In-Store articles from September 2004

In-Store archives from September 2004

Asda switches on in-store screens.(News)(Company Profile)
September 1, 2004... Asda is launching Asda Live, its first in-store TV trial, in two test stores on 6 September. The launch will involve working in partnership with Procter & Gamble, Nestle, Unilever, Coca-Cola and other brand-owners that have yet to be...

New Look has launched a 'sophisticated' clothing line called Boutique.(News)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2004... New Look has launched a 'sophisticated' clothing line called Boutique. The new collection is targeted at a 'more discerning' customer and priced 20 per cent higher than other New Look ranges. Boutique is aiming at core customers in the 25-45...

Conran takes Mayfair.(News)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2004... Jasper Conran is planning a store in London's Mayfair, to open in February. The emporium will be situated in a Grade 2 listed 1730s townhouse set over four floors. Product categories are womenswear, menswear, accessories, homeware and...

Tesco smells the coffee.(News)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2004... Tesco has signed a deal with Coffee Nation to install self-service coffee machines in 150 Tesco Express stores by Match 2005. Tesco says it aims to capture a "significant share" of the coffee-to-go market with its first foray in the...

CBI reports gloomy sales.(News)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2004... The retail sector has seen its slowest sales since March 2003, according to the Confederation of British Industry's (CBI) latest quarterly Distributive Trades Survey. Data shows that July's slowdown in sales continued through August,...

Supermarkets move in on convenience sector.(News)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2004... Sainsbury's has almost doubled its presence in the 23bn [pounds sterling] convenience store market with the acquisition of 114-strong neighbourhood store group Jacksons, while Tesco has sold the Dillons chain as part of its strategy in the...

Waitrose blitzes organic range.(News)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2004... Waitrose is running its biggest-ever organic food promotion in the two weeks to 12 September, alongside the Soil Association's national Organic Week campaign. All fruit, vegetable and salad lines will be discounted by 25 per cent. In line...

Cecil Gee is launching a concept store in Lakeside, Thurrock, in October.(News)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2004... Cecil Gee is launching a concept store in Lakeside, Thurrock, in October. Designed by Butterfield Design, the store will mirror the fashion group's new brand identity, created by Jimmy Lang Associates. The retailer says the look is influenced...

Patent Office pulls rank on fake goods.(News)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2004... The government has launched a crackdown on counterfeit goods with a strategy to protect intellectual property. According to industry estimates, counterfeiting of goods such as DVDs, perfume, alcohol and clothing undermines major brands and...

Carphone Warehouse pushes X Factor Nokia.(News)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2004... Nokia is launching a nationwide campaign in Carphone Warehouse stores in October, to drive awareness and sales of handsets, and to maximise the benefit of its sponsorship deal of TV show The X Factor. The activity will promote the official...

NiQuitin CQ grabs pole position with F1 units.(News)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2004... GlaxoSmithKline has introduced P-O-P for its Niquitin CQ nicotine replacement products, highlighting the brand's sponsorship of the BMW Williams Formula One racing team. Some 427 freestanding NiQuitin CQ units, designed by IDa Creative...

Jacob's has launched Scary Faces, a Halloween-themed brand extension to its existing Happy Faces range.(News)(Jacob)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2004... Jacob's has launched Scary Faces, a Halloween-themed brand extension to its existing Happy Faces range. The Happy Faces brand will be further supported by new packaging, a twin-pack relaunch and a selection of promotions. Scary Faces are...

Teadirect brews up in-store.(News)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2004... Fairtrade tea brand Teadirect, owned by Cafedirect, has launched a promotional campaign that will continue throughout September. It incorporates on-pack promotions and sampling campaigns in a number of supermarkets. The campaign includes...

Harman sounds out specialist displays.(News)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2004... Car audio brand Harman is currently installing 150 display and demonstration stands within specialist hi-fi stores across the UK. The units have been supplied by Unicam, and have been developed with the aim of maximising the sound quality of...

Science Museum plots retail formula.(News)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2004... The Science Museum has announced a retail tie-up with WH Smith, Dixons and Currys. A range of Science Museum-branded toys and gadgets will be available in the three groups' stores, arriving in time for Christmas.

