The Timberland Co. has launched its most environmentally-focused marketing campaign yet, ‘Nature Needs Heroes’ to showcase its Earthkeepers collection. Made with materials like recycled rubber and recycled PET, Earthkeepers product is one of the company’s fastest growing product collections.
“This campaign marks the culmination of our work to connect consumers to what we’re doing as a company to have a positive environmental impact,” said Jim Davey, Timberland’s VP of Global Marketing.
The campaign is being executed through a variety of channels, including 3D displays in Timberland retail stores worldwide. Store windows feature oversized 3D graphics which consumers can experience using complimentary 3D glasses (made with recycled materials) available in store. Point-of-purchase displays depict an x-ray into the Earthkeepers 2.0 boot; a visual representation of Timberland’s commitment to product transparency, which also highlights its use of recycled and renewable materials.
Nature's Peak / Everock Debuts New P.O.P. Displays
Nature's Peak / Everock, which produces a line of all-natural gourmet vegetable dips and sandwich spreads marketed under the Nature's Peak brand, has designed new end aisle, point of sale and deli counter display racks.
Paul Wilkinson, CEO of Nature's Peak / Everock, said, "Our goal is to make VeggieSpread and VeggieDip jump off the shelves in retail stores. We expect delivery of the racks in September and to begin sending them to select retailers as part of our marketing efforts with them. The racks and other marketing materials we'll create are part of our ongoing programs to support retailers and invite consumers to try our product."
Nature's Peak end of aisle racks hold 8 cases of product and the retailer can put 3 SKU's each of VeggieDip and VeggieSpread for easy reach for customers. The deli rack display makes it very easy for customers to see the VeggieSpread while they make an order or purchase at the deli counter. (Web site) www.NaturesPeak.com
Popeyes Kicks-Off Marketing Campaign Driving Focus To Its Louisiana Brand Heritage, Taste Test Win
Popeyes® Louisiana Kitchen has launched a major marketing and advertising initiative designed to underscore the results of a national taste test between Popeyes' Spicy and Mild Bonafide® bone-in fried chicken and KFC® Original Recipe® fried chicken. The integrated campaign, which heralds the fact that Popeyes Beat KFC, is the most significant marketing push in the company's history.
"Our brand heritage is what defines us," said Richard Lynch, CMO for Popeyes. "We are confident our authentic, distinctive food, marinated and cooked in the tradition of our Louisiana roots, is what fueled customer preference and this exciting taste test win. We know one of the keys to our continued success is to stay true to our brand heritage." Campaign elements include in-store point of purchase materials.
New In-Store DisplayAttracts Visitors To Elizabeth Arden's NYC Street Level Location
Elizabeth Arden's only street level location at 5th Avenue and 54th Street in New York City, which showcases the firm's beauty brands and designer/celebrity fragrances, recently retained McCann Systems to create an in-store display with an audio visual projector to impact visitors walking in on street level as well as attract those walking on 5th Avenue.
To meet the challenge, McCann's designers used a flexible, 38" wide by 52" tall, rear projection, acrylic screen by Large Screen Displays, that was formed to match the curvature of the walls. The screen, also a wave like structure becomes part of the wall.
Working in a tight, narrow space behind the screen, engineers laid a Panasonic projector on its back and installed it on a rear projection sled. Programmed for convenience Content runs on a continuous loop off a video player. Using a Crestron Control System programmed by McCann's software engineers, content is easily called up and scheduled; including ad campaigns, product photos, company news and other promotional messages. As a final request, the client did not want the speakers to be visible. To accommodate this task, McCann Systems chose and installed invisible ceiling speakers designed by Sound Advance.
CITGO Launches New Retail Design
CITGO Petroleum Corp. has unveiled its contemporary new retail street image design to its branded light oils and lubricants marketers from across the country.
The central element of the new modern look features a predominately red triform design on the retail canopy, pump and Quick Lube building. A symbol of brand innovation, the new design is sure to grab attention.
“While we are very proud of our 100 year heritage, we cannot simply rest on our past. We are actively thinking about the future and want to provide our Marketers and Retailers with an updated, refreshed look that is distinguishable from the competition,” said Gustavo Velasquez, VP Supply & Marketing for CITGO. He added, “We believe this contemporary look is more inviting to today’s consumer and hope that they will find it as exciting as we do. The support from CITGO, combined with the ease of installation, will ensure that our retailers can affordably implement the upgrades.”
Propel Fuels Launches Bay Area’s First Renewable Fuel Station Network
Propel Fuels, CALSTART, and East Bay Clean Cities, have launched Propel’s Bay Area network of renewable fuel stations. “California is leading the way in the deployment of low carbon fuels and clean vehicles by investing in a portfolio of the most promising alternatives to petroleum,” said Energy Commissioner Anthony Eggert. “The Energy Commission is proud to team up with Propel Fuels and the partner agencies to bring next generation low carbon biofuels, including cellulosic ethanol, to the nearly half a million flex fuel vehicle customers in California.”
Matt Horton, CEO, Propel Fuels, said “As advanced biofuel production facilities prepare to break ground, this fueling infrastructure is a critical link between California’s citizens and the next generation of low carbon fuels.”
Scanbuy And Lion Nathan Launch Cellar Key Mobile Barcode Marketing Platform Offers Instant Access to Wine Information for Mobile Users
Scanbuy, a global leader in mobile barcode solutions, and Lion Nathan Wine Group, owner and importer of fine wines from around the world, has launched Cellar Key, the most integrated 2D mobile barcode marketing platform that provides users fast and easy mobile access to information on Lion Nathan's esteemed wine brands.
