, video content and technical services creates an opportunity for a wide variety of exciting new consumer offerings."
Sony Brings Box Office Hit 'Cloudy With A Chance Of Meatballs' To Owners Of Networked BRAVIA HDTVs And Blu-ray Players Prior To Retail Availability
This holiday season, owners of Sony networked BRAVIA® HDTVs and Blu-ray Disc(TM) players will be able to enjoy an exclusive in-home opportunity to rent the Sony Pictures animated hit, "Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs," four weeks before it is available at retail.
Customers who purchase a Sony networked BRAVIA HDTV or Blu-ray Disc player and register the device, will receive a free 24-hour rental of the movie in high definition (a value of $24.95). Customers who already own networked BRAVIA HDTVs or have earlier BRAVIA models equipped with the BRAVIA Internet Video Link can rent the movie during this exclusive time period.
"Given our breadth of content and strength in networked products, Sony is the first company to utilize its internet enabled TVs and other networked devices to stream feature films directly to consumers' televisions prior to availability on DVD or Blu-ray," said Hiro Kawano, senior vice president for Sony Electronics' Home Division business. "We hope that consumers who own networked Sony BRAVIA and Blu-ray Disc players take the opportunity to bring family and friends together during the holiday season to enjoy this warmhearted movie."
Bayer Launches Citracal Calcium Plus Heart Health
Citracal® Calcium plus Heart Health is the first and only leading calcium supplement that helps support both bone and heart health, two of the most important health issues for women. New Citracal Calcium plus Heart Health contains 1,260 mg of calcium per daily dose and has advanced levels of vitamin D to support calcium absorption. It also contains Phytosterols, a natural plant ingredient that may reduce the risk of heart disease by lowering cholesterol. "We strive to continue to develop new and innovative products to meet our consumers' changing concerns," says Angela Vann, Senior Brand Manager - Citracal. "Women need to attend to bone and heart health daily, and this product conveniently allows them to address both of these important health issues at the same time." New Citracal plus Heart Health is available at food, mass and drug retail outlets nationwide.
Cuisinart CleanWater Countertop Filtration System Introduced
To help reduce this colossal waste and to promote consumer vigilance in water consumption choices, Cuisinart has launched the CleanWater® Countertop Filtration System, which provides an affordable and convenient means of obtaining healthier, filtered water without relying on plastic bottles. The unit's GF-80 filter significantly reduces contaminants such as lead, mercury and copper, has a life of three months for average household use and is certified by the Water Quality Association. Cuisinart's 2-gallon capacity filtration system has two fast flow spigots for dispensing hot, cold or room temperature filtered water, as well as an Energy Saver mode that cuts energy use by 50 percent when the function is engaged. The new countertop unit can be used for everything from preparing hot soup and instant oatmeal to cooking items like rice or pasta that absorb water, or simply enjoying the water by itself.
Duracell Unveils New Battery With Gauge Showing Power Levels
Duracell has introduced its new Ultra Advanced with POWERCHECK battery that offers consumers the ability to know exactly how much power is available in each battery. The POWERCHECK feature is a gauge located on the battery that is activated by simply pressing two white dots on the cell. Consumers can use the POWERCHECK to evaluate a battery's readiness to be used in a device and if necessary, transfer usage to lower-drain devices, for full battery use before discarding. The Duracell Ultra Advanced battery line is designed to meet the demands of the widest range of devices consumers rely on to power their lives and addresses the consumer's need to get the most value out of their products in today's economy.
Rick June, Duracell vice president and general manager, North America, said, "Ultra Advanced with POWERCHECK is power that you can see, and it demonstrates Duracell's commitment to develop products that build on the brand's strong heritage of reliability and trusted performance. With POWERCHECK, the days of guessing whether a battery has enough power are in the past." The Ultra Advanced with POWERCHECK will be available at Costco and other major retailers.
L'eggs Profiles Collection Debuts For Smooth Silhouette
L'eggs hosiery has introduced the L'eggs Profiles collection, an affordable solution for creating smooth silhouettes. A streamlined collection of smoothers, toners and tights delivers improved appearance for every body type. "The L'eggs Profiles collection delivers quality and value so women can walk out the door everyday feeling stylish and self-assured," said Angela Hawkins, director/general manager Hanesbrands Hosiery. "Women don't need to spend a fortune to look their very best." The L'eggs Profiles collection features three product categories: Smoothers, Toners and Tights, with two levels of control, moderate and firm, for under $10.00 each.
