In-Store articles from July 2007

In-Store archives from July 2007

P-O-P delegation makes sense for Martin McColl.
July 11, 2007... Neighbourhood retailing chain Martin McColl has appointed P-O-P group Augustus Martin to manage all of its in-store marketing activity. The consultancy will now supply and install all of the retailer's P-O-P material, as well as...

Cafe culture comes to Matalan.
July 11, 2007... Fashion and homewares chain Matalan is piloting its own-brand in-store cafe which is expected to be rolled out across all 140 branches. Southport and Stockport have been chosen as the test stores in which to trial the "Mcafe" concept....

Transformers the Game.
July 11, 2007... A 1980s childrens favourite has returned in a new and more modern form, in the shape of Transformers the Game. Available on various Playstation and Nintedo platforms, as well as the X-Box 360 and PC, the game is being promoted in-store...

Expanding Rabbit food?(Peter Rabbit Organics)(Brief article)
July 11, 2007... The Peter Rabbit Organics brand is branching out from its existing range of packaged grocery ranges with a selection of fun-sized organic fruit, to be sold exclusively at Waitrose. Simple net or bag packaging is used, with a Peter Rabbit...

Shops won't be the same.(Report)(Brief article)
July 11, 2007... Identikit shopping centres are on the way out and bespoke shopping environments are the future, according to research published by retail property organisation BCSC. The report predicts over the next ten years urban regeneration will...

The launch of X-Box 360.(Brief article)
July 11, 2007... The launch of X-Box 360 driving simulation game Forza 2 Motorsport got off to a flying start with a window display at London's Piccadilly Circus branch of Virgin Megastore. The display was designed and built by retail marketing specialist...

Beans market stirred up with sauce addition.
July 11, 2007... Heinz has started what it claims will be a year of investment and innovation for its market-leading baked beans brand by launching a new limited edition variant of the product. Tins of Heinz Baked Beanz with HP Sauce follow the successful...

Skillsmart talks to.
July 11, 2007... A group of top retailers has joined forces with Skillsmart Retail to highlight the importance of staff knowledge and training, by making presentations at the House of Commons. Skillsmart Retail is the Sector Skills Council for the...

FSDUs and counter top units introduced by Disney.(Brief article)
July 11, 2007... Branded FSDUs and counter top units have been introduced by Disney, as part of the rebranding of its Pocket Money range of DVDs, which will be hitting stores from the last week of June. A selection of 78 titles will be available, featuring...

Weetabix pins hopes on blockbuster tie-in.
July 11, 2007... The Weetabix Food Company is launching a major on-pack promotion with P- O-P support in July, to highlight its link to Surf's Up, a new animated movie from Sony. The family movie is expected to be one of the major blockbusters of this...

Shorter wait is what clients are asking for.
July 11, 2007... Shorter lead times for P-O-P materials are what clients most want from their suppliers in the sector, according to a survey of more than 50 companies. Conducted by P-O-P group Bezier, the survey included companies such as Asda,...

L'Oreal gives Tesco whiff of the department store.
July 11, 2007... Cosmetics manufacturer L'Oreal has worked in collaboration with retail giant Tesco to develop a "shop in shop" beauty format in the supermarket's Liverpool Home Plus branch. Branding consultancy Beyond has developed the concept, which...

Back to school with new Woolies offer.(National Schoolwear Centres to expand its business with Woolworths)(Brief article)
July 11, 2007... Woolworths stores are to host concessions run by National Schoolwear Centres, the UK's largest dedicated schoolwear retailer, in a two store trial. Branches in Camberley, Surrey, and Chippenham, Wiltshire, have been chosen for the test....

Breast is best, says Bernard Matthews.(Bernard Matthews PLC to launch new Rotisserie)(Brief article)
July 11, 2007... Bernard Matthews has expanded its range of sliced cooked meats with the launch of a new Rotisserie selection, as part of the brand's drive to improve its products. The Roast Turkey, Roast Chicken and Roast Ham variants are all made...

