LEAP Display Unveiled At Tower Records
Toronto-based LEAP Energy and Power Corp. has launched a new line of alkaline batteries with a revolutionary package and merchandising format. The new LEAP collection, whose bold packaging breaks the mold from traditional battery marketing, was recently unveiled at Tower Records, merchandised on an innovative display unit.
The new LEAP battery collection is mercury-free and formulated to offer premium performance in powering both high-drain and standard consumer electronic devices. LEAP is dedicated to providing consumers with an array of battery products specifically designed to power today’s wireless and mobile electronic devices.
Through the creative direction of global merchandising strategists d/g* (formerly Desgrippes Gobe and Associates), LEAP has become the first company within the alkaline battery category to eliminate wasteful blister packaging. Instead, LEAP batteries are packaged in transparent, sleekly designed cylinders that are made from ecologically friendly recyclable and reusable materials. Each product is color coded to allow for quick and easy consumer selection.
“We have developed a highly differentiated and targeted package designed to appeal to modern consumers, and as well, presented innovative merchandising options to our retail partners, transforming low-interest traditional shelf space into a high impact retail solution,” said Brent Meinkle, President and CEO, LEAP.
Blockbuster Kicks Off DIRECTV Sales
Taking a significant step toward transforming its neighborhood stores into full-service entertainment destinations, Blockbuster Inc. is enabling its customers to purchase an exclusive DIRECTV System equipment package in 3,800 Blockbuster stores.
DIRECTV is the nation’s leading digital television entertainment service offering customers access to more than 225 channels of programming, including local channels in select markets.
Blockbuster is offering two system packages that are designed to be simple to understand and contain exclusive offers available only at participating Blockbuster stores, including one-year of free rentals; an approximate $200 value, good towards any videos, DVDs or video games; plus a two-year Extended Service Plan on the DIRECTV System hardware.
To allow customers to experience DIRECTV quality and programming, Blockbuster has developed interactive kiosks, one for each participating store, to demonstrate DIRECTV via live satellite letting customers see and experience the DIRECTV System and comprehensive DIRECTV programming.
“We’re taking the mystery out of buying a satellite system by offering simple, high value packages no other retailer can deliver,” said Jim Notarnicola, Chief Marketing Officer for Blockbuster.
Arizona Republic Features Immedia Displays
The Arizona Republic will be the first newspaper to use electronic ink displays to transmit news to locations around Phoenix. The signs will incorporate Immedia displays from E Ink Corp., of Cambridge, MA.
The electronic ink based signs at all locations will be networked together, allowing messages to be updated instantly from one location. Safeway, Inc. will be the first retailer to feature the displays.
“By using Immedia, The Arizona Republic recognizes the importance of reaching out to readers at the point of purchase,” said Cyndi Reitmeyer, Retail Marketing Manager at E Ink Corp. “This kind of delivery is impossible with traditional in-store signage.”
SanDisk And PMI Bring Digital Photography To Stores
SanDisk Corporation and Photo-Me International (PMI) have formed a joint venture which will allow digital camera owners to obtain digital prints without the need for a personal computer.
The new joint venture, called Digital Portal Inc. (DPI), will manufacture kiosks and place them in retail outlets. The kiosks will give consumers low cost, high quality photo prints of digitally captured images and thereby enhance significantly the instant gratification that digital photography offers. It also will simplify the digital camera experience for users by expanding the options available for printing digital images.
The kiosks will enable digital camera owners to obtain prints by inserting their digital film flash memory cards, floppy disks or CD ROMs into the kiosks. Consumers also will be able to upload their files from the kiosk to the DPI Internet site.
John Frieda Debuts Rock And Roll Hair Kits At Tower Records
John Frieda Inc., has introduced Rock and Roll Hair Kits at Tower Records across the nation. Sally Hershberger, who’s styled the hair of Courtney Love, Sheryl Crow and the Back Street Boys, shares her styling secrets with everyone in the Rock and Roll Hair Kits.