New Nintendo DS Video Game, Style Savvy, Launches
Nintendo's new Style Savvy™ video game, which puts players in the role of the manager of a chic clothing boutique, launches exclusively for the portable Nintendo DS™ and Nintendo DSi™ systems. "Style Savvy inspires players to help customers express their style and creativity, all while managing a store, including budget and inventory," said Cammie Dunaway, Nintendo of America's executive vice president of Sales & Marketing. "The game includes more than 10,000 clothing items, shoes and accessories, which invite endless creative possibilities."
Style Savvy players will also be able to access Charlotte Ronson Designer Downloads created by top designer Charlotte Ronson. Players with wireless broadband Internet access will be able to download items from her fall 2009 line directly into the game. It's yet another way that Nintendo gives consumers the tools to completely customize their video game experiences, according to the Company.
McAfee Introduces Breakthrough Email And Web Security Appliance
McAfee has introduced McAfee Email and Web Security Appliance 5.5 to help protect customers against the latest email and Web-borne threats, manage Web and email traffic and usage, and reduce system administration requirements. Designed for small and midsized businesses (SMBs), the solution provides comprehensive email and Web security in a single, integrated appliance.
"In addition to their market leading security effectiveness, these appliances also provide customers with email and Web usage policy enforcement capabilities, compliance tools, informative dashboards and comprehensive reporting," said Dave Macey, general manager of the Network Security business unit, McAfee.
Williams Confort Pro Mousse Crème Debuts For Men
Sara Lee is introducing Williams Confort Pro Mousse Crème for men, a breakthrough formulation with superior moisturizing properties that eliminates the need for aftershave, in a sporty, shaped aerosol package from CROWN Aerosols Europe. Helping to effectively preserve the shave crème and enhance functionality is Crown's bi-compartmented (BICAN®) aerosol technology. The 150ml steel container is contoured in an ergonomic shape that allows for convenient product dispensing and creates a distinctive on-shelf presence. Special ribbing on the side of the container makes it easy to grip, even with wet hands. The package's façade is accented with metallic royal blue and red colors for a bold, masculine look.
"Our goal with Williams Confort Pro Mousse Crème was to offer male consumers an entirely new shaving experience," said Frédéric Dauba, Product Manager Men's Care, Sara Lee France. "With such an innovative formulation - it is not a traditional foam or gel - special packaging was needed to ensure it dispensed properly and would retain its properties from start to finish."
Bausch & Lomb Unveils FogShield Sport Anti-Fog Treatment For Sports Goggles
Skiers, snowboarders and other outdoor sports enthusiasts in North America have a new solution to one of the biggest problems they encounter -- fogging of goggles and face shields. Bausch & Lomb's new FogShield Sport(TM) pre-moistened towelettes simultaneously prevent fog from forming on goggles for eight hours or more and help keep lenses clean with just one application.
"There's a solution for staying warm, a solution for staying dry, but there haven't been many solutions for keeping goggles fog-free," said John Stewart, general manager, Vision Accessories, Bausch & Lomb. "FogShield Sport provides an easy-to-use, affordable anti-fog system to help prevent fogging that starts working immediately to provide clear vision." Packaged in small foil pouches that are about the size of hand-wipes, FogShield Sport fits effortlessly in a pocket or bag.
Chloraseptic Improves Sore Throat Lozenge Line With New Soothing Liquid Centers
Chloraseptic, a brand name synonymous with sore throat relief since 1957, has improved its entire line of fast-acting lozenges to include benzocaine and menthol liquid centers as an added benefit to consumers. Benzocaine is a proven ingredient to relieve sore throat pain on contact, while menthol soothes the throat and cools the nasal passages. Chloraseptic is the only line of sore throat relief lozenges with soothing liquid centers. The lozenges are now available in seven varieties, including four flavors-- Cherry, Citrus, Honey Lemon, and Green Tea with Honey.
"We are pleased to offer our consumers a variety of products to help alleviate this symptom," said Jocelyn Yuan, Senior Brand Manager for Chloraseptic. "Consumers have told us how much they appreciate the added benefit liquid center technology has over conventional lozenges to soothe sore throats."
