Creative World

Week of March 21, 2011

banners

banners

Citibank Opens Innovative Flagship Branch In Union Square With 'Smart Banking' Technology And Differentiated Customer Experience

Citibank recently opened its new 9,700 square foot flagship branch in the heart of NYC's Union Square. Drawing on smart banking technologies pioneered by Citi in Asia, the branch will feature six interactive sales walls and other media walls; enhanced image ATMs; free online access and Wi-Fi for customers; 24/7 access, from the ATM lobby, to customer service experts via video-assist - the first of its kind in the U.S.; and a private seating lounge for Citigold customers, Citi's premium banking service.

The branch also offers a unique level of service with highly-trained staff dedicated to meeting the needs of its retail, small and commercial business, personal wealth management, Citigold and mortgage customers - all in one location. Citi plans to follow this launch with additional flagship branches in other key U.S. markets that will emulate the Union Square experience.

Vann's New 'ON' Store Shaping Future Of Consumer Electronics With ZBD's Digital Price Tags

Vann's, an audio, video and appliance retailer, launched its new concept store, 'ON', equipped with ZBD's digital price tags. The new store, located in Missoula, MT, offers a specialized consumer electronics range, has a smaller footprint than its freestanding stores and is their first store with a mall location.

The new store format focuses exclusively on products that the retailer believes will shape the future of consumer electronics, with 3000 square feet of sales floor dedicated to content-driven products including devices such as smartphones and tablet computers. The new format store was designed to position the retailer as a technology leader, and Vann's selected ZBD's digital price tags to complement the brand new store concept. A combination of epop 50 (electronic point of purchase) and epop 500 displays have been implemented throughout the store, displaying the brand name, product description, price, SKU number, scannable barcode, and rebates, where applicable. If the new concept store proves successful, Vann's will open further 'ON' stores within Montana and beyond.

Leading Retailers Partner With National Animal Supplement Council To Advise Pet Owners At Point-Of-Purchase

Leading retailers that sell animal health supplements, like PETCO, are partnering with the National Animal Supplement Council (NASC) to reduce incidences of regulatory action and to provide consumers with guidance on purchasing reputable products for companion animals.

"If a product is not properly labeled then state officials can take it off the shelf immediately," said Bill Bookout, president of NASC. "We have drastically reduced the incidences of stop sales for retailers because our members follow strict labeling and claims guidelines for both feed products as well as animal health supplements and proactively register them with the regulatory agencies that have authority over these products."

Not only are retailers relying on NASC for representation and guidance in the event of a government-issued stop sale, but many like leading pet specialty retailer, PETCO, are elevating awareness of the association to help educate consumers at point-of-purchase displays. Signage carrying the NASC Quality Seal directs consumers to buy vitamins and health supplements that meet the highest level of industry standards for quality and vigilance.

Full Color Posters Promote Scooby Doo Mystery Show

In order to promote the Scooby Doo Mystery Incorporated show, these full color Heidelberg printed posters were produced and distributed across Canada. They were printed both sides on 10pt card stock by Proprint Services, a Toronto, Ontario, Canada-based point-of-purchase display firm. (Web site) www.pop-online.com

Best Buy Rolls Out Broad Selection Of Health And Fitness Products In 600 Stores Nationwide

Best Buy recently announced the national rollout of health and fitness products at 600 Best Buy stores across the country. With a renewed focus on personal health growing nationwide, especially among busy individuals trying to establish a consistent fitness routine, Best Buy's offerings enable consumers to connect technology with wellness and with others who share their fitness goals. Available products include personal gear related to running, walking, swimming and yoga as well as other fitness accessories.

A 30-foot-long in-store health and fitness presentation area enables consumers to sample many of these devices before they buy. On display are state-of-the-art heart rate monitoring watches, pedometers, special MP3 players, earbuds, headphones, yoga mats, scales, blood pressure monitors and other products from leading manufacturers such as Gaiam, GoFit, H2O Audio, MIO, Polar, Sportline and Yurbuds. Whether helping to download exercise data to a home computer or creating a customized home gym complete with a treadmill, TV and surround sound, Best Buy's Blue Shirts are equipped to assist consumers with product demonstrations and in-store interactive tools to show how the technological devices can help maximize their workout routines, track their results and create an environment to stay motivated.

Kodak Introduces Social Photo Album Creator For Facebook

Eastman Kodak Company has introduced the Social Photo Album Creator for Facebook which allows consumers to easily combine photos from the popular social networking site with friends and family, easily creating one album together. Whether bridesmaids want to combine photos posted on Facebook from a friend's wedding, or cousins want to share photos from the family reunion, Kodak now makes it possible to collaboratively create that group album, leading to quick fulfillment of fun and unique photo mementos of that event.

"With the new Social Photo Album Creator from KODAK, Kodak has solved the problem of consumers having to look through dozens of different Facebook friends' albums for pictures of a particular event," said Rolando Martinez, Retail Systems Solutions Americas Business Manager, Eastman Kodak Company. "Not only can Facebook users invite friends to collaborate in creating and sharing one album, now they can easily tell their story by making something unique with those memories in a matter of minutes."

Once the collaborative album is created, consumers can visit a KODAK Picture Kiosk at a participating retailer to access their FACEBOOK Albums and easily create Photo Books, prints and more There's no need for them to bring a camera card as all the event pictures are there, accessible from their FACEBOOK Account.