Each fool-proof kit pre-packages Sally’s selection of “must-have” products by John Frieda, with her much coveted, easy-to-follow “how-to” help.
Consumers simply choose the kit that’s right for their hair type and follow the step-by-step instructions.
Tommy Hilfiger Color Cosmetics Station Debuts
Tommy Hilfiger Toiletries, a division of Estee Lauder, is unveiling the Tommy Hilfiger Toiletries Color Cosmetics Collection at Henri Bendel. To attract the trendy customers known to frequent this upscale retailer, Tommy Hilfiger Toiletries is debuting a cutting-edge contemporay cosmetics display, which expresses the colorful, playful nature of the line. To add to the interaction among customers, the display will include a large monitor that plays popular music videos as well as other style related footage.
Terry Darland, V.P. Marketing, Tommy Hilfiger Toiletries, said, “There is a void at this price point and Tommy Hilfiger Color is the perfect brand to bring a young, spirited new energy to the main floor at Henri Bendel.”
Tommy Hilfiger Color was introduced in limited distribution to only 150 department stores nationwide in Fall 1999. The Color line is featured in Tommy’s shops, a one-stop shopping environment including Tommy Hilfiger Toiletries hair, bath and body products.
Five Brothers Pasta Features Sauce Display
Lipton’s Five Brothers pasta sauce display is created to convey to the consumer the brand’s freshness and identify the various flavors available.
This non-traditional pallet display was produced in corrugated—the inner structure supported 400+ pounds of product in glass jars. The look of the display played off the attributes of this “gourmet” product.
The display’s design allows for the product to ship pre-packed utilizing many existing components, achieving shoppability, identification and product mix successfully. The Five Brothers pasta sauce pallet display was created for Lipton by Smurfit-Stone Display Group, Richmond, VA.
Slim Jim Teams With Acclaim For Video Game Promo
Slim Jim has launched a sweepstakes featuring extreme biker and Slim Jim spokesman Dave Mirra. Tying in with the release of Acclaim Max Sport’s “Dave Mirra Freestyle BMX” video game, Slim Jim and Acclaim are offering a grand prize role in the planned sequel to the “Dave Mirra Freestyle BMX” video game or 1,000 instant Dave Mirra freestyle prizes. Participants can instantly win one of 500 first prize “Dave Mirra Freestyle BMX” video games or a second prize Road Champs Dave Mirra action figure and bike set.
Slim Jim point-of-sale displays encourage consumers to enter the sweepstakes.
Shannon Wright, Slim Jim Brand Manager, said, “With teenagers’ love of video games and Slim Jim’s natural fit with extreme sports, this promotion is sure to be a success.”
‘Franklin And The Green Knight’ Video Launched
USA Home Entertainment is bringing “Franklin and the Green Knight” to VHS and DVD this fall.
USA Home Entertainment has established promotional alliances with Radisson Hotels nationwide, offering consumers the opportunity to buy one night and get one free at any Radisson with the purchase of the Franklin and the Green Knight video. USA has also teamed up with Kidpower, producers of the Franklin talking plush toy, to promote both the plush toy and the video through national TV spots.
Sears will feature Franklin boutiques, carrying Franklin apparel, home furnishings, toys and videos at over 850 Sears stores nationwide. Applebee’s restaurants nationwide will supply children with a tablemat and tumbler that will highlight the Franklin video.
‘Batman Beyond’ Promotion Launched
Consumers nationwide will have a chance to catch The Joker as Warner Bros and Hasbro, launch the “Batman Beyond: Decode & Win” game, which will feature more than 2 million in-pack game pieces placed in specially-marked Batman licensed products.
Over 125,000 instant-win prizes will be awarded including Batman action figures from Hasbro; “Batman Beyond: The Movie” videos from Warner Home Video; Batman soundtracks from Rhino; Batman comic books from DC Comics; DVD players from Zenith; and hand-held video game players featuring a Batman video game from Kemco.