World's First Protein Infused Ultra Premium Vodka Hits Store Shelves
Devotion Spirits is set to debut the first-ever 80-proof, four column distilled vodka with the benefits of protein that is made in the United States. Devotion is the first and only vodka which literally provides a drink with a real protein boost. This revolutionary spirit will create a new beverage category, while also defining a new generation of vodka aficionados who devote themselves fully to everything they do in life.
7-Eleven Introduces Yosemite Road Wines
7-Eleven stores is introducing two proprietary wines - a Chardonnay and a Cabernet Sauvignon under the Yosemite Road label. These are California wines produced by The Wine Group exclusively for 7-Eleven® stores. Value-priced wines, those under $5, have been gaining in popularity and enjoying double-digit sales growth at 7-Eleven stores.
American Greetings Offers CD Compilation Cards
American Greetings has introduced a new festive line of cards that includes a great card and a mixed CD of popular music. Shoppers can choose from cards with CDs coordinated by decade, musical theme or even mood to find the perfect one for any friend or family member.
"Our consumers love the enhancement of music in the cards they share, and these new greetings take that enjoyment to the next level," said Mary McClain, creative director of new product concepts at American Greetings. "The combination of a truly memorable gift and a thoughtful sentiment makes the offering a unique keepsake that can be enjoyed over and over again."
Every CD contains five songs from different original artists compiled to best fit the theme or mood featured. Consumers can find the new CD compilation cards at participating drug chains, grocery stores and super centers nationwide, as well as in American Greetings and Carlton Cards retail stores.
BAND HERO Available At Retail Outlets Nationwide
Hitting store shelves throughout North America, Activision Publishing's Band Hero™ for Wii™, Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, PlayStation®3 and PlayStation®2 computer entertainment systems and Nintendo DS™ Lite, features chart-topping tracks from the most popular bands of yesterday and today. With the console versions, up-and-coming pop superstars can create the band of their dreams with any combination of multiple guitarists, bassists, drummers and vocalists or hit all the high notes together in the new karaoke-style Sing-Along mode. Fans can also step into the spotlight as their favorite popular music stars with Taylor Swift and Maroon 5's Adam Levine making appearances as playable characters.
"Band Hero takes the critically acclaimed Guitar Hero® 5 game features to new heights and delivers the most popular artists into your living room," said Dan Rosensweig, president and chief executive officer of Guitar Hero®. "As our first E10+ rated console game, Band Hero will become the new soundtrack to family game night."
Five Chex Cereals Are Now Gluten Free
General Mills is now offering Chex® cereal in five gluten-free varieties with the same great crunch for which the cereal is known. In addition to gluten-free Rice Chex, which was introduced in 2008, Corn Chex, Honey Nut Chex, Chocolate Chex, and Cinnamon Chex have recently been reformulated to be gluten free and are now widely available across the country. The five gluten-free Chex cereals offer new flavor options to those consumers who suffer from celiac disease, are gluten intolerant, or choose to limit or remove gluten from their diet because of a lifestyle choice. Without sacrificing quality or taste, the company has taken the requisite steps to ensure against cross-contact with gluten-containing ingredients and products.
GE's New Reveal CFL Bulbs Produce Clean, Beautiful Light And Use Less Energy
GE's new Reveal CFL light bulbs, the latest member of the Reveal family of bulbs, produce clean, beautiful light that makes colors "pop." Like all of the products in the Reveal family, the light from these bulbs not only makes blues appear bluer, whites appear whiter and reds appear redder, Reveal CFL bulbs also bring out colors and patterns that may go unnoticed under ordinary incandescent light. Reveal CFL bulbs are twist-shaped and have a special patented phosphor to mimic the clean beautiful light that Reveal incandescent and Reveal halogen users are used to. But these new Reveal CFL light bulbs last eight times as long as and use up to 75 percent less energy than a standard incandescent Reveal bulb.
Lenovo Introduces Its First ThinkCentre All-In-One Desktop PC for Business
Lenovo has reshaped its ThinkCentre business desktop line by introducing its first all-in-one (AIO) desktop PC -- the ThinkCentre A70z. Built for the needs of small and medium businesses all the way up to large corporations, the AIO delivers a compelling alternative to the traditional desktop PC, starting at just $499. Despite the budget-friendly price tag, the high performance all-in-one comes with Intel Core2Duo processors and delivers blazing fast boot up time as one of Lenovo's Enhanced Experience certified PCs for Windows 7. The ThinkCentre A70z saves 70 percent more space, takes less time to set up and service and consumes less power than traditional desktops. At the same time, the AIO adds a new touch of style and sophistication for today's modern office.
