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Helping to putting the ProAV industry in the center stage spotlight at the world’s largest consumer technology trade show, Stampede, the global leader in value added ProAV distribution, today announced that it is joining forces with the DailyDOOH, to host Stampede CES Live! — a series of live interviews with select ProAV manufacturers during #CES2019 (January 8-11, 2019) in South Hall 2 at Booth #25708.

Stampede President & CEO Kevin Kelly said “Increasingly, the ProAV industry has a major role to play in the growing and expanding world of consumer technology. As the leading voice of the ProAV industry, Stampede is pulling out all of the stops at CES 2019 to provide our manufacturer partners with a platform from which they can present their story to the entire consumer and commercial audiovisual industry. Our customized Stampede CES Live! Broadcast Center is certain to be a center of attention throughout the show.”

According to Kelly, manufacturers will be scheduled for an on-camera television interview with DailyDOOH co-founder and editor-in-chief Adrian Cotterill, who will discuss industry trends and each manufacturer’s plans to capitalize on these trends in 2019.

Kelly emphasized “Adrian is one of the most informed journalists at work in the ProAV industry today and his scope of influence is global and cuts across all ProAV product categories and vertical markets. The interviews he conducts throughout CES, live from the Stampede booth, are certain to create a stream of major news stories that will be studied closely by DailyDOOH readers and Adrian’s followers,”

In addition to being made available by DailyDOOH on YouTube, Kelly continued, the interviews will be featured on Stampede’s website and proposed through its social media channels. The interviews are also expected to receive additional viewership through the marketing support provided by each participating manufacturer, who will post the interviews on their websites and on their own social channels. After #CES2019 concludes, all of the interviews will be hosted on a special YouTube Channel created by Stampede and further promoted to the ProAV industry.

“If you’re a ProAV manufacturer with a story to tell at CES 2019 you will want to take the stage in our broadcast center to meet with Adrian and have your message received and understood by the customers you need to reach during the show and throughout the coming year,” Kelly concluded.

Manufacturers interested in participating in Stampede CES Live! should contact Stampede Senior Vice President of Marketing Ashley Flaska at aflaska@stampedeglobal.com.

Headquartered in Amherst, New York, Stampede is the global ProAV brand of the DCC technology division and is the world’s leading value-added distributor of integrated AV/IT technology solutions that help resellers meet the expanding technology needs of end-user customers in dozens of commercial vertical markets in Asia, Australia, Canada, Europe, India, Latin America, the Middle East, Scandinavia, South Africa, and the United States. Stampede provides a global network of nearly 20,000 resellers with the broadest range of traditional ProAV solutions from more than 150 manufacturing partners and leads the way in the creation of the new product categories and related training and support programs that are unleashing the business opportunities of the future — Unmanned Aerial Vehicles, Drone Video Systems, Virtual Reality, IoT, Unified Communications, low-cost Video Conferencing. and the world’s largest selection of replacement projector lamps. Stampede annually produces the ‘Big Book of AV’ a 1,100+ page catalog and companion website providing hundreds of sales, installation and spec tips for Stampede’s dealers in addition to product details on more than 8,000 SKUs.

Out of home advertising media owner OPEN Media has teamed up with Liverpool’s leading homeless and housing charity, The Whitechapel Centre, to raise awareness and encourage support for the region’s homeless population. The partnership takes place throughout the end of December and January, as the cold weather period settles in, the most difficult time for rough sleepers.

OPEN Media has provided The Whitechapel Centre with free advertising space on their Liverpool City Centre digital outdoor advertising screens, Victoria Street and Barratt House. The Whitechapel Centre are promoting their Always Room Inside campaign, which aims to ensure that no person arriving on the streets of Liverpool will sleep outdoors for more than one night. OPEN Media fully supports this vision by displaying copy on their city centre screens that contains a phone number to call if you’re worried about a rough sleeper.

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Signagelive has announced PosterMyWall as a new strategic partner which will allow their customers to create stunning promotional graphics and videos without needing any design skills.

PosterMyWall is a one-stop online solution for marketers and small business owners for creating DIY promotional graphics. With thousands of templates and user friendly tools, PosterMyWall simplifies design and allows anyone to create high quality posters, flyers, videos and social media graphics in minutes.