Cricket Introduces Innovative Digital Music Service Muve Music™

Cricket Communications is the first U.S. wireless carrier to offer consumers unlimited music as part of a new wireless rate plan, which features an innovative new digital music service called Muve Music. It is the first music experience designed specifically for the mobile phone.

"Cricket was the first to introduce an unlimited wireless rate plan and now we are the first to introduce a new unlimited wireless rate plan that includes unlimited music. With Muve Music, Cricket is bringing together the best of wireless and music in a way no one has ever done before," said Doug Hutcheson, president and chief executive officer of Cricket Communications. "We believe the high quality Muve Music experience is the right product at the right time for value oriented customers."

Muve Music will have a robust catalog of music content which includes the four major record labels: Universal Music Group, Warner Music Group, Sony Music Entertainment and EMI Music. This ground-breaking new music service and business model was brought about through a unique collaboration, led by Cricket, between the music industry labels, as well as technology partners Samsung Mobile and SanDisk.

Darden Partners With Fandango To Offer 'Dinner & A Movie' Gift Cards At Select Supermarkets Nationwide Movie Gift Card Package Available at Kroger & Safeway Grocery Stores R

Darden Restaurants and Fandango are combining two of America's favorite pastimes and giving shoppers an easy way to treat friends and family to "Dinner & A Movie". "Dinner & A Movie" gift card package, which includes one $25 Darden gift card and one $25 Fandango gift card and marks the first time the world's largest full-service restaurant company has created a partnership to offer a combined gift card package. The "Dinner & A Movie" Gift Card Package is available at Kroger & Safeway Grocery Stores.

Darden restaurant gift cards are redeemable at any Red Lobster, Olive Garden, LongHorn Steakhouse, Bahama Breeze, Seasons 52 or any other Darden restaurant in the United States. The Fandango gift card can be used to purchase tickets for movies playing at more than 16,000 movie screens across the country.

"The holidays are a popular time for dining out and seeing movies, and we're excited to partner with Fandango to offer a convenient way to give 'Dinner & A Movie' to family and friends," said John Caron, chief marketing officer for Darden. "Through Darden's more than 1,800 restaurants and Fandango's access to more than 16,000 movie screens, recipients of this gift card package have a variety of entertainment choices to create a gift that's truly their own."

Ken's Foods To Ship Its Retail Products On iGPS' All-Plastic Pallets With Embedded RFID Tags

Intelligent Global Pooling Systems has joined forces with Ken's Foods to begin shipping its retail products throughout the U.S. on iGPS' all-plastic pallets with embedded radio frequency identification (RFID) tags, beginning early 2011. Ken's Foods produces and packages over 400 varieties of dressings and sauces, including Ken's Steakhouse Salad Dressings.

"Our decision to switch to iGPS was based on our desire to upgrade the quality of pallet carrying our products and to utilize a more environmentally sustainable solution than wood," said Bob Merchant, Chief Operating Officer of Ken's Foods, Inc. "iGPS' solution fulfills both our objectives, and we know that our retail partners will appreciate this value enhancement to our supply chain." In just three years of operation, iGPS has revolutionized the way goods are being shipped throughout the North American supply chain. Its 100 percent recyclable pallets are 30 percent lighter than pallets made of wood and are vastly better for the environment. Unlike wood pallets, iGPS pallets do not absorb fluids that can cross-contaminate food, and because they cannot harbor wood-boring insects, iGPS pallets never require treatment with toxic pesticides. Thanks to embedded RFID tags, shippers and receivers can track shipments throughout the supply chain. (Web site) www.igps.net

New Balance And Westin Hotels Join Forces To Help Travelers Stay Healthy And Fit On The Road

New Balance and Westin Hotels & Resorts have forged an exclusive, worldwide partnership to help hotel guests overcome the hurdles of exercising on the road by providing New Balance footwear, apparel and fitness program content. The complimentary program recently launched at 10 Westin properties across the globe and will begin rolling out brand-wide in 2011.

Guests of the 10 Westin pilot properties have access to New Balance shoes, apparel and accessories through a product loan program. During their stay, guests can borrow running shoes with brand new, disposable insoles for each use, as well as a variety of men's and women's apparel including shorts, shirts and socks for men and shorts, capri pants, shirts, sports bras and socks for women. Westin guests will also benefit from travel-specific fitness content and added-value experiences provided by New Balance. New Balance Fitness Ambassador and Exercise TV celebrity trainer Holly Perkins will develop exclusive in-room fitness and equipment-free content that includes stretching and strengthening workouts, cardio and yoga. The program includes "Wellness in Travel" tips from Holly on nutrition and creative ways to combat jet lag and promote healthy living.

"Convenient access to the proper athletic equipment and programming is vital to the traveler who wants to stay healthy and fit while they're away from home," said Hilary Keates, director of global marketing and brand management for New Balance. "New Balance is excited to partner with Westin to provide their health and fitness-minded guests with footwear, apparel, accessories and programming for an overall enhanced experience. As leaders in our respective categories with like-minded consumers, this alliance made perfect sense."

Kohl's Expands ELLE Brand With Launch Of ELLE BIJOUX Jewelry And ELLE-Branded Cosmetics Exclusively At Kohl's

Kohl's and Lagardère Active plan to expand the successful ELLE-branded contemporary lifestyle collection with the ELLE BIJOUX jewelry collection and ELLE-branded line of cosmetics, which will be available exclusively in Kohl's stores nationwide beginning Spring 2012. The ELLE-branded fashion collection initially launched in 2007 and due to strong customer response has expanded from apparel into other categories such as shoes and an ELLE DÉCOR-branded line of home goods.