Sportline Launches META Watch-Less Heart Rate Monitor MP3 Player With Audible Heart Rate Training Feedback
Sportline, a brand leader in fitness monitoring, has developed the Music Enhanced Training Assistant or META. Much more than just another MP3 player, META is designed to audibly deliver real-time heart rate feedback and zone management data directly to the wearer. The product uses a wireless chest transmitter to provide continuous heart rate and fitness-related feedback through the MP3 player so an athlete can focus solely on their exercise routine.
What makes META so unique is that it marks the first time that the convenience and popularity of MP3 technology has been combined with audible fitness-tracking features in the same device. Such features include an ECG-accurate continuous-read heart rate monitor, target zone manager and Sportline's revolutionary in-ear feedback. With Sportline's new voice-over technology, META wearers will benefit from clear audio communication regarding their heart rate and target zones. This feedback is delivered through the MP3 player's headphones at intervals determined by the wearer. During a run or workout for example, the META will advise the wearer to increase or decrease their exercise intensity based on their target heart rate zone selection.
Whirlpool Duet Steam Washers Feature New FanFresh Option
The Whirlpool brand has introduced a washer with the ability to keep clothes smelling fresh for up to 10 hours after the cycle ends with the industry-changing FanFresh(TM) option. The Whirlpool® Duet® steam washer's FanFresh(TM) option intermittently tumbles clothes in the wash drum for up to 10 hours after the cycle ends. Meanwhile, a quiet fan draws out moisture through a vent to help keep clothes smelling fresh and prevents wrinkles from setting in.
"Whirlpool brand is focused on offering consumers the flexibility to live their lives rather than plan around their laundry," said Brandon Buckingham, senior brand manager, Whirlpool laundry. "The FanFresh(TM) option provides consumers with the opportunity to load their washer, run errands and go to the movies, and not worry about getting back in time to switch the wash."
NCR Buys Netkey To Provide End-To-End Kiosk And Digital Signage Solution
NCR Corp. has purchased Netkey, Inc., a market-leading provider of kiosk and digital signage software applications. Netkey's enterprise software platform uses a proven scalable architecture that enables fast and flexible development of applications for kiosk and digital signage-based solutions. NCR will combine Netkey's software platform with its own technologies to provide a best-in-class enterprise solution, which includes software applications, one of the broadest hardware portfolios in the industry, and a suite of services. NCR will continue to provide multivendor hardware support with the Netkey solution.
EYELEVEL Names Stephanie LeBlanc Managing Director, U.S. Office
EYELEVEL, a leading retail branding and fixtures firm, has promoted Stephanie LeBlanc to Managing Director of the U.S. office in Portland, OR. In her new role, LeBlanc will be responsible for helping manage and oversee the execution of campaigns, as well as day-to-day running of the company. "Stephanie has been a valuable addition to our team since she began working for EYELEVEL in January 2009," said Ed Halla, Vice President of the U.S. office. "With her considerable experience working on various fixture rollouts from concept to completion, and her industry background, she is a perfect fit for our firm."
California Box II Offers Large Format Automation Litho Label
California Box II in Rancho Cucamonga has added a new state of the art, large format Automatan litho label laminator and a Bobst flat bed die cutter. The maximum label size is 65 x 82 and the max board size is 80 x 120. These additions to its converting equipment will also result in decreased label job lead times at both facilities. For more information, visit California Box II. (Web site) www.calbox.com
FFR-DSI Relocates To Newly Expanded State-Of-The-Art Facility
FFR-DSI, a leading provider of retail merchandising solutions, has opened its new state-of-the-art facility in Twinsburg, Ohio. The facility, which features the latest office and warehouse technology and was built with focus on sustainability, will serve as the company's new headquarters. The 257,000-square-foot building will house 166 employees, who will move from the company's existing facilities in the Cleveland suburbs of Solon and Oakwood Village. FFR-DSI President and CEO Stan Burson cited strong recent and anticipated growth as the reason for the move, and said that consolidation of the company's employees in the Twinsburg location demonstrates FFR-DSI's commitment to northeast Ohio. (Web site) www.ffr.com
YCD Multimedia Launches Real-Time Ad Management Platform
YCD Multimedia (www.ycdmultimedia.com) is once again transforming the way retailers communicate with their customers with the release of YCD|RAMP (Real-Time Ad Management Platform). Developed to address the real needs and challenges of retailers and marketers, YCD|RAMP introduces a unique, simple and seamless platform for the production, distribution and optimization of in-store digital media campaigns, maximizing campaign impact and reducing time-to-market.