Jason Cremins, Founder/CEO, Signagelive told us “When I first saw PosterMyWall in action I was very impressed with the simplicity and ease of use for creating broadcast quality content for digital signage. We approached the PosterMyWall team to discuss if they could optimise their platform for use with Signagelive and specifically the ability to make changes that auto-update content when published using our platform. The resulting integration of PosterMyWall with Signagelive delivers an extremely powerful and cost-effective content creation solution for customers that require high quality, engaging and frequently updated content for their digital displays”

Thousands of templates can be used for restaurants, retail, corporate, events and bars within Signagelive which can be customised within minutes. Edit your designs for free and have them appear automatically on your screens. Use stunning visuals to advertise and promote sales and discounts, and show engaging and attention-grabbing videos. PosterMyWall can be easily added to your Signagelive platform just click here to find out more.

PosterMyWall makes digital signage easy: –

Tens of thousands of professional templates
Easily change signage from your browser or phone
Pay as you go or choose a subscription plan
Hundreds of Thousands of HD Stock Videos

Jaffer Haider, Founder/CEO, PosterMyWall told us “PosterMyWall, with its 70,000 template arsenal, is proud to partner with Signagelive’s cloud-based signage platform. Together PosterMyWall and Signagelive are a natural fit offering businesses of all types the ability to launch custom videos and images to their signs in a matter of minutes.”

PosterMyWall is a one-stop online solution for marketers and small business owners for creating DIY promotional graphics. With thousands of templates and user friendly tools, PosterMyWall simplifies design and allows anyone to create high quality posters, flyers, videos and social media graphics in minutes.

This winter, Clear Channel Sweden is using its digital billboards to help Stockholm’s homeless find their nearest shelter. The Out of Home Project sees ad content from Clear Channel’s digital billboards replaced with directions to the nearest homeless shelter when the temperature drops to freezing conditions.

The initiative uses data sources such as time, weather and location as triggers so that when the temperature drops below City of Stockholm’s crisis limit of minus seven degress Celsius, Clear Channel’s digital billboards display directions to open shelters nearby. It is a completely new initiative, bringing organisations that look after homeless people in Stockholm together for the first time on an OOH platform to provide a complete picture of the shelter networks in the city. Across Stockholm, fifty-three billboards have been activated for the pilot programme, focusing on areas that are known to be gathering points for homeless people, which will last over two months.

Ola Klingenborg, Vice President of Northern Europe, Clear Channel International, told us “Our billboards are located where people are, and thanks to technology, we can develop solutions that can help both people and cities. This is something we see as an extension of our work in creating true value in the cities we operate in.”

When temperatures hit Stockholm’s crisis limit, the city of Stockholm together with churches and non-profit organizations open emergency shelters for those not covered by social services, however; information about the establishment of the shelters often does not reach the homeless in time. The Out of Home Project tackles this communication problem by activating Clear Channel’s digital panels which reach over a million people a day in Stockholm.

When the temperature is above the city’s crisis limit of minus seven degrees Celsius, the billboards display information on where people can donate necessities and how one can become a volunteer, as well as open day shelters for breakfast and warmth during the day.

The Out of Home Project was developed by Prime Weber Shandwick on behalf of Clear Channel Sweden. Hanna Belander, Creative Director at Prime Weber Shandwick, was quoted as saying “Out of Home media has never been more relevant. By using digital billboards, we are able to connect with a target group otherwise difficult to reach, while benefitting from an incomparable reach throughout the city. We are proud over that we, by having a value creation perspective on our work, have built something scalable that can make a difference”.

Since launching in November, additional non-profit organizations in Stockholm have asked to be a part of the emergency system, further increasing the potential of the project to help the homeless escape the cold.

Bekon Media, a Christchurch-based company bringing the future of Digital media to New Zealand, has chosen Quividi to measure its network of large outdoor screens.

Bekon owns and operates high definition LED 6 x 3 metre billboards, located in high traffic flow areas. The units are natively equipped with Quividi’s platform, measuring pedestrian traffic in real-time.

Bekon will be able to give advertisers and agencies a precise understanding of their campaigns’ performances, as well as actionable insights to optimize their planning and content strategies.

Quividi’s platform has become standard for any DOOH company willing to access the most accurate real-time audience & content analytics, while protecting privacy. Quividi’s solutions never store any image or data unique to an individual.

Simon Jerard, Director, Bekon Media told us “Understanding audiences and performance of our state-of-the-art billboards is essential in the today’s Digital Out of Home landscape. Advertisers are increasingly demanding and having detailed analytics from the trusted technology gives us a competitive edge. The next step for us is the measurement of content-level performance, which is going to provide a new level of transparency and accountability to our customers.”