Warner Bros. will support promotions at the point-of-purchase with full-size standees, counter cards, posters, shelf talkers, end-cap headers and blade signs.
Casio Displays In-Car Video Entertainment System
Casio wanted to display its in-car Video Entertainment System to help consumers understand the product, while building excitement and generating sales.
Display Technologies, College Point, NY, produced a high-tech counter display, which replicates the interior of an automobile. Full-color silk screened graphics recreate the driver’s seat, the road ahead, the rear-view mirror and dashboard.
The display accommodates an LCD television monitor that can be attached to the passenger seat’s headrest with mounting brackets. Bold, graphics of a second TV monitor simulate how it can be placed on the center console, as an alternative location. The Casio video cassette player slips under the passenger’s seat and is in full-view for consumers to see. With a power converter, these units can be operating in-store for a truly dramatic display. The display ships completely assembled; the retailer needs only to add the Casio components.
Coleman PowerStation Installed In Home Depot
Coleman developed a merchandising program to support the launch of its Coleman PowerStation generators in Home Depot.
The program consists of two different units, similar in construction; an In-Line version installed onto the pallet racks and a version that is installed in Home Depot’s Tool Corral section.
The unit is constructed with materials that withstand the Home Depot environment and convey the quality and durability of the Coleman brand.
Display Systems, Inc., a Maspeth, NY-based full-service merchandising agency, was responsible for the design, development, manufacture, and customer service of this program.
Fossil Launches Apparel Collection
Fossil, Inc. has introduced an extensive collection of FOSSIL apparel and jeans, influenced by the spirit which has made FOSSIL a household name in accessories. The collection will be introduced on the company’s web site and with Fossil’s first brick and mortar store.
At least 12 stand-alone brick and mortar stores will open across the U.S. The Fossil apparel stores will be larger than most of the 17 FOSSIL accessory stores currently operated by the company. Each location will offer a mix of approximately 70% apparel and 30% accessories and will feature products designed exclusively for the apparel stores.
Levi’s Debuts In-Store Branding Campaign
Levi Strauss & Co. has launched a global branding campaign focusing on the traditional Levi’s red Tab Device that has adorned the Company’s jeans for decades.
“Everyone knows that little red tab,” said David Rivera, Account Manager, Store Design, Levi Strauss. “In the consumer’s mind, the red tab is synonymous with Levi’s.”
Signage featuring the Levi’s red Tab Device is being rolled out to the Company’s retail partners worldwide. The goal of the campaign is to simplify Levi’s brand imagery in stores. The new look features a Levi’s red tab device on each end of a horizontal graphic.
Sears chose to mount the new Levi’s red Tab Device graphics on black Gatorfoam board from International Paper, Statesville, NC. Some 12,000 signs were produced for Sears’ 920 Sears stores.
Sutter Home Featuring Holiday Display
Trinchero Family Estates, the Napa Valley wine company, has created a multi-faceted retail promotion providing consumers with a multitude of reasons to “Bring Sutter Home for the Holidays.”
The centerpiece of the promotion is a multi-sided, 3-D Mass Display, which comes with a Holiday Dress-up Kit (Thanksgiving and Christmas decorations) and a Themed Base Wrap.
Also available are a similarly themed Mini-Mass Display and Single Case Card. A Holiday Coupon Necker delivers the Sutter Home and Cracker Barrel rebate coupons, as well as information on the Cracker Barrel Sweepstakes and Moodmaker software, which allows wine lovers to experience the sights and sounds of the wine country on their computers.
The promotion offers a high-value mail-in rebate on Sutter Home wines; a 55-cent in-store rebate on Cracker Barrel cheeses; and $10 off any over-$40 purchase of products or services from the web site; greaterentertaining.com
Pepsi-Cola Utilizing 3-Message Display
Pepsi-Cola is offering this 3-message prismatic display to restaurants and convenience stores that serve fountain soda. The display shows an image of Diet Pepsi and fountain Pepsi to create awareness and generate impulse purchases where fountain sales are offered.
