Creative World

Week of January 25, 2010

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Merchandising Marketing Manager Sought

New Verizon Wireless Store In Casper, WY Is Nation's First Wireless Retail Store To Seek LEED Certification

Verizon Wireless's first store to seek LEED certification for commercial interiors recently opened for business in the Eastridge Mall Shopping Center in Casper, Wyoming. Gruskin Group™, an integrated design firm, worked with Verizon Wireless's internal corporate design team, as well as Paladino and Company, the team's sustainability consultant, to design the 3,479 SF Casper store with the goal of achieving a LEED Gold rating.

"We evaluated every material that went into the prototype, lighting design, mechanical and electrical systems, plumbing fixtures, construction process, as well as the sourcing of all building materials, with the goal of developing a dynamic retail environment that reduces its impact on the environment," said Kenneth A. Gruskin, principal and founder of Gruskin Group. "Our intent was to demonstrate that 'green' stores could be built without significantly increasing the cost of the project, or impacting the customer experience or look and feel of the Verizon Wireless brand."

The Casper store offers customers a hands-on experiential shopping environment where they can sample cutting edge voice, data, music and video technology. "Our new, green store in Casper provides plenty of space for both shopping and customer service, in keeping with our commitment to deliver innovative voice and data plans, exciting new devices and services and the best possible wireless experience," said Melanie Braidich, regional president of Verizon Wireless.

Among the store's key energy efficient and environmentally-conscious features are water and lighting power savings; the diversion of construction waste from landfills; Verizon Wireless' longtime "Hopeline" program which recycles unwanted wireless phones and equipment and reduces e-waste from entering landfills; recycled content in building materials; regionally manufactured materials; use of Energy Star equipment and appliances; improved indoor air quality due to reduced VOC paints, as well as "green" cleaning products, carpeting and systems furniture; and a green education program conducted by Verizon Wireless. (Web site) www.gruskingroup.com

Cheez Doodles Integrates Retail Promotions With Viral Marketing To Reach Young Consumers

Wise Foods is working with Zemoga, a digital marketing firm, to unveil a fresh new look for CheezDoodles.com: introducing the "Cheez Dudes." Encouraging creativity and musical aspirations, the new campaign introduces the Cheez Dudes alternative rock/pop group with original music, and an augmented reality contest that gives teens and tweens a chance to win musical instruments for their very own garage band.

Using computer vision and object recognition technology, AR lets people augment their real-world environment to make it interactive and digitally usable. For Cheez Doodles, Zemoga developed a complete digital campaign that included a new Website, casual game content, an augmented reality contest, original music, a Facebook Fan Page and a Twitter site to engage teens and tweens with the Cheez Doodle brand.

"Cheez Doodles successfully appeals to moms, but we needed to get more engagement with teens and tweens. So we worked with Zemoga to develop an extensive online marketing campaign to bring the Cheez Dudes to life," said Kevin Foltz, Brand Manager at Wise Foods. "We decided to appeal to kids' creative sides with art and music branded themes, rather than a typical sports-related platform. That's how the Cheez Dudes band was born."

Two million Cheez Doodle grocery-sized bags are currently hitting the shelves at supermarkets on the East Coast with a 2x3-inch sticker featuring a call to action for the Cheez Dudes contest. Cheez Doodle 8-foot in-store displays feature header cards calling out the "ROCK THE CHEEZ!" promotion, along with shelf danglers. Just by signing up to be a fan of the Dudes, kids will be entered into a sweepstakes for the chance to win $1000. (Web site) www.zemoga.com

7-Eleven Displays 7-Select Snack Cakes, Donuts And Pastries

To complement its steadily growing line of 7-Select™ private-label products as well as the fresh-baked-daily items in its bakery case, some 5,700 participating 7-Eleven® stores are adding 15 packaged bakery items under the company's private-label brand. Snack cakes and pies, mini-donuts and breakfast pastries fill in the snack category for consumers who prefer their treats sweet rather than salty. To introduce the new snack cakes and sweet treats, participating 7-Eleven stores are offering each of the single-serve items at a special discounted price of 99 cents through the end of the year. The new line of bakery items has been in development for more than a year under the careful tutelage of Joe Hermes, 7-Eleven senior product director for bakery and produce, and Bakery Product Manager, John Vaughan.

"Customers who turn to private label are looking for better values and ways to save money," Hermes said, "but just saving money isn't enough to keep them as repeat purchasers. Our goal was to match or improve on the taste and quality of the baked goods by the national brands. If you can do that and save a customer money, they're more likely to become loyal to that product." New snack cake items are in development for introduction in 2010.

Temptu & Sephora Launch Sephora Beauty Studio

Temptu, a leader in high-performance professional airbrush makeup for film and television, has launched the TEMPTU® AIRbrush Makeup System. Temptu and Sephora have partnered to create a Temptu-branded educational and experiential lab for the Sephora shopper in the newly launched Sephora Beauty Studio. Sephora beauty experts will offer AIRbrush product training and "express services" to consumers to encourage experimentation and learning with the new Temptu AIRbrush technology.

"We are thrilled to be the exclusive retail partner for Temptu," said Margarita Arriagada, Sephora's SVP of Merchandising. "Sephora is committed to bringing the most innovative technological advances in the beauty industry to our clients."

Wonderful Pistachios' Displays Promote 'Get Crackin'' Campaign

Wonderful Pistachios has launched new national marketing campaign which challenges Americans to pick up their pistachios and "Get Crackin.'" The $15 million Wonderful Pistachios campaign is the first campaign for the category and features eight celebrity figures demonstrating how they crack open a pistachio, each in their own unique, light-hearted way, through a series of commercials airing on national prime-time programming.