With the ScanLife mobile app, users can scan the Cellar Key "QR" Code featured on a bottle's neck tag, shelf display, wine menu or other location to point their mobile phone camera at it and instantly read reviews, meet the winemaker, take a video tour of the winery and explore food and wine pairings. Mobile users can also instantly share their experience on social media sites, including Facebook and Twitter.
"Mobile barcode technology is proving itself to be an extremely easy and engaging way for brands to connect with their target audience," said Mike Wehrs, CEO and president of Scanbuy. "Furthermore, it's a technology that provides marketers a simple way to obtain valuable metrics and data that highlight consumers' interest on specific products and the improved effectiveness of campaigns that utilize mobile barcode technology."
Cellar Key will initially feature six wines including Oregon's Argyle Willamette Valley Pinot Noir and Vintage Brut; Australia's St Hallett Faith Shiraz and Poacher's Blend from the Barossa Valley; New Zealand's Wither Hills Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc and Argento Malbec from Mendoza, Argentina. (Web site) www.scanbuy.com
Borders Enhances Customer Experience To Include Build-A-Bear Workshop Branded Products In-Store
Borders is teaming with Build-A-Bear Workshop® to bring the popular teddy bear to life in more than 500 Borders superstores nationwide. Borders will feature the Build-A-Bear Workshop book "Holly & Hal Moose™: Our Uplifting Christmas Adventure", "Holly & Hal Moose: Our Uplifting Christmas Adventure" DVD and Hal Moose™, a Build-A-Bear Workshop plush toy, in stores. Borders will encourage customers to purchase the furry friend, book, and DVD and donate the items to the company's holiday book drive. Borders will also carry "Build-A-Bear Workshop" Make and Play Kits.
"This relationship with Build-A-Bear Workshop further emphasizes our focus on expanding our retail offerings beyond books, and delivering as much consumer choice as possible," said Mike Edwards, CEO of Borders. "Our customers are creative, and Build-A-Bear Craftshop products provide an opportunity for them to express themselves in Borders retail stores in new, fun ways. We're committed to delivering an excellent customer experience-it'll be exciting to see just how creative our community can be."
Fresh Choice Unveils New Concept, 'The Marketplace'
California-based Fresh Choice Restaurants has unveiled its new concept, The Marketplace, in Dallas Art District's Trammell Crow Center. The half-deli / half-gourmet grocery establishment occupies 1,340 square feet and was created by Fresh Choice to serve a niche market of professional customers who want fresh, healthy choices for lunch as well as gourmet grocery items to take home for dinner.
Offerings include hot lunch entrees, an up-scale salad and pasta bar, fresh fruits, frozen yogurt, whole rotisserie take-home chickens, and bottles of wine and gourmet chocolates. The Marketplace also carries a collection of sundry items so customers have one-stop shopping in the building where their offices are located.
Meijer's Free 'Find-It' App Enables In-Store Product Search And Delivers Precise Map Locations Of Items To Consumers' Smartphones
Meijer's has launched its free 'Find-it' mobile app, built upon Point Inside's mobile destination content platform. For the first time, shoppers can see the location of more than 100,000 items in a retail supercenter using their smartphones. Shoppers no longer need to ask store employees the common question `Where is…?' as items' locations are represented as pins placed on an interior map of the store. The application also provides updated information on weekly specials and product promotions available in the store, with the ability to instantly locate sale items.
Point Inside's platform facilitates the aggregation of destination-specific content, adding the critical context of location to each item. This marrying of 'what' to 'where' enables shoppers to quickly find what they need at their destinations, whether it's a specific department, service, like a fitting room or restroom, or even an individual product on the shelf.
"We're very pleased about the launch of the Find-it mobile app," said Elizabeth Wilson, online/mobile marketing specialist for Meijer. "Meijer is always looking for ways to improve our customers' shopping experience. So we are truly excited to introduce technology that not only continues our company's tradition of innovation, but helps makes shopping more convenient and fun for our customers."
Coors Light Brings Madden NFL 11 To Bars Across The Country In Promotion With EA SPORTS
Coors Light has partnered with EA SPORTS™ for a promotion that gives legal-drinking-age consumers the opportunity to showcase their video game talents in bars and restaurants across the country. In addition to the national promotion, each market will plan a series of promotions in local accounts that will enable consumers to challenge each other on the spot at Madden NFL 11. And in select markets, people will have the chance to compete in tournaments for the right to play Madden NFL 11 against a local NFL alumnus.
The national promotion also features a sweepstakes where one grand prize winner could have his likeness featured in an upcoming Madden NFL game. Additional prizes include tickets to Madden Bowl XVII party in Dallas, during Super Bowl week, as well as copies of Madden NFL 11 and discounts on select EA SPORTS merchandise.
"Coors Light consumers are passionate about football in all forms, whether they're cheering on their favorite team on Sunday or facing off against friends in Madden NFL 11," said Rick Gomez, vice president of marketing for the Coors Family of Brands.
"EA SPORTS continues to bring Madden to the People in new and creative ways," said Christopher Erb, senior director of partnership marketing for EA SPORTS. "This promotion with Coors Light gives fans not only a way to play Madden NFL, but to become part of it."
Claire's Features Exclusive GLEE Jewelry And Accessories Lines With Unique Pop-Up Shops And Marketing Campaign
In advance of the second season of the hit television series GLEE, Twentieth Century Fox Consumer Products and Claire's Stores have partnered to launch an exclusive GLEE Jewelry Collection and accessory lines. The program kicks-off September 3rd with the introduction of three fully-branded GLEE pop-up shops in the Los Angeles, Chicago and New York Metropolitan areas. These pop-up shops will be followed by a rollout of the line to over 1,500 stores across the U.S., Canada, and Puerto Rico on September 9th. Claire's will support the program with an extensive multi-platform marketing campaign that will include a corporate rebranding and special online and in-store promotions.
