Fisher-Price has introduced Elmo and Pooh Knows Your Name, transforming kids’ favorite characters into life-like plush friends. Through the use of today’s intuitive technology, Elmo and Winnie The Pooh will know the child’s name, their favorite foods, favorite animals and color, the child’s birthday, siblings’ names, best friend's name, favorite games and songs. Utilizing a simple USB cable and a CD Rom, parents can easily download key information into the Knows Your Name characters. Parents can update the toys as often as they want so every day can be a new way to play.
Fisher-Price makes it possible for parents to enter their child's name into a special in-store display so they can hear the characters say the name. If, for some reason, a child's name is not among the 15,000 already in the bank, parents can submit the names to Fisher-Price and they may be offered by download at the Fisher-Price web site.
Oral B-Braun Display Featured At Wal-Mart
The Gillette Company is using the Oral B-Braun display to create a category outpost for Braun electric toothbrush products in Wal-Mart stores. The display was also designed to drive sales of Oral-B Braun products during the peak holiday selling season.
The entire display is designed to set up in minutes. Materials include an injection molded pallet and 4 styrene modules screwed on to the pallet with sheet metal brackets. Each module is composed of an injection molded base, shelves and header as well as a die cut heat bent wall. Each module has stiffening strips of sheet metal in the walls and headers are silkscreened.
The Oral-B Braun display was produced by NDR, a - based display firm (Web site) www.ndrc.com
Reactrix Deploys Reactive Media Network
Reactrix Media Systems, a Redwood City, CA-based developer of reactive out-of-home media for dynamic advertising, is deploying and expanding its first reactive media network, a way for advertisers to reach and influence millions of consumers in high-traffic malls, theaters, stores and other public venues.
National advertisers are currently launching the first national reactive media campaigns in the top 10 metropolitan areas within the U.S. The new medium literally reacts to consumers when they step on or pass over the projected image, changing and responding to their movements and gestures. National advertisers will have fresh access to more than 100 million consumers using the new reactive media network, which is expected to grow to more than 200 media displays by early 2006.
"With more media options available than ever before in our history, and a consumer tendency to tune out traditional advertising, Reactrix offers a new way for marketers to engage consumers on their terms," said Michael Powell, Senior Advisor, Reactrix.
For more information on the Reactive Media Network,
(Web site) www.reactrix.com
IntelliMat Floor Display Delivers Digital Advertising Messages
IntelliMat is a new patented, portable floor display that delivers video advertising messages to consumers at the point of their decisions.
The IntelliMat is a wireless computer embedded in a very thin mat made of a lightweight thermoplastic alloy with four LCD screens, creating a 30-inch diagonal display with full multi-media capability. In addition, because each IntelliMat display is capable of becoming part of a network, it represents a new media network opportunity to reach consumers out of home.
For more information, contact Debra Saunders, Marketing Director, IntelliMats LLC, (Tel) 540-904-5670,
(Web site) www.intellimat.com
'SI Party At Club Bud' Planned For Olympic Winter Games
Budweiser and Sports Illustrated are planning to host the "SI Party At Club Bud" during the 2006 Olympic Winter Games in Torino, Italy. Club Bud will be a six-story pyramid-shaped nightclub located on the Po River across from the Piazza Vittorio in the city center of Torino. The party is expected to draw more than 1,000 people from a guest list that includes Olympic medal winners, sports legends and Hollywood stars.
"Sports Illustrated's parties have reached legendary status among those attending or following the Olympic Games," said Tony Ponturo, Vice President of Global Media and Sports Marketing at Anheuser-Busch. "As the world unites next February in the spirit of competition, our goal is to make sure the 'SI Party At Club Bud' is one of the most talked about events at the Olympic Winter Games."
Waddajuice Healthy Beverage Launched By Snapple Founder
Waddajuice, a healthy on-the-go juice beverage with an innovative kids sports cap, has been launched by Snapple founder Arnold Greenberg and entrepreneur and father of two Jordan Kerner. The idea started with the advice of a pediatrician who opened the parent's eye to the growing childhood obesity epidemic. Waddajuice is made with wholesome ingredients, no added sweeteners, flavors, dyes, preservatives or additives, and contains half the sugar, calories and carbohydrates of other fruit juices. Waddajuice's unique spill-proof package design allows children to easily pop off the overcap, remove a small seal and drink away. Waddajuice offers 100% vitamin C, 10% calcium and 10% of the essential B vitamins and comes in four kid-favorite flavors: Apple, Orange, Wild Berry and White Grape.