Shoppers' green confusion.(consumers feel guilty and confused about over packed products)(Report)(Brief article)
July 11, 2007... Consumers are confused about environmental issues such as sustainability, and would like governments and businesses to make it easier for them to do "the right thing", according to new research. The independent qualitative survey by...

NEWS IN BRIEF: Jeans fly off shelves in 2007.(Brief article)
July 11, 2007... Three pairs of jeans will be sold every second in the UK this year, according to figures from research group Mintel, with 86m pairs due to be purchased. The sector has seen sales growth of 40 per cent over the last five years. Own-label...

NEWS IN BRIEF: Bodyform helps women of Zimbabwe.(Brief article)
July 11, 2007... Sanitary towel brand Bodyform is launching an on-pack promotion to support women in Zimbabwe, where sanitary products are prohibitively expensive. The brand has teamed up with Action for Southern Africa (ACTSA) to donate a quarter of a...

NEWS IN BRIEF: Visibility is key for Grolsch.(Brief article)
July 11, 2007... Premium lager brand Grolsch has introduced new packaging in a bid to achieve better stand out on shelves for off sales. An on-pack glassware promotion will be launched later in the year. Copyright: Centaur Communications Ltd. and...

NEWS IN BRIEF: Sainsbury's receipts green on both sides.(Brief article)
July 11, 2007... Sainsbury's is to install new double-sided receipt printers from NCR in all of its new stores, after a trial in the Maidenhead branch. The move should reduce the demand for receipt paper by 45 per cent. Copyright: Centaur...

NEWS IN BRIEF: Wine consumption growing in UK.(Brief article)
July 11, 2007... The consumption of beer and spirits in the UK is declining, although wine sales are growing, according to research group Datamonitor. Despite the sluggish growth, public concerns about drinking levels still appear to be increasing. ...

NEWS IN BRIEF: Britvic recognises the value of WRAP.(Brief article)
July 11, 2007... Britvic has become the first soft drinks company to sign up to support the Waste & Resource Action Programme (WRAP) plans to reduce waste. WRAP will support Britvic research into reducing waste and increasing the amount of recycled...

NEWS IN BRIEF: CRC gets stuck into ICI paint job.(Brief article)
July 11, 2007... ICI Paints has appointed CRC to work on its Dulux, Cuprinol, Polycell and Hammerite brands. The consultancy will provide P-O-P, and also in- store theatre elements such as product demonstrations. Copyright: Centaur Communications Ltd....

NEWS ANALYSIS: Rates progress?(United Kingdom. Bank of England)(Report)
July 11, 2007... Much is made of the importance of the Bank of England's use of interest rates to influence consumer spending, but is it working? The evidence from high street retailers is distinctly variable, say Jo Roberts Interest rates have gone up...

GLOBAL TALK: PEARLS OF THE ORIENT.
July 11, 2007... Dazzling jewels and precious metals are materials traditionally imported from exotic lands, but the economics of their display in-store increasingly prompts a global quest too, says Jeremy Smith, Beaverbrooks head of marketing ...

INTERNATIONAL NEWS: US retail sales growth rate up.
July 11, 2007... The US Commerce Department says May saw the biggest rise in retail sale for 16 months, with 1.4 per cent month-on-month growth to reach $377.9bn. Copyright: Centaur Communications Ltd. and licensors

INTERNATIONAL NEWS: US online shoppers return to shops.
July 11, 2007... Growth in online sales in the US is tailing off, and being seen as a sign that consumers may wish to return to the more sociable aspects of conventional shopping, according to the New York Times. The paper says bricks and mortar retailers...

INTERNATIONAL NEWS: Christmas comes early to Czech turkeys.
July 11, 2007... The H5N1 bird flu virus has been discovered at a poultry farm in the east of the Czech Republic, leading to the slaughter of nearly 2,000 turkeys. The country has seen flu in wild birds before, but this is the first case among poultry. ...

