Starbucks Opens Next Evolution Of Hear Music™ Coffeehouse
Starbucks has opened the next evolution of its Hear Music™ Coffeehouse on the Riverwalk in San Antonio. An additional location will open in South Beach (Miami), FL.
These additions to the Starbucks retail portfolio extend the concept of the initial Hear Music™ Coffeehouse, which opened in Santa Monica, CA in 2004. The new stores represent the full integration of a classic coffeehouse experience with an extensive digital and physical music inventory. The unrivaled combination results in a compelling destination for customers to connect over coffee and explore and buy quality music.
“Starbucks has changed the rules of engagement for the music industry,” said Howard Schultz, Starbucks chairman. “By integrating the Starbucks Experience with the discovery of music, the Hear Music™ Coffeehouses offer a music retail environment unlike any other.”
The new coffeehouses feature the next generation of the Hear Music™ media bars, which provide customers with an easy, self-service way to discover and customize music on CDs. The new Hear Music™ media bars offer more than one million songs digitally.
The Hear Music™ Coffeehouses feature innovative in-store merchandising, allowing for more CD facings, and emphasizing Starbucks Hear Music’ role as a curator to help customers discover new music.
Nintendo Wi-Fi Online Gaming Service Available At McDonald’s Hotspots
Nintendo has signed an agreement with Wayport, a provider of wired and Wi-Fi high-speed Internet access to extend Wi-Fi service to Nintendo DS users at 6,000 McDonald’s restaurants across the U.S. Through the agreement with Wayport, Nintendo will offer complimentary access to Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection, its new wireless gaming service.
Reggie Fils-Aime, Nintendo’s EVP, Sales & Marketing, said, “Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection is simple to use. Beginning with free access at participating McDonald’s, we have removed one of the major barriers that have kept people from going online to play games.”
Technomic Reports Healthy Signs Of Growth In Adult Beverage Sales
On-premise beverage industry grew faster in 2005 than originally anticipated, with consumer expenditures on on-premise alcohol growing by 6.4%, according to Technomic, a marketing consultant to the on-premise/foodservice channel.
But restaurants and other operators have relied heavily upon growing the on-premise alcohol business through price increases and now express concern that the price of a drink is approaching levels that may negatively impact consumers' orders.
“Coupled with other rising costs, we expect spending to slow slightly in 2006,” said David Henkes, Executive Director of the Adult Beverage Insights Group.
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