New Nintendo Wi-Fi Online Gaming Service Available At Select McDonald's Hotspots
Nintendo has signed an agreement with Wayport, a leading provider of wired and Wi-Fi high-speed Internet access in public locations, to extend Wi-Fi service to Nintendo DS users at nearly 6,000 McDonald's restaurants across the U.S. Through the agreement with Wayport, Nintendo will offer complimentary access to Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection, the video game giant's new wireless gaming service.
"This agreement with Wayport will bring countless people together to play games in a single, simultaneous wireless community," said Reggie Fils-Aime, Nintendo of America's EVP of Sales & Marketing. "Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection is simple to use. Beginning with free access at participating McDonald's, we have removed one of the major barriers that have kept people from going online to play games."
"Nintendo is a pioneer in providing a new way for their customers to play the games they want to while away from home or the office, and McDonald's is the perfect venue based on their ubiquity and accessibility," said Dave Vucina, CEO of Wayport.
Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection creates a welcome, inviting community where gamers of all kinds can log on wirelessly and begin playing favorite franchise games like Mario Kart and Tony Hawk's American SK8Land. When a user brings a Nintendo DS unit and a Wi-Fi enabled game into a Wayport-enabled McDonald's, the user simply launches the game in Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection mode with no setup required.
MotoPhoto Debuts Digital Photo Kiosk Café Nationwide
MotoPhoto recently unveiled its new digital photo kiosk café program using Automated Photo Machines (APMs) from Lucidiom Inc. Each MotoPhoto franchise specialty retail location now will feature at least four APMs under the band MOTO Select Prints.
The kiosk cafes feature dedicated APMs for express print ordering and additional APMs in customized furniture-settings for special consumers offers, such as making greeting cards for the holidays. MotoPhoto modified its merchandise display area to create a clean, open and pleasant environment for its new cafes.
Said Harry Loyle, MotoPhoto President and CEO, "We're expanding MotoPhoto to be more than just a place to get great photo processing. We are creating an entire consumer experience that makes it fun and easy for customers to enhance, print, share and save their photo memories. Since testing the program in our Dayton, Ohio area stores, we've seen customer satisfaction and repeat visits increase. We've created our kiosk cafes to engage consumers-focusing on what do you do with your prints, not just on printing photos."
'40-Year-Old Virgin' Displays Promote DVD & VHS For Holiday Gift Giving
"The 40-Year-Old Virgin," is coming to DVD and VHS this December in a rated and unrated version featuring over 17 additional minutes of wildly hilarious footage filmed specifically for the DVD and not shown in theaters. Both versions of the DVD are filled with bonus features including uproarious outtakes and deleted scenes.
The film, which has earned over $100 million at the box office, is available in time for holiday gift giving from Universal Studios Home Entertainment. P.O.P. displays featuring Steve Carell as "The 40-Year-Old Virgin," promote the DVD at retail.
Newcastle Brown Ale & Fox Partner For DVD Promotion
Newcastle Brown Ale, one of America's fastest growing imported beers, has formed a promotional partnership with Fox Home Entertainment for the U.S. DVD release of "Office Space Special Edition With Flair."
"This partnership marks the first time that Newcastle Brown Ale has joined forces with a major motion picture studio," said Bill Wetmore, Marketing Director of Scottish & Newcastle Importers. " 'Office Space' is a modern cult classic driven by its unconventional characters. Given the synergy between the characters' independent spirit and Newcastle Brown Ale's personality, we found this to be an irresistible partnership."
Mike Judge's cult classic is about one man's struggle to break down the walls of his cubicle and do absolutely nothing. Newcastle and Fox Home Entertainment are providing grocery stores with a one-of-a-kind display piece-a "cubicle" featuring the Milton and Lumbergh characters on either side, which will house Newcastle 12-packs and the DVDs. The displays promote a $5 mail-in rebate offer for consumers who purchase a 12-pack of Newcastle Brown Ale and the Office Space Special Edition With Flair DVD.
Chase Takes Over Bank One In IL With $2 Million Rebranding Marketing Campaign
More than 350 Bank One branches in Illinois and Northwest Indiana have become Chase, the consumer and commercial banking brand of JPMorgan Chase & Co.
The name change results from last year's merger of back One with JPMorgan Chase. Illinois customers will see the Chase brand highlighted in a $2 million marketing and advertising campaign and a sweepstakes, which will offer them a chance to earn free travel on United Airlines. Scratch-off game pieces enable up to four winners to receive 1 million United Mileage Plus miles each. Additional sweepstakes prizes range from 100,000 to 500,000 United miles. Television, radio, print and billboard advertising invite current and new customers to come into the bank's offices and say "Hello" to the new brand.