House of Compari Hosts 'Passionate Image' Exhibit
House of Compari is presenting "Passionate Image: The Body In Art And Advertising," a free photography exhibit showcasing famous photographers ranging from Richard Avedon to Matthew Rolston.
The exhibit chronicles the ways art and advertising have influenced one another over the past 30 years, focusing on how artists, and particularly photographers, have captured the sensual body and how those images have been conveyed in diverse ways. The Company's own passionate body ad images will be represented as poster art at the exhibit. The House Of Compari sponsored exhibit will run from November 11 through 19 at the Steven Kasher Gallery in New York City.
Sunkist Joins Forces With Sesame Workshop's 'Healthy Habits For Life' Initiative
In response to the growing crisis of childhood obesity, Sunkist and Sesame Workshop, are working together to encourage children to choose citrus as a healthy snack alternative. This partnership is part of Sesame Workshop's "Healthy Habits For Life" initiative, designed to address the importance of establishing an early foundation of healthy habits.
"As a partner of 'Healthy Habits for Life,' Sunkist will harness the energizing enjoyment of Sunkist citrus with the power and reach of Sesame Street to encourage healthy eating with today's families," said Robert Verloop, Sunkist Vice President of marketing. "It's a natural partnership."
"Sunkist joins a list of blue chip organizations committed to Sesame Workshop's 'Healthy Habits For Life' initiative, a content-driven program to help young children and their caregivers establish an early foundation of healthy habits that can last a lifetime," said Maura Regan, Vice President and General Manager of Global Licensing, Sesame Workshop. "With the help of the Sesame Street characters, learning healthy habits can be fun and easy as 1,2,3."
Launch Of Tom Ford Estee Lauder Collection For Holidays
World-renowned designer Tom Ford and Estee Lauder have collaborated to produce the Tom Ford Estee Lauder make-up and fragrance collection, specially created for the 2005 holiday season. The Tom Ford Estee Lauder Collection is a re-interpretation of select iconic Estee Lauder products including its famous Youth Dew fragrance and the brand's original gold fluted makeup packaging. The initial lineup features 13 items, including the new Youth Dew Amber Nude Fragrance Collection and the new Amber Nude Limited Edition Makeup Collection of lipsticks and compacts in sophisticated nude shades.
"My goal was to take Estee Lauder's glamour, history, quality and spirit, and create a collection for today," said Tom Ford. While the Youth Dew Amber Nude fragrance will remain the in the Estee Lauder line, the makeup items are limited editions available for the holiday 2005 season only.
Pillsbury Expands Line Of Oven Baked Frozen Biscuits & Rolls
Pillsbury has expanded its line of Oven Baked frozen biscuits and dinner rolls to address the "Empty Nester" trend affecting Boomers 50 or older. The new Pillsbury Oven Baked Frozen Whole Wheat Dinner Rolls and Garlic Dinner Rolls go directly from freezer to oven and bake within minutes.
Individually frozen and packaged in resealable bags, consumers can easily make one two or the whole bag. According to a survey conducted by Pillsbury, 84% of empty nesters said that the ability to reseal the food packaging was important in purchasing a food product. Similarly, 83% said that the ability to control the number of servings per meal was important.
Hot Stuff Foods Launches Palm Pizza For People On The Go
Hot Stuff Foods has launched Palm Pizza, designed for people who love pizza and aren't willing to let time and ergonomics dictate their choice in foods. Hot Stuff Foods is a convenience store concept food company that uses it s innovative food engineering to create a fresh baked pizza that can be eaten on the run and still have pizzeria-style taste. "Our goal was to integrate the great taste of a pizzeria-style pizza in a small portable shape, without the mess," said Des Hague, CEO and President of Hot Stuff Foods. "Hot Stuff has pledged to move away form mundane c-store food and, instead, provide consumers with offerings that keep them coming back for more."