Robert Marick, EVP of Fox Consumer Products, said, "Claire's has developed an innovative program that will transform the retailer into a primary destination for any 'Gleek' out there." The pop-up shops, designed in partnership with leading creative agency, Chandelier Creative, will replicate the excitement found in the halls of the show's McKinley High School by utilizing multi-dimensional photo mural backdrops of the iconic location as the walls of the store.
The SCOOTER Store Creates Home Care Equipment Division
The SCOOTER Store, the nation's largest provider of power mobility products and services, has created a new internal division focusing on Home Care equipment, accessories and related services to complement its traditional power mobility business. The division will be launched in a multi-phase approach. Initially, it will focus on targeted markets with a select portfolio of Home Care equipment items. It will eventually expand into the full national footprint of The SCOOTER Store and offer a wide range of Home Care items. The division's growth is expected to occur organically and through strategic relationships with fully-licensed and accredited partners. Those relationships will help the division fulfill demand for Home Care equipment products and related services, as needed.
Stales Displays Kindles
Staples, the only office superstore to carry Kindle devices, has developed unique interactive displays that allow customers to experience and learn more about the all-new Kindle. “Kindle is just one example of a host of hot tech items customers can get at Staples this holiday season,” said Jevin Eagle, Executive Vice President of Merchandising and Marketing at Staples. “From our hands-on displays to our knowledgeable associates, Staples makes buying technology easy any time of year.”
The all-new Kindle has a new electronic-ink screen with 50 percent better contrast, is 21 percent smaller and 15 percent lighter, boasts 20 percent faster page turns, up to one month of battery life with wireless off, double the storage to 3,500 books, and more.
Staples now also displays a full assortment of Kindle accessories.
TA And Petro Become Nation's Only National Travel Center Brands To Offer Discounts For AAA Members
AAA members can now stretch their road trip budget by choosing TravelCenters of America® and Petro Stopping Centers® for their rest stops. TA has become the newest partner in AAA's Show Your Card & Save® program and will offer AAA members a 10 percent discount at participating locations of the more than 365 restaurants. AAA's 51 million members can Refuel, Replenish and RefreshTM at TA/TravelCenters of America and Petro Stopping Centers across the country, as they head out on a road trip.
TA and Petro brand travel centers are conveniently located along the U.S. interstate highway system. "Our more than 160 TA locations and more than 60 Petro locations are open every single day, 24 hours a day. We offer travelers a place to get fuel, a meal or a snack, necessities for road trips and get back on the way to their final destination," said Tom O'Brien, CEO. Most TA and Petro locations offer full-service restaurants, with down-home comfort food at affordable prices. For those in a hurry to reach their final destination, TA and Petro feature 198 quick-service restaurants representing 16 national brands including Popeye's®, Burger King®, Pizza Hut®, Starbucks®, Subway® and Taco Bell®.
Energizer Introduces Inductive Charger To Meet Consumer Demand For Wireless Power
Energizer has introduced its first inductive charger built with Qi technology, the new universal charging standard developed by the Wireless Power Consortium (WPC). Widely anticipated and considered to be one of the most compelling new developments in charging technology, Qi (pronounced chee) will bring consumers the freedom to charge their smartphones, MP3 players, cameras - any device 5 Watts or less - on a single charging station, regardless of manufacturer.
"We believe that a universal standard is the future of charging, and by leading the way with one of the first Qi products - the Energizer® Inductive Charger - we are meeting a clear need for a product that makes charging devices easier by eliminating cords and clutter," said Jim Olsen, Vice President of Marketing for Energizer North America. "This next generation charger is a natural extension of an innovative product portfolio that brings more freedom for people to live and to work using power that's reliable and convenient." The Energizer® Inductive Charger.
Facebook Credits Gift Cards Launch At Target Stores Nationwide
Facebook® Credits gift cards are launching at Target stores nationwide. Target will be the first brick-and-mortar retailer to carry Facebook Credits gift cards. While Facebook is free and always will be, Facebook Credits are an easy and convenient way for people to buy digital goods in more than 150 popular social games and applications offered by independent developers on Facebook. The newly-launched Facebook Credits gift cards will be an ideal gift this holiday season for those who enjoy playing social games on Facebook.
"At Target we strive to delight our guests with exciting, new products every day, so we're thrilled to be the first retailer to sell Facebook Credits gift cards," said Mark Schindele, senior vice president, merchandising, Target. "With social gaming becoming increasingly popular, Facebook Credits gift cards provide an easy and convenient option for Target guests to purchase virtual goods."
Marie Callender's® Fresh Flavor Steamer™ Entrées Introduced
Marie Callender's®, a brand of ConAgra Foods, is introducing new frozen entrées that use steam cooking for fresh-tasting meals in five minutes or less, available now at grocery retailers nationwide. New Fresh Flavor SteamerTM entrées are the natural evolution of the brand's successful line of Pasta Al Dente meals. The meals use proprietary tray-in-tray steaming technology that separates the sauce from the rest of the ingredients during cooking. As the sauce heats up, it steams the ingredients for the fresh flavors and textures consumers expect from a homemade meal.
Apple Reinvents iPod nano With Multi-Touch Interface
Apple® has unveiled a completely redesigned iPod nano® featuring Apple's Multi-Touch™ interface that lets users navigate their music collection by simply tapping or swiping a finger on the display. Nearly half the size and weight of the previous generation, the new iPod nano features a polished aluminum and glass enclosure with a built-in clip, making it instantly wearable. The new iPod nano features Genius Mixes, the ability to create and edit playlists, a built-in FM radio with live pause and up to 24 hours of music playback on a single battery charge.
"This is the biggest reinvention of the iPod nano since its debut in 2005, and we think users are going to love it," said Steve Jobs, Apple's CEO. "Replacing the click wheel with our Multi-Touch interface has enabled us to shrink the iPod nano into an amazingly small design that is instantly wearable with its built-in clip."
