Sprint Introduces New Store Design To Create A Better Retail Experience
Sprint has unveiled a new store design aimed at changing the way consumers shop for communications services in retail stores. The newly redesigned Sprint Stores, launching throughout 2005, mix cutting-edge design and customer-friendly programs to make shopping for communications services a unique and Zen-like experience.
"When you purchase a wireless phone, you're really making a long-term investment in a communications partner, so Sprint created a retail concept that embodies the customer-centric attitude and consultative shopping experience that customers expect," said John Mickey, Vice President, Sprint Store Management. "We've created a concept that breaks the mold of the traditional telecom retail store."
Existing Sprint Stores are implementing convenience-driven improvements such as In-Store Repair; eTicket software that allows store staff to more quickly assess and manage handset issues; and a designated Host to assist customers as the enter the store. The entire Sprint Store has been redesigned to integrate a modern, upscale purchasing experience with more open space for easy, self-guided navigation.
The new store also incorporates significant atmosphere enhancements, from the music playing overhead in the store-which is a compilation of music that customers can also download as ringers on their phone-to graphics that can easily be changed with the season. Sprint worked with Los Angeles-based designer Richard Altuna and Kansas City firm Rees Masilionis Turley to create the new store design.
Visionary Vehicles' 'Auto Show' Dealerships of The Future Will Change North American Auto Retail Experience
Visionary Vehicles, a U.S.-based international automobile company that will sell Chinese-made cars manufactured by Chery Automobile Company of China, has unveiled its plans for creating a Visionary Vehicles dealership in the U.S. featuring a revolutionary new design and consumer-friendly environment.
Housing a spacious gallery-like showroom and an on-premise half-mile test track, all of Visionary Vehicles 250 dealer facilities will re-create an "Auto Show" experience for the consumer. Consumers will be able to see, test drive, and learn about Visionary's full line of cars and trucks in a spacious auto show-like environment.
"The Visionary Vehicles Auto Show will be a central component in the positioning of our brand," said Paul Lambert, Visionary Vehicle's President of North American Marketing. "We are truly redefining the price of luxury in this dynamic product line-up and at the same time creating a new, fun, smart, and entertaining buying experience for the consumer."
The Visionary Vehicles Auto Show will include the following features: a multi-story main building 150 feet x 150 feet x 35 feet high with 22,500 square feet of space; outdoor video screens 100 feet long by 35 feet high; a multi-store service building; gallery style showroom with 12,000-15,000 square feet of vehicle display space; a one-half mile on-premises test track; complimentary car wash and a supervised nursery providing child care.
MusicATMs To Be Placed In Nationwide Retail Locations
Mediaport Entertainment has joined forces with QuietTiger and Top Hits Entertainment to install MusicATMs in retail locations throughout the U.S.
Mediaport's MusicATM will provide customers with an extensive content choice and unparalleled convenience via an unmanned, automated point-of-sale kiosk. The MusicATM provides the equivalent content of a 60,000 square foot music store within 6 square feet of retail floor space. The patent pending process allows a music buyer to purchase full-length music CDs, create their own labeled compilations CDs or download entire albums or specific tracks to a portable music player in as little as 30 seconds.
Customers will be able to purchase their CDs with QuietTiger's MediaMax content management and enhancement technology, which provides additional bonus content including advertising and marketing opportunities. A unique component of the technology allows identification and protection at the track level, respecting the individual content management requirements of various major and independent record labels on a track-by-track basis. The partnership will benefit from Top Hits' existing widespread retail network and Mediaport's proven MusicATM hardware. The combined efforts of this enterprise will penetrate the lucrative mid level retail segment providing a great value to customers while offering a viable alternative to handling physical media.
Chicken Of The Sea POS Offers What Women Want
Seafood Giant Chicken of the Sea is using a new spokesperson, the Chicken of the Sea hunk, as part of the "What Women Want" campaign, which includes print, broadcast, online and in-store marketing efforts.
Actor Zen Gesner is the first handsome hunk to appear in the campaign. Chicken of the Sea is also launching the "Hunks at Home" contest, a search for men who embrace what women are looking for in life.
"The intent of the campaign is to create a buzz about the brand and we found the 'hunk' does just that among our target audience," said Don George, Senior Vice President of Marketing for Chicken of the Sea.
"We're having a little fun with our attention-getting campaign, but the real message we want consumers to take away is that Chicken of the Sea is all about quality seafood."
Rainier Wine's Mad Housewife & Grand Embrace POS Targets Women
Rainier Wine recently launched its company with two exciting lifestyle wine brands that speak directly to women: Grand Embrace and Mad Housewife.
The Company spent nearly a year conducting nationwide testing panels to let women design and create wines that they would buy regularly. "We will continue to develop brands that have 'legs,' not only in terms of their varietal extensions, but also by evolving the character of each brand story, such as seasonally changing Mad Housewife labels, which keep the product fresh and our customers excited," said co-Founder Mike Lynch.