"We want to remind America, in a light-hearted way, that pistachios are a unique, fun and healthy snack," said Dominic Engels, vice president of global marketing, Paramount Farms, producer of Wonderful Pistachios. "The experience of cracking open a pistachio is unlike any other and we're using a humorous, tongue-in-cheek approach, and a wide range of celebrity figures, to remind people of that. We feel confident that our irreverent approach will help break through the marketing clutter and make people feel good about pistachios."

Wonderful Pistachios encourages Americans to "Get Crackin'" with a video submission contest that asks nut lovers to develop their own video commercial for a chance to win $25,000 and an airing on national television. "We recognize that there are hundreds - if not thousands - of original ways to crack open a pistachio," said Engels. "We challenge Americans to get creative and submit their own innovative take on our campaign." Point-of-purchase displays support the campaign in-store.

Disney Dream To Set Sail In 2011 Offering A One-Of-A-Kind Family Experience

A first-of-its kind cruise ship, the Disney Dream sets sail in early 2011 as the newest ship in the Disney Cruise Line fleet. The Disney Dream will take family cruising to all-new heights, embracing the spirit of innovation, magical family entertainment and immersive experiences.

With the Disney Dream setting sail, preparations are underway to expand the one-of-a-kind family experience, utilizing technology to enhance the world-class entertainment and legendary guest services onboard. The Disney Dream features a remarkable interior design which provides guests with a warm and welcoming feel throughout. The ship's design offers guests a perfect blend of elegant Art Deco style and fun-filled Disney whimsy to create one of the most spectacular ships afloat.

Distinctly Disney guest features aboard the Disney Dream include: AquaDuck Water Coaster, a cruise-industry first, a shipboard water coaster. AquaDuck stretches 765 feet in length - more than two and a half times the length of a football field - and spans four decks in height. Guests slide 13 feet over the side of the ship in a translucent "swing out" loop allowing them to look down on the ocean 150 feet below. Guests experience coaster-like thrills as high-powered water jets push them upwards and forwards at 20 feet per second. A Magical Oasis for Children- There are two main spaces for children ages three to 10: Disney's Oceaneer Club and Disney's Oceaneer Lab. Both venues offer magical interactions with the animated characters such as Crush, the sea turtle from the Disney-Pixar motion picture "Finding Nemo" and Stitch, the mischievous alien from "Lilo and Stitch." The characters chat, play and joke with children in live, unrehearsed conversations from their digital undersea and intergalactic environments via 103-inch plasma screens. Chill-Out Zones for Tweens and Teens-Located inside the forward funnel is Edge - the lounge just for tweens (ages 11 to 13). This tween pad is filled with a multitude of hi-tech entertainment including the ability to create and star in photo postcards and video karaoke using green-screen technology. Teens have their own exclusive club aboard the Disney Dream with Vibe - a trendy and inviting indoor/outdoor space created especially for guests ages 14 to 17. On the Disney Dream, while children are having the time of their lives in the elaborately themed youth areas, adults can look forward to incomparable indulgences and relaxation with exclusive areas and offerings designed exclusively for them.

Winn-Dixie To Offer Affordable Health Insurance To Customers In All of Its Florida Stores As Part Of Partnership With Blue Cross And Blue Shield Of Florida

Winn-Dixie Stores has partnered with Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida (BCBSF) to offer its customers Health Cards in all 353 of its Florida Winn-Dixie and Save-Rite locations. The program consists of two options: the $59 Gift of Health Care card and $19 FamilyBlue discount card.

The $59 Gift of Health Care card offers a convenient way to buy affordable health insurance. The $59 is applied accordingly to the plan the customer selects during the activation call. The $19 FamilyBlue discount card provides an entire family with discounts on dental, pharmacy and vision care for three months. The FamilyBlue card can pay for itself in just one visit to a provider.

Shoppers will find these cards on a permanent freestanding display unit located in the pharmacy area, and in the cold and flu aisle in stores that do not have a pharmacy. After customers have paid for their card, they can call a BCBSF 1-800 number located on the back of the card to activate it as well as receive their personalized member ID card to take to the doctor.

"Our goal is simple - to provide Floridians with easy access to the health care system," said Craig Thomas, BCBSF vice president and chief marketing officer. "This is a completely unique concept for the health care industry that allows us to reach a broader audience of uninsured and underinsured who would normally go to their local store to purchase pre-paid and gift cards. Winn-Dixie's role as the first Florida grocer to carry these cards is a clearly demonstrates their commitment to the health and well being of the communities they serve."

The Home Depot To Expand Its Recycling Efforts With First Ever Power Drill Exchange

As a part of its long-term commitment to the environment and sustainability, The Home Depot® recently kicked-off the first ever Power Drill Trade In, Trade Up event, which offers customers the chance to bring in their used or broken power drills and get 15 percent off a new lithium-ion drill. Lithium-ion is a revolutionary technology in cordless tools offering more power and less weight. Lithium-ion chemistry is not harmful to the environment and it outperforms NiCad by as much as 50 percent, requiring less charging time and saving energy. Consumers can bring in their old power drill to any The Home Depot U.S. store and trade up to a lithium-ion drill and The Home Depot will recycle their old drill.