Supervalu Enters Natural & Organic Foods Market With Launch Of Sunflower Market
Supervalu plans to enter the growing natural and organic foods market with the launch of Sunflower Market, a value-priced organic foods retail outlet. The first Sunflower Market is scheduled to open in Indianapolis in January 2006. Sunflower Market will offer value-priced products of the highest quality available: organic wherever possible, minimally processed, with no artificial colorings, sweeteners, flavors or preservatives.
"At Sunflower Market, we will offer customers the convenience of a full shopping experience, with access to natural and organic products in all categories," said John Hooley, President of Corporate Retail for Supervalu. "We've developed a unique merchandising approach that will highlight our perishables, which include an extensive produce offering, natural, case-ready meats and fresh bakery and deli items."
American Eagle Outfitters Introduces Martin + Osa Casual Sportswear Retail Concept
American Eagle Outfitters plans to introduce Martin + Osa, a new casual sportswear retail concept targeted to men and women aged 25 to 40, which will debut in better shopping centers in the fall of 2006.
"Martin + Osa represents an important long-term growth opportunity for our company," said Jim O'Donnell CEO. "It will give us access to the sportswear market for an entirely new generation of shoppers, outside of AE's 15- to 25-year-old target customers. While operating separately from our successful American Eagle brand, Martin + Osa will embody the same virtues-namely excellence in fit, quality and style-qualities that have made AE a leading specialty retail brand."
The brand name evokes the spirit of Marin and Osa Johnson, two enterprising Kansans who were married and produced an epic record of life and the great outdoors in some of the most remote areas of the world. The store environment and merchandise assortments will embody Martin and Osa's classically American spirit of sport, outdoor and adventure for today's generation in constant motion, according to the Company. Charles and Michele Martin, who were instrumental in the successful launch and creative development of Abercrombie & Fitch, head Men's and Women's Design, respectively.
FingerGear's Computer-On-A-Stick Introduced
FingerGear, the consumer brand of Bionopoly, announced the availability of its Computer-On-A-Stick in all Fry's electronics stores. The Computer-On-A-Stick is the first bootable USB flash drive with a complete preinstalled Desktop Environment. The COS bypasses the "Windows Wait" because the drive is completely self-contained with its own ultra-fast operating system. It is ideal for mobile users who do not want to lug a laptop between home and office or through airport security. The entry level Computer-On-A-Stick, which contains a 256MB flash drive, starts at $99.
Slimmer You H2O Introduced
Slimmer You H20 was developed by Women on Top Inc. to encourage women to lose weight for themselves rather than fit into a preconceived stereotype. Slimmer You H2O contains the FDA approved and clinically proven appetite suppressant Super Citrimax in the cap of the bottle. When the cap is twisted, the Citrimax powder drops into the water and dissolves instantly. The new beverage has no taste, no color, no smell, no preservatives and no stimulators of any kind. Slimmer You H2O comes with a fun, bright yellow tape measure attached to the bottle, which can be used as a handle as well as for actually tracking body measurements.
Norman Rockwell Homestyle Ice Cream Debuts At Albertson Stores
Norman Rockwell Homestyle Ice Cream, a product of Dallas, TX-based L&M Creative Foods L.P., recently debuted in all Albertson chain stores in seven different pint size flavors. L&M is currently in negotiation with Kroger, Safeway, and HEB to launch the Norman Rockwell Homestyle ice cream nationally. All of L&M Creative Foods are based on Norman Rockwell paintings, which bring a feeling of integrity, taste and warmth to the entire product line.
Terlato Wine Group Appoints D. Lane To V.P. Mktg., Paterno
Terlato Wine Group has appointed David Lane to Vice President of Marketing for Paterno Wines International, the Group's luxury wine marketing and sales organization. Lane will manage the Company's marketing division, responsible for 47 premium wine brands from nine countries. Lane comes to PWI from E& J Gallo Winery, bringing 14 years of sales and marketing experience in the wine industry.
Kellwood's Sag Harbor Names Boland, Pres., Sales & Mktg.
Sag Harbor, a lifestyle brand that offers fashion and value for today's modern woman, has appointed Fran Boland as President of Sales and Marketing. Formerly, she served as Vice President of Sales and Merchandising for Norton McNaughton where she spent the past 10 years building brands such as Joneswear and Rena Rowan. Before McNaughton, she held various senior level positions with Bernard Chaus and Liz Claiborne.
Corel Corp. Appoints P. Morley EVP Of Sales & Mktg.