NETGEAR® Adds NeoTV HD Media Players
NETGEAR, a worldwide provider of technologically innovative networking solutions for homes, businesses and service providers, has added the NeoTV 350 HD and NeoTV 550 Ultimate HD Media Players as the flagship products in the NETGEAR AV Series. The groundbreaking NeoTV HD Media Players enable users to play their digital videos, photos, or music directly on their HDTVs whether the media is stored locally, on the home network, or the Internet. The NeoTV 350 HD and NeoTV 550 Ultimate HD Media Players, support HD 1080p, Dolby Digital and DTS surround sound. The NeoTV 550 offers an additional E-SATA port for faster transfer speeds, Blu-ray disc support via external drives and advanced metadata tagging that lets users browse cover art.
Newman's Own Adds Pomegranate Lemonade
After experiencing a major sales surge in its Old-Fashioned Roadside Virgin Lemonade, Newman's Own® has added a new creation, Newman's Own Pomegranate Lemonade, to the Newman's Own lemonade line-up. Newman's Own Pomegranate Lemonade marries the popular sweet taste of pomegranates with a tried-and-true lemonade recipe and delivers a refreshing and dependable product. Like the other Newman's Own lemonades, pomegranate is all natural and contains no high fructose corn syrup and no artificial ingredients.
SanDisk Introduces Sansa Fuze+ MP3 Player
SanDisk Corp., a global leader in flash memory cards, has set a new standard for sub-$100 portable media players with the introduction of the Sansa® Fuze™+ (plus) MP3 player, delivering a best-in-class combination of features, ease of use and value. The Sansa Fuze+ portable media player, successor to the popular Sansa Fuze MP3 player, offers consumers the quality and flexibility they demand at a price that's hard to beat. The completely redesigned media player delivers a hassle-free and satisfying user experience that enables unparalleled freedom in how consumers access their favorite digital content. Music and video lovers can expand the player's storage capacity according to their needs, quickly navigate their libraries of files and enjoy high-quality audio and video playback.
"The Sansa Fuze+ is the most versatile portable media player available for under $100," said Tom Bailey, senior director, AV retail, SanDisk. "We developed an entirely new product to provide consumers with a stylish, affordable device that performs exactly as a sophisticated yet easy to use player should." (Web site) www.sandisk.com
Sears And Kmart Team Up With Spanish-Language TV Icon Cristina Saralegui To Launch New Bed And Bath Line
Sears and Kmart are launching an exclusive new soft home collection, Casa Cristina™. Created by well-known Hispanic journalist and talk show host Cristina Saralegui, the Casa Cristina collection is inspired by Saralegui's Miami home, along with the artistry and memories of her childhood. The product offering encompasses a wide range of items for bed and bath. The bedding line includes lush comforter sets, quilted coverlets and euro shams, soft microfiber sheets and decorative pillows. The bath collection includes matching shower curtains, embellished towel sets, cotton bath rugs and accessories decorated with coordinating motifs.
"We are thrilled to introduce the Casa Cristina collection at Sears and Kmart. The collection allows us to offer our customers products with broad appeal, and designs that draw from the Hispanic culture," said Doug Wurl, vice president and general merchandising manager, Sears Holdings Corporation, Home. "Our collaboration with Casa Cristina represents our commitment to offering our customers more style sensibilities. By continuing to expand our brand portfolio we are working to make Sears and Kmart destinations for beautiful design at affordable prices."
New Sony eReaders Developed For Optimal Digital Book Reading Experience
Sony has launched its new line of Reader digital books, including the Reader Pocket Edition™, Reader Touch Edition™ and, in the US, the wireless Reader Daily Edition™. The new line of Readers features a host of new design and technology enhancements that make them the perfect device for any reader's lifestyle and bring a fresh level of flare to e-reading with colorful, elegant aluminum designs and all new, highly responsive touch screens.
"The success of our previous line of Readers illustrates book lovers' demand for feature choices and full touch screens on their digital reading devices," said Phil Lubell, vice president of Digital reading at Sony Electronics. "Today, we're answering their call by providing an entire line of stylish, full touch screen devices with a variety of features and price points."
Starbucks Offers New Natural Flavors
Starbucks takes the next step in building the instant coffee category with the introduction of Starbucks VIA® Flavored Coffee in U.S. and Canada stores this fall. Just one year since the launch, the Starbucks VIA® Ready Brew portfolio will now include four natural flavors-Vanilla, Mocha, Caramel and Cinnamon Spice. Starbucks is the first nationally branded flavored coffee in the U.S. to use only natural flavors and other natural ingredients and currently offers Starbucks® Natural Fusions, a line of naturally flavored ground coffees, at select grocery stores in the U.S.
"We know 60 percent of our customers drink coffee with flavor, and now they will have access to high-quality arabica coffees with natural flavors as only Starbucks can deliver," said Annie Young-Scrivner, Starbucks chief marketing officer. "The launch of Starbucks VIA® Flavored Coffees demonstrates our drive to inject innovation into the coffee category, deliver products our customers are looking for, and allows us to grow the business globally."
Tropicana Launches Trop50 Farmstand Apple
Tropicana Trop50 Farmstand Apple delivers the goodness of juice with 50 percent less sugar and calories, and no artificial sweeteners. At 50 calories per eight-ounce glass, Trop50 Farmstand Apple squeezes in a full day's supply of vitamin C and is a good source of antioxidant vitamin E. All Trop50 varieties offer the goodness of juice with the breakthrough use of a zero-calorie, all-natural stevia-based sweetener known as PureVia™.