Disneyland Resort Appoints Alessandro Sr. V.P. Of Mktg.
Jim Alessandro has joined the Disneyland Resort as Senior Vice President of Marketing. Alessandro comes to Southern California from Disneyland Resort Paris where he recently completed an assignment as Vice President, Global Marketing Support. In his new role, Alessandro will be instrumental in enhancing additional initiatives to showcase Disneyland's 50th anniversary celebration.
Sears Holdings Corp. has appointed Maureen McGuire to the newly-created position of Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer. McGuire joins Sears from IBM where she most recently held the post of Vice President, Strategy and Marketing, Worldwide Systems and Technology Group. Corwin Yulinsky has joined Sears Holdings as Executive Vice President, Customer Strategy and Insight. Yulinsky joins Sears from McKinsey and Co., where he was a leader of the financial institutions practice.
Burger King Names R. Levite V.P., Field Mktg. NA
Burger King Corp. has appointed veteran marketer Robert Levite as Vice President, Field Marketing North America, reporting to Executive Vice President and Chief Global Marketing Officer Russ Klein. In this capacity, Levite will be responsible for providing brand leadership, improving marketing execution and driving guest satisfaction in more than 8,000 restaurants in the U.S. and Canada. Most recently, Levite was Senior Vice President of Marketing for Wendy's International.
Southwest Airlines unveiled its first new specialty airplane with a marketing partner in 17 years, the NBA-themed Slam Dunk One. The only plane of its kind in all of sports, Slam Dunk One is emblazoned with an NBA basketball going through a basketball hoop on the forward potion of the fuselage. The ball is trailed by an orange wave that starts from the back of the plane making it appear as if it is being shot into the basket. The plane has a customized interior with each of the 30 NBA team logos adorning the overhead compartments.
The NBA and Southwest Airlines expanded their marketing partnership last July and Slam Dunk One is the first product of the broader relationship. "This partnership provides us with unique opportunities to convey our spirit and pride to our customers through a subject they feel passionate about-basketball," said Colleen Barrett, Southwest Airlines President.
NBA and Southwest Airlines will also use the plane for special outreach programs. The Shoot For Hope program with Southwest Airlines is part of NBA Cares, a global community outreach initiative that will feature the league, players, and teams raising and contributing more than $100 million for charity, donating more than one million hours of hands-on volunteer service to communities worldwide and building more than 100 places where kids can learn and play over the next five years.
Promotional Wood Products Offers Wood Replication
Promotional Wood Products specializes in wood replication for point-of-purchase display and signage applications. With the introduction of polyurethane, the Company can offer a more durable and lower priced product, while doing its part to save our trees. For more information, contact Promotional Wood Products Ltd., Box 44, 5 Main Street, Brodhagen, ON Canada NOK 1B0; (Tel) 888-913-WOOD, 519-345-2562, (Fax) 519-345-2869, (Web site) www.pwpnow.com
SuperScreen Expands Line Of Inflatable Signs
SuperScreen LLC has expanded its line of inflatable signs with its newest model, the LT 10'2" tall x 11'2" wide. The LT inflatable unit is small and durable with a simple set-up. With the internal blower, the unit inflates in less than 5 minutes. The turn- key LT system includes: DLP projector, audio system and DVD player, all rigging needs and one GFI (ground fault interrupter) cable. For more information, contact Doug Lane, SuperScreen LLC, (Tel) 303-778-0353,
(Web site) www.superscreenusa.com
Structural Graphics Creates Trade Show Handout For Siteworx
Structural Graphics, Essex, CT, recently created an eye-popping trade show handout for Siteworx, a design, integration and web applications company. The Company wanted to convey that it can redesign web sites in a painless manner with positive results. Structural Graphics produced 1,000 staged pop-up handouts for distribution at the trade show. Measuring 6x9 inches folded, the piece features the classic image of silent film comedian Harold Lloyd dangling from the hands of a building's broken clock face and the headline "It's Time To Rebuild Your Web site (Don't Panic)." When the brochure is opened, the clock pops out from a photograph of the building and a die-cut Lloyd hangs in the air. At the far left a column of copy assures readers that "rebuilding your website doesn't have to be frightening" and concludes by referring them to Siteworx's own web site if they're "still up in the air."