The first Power Tool Trade In, Trade Up event is another way The Home Depot is expanding its long-term commitment to the environment and sustainability through the Eco Options program, a classification that allows customers to easily identify products that have less of an impact on the environment.

New Retail Stores Connect Consumers With the Best of Microsoft

Microsoft has opened its first retail store in Scottsdale, Arizona. Designed to give shoppers a chance to experience the best of Microsoft and its partners, the store offers customers a select line of laptops, netbooks, all-in-one PCs, Xbox consoles, Windows Mobile phones and one of the largest selections of third-party software titles in any store. "Our customers have told us they want choice, better value and great service when shopping for technology, and that is what we will deliver through our Microsoft stores," said David Porter, Vice President of Microsoft Retail.

The design of the stores is uniquely Microsoft, with four "zones" that focus on different types of technology experiences. Laptops are on large cedar tables, with seating so shoppers can sit and tinker. The walls are lined with giant LCD screens that envelop the space with landscapes and product images. Below the images, stylish all-in-one PCs are set up with Zunes, Xbox consoles, headphones and widescreen displays, demonstrating how all the items work together to create a multimedia experience. Toward the back of the store are laptop bags and an array of software titles. There is a gaming zone featuring a 94-inch widescreen, with seating and an array of controllers to play with. The store design is centered on three core principles: elevating customer choice, providing more value and delivering great service.

ASICS Set To Open First Flagship Store In New York City

ASICS® America, a leading athletic footwear and apparel manufacturer, is opening its first U.S.-based retail store in New York City. The 1,100-square-foot store will be located at 51 West 42nd Street in the heart of Midtown Manhattan, near Bryant Park. "Despite a down economy, ASICS America is still seeing significant growth in sales," said Rich Bourne, President and CFO, ASICS America. "New York is an active city in the running community which ASICS has long been a part of through our support of the ING New York City Marathon. We feel this is the perfect time and place to mark our debut as a retailer in the U.S."

As the first stand-alone ASICS retail outlet in the United States, the store will stock running specific merchandise including footwear and apparel, and will have a sleek design aesthetic with traditional ASICS white and royal blue coloring similar to its predecessors in London and Tokyo. A main draw for the store will be the proprietary Foot ID system, which includes a 3D scan of the foot along with gait analysis to help consumers determine the best shoe for their foot and running style. Foot ID's 3D scan utilizes a cross-section of lasers and cameras to measure all aspects of the foot including the arch, boney architecture of the upper, length, width, heel and ball girth. The consumer simply stands on two pads located on the scanner and information is entered into a database. The consumer then runs on a special treadmill to collect additional information about their running gait. A specifically trained ASICS staff member will interpret all of this information and provide a recommendation on which shoes will work best for that individual.

"The state-of-the-art Foot ID system allows the customers to experience first-hand what ASICS technology is all about," said Gary Slayton, VP of Marketing, ASICS America. "ASICS is known for our innovation, and we are proud to be bringing a piece of that to the floor of our first U.S.-based retail store."

Netflix Joins Forces With Sony So That Movies And TV Episodes Can Be Instantly Streamed To TVs Via PlayStation Network

Sony Computer Entertainment America is joining forces to make thousands of movies and TV episodes from Netflix available to be streamed instantly to TVs via the PlayStation®3 (PS3(TM)) computer entertainment system. Netflix will begin streaming via the PS3 system at no additional cost to Netflix members in the United States who have a PS3 system.

This agreement pairs two of the most popular and fastest growing home entertainment brands in the U.S. The Netflix offering expands on the entertainment experience delivered to PS3 system owners via PlayStation Network. For $8.99 a month, Netflix members can instantly watch unlimited movies and TV episodes streamed to their TVs and computers via Netflix ready devices such as the PS3 system and can receive unlimited DVDs delivered quickly to their homes.

"As instantly watching movies and TV episodes streamed from Netflix becomes an increasingly popular way to enjoy the Netflix service, our goal is to rapidly expand the devices that stream to our members," said Netflix CEO and co-founder Reed Hastings. "As a leading game console and Blu-ray disc player, bringing Netflix to the PS3 system is a real win for both Netflix members and PS3 system owners." Initially, watching movies instantly streamed from Netflix via the PS3 system will be enabled by a free, instant streaming Blu-ray disc that is being made available to all Netflix members. The free instant streaming disc leverages Blu-ray's BD-Live(TM) technology to access the Internet and activate the Netflix user interface on the PS3 system, which must be online via Wi-Fi or Ethernet. Netflix members simply slide the disc into their PS3 systems to reveal movies and TV episodes that can be watched instantly.

Sportlifestyle PUMA Brand Partners With Activision's DJ Hero

Sportlifestyle Brand PUMA® has teamed up with Activision Publishing Inc.'s DJ Hero™ - the latest innovation in music gaming featuring 93 exclusive mixes from the biggest stars in hip hop, R&B, rock, pop and dance and created by some of the greatest DJs of all time. As part of the partnership, PUMA has outfitted seven playable DJ characters in PUMA Archive products.

"Given PUMA's history in DJ culture this game was the perfect fit," said Antonio Bertone, PUMA's Chief Marketing Officer. "Having PUMA's gear featured in such an innovative game, allows us to interact with our consumers in a whole new way." In-store DJ Hero demo stations and displays will be making an appearance in select PUMA Stores across the country as well as in key retail partner locations. The PUMA footwear, apparel, and accessories featured in the game will also be available for purchase at PUMA Stores.