INTERNATIONAL NEWS: Coke-themed lounge is the real thing.
July 11, 2007... Coca Cola is trialling a branded shopping centre lounge in Pune, India, featuring facilities such as large screen TVs and internet access, along with its entire product range. Copyright: Centaur Communications Ltd. and licensors

INTERNATIONAL NEWS: April retail sales on a Swiss roll.
July 11, 2007... The Swiss Federal Statistics Office says retail sales in the country rose by 3.2 per cent in April, compared to the same period the year before. Clothing sales were especially strong. Copyright: Centaur Communications Ltd. and licensors

INTERNATIONAL NEWS: Electricals surge boosts DSG expansion.
July 11, 2007... The Irish division of DSG, owner of the Dixons, PC World and Currys brands, saw sales grow by 29 per cent in the year to 28 April, with an 8 per cent rise in like-for-like sales. Further expansion is planned. Copyright: Centaur...

INTERNATIONAL NEWS: While Sweden opts to give up vodka.
July 11, 2007... State-owned Vin & Sprit, the maker of Absolut vodka, can be sold, the Swedish parliament has decided. Global drinks brands and private equity groups are expected to show interest in the company. Copyright: Centaur Communications Ltd....

INTERNATIONAL NEWS: Chinese meals cause unhealthy growth.
July 11, 2007... The inflation rate in China is likely to move above the government-set target of 3 per cent because of rising food prices. Grain, meat, poultry and egg prices are all increasing, according to the State Information Centre. Copyright:...

DISPLAY OF THE MONTH: Country pleasures.
July 11, 2007... The Post Office's Nicky Piercy gets away from it all down on the farm - in the heart of the city Post Office format analyst Nicki Piercy couldn't resist taking a look at the new Whole Foods Market store in London's Kensington High...

CITY TALK: Goodbye to all that.
July 11, 2007... Lauren Mills, retail correspondent at the Mail on Sunday says farewell to the retail sector and to her long-running In-Store column In the nine or so years that I have been writing this column there have been many changes as the retail...

CITY TALK NEWS: Spending up despite rate hikes.
July 11, 2007... Rising interest rates still haven't knocked consumer spending, according to the Office of National Statistics. The ONS says sales grew by 0.4 per cent in May, and that underlying growth remains strong. Copyright: Centaur Communications...

CITY TALK NEWS: Rain keeps shoppers off high street.(Report)(Brief article)
July 11, 2007... Exceptionally wet weather in May did result in quieter stores, according to figures from the Retail Traffic Index complied by SPSL. "It's really too early to say whether this is the first sign that the series of interest rate rises are...

CITY TALK NEWS: Bid rumours spark Sainsbury interest.
July 11, 2007... Shares in supermarket group J Sainsbury were climbing as In-Store went to press, after Qatari investment fund Delta Two increased its share in the retailer, sparking rumours of an imminent bid. Copyright: Centaur Communications Ltd. and...

CITY TALK NEWS: HSS succumbs to Norman conquest.
July 11, 2007... Aurigo Investments, the investment group run by former Asda chairman Archie Norman, has acquired tool hire company HSS for #310m, in conjunction with Och-Ziff Capital Management. Norman will become chairman of HSS. Copyright: Centaur...

CITY TALK NEWS: Cerberus swallows hard to clear Focus.(FOCUS Enhancements Inc.)(Brief article)
July 11, 2007... A deal has been struck to sell Focus, the third largest DIY chain in the UK, to US hedge fund Cerberus for #1, in an agreement that would see Cerberus clearing off the sizeable debts the retailer has run up. The transaction is conditional on...

CITY TALK NEWS: Marginal improvement for Woolworths.(Woolworths Group PLC)(Brief article)
July 11, 2007... Woolworths has achieved an 11.4 per cent increase in total group sales for the 17 weeks to 2 June. The figures include the entertainment wholesale and publishing divisions of the company as well as the retail side. The company says...