"ELLE has consistently exceeded our expectations in the contemporary category and with its demonstrated success, we are confident the brand will continue to be instrumental in driving our exclusive brand strategy," said Don Brennan, Kohl's chief merchandising officer. "Expanding ELLE into additional categories allows us to increase the value proposition to our customer and delivers on our commitment to offer world-class brands in each category."

"ELLE has always been a lifestyle brand as we strive to inspire style in all aspects of a woman's life," said Robin Domeniconi, ELLE Group's senior vice president and chief brand officer. "Building upon our successful apparel line at Kohl's is an exciting and appropriate venture for us. With the introduction of these new lines, we can continue to help the Kohl's customer celebrate their own personal style."

ELLE BIJOUX will include runway-inspired fashion jewelry, including necklaces, earrings, bracelets and rings. The ELLE-branded line of cosmetics will ultimately include on-trend make-up and color, skin care, bath and beauty and nail products at a great value.

Ritz & Wolf Camera & Image Brings World's Largest Photo Sharing Site, Facebook, To Life With Photo Printing Capabilities In-Store

Ritz & Wolf Camera & Image, America's premier imaging destination, has announced a new application, which allows customers to access their Facebook photos and print directly from the in-store Print Bar kiosk. With the tap of an on-screen button, in one of its nearly 300 stores, customers can view, download and print their favorite Facebook photos and create photo books, cards, calendars, prints, enlargements and more. Customers also may use the kiosk to upload their favorite pictures to Facebook. When uploading their photos to Facebook, via the Print Bar kiosk, customers are instantly able to share photos with their friends and offer the ability for friends to order the print as well with just one click.

Stephen LaMastra, president of Ritz & Wolf Camera & Image, said, "Over the past year we have made great strides in online and social media, and this Facebook printing platform gives us another powerful way to offer our customers the ability to share, display and save life's greatest memories from anywhere on the web."

Frito-Lay Launches Products Made With All Natural Ingredients

PepsiCo's Frito-Lay North America division said that approximately 50 percent of its product portfolio will be made with all natural ingredients, including three of its biggest brands, Lay's® potato chips, Tostitos® tortilla chips and SunChips® multigrain snacks. The products made with all natural ingredients do not have any artificial or synthetic ingredients, and they do not contain any artificial flavors or artificial preservatives, or ingredients such as monosodium glutamate (MSG), yet still have the great taste consumers expect from Frito-Lay. More than six dozen varieties of Frito-Lay products will be made with all natural ingredients including all the flavors of Lay's® potato chips, Tostitos® tortilla chips, SunChips® multigrain snacks, Baked! snacks, and Rold Gold® pretzels by the end of 2011.

"As the snack food category leader, we have insights that show consumers are seeking a wider range of products made with all natural ingredients. At Frito-Lay North America we want to provide our customers with a broad portfolio of snack options that taste great and are made with real food ingredients," said Ann Mukherjee, senior vice president and chief marketing officer, Frito-Lay. "Many of the unflavored snacks in our portfolio are already made with all natural ingredients, and we've focused on expanding our portfolio of products with all natural ingredients to include more of consumers' favorite flavored products."

Frito-Lay is making an investment in emerging technology and marketing practices to support the program; embracing digital media in a way they never have before and utilizing the scale of mass media to drive digital and social engagement. In 2011, Frito-Lay will use advertising and marketing to drive consumers to Facebook with the broadest portfolio of consumer products that include a Facebook URL on packaging to date.

Beech-Nut Offers New Baby Food Line Featurin Green Giant Vegetable Brand

Beech-Nut® has introduced a new line of great-tasting and nutritious baby foods featuring Beech-Nut purees co-branded with General Mills Green Giant® brand. The new Beech-Nut line is made with natural ingredients and has a great taste that babies will love. "Green Giant has been an American favorite vegetable brand for more than 90 years," said Andy Dahlen, Green Giant Business Unit Director, General Mills Inc. "Moms trust Green Giant vegetables for their family. We're proud to announce our licensing partnership with Beech-Nut, a company that shares our values and heritage."

New Honeywell True HEPA Air Purifiers Capture Airborne Allergens

True HEPA air purification just got a facelift with two new models available this fall -- the Honeywell True HEPA Tower Allergen Remover and the Honeywell True HEPA Compact Tower Allergen Remover. These attractive, space-efficient, small footprint tower True HEPA units are designed to integrate beautifully into any decor while also capturing 99.97 percent of microscopic allergens as small as 0.3 microns from the air that passes through the filter. Each product features three cleaning levels, can circulate the room air up to five times an hour, and has an activated carbon and zeolite pre-filter that helps reduce unpleasant household odors. An electronic filter replacement reminder prompts consumers when it is time to change the filter. And, for consumers concerned about being eco-friendly, the True HEPA Tower Allergen Remover is Energy Star-rated and does not emit any ozone when cleaning the air. The Honeywell True HEPA Compact Tower Allergen Remover and the True HEPA Tower Allergen Remover are available in Target and Best Buy stores.

Hush Puppies Lifestyle Brand Launches Timepieces In U.S. Market

Delta Sales Group has launched Hush Puppies Timepieces in the U.S., comprising six collections with stylized his and her designs. Hush Puppies® Timepieces was launched in 2002 and has since found distribution success internationally. This men's and ladies collection is consistent with the quality brand attributes and offers an array of unique designs, joyful colors and finishes.