Half Price Books, ABnote North America, And Earthworks Team Up To Recycle Gift Cards

Half Price Books, the nation's largest new and used bookstore chain, will soon be recycling their used plastic gift cards. Working with Earthworks® and ABnote North America™, Half Price books will be the first major book retailer in North America to offer a gift card that is both recycled and recyclable.

Half Price Books will purchase recycled gift cards, made from Earthworks recycled plastic, from ABnote North America, who will print, personalize, and deliver the cards to Half Price Books. After the gift cards are fully redeemed by its customers, Half Price Books will collect the used cards, send them back to Earthworks where they will be ground and re-processed into sheets, and then shipped back to ABnote North America for printing and conversion into gift cards once again. By working together, a full circle recycling process is established resulting in dramatically lower Poly Vinyl Chloride (PVC) use and a reduced amount of PVC entering landfills. Also, cards can be recycled over and over, multiplying the benefits over time.

Jake Jacobs, executive vice-president of sales and marketing for ABnote North America said, "The recyclable card program builds on the already strong environmental commitment of Half Price Books. We are glad to work with Half Price Books and Earthworks in helping to build the PVC recycling loop and to enable gift cards to keep on giving."

Organic Valley Partners With Ray's Food Place Stores, Giving Shoppers Opportunities To Support Local Environmental Stewardship

Organic Valley and Ray's Food Place have joined forces with EcoUnit to launch a new shopper rewards program that awards customers with EcoUnit credits that can be redeemed to support local stewardship projects like tree planting, river restoration, removal of invasive species and watershed clean-up.

"We believe this partnership is a great fit for our company and our commitment to supporting the communities that we are a part of," said Greg Sandeno, vice president and COO of C&K Market, Inc., parent company of Ray's Food Place. "Together with Organic Valley and EcoUnit, Ray's is doing its part to work towards a sustainable future for our families."

Through the end of this year, a purchase of any Organic Valley product from Ray's Food Place stores will earn shoppers EcoUnit credits that they can redeem to support the projects of their choice.

"Consumers today are learning that their buying decisions impact the environment, especially when it comes to food purchases," said Tripp Hughes, director of category management for Organic Valley. "Now, shoppers in southern Oregon and northern California who make environmentally responsible choices, like using reusable bags and purchasing local and organic products, also have the chance to make a real difference in the region's watershed."

San Francisco Bay area-based EcoUnit recognizes the advantages of eating organic: Over the past 20 years, shoppers who have selected Organic Valley products have collectively kept 89.5 million pounds of synthetic nitrogen fertilizer and 12.5 million pounds of synthetic pesticides and herbicides out of America's soil and water. By partnering with Organic Valley and Ray's Food Place stores to launch this program, EcoUnit hopes to create awareness throughout the U.S. and the rest of the world of the loss of forests and degradation of fresh water supplies.

Kroger's New Line Of Fresh Salads Enables Customers To Learn The Origin Of The Produce Through Exclusive Technology

Kroger's new line of its own fresh salads includes new technology on the packaging that enables customers to learn where the produce was grown as part of Kroger's "Quality You Can Trace"(SM) program. As shoppers become more interested in the nutrition, origin and quality of the food they purchase, The Kroger Co. has teamed with HarvestMark, the leading system in food traceability, to give customers an easy way to learn more about where the produce used in Kroger salads was grown.

Kroger's Fresh Selections are the only salads with HarvestMark technology sold in the U.S. today. Each bag carries a 16-digit code shoppers can enter at HarvestMark.com to learn more about the salad's origin, packing location, ingredients, date and time the product was packed. Customers can also offer their feedback on the product.

"Kroger continues to be a leader in offering customers innovative food safety tools and resources," said Joe Grieshaber, group vice president of Kroger's meat, seafood, deli and produce departments. Kroger's partnership with HarvestMark follows industry-leading notification systems.

CVS/pharmacy Begins Rewarding Shoppers For Passing On Plastic Bags

To encourage shoppers to cut down on the use of single-use plastic bags, CVS/pharmacy has introduced a new product and program called GreenBagTag which rewards members of the company's ExtraCare loyalty program for declining plastic bags when making a purchase. GreenBagTag is currently available for purchase at any of CVS/pharmacy's 7,000 convenient store locations nationwide and all store locations now accept GreenBagTag.

Available in-stores for 99 cents, GreenBagTag is made with corn-based material, an annually renewable resource, as well as 100% recycled silicone, and is packaged in 100% recycled paper. Shoppers can purchase GreenBagTag for themselves or as a gift for environmentally-conscious friends and family; each tag must be used with an ExtraCare card. Whether they are using re-usable bags or simply carrying out their items, customers who choose not to take a plastic bag, benefit each time they shop at CVS/pharmacy and scan both their GreenBagTag and ExtraCare card at the register. On every fourth scan, GreenBagTag cardholders receive a $1.00 Extra Buck on the bottom of their receipt. Extra Bucks are like free CVS/pharmacy money that can be used on nearly anything in the store.

Bari Harlam, Vice President of Marketing for CVS/pharmacy, said, "Our new GreenBagTag program provides an easy way for shoppers to take a small step in going green, while also receiving Extra Bucks as a 'Thank you!' for joining us in making an impact in the fight to reduce waste from disposable plastic bags."

New Blistex Lip Massage Features Unique Formula/Package Combination

With its latest innovation, Blistex Lip Massage offers a truly unique soft and textured applicator tip to stimulate lips and smooth away rough spots, plus an ultra-rich formula that softens while it hydrates.