The Pepsi-Cola® 3-Message display was created by Clearr Corporation, 3750 Williston Road, Minnetonka, MN 55345. Clearr provided its TriAd® 3-message prismatic display for the promotion.
Display Introduces Kayak Moist Smokeless
Swisher International, Inc. is using this display to introduce its new brand, Kayak, to the moist smokeless market in a compact, eye-catching manner.
The display uses the 4-color process image that was featured in the print ads and was created from styrene that was screen-printed and then vacuum-formed into the “Bryce Canyon” shape. It holds 20 cans of product.
As a result of using this display, the sales of Kayak were better than projected and the brand continues to be strong selling in specific markets in the U.S. Due to the beautiful graphics, the shelf life of the display was longer than average.
The Kayak Moist Smokeless display was created for Swisher by E-B Display Company, Inc., Massillon, OH.
Staedtler Displays Exceed Retractable Gel Ink Pens
Staedtler’s new Exceed Retractable Gel Ink Pens are being featured in a semi-permanent styrene display that holds 72 assorted Exceed pens, plus 6 blistercarded black ink refills. Six clear plastic cups, in two tiers of three, hold 12 pens each.
The retractable tip reduces dry-out of the gel ink. A special plastic seal, that is removed by the consumer when the pen is used for the first time, prolongs the ink’s shelf life. Exceed features a 0.7mm line width for smooth writing, a convenient pocket clip, and a triangular-shaped rubber grip for increased comfort and reduced writing fatigue.
Canadian Mist Display Rings In Holiday Season
Brown-Forman’s Canadian Mist is ringing in the holiday season with a breakthrough display featuring a three-dimensional snow globe. The motion of the falling snow and twinkling LED lights are sure to grab the attention of customers in the aisles.
As part of an on-pack offer, the new collectible Canadian Mist swizzle stick set reinforces Canadian Mist’s mixability.
Budweiser Football Promo Features Localized POS
Budweiser is turning retailers throughout the country into “hometown football headquarters.” Photos of fans and city-specific slogans have joined team helmets and colors on POS items.
Dan McHugh, Director of Sales Promotions, Anheuser-Busch, said, “Our `Because It’s Football’ tagline and our localized point-of-sale materials tell fans we share their passion, and that Budweiser and Bud Light are THE beers for hometown fans and their teams.”
Team-specific items include three-sided schedule table tents, schedule banners, stringer-pennants and danglers. Other sales display enhancers include Budweiser tailgating chairs, Budweiser helmet grills, and inflatable football players and goal posts.
At Budweiser displays, consumers will also find tear pads with coupons for ConAgra products including Banquet chicken wings, Armour/Eckrich hot dogs, Hunt’s ketchup and Van Camps baked beans.
Luxury Bath Systems Features Interactive Kiosk
Luxury Bath Systems, a network of one-day bathroom remodeling franchisees, is rolling out an interactive home remodeling kiosk. The kiosk, which utilizes the latest DVD technology, offers consumers high-resolution video presentations that educate consumers about Luxury Bath Systems’ One Day Bathroom Remodeling.
Davis Glassberg, President of the Bensenville, IL-based company, said, “We feel this unique marketing vehicle will not only provide consumers nationwide with information on the installation process but also give them a chance to see what real-life Luxury customers have to say about their experience with us.”
The interactive kiosks will be installed across the country in shopping malls, showrooms, home improvement shows and high traffic retail locations such as banks and grocery stores.
Tower Records Selects Liquid Audio Kiosks For Creating Custom CDs
Tower Records Selects Liquid Audio Kiosks For Creating Custom CDs
Tower Records has selected Liquid Audio, Inc., Redwood City, CA, to supply kiosk solutions for its retail stores. Through the Liquid Kiosk Network, Tower Records customers can now preview and purchase music and create custom CDs from digital music kiosks right in the store.