Yoplait Frozen Smoothies Now Available In Freezer Fruit Section Of Grocery Stores
With one full serving of fruit (½ cup), 110 to 120 calories and 1.5 to 2 grams of fat per serving (depending on the flavor), new Yoplait Frozen Smoothies make the perfect guilt-free breakfast, dessert or after school snack. Now consumers can enjoy fruit anytime of the year with Yoplait Frozen Smoothies, which are made with frozen fruit and are available in the freezer fruit section of the grocery store.
"Although there are some misperceptions about smoothies, they have never been easier to make at home," said Robert Dircks, Marketing Manager, Yoplait Frozen Smoothie. "Each Yoplait Frozen Smoothies package comes with a full serving of frozen fruit and frozen yogurt chips; all you have to do is add skim milk, blend and you'll be enjoying a delicious frozen smoothie in less than two minutes in the comfort of your home!" Yoplait Frozen Smoothies come in Triple Berry, Strawberry Banana, Strawberry Mango Pineapple, and Blueberry Pomegranate flavors.
Medora™ Debuts PopCorners™, The New Shape of Popcorn™
Medora Snacks debuts PopCorners, The New Shape of Popcorn, made from all-natural ingredients created to satisfy the cravings of popcorn lovers' desire for popcorn at an affordable price, all while maintaining that authentic chip-like experience. PopCorners are currently available in four flavors including White Cheddar, Butter, Sea Salt and Kettle that range from 3.5 to 6 grams of fat.
"Consumers are demanding healthier snacks across the board and with a dramatic increase in popcorn sales, 21% in the past year, PopCorners are an ideal and easy decision," said Linda Fishman, President, Medora Snacks LLC.
New Rydeen Portable Navigation Device Provides Rich Multimedia Experience
Marvell, a worldwide leader in integrated silicon solutions, and Rydeen Mobile Electronics, a global car navigation and safety systems leader, have introduced Rydeen GCOM701, utilizing the Android™ operating system. Powered by the Marvell® ARMADA™ 166 application processor, the GCOM701 provides a rich multimedia experience and delivers seamless connectivity, real-time content and an extended battery life. The GCOM701 is expected to ship this November and will be available in two colors, black and white. With a 7-inch TFT touch panel and 800x480-pixel resolution, GCOM701 offers ample screen space for Web surfing, reading eBooks and viewing images and video. Other device features include: built-in Wi-Fi and GPS, Bluetooth capability, removable memory, a front-facing camera and easy connectivity for jump drives and other portable devices. On the road, the GCOM701 functions as a portable navigation device -- complete with four million points of interest -- powered by Navteq™. An internal 7.4-volt battery delivers ample standby power and up to six hours of operational time at full power mode.
Title Isotonic Sports Drink Debuts With Powerful Launch Campaign
Title Sports Drink®, the first all-natural isotonic sports drink manufactured by The Electric Beverage Company, has launched a consumer and retail campaign across North America with a series of powerful brand endorsements by some of the biggest names in the NFL and NBA, including Ronnie Brown, Vontae Davis, Terrell Owens, Channing Crowder, Michael Beasley, Mario Chalmers, Ray Buchanon, Matthew Hatchette and Derrick Brooks who have each adopted the newly launched sports drink into their daily workout and training regimen. Title Sports Drink has the exclusive rights to 72 ionic trace minerals (Title Mineral Blend) as part of its proprietary formula. Title Sports Drink delivers all 5 core electrolytes - more than twice the number of electrolytes contained within any other isotonic beverage. With half the sodium of other isotonic products on the market and made with organic cane sugar instead of high fructose corn syrup, Title Sports Drink delivers 5 times more magnesium and 8 times more potassium than rival brands, preventing the likelihood of cramping or muscle seizure. As an additional unique point of difference, Title Sports Drink has no chemical dyes or additives with 100% natural coloring.
Title Sports Drink continues to expand on its national retail distribution strategy, targeting 18-35 year-old males, as the largest consumer demographic in the isotonic beverage market, with moms as an additional primary target audience. Title Sports Drink is distributed exclusively by Blue Gem Enterprise and is currently available at Walgreens, Sedano's, Navarro and Albertsons stores, as well as smaller independent retail locations.
Ultimate Ears Introduces Music Genre-Inspired Earphones
Ultimate Ears, a product unit of Logitech, has introduced the Ultimate Ears 100 Noise-Isolating Earphones in five music genre-inspired designs. The Ultimate Ears 100 allows listeners to match their mood to their musical tastes. "Many performing artists we work with enjoy putting personal artwork on their stage in-ear monitors as an additional form of self expression," said Philippe Depallens, Logitech vice president and general manager of the Ultimate Ears business. "Now, with the Ultimate Ears 100 collection, we've created a way for our retail customers to do the same - giving them five killer designs to choose from. Now you can feel a connection to the design of your earphones, as well as the music coming out of them."
American Greetings Introduces Guitar™ Greetings
American Greetings has given music cards a makeover with Guitar™, an innovative new greeting designed to simulate the experience of playing an actual guitar. This next generation of music greetings features a telescoping card that, when pulled, extends into a mini-guitar. Once extended, the music is triggered and the birthday boy or girl can enjoy a rocking rendition of "Happy Birthday" created to coordinate perfectly with the card art.
Sears Holdings Names David Friedman SVP And Pres. Marketing
David Friedman will join the Sears Holdings company as SVP and President, Marketing. Friedman will be responsible for the oversight and leadership of the Marketing business unit. Friedman most recently served as president, Americas for Razorfish, one of the world's largest interactive marketing and technology companies.
Kobo, a global eReading service, has appointed former Lavalife CEO Marina Glogovac as Chief Marketing Officer. Glogovac will be responsible for Kobo's brand, global customer acquisition strategy, marketing and communications. Michael Serbinis, CEO of Kobo, said, "She has proven success growing and overseeing the development of premier media and online brands, and we are confident that Marina will be a significant asset in fortifying our position as top global eReading service."