The gentle, pliant ridges on Lip Massage's applicator tip invigorate lips while working the superb moisturizing formula beyond just the lip surface. The results are smooth, totally refreshed lips that feel like they've just had a massage. Blistex Lip Massage also delivers a one-of-a-kind formula/package combination. While all other non-solid balms are only offered in a traditional soft tube form, Lip Massage's soft formula comes in a durable stick container that dispenses with a simple twist. Blistex Lip Massage is now available at food, drug and mass merchandisers nationwide.

'Ludacris' Debuts Conjure Cognac

Conjure, an innovative new spirit, is a collaboration between recording artist Chris "Ludacris" Bridges and famed cognac house Birkedal Hartmann, based in Cognac, France. Conjure is made from the ugni blanc grape from blends that represent a variety of Cognac regions. Conjure is a highly selective blend of thirty to forty eaux-de-vie, aged in Limousin oak barrels up to fifty years old. The combination of Conjure's distinct blend and finely seasoned barrels provides an unparalleled complexity of smoothness, definition, and flavor.

iGo Debuts New Line of Eco-Friendly Power Management Products

iGo®, the leading provider of green power management solutions, has launched three new power products featuring iGo's proprietary and patent-pending iGo Green™ Technology. Using 85% less standby power than standard power management products, the eco-friendly products featuring green technology include the first-ever green laptop charger, a four receptacle wall outlet and the only eight-outlet automatic recovery surge protector on the market. The iGo Green Technology line detects when a device is not in use and shuts off the power drawn. Then, the iGo green products automatically power back up when it detects that energy is needed again.

"Whether we realize it or not, electronic devices continue to draw precious power from the wall, even if the device is not in use," said Michael D. Heil, president and chief executive officer of iGo. "While it's impractical for consumers to unplug their devices every time they are not being used, iGo Green Technology products make it easy for consumers by automatically reducing the standby power that each device draws."

JMS Just My Size Launches New Clothing Collection Of Plus-Size Apparel At Walmart

JMS Just My Size launched a new trend-right, value-minded clothing collection for plus-size shoppers. As the dedicated plus-size apparel brand at Walmart, JMS will have a dramatically expanded presence in more than 3,500 Walmart stores across the U.S. focusing on trend-right styles at a value, with all items priced below $22. Instead of just a few key pieces, plus-size shoppers will consistently be able to find a full collection of clothing in sizes 16-28. New collections will arrive every month. "The JMS woman embraces her curves," said Maria Teza, marketing director for JMS. "So often plus-size women see stylish clothes in the Missy department that they can't find in the plus-size department. Now she can find those same styles in just her size." JMS Just My Size is a brand of Hanesbrands Inc.

Wii Fit Plus Launches With New Customized Workout Features

Nintendo of America is launching Wii Fit Plus™, a revolutionary way for consumers to create their own customized workout, delivering new levels of personalization, convenience and enjoyment to at-home fitness. Designed exclusively for the Wii™ console, Wii Fit Plus invites all members of the household to make individualized workout routines according to their own unique schedules, activity preferences and fitness goals. Also, players can now see an estimated amount of calories burned during each workout while tracking their overall progress. Another new feature even incorporates animals by letting players track their pets' weight and create custom Mii™ characters for them.

"As the fast pace of the holiday season kicks in, Wii Fit Plus delivers an unbeatable at-home fitness option," said Cammie Dunaway, Nintendo of America's vice president of Sales & Marketing. "Whether people have specific fitness goals or just want a fun way to stay active, they can create a personalized, productive workout routine that they'll actually look forward to each day."

Philips Introduces A Better Way To Wake Up With Light Technology

Recognizing the need for a better way to start the day, especially with the arrival of daylight saving, Philips has launched its Wake-up Light, an alarm clock that simulates a natural sunrise to make waking up more enjoyable and energizing. Research has shown a slow dawn effect is clinically proven to have an impact on quality of awakening, subsequent energy levels at the start of your day, and improves mood compared to traditional loud alarm clocks that tend to jolt the body to wake.

"Light is a critical element to the daily sleep/wake cycle," said Jacopo D'Alessandris, Vice-President of Marketing North America, Philips Consumer Lifestyle. "The Philips Wake-up Light is great for those who are tired of waking up to the sound of a jarring alarm clock and want to positively improve their daily wake-up routine."

Polk Audio's New HitMaster Brings Depth, Realism And Volume To Music Game Play

Polk Audio®, the Speaker Specialists®, has introduced a new speaker that will take Rock Band® and Guitar Hero® game-play to a new level of depth and detail. Polk's new HitMaster(TM) applies the company's audio prowess to a new category of gaming stage monitors that are designed for use with the latest music-based games. HitMaster features a single-point stereo design that includes two 2.5" x 5.5" horns with two 1" neodymium tweeters surrounding a 6.5" woofer, housed in a cabinet that measures 14"w x 9 1/2"h x 8 1/2"d and weighs 13 lbs. By employing single-point stereo, HitMaster produces a wide, immersive soundfield that brings a live concert sense of realism to the latest crop of music-based games.

Mark Suskind, Vice President of Product Line Management for Polk Audio, said, "With all this attention to the quality of the soundtracks, most games are played through standard TV speakers, which are dismal at best. That's where HitMaster will make a difference. Unlike other stage monitor gaming speakers, HitMaster is designed to bring a real-on stage presence to game-play, with sonic output that is worthy of the Polk brand."

