ExxonMobil Installs Bengal Traders Coffee Bars
ExxonMobil has rolled out its Bengal Traders coffee program at On The Run and Tiger Market convenience stores.
“We are serious about offering our customers great coffee at a reasonable price, but without all the fuss of a coffee shop,” said Mark Shores, U.S. Retail Sales Director, ExxonMobil Fuels Marketing.“
Each convenience store will have a team of trained individuals known as the “Bengal Traders Brew Crew,” who will brew the coffee and assure the newly-designed Bengal Traders coffee bar is clean and well stocked with a wide selection of regular and flavored creamers, sugar and sweeteners.
palmOne Opens First Treo Smartphone Retail Store
palmOne recently opened its first Treo Store in San Jose, CA.
The Treo store will serve as a one-stop shop for education, awareness and sales of the Treo family of smartphones, along with the full line of Treo accessories and software. palmOne’s Treo 600 and 650 smartphones seamlessly combine a mobile phone, email, organizer, web browser and messaging.
“The Treo Store offers an attractive and comfortable environment where potential customers can interact with and buy Treo smartphones and a wide range of software and accessories,” said John Hartnett, V.P., eCommerce and Accessory Solutions. “As in the award-winning palmOne Retail Stores, the Treo Store offers a high quality brand experience and is staffed by expert consultants who educate customers about palmOne solutions.”
Kendall-Jackson Debuts Tasting Table Display
Kendall-Jackson wanted to provide its retailers with a high-end, furniture-quality tasting table that would compliment Kendall-Jackson’s luxury brands.
This display showcases the product while attracting the attention of shoppers in-store. Due to its high quality look, the Tasting Table has been well received and has aided in increased brand recognition, visibility and sales.
The Kendall-Jackson Tasting Table was designed and manufactured by Ruszel Woodworks, a point-of-purchase display firm located in Benicia, CA.
Gift Basket Center Displayed At Blockbuster
Blockbuster recently invited shoppers to visit its new Create Your Own Gift Basket Center in Blockbuster stores.
Blockbuster provided all the elements for a personalized, holiday-themed gift basket: popcorn tubs, three choices of holiday-themed wraps, decorative filler and holiday-themed Gift Cards.
Shoppers could add movies, games, magazines, confections and other items from throughout Blockbuster stores, as well as items they purchase elsewhere, to this special packaging.
“Blockbuster was the first retailer to offer the convenience of gift cards, and we’re the leader in developing better, more creative ways for people to shop for the gift of entertainment,” said Lisa Zoellner, Senior Vice President and General Merchandise Category Manager for Blockbuster.
Lumene Fixture Highlights New Cosmetic Line
CVS, the exclusive U.S. retailer for Lumene, a new line of prestige cosmetic and skincare products at discount prices, wished to expand the line and needed a display that projected a credible beauty brand image.
The Lumene fixture utilizes lighting to draw attention to the brand and reinforce the brand name. Lighting offers several benefits: it underscores the brand name, draws attention to the unit, communicates upscale beauty and is easy to shop.
The unit was designed to CVS' space specifications and can be expanded in 4' increments. Updating is simple for store personnel who only need to change chips, graphics and/or trays. The skin care section offers total flexibility for planogram changes.
The Lumene fixture was created for CVS by Diam International, a Woodside, NY-based p.o.p. display firm.
Best Buy Introduces Online Photo Pick Up
Best Buy has launched its imageLab website, an online photo processing center that makes it easy for people to get high quality prints of their digital pictures. Best Buy’s new offering helps customers complete the picture-taking experience by allowing them to upload photos online, order prints online and pick up their prints at the nearest Best Buy store with no delivery charge.
“People love taking pictures with their digital cameras knowing that they won’t necessarily have to develop each photo. Yet, we know that many people are asking themselves, ‘What’s the easiest way to get my pictures out of the camera?’” said Mike Mohan, V.P., digital imaging at Best Buy. “Best Buy imageLab offers a convenient option that addresses the customer need.”
Friends 2B Made Stores Are Launched
Friends 2B Made, the newest retail concept from Build-A-Bear Workshop, has opened stores in Pittsburgh, PA and Columbus, OH. The new Friends 2B Made stores are the first to open with completely unique Friends 2B Made products, décor, and experience.
Friends 2B Made gives girls the opportunity to make their own fun, fashionable friend through an exciting doll-making process, while creating an emotional bond with their new doll throughout the entire experience. As girls stuff their dolls, participate in the heart ceremony, pick out their new friend’s personality traits, fashionable clothes and accessories and create a friendship certificate, they will experience the same level of personalized entertainment they are accustomed to having at Build-A-Bear Workshop stores.
Gander Mountain Debuts New Footwear Displays
Gander Mountain, a leading specialty retailer that serves the needs of outdoor lifestyle enthusiasts, has redesigned the new footwear area in its retail stores.
The new merchandising program, designed by display company nParallel, organizes footwear merchandise by category (men, women and youth), function (work, casual, hiking and hunting) and brand.
