Tag: Retailing

Microcom, IBM to automate license-plate renewals in Canada

Posted by | Nov 20, 2007 | |

Microcom Corp. and IBM have announced plans to let drivers renew their license-plate registrations at self-service kiosks throughout the province of Ontario, Canada.

James Larson, president and chief executive of Microcom, says the project will put drivers in the fast lane.

“The kiosks streamline the renewal process and help drivers avoid the agony of standing in long, slow-moving lines,” he said.

IBM sought Microcom’s help to engineer a solution that helps them automatically validate and issue serial-numbered registration stickers at ServiceOntario kiosks. The machines, deployed in about 70 locations throughout the province, are touted for being part of the largest self-service kiosk network of its kind in North America.

Microcom designed and manufactured a media printer/dispenser equipped with a laser barcode scanner for the terminals. Once a customer enters required information, the barcode-reader authenticates a registration sticker and dispenses it to the user.

The Ministry of Transportation is looking to leverage self-service technology in response to growth.

“They simply are looking to find smart and efficient ways to help tackle the increase in customer volume, while at the same time decrease costs,” Larson said.

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Newspaper online ads up

Posted by | Nov 20, 2007 | |

Online advertising spending at U.S. newspapers rose 21 percent in the third quarter but failed to offset a print ad spending decline.

While ad spending on newspaper Web sites rose to USD 773 million in the third quarter from the same period a year earlier, print ad spending fell 9 percent to USD 10.1 billion, a Newspaper Association of America study showed.

Online ad spending now accounts for 7.1 percent of total ad spending at newspapers, up from 5.4 percent a year earlier.

The third quarter’s online ad growth marked the 14th consecutive quarter of double-digit percentage growth for newspapers.

Total ad spending at newspapers fell 7.4 percent to USD 10.9 billion in the quarter.

Newspaper companies including New York Times Co, McClatchy Co, and Gannett Co Inc are grappling with profit declines from advertising shortfalls even as they increase Internet investments to offset those loses.

Last week, Gannett’s USA Today said it would cut 45 positions or 8.8 percent of its editorial staff.

But online ads remain a small percentage of overall ad spending at the papers.

The hardest-hit advertising sectors were classified ads, down 17 percent to USD 3.4 billion; retail ads, down 4.9 percent to USD 5.1 billion; and national ads, down 2.5 percent to USD 1.7 billion, in the third quarter.

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Western Union extends Multi-Year Agreement with Kroger

Posted by | Nov 19, 2007 | |

The Western Union Company announced it has renewed its agreement with The Kroger Co., one of the nation’s largest grocery chains, to offer Western Union(R) services.

The multi-year agreement will ensure that Western Union Money Orders, Money Transfer and bill-payment services continue to be available to consumers at stores nationwide, including Kroger, King Soopers, Ralphs, Fry’s, Fred Meyer, Smith’s, City Market, Gerbes, Dillons and Loaf n’ Jug.

The Kroger Co., which has offered Western Union services for 22 years, has more than 2,400 locations in over 30 states nationwide. The company operates supermarkets and price-impact, warehouse, multi-department, convenience and jewelry stores under nearly two dozen banners. The company’s longstanding relationship with Western Union has led to a number of successful ventures and pilots at Kroger stores.

“Western Union owes much of our success to our outstanding agents,” said Royal Cole, Executive Vice President, Western Union Payment Services. “Our longstanding agreement with Kroger is just one example of how teaming with trusted local businesses provides our diverse consumer base with the greater convenience and higher service levels they desire.”

Western Union is a leader in global financial services, enabling millions of individuals and businesses worldwide to transfer money quickly, easily and securely. Western Union services are offered through trusted local businesses that are an integral part of the communities they serve. By continuing to expand and diversify its range of services and its unparalleled agent network, Western Union’s vision is to become the financial services provider of choice to people across the world.

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Catalogue browsing boosts online shopping spend (UK)

Posted by | Nov 14, 2007 | |

Shoppers who browse a catalogue before making purchases online spend on average 25 per cent more than those who do not, new research revealed today.

Royal Mail’s Home Shopping Tracker Study 2007 revealed that on average online shoppers spend GBP 1,221 every year. But this figure jumps to GBP 1,526 for online shoppers who consult catalogues before making an internet purchase.

The study also revealed that catalogues received through the post have a stronger influence than those picked up in store. Four out of ten (39 per cent) of online shoppers browse for at least one purchase from a posted catalogue compared with 24 per cent who said they use catalogues they picked up in a store.

The research, unveiled after IMRG* predicted online sales in the run up to Christmas this year would increase 42 per cent to GBP 13.8 billion, also revealed that:

– In the past year, 47 per cent of online shoppers consulted a paper catalogue prior to an online purchase
– 61 per cent of consumers now shop from home – the highest ever recorded level, representing a 15 per cent growth since 2006
– Over 70 per cent of home shoppers say that they recycle their catalogues
– An average online shopper now purchases over 27 times a year, up 12 per cent from 2006
– 1 in 5 online shoppers are now over the age of 55 – that is double the number of two years ago

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Coinstar, redbox take aim at c-stores

Posted by | Nov 9, 2007 | |

No longer content to place DVD-rental kiosks solely in McDonald’s restaurants and grocery stores, Coinstar and redbox announced plans to deploy more than two dozen DVD-rental kiosks in convenience stores across the United States. Coinstar plans to have 300 of the kiosks in place by the end of 2007, says Ray Taddeo, Coinstar’s regional vice president

Coinstar, which owns half of redbox along with McDonald’s, showcased the DVD-rental kiosk to convenience-store owners, distributors and retailers at the 2007 National Association of Convenience Stores trade show in Atlanta this week.

Taddeo cited high-volume traffic as the main reason Coinstar and other self-service companies are introducing themselves to the c-store industry.

“And we know that many of them are DVD renters,” Taddeo said.

Redbox is the nation’s leader in self-service DVD rentals, growing from 93,000 rentals in 2003 to more than 21 million in 2006. Now the company says it is on pace to reach 40 million rentals this year.

Coinstar, on the other hand, recently introduced a financial-services kiosk, which currently distributes prepaid cards at a handful of c-stores. Future versions of the kiosk will include a bill-payment application and money-transfer capabilities, Taddeo says.

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