YCD|RAMP is an in-store digital media campaign management platform that emulates the real workflow between a retailer, their agency and their suppliers. When fully integrated with the retailer's point-of-sale system YCD|RAMP will complete the information loop by allowing for analysis and reporting on the success of each campaign and using that data to optimize the campaign, in real-time, for maximum impact and return on investment. For more information, visit (Web site) www.ycdmultimedia.com
Se-Kure Controls Inc. Offers Vanatage II Display
Se-Kure Controls Inc. offers its new Vanatage II Display Security System with power options to supply power to merchandise displays from the side of the stand or underneath. It is designed to protect mobile phones. digital cameras and camcorders as well as MP3 players and GPS units. Vantage II provides flexible configurations to protect from one to one hundred SKUs. For more information, contact, call l-800-250-9265 or visit; (Web site) www.se-kure.com
Outwater Offers Foga System
Outwater offers the Foga System, which may be used to construct attractive kiosks for exhibits and displays. The Foga system consists of a vast array of display panels, and aluminum profiles and connectors. For more information, contact Outwater Plastics, P.O. Box 500, Bogota, NJ 07603; (Tel) 800-631-8375; (Web site) www.outwater.com
Orbus Display Group Launches Origin Custom Modular Exhibit Division
Orbus Display Group is adding a new division with the introduction of Origin, a full custom modular provider, based out of Illinois, There has been a gap in the industry for affordable custom displays, and Origin believes they have found a way to fill it, according to Giles Douglas, President and CEO of the Orbus Display Group who said, "We have had requests from many of our customers to produce more customized solutions, so Origin is really filling a gap in our current capabilities and complementing them well." Using the most advanced materials and finishing available, products include, but are not limited to: custom fabric structures and extrusion based exhibit solutions, linking panels, custom back walls and flooring, hanging structures, aluminum truss, lighting, staging, and grand format inkjet graphics; (Web site) www.orbusinc.com
Nimlok-NYC Creates Exhibit For Ferring Pharmaceuticals
Nimlok-NYC was selected to create an exhibit for Ferring Pharmaceuticals at the recently held American Urological Association meeting. "Ferring was looking for an exhibit that had a bold design, that was also lightweight and could easily be reconfigured to meet the requirements of their trade show and convention schedule. For the annual meeting of the AUA, there was absolutely no doubt Ferring was looking for something which would make a splash," said Nimlok-NYC VP Tim Purcell. With an open design beckoning visitors in, the 50' long and 18' high 2,000 square foot exhibition space featuring an interactive game show was the topic of many discussions before, during and after the event. Built to be reusable and using environmentally friendly materials whenever possible in accordance with Nimlok's environmentally conscious approach to trade show exhibit design, the spacious, airy feeling of Ferring's exhibit was instrumental to their successful efforts to educate attendees about the company's latest offerings. For more information, visit (Web site) www.nimlok-nyc.com
Testrite Visual Products offers Eclipse Tabletop Signholders. The modern, curved metal sign holder protects and draws attention to graphics. The Signholders are available in many different sizes in Satin Silver or Matte Black. For more information, contact Testrite Visual Products, 216 South Newman St., Hackensack, NJ 07601; (Tel) 201-543-0240; (Web site) www.testrite.com
Paradigm Imaging Introduces Booth RX
Paradigm Imaging Group, a leading distributor of large-format scanning and printing solutions, tradeshow displays and graphics, has introduced Booth Rx, a 10-foot pop-up booth including printed graphic panels and a limited lifetime warranty. Paradigm is offering this package at a special price of 1295.00. The complete package consists of: 1 Self-Locking 10ft Frame, 7 Hinged Channel Bars, 1 All-In-One Oval Case, 4 Full-Color Printed Graphic Panels and 2 Fabric End Panels. "Our Booth Rx package is the perfect solution for those looking to maximize their marketing dollars without compromising quality. Paradigm's unparalleled product support and personal service make Booth Rx an even greater value," said Randy Geesman, President of Paradigm Imaging Group. For more information, contact Paradigm Imaging Group, (Tel) 714-432-7226, (Web site) www.SCANtopia.com
MRA Appoints Brad Urlaub Chief Oper. Officer
MRA, a leading metro Detroit-based mobile exhibit and experiential marketing company, has added Brad Urlaub to the company as Chief Operating Officer. He will be responsible for senior management oversight activities in all areas of operation and report directly to the president, Harry Kurtz, who will continue as CEO. (Web site) www.gomra.com
7-Eleven To Launch One Of Nation's Largest In-Store TV Networks
7-Eleven has contracted with Digital Display Networks to create one of the nation's largest out-of-home digital networks in more than 6,200 7-Eleven stores throughout the United States and Canada.
