In-Store articles from September 2006

In-Store archives from September 2006

Coors hits the stores with a lower-strength lager.(Coors Brewers Ltd.)
September 11, 2006... Coors Brewers is aiming to drive a new category for beers with the off- trade launch of Carling C2, its "mid-strength" lager. The brewer is offering an on-pack money-back guarantee for customers who don't like the taste of the beer. The...

Budgens and Londis own label packaging.(Budgens Ltd., Londis Holdings Ltd. merges)(Brief article)
September 11, 2006... New designs for own label packaging will have been rolled out to 60 product categories in Budgens and Londis stores by the end of September, using creative work by Martin Dawe Brand Design. More than 600 product lines are included in the...

Cif and Moben join up in kitchen deal.(Brief article)
September 11, 2006... Unilever's Cif is running an on-pack promotion with kitchen maker Moben, to celebrate being chosen as Moben's official surface cleaner. Shoppers have the chance to win a #10,000 kitchen every 24 hours throughout August and September, by...

Molton Brown set to tempt luxury market.(Brief article)
September 11, 2006... Toiletries brand Molton Brown is launching Amber Cocoon, a new limited edition hero product, in September. A collection of luxury hand therapies and aroma products, the new range will be presented using in-store graphics and P-O-P from...

Mobile home for Virgin.(Virgin Mobile Telecoms Ltd.)(Brief article)
September 11, 2006... Lakeside Shopping Centre is playing host to the first standalone Virgin Mobile store, which is aiming to create a strong retail presence while standing out from rival phone providers. Designed by branding group Start Creative, the store...

Job alerts now online.(Brief article)
September 11, 2006... In-Store's sister title Marketing Week is launching a new daily news and jobs website in the first week of September. It can be accessed at www.marketingweek.co.uk. Working closely together with the printed magazine, the site will be...

Spar and Co-Op unite in own-label buying guide.(Brief article)
September 11, 2006... The Co-Op and Spar have grouped together to form a new buying alliance. The move will enable the two groups to pool their resources when buying own-label products. Co-Operative Retail Trading Group (CTRG), which represents more than...

Pirates, mermaids and talking cars used in marketing campaign.(Brief article)
September 11, 2006... Pirates, mermaids and talking cars will be among the characters used for Disney's first Christmas brand marketing campaign to drive DVD sales. An above- and below-the-line campaign, including a suite of P-O- P material developed in-house by...

Dunnhumby takes over Tesco TV.(Brief article)
September 11, 2006... Marketing consultancy Dunnhumby is taking responsibility for Tesco TV from JC Decaux, integrating the channel into its existing Tesco media portfolio. Dunnhumby already manages Tesco's Clubcard loyalty programme, allowing it access to a...

Cranberry refund offer.(Ocean Spray Cranberries Inc.)(Brief article)
September 11, 2006... Ocean Spray is seeking to drive sales of its new Dried Cranberries ranges by offering customers a full refund on family-size packs. A sampling campaign is also planned. An on-pack sticker explains how to redeem the full RSP of the product,...

On-pack recycling bag offer from Nouvelle.(Brief article)
September 11, 2006... Recycled toilet tissue brand Nouvelle is aiming to drive home its position as the number one recycled brand in its category with its first on-pack promotion. Shoppers who collect three on-pack tokens can buy a 3-in-1 recycling bag for #1.99....

Tesco to set up listening posts for music shoppers.(Brief article)
September 11, 2006... Tesco is to roll out listening posts to the entertainment departments of 33 of its stores by the end of the year, after a trial that allows shoppers to hear music before they buy it. Further installations may take place as part of Tesco's...

Wage rise hits retail sector.(Brief article)
September 11, 2006... Planned increases to the National Minimum Wage will cost retailers an extra #1bn, according to the British Retail Consortium. The Pressure Group claims that a quarter of major retailers are planning staff cuts to reduce costs as a result. ...

Health and grooming product launched by Bob Ager.(Brief article)
September 11, 2006... Wholeman, a new health and grooming product brand and retailer being launched by investor Bob Ager, has appointed JHP to develop a brand identity and packaging for the range. Design will emphasise the performance and enhancement on offer from...