Blount Fine Foods Promotes Marketing Execs Robert Sewall And William Bigelow
Blount Fine Foods, a leading manufacturer of hand-crafted artisan soups and seafood products, has promoted Robert Sewall to executive vice president of sales and marketing, and William Bigelow to vice president of business development. Sewall had previously been VP, sales & marketing, and Bigelow was director of research and development.
Michael Komasinski Named President, Group Managing Director, Schawk Retail Marketing
Schawk, a leading provider of brand point management services, has named Michael Komasinski to the new position of president, group managing director for its retail marketing business. Komasinski previously served Schawk Retail Marketing as senior vice president of account management, where he oversaw retail accounts such as The Home Depot, Sears Holdings, Bloomingdales, and Lord & Taylor. Komasinski came to Schawk earlier this year from The Nielsen Company where he spent seven years in senior leadership roles.
EyeClick Introduces New EyeTouch Screen Technology
EyeClick has unveiled the next generation of interactive window touch screen technology. With the New EyeTouch technology, foil is no longer required to enable touch activated window projection. The revolutionary optical system takes the place of foil, offering a wider range of options and advantages. Now there are no size limitations for the interactive display, the system integrates with any glass surface regardless of type or treatment, and the installation is simpler and more robust than ever. EyeTouch is an innovative media platform that transforms any glass, window, LED or LCD screen into an amazing touch activated screen. By combining motion-reactive graphics and videos with EyeClick technology, EyeTouch offers clients a unique marketing tool for reaching their target audience. This exciting application extends an innovative and fun invitation to passers-by and encourages them to interact with the display. There are many other features in addition to the advantages gained from the New EyeTouch technology. The system has the option to detect and react to passers-by from a distance. EyeTouch has statistic capabilities and the ability to create advanced usage reports for clear ROI analysis. Additionally, there are remote control and monitoring capabilities for high availability and superb reliability. For more information on New EyeTouch technology, visit EyeClick Ltd. at, (Web site) www.eyeclick.com
Freeman Acquires Encore Productions
Freeman has acquired Encore Productions, a full-service creative production and audio visual equipment rental company based in Las Vegas. Encore has full-service satellite audio visual rental offices in 14 of the top Las Vegas properties. Freeman will retain Encore's name and brand identity and Encore's executive leadership team will remain in place to manage company operations and hotel customer relationships. "Within the organization, Encore will be a part of Freeman's audio visual division," said Ken Sanders, president of Freeman Audio Visual. "With the acquisition of Encore, Freeman's AV holdings now position the company as the second-highest ranking technology supplier in the industry, providing the most diverse service offering of any company in the space." (Web site) www.freemanco.com
CORT Acquires Lounge22 Rental Operations
CORT, a Berkshire Hathaway company, has acquired the rental operations of Lounge22, including all product and exclusive rights to market the rental brand globally, making CORT's Trade Show and Event Furnishings division the sole provider of Lounge22 designs to the trade show, event and exhibit rental industry. This acquisition enables CORT Trade Show and Event Furnishings, the nation's largest trade show and event furnishings rental company, to expand its upscale product collection with progressive, original, American designed and manufactured furniture. CORT and Lounge22 will collaborate in the long-term development of new and innovative products for the trade show and events industry. "Lounge22 Powered by CORT means that our customers have access to an expanded selection of unique, luxury furnishings that are now backed by CORT's unparalleled customer service and reliability," said Mike Davis, group vice president for CORT Trade Show and Event Furnishings. "We are excited for the opportunity to extend our offerings to the high-end events market and to collaborate in the design and manufacturing of new product lines." (Web site) www.cortevents.com
'Help Budweiser Conserve The Outdoors' Program Launches
Budweiser, its family of wholesalers and the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation have teamed up with Outdoor Channel host Michael Waddell for the 12th annual 'Help Budweiser Conserve the Outdoors' program this fall. To date, the program has raised more than $9 million to help restore vital wildlife habitats across the country, protect watersheds and conserve the nation's outdoor heritage.
Under the 'Help Budweiser Conserve the Outdoors' program, participating Anheuser-Busch wholesalers donate a percentage of proceeds from all bottles and cans of Budweiser. The Foundation then matches the contributions and distributes the funds to leading conservation organizations, including the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, Ducks Unlimited, Delta Waterfowl Foundation and Quality Deer Management Association.
Waddell represents numerous organizations dedicated to promoting the outdoors and conservation and appears on several popular shows on the Outdoor Channel including, 'Bone Collector' and 'Realtree Road Trips.' Waddell will appear on Budweiser displays across the country to help promote the brand's outdoor efforts, as well as make selected appearances.
Candice Olson And Portuguese Cork Association Launch Decor(k) Tour To Promote Cork Flooring
The North American Decor(k) Tour, conducted by the Portuguese Cork Association (APCOR), recently launched in NYC's Herald Square. The goal of the Decor(k) Tour - which will visit 16 cities across the United States and Canada - is to educate consumers about the different styles and varieties of Portuguese cork flooring, and will feature a 53 foot-long mobile showroom designed by "Divine Design" host Candice Olson.
Inside the showroom, visitors will enjoy a "feet on" experience of cork flooring's unique comfort and resiliency while viewing six different room layouts and flooring applications designed by Olson. "The choice of flooring is always an integral element in my designs," said Olson. "When homeowners are building their nests, they must think about how much time will be spent on their floors. Cork flooring is a perfect choice for the home because it can provide a desired, stylish look while remaining functional and environmentally friendly."