According to the Company, Rainier creates wines for everyday drinking, without snobbiness, which is helping it grow quickly. Mad Housewife and Grand Embrace are being supported at retail with cheeky point-of-sale that excites women customers and moves inventory in the process.
Borders Books & Music Stores To Feature Seattle's Best Coffee Cafes
Six Borders Books and Music stores throughout Oregon will be the nation's first to feature Seattle's Best Coffee cafes. Over the next few years, more than 400 existing Borders cafes across the nation will be converted to Seattle's Best Coffee cafes and will also be featured in new Borders stores as they open across the country.
"Enjoying a smooth cup of coffee while shopping at Borders is a big part of our destination shopping experience and we're pleased to give customers in Oregon the first opportunity to enjoy it," said Greg Josefowicz, Borders Group CEO.
Said Jim Donald, CEO, Seattle's Best Coffee, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Starbucks, "The opening of these six cafes with Borders stores represents a great first step in the growth of the Seattle's Best Coffee brand at retail. The experience we have in licensing combined with Borders' expertise as a retailers of books, music and movies will make this a great success."
Coinstar Rolls Out Gift Card Program
Coinstar, the leader in self-service coin counting, is rolling out a gift card program, which allows consumers to convert loose change into gift cards from national retailers and supermarkets. The new offering, rolling out to selected Coinstar kiosks this spring, helps further drive consumer traffic to Coinstar's retail customers and card issuers, while providing a no-fee coin counting option to the end user.
The Coin to Card program was first tested with Starbucks Coffee Company and the Starbucks Card in Seattle, Las Vegas and Philadelphia. In addition to Starbucks, Hollywood Video will also be among the first set of gift cards to be added to the Coinstar kiosk. Coinstar is looking to add additional retail gift cards in the future, which will include cards in categories such as books, movies, apparel, restaurants and home improvement.
"We are very pleased with the results of the test program with Coinstar and look forward to being part of their rollout," said Sandra Stark, Director, Starbucks Global Card Services. "We like the idea that customers can enjoy a small indulgence by turning their forgotten change into a Starbucks Card."
Pacific Wine Partners Launches Twin Fin Wines
Pacific Wine Partners is launching Twin Fin, new wines that embrace the spirit of the California lifestyle. The Twin Fin portfolio includes six easy-going wines: Merlot Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Pinot Grigio and Pinot Noir. The fresh, fruit-driven wines are sourced from grapes from select vineyards along California's Central Coast, have a suggested retail price of $9.99 and are available in screwcap, making them ideal for beach barbecues.
PuR Launches 3-Stage Water Filter
The Procter & Gamble Company, maker of the PuR water filters, has launched the first ever 3-stage water filter. Stage 1 cleans the water by filtering sediment, such as dirt and rust. Stage 2 provides healthy water by reducing 31 potentially harmful contaminants. Stage 3 filters water over a natural bed of minerals for a crisp, refreshing taste. The system uses PuR blue filters, which are readily available and easy to replace. Importantly, these new PuR filters provide the three stages of filtration while leaving beneficial fluoride in the filtered water. The new PuR 3-stage filters are now available at most mass home improvement and club stores.
Samsung's Debuts First Music Smartphone Wirth 3GB HDD
Samsung Electronics has unveiled the world's first 3GB HDD embedded music smartphone, the SGH-i300. The 3GB handset is the first phone featuring "Plug & Play" Files-to-go, which allows the phone to function as a removable hard disk drive. Capable of storing up to 1,000 music files and featuring scroll-wheel navigation, this handset enables users to easily search files. It is perfect for people with a passion for music as the device supports 3D-sound through its stereo speakers.
Digital Industries has introduced four totally turnkey trade show graphics packages for 10' x 10' booth spaces. The tradeshow graphics provide small- and mid-sized companies with an affordable solution to the challenge of achieving a more professional look and more positive impact at trade shows. Digital Industries offers a choice of four turnkey graphics packages-bronze, silver, gold and platinum. For more information, call 888-955-4040, (Web site) www.digitalindustries.com.
Revlon Names E. Crystal Sr. V.P., Customer Mktg.
Revlon has appointed Elizabeth Crystal as Sr. V.P., Customer Marketing. Crystal will lead the Customer Marketing team and have responsibility for customer strategies to leverage opportunities with the Company’s retail partners. She reports to Paul Murphy, Exec.V.P., North America Customer Sales, Marketing and Merchandising. Most recently, Crystal was V.P., Trade Marketing for Buena Vista Home Entertainment, a division of the Walt Disney Co.
USHE Names J. Herrera V.P., Multicultural Mktg.
Jeff Herrera has been appointed to the newly created position of V.P., Multicultural Marketing for Universal Studios Home Entertainment (USHE). Herrera will oversee the crafting and implementation of marketing strategies aimed at Latinos, African-Americans and other ethnic groups. He will report to Ken Graffeo, EVP, Marketing. Herrera joined USHE in 2003 as V.P., Retail Marketing.
Outwater Plastics
Back to Top
To See Previous Issues of Online Weekly in Creative's Archives, click here.
To See other Creative Online Newsletters click here