Based in Christchurch, New Zealand, Bekon Media is a growing nationwide network with large outdoor LED Billboards situated in high traffic flow areas visible from over 250 meters. Using only the latest SMD diode technology on fully automated, calibrated screens Bekon’s customers enjoy a constant high image resolution 24/7. Bekon intends to grow its network nationwide, with additional screens due to be deployed in the next 12 months. The next screens will be installed in Christchurch and Auckland in early 2019.

Captivate, commercial real estate’s number one digital media amenity, continues its Canadian expansion, announcing that the company will be joining tech and financial industry leaders in Toronto’s CIBC SQUARE.

Currently under construction by Ivanhoé Cambridge and Hines, CIBC SQUARE is a premier, Class AAA office tower complex that will house the global headquarters for CIBC and AGF, as well as the Canadian headquarters for Microsoft and Boston Consulting Group. Captivate’s curated digital video platform will debut on 38 elevator screens throughout the 81 Bay tower, bringing both informational and entertaining content to the building’s busy professionals. Phase one of CIBC SQUARE at 81 Bay Street is scheduled for completion in Q2 2020.

Captivate offers unique opportunities for a variety of audiences and use cases. With CIBC SQUARE located prominently in the heart of downtown Toronto, advertisers can utilize Captivate to promote their products/services throughout the work day to a diverse mix of decision makers at blue-chip brands. Property owners and managers can effectively deliver on-screen building messages to tenants through the ScreenCenter™ communication tool. This self-serve portal can be leveraged to announce building initiatives and promote other exclusive amenities, such as the elevated park – a state-of-the-art outdoor space – connecting the two towers together and to Greater Toronto.

In a recent survey of property owners/managers, the vast majority said that the Captivate screens increase building communication (88%) and improve overall tenant experience (73%). When it comes to tenants in Captivate buildings, the majority had a more enjoyable experience in the elevators with screens (82%) and said they would be disappointed if the screens were removed (78%).

Captivate is known for its vast network of nearly 12,000 elevator and lobby displays located in 1,600 premier office buildings across North America, Captivate brings life to work as commercial real estate’s number one digital media amenity. Captivate takes tenant satisfaction to new heights by delivering meaningful, engaging information and effective tenant communication to 13 million unique monthly viewers. This Class A service redefines the tenant’s building experience and elevates building status. Founded in 1997, Captivate is owned by Generation Partners and TEGNA.

WARC, the global authority on advertising and media effectiveness, has this week released Marketer’s Toolkit 2019, an annual report outlining the priorities of, and challenges facing, brands in the year ahead – as well as guidance on how to meet them.

The report is centred on a survey of more than 800 senior marketing and advertising professionals from around the world and takes an in-depth look at strategic priorities, technology and media challenges.

Also included are interviews with nine leading marketers, such as Fernando Machado (Burger King), Freddie Covington (APAC Visa), Mark Evans (Direct Line) and Lisa Ronson (Tourism Australia) as well as examples, best practice guidance and a round-up of what this all means for brands, media owners and agencies.

Some of the major insights highlighted in WARC’s Marketer’s Toolkit 2019 are:

• Strategic Priorities: ‘Experience’ will drive the marketing agenda, and shape tech investment. Marketers see improved customer experience – both online and offline – as key to kick-starting growth and restoring trust in brands. In particular, they are responding to disruption of their categories by so-called ‘direct-to-consumer’ brands. This agenda means tech investment is focused on data, and in particular how data and machine learning can be used to drive relevance and personalisation in communications. WARC key data: 61% of agencies and 52% of brands cited CX as the most important digital transformation for business in 2019. Only 15% of brands say their CX is aligned across channels. Jalin Wu, Chief Marketing Officer, Uniqlo China, said “Always go back to understand the customer. The customer is our need. We are not just presenting ourselves as apparel, we are presenting ourselves as a solution for people to have a better life.”
• Technology: Voice and payment tech are gaining traction, but there is less interest in AR and VR. Compared with the results of last year’s Toolkit survey, there is more interest among marketers in voice – principally, voice search – and also more interest in payment technology as brands look to expand in e-commerce. There is less interest in areas such as augmented and virtual reality, where arguably there is still need for a ‘killer’ marketing application. WARC key data: 29% of brands named voice as a priority for 2019, up 12 percentage points from last year’s survey; 23% named AR/VR, down 13 points. Lisa Ronson, Chief Marketing Officer, Tourism Australia, said “Like most big marketers and advertisers, we’re looking at the role of voice and how we can continually make that user experience a whole lot better.”
• Media: Video and search platforms are set to benefit from spending shift. Video, search and mobile are set to see continued growth in marketing investment. Instagram and YouTube are set to benefit from the shift to video (though marketers appear to be cooling on Snapchat). Marketers also appear to welcome the emergence of Amazon as a search platform, with a majority planning to increase spend on the e-commerce site. WARC key data: 79% of marketers expect to increase their online video budgets; 69% plan to increase spend on Amazon.