IN BRIEF: Dublin Airport opens Pier B centre.(Brief article)
September 11, 2006... The Pier B shopping centre at Dublin Airport has opened, with interior design and project management by Douglas Wallace Architects. Glazed divisions are used where possible to give the centre a light and open feel. Copyright: Centaur...

IN BRIEF: BB's campaign aids breast cancer charity.(Brief article)
September 11, 2006... Muffins brand BB's is launching a cause-related marketing campaign, allowing purchasers of limited edition pink muffins or strawberry milkshakes to raise money for charity Against Breast Cancer. Copyright: Centaur Communications Ltd. and...

IN BRIEF: Cheesy addition to Tilda rice meals.(Brief article)
September 11, 2006... Tilda has added new varieties to its range of two-minute microwavable rice dishes. Four Cheese and White & Brown Basmati meals will join the portfolio of the #11m brand. Copyright: Centaur Communications Ltd. and licensors

IN BRIEF: Women more likely to check contents.(Brief article)
September 11, 2006... One in five shoppers spends more than 30 seconds checking the product information of each food item before putting things in their trolley, according to electronic display supplier ZBD. Women are more likely to examine the contents closely...

IN BRIEF: Staff ready to assume manager's role.(Brief article)
September 11, 2006... One in three retail workers would like to swap places with their manager given the chance, with one in four claiming they could do the job better themselves, according to a poll conducted for Investors in People by YouGov. Some 35 per cent of...

IN BRIEF: Top sales performance in the yoghurt.(Brief article)
September 11, 2006... Yoghurt sales have grown by 62 per cent since 2001, according to figures from research group Mintel. The group forecasts a further 40 per cent jump in sales over the next five years. Yoghurt drinks in particular have performed well, with 432...

IN BRIEF: Robert Ashworth's designs on women.(Brief article)
September 11, 2006... Established Reigate-based menswear retailer Robert Ashworth is diversifying into womenswear ranges, and has appointed design group Caulder Moore to create a new 100 sq m space for the expansion. Copyright: Centaur Communications Ltd. and...

IN BRIEF: Research shows P-O-P sophistication.(Brief article)
September 11, 2006... P-O-P is an increasingly sophisticated industry with a growing profile among clients, according to research commissioned by P-O-P supplier Bezier. The group has rebranded itself to better reflect the industry's higher profile. ...

IN BRIEF: Assault on sales of battery-farmed eggs.(Brief article)
September 11, 2006... Sales of battery-farmed eggs are falling as shoppers turn to free range, barn and organic alternatives. Sales of the non-battery varieties increased by 24 per cent to 2.4bn between 2002 and 2005, according to data from research group Mintel....

IN BRIEF: Simpson's speeds up range expansion.(Brief article)
September 11, 2006... Seafood group Simpson's has introduced a range of generic labels and packaging, which has enabled it to source and introduce new product ranges quickly and efficiently. The company sells a wide variety of products, some seasonal. ...

IN BRIEF: Thomas Cook readies Pilgrims promo.(Brief article)
September 11, 2006... Thomas Cook Holidays is staging an on-pack promotion in conjunction with Pilgrims Choice Cheddar cheese. Up to 150 customers will win a #1,000 holiday, with all packs featuring a #150 Thomas Cook voucher. Copyright: Centaur Communications...

IN BRIEF: Slick switch for Royal Mail price increase.(Brief article)
September 11, 2006... The Royal Mail has said that the in-store transition to new postal prices have gone smoothly. "Post office branches are equipped with leaflets, posters and templates, and the vast majority of customers are being served within five minutes,"...

HMV gives musicians a stage with Nokia venture.(Brief article)
September 11, 2006... Music retailer HMV is to sell mobile phones from its stores for the first time. However, it will only sell models that can store and play music. Musicians hoping for stardom will be given the chance to "Rock up and play" in the window of...