Pelican Brands Will Import And Drive National Rollout of (oops)™ Wines From Chile

As part of an agreement with Schwartz Olcott Imports (SOI Wines), Pelican Brands will import and manage the national sales & marketing rollout of (oops) Wines, produced at the famed Viña Undurraga winery in Chile from estate grown grapes. Norman Schwartz, Co-Founder & Chairman of SOI Wines said, "Since the 1994 discovery in Chile of Carmenere, now the signature grape of Chile, Carmenere has never been properly branded or marketed in the United States. There is a thirst in the marketplace for 'authentic' brands with a unique positioning that will capture the imagination of wine drinkers eager to discover new wines. With brand builders like Smoke Wallin and the Pelican team, we are now prepared to rollout (oops) nationally and become the first brand from Chile to capture the history and romance of this noble grape."

Mercedes-Benz USA Delivers First Customer Zero-Emission F-CELL Vehicle

The first new Mercedes-Benz F-CELL hydrogen-powered B-Class vehicles are now available to California residents, making emission-free driving a reality. Powered by an electric motor with 134 horsepower and 215 lb-ft of torque, the new B-Class F-CELL provides driving performance comparable to a similar conventional car while using about half the fuel. The car utilizes a fuel cell stack for generating electricity and a lithium ion battery for energy storage. Taking only approximately three minutes to refuel, The B-Class F-CELL emits only water as a by-product of the fuel cell system.

"The introduction of the F-CELL in California marks the beginning of zero emission Fuel Cell technology in the US for Mercedes-Benz," said Sascha Simon, head of advanced product planning at Mercedes-Benz USA. "With a range of 240 miles that never needs to be plugged and more than 15 years of Mercedes-Benz research already committed to the technology, we believe this is a great addition to our fast growing portfolio of alternative fuel vehicles that customers can choose from to best suit their lifestyle."

Tyson Foods Introduces Any'tizers QuesaDippers Snacks With Salsa Dipping Sauces

Tyson Foods has added Tyson® Any'tizers® QuesaDippers™ varieties - new protein-packed snacks featuring two salsa dipping sauces - to its popular Tyson® Any'tizers® snack line. Available in the grocer's frozen food section, new Tyson® Any'tizers® QuesaDippers™ snacks combine flour tortillas, flavorful all-white chicken with taco or fajita seasoning and delicious Monterey Jack cheese, all packaged with Zesty Garden or Cilantro Lime salsa packets.

"Our new Any'tizers® QuesaDippers™ snack varieties with salsa dipping sauces are packed with tasty flavor in every bite to help moms quickly prepare a warm and delicious snack," said Sabrina Bewley, group product manager for Tyson Foods. "Ready to eat in minutes, Tyson Any'tizers® QuesaDippers™ snacks are a great solution to have on-hand to satisfy the kids after school or to please holiday party guests."

Julian Bakery Offers Smart Carb Line

With its more than 20 years of producing top-quality organic baked goods, Julian Bakery allows dieters the chance to stay on their low-carb meal plans while still enjoying bread with the introduction of Smart Carb #1, which has just one net carb per slice and packs 12 grams of protein and fiber per slice. Add in the fat fighting fiber, Inulin, and the bread is perfect for low-carb dieters to enjoy something they would typically do without. The 1.5 pound sliced loaf is also sprouted for easy digestion and grown organically.

New Verizon Home Monitoring And Control Service Makes Concept Of 'Connected Home' A Reality

Verizon is introducing a new, fully integrated and customizable home monitoring and control service developed by Verizon. Now in the trial phase and expected to be available in the first half of 2011, the service will enable customers to lock doors remotely; see what's going on at home via networked cameras; and set, adjust and control lights, smart thermostats and appliances -- all by using a smartphone or a computer or through FiOS TV. The pilot program for Home Monitoring and Control will be conducted in New Jersey. The homes selected for the program will be outfitted with an energy reader, smart appliance switches and thermostats, a smart power strip, a smart door and window locks, motion sensors, an advanced pan-and-tilt camera, and a fixed indoor and outdoor camera. "What we'll be testing in these homes is just the beginning," said Eric Bruno, vice president of product management for Verizon. "We're giving customers a remote control for their homes that they can use to cut CO2 emissions and their energy bills and give them anytime, anywhere access and control of their homes. The concept of the connected home has been discussed for many years, and now Verizon's high-IQ networks are making that concept a reality by converting customers' homes into bandwidth-rich ecosystems that enable a wide variety of customizable options."

Olay Professional Pro-X Advanced Cleansing System Introduced

Designed by the Olay Professional Alliance for Skin Care Innovation, a group of renowned dermatologists and Olay Scientists, the new Olay Professional Pro-X Advanced Cleansing System provides gentle cleansing and exfoliation, removes dry skin cells and promotes cell turnover at a fraction of the cost as compared to a more expensive professional cleansing system. The tool's micro-massaging action helps maximize the immediate hydrating effectiveness of a woman's anti-aging moisturizer. The Olay Professional Pro-X Advanced Cleansing System is lightweight, travel-friendly and water resistant for use in the shower.

"The secret to Olay Professional Pro-X Advanced Cleansing System's effective cleansing is in the rotating bristles," said Dr. Greg Hillebrand, P&G Beauty Science. "As the tool's two-speed brush head spins on skin, individual bristles gently lift and remove dirt and dead skin from the surface, allowing for a clean, gentle rinse."