Shopfitters report improved morale.(News)(National Association of Shopfitters)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2004... Members of the National Association of Shopfitters are more optimistic about their short-term workload than at any time since June 1999, according to the group's quarterly survey. The research suggests that work patterns in the sector have...

Souster has Woburn move sewn up.(News)(Tailor Geoff Souster)(Souster & Hicks)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2004... Tailor Geoff Souster is relocating from Luton to Woburn. A new store has been created by Beswick Design, using original beams and custom-built carpentry to reflect the prestige and quality of the brand. The company is renaming itself Souster &...

Islamic Bank launches in the UK.(News)(The Islamic Bank of Britain)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2004... The Islamic Bank of Britain launched last month to provide banking services compliant with Islamic Sharia Law to the UK's 1.8 million Muslims. Banking principles of Sharia Law prohibit unethical investment and interest on savings or loans. The...

Disability Act deadline draws close.(News)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2004... The new provisions of the Disability Discrimination Act, requiring retailers to make premises more accessible to disabled people, will become law on 1 October (In-Store, March 2004). Businesses failing to make 'reasonable adjustments' by this...

HMV appoints retail marketing chief.(News)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2004... Ged Hopkins has been promoted to the post of head of retail marketing at HMV. His former post, as head of marketing (promotions, e-commerce and CRM has been filled by Gideon Lask.

One step beyond: Topshop's launch of a standalone footwear store marks a new chapter in shoe retailing, where the combination of low cost and high fashion is proving irresistible to clothing retailers and consumers.(News Analysis)
September 1, 2004... The shoe market is putting its best foot forward in response to the increased emphasis on fashion on the high street. As many retailers make their supply chains extra-flexible, designer style isn't just limited to the catwalk. Demand for sexy...

Don't bury paper P-O-P.(Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
September 1, 2004... Thank you, Joe Ward (In-Store, August 2004) for bringing some sense to the digital debate. Sometimes, reading In-Store, you might think it is the magazine for digital retail marketing and that POPAI has forgotten standard P-O-P displays still...

Correct use of in-store media.(Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
September 1, 2004... It was good to see that United Co-Operatives is successfully trialling in-store TV, attracting advertisers and good customer feedback (In-Store, August). However, as more and more retailers turn to this exciting new medium, they need to...

Dental development is down in the mouth.(Leader)
September 1, 2004... It's odd for retailers to miss a trick, but the lack of attention given to the dental sector, and a concentration on pricing above all else, seems to be self-defeating. With the popular press running a steady stream of articles bemoaning the...

A novel idea for airports: World News and BookBound marketing manager Ben Deller explains how permanent screens in airport terminals add value by enhancing the process of choosing holiday reading.(Screen Talk)
September 1, 2004... I spend a great deal of time at airports as part of my job, sadly not jetting off to glamorous destinations. What I am doing is gaining a valuable insight into how and why travellers buy books. For many of our customers, their holiday is...

H&M chooses France for 1,000th store.(International News)(H&M)(fashion chain)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2004... Swedish fashion chain H&M has opened its 1,000th store in France, in Boulogne-sur-Mer, and is planning a number of further openings including expansion into Slovakia in autumn this year and Ireland in 2005.

Chicago coffins fill Costco coffers.(International News)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2004... Costco is piloting a range of discounted coffins in two stores in Chicago, US. The range consists of six models and several finishes including gold and lilac. The price, including delivery to a nearby funeral home, is $799.99 (444 [pounds...

Germany in uproar over fresh food plans.(International News)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2004... A proposed labelling directive for loose produce in Germany, from the country's Federal Ministry of Consumer Protection, Food and Agriculture, has caused a row in the German food industry. Retailers claim that rules to label individual...

PetsMart figures are cool for cats.(International News)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2004... US pet care retailer PetsMart has announced a 21 per cent rise in second-quarter earnings. Second-quarter revenue also rose 11 per cent to $806m (447.5m [pounds sterling]) from $724,9m (402.5m [pounds sterling]) last year. This was driven by a...