Ready-to-eat range launched.
September 11, 2006... North West specialist Holland's Pies is launching its first ready-to- eat range in a bid to create a new product category of "cold eat" pies and pastries. New packaging by Leeds agency Home has been introduced as part of the plan. The new...

Non-food sector set to soar.(Brief article)
September 11, 2006... Grocery retailers are storming the non-food market, with Tesco set to become the UK's largest non-food retailer this year by beating the sales of Argos Retail Group, according to a new report from Verdict Research. "Tesco is set to...

NEWS ANALYSIS: Blade runners.
September 11, 2006... Procter & Gamble is expecting a lot from Gillette, its recent acquisition. Matthew Valentine reports on the burst of activity to make sure that product information is communicated to shoppers Launching a razor with five main blades plus a...

LETTER: In-store screens are here to stay.(Letter to the editor)
September 11, 2006... The news that Tesco staff are protesting against the "intrusive" and "repetitive" nature of Tesco TV by using the 'off' switch should not be taken as a sign that in-store screens are a bad idea. By conceiving the project as in-store TV,...

LETTER: Movable Xmas is not the answer.(Letter to the editor)
September 11, 2006... 'Christmas comes earlier every year' is a saying that normally starts making an appearance in October, sometimes September. But as retailers continue to fight the high-street spending downturn, Santa Claus has already made his first...

Is the virtual shopping centre taking over from the physical store?
September 11, 2006... As customers, are we quietly abandoning shops? More and more of us visit them to compare items and prices, make a decision... and then go home to order our chosen product from an online supplier. We still have the pleasure of going...

SCREEN TALK: Double-action screens.(Interview)
September 11, 2006... Graham Corser, senior development surveyor at P&O Developments, explains why the information screens at new Plymouth shopping centre Drake Circus will benefit both the mall and the customers Drake Circus is a 46,450 sq m shopping centre in...

INTERNATIONAL NEWS: Drop in house sales raises concern in US.
September 11, 2006... Fears for the US economy and future retail sales were heightened in August after a fall in new house sales of more than 4 per cent. Recent rises in interest rates have raised concerns at the current high levels of consumer borrowing. ...

INTERNATIONAL NEWS: Germany sees pre-VAT spending spree.(Brief article)
September 11, 2006... German retail sales have been boosted by a last-minute spending spree before new VAT levels come into effect. German VAT is scheduled to rise by three per cent in January 2007, leading many to make major purchases now. The country also saw a...

INTERNATIONAL NEWS: Good time for profits for Swatch.
September 11, 2006... Increased sales in Asia and the US are behind a 24 per cent rise in profits at Swiss watch group Swatch. The company's Omega and Breguet brands performed especially well. Copyright: Centaur Communications Ltd. and licensors

INTERNATIONAL NEWS: Tata Group buys up US brand Glaceau.
September 11, 2006... Indian company Tata Group has made a $677m (#357m) investment in US vitamin drinks brand Glaceau, taking a 30 per cent stake. The Indian firm intends to compete with soft drinks brands such as Coca-Cola and Pepsi in its home market. Tata owns...

INTERNATIONAL NEWS: Wal-Mart's Seiyu shows huge losses.(Brief article)
September 11, 2006... Wal-Mart's Japanese subsidiary Seiyu has seen its losses increase fivefold compared to last year, losing 54bn yen (#244m) in the first six months of 2006. Expensive cost-cutting measures have been blamed, with like-for-like sales rising by...

INTERNATIONAL NEWS: Party into Shenyang shop.
September 11, 2006... Wal-Mart has allowed a branch of the Communist Party to run a committee at its store in Shenyang in China. The retailer accepts trades unions in its Chinese stores, in contrast to its practice in most other countries. Copyright: Centaur...

INTERNATIONAL NEWS: Digital signage for Cara & Video stores.
September 11, 2006... Brazilian electronics and home retailer Cara & Video has installed a digital signage network in its stores, supplied by certified Scala reseller Ya Mogu. Copyright: Centaur Communications Ltd. and licensors

DISPLAY OF THE MONTH: Fashion victim.
September 11, 2006... Apple's style has bewitched visitors, turning its London store into a house of worship, drools Dave Whitlow Dave Whitlow, marketing manager at outdoor retailer Ellis Brigham is in awe of the Apple computer store on London's Regent Street....