CITY TALK NEWS: Majestic Wine sales fizzing.
July 11, 2007... Majestic Wine has seen profits for the year to April grow by more than 14 per cent to #16.2m. Sales of wines costing over #20 a bottle were up by more than a quarter. Copyright: Centaur Communications Ltd. and licensors

PROFILE - LORRAINE CROW: Spreading the word.
July 11, 2007... Lorraine Crowe, senior brand manager at Anchor chews the fat with Jo Roberts about the challenges involved in convincing consumers your product is the best thing since, well, sliced bread Creating excitement in the unfortunately named...

MARKET REPORT: Tesco - a big fish in a small pond?(Tesco PLC)(Report)
July 11, 2007... Tesco's investment in garden centre chain Dobbies will have big implications in a predominantly small-business-led sector, says Matthew Valentine, so how will traditional garden centres cope? It seems Tesco's ambition to extend its...

MARKET REPORT: Dobbies - a leeks-to-riches story.(Brief article)
July 11, 2007... Dobbies was founded by James Dobbie in 1865, using the proceeds from selling the seeds of a prize-winning leek, and gained a Royal Warrant in 1894. By the turn of the century the company sent its seed catalogue to more than 50,000...

MARKET REPORT: Who's who in the gardens sector.
July 11, 2007... Gardening is big business, respresenting one of the UK's most popular pastimes. The market leader is Wyevale Garden Centres, originally founded in Hereford and now operating from well over 100 stores. Klondyke Garden Centres, which...

IN-STORE SHOW: Best in show.(Company overview)
July 11, 2007... With a plethora of old favourites, the latest innovations, and a few cocktails thrown in for good measure, Jo Roberts reports from this year's In-Store Show From designers, to shopfitters, and including everyone else in between, the...

Design & build focus.
July 11, 2007... Jo Roberts reports on the transformation of the Warwick Castle souvenir shop into a "chain" store with a difference... Warwick Castle stands tall, a rich history running through its walls. Overlooking the River Avon in Warwickshire, the...

PRODUCT NEWS: New BT system puts staff in the picture.
July 11, 2007... A new loss-prevention system from BT will tie in-store CCTV data to point of sale transaction data, in a bid to reduce staff-assisted theft. Theft by, or assisted by, staff is thought to account for 38 per cent of all retail shrinkage. ...

PRODUCT NEWS: Good looking technology?
July 11, 2007... Eye-tracking technology has taken a step forward, with a new generation of devices and software launched by Swedish company Tobii. Designed for research into how and why consumers take note of visual stimuli, Tobii Studio is intended to...

PRODUCT NEWS: Uravelling the secret of loyalty.(Brief article)(Book review)
July 11, 2007... More than 18 months of research into consumer attitudes and relationships has gone into The DNA of Customer Experience: How Emotions Drive Value, the lastest book from Colin Shaw. In the book, Shaw seeks to reveal four clusters of emotion...

PRODUCT NEWS: SLR's speakers are neighbourly.
July 11, 2007... Sound Leisure Retail has introduced a range of audio speakers designed specifically for outdoor use, in preparation for an expected increase in demand when the UK smoking ban takes effect. The A4 sheet-sized flat panel MicroPro speaker...

PRODUCT NEWS: New software from Couponstar.
July 11, 2007... The security and visual format of consumer-printed coupons will be improved by the launch of upgraded software from Couponstar, claims the company. The updated software allows for more colourful designs, as well as introducing new...

EYE ON DESIGN: July 2007.(Report)
July 11, 2007... Mark Dickens, managing director of brand consultancy Wanda, visits the capital's tourist attraction shops, but finds little to write home about London Zoo: London Zoo - confusingly re-branded ZSL, for the hapless visitor who...