New Yogi Skin DeTox Tea Gently Purifies Skin From Inside Out

New Yogi™ Skin DeTox organic green tea is now available in stores nationwide. Organic green tea, loaded with antioxidants and long recognized for promoting healthy skin, is infused with soothing rose petals and hibiscus flowers for a sweet flavor and delicate fragrance. A blend of pomegranate, stevia leaf and honeybush lends natural sweetness while burdock root, yellow dock root and red clover help to detoxify and cleanse. Yogi uses extensive knowledge of ancient healing traditions and culinary herbalism to ensure the inherent health benefits of the pure botanical ingredients in Skin DeTox are amplified. Purposefully combined, the potent herbs work together naturally to help reduce inflammation, improve circulation and gently flush impurities from the body. Yogi Skin DeTox tea is sold in grocery and natural food stores nationwide.

New Terminix Eco-Friendly Insulation Protects Against Pests

Homeowners can help reduce landfill space and protect against pests while saving up to 20 percent on heating and cooling costs with new Terminix R-Plus Insulation. Eco-conscious R-Plus Insulation is made from 85 percent recycled newsprint and is bonded, in a patented process, with boric acid that helps eliminate pests. R-Plus is an Energy Star-rated pest control insulation and is proven to have more effective sound-deadening ability than traditional fiberglass insulation. Homeowners who use it could be eligible for a federal tax credit of up to $1,500 and adding proper insulation is an investment that can often save the most on energy for the least amount of money.

Samuel Adams To Unveil New Beer Style With Germany's Weihenstephan Brewery

Samuel Adams and Germany's Weihenstephan Brewery have formed a partnership and plans to unveil a new style of collaboratively brewed beer next spring. Weihenstephan is the world's oldest brewery, founded by Benedictine monks in 1040. The brewery is the guardian of a centuries-old beer purity law called the Reinheitsgebot and it has brewed according to this law since its beginning. Samuel Adams is an American craft beer pioneer whose original style, Samuel Adams Boston Lager®, helped spark the American Craft Beer Revolution by leading a return to flavorful beer brewed in small batches. Working in tandem for almost two years, the brewers from Samuel Adams and Weihenstephan are perfecting an innovative beer style that explores new brewing techniques within the boundaries of beer law. Their yet-to-be-named crisp, pale brew is slated to debut in the United States and Germany next spring in cork-finished bottles. This effervescent, Champagne-like beer will weigh in at more than 10 percent alcohol by volume, yet remain very dry and crisp, shattering the preconceived notions of what can be done following the Reinheitsgebot Law.

Organic B.R.A.T. Beverage Introduced

An organic children's beverage that incorporates pediatric dietary recommendations was recently introduced. Organic B.R.A.T.(TM) is a non-dairy, vitamin-fortified electrolyte drink inspired by the BRAT diet, a commonly prescribed diet for an upset stomach consisting of bananas, rice, applesauce, and toast. The product is the brainchild of Greg and Ilsa Toepfer, who struggled to get their two young daughters to eat "BRAT" foods to help with nausea. The Toepfers wished for a liquid version of the diet, and when they found none existed, set out to formulate a product themselves. The resulting Organic B.R.A.T.(TM) is produced without lactose, gluten or common allergens, and contains no added sugar (sweetened only with banana and apple puree). Organic B.R.A.T.(TM) is available in four flavors: Chocolate-Honey, Vanilla, Cinnamon-Toast, and Original, and is available in more than 4,000 retail outlets nationwide.

Landis+Gyr Releases New ecoMeter In-Home Energy Monitor

Landis+Gyr announced the commercial availability of its next generation ecoMeter(TM) energy monitor for the North American market. The ecoMeter P250 is a pocket-sized display that connects wirelessly to the consumer's electric meter to continuously report energy use and cost. Designed for convenient placement anywhere in the home, the ecoMeter uses short-range radio signals to communicate with qualified advanced meters using the ZigBee® Smart Energy Profile. In addition to current energy consumption, the monitor stores and reports historical energy use, cost of power -- including up to four time-of-use cost tiers -- and uses color coded alerts when energy use goes above average (or "normal") consumption.

"In-home energy monitors, like our ecoMeter products, allow utilities to engage consumers and give them an active role in energy management and demand response," said Shelley Moister, Product Manager at Landis+Gyr. "The P250, using the Smart Energy Profile to communicate with the smart meter, provides standards-based compatibility with Gridstream advanced metering solutions."

Little Giant Ladder Systems Pioneers New 'Safe Ladder' Products

Little Giant Ladder Systems™, pioneer of the "safe ladder" category, has introduced three new innovative safe ladder products: the SumoStance™, SelectStep™, and MicroBurst™ brands. One-of-a-kind safety features found only in the new SumoStance™, SelectStep™ and MicroBurst™ product lines deliver stability, comfort and ease of use for professionals and homeowners. The patent-pending SumoStance is the world's only wide-stance extension ladder with adjustable outriggers, which triple its base width and increase side-tip stability by over 500%. SelectStep is a 5, 6, 7, and 8-foot stepladder, and is the only stepladder that can be safely used on stairs and sloping ground. The MicroBurst offers Fold-Flat™ technology, storing in nearly half the space of an ordinary A-frame stepladder, making it easy to store and carry. The StableLock™ spreader system is the strongest part of the ladder, constructed of high-strength steel, creating a solid A-frame structure that virtually prevents ladder shifting or walking.