New Lens Technologies Prompt Expansion Of NYX Eyewear

Nyx Eyewear has released three new styles, all incorporating the latest advances in lens technology: NYX Lightning, NYX Pro Z17, and NYX Jet. Designed for athletes and sports enthusiasts, the three new models offer cutting-edge lenses that adapt to changing light conditions and deliver 100% UV protection. New styles offer the most advanced high-tech lens solutions, including multi-layered polarization, dialectic and anti-reflective coatings, as well as field-tested interchangeable tinted lenses. In addition to controlling reflective surface glare and improving clarity even in low-light conditions, Nyx lenses can be customized with a prescription Rx. Customers can now select a fully-integrated, laser-precise, Freeform Digital Rx, the newest sun lens innovation, or a rimless insert, which allows the wearer to slip the Rx inside any Nyx tinted or polarized lens.

Seagate Ships Industry's Highest Performance 'Green' Desktop Hard Drive, Barracuda Green

Seagate has made available the Barracuda® Green hard drive, the industry's highest performance eco-friendly 3.5-inch desktop drive for low-power personal computers, multi-drive home networking systems and external PC storage. The Barracuda Green hard drive, formerly Barracuda® LP, combines the industry's highest spin speed (5900 RPM) with Seagate's SmartAlign™ technology to deliver best-in-class performance. The cool-running, lower-power Barracuda Green hard drive delivers whisper-quiet acoustics and helps reduce system costs associated with the fans and power supply devices often required for power-hungry systems. Barracuda Green hard drives also support Seagate Think Green™ programs for a greener more sustainable world.

SENSEO Coffee And Hamilton Beach Single-Serve Coffeemakers Debut With New Partnership

Sara Lee North American Retail has formed a new partnership for the SENSEO coffee brand with Hamilton Beach Brands, one of the country's leading distributors of small household appliances. The partnership introduces two new single-serve machines to the small appliance marketplace, providing consumers with a great-tasting cup of top-quality coffee at an extremely attractive price point - $19.99 and $29.99. Coffee lovers can choose among 11 varieties of SENSEO coffee pods to brew a fresh cup of coffee in either the new Hamilton Beach® Personal Cup™ One Cup Pod Coffeemaker or the Hamilton Beach® Stay or Go® Personal Cup™ Pod Coffeemaker.

"Through this new collaboration with Hamilton Beach and the introduction of two extremely affordable coffee machines that are compatible with our SENSEO coffee pods, we are excited to make the single-serve coffee experience accessible to many more coffee drinkers," said Martin Lind, president Household and Beverage, Sara Lee North American Retail. "By combining the appliance expertise of Hamilton Beach with the convenience and smooth blends of SENSEO coffee, we can ensure that our consumers will consistently enjoy an outstanding cup of coffee without needing to pay for an expensive appliance."

Tropicana Introduces Tropicana Tropolis

Tropicana Products is testing a new portable kids snack called Tropicana Tropolis™ - a smooth blend of real squeezable fruit, packed with nutrition, designed for kids. Tropicana created this new food line to help moms squeeze the goodness of fruit into kids’ diets. “Moms have fond memories of Tropicana from their own childhoods, and our hope is that this new nutritious snack will give them yet another way to give their children fruit goodness,” said Memo Maquivar, Tropicana VP Marketing.

Pioneer Ships Blu-ray 3D Player Line

Pioneer Electronics has begun shipping its first line of Blu-ray 3D™ players for those who want to recreate a state-of-the-art theatrical experience in the comfort of their own homes. The line includes the Pioneer BDP-430 and two Elite models, BDP-41FD and BDP-43FD, which provide unrivaled picture and audio quality in addition to faster load times, streaming compatibility, WiFi ready, a BD-J resume feature and the iControlAV App. Built with a focus on high quality audio and video reproduction, with a compatible TV, the new line offers pristine 3D video via the latest HDMI standard, 1.4a, allowing for passage of the high data transfer rate required by the Blu-ray 3D format.

Consumers are no longer limited to their own movie library. Once connected to an Ethernet connection or wirelessly through the AS-WL200 wireless adaptor, consumers can access content from streaming services such as YouTube, Netflix and Pandora.

Disney And Beech-Nut Introduce New Toddler Food Line Featuring Winnie The Pooh Characters

Disney Consumer Products and Beech-Nut have introduced a new line of great-tasting and nutritious toddler foods featuring the Disney Winnie the Pooh characters. The new line is made with natural ingredients and has a great taste that even picky toddlers will love. Highlighting Disney's long-term commitment to providing more nutritious food options for kids, the Beech-Nut toddler food line for kids age 12 months and older have no artificial colors, flavors or preservatives.

D1 Unveils Nature-Inspired Home Spa For Outdoor Living Market

Dimension One Spas, known as the most innovative design company in the home spa industry, has introduced the very first hot tub designed to be a true centerpiece of any outdoor living area. Inspired by the four elements of fire, water, air, and earth, this new, artistic home spa goes far beyond the typical spa design. Both efficient and affordable, Elemental is made from materials and textures that fit the outdoors and its compact size and artisan shape allows for easy integration into patio and backyard designs. The naturally beautiful, simple-to-use spa plugs into a standard outlet and boasts an incredibly low monthly heating cost of under $7.00.

Kodak Names Gustavo Oviedo To Chief Customer Officer

Eastman Kodak has named Gustavo Oviedo to the position of Chief Customer Officer and General Manager, Worldwide Regional Operations, reporting to Kodak’s Chairman & CEO Antonio Perez. Oviedo, who prior to this appointment was a Corporate Vice President, also will serve on the company’s Executive Council.

As Chief Customer Officer, Oviedo’s primary responsibility will be making the customer central to the company’s delivery of products and services - from design to distribution. He will partner with all of Kodak’s business teams and Corporate Marketing to carry out his mission.