“Tower chose Liquid Audio as their digital music technology provider for this launch because they have confidence in our ability to deliver a true click ‘n’ mortar approach to music retail technology and distribution,” said Paul Melnychuck, V.P., Business Development at Liquid Audio.
The Liquid Kiosk Network solution includes consumer Kiosk Stations, a Cashier Station, a CD Factory and Liquid Server. The consumer Kiosk Stations include a user-friendly touch screen interface that allows music fans to browse virtual music inventory, listen to previews and make music selections
Reebok Conducts Blacktop Tower Display Program
When Reebok launched its Blacktop collection, an outdoor basketball line, the company teamed up with Foot Locker in a collaborative effort to capture a larger share of the twelve to nineteen year-old male athletic market.
The nationwide 1,250 store launch included a four part, in-store merchandising program designed and produced by Art Merchandising, Inc., New York City.
The program included a freestanding footwear tower, window banner, lease-line graphic kit and Blacktop apparel sign.
According to Reebok’s Marketing Manager, Syhia Wriedt, “The objective of the campaign was to establish Blacktop as ‘The Shoe’ for the Outdoor Game. Young consumers buying the product are ball players and trendsetters, hip and connected with the music and culture associated with the sport. We wanted an unvarnished street feel for the product and in-store merchandising. Art Merchandising's design and material selections gave the hardware a very edgy feel. The tower display was created with steel asphalt and a basketball rim. The look is very similar to an outdoor court. We thought it was on the mark.”
Foot Locker's Director of In-Store Marketing, Steve Marlette, said “Art Merchandising's design looked and felt like the real thing. It was obvious that they had done their homework. But more than that, they delivered the kits to our warehouse a month before the launch. They even provided a toll free help line to assist with setup and replacement parts. In the end we had virtually 100% success in setup and installation in 1,250 stores across the United States. All in all it was a great experience.”
According to both Reebok and Foot Locker, The Campaign has met or exceeded performance expectations.
FIGI Features Rustic Garden Display Program
FIGI, San Diego, CA, is using this decorative wrought iron display rack to showcase its Rustic Garden collection of desk accessories and candlesticks.
The architecturally-inspired display provides a rich, romantic garden look in the store.
Products merchandised in the Rustic Garden Display include a selection of candelholders, candelabras, card holders, clocks, lamps, letter holders, pencil cups, picture frames, votives and switchplates.
FIGI products are sold in stores such as Hallmark Cards, Home Depot, Garden Centers, and Fred Meyer.
BarCharts’ Displays Enter New Outlets
BarCharts, Inc., the world’s largest seller of quick reference guides, Quick Study, has begun to branch out from bookstores and office supply stores and enter supermarkets, convenience and drug stores.
BarCharts’ Quick Study Guides are currently available in bookstores nationwide. These plastic laminated course outlines and summaries cover more than 200 different subjects from Chemistry to French Grammar to Stain Removal.
“Our Quick Study guides are extremely popular in bookstores and on campuses but we feel that we are missing out on a lot of people,” said RaeElla Bennardo, National Account Manager for BarCharts, Inc., Boca Raton, FL. “Our guides are beneficial to everyone and everyone goes to the supermarket and drug stores.”
Honeywell Debuts Thermostat Display
Honeywell Consumer Products wanted to generate incremental sales of its programmable thermostat in Home Depot stores by providing an appealing merchandiser, which attracts and reinforces its reputable brand name. This 36 count pre-packed merchandiser is shopable from more than one side to allow island placement in the power aisle.
By combining two common trays (pre-packed) positioned on a base with sign packed flat, this display arrives at Home Depot with very little set-up required. The Honeywell logo positioned upon a black background is easily identifiable from a distance, attracting consumers in the market for a thermostat. With its black and red contrasting colors and dominant Honeywell logos, this display creates a support vehicle that reinforces the Honeywell name as the leader in home thermostats.