Woolworths reports Australia rise.(International News)(Woolworths)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2004... Woolworths in Australia has reported a 12 per cent rise in net profit for the six months to 27 June, to A$290m (114m [pounds sterling]) from A$258m (101m [pounds sterling]) the previous year, The retailer has also forecast 10 to 15 per cent...

CVS buys up rival pharmacies.(International News)(Eckerd Health Services)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2004... US pharmacy chain CVS has acquired 1,260 stores from rival Eckerd. The deal takes the number of CVS stores to more than 5,000 in 36 states, making if the largest pharmacy chain in the US. It also includes three distribution centres and Eckerd...

Borders targets international expansion.(International News)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2004... Borders Group has announced plans to open extra stores in Australia and the UK and is also looking to India, which has a large English-speaking population. The group has more than 1,200 stores worldwide, with 37 superstores outside North...

Proud to be pink: Urban Rites' Daniel Fawcett hails FCUK's girly cosmetics unit as a return to form for the brand.(Display Of The Month)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2004... David Fawcett, partner in male grooming brand Urban Rites, is full of praise for the FCUK cosmetics stand that is currently gracing selected Boots stores. In light pink plastic, it looks fresh and feminine and targets a young fashion conscious...

Mothercare shift focus: Lauren Mills, small business editor at the Sunday Express, discovers that the revamped Mothercare is one of the best-kept secrets in town--and says it's all down to chief executive Ben Gordon.(City Talk)(Column)
September 1, 2004... I recently took my eight-week old baby shopping for some new clothes. I also needed one or two items for the nursery. It was Saturday morning and I couldn't face the commute from south London to John Lewis in Oxford Street, se with low...

Tesco skims Dairy Crest from milk chain.(News)(Robert Wiseman)(Arla)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2004... Tesco has announced it is cutting down from three to two milk suppliers, It will take extra milk from Robert Wiseman and Arla, leaving out third supplier Dairy Crest. Dairy Crest says the decision, which will come into effect in 2005, will cost...

Claire's Stores is polished for profit.(News)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2004... Jewellery and accessories retailer Claire's Stores has reported second-quarter results for the three months to 31 July, showing a 48 per cent rise in profits to $32,7m (18,2m [pounds sterling]). The retail group operates approximately 2,835...

Singles sales show upward swing.(News)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2004... In its second-quarter results, The British Phonographic Industry (BPI) has reported the first increase in singles sales since 1999, with an increase of 15,4 per cent by volume and 8.1 per cent by value. The BPI attributes the change to...

Graphite offloads share in Maplin.(News)(Graphite Enterprise Trust)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2004... Graphite Enterprise Trust, which owns 70 per cent of electrical retailer Maplin Electronics, has confirmed it is in discussions with a private equity buyer to sell its there in the group. Graphite Enterprise Trust acquired the stake when it...

JJB issues profit warning.(News)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2004... JJB Sports has issued a warning that its full-year profits could be as much as 20 per cent lower than originally forecast. The group blames the results on the poor summer, but says it remains optimistic about long-term initiatives such as its...

Borders reports international increase.(News)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2004... Borders Group has reported sales of $847.1m (472.2m [pounds sterling]) for the three months to 25 July. Total sales for the company's international operations grew to $104.3m (58.1m [pounds sterling]), representing an increase of 18.3 per cent...

Toys R Us experiences operating loss.(News)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2004... Toys R Us has announced results for the second quarter to the end of July 2004, with an operating loss of $192m (106m [pounds sterling]). While the company made a profit of $61m (3.3.8m [pounds sterling]), sales fell by 3.9 per cent to just...

Virgin territory: Virgin Mobile design manager Damian Schnabel likes to throw traditional P-O-P into his edgy design style. He shows Maeve Hosea around the brand's new Megastore concession.(Profile: Damian Schnabel, Virgin Mobile)
September 1, 2004... Damian Schnabel, design manager at Virgin Mobile, stands in London's Piccadilly Circus and admires the latest chapter in the story of youth-focused phone brand Virgin Mobile. "I like to think out identity is flexible," he says. "We are not...