Edgardo Navarro Linares Promoted To V.P., Multicultural Marketing, McDonald’s USA

McDonald’s USA has promoted Edgardo Navarro Linares to Vice President, Multicultural Marketing, McDonald’s USA. In this role, Navarro will be responsible for McDonald’s U.S. strategic and ethnic consumer marketing efforts and will report to McDonald’s U.S. Chief Marketing Officer Neil Golden.

Golden said, “With Edgardo’s leadership, we will continue to align and allocate resources in support of the most significant growth areas of our business and ensure that an ethnic consumer perspective is understood and applied at all points throughout the marketing process.”

BAZI Appoints D.Wildrick EVP, Sales & Marketing

BAZI International has appointed Debbie Wildrick as Exec. VP Sales & Marketing. In her new role, Wildrick will oversee the brand’s global sales growth and brand direction. BAZI has emerged as a healthy alternative for energy beverages with its sustainable “energy for life” formula. (Web site) www.drinkbazi.com

Quad/Graphics Creates New Commercial And Specialty Print Division

Quad/Graphics, the second largest provider of print, digital and related media services in North America, has created a new Commercial and Specialty print division that combines recently acquired HGI Company operations in Burlington and Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin, with the commercial and book operations in Enfield, Connecticut, and Leominster, Massachusetts. In addition, the company will invest $13 million in equipment and facility expansions in 2011 for the commercial and specialty platform. The investment includes the addition of digital and conventional presses with industry-leading capabilities for short- to medium-run commercial work as well as specialty print, such as large-format in-store signage and displays. (Web site) www.QG.com

Jifram Teams With Nuovi Group To Represnt Plastic Pallet Line

Jifram Extrusions announced its affiliation with Nuovo Group, who will represent Jifram’s complete line of custom-sized extruded plastic pallets. Nuovo Group, headquartered in the greater Chicago area, serves the plastic pallet market specializing in the areas of commercial eco-friendly 100% recyclable plastic and/or custom made-to-order pallets. Nuovo Group provides customer service to WI, IL, MI, MN, IN and MO. (Web site) www.jifram.com

I-Display Introduces iSelf Display

I-Display has produced the iShelf, a battery operated, easy to attach digital signage shelf display that can last for over 3 months with constant activation. The i-Shelf comes with an attention grabbing flashing LED activation button that plays movie or JPEGS slideshow with audio and executes the job of a sales person when pressed. According to Ben Chanoch, VP of Sales and Marketing at iDisplay, "The iShelf Digital Signage Display is a low-cost, easy to operate shelf display that allows retailers to engage, inform and educate their consumers while they are in store." Designed to operate cable free and with the use of standard batteries, the iShelf Digital Signage Display fits conveniently into a multiple of shelving configurations in any retail environment especially that of supermarkets and grocery stores. Using its secure and adjustable mounting system the height and angle can be changed to ensure that customers never miss these digital signage sales personnel. This feature also has the added advantage of not taking up valuable merchandising space which can be a concern for supermarkets and grocery brands. For more information about the iShelf by i-Display visit. (Web site) www.i-display.com

Walls + Forms Offers Modular Millwork Counters

Walls + Forms now offers affordable, durable 30" deep X 42" tall modular millwork counters for tools designed in 4, 5, and 6 ft. sections with a 30" corner unit, which allow users to create point-of-sale merchandising counters in varying lengths and configurations. Modular heavy tool counters feature high-pressure laminate counters with base and balance and Slatwall produced from low-pressure laminates. The unit is shipped assembled and ready to install. Users simply measure the space they need to fill and determine the best combination of counters and corners for their space. These counter units are available in a variety of color options. Additional options include an under counter quick connect lighting system, rear cabinet drawers and additional shelves, .75" light duty shelves with brackets, a 1" thick shelf in high-pressure laminate with brackets, a corner unit graphic frame, and Slatwall colored channel strips. For more information call (Tel) 972-745-0800,(E-Mail) info@wallsforms.com or visit, (Web site) www.wallsforms.com

FLEXcon, a Spencer, MA-based manufacturer of pressure-sensitive film solutions, has introduced ‘greener’ alternatives for at-retail applications for windows and counter mats; WINDOWdeco™ and FLEXmark® floor art™. Both WINDOWdeco and FLEXmark floor art non-vinyl ‘greener’ products are phthalate free and are produced with less solvent providing a smaller carbon footprint. For more information, contact FLEXcon at 508-885-8370 or (Web site) www.flexcon.com

Planar Systems has introduced large-format, high-resolution monitors that combine energy-efficient LED backlighting, sleek, yet durable design, and 24x7 reliability. The new Planar EP-Series is offered in 46" and 55" sizes. In addition to the standard black white frames, Planar EP-Series displays can be transformed with custom colors or logos. The Planar EP-Series is less than 2" deep. For more information, contact Planar Systems, (Tel) 866-752-6271; (Web site) www.planardigitalsignage.com

AVT Introduces New Proprietary Vending Technology

AVT, Inc. has introduced its new, proprietary vending technology with touch screen interfaces, which displays nutritional information in accordance with recent changes in compliance laws. The new AVT designed systems contain a breakthrough interactive display with a bright, user-friendly touch pad, which provides all nutritional information in an easy to read format. AVT's proprietary Smart Technology is also included in the new systems. This unique suite of advanced systems, hardware and software allows owners and operators to remotely track sales, spot trends, and receive customizable notifications and alerts. "These new systems are truly the state-of-the-art in automated retailing and vending," said Shannon Illingworth, founder of AVT. For more information, contact AVT, Inc., (Web site) www.avtinconline.com