CITY TALK: Ratner's second coming.
September 11, 2006... After years in the business twilight zone, Gerald Ratner is poised for a comeback, says Lauren Mills, retail correspondent at the Mail on Sunday. Meanwhile, Matalan's founder backs the firm into a corner What goes around comes around....

IN BRIEF: Blacks Leisure blames weather for trade.(Brief article)
September 11, 2006... Blacks Leisure has issued two profit warnings in recent weeks, saying that the bouts of hot weather, the World Cup and the lack of a Glastonbury Festival this year have hit sales. Like-for-like sales at the group's Millets chain fell 5.6 per...

IN BRIEF: Carpetright's like-for-like sales down.(Brief article)
September 11, 2006... Carpetright has seen a 0.3 per cent fall in UK like-for-like sales in the first quarter of the year, but says that gross margins are improving. Total sales were up by 4.3 per cent. Copyright: Centaur Communications Ltd. and licensors

IN BRIEF: Debenhams adds nine stores to its group.(Brief article)
September 11, 2006... Debenhams has acquired nine department stores in the Republic of Ireland, from local company Roches, for #19.5m (E29m). Each of the Roches stores will be converted to the Debenhams branch format over the next year. This will give the group a...

IN BRIEF: Weather and footie hits Moss Bros sales.(Brief article)
September 11, 2006... A spell of very hot weather and the effect of the World Cup have been blamed for keeping shoppers away from fashion retailer Moss Bros, which has seen a dip in like-for-like sales of 0.75 per cent for the 26 weeks to the end of July. Total...

IN BRIEF: Trafford Park Bakery announces closure.(Brief article)
September 11, 2006... Northern Foods has announced that it will close its Trafford Park Bakery in Manchester, saying the site made a #3m loss in 2005/6. The company, which makes many supermarket own label products as well as its own brands - including Fox's Biscuits...

IN BRIEF: Powerhouse goes into administration.(Brief article)
September 11, 2006... Electrical retailer Powerhouse went into administration at the beginning of August. Adminstrator BDO Stoy Hayward was still seeking a buyer for the chain as In-Store went to press. Copyright: Centaur Communications Ltd. and licensors

IN BRIEF: House of Fraser agrees Icelandic bid.(Brief article)
September 11, 2006... Department store group House of Fraser has agreed to a #351.4m takeover bid by acquisitive Icelandic investment group Baugur. The offer of 148p per share was described as "good value". The two groups have been in open discussions since May....

PROFILE - SANDY GREAVES: Back to the future.(Biography)
September 11, 2006... Sandy Greaves of Greaves Sports is an unusual businessman, marrying old- fashioned service with high-tech product. Maeve Hosea spoke to him about why the store has been a huge success "I'd classify myself as an old-fashioned traditional...

CUSTOMER SERVICE: A matter of manners.
September 11, 2006... The second year of In-Store's survey carried out by ESA Market Research shows who's hot and who's not in the customer service stakes around the United Kingdom. Market-leading retailer Tesco is the chain that impresses the most shoppers...

MARKET REPORT: Make-up high sales.(Market share report)
September 11, 2006... Cosmetics used to be the fashion world's poor relation but, as Hannah Booth has discovered, with the current trend for throwaway products it is hot on the heels of the clothing lines in the battle for impulse sales Low cost and high...

Digital retail media.
September 11, 2006... Finding out how many digital screens are in use by UK retails is no easy task, and many of those uncovered are not part of wider networks. Glynn Davis investigates why this is the case There's no doubt that there are many thousands of...

DIGITAL RETAIL MEDIA: Media players now with accessories.(Brief article)
September 11, 2006... A new range of accessories is now available for Digital View's Digital Media Players. The players can now be ordered as kits, containing everything needed by developers developing digital signage networks. Digital View's M3-100 and...