Upon its full national deployment, 7-Eleven® TV is expected to reach an estimated 190 million monthly viewers. Features of the in-store network will include around-the-clock programming with national and local entertainment news and weather, as well as exclusive content fit for convenience shoppers. Other original content will consist of commercials advertising 7-Eleven's signature, proprietary brands, in-store and out-of-store brands and special 7-Eleven promotions. Network programming will be divided into multiple day-parts to promote specific items at the time when they are most relevant to customers.
Two LCD high-definition TV monitors with directional audio, which reaches only those consumers positioned in front of monitors, are being installed in each store, with the complete network expected to be operational nationally by the fourth quarter of 2010. Digital Display Networks (www.ddninc.tv) is providing turn-key services, supervising installation, content production and advertising sales. The in-store spots available on 7-Eleven TV are ideal for manufacturers and distributors whose products are carried in 7-Eleven stores.
"7-Eleven TV marks a new generation of advertising for us and will complement our external advertising programs," said Kevin Elliott, 7-Eleven's senior vice president of merchandising and logistics. "Communicating to customers directly in-store will enhance our effectiveness in promotion and trial of our foodservice offerings, proprietary and private-label products." (Web site) www.ddninc.tv
News America Marketing Creates New 'Retail Advertising & Promotion' Division
News America Marketing, a division of News Corporation, has created a new Retail Advertising & Promotion Division. As a result of News America Marketing's expansion in its network of stores over the years, the company's portfolio now includes mass merchandising and office supply stores. With this new growth, comes a previously untapped category of clients and an enormous opportunity for new business. The new division will sell the company's vast in-store portfolio to manufacturers that retail their products in these new store categories, thereby enabling consumers to save in more places than ever before. The Retail Advertising & Promotion division will be led by EVP John Kelly with Dani Dvorin VP, Group Sales Manager, and Christian Lencsak, VP, Group Sales Manager leading supporting teams. (Web site) www.newsamerica.com
Zoom Media Acquires Gym TV
Zoom Media Corp and its subsidiary, ClubCom International Limited, a leading provider of digital out-of-home media in Health & Fitness venues in the UK and around the world, has acquired Gym Screen Media ("Gym TV"), a 160 venue digital channel located in high-end fitness centers across the UK, including David Lloyd, Virgin Active and Total Fitness. The acquisition, Zoom's fourth in just over a year in the digital fitness space worldwide, expands Zoom's network of fitness facilities to over 650 digital venues across the UK and over 2,200 across the globe. In addition to the UK, Zoom currently operates the largest fitness digital media network in both the US and Canada, with almost 2,000 venues between the two countries. (Web site) www.zoommedia.com
Del Monte Foods Chooses Promotion Agencies
Del Monte Foods will consolidate all consumer promotion and shopper marketing activity under two agencies of record. Catapult Action Biased Marketing will be the consumer promotions and shopper marketing agency of record for Del Monte Foods' entire portfolio of consumer products brands, including Del Monte®, College Inn®, Contadina® and S&W®. Draftfcb Chicago will be the consumer promotions and shopper marketing agency of record for Del Monte Foods' entire portfolio of pet products brands, including Meow Mix®, Kibbles 'n Bits®, 9Lives®, Milk-Bone® and Pup-Peroni®.
"These new agencies will serve as strategic thought partners - working with Del Monte Foods brand teams to develop and execute programs that resonate with consumers and customers," said Bill Pearce, Senior Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer, Del Monte Foods.
(Web site) www.catapultmarketing.com