“Consumers can enter the shopping experience through the power wall, organized by category and then function; through the display tables, arranged by function and brand; or through bulk stacks that present items of immediate seasonal appeal,” said Bill Kasica, nParallel’s Director, Brand Programs. “All components are mobile, on casters or palettes, so they can easily and quickly be reconfigured to adapt to seasonal merchandise or changing requirements of individual stores.”
Pizza Inn Debuts Prototype Express Concept
Pizza Inn has unveiled its redesigned Pizza Inn Express concept, which features a simplified menu and an open design that allows customers to better view menu items.
The lower investment requirements for the new Express concept make it ideal for convenience stores. Pizza Inn currently has more than 70 express locations and the new concept, designed by Dallas-based GHA Architects, significantly repositions Pizza Inn Express.
“Our goal was to create a totally new image for Pizza Inn Express that sets it apart from competitors,” said Sumrall. “We accomplished this by creating an exciting and energetic concept that also sells great-tasting pizza.”
Ultimate Electronics Provides The Ultimate iPod Retail Experien
Ultimate Electronics has introduced interactive store displays where shoppers can test Apple iPods and multimedia iPod accessories.
All Ultimate Electronic stores have dedicated a section to accessories and equipment designed to help users Power, Play, Protect and Expand their iPods for maximum portability and functionality. In-store displays include a customized end-of-the-aisle shelf (in the shape of a giant i-Pod) featuring the iPod unit connected to a Bose speaker system. Ultimate Electronics is also showcasing a collection of the best speakers to pair with iPods as well as best-in-class accessories. The displays also enable customers to try out the multimedia audio before they make a purchase.
“We have worked hard to make Ultimate Electronics the destination of choice for both new and experienced iPod enthusiasts,” said Dave Workman, President & CEO. “Our 'Try Before You Buy’ approach continues to prove popular with our customers. By bringing all the best-in-class accessories together in our interactive displays, shoppers can easily find and test an iPod, speakers, and other multimedia accessories all in one location.”
Media Play Remodels & Expands Selection
Musicland Group has remodeled its stores to provide customers with an enhanced shopping experience and expanded product categories. “The re-opening of Media Play stores marks the first phase of repositioning our stores and the initial wave of product expansion,” said Eric Weisman Musicland CEO.
The stores have been enhanced through the addition of comfortable seating areas, interactive play areas and a more shopper-friendly layout including department-specific colored signage. New product offerings include XM Satellite Radio, Apple’s iPod, retro electronics, and a greater selection of portable DVD players. The stores will also house an expanded assortment of video games and systems; expanded musical instrument selection; toys by brands, and a “Trade-in Tuesdays” program.
Masters of Branding produces a UPC scanning and information system. Consumers engage the system through four simple options. By Scan: Customers scan an item’s bar code to seek additional information about the product or category. By Touch: The touch-screen interface enables the customer to explore product information. By Interact: By providing personal inputs about preferences, the system will suggest solutions, product alternatives and promotional incentives. By Print: The system can instantly output product information, recommendations and trial inducing offers. For more information, contact Masters Of Branding, 174 Hudson Street, New York, NY 10013; (Tel) 212-226-0800, (Fax) 212-226-1744, (Web Site) www.mastersofbranding.com.
Olea Exhibits/Displays manufactures turnkey interactive kiosks for retail establishments. The Company also offers a full range of custom capabilities to design and manufacture a kiosk based on specific needs. An in-house design and engineering staff are available to turn a project around fast. Off the shelf kiosk designs are in stock and ready for immediate delivery. Olea is based in a 65,000 sq. ft. facility in Los Angeles County and has been in business for 28 years. For more information, contact Olea Exhibits/Displays Inc., 17115 Jersey Avenue, Artesia, CA 90701; (Tel) 562-924-2644, (Fax) 562-924-2308, (Web Site) www.olea.com.
Wilson-Hurd Manufacturing specializes in permanent display components, offering durability and competitive pricing. Its Color Lab can custom color or pattern match on a wide range of substrates. Capabilities include: line colors and half-tone printing, textured and soft touch printing, fragrance resistant top-coat, four color process printing, krinkle coating, embossing, debossing, forming and folding. For more information, contact Wilson-Hurd Manufacturing, 311 Winton Street, Wausau, WI 54403; (Tel) 715-845-9221, (Fax) 715-845-1681, (Web Site) www.wilsonhurd.com.
M. Calosso & Son, Inc. specializes in creating high quality, custom-made wooden and corrugated promotional boxes and point-of-purchase displays. For more information, contact M. Calosso & Son, Inc., 1947 E. Miner Avenue, Stockton, CA 95205; (Tel) 209-466-8994, (Fax) 209-466-9054, (Web Site) www.mcalosso.com.
The Norham Companies has introduced custom curved plywood components for displays. Panels can be made with a true radius and/or free form curve utilizing a template. Norham offers panel thickness of ¼" to 4" with panels up to 60" x 120". Panel cores include poplar, MDF, and phenolic combinations. For more information about curved plywood components, contact The Norham Companies, 1040 Kellogg Street, Green Bay, WI 54303; (Tel) 920-498-1109.
Back to Top
To See previous issues of Creative Wood Displays, click here
To See Previous Issues of Online Weekly in Creative's Archives, click here.
To See other Creative Online Newsletters click here