The Honeywell Thermostat Display was developed by Great Northern Display Group, Racine, WI.
Ryobi Introduces New Look For Power Tool Displays
Ryobi Technologies has introduced a new look for its power tool packaging and point-of-purchase displays featuring bright, bold colors that are eye-catching and memorable. The new look is designed to provide clear user benefits as well as appeal to do-it-yourselfers and serious woodworkers who expect more from their power tools.
Ryobi is now shipping its cordless, corded and benchtop power tool to Home Depot and other home centers in the new packaging along with the distinctive p.o.p. displays.
Dark & Lovely Display Promotes Sweepstakes
Dark & Lovely has introduced this free-standing floor display, which showcases celebrity models and promotes the “Dark & Lovely Red Hot Mary” Sweepstakes.
Dark & Lovely’s Relaxer System will now feature the “sophisticated” style of actress Nia Long and “Queen of Hip-Hop/Soul,” Mary J. Blige, who is pictured on Dark & Lovely’s new red shade of permanent hair colour, appropriately named Red Hot Mary.
To kick off its new look, Dark & Lovely is sponsoring a “Dark & Lovely Red Hot Mary Sweepstakes,” where fans can win tickets to the the Mary J. Blige concert tour as well as other “Red Hot” prizes. Dark & Lovely is an official sponsor of the Mary show.
The Dark & Lovely free-standing floor display showcases Nia Long and Mary J. Blige on the header to draw consumer attention and stimulate trial. The compact unit holds up to 30 pieces of Dark & Lovely Relaxer and 80 pieces of Hair Colour.
New Aleve Cold & Sinus Offers All Day Relief
Bayer Corp.’s Consumer Care Division has introduced Aleve Cold & Sinus, the first cold and sinus medicine with the strength to relieve both pain and nasal congestion all day with just one pill.
Jay Kolpon, V.P., Marketing, said, “Now, retailers can give cold and sinus sufferers all day effective symptom relief from nasal congestion and sinus pressure with a single pill.”
Marketing plans call for a national multi-million dollar television and radio advertising campaign, high-value coupon offers in FSIs, direct mail and Try-Me-Free rebates.
The new product will be supported at retail by a full array of eye-catching merchandising and display materials, including special introductory Try-Me-Free gravity feeds and floorstand displays
Miller Park Stadium To Feature New Menu Boards
New Miller Park, home of the Milwaukee Brewers, now features illuminated menu boards that will be used to attract food sales at specialty-themed concession stands throughout the new ballpark.
The new stadium menu boards are provided by the Brookfield, WI-based Mainstreet Menu Systems, a division of The Howard Company.
“In a ballpark situation, the visibility and readability of the menu boards is critical,” said Eric Meeks, Operating Manager for Buffalo, NY-based SportService, the company selected to manage the food and retail operations at Miller Park. “The fans need to be able to read and make their food selection from far enough away so that the lines keep moving and people are reseated without missing any of the game action.”
New Menuboards Drive Wienerschnitzel Sales
Wienerschnitzel, the world’s largest hot dog chain, recently redesigned its menuboards.
King-Casey, the South Norwalk, CT-based retail design consultants, which undertook the redesign project, began with the application of its COZI (Customer Operating Zone Improvement) methodology. “The COZI approach focuses on customer behavior from a 360 degree point of view, from the moment the customer walks into a restaurant to the moment they exit,” said Tom Cook, President, King-Casey. “We made recommendations to Wienerschnitzel based on our research of where customers look when scanning a menuboard while making their purchasing decision.”
“We immediately saw results from our new menuboards,” said Tom Amberger, Director of Marketing, Galardi Group F&L, franchisor for Wienerschnitzel. “The new menuboards focus the consumers’ attention to photos of our combo meals which have increased our combo sales 5% to 10% in test stores.”
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