The Decor(k) mobile showroom has been created by APCOR to tell the story of cork flooring, beginning with the cork oak and the harvest of the cork bark through to the versatility and beauty of the finished product from an interior designer's perspective. Visitors to the Decor(k) showroom will learn how the cork oak bark is fashioned into beautiful cork flooring and will be invited to experience six different room concepts created by Olson and featuring the very best of Portuguese cork flooring. (Web site) www.realcorkfloors.com
ESPNU Launches 2010 College GameDay Tour
ESPNU is bringing the "ESPNU College GameDay Tour" to all 14 regular-season College GameDay stops for the season. The new experiential marketing tour, featuring a fully customized ESPNU minibus, will include a DJ booth, as well as a college-themed body and face painting station where students can pick their school colors each week to display their school spirit.
At each tour stop, fans will be able to listen to a live DJ, and visit the painting station before kickoff to uniquely express their true fandom in the stands. The tour will also include several LED televisions showing live coverage of the College GameDay telecasts. Another focal point of each stop will be the ESPNU monument (a 24-foot tall monument designed in the likeness of the ESPNU logo), which will be prominently displayed on each host campus throughout the weekend.
Sara Lee Unveils State Fair 'Dream Home' Promotion
Launch Creative Marketing has created a new promotion for Sara Lee's State Fair Brand corn dogs, offering a prize relevant to the current economic climate- half a million dollars towards a dream home.
The State Fair "Dream Home" promotion is an online game where consumers enter codes from promotional packages to try and collect all six virtual rooms in the "Dream Home," in order to win the half a million dollar grand prize. As an added incentive, participants can win one of over ten thousand instant prizes from rooms they collect, like an HDTV or washer/dryer unit. The sweepstakes is promoted on-pack, via email and with FSIs, and includes Sara Lee's first-ever mobile promotion overlay. Consumers are able to opt-in to mobile messaging by texting "StateFair" to get updates on remaining prizes as well as a link to a mobile version of the promotional microsite.
Most people enjoy corn dogs at outdoor events, but don't think of them often as a meal or snack idea at home. The objective of the promotion was to change this behavior, by increasing awareness and building purchase frequency. "We uncovered two key insights about our target that really helped," said Tom Baer, Chief Creative Officer at Launch. "First, our moms are very active and like to play games online, and second, with the current economy, the 'American Dream' of home ownership has become a big concern for them." (Web site) www.launchwhatsnext.com
Clinique Fresh Faces Tour
Clinique is about to embark on its 10 city "Fresh Faces Tour" whereby the cosmetics company creates an environment that allows visitors to receive makeovers and participate in photo shoots, while sampling products that are also available for purchase. MC² is handling the production of the tour, kicking off in fall 2010 and stopping at college campuses in 10 cities across the country from Boston to Los Angeles. (Web site) www.mc-2online.com
Nine West And JAGTAG Launch Mobile Campaign With Joss Stone For Fall Vintage America Collection
JAGTAG, the U.S. leader in mobile 2D barcode advertising, and Nine West, a division of Jones Apparel Group, have launched an integrated mobile marketing campaign to promote Nine West's. Vintage America Collection featuring Joss Stone. Nine West is the first company to use JAGTAGs on product packaging, such as shoeboxes, and will also use JAGTAGs in its print, online and in-store promotional materials.
Nine West's Vintage America Collection campaign with JAGTAG allows consumers to interact with singer-songwriter and style icon Joss Stone, who helped design the new product line, through email messages, free music downloads and digital videos. Users will also have the chance to enter a sweepstakes to win products from the Nine West Vintage America Collection. The specially branded JAGTAG features Joss Stone's signature flower tattoo design and will appear on Vintage America Collection shoeboxes and promotional materials in print and in-stores, as well as on a microsite for the campaign and in Lucky Magazine's October issue. To use JAGTAGS, consumers can take and send a photo of the JAGTAG with any camera phone and will receive multimedia content and automatically be entered into a sweepstakes to win Joss Stone's Vintage America look, including shoes, clothing, jewelry and other accessories.
Debbie Woloshin, Senior Vice President of Marketing for Nine West, said, "JAGTAG has customized every element of this interactive campaign to reflect the authentic spirit of the Vintage America - from the branded JAGTAG to the unique messages and content that consumers receive. We are always looking for ways to interact with our consumers and JAGTAG's design capabilities and capacity to reach mobile users across the country makes it an ideal partner for this campaign." (Web site) www.jagtag.com
HSBC Bank Launches 'Unlocking The World's Potential' Campaign
HSBC Bank USA has unveiled new "out-of-home" (OOH) advertisements that make use of first-ever placements in unexpected places on the streets of New York as part of the bank's "Unlocking the World's Potential" campaign. The objects are "framed" by surprising global insights and facts, and the proposition that New Yorkers "discover the world's potential with a bank that knows how to find it," as the ads' tag line proclaims.
HSBC Bank created the new campaign in partnership with JWT and Kinetic, a subsidiary of Mindshare, to engage the New York City Parks Department and other organizations including South Street Seaport and the Buffalo Niagara International Airport, to identify and secure unique OOH placements. The HSBC ads will pop up in such unexpected places as: South Street Seaport: flower planters, nautical cleats, manhole covers and coin-operated binoculars; Bryant Park: light posts, water fountains, magazine stands; Greeley Park in Herald Square: trees, recycling bins, subway entrances; Around New York City: pedicabs, storefronts, bus shelters, food carts and Upstate New York: gas stations in Buffalo, Albany and Rochester, Buffalo Niagara International Airport, Walden Galleria Mall in Buffalo, and Crossgates Mall in Albany, NY.