Nimlok Announces New Distributor; The Idea Centre

Nimlok, wwwnimlok.com, has introduced a new distributor to its expanding nationwide network: The Idea Centre at Nimlok. The Brookfield, WI-based marketing firm will now offer trade show booth design, project management and trade show services driven by Nimlok’s innovative line of exhibit systems. Following the recent expansion of Nimlok’s manufacturing and distribution facilities, its partnership with The Idea Centre establishes one of the Midwest’s largest sources for exhibit design and related marketing services. (Web site) www.nimlokideacentre.com

Tradeshow Multimedia Launches Power2Go Kiosk

Tradeshow Multimedia has launched Power2Go™- Mobile device quick- charging stations, designed for the tradeshow industry to accommodate the need by attendees to keep their mobile phones charged. The 9' tall units provide unsurpassed visibility for a marketing message via 2- 32” LCD video monitors and two 54x32” graphic panels and large header panels. The Power2Go Charging stations are available for rent, lease or for sale. For more information, contact Tradeshow Multimedia, (Tel) 440-446-9483; (Web site) www.tmiexpos.com

Two-For-One Original Chicken Sandwich Deal Makes Holidays Twice As Nice At BURGER KING Restaurants Nationwide

Burger King is offering two Original Chicken Sandwiches for the price of one, giving fans of this long-time favorite sandwich twice as much to enjoy. The buy-one-get-one promotion, available at participating BURGER KING® restaurants nationwide, runs through Jan. 16 and is not valid on specialty versions of the sandwich.

"The Original Chicken Sandwich has been a menu staple for 33 years and is the go-to choice for a huge base of loyal fans," said Jonathan Muhtar, BKC's vice president, global product marketing and innovation. "They look to this mainstay for its classic taste, and we're giving customers the chance to double up on the comfort of this time-tested sandwich without reaching deeper into their wallets."

Carl's Jr. And Hardee's Launch Innovative Mobile Rewards App

CKE Restaurants, parent company of Carl's Jr.® and Hardee's® restaurants, has launched Happy Star Rewards™, a GPS-enabled loyalty program that rewards users for checking in at Carl's Jr. and Hardee's locations across the U.S. The application, available for iPhone and Android smart phones, combines location-based check-in technology with rewards, making it the first of its kind for the fast-food industry.

"In a nutshell, what we're doing is dragging the antiquated punch-card type of loyalty programs into the 21st century," said Brad Haley, executive vice president of marketing for Carl's Jr. and Hardee's. "We are not only offering a GPS-driven check-in app to keep track of customer visits digitally, but we are offering guaranteed rewards, a restaurant locator, a social media interface, streaming videos, menus, nutritional information and more."

To use the app, a guest simply visits a Carl's Jr. or Hardee's restaurant and checks in. The first check-in and every subsequent fourth check-in earns the user a spin on The Wheel of Awesome™, a unique Carl's Jr. and Hardee's rewards application already present on both brands' Facebook pages. Once the wheel has been activated, users spin it with their finger for a chance to win discounted and free menu items, branded gift cards, prizes and merchandise from participating partners. Partner prizes currently include Sony electronics and movie tickets to the upcoming film The Green Hornet™. These partners and prizes will be updated throughout the year.

Acer’s Global Launch Event Features Latest In Interactive Displays

Acer recently worked with spinTOUCH, an Orange County, CA-based interactive marketing company, to design and deploy a series of interactive, multi-touch surfaces to showcase the new Acer products at a recent launch event. spinTOUCH created 6 interactive bars, a "Minority Report"-like 78" multi-touch display, and several 65" multi-touch screens.

Paul Hashemi, CEO, spinTouch, said, “For this event, we were able to serve Acer’s messaging and branding objectives by integrating their product images and marketing collateral onto the multi-touch surfaces and create an interactive, playful and engaging environment.” (Web site) www.spintouch.com

Provision And SocialBuy.com Add High-Tech In-Store Component To LA Area Couponing Program

Provision Interactive Technologies has signed an agreement with Santa Monica-based social media discount company SocialBuy.com, which will support Provision's local advertising sales efforts as it continues to roll out its 3D Rewards Center network in Los Angeles.

SocialBuy.com's local coupons and promotions, referred to as "Daily Deals," will be placed in the Provision's 3D kiosks that are located in Los Angeles area grocery stores. Consumers using the Reward Centers will have access to discounts from numerous local merchants that otherwise would not have been made available to them.

"Social media discount programs are seeing extraordinary growth," said Provision CEO Curt Thornton. "This is an amazing opportunity to use our unique 3D Rewards platform to add an offline, onsite dimension to the program with one of the most compelling touch points at the point of purchase. This truly is the best of both worlds with measurable results." (Web site) www.provision.tv

Ogilvy & Mather And JWT Create First-Of-A-Kind Shopper And Experiential Marketing Agency

OgilvyAction, the activation arm of Ogilvy & Mather, and Malone Advertising, the retail marketing unit of JWT, both part of WPP Group, have formed a joint venture to open the first fully integrated, end-to-end shopper marketing and experiential marketing agency. JWT/OgilvyAction, Inc., the new legal entity that will conduct business under the OgilvyAction and JWT Action brands, is a new model in shopper marketing designed to help brands and retailers reach and influence consumers at every touchpoint along the path-to-purchase. One of the venture's key points of difference is its ability to link brand strategies, shopper insights and retail opportunities.