DIGITAL RETAIL MEDIA: Digital recorder for small spaces.(Brief article)
September 11, 2006... Technology supplier Honeywell has developed a digital video recorder (DVR) aimed at small to medium-sized businesses. The HRDE 4x4 is described as being ideal for sites such as independent retailers, petrol stations and small dealerships or...

DIGITAL RETAIL MEDIA: New DVD writer is faster.(Brief article)
September 11, 2006... A new DVD writer from Lite-on IT is offering 18x disc writing speeds, shortening timescales for disc reproduction. The LH-18A1P model is an integral DVDR(W) writer and has dual-layer capabilities. This allows up to 8.5GB of video to be...

DIGITAL RETAIL MEDIA: New screens for bright young things.(Brief article)
September 11, 2006... New high-brightness, open-frame display screens have been launched by Planar, aimed at the retail sector where variable light conditions can sometimes make screens difficult to see. The LB1500R and the LB1503R feature a brightness level...

DIGITAL RETAIL MEDIA: New features for digital software.(Brief article)
September 11, 2006... Powerful new features have been added to 3M's Digital Signage Software, Network Addition 3. The product provides users with the ability to distribute and play back media files, schedule playlists and monitor networks of signs from any...

DIGITAL RETAIL MEDIA: Screens and LEDs in one package.(Brief article)
September 11, 2006... A programmable electronic signage system that can combine clear LED messages with high quality still or moving images has been launched by display systems supplier Vision-Text. The Animator Pro system shows messages in the same way as...

PACKAGING: Making an impression.
September 11, 2006... SRP is high on the agenda for stores wanting to streamline product handling. Can it also be used to raise brand profiles? Maeve Hosea reports Cardboard trays and moulded plastic are making their way out of stockrooms and onto supermarket...

SPECIAL REPORT: Fitting qualifications.
September 11, 2006... Installing P-O-P units is not as clear cut as it seems. Matthew Valentine looks at the educational standards now expected by brand companies A lot of hard cash is spent on designing and manufacturing P-O-P units, but that investment...

PRODUCT NEWS: Avery and Sage forge a link.(Brief article)
September 11, 2006... Avery Berkel's M series of Weight-Tronix retail scales now has a link to Sage Line 50 software, providing the scales with invoicing and stock control functions. The Sage MX-SL software module links Avery Berkel's MX400 scales with the...

PRODUCT NEWS: UK firm bags LSI distribution.(Lighting Services Inc.)(Brief article)
September 11, 2006... New York-based specialist supplier Lighting Services Inc (LSI) has appointed Commercial Lighting Systems of Southampton as its UK distributor. LSI's full range of fittings and fixtures will now be available via Commercial Lighting,...

PRODUCT NEWS: Shelfspan makes light work of moving shelves.(Brief article)
September 11, 2006... Display and storage equipment supplier Shelfspan has launched a 'quick fit' shelf that can be added to or taken away from its modular chrome shelving systems with the minimum of effort. Most chrome shelving systems require that shelves to...

PRODUCT NEWS: Quality shines with LED box.(Brief article)
September 11, 2006... Netherlands-based company Quality Lamps has launched the LEDitbeSeen light box, for use as product display signage or as an illuminated advertising board. The LED light box requires less power and space than a conventional unit, and it...

PRODUCT NEWS: Flexible door-mounted display system.(Brief article)
September 11, 2006... UK Point of Sale has launched a flexible, door-mounted sign display system that can be used in any environment. The signs have an easy changeover feature that allows signs to be changed by simply opening the front profile and changing the...

POPAI: Planning for P-O-P's future.(Point-Of-Purchase Advertising Institute, Point of Purchase)(Brief article)
September 11, 2006... POPAI's Certificate in Point of Purchase course that next runs in October and November goes from strength to strength. With only two places left, it shows the level of interest in retail communications, with most delegates coming from brands....

Eye on design.(Ottolenghi )(Euphorium)(Belle Epoque)
September 11, 2006... Bill Cumming, creative director at The Nest, visits a selection of specialist London bakeries and is impressed by their European passion for foodstuffs Ottolenghi The people behind this Italian restaurant and bakery really understand...