Boost Products and 3M Bring Virtual Salesperson to Retail Floor
Boost Products and 3M today announced the successful introduction of an exciting new concept in in-store marketing at a supermarket in The Netherlands
[UKPRwire, Wed Feb 04 2009] Enterprising Dutch agency Boost Products and diversified technology company 3M today announced the successful introduction of an exciting new concept in in-store marketing at a supermarket in The Netherlands. By using a Vikuiti Rear Projection Screen from 3M cut in the shape of a human body and projecting 2D characters on to its surface, Boost has created a virtual shop assistant capable of communicating promotions to passing shoppers. Watch the video at http://nl.youtube.com/watch?v=urOy6Plvah8.
“Boost works a lot with supermarket sales promotion teams to translate media campaigns to the retail floor and, in this particular case, we produced the idea of bringing virtual promotion teams to the floor by projecting them on to Vikuiti Screens,” commented Raymond Lentz, Managing Director, Boost Products. “Our company totally believes in the usage of Vikuiti Rear Projection Screens in-store - not just for window dressing - to increase sales and convey strong, compelling brands.”
“The impact of the 2D character displays, which could also be celebrity endorsers or cartoon characters, is enormous and offers a state-of-the-art concept with which a retail advertiser and marketer can make a real difference. Boost is now developing concepts that can be used in the entertainment industry,” he continued.
The Boost Products team were convinced of the Vikuiti Screen quality after visiting a tradeshow in Utrecht. Once selected, 3M and a local distributor provided full support to ensure an efficient and cost-effective installation process. A video of the shop assistant promoting a specific brand was produced by Boost and the screen was laser cut to the human shape by the distributor. The screen was then placed on the shop floor next to a sales display and the projector was installed on the ceiling. The projector connects up to the Boost narrowcasting system, which controls play out of the video from a remote location. Once the video is playing the virtual salesperson comes alive with outstanding performance under the bright lights of the supermarket.
“This is a fantastic new application for Vikuiti Rear Projection Screen. The ability to cut it to any shape or size is the key to the whole solution and the creative possibilities are endless,” said Lloyd Cole, European Marketing Manager, 3M Optical Systems. “Any media agency interested in point-of-sale now has an opportunity to create something novel and to consider how they can put together a total package that includes screen, projector and content and promote the idea to end users.”
A demonstration of the virtual salesperson will be taking place on the 3M stand at ISE 2009 (#10I144) in Amsterdam, 3-5 February.
For more information, please visit www.3M.co.uk/vikuiti and www.boostgroup.nl.
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3M and Vikuiti are trademarks of 3M
About Boost Products
Boost Products is one of the fastest growing full service design and production agencies in The Netherlands, and is renowned as a trend setter in the international world of experimental marketing campaigns for supermarket retailers in Benelux. Its innovative products are also being used in countries including the US, Mexico, Spain, Portugal and Kuwait.
3M – practical and ingenious solutions that help our customers succeed
3M is a $25.3 billion diversified technology company which, since 1902, has been creating innovative products that help make the world healthier, safer and more productive. Well known 3M brands include Scotch, Post-it, Scotchgard, Thinsulate and Scotch-Brite.
3M employs some 75,000 people worldwide, producing thousands of innovative products for customers in dozens of diverse markets in 200 countries. Its 45 technology platforms touch nearly every aspect of modern life - the company has applied its expertise in RFID technology to deliver biometric passports; it is using its understanding of the healthcare industry to provide hospitals with infection prevention and detection solutions; and in 2008 it launched the world’s first hand-help micro projector, the MPro110.
The UK and Ireland is home to one of the largest 3M subsidiaries outside the USA, employing more than 3,500 people across 16 locations, including 12 manufacturing sites.
Products manufactured in the UK include coated abrasives, occupational health and environmental safety equipment, adhesive tapes, industrial microbiology products, drug delivery systems, high-performance coatings, secure documents and passport scanners.
www.3M.co.uk