The new venture represents the first time that clients will have access to the complete range of shopper and retail marketing services -- shopper marketing, retailer relationships, retail sales programs, consumer promotions, local and retail media and media buying, direct response advertising, planning, creative services, digital activation and experiential marketing all with deep research, analytics and measurement, from a single source. This will immediately become one of the largest agencies of its type, with 400 full-time professionals and 3,000 part-time staff in main offices in New York, Chicago and Akron, Ohio, as well as in field offices across the country. Fred Bidwell, formerly president of Malone, where he has served for 20 years, will act as Executive Chairman of the joint venture. He shares leadership responsibilities with Sheila Hartnett, CEO of OgilvyAction, North America, who will now also serve as CEO of the new entity.

Bidwell said the recession has prompted dramatic, and perhaps permanent, changes in consumer shopping behavior. "Shoppers are planning more, doing more research and making more selective, informed choices," he explained. "Because of these changes, influencing shopper behavior is more important than ever, both in-store and pre-store. Our new structure now enables us to develop effective strategies that can impact the shopper at any point along the path to purchase no matter where it might lead her, all validated by proprietary ShopperSight research." (Web site) www.jwtaction.com

BBC Earth And Global Experience Specialists Create Major New Museum Exhibition

www.bbcworldwide.com, in collaboration with Global Experience Specialists, plan to create a new museum exhibition, BBC Earth Explorers, which will feature select content from BBC productions, including the landmark series Blue Planet, Planet Earth and Life. BBC Earth Explorers will be a fully interactive exhibition experience taking visitors behind the scenes of a natural history shoot. "BBC Earth Explorers is an exciting new way for BBC Earth to engage our audience with natural history in new spaces," said Amanda Hill, director of BBC Earth. "This partnership with GES is a landmark new venture for BBC Earth, and we're looking forward to the launch of our first major museum exhibition."

"BBC productions have inspired millions of viewers across the globe, and we are thrilled to be a part of an equally inspiring exhibition," said Eddie Newquist, chief creative officer for GES. "Our goal is to ignite a sense of scientific discovery and awe by bringing to life some of the environments encountered by BBC production teams, allowing visitors to experience what it's like to be a real-life Earth explorer themselves." Currently in development, BBC Earth Explorers is planned to tour across the United States over five years. (Web site) www.globalexperiences.com

Intel Unveils Its Smart TV Vision On Clear Channel Spectacolor's Las Vegas Properties

Intel has launched a multimedia campaign to usher in Smart TV, an integrated, interactive television that seamlessly marries the power of the Web to the television viewing experience. For the Las Vegas leg of its campaign, Intel is making use of Clear Channel Spectacolor's Northwest (40' h X 126' w) and Southwest (52' h X 129' w) Miracle Mile digital video walls, as well as the digital media curve (four panels - 23.5' h X 43.5' w each) at Fashion Show along the Las Vegas Strip. Consumers visiting the Vegas Strip will be able to text a phone number found on the aforementioned digital screens airing Smart TV video shorts. Upon receiving an e-mail link in response, consumers will then upload a photo of themselves directly to all three screens to show their support for the new technology category - a.k.a. the biggest TV innovation since Technicolor! Each photo will be displayed for six seconds as part of a larger rotation of the overall submitted photos. Spectacolor's digital properties provide an interactive, creative means to engage with consumers and in this case, the digital boards support digital video and mobile capabilities, and serve as an integral component of Intel's Smart TV marketing program. (Web site) www.clearchanneloutdoor.com

SCVNGR + American Eagle Outfitters Conduct Fundraising Campaign By Playing New Year's-Themed Smartphone Games

SCVNGR and American Eagle Outfitters have launched a New Year's fundraising campaign in Times Square to support Big Brothers Big Sisters of America. Anyone visiting Times Square and the American Eagle flagship store will be invited to participate in American Eagle challenges on SCVNGR using their smartphones. For every challenge completed, American Eagle Outfitters will donate $5 to Big Brothers Big Sisters of America. Additionally, SCVNGR will match every donation for a total of $10 donated for every completed challenge. Funds raised will support Big Brothers Big Sisters' long-term mentoring programs.

"SCVNGR is all about fun gaming and rewards wherever you go," said Chris Mahl, SVP and chief brand alchemist at SCVNGR. "Having American Eagle Outfitters on board as a fundraising partner is the perfect way to raise money for Big Brothers Big Sisters through location-based mobile gaming at the shopping mecca and crossroads of the world, Times Square."

"American Eagle Outfitters is always looking for compelling ways to engage our customers, as well as give back to the community," said Marcie Eberhart, director of the AEO Foundation. "We are excited to build on our long-time support of Big Brothers Big Sisters with a fun, interactive game like SCVNGR." (Web site) www.scvngr.com

Outwater Plastics

Books
January 2011 Issue
November 2010 Issue
Click On Image To View Digital Edition
September 2010 Issue
Click On Image To View Digital Edition
July 2010 Issue

May 2010 Issue
March 2010 Issue

January 2010 Issue

2010 Illustrated Guide

November 2009 Issue
Back to Top

To See Previous Issues of Online Weekly in Creative's Archives, click here
.

To See other Creative Online Newsletters click here
Home Page | Inside Creative | Advertiser Index | Fax Response | Media Kit | Newsletters| Online Weekly| Library of Ideas | Online Weekly | Linkedin Group| Creative Top 50 Issue|
The Web Creativemag.com