Trade Talk
Trade Talk IFA TRADE NEWS BRIEFS CURRYS & PC WORLD INTRODUCE SMART ZONES Currys & PC World are launching new SMART Tech zones in five of their biggest stores (Staples Corner, Thurrock, Cribbs Causeway, Stockton, J9) – the first of their kind in the UK. The areas are divided by four category pillars: Smart Home, Smart Health, Smart Watches and Smart Gadgets, providing consumers with a new handson experience allowing them to test the most innovative and cutting edge products in one dedicated retail space. Customers to the stores are transported into the future of technology as they are immersed in brand new products from some of the leading names in innovation technology, including Heatmiser, Jawbone, NetGear and Sphero. Visitors are able to get a feel for how the gadgets work and how they reflect the ever-growing need for connected products that link the mobile world we live in with the technological essentials we desire. Katie Bickerstaffe, Dixons Retail UK & Ireland CEO, said: "The future is here, right now, and it's connected. Our new SMART Tech offering aims to create a fresh and inspiring in-store experience for customers that showcases major advancements in connected consumer technology. We know that our customers are looking for convenience and have an ever-growing need for connected products that they can access remotely, as well as the latest gadgets, and these innovative zones offer just that." ARS AND EK/SERVICEGROUP JOIN FORCES A far-reaching cooperation agreement has been signed between the German toy chain ARS, and the EK servicegroup. The approximately 100 ARS members now have access to the successful products and marketing concepts of EK, as well as the group’s central stocks. Concepts of cross-selling are being developed in a number of children's areas. "We appreciate the new cooperation", said Bernd Horenkamp, member of the management board of EK/ servicegroup. "We have the strengths of two successful companies and the merge makes sense". ARS Chairman Franz Josef Fries stressed, "For our members, this new cooperation is the right step at the right time. In particular, the services of EK in the fields of logistics and marketing are a welcome addition for ARS." Bernd Horenkamp Member of the management board of EK/servicegroup 16
Trade Talk EXPERT GREECE BACK IN ACTION The expert Group is once again present in the Greek market. From 1997 to 2012, the company "Expert Hellas" was active in Greece with a total of 40 expert specialist retail shops. In the wake of the financial crisis, the company was forced to declare bankruptcy. Ten former expert retailers have now rejoined forces to found Commercial & Industrial S.A., which was integrated into the expert group at the beginning of the new year as a licensing partner. These ten dealers are entering the Greek market with an initial total of 14 expert specialist stores. The secondlargest European federation for consumer electronics, information technology, telecommunication, entertainment and domestic appliances will then comprise 18 European member countries with more than 3,500 specialist retail stores. INTO TOMORROW & ITTV SEEKING GREAT GUESTS DURING IFA! Into Tomorrow with Dave Graveline – now in their 19 th year on the air and their 11th year broadcasting from IFA – is a 3-hour radio programme covering the Latest in Consumer Electronics & Technology available today and into tomorrow. The show airs on over 200 AM & FM radio stations around the US, stations in Canada and several other sources including TuneIn, Mobile Broadcast Network, iTunes, iHeartRadio, Sprint MARKETING LEDS… EXPERT INTERNATIONAL LAUNCHES NEW INITIATIVES IN EUROPE The triumph of energy-saving and long-lasting light emitting diodes in private homes is proceeding unstoppably according to the expert retail group. The strongest sales markets in Europe are currently Germany, France, Italy and Scandinavia. "The LED market is growing at different speeds in the European member countries. We are using our strong group for a mutual exchange of experience, thereby specifically helping partners to offer their markets still unexploited opportunities," explains expert International CEO Dieter Mathys. Expert Austria provides an LED best practice example: Free test kits are offered in the expert retail stores in order to introduce customers to the new light technology that comes with many benefits, but also a higher purchase price. They include a set of LED lamps in different designs so that customers can convince themselves of the benefits within their own four walls. Dave Graveline Radio, TiVo, Stitcher, Podzilla and many others – every weekend. If you have an iPhone/iPod/iPad or any Android device, you can also listen to a stream via their free app. The only international show covering Consumer Electronics exclusively for 19 years now, Into Tomorrow & ITTV highlight the way technology is changing our lives! From Gadgets & Gizmos to Smartphones & Tablets, Home Cinema, Digital Photography, Car Audio, Security & Navigation, High Tech Recreation, HDTV, Technology On-The-Go and everything else that people are talking about. If you’d like to be considered as a guest during IFA, please contact Dave’s Producers at Horacio@graveline.com or samantha@graveline.com right away as there are limited, remaining interview segments. PRESS CORNER Les Années Laser is a monthly print magazine about Audio-Video, Blu-ray & Home Cinema, 40,000 copies sold every month in France and abroad, 112 pages. We spoke to Patrick Marteau, Editor in Chief of this exceptional publication, who is an “old hand” at IFA, having attended the show for the past 21 years. What do you think will be the hot topics in the CE, industry at IFA this year? For Les Années Laser, the hot topics of IFA 2014 when it comes to image, are Ultra HD (4K) – the feedback from buyers and manufacturers, curved screens (ditto), the successor to Blu-ray Disc, VoD in 4K, and short-throw video projectors. On the audio side, our readers are interested in “audio objects” – typically things like Dolby Atmos, and also a topic that was already big last year – sound bars. Any tips for a breakthrough name, service or application at IFA? iFAntastic! Do you think vendors / manufacturers should change the way they communicate to the industry? If so, how? Press releases and media kits should be more oriented towards end-user benefits. How important is IFA for you in your information gathering process and what do you find are the most useful aspects in this respect? It’s for us the chance to get a global overview of the product rollout for the coming six months, to determine the trends, and to meet the major players all in one place, in a short space of time. But it would be better THE CRITICAL EYE – AND COMMENTS OF THE MEDIA AT IFA Each day in IFA International, we will be bringing you feedback from media at the show, helping buyers and manufacturers take the right direction in the coming months. Today’s media LES ANNEES LASER Patrick Marteau Editor in Chief of Les Années Laser to have the show at the end of August, as was the case before. What are your favourite aspects of the show in general? The concentration of space, place and time, as I just mentioned. IFA is not an empty shell. Many manufacturers reserve their major announcements and product launches for the show, they are not here by pure chance! Do you find IFA International – the show daily – is useful for you? If so, how does it help you in your work? We consult IFA International punctually for interviews. For more information: www.IntoTomorrow.com – Hall 24. www.ifa-international.org IFA International • Monday 1 st September 2014 17