New Apple Rush Sparkling Organic Light Juices Offer 40% Fewer Calories Than Original Beverages

Apple Rush Co. has developed a new reduced calorie version of its Organic Apple Rush beverages. Apple Rush is now scheduling an early 2010 introduction of three new Organic Light flavors with fewer calories; Pomegranate, Original Apple and Black Cherry. The product will be available in eye-catching 12 oz. recyclable Aluminum cans.

Apple Rush Organic Light has the same refreshing taste as its 100% Juice version, but with 40% less calories. The new Light version will be made with 60% Organic Juices and a blend of Stevia and Erythritol that provides a delicious and refreshing taste like the original 100% juice version. Apple Rush is positioning itself for the growth it foresees in the reduced calorie Organic beverage category.

Hain To Offer Martha Stewart-Branded Food Line

Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia has partnered with The Hain Celestial Group and its affiliate Hain Pure Protein Corp. to introduce a new Martha Stewart-branded food line at retail, including poultry from Plainville Farms®, baking mixes from Arrowhead Mills® and dried pastas from DeBoles® using all natural, healthy ingredients. The product lines are expected to be distributed in supermarkets, mass-market retailers and warehouse clubs across the country. The new Martha Stewart-branded products will launch with limited distribution of fresh and frozen vegetarian-fed and antibiotic-free turkeys from Hain Pure Protein's Plainville Farms.

Rich P.O.P. Displays Acquires D.K. Conde Wood

Rich Ltd. Pop Displays, an Oceanside, CA-based designer and manufacturer of point-of-purchase displays, store fixtures, and merchandising solutions, has acquired D.K. Conde Wood, Inc., a San Diego, CA-based display company that sells and distributes three primary product lines to a national customer base, which are marketed under "The Conde Rack" brand. These include a proprietary line of store fixtures, a line of stock and custom point-of-purchase displays, and a line of bicycle racks for store display. In addition, the company provides conventional milling and design services and CNC wood component manufacturing for OEM applications and custom projects. "We are very excited to join forces with D.K. Conde Wood," said Jim Hollen, President of Rich Ltd. "Not only does this acquisition enable us to add a line of time-tested, high quality products to our existing proprietary line of displays, but it also provides us with a domestic manufacturing capability which will allow us to meet the needs of our customers who require faster production turnaround times." (Web site) www.richltd.com

Harbor Industries Appoints Mark Neumann National Account Manager

Harbor Industries has appointed Mark Neumann as National Account Manager. He has 17 years' experience in the point of purchase display and fixture industry and will focus on new business development and product diversification efforts. (Web site) www.harborind.com

Laser Excel Purchases Plastic Services

Laser cutting and plastic fabrication leader Laser Excel, Green Lake, WI, has launched a new division, Plastic Services. The new business unit follows its acquisition of Plastic Services, Inc. of Hartland, WI. The division targets markets servicing the POP display and In-store fixture industries. Together, the two companies will meet a wider set of customer needs and the new division has a significantly greater opportunity to grow into existing and new markets, particularly in POP displays.

Above All Advertising Offers Rolling Snap Frames

Above All Advertising offers rolling snap frames, which have the dual advantage of a snap technology as well as a rolling base. Dual sided snap frames allow for a quick change in the display material. The rolling base, makes it easy for retailers to position the unit wherever desired in their stores. For more information, contact Above All Advertising, 6980 Corte Santa Fe, San Diego, CA 92121; (Tel.) 866-552-2683; (Fax) 858-777-3537; (Web site) www.abovealladvertising.com

Digital View Offers Interactive Anti-Theft Cradle

Digital View has added a plug-and-play, interactive, anti-theft cradle to its range of ViewStream solid state media player accessories. The add-on device enables the effective display of high value exhibits/items in museum and retail environments. The Anti-Theft Cradle offers an effective mechanism for demonstrating high value items in open display. The items are attached to a flexible recoiling security lead using high-power magnets - which can only be broken by applying extreme force. The combination of display item and securing mechanism then rests neatly into a holster cradle. The cradle is programmed so that when the display item is picked up or viewed, it outputs an interactive command that changes the content on a Digital View ViewStream™ or VideoFlyer™ digital media system. If the coil is cut or the magnet broken - then a high volume alarm sounds. The Anti-Theft Cradle is compatible with all Digital View ViewStream™ media players. It has battery back-up power and a powered recoil to enable exhibits (such as mobile phones or cameras) to be powered on for demonstration. For more information, call 1-408-782-7773 or visit (Web site) www.digitalview.com

Testrite Visual Products offers Brand-A-Stand

Testrite Visual Products offers the Brand-A-Stand, an attention-getting sign and literature holder. The Brand-A-Stand can feature custom laser cut headers, logos, bases or other decorative elements for prominent brand identification. For more information, contact Testrite Visual Products, 216 South Newman St., Hackensack, NJ 07601; (Tel) 201-543-0240; (Web site) www.testrite.com

T.M. Shea Corp. offers Patented Swing Strip Display System

T.M. Shea Corp. offers a patented Swing Strip display system which help products stand out from the shelf. The patented display features a bracket that bolts down securely to the bottom of the shelf. The polypropylene extruded SwingStrip attaches via a metal s-hook and features universal holes for the two inch glass filled nylon pegs. The Swing Strips are offered in various sizes and colors. For more information, contact T.M. Shea Corp., 984 Livernois Rd., Troy, MI 48083; (Tel) 248-589-3272; (Web site) www.tmshea.com

