Best Buy Mobile Stores Test New Approach To Retailing
Best Buy and U.K. retailer Carphone Warehouse (CPW) are piloting a mobile phone-exclusive store concept at nine locations throughout Manhattan.
Branded Best Buy Mobile, the stores improve on the U.S. mobile retail experience by providing a broader selection of products and carrier options, supported by knowledgeable and impartial store associates.
“Our goal is to bring real choice to New Yorkers,” said David Sprosty, CEO of Best Buy Mobile. “The Best Buy Mobile experience delivers a wider assortment of handsets and carrier networks, combined with specially trained, impartial mobile phone specialists and convenient locations across Manhattan. It’s a whole new level of service that personalizes the shopping experience for people who want control over how mobile technology integrates into their lifestyles.”
New Best Buy Mobile stand-alone stores averaging approximately 1,000-square-feet each are now open near Union Square, Rockefeller Center, Grand Central Terminal and on the Upper East and Upper West sides of Manhattan.
Another four stores operate within existing Best Buy stores in fully renovated “stores-within-a-store.”
UNIQLO Global Opens New York Flagship Store
UNIQLO, Japan’s popular apparel retailer and a worldwide leader in casual wear, has opened a 36,000 square foot global flagship store in New York’s SoHo district.
UNIQLO celebrates its opening with true Japanese hospitality, putting customers first and treating everyone with kindness as they get to know the new collection, made according to the Japanese tradition of exacting quality. The UNIQLO collection offers contemporary sportswear and accessories for women, men and children.
Palm Opens Flagship Retail Store In New York
Palm’s new flagship retail store has opened in Manhattan's Rockefeller Center, featuring Palm’s entire portfolio of smartphones, handhelds, mobile managers and accessories as well as live demonstrations and activations on three major U.S. carriers. The new flagship store is Palm’s largest store to date.
The Palm Retail Store provides the Company with a way to introduce Palm smartphones and handhelds beyond Palm’s core customers of mostly business professionals to a broader group of consumers. Palm Retail Stores have succeeded at expanding Palm’s visibility with young adults, moms and active seniors. With the introduction of fun colors for the new Treo 680 smartphone, Palm has a great draw for this expanded audience.
“New and loyal customers can experience simple, mobile computing up close, in-depth and across our full product line at Palm Retail Stores,” said Tim Roper, Vice President, U.S. region for Palm. “Specifically by opening a retail store in Rockefeller Center, we have the opportunity to capture the attention of pedestrians who frequent this famous location so they can see for themselves how powerful yet easy to use our products are.”
Clean lines, sleek accents and bold graphics depicting the Treo lifestyle greet visitors to the Rockefeller Center Retail Store location. Expert associates help guide visitors to the Palm mobile solution that best meets their unique needs.
Wal-Mart Introduces Neighborhood Market Design
Wal-Mart has opened its newly designed store in Tulsa, OK based on its Neighborhood Market concept.
The Wal-Mart Neighborhood Market is the Company's youngest store concept, providing consumers the Wal-Mart value in a smaller, “neighborhood” store format that brings grocery, pharmacy and health and beauty together. Wal-Mart plans to open 15 to 20 new Neighborhood Market stores over the next year.
“Our health and beauty department has probably undergone the most dramatic change within the store,” said Pam Kohn, Sr. V.P, Neighborhood Markets. “We want our female customers to feel this is a place in their store created especially for them.”
With concave fixtures, wider aisles and new towers that can display the latest trends in health and beauty, the redesign creates a more personal experience for the shopper, who may need time to study new products and consider their purchase. Signage and product placement work together to help customers better identify selections.
As Wal-Mart continues to bring consumers more healthy choices in food, such as increased selections in organics and produce, the grocery area in the Neighborhood Market now features a new layout that highlights these efforts and
accentuates freshness.
The new bakery has a fresh, “warm” feel next to the new streamlined deli area and fresh produce is placed along vertical fruit baskets. Throughout the store, earth-toned colors with natural woods define each store department to create a “store within a store” feel. Along with the wood trim, photography highlights selections and departments in the store.
Maui Wowi Hawaiian Opens Stores Within H-E-B Supermarket Chain
Maui Wowi Hawaiian is opening retail outlets inside H-E-B supermarkets throughout Texas and Mexico. Mau Wowi Hawaiian is the only franchise that offers authentic natural Hawaiian products, fresh fruit smoothies, blended Hawaiian coffee beverages and genuine Hawaiian lifestyle products.
The first eight stores will serve as test sites for the Maui Wowi Hawaiian/H.E.B. collaboration. “Our relationship with Maui Wowi Hawaiian will enhance the retail experience of H-E-B customers by offering them an escape from the ordinary,” said Cyndy Garza, H-E-B. “It will be a place where they'll be able to purchase authentic Hawaiian products and healthy, all-natural beverages.”
MDI will be introducing a new line of solid wood displays that add a refined elegance to graphics and décor. The beautifully crafted wood, with rich cherry finish, blends with and complements other wood finishes -- dark or light. The sleek design and smooth, graceful curved lines mix well with most furnishings from traditional to contemporary. Although constructed of solid wood, these displays are surprisingly light weight and easy to position and mount.The slide-in frames are available in two sizes - 22" x 28" and 24" x 36". The slide-in, double-sided floorstand holds 22" x 56" graphics. To learn more about this display, contact Sue Terova at Global Shop, Booth 4213; or call 248-488-5783.
La Route Des Vignobles Wine Display
La Route Des Vignobles is using this display to merchandise it’s wines. The display holds a large quantity of product, yet the display requires a minimum of floor space. The display is on casters so retailers can easily position it in their stores. The display’s unique design attracts attention, while encouraging consumers to examine the bottles of wine. The full-color display header helps to convey the brand personality. This display was created by Point l Displays Inc., 8479 Devonshire Place, Montreal, Quebec, Canada H4P 2K1.
Filene’s Basement Custom Fixtures
Filene’s Basement needed custom fixtures for two new locations, one opening in Hunts Valley, MD and the other in Boston. The Boston location required the fixture to be no higher than a glass wall that was 44" high. The fixture was to be used in front of the escalator so it was to have high visibility. It also had to be flexible with different types of merchandise to be presented so a hangbar attachment with peg hooks was used to accommodate the changes in merchandise and seasons. The Hunt Valley, MD location also required the same attributes in its fixtures as they were to be located right on the second floor near the cash wrap, escalator and elevator. The Filene’s Basement custom fixtures were designed, manufactured and installed by Flair Display, Inc., 3920 Merritt Avenue, Bronx, New York 10466.
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