Open wide: with NHS dentists becoming a rarity, the quest for a dazzling smile and healthy gums is turning to the high street. James Quilter examines the potential of this expanding market.(Market Report)
September 1, 2004... Tom Cruise might be able to afford a toothy white smile but the rest of us could end up looking more like Austin Powers. The shortage of NHS dentists has been widely publicised, with the Department of Health warning it could double by 2011,...

Every dog has its day: it's a dog's life in pet care. A higher disposable income gives pet-owners more money to spend on their pets and the market is responding with all manner of goods.(Category Focus)
September 1, 2004... A puppy is for life, not just for Christmas. And by the time yours is old and gnarled, you are likely to have made a good contribution to the 1.2bn [pounds sterling] UK pets market. Your share will be in the region of 20,000 [pounds sterling],...

Danger at work: stores and security groups are using more sophisticated tactics to deal with violent and threatening behaviour in-store.(Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers)
September 1, 2004... Taking money, pricing products and facing the teenager telling you to sell him a pack of 10 cigarettes before he 'kicks your head in'--it's all in a day's work for some store workers. Violence, in the form of threats or actual physical...

Assembly points: with store staff installing so much temporary P-O-P, the need for clear guidelines during setup has come to the fore.(Special Report)
September 1, 2004... Retail staff don't always give priority to assembling the latest freestanding cardboard unit. When checkouts need to be manned, customers led to baked beans or shelves stacked, promotions are in danger of being sidelined. P-O-P...

Survey focuses on commission.(POPAI)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2004... POPAI will soon be conducting its annual membership survey. There was no survey in 2003 owing to the POPAI/PIRA research programme on the future of P-O-P, which gave outstanding information on the status and direction of the industry. Since the...

A queueing barrier that doesn't approve of tips.(Product News)(GL 45 mk 11)( queue barrier)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2004... QM Group has launched an updated queue barrier, the GL 45 mk 11, designed to be more resistant to tipping. The product is useful in situations where crowd pressure could knock down a barrier. The barrier features a cast-iron base and a...

LED system lives it large.(Product News)(Barco Media)(Solaris LD )(Brief Article)
September 1, 2004... Barco Media's Solaris LD is a full-colour indoor LED system. The high impact digital signage is available in three models: 304cm, 356cm and 381cm. Solaris claims to offer crisp images free of seams and lines. It aims to be easy to set up,...

Octanorm's latest product is Profile E790.(Product News)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2004... Octanorm's latest product is Profile E790, a slotted aluminium extrusion that fits into the 'system slot' of Octanorm uprights. The device converts Octanorm uprights to work with the ranges of shelving brackets and garment rails available from...

Counters put it all on show.(Product News)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2004... Eastwood has introduced the Clearlux range of modular display counters and cabinets. An element of safety has been built into the showcase counters by combining rigid brushed aluminium frames with clear toughened glass panels. Lockable...

Projectors go to the wall.(Product News)(LT265)(LT245)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2004... NEC's latest portable projectors have flexibility in mind. The LT265 and LT245 project onto a range of surfaces. Wall colour correction allows bright, sharp images on a coloured wall, and the unit produces a straight image whatever the...

Mothercare.(Eye On Design)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2004... There is an instant air of mother and baby authority when you enter this store. Cream and natural wood create a calm but dated look (the store is due for a refit). Subtle autumn shades of clothing add to a muted palette, Everything is geared...

Catimini.(Eye On Design)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2004... Product was to the fore in this store. It was literally everywhere as we were greeted with a major delivery of autumn stock that filled most of the sales floor. The product is gorgeous, too--designerwear for kids with an eye for detail only the...

Fun learning.(Eye On Design)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2004... Oh, to be a kid again! This store is an Aladdin's cave of fun for kids of all ages. The accent is en learning, with walls stacked floor to ceiling with product. It's easy to find your way around, discovering little surprises as you go, thanks...

Early learning centre.(Eye On Design)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2004... Neat, wide aisles dominate this store. Toys merchandised in groups fill high walls, colour-coded with pelmets denoting the product type. The P-O-P claimed there were more than 450 new toys in-store but the product saturation didn't seem to...