Merchandising Inventives Offers 1" Up-Rite Sign Display Holder Clip

Merchandising Inventives has introduced the 1" Up-Rite Sign and Display Holder Clip, which attaches to any wall or shelf. The 1" Up-Rite Sign Holder comes with a 1-1/4" wide adhesive strip on its base to allow a secure mounting. The FGCH-1 can hold signs up to 1/8" thick. For more information, contact Merchandising Inventives, 1177 Corporate Grove Drive Buffalo Grove, IL 60089; (Tel) 800-367-5653; (Web Site) (Web site) www.merchinv.com

Becker Communications Offers New Kiosk Line Products

Becker Communications has launched a new product line of kiosks and a new kiosk web site: www.BeckerKiosks.com. This new web site contains over 100 base model kiosk enclosures starting at $2,500.00. Offering a catalog of standard designs allows Becker to turnaround kiosk orders in a shorter timeframe at affordable prices for customers. And while the enclosures may be standard, endless options make them customizable to fit numerous unique applications. BeckerKiosks.com also features a self-service pricing tool, which allows the user to customize any kiosk enclosure to fit their exact specifications and then instantly see the total investment. For additional information on Becker's new line of kiosks, visit (Web site) www.BeckerKiosks.com 0r (Web site) www.BeckerInc.com

KFC Introduces $5 Madden NFL Box And 200 Games A Day Giveaway As Official Wing Sponsor Of The NFL

KFC has introduced the $5 Madden NFL Box, now available at KFC restaurants coast to coast, which includes a choice of one of six of KFC favorites, a side item and a 32-ounce drink in a Madden NFL cup, for $5. The four cups feature NFL players Calvin Johnson, Jr., Philip Rivers, DeMarcus Ware and Brian Westbrook.

"It's exciting to announce the kickoff of our $5 Madden NFL Box, and with six different ways to customize your meal, you could say KFC is bringing back the option play," said Javier Benito, executive vice president of marketing and food innovation for KFC. "In addition to a full meal and drink for only $5, there are also thousands of opportunities to score free Madden NFL 10 games."

Additionally, KFC, the National Football League and EA SPORTS™, have teamed up to offer the "200 Games a Day Giveaway." A total of 6,000 games will be given away in 30 days. Game codes are available on both the 32-ounce drink and KFC's Madden NFL Box. The code on KFC's Madden NFL Box also gives gamers a $10 discount on Madden NFL 10 and free standard shipping from www.EASTORE.com/KFC.

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.

ESPN's 'NBA On ESPN RV Tour' Hits The Road For '09-'10 NBA Season

The "NBA on ESPN RV Tour," an experiential marketing promotion for ABC and ESPN's NBA coverage, is continuing its national road trip, now into its third consecutive NBA season. The RV, in which ESPN personalities "travel" to games in ESPN's NBA on-air promotions, will be on-site at more than 20 regular season NBA games this season, the NBA All Star Weekend and the NBA playoffs.

"The NBA on ESPN RV tour allows us to truly connect with NBA fans both online and on site at the games, " said Jeffrey Gonyo, Senior Director, Marketing, ESPN. "And with the goal of the campaign to drive tune in, our television audience for the past two seasons continues to rise and we hope to ride that wave of momentum into the '09-'10 season."

Executed by rEvolution, a Chicago-based sports marketing and media agency, the NBA on ESPN RV Tour is an effort to promote ESPN and ABC's expanded NBA television coverage, airing games on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays throughout the season. As the RV travels from game to game, it will also make a number of in-market stops including visits at ESPN Zones, ESPN the Weekend at Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, and at a number of charitable organizations. At each tour stop, NBA fans will have the opportunity to tour the RV, parked in a prominent location of the hosting arena, as well as participate in activities such as free throw contests, vertical jump challenges, souvenir photo stations, and more. NBA on ESPN branded premiums, such as mini-basketballs, T-shirts, backpacks and rally towels will also be given away at the RV.

BEST BUY And EA To Sponsor G3: Games, Gear & Gadgets National College Tour

Best Buy and EA have launched the "Best Buy G3: Games, Gear & Gadgets," video game college tour to reach thousands of videogame enthusiasts at 10 major colleges and universities nationwide this fall. The game technology tour will feature the latest new videogames, game technology and digital music.

G3 reaches the core of the young adult game-playing audience - college students. These early adopters and game enthusiasts will get the first opportunity to play several newly released titles on Tour. The G3 Tour is now gaining traction with the world's most successful Video and PC companies as a cutting edge showcase for new products and technologies. The 09 College Tour will showcase the interactive Best Buy LCD Gamers Lounge where students will be able to check out great games and new digital music technology demonstrations. The G3 Tour will also be featuring many of the hottest new Wii fall titles.

Guitar Center Launches Nationwide Food Drive

Guitar Center is conducting a nationwide, two-week food drive at all of its retail locations. Each Guitar Center store will donate all food collected during the drive to a local food bank in hopes of easing the national hunger issue, while garnering grassroots community support to build upon their efforts.

All of Guitar Center's 214 retail locations will participate in the food drive to benefit 124 local food banks. As a special thanks, anyone who donates a non-perishable item will receive a coupon for 10% off their next Guitar Center purchase.

"We're launching this campaign on a national level -- using the power and reach of all of our locations -- to make a measurable difference on a local level," said Gene Joly, Executive Vice President of Guitar Center Stores. "It is incredibly important for us to truly make an impact, especially around the holidays, and we're confident that we can accomplish that with the support and participation of people eager to affect real change in their community." Guitar Center is also supporting the effort with a multi-tiered marketing campaign including in-store signage and in-store audio and a full online promotional push.

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