Corel Corporation, a leading global software provider, has named Patrick Morley Executive Vice President, Sales and Marketing for the Americas. A seasoned software industry executive with more than 18 years of experience in sales, marketing, and channel development, Morley comes to Corel from Imprivata.
Peet's Coffee & Tea Appoints C. Lansing Chief Mktg. Officer
Peet's Coffee & Tea, a specialty coffee roaster and marketer, has appointed Christine Lansing Chief Marketing Officer, a newly established position. Most recently, she served as Vice President of Marketing, Global Innovation for The Hershey Company, where she was responsible for the global design, development and commercialization of new confectionery products. Prior to that, Lansing was Vice President Marketing Flagship brands at The Hershey Company. She began her career at Procter & Gamble where she spent 13 years building brands in the Company's paper division.
Big Lots Names R. Claxton Sr. VP of Mktg.
Big Lots, America's largest broadline closeout retailer, has appointed Robert Claxton as Senior Vice President of Marketing. Claxton will oversee all areas of marketing, advertising, brand development, and merchandise presentation and will be responsible for furthering the Company's national brand recognition.
CounterPoint, a leading producer of counter mats, has launched FloorPoint™ Graphics for the Floor. FloorPoint Graphics for the Floor as the perfect complement to a counter mat promotion as they reinforce existing advertising messages and enhance brand awareness. FloorPoint Graphics for the Floor can be used to deliver messages in a variety of ways through in-store signage, directional signage and even safety campaigns. These eye-catching displays are ideally suited for short-term, indoor signage in supermarkets, convenience and department stores, shopping malls, airports, exhibit halls-basically any place someone can benefit from a promotional message. For more information, contact Pam Myers, CounterPoint, (Tel) 888-876-6262 ext. 225, (Web site) www.DoYouPop.com/floorpoint
CoasterRom Promotes Canadian Club
Canadian Club is sponsoring the "Smooth Challenge" poker tournament in Las Vegas. CoasterRoms ™, designed to look like poker chips, were distributed at weekly poker tournaments at regional casinos leading up to the Smooth Challenge. In addition to the "drink responsibly" message presented by the beverage manufacturer, the CoasterRoms feature mini CDs with drink recipes, poker tips and an online poker experience.
Publicis-USA, agency of record for Canadian Club, was responsible for developing the "Smooth Challenge" promotion and incorporating CoasterRom.
Said Alison Carabetta, Publicis USA Program Manager, "Coaster Rom provides consumers with a fun and interactive way to learn about Canadian Club and how to play poker like poker pro, Chris Moneymaker. Aside from the innate purpose as a "coaster," the "rom" will provide consumers with media-rich content to promote a virtual online tournament where participants will be asked to register, thus enabling Canadian Club to collect valuable demographic information. The CoasterRom will help us drive traffic to the ccsmooth.com web site, where users can enter the Canadian Club Smooth Road to Vegas 2 Sweepstakes and find out more about upcoming Canadian Club poker nights and promotions."
For more information about CoasterRoms, contact Limerick Studios, a Charlotte, NC-based creative services boutique, (Tel) 704-371-4991, (Web site) www.limerickstudios.com.
Label$Dollars Program Boosts Sales By 21%
LeveragePoint Media released the results of its latest research for Label$Dollars ™, which shows that the in-store marketing program results in an average sales lift of 21% across all categories. Most of the brands reviewed in the study delivered a coupon, however, the research showed that Label$Dollars programs featuring an ad or promotional message performed favorably as well.
Label$Dollars leverages the high-traffic, high-transaction grocery perishable departments by delivering incentives directly from the weigh scale at the time of purchase. The program uses preprinted rolls of label stock designed to fit the weigh-scale printers located at deli and full-service meat departments.
Using the weigh scale printers, manufacturers can deliver preprinted coupons, advertising messages and recipes into consumers' hands-driving purchases within the perishable department or in the center store. The Label$Dollars program, which runs in 13 four-week cycles, offers guaranteed category exclusivity.
For more information on the Label$Dollars program, contact LeveragePoint Media, (Tel) 800-783-7171, (E-mail) info@leveragepointmedia.com, (Web site) www.leveragepointmedia.com.
Ignition Merges With Marketing Factory
ignition, Inc., an Atlanta, GA-based experiential marketing firm, is expanding its west coast presence by merging with Los Angeles-based Marketing Factory, Inc., a designer of entertainment properties and media promotions as well as strategic branding services. "We're together for the benefit of all our clients, and I expect the combined value we provide will only strengthen those relationships," said Rob Tonkin, CEO of Marketing Factory, who will now manage ignition's Los Angeles office.
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