Creative Online

Week of May 19, 1997


MCI Introducing eXpress Prepaid Phone Cards

MCI has introduced a new brand of prepaid cards specifically for retailers called MCI PrePaid eXpress. The new 15-, 30- and 60-minute cards provide convenience stores, drug stores, supermarkets and mass merchants with a complete, turn-key solution for merchandising and marketing prepaid long distance calling.

Designed to make prepaid cards as easy to manage, inventory and merchandise as any other item sold in stores, MCI PrePaid eXpress cards are available in two unique formats: lottery-style paper scratch-off tickets dispensed from an acrylic, lotto-like display and plastic, dollar bill-sized cards in shrink wrap for check-out aisles, floor displays and registers.

"We have designed MCI PrePaid eXpress so merchandising prepaid cards in any store is as simplistic and routine as it is for other common products like soft drinks, paper goods and batteries," said Jeff Lindauer, General Manager, MCI PrePaid Services. "The lotto-style MCI PrePaid eXpress tickets are specifically targeted to the convenience store market. The locking, acrylic ticket display is stackable and can be secured to the check-out counter for easy dispensing, storage and theft prevention."

In supermarkets, drug stores and mass merchants, MCI PrePaid eXpress cards can be displayed at check-out aisles, end-caps, registers and other in-store locations. To combat possible theft and inventory shrinkage from floor displays, MCI provides merchants product security by displaying inactive cards on hang tags. At the time of sale activated, dollar bill-sized cards, securely held in the cash register drawer, are dispensed by clerks. Grocers can also customize the currency-size card carrier and packaging to build store recognition.


Miller Launches MGD Blind Date Summer Promotion

Miller Genuine Draft is offering a handful of music fans from across the country the opportunity to see some of the hottest rock bands in the world perform in small clubs, a mere fraction of the stadium-sized venues these bands typically sell out, as part of its MGD Blind Date summer promotion.

The MGD Blind Date concerts will be held in Los Angeles, San Francisco and Chicago. The performing artists and the specific venues will remain mysteries until the evenings of each concert.

"MGD Blind Date will be the ultimate concert experience for contemporary rock music fans," said Jeff Carefoote, Miller Genuine Draft Brand Director. "MGD drinkers love a great time - something this summer’s promotion can virtually guarantee." No tickets will be sold to any of the MGD Blind Date concerts, and less than 1,000 winners from radio, print and bar promotions will get the chance to attend the exclusive events.

The MGD Blind Date promotion kicks off with full advertising and p.o.p. display support.


New Line Cinema Promotes D. Laufer To Exec. Dir. Promotion

Dana Laufer has been named Executive Director of National Promotions, according to an announcement by Mary Goss, Vice President of National Promotions, New Line Cinema, Los Angeles.

Ms. Laufer has been serving as Director of National Promotions and Special Events since 1993. She is currently recruiting corporate marketers for the upcoming science-fiction family-thriller "Lost In Space."


Display Technologies And Display Masters Consolidate

Display Technologies and Display Masters, Whitestone, NY, have consolidated into one full-service resource for custom and stock point of purchase, according to announcement by Richard Jay, President. The move maximizes the dual benefits of Display Masters’ custom P.O.P. capabilities and Display Technologies’ customizable TechStoc line of in-store merchandisers.

Mr. Jay said: "We wanted to offer the power and synergy of custom and stock under one roof, instead of treating them as separate entities. We found that our customers were calling on both divisions and we became more valuable to them by combining our strengths and capabilities. Display Technologies was the natural choice of name since it describes the very nature of who we are and what we do -- innovators of new products in strategic partnership with our clients."


Hankscraft Motors Acquires Bowman Electrical

Hankscraft Motors, Inc., Reedsburg, WI, the world’s largest designer and manufacturer of animation for the P.O.P. industry, has acquired Bowman Electrical Products Corp., Chicago, Il, a manufacturer of permanent magnet synchronous AC Motors. This enables Hankscraft Motors to offer animation at competitive price points to both temporary and permanent display markets.

The Bowman operation will be relocated into the Reedsburg, WI manufacturing facility.


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