"In keeping with our platform as 'The world's local bank,' we launched this campaign to share with New Yorkers our perspective of the world as full of diverse potential," said Johanna Breman Tzur, Head of HSBC Brand & Advertising, North America. "In today's marketplace, with ever increasing economic, social and cultural interconnectedness, our global orientation has never been more relevant for consumers and businesses that see a world of possibilities." (Web site) www.jwt.com
Inmar And aisle411 Join For Digital Promotions Distribution
Inmar, a leading provider of digital coupon clearing and other promotion transaction settlement services, will enable the digital promotions distribution plans of aisle411, a premiere retail navigation service that helps users find what they are looking for and get rewarded for it. aisle411 will soon add digital offer distribution to its in-store search services powered by Inmar's ONiX digital incentive network.
"As part of Inmar's ONiX network, aisle411 will be able to offer brands and retailers the capability to deliver highly relevant, micro-targeted mobile promotions to shoppers within seconds of making a purchase decision," said Bob Carter, President of Inmar's Promotion Services division. "Brands will now have access to an unprecedented mobile solution that encourages sales and engenders customer satisfaction at retail."
"The national footprint of Inmar's ONiX network along with its seamless integration of digital distribution, registry and routing will enhance our in-store search solution for shoppers while adding value for our clients," said Nathan Pettyjohn, CEO of aisle411. "Adding digital promotions to our iPhone, mobile web, and online offerings will help us be even more successful at generating additional sales for retailers and brands." (Web site) www.inmar.com or (Web site) www.aisle411.com
24' Floating Billboard Promotes 2010 US Red Bull Flugtag
bbi Display Systems and Trashtalk FCM recently teamed up to promote the 2010 US Red Bull Flugtag series using 24' floating billboards and custom props. The billboards first promoted Red Bull Flugtag sponsored events in Miami and then were shipped over to the west coast to promote Red Bull's Flugtag events held from Santa Monica to Long Beach, CA.
(Web site) www.bbidisplays.com
Pro Motion Conducts Sampling Promotion For Genesis SuperFruit Juices
Austin,TX-based Genesis has tapped Pro Motion, a St. Louis, MO-based experiential marketing agency, to launch marketing efforts for the company's SuperFruit Juices in the Denver, Colorado market following a successful sampling effort in Texas. Pro Motion guerilla street teams will introduce women aged 25-54 with SuperFruit Juice samples at fairs, festivals and parks as well as at in-store buy one, get one free events.
"We are extremely pleased with the sampling results from Texas," said Genesis Today Director of Marketing Jeff Mason. "There was obviously an interest in this market in juices that help you meet your goals for healthy living." "In Denver, Pro Motion's Genesis Today street teams will be increasing awareness of SuperFruit Juices and educating consumers on the health benefits and great tastes of Acai Juice, Reseratrol Juice, Veggie Blast Juice and Acai Vitamin Chews," said Steve Randazzo, Pro Motion president. (Web site) www.promotion1.com
Reflect Announces Partnership With TXT4CRM; Adds Mobile Engagement To In-Store Digital Media Offerings
Reflect Systems, a leading, national full-service provider of in-store digital media solutions including digital signage, has formed a strategic partnership with TXT4CRM, a technology platform and service provider of comprehensive mobile marketing engagement solutions. The alliance enables both companies to equip their clients for the future of retailing, by offering multi-channel customer engagement solutions that change customer behavior through optimized merchandising and produce sales results.
"We partnered with Reflect because they have the technology, the experience and the trust of some of the largest U.S. retailers," said Carrie Chitsey, chief executive officer of TXT4CRM. "By developing more cohesive mobile and in-store media platforms with Reflect, we'll provide enhanced results for clients and help them achieve stronger connections with the shopper at the point of sale and beyond."
Using Reflect's market-leading ReflectView platform in conjunction with TXT4CRM's mobile solutions, retailers and brands can now easily present and manage mobile engagement programs through in-store digital displays and interactive kiosks, in addition to delivering messages via text. (Web site) www.reflectsystems.com
Switch Announces Staff Promotions
Experiential marketing agency Switch recently announced a staff reorganization and several promotions to more comprehensively address their industry and clients' needs. Recently announced Switch promotions include: Julie Suntrup of Kirkwood, Senior Vice President, Agency Marketing + Business Development (formerly VP Account Development); Ann Castellano of St. Louis City, Chief Creative Officer (formerly Sr. Creative Director); Terry Hobbs of St. Louis City, Senior Vice President, Production Operations (formerly Vice President Production); Eduardo Nieuwenhuyzen of University City, Sr. Director, Design (formerly Sr. Creative Director); and Andrew Mullins of Kirkwood, Manager, Agency Brand (formerly Account Manager). (Web site) www.liberateyourbrand.us
EYE And Ace Marketing Expand Location-Based Mobile Marketing Network
Leading Out-of-Home mall media specialist, EYE, and Ace Marketing & Promotions are expanding their Location-Based Mobile Marketing Mall Network. Phase Two of the rollout will add ten new malls to the existing network launched earlier this summer, bringing the total to 20 malls across the U.S. The new locations include the Los Angeles, Dallas/Ft. Worth, San Francisco and Portland DMAs.
Ace's Location-Based Mobile Marketing technology is designed to allow advertisers in EYE malls to reach on-the-go shoppers via their mobile devices with rich media content delivered using discoverable Bluetooth or Wi-Fi settings. The technology helps marketers reach their desired demographic with relevant content, such as movie trailers, special offers or discount coupons while in the mall. The delivery mechanism has been embedded in both EYE's traditional and digital Eyelite units. These units have been strategically placed in high traffic, high dwell-time areas of the mall, including entrance, food court and escalator locations.
EYE Shop Sr. Vice President Jeff Gunderman said, "Location-Based Mobile Marketing gives EYE's advertisers the opportunity to communicate with consumers at the point of purchase, adding even greater value to our existing advertising medium. We look forward to further expanding the network." (Web site) www.eyecorp.com