David Tiltman, Head of Content, WARC, summed up what it’s all about with “The Toolkit reports of the last two years have been dominated by technology trends; 2019 feels different. It feels like a year of getting the fundamentals right, and using tech where necessary to achieve that end. Brands clearly view ‘experience’ as a form of competitive advantage – and the tech that can help them improve customer experience across channels is being prioritised.”

WARC’s Marketer’s Toolkit 2019 is available now to WARC subscribers and a free sample PDF of the report is available to download here.

STRATACACHE this week announced the acquisition of an all-in-one intelligent tablet and computing device manufacturing company based in Ningbo, China.

As part of the acquisition, the company, formerly known as POPSCREENS, willl now be called Scala China. The aim of the rebranding is to strengthen solution visibility and brand presence in the global commercial market, positioning Scala China as a prime solution for interactive retail displays within the STRATACACHE family of marketing technology companies.

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Float4 Brings Immersive Visual Stories to Bloomingdale’s flagship Manhattan location on 59th Street recently launched its Carousel @ Bloomingdale’s pop-up shop, aimed at giving customers a uniquely curated retail experience, where two floor-to-ceiling video walls immerse shoppers in a thematic visual landscape.

According to Float4 founder and creative director Alexandre Simionescu, “The goal is to create a meticulously curated environment that draws shoppers in with awe-inspiring visuals and ambiance. In a normal retail environment, digital content is typically an add-on that supports existing sales displays and decor. At the Carousel, it is the decor. High-definition video walls encompass the entire area; shoppers find themselves immersed in a standalone boutique, surrounded by commodities related to the season’s theme.”

The Carousel’s inaugural theme was titled Urban Explorer and it featured carefully curated products including stylish bicycle helmets, electronics, personal care items, luggage and more. To encapsulate the ‘urban explorer’ aesthetic, Float4 captured live footage throughout New York City.

Float4 will eventually develop six pieces of content for the Carousel’s first year, demonstrating the studio’s dexterity with digital media production techniques, such as mixing live action footage and real-time graphics. Each piece will be approximately 10 minutes long, allowing customers to experience an entire storyline while shopping.

This project also highlighted Float4’s mastery of digital media technology, requiring specialized equipment and meticulous planning to produce content for dynamic display ratios and resolutions. For the launch of the Urban Explorer theme, each video wall consisted of 25 ultra-thin 55” LG displays in a 5×5 configuration. With the inauguration of the current theme, each wall received an additional 10 displays, resulting in 7×5 video walls that measure 10 feet high by 35 feet wide.

Since its construction, The Carousel has been a hit; Bloomingdale’s Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer Frank Berman proclaims that it delivers a shopping experience unmatched by any other store. “As the retail landscape changes, we continually seek innovative ways to engage our customer,” Berman said. “The Carousel allows Bloomingdale’s to regularly offer up new products, new brands and an original immersive experience, all tied to a timely and engaging theme. The engulfing screens create a cocoon-like feel, virtually transporting guests to new destinations, while the combination of unexpected product, unique shopping environment and engaging experiences makes the Carousel like no other pop-up shop in the world.”

According to Bloomingdale’s, the Carousel feels like a standalone boutique, and will have a dedicated entrance located on 60th Street between 3rd Avenue and Lexington Avenue. Each theme and piece of accompanying Float4 content will last two months, with guest experts curating product selections.

Founded in 2018 and headquartered in Montreal QC, Canada, Float4 is an award-winning studio of creative who are passionate about weaving compelling digital experiences into physical spaces to amplify their identity. Collaborating as a team of versatile, like-minded individuals, Float4 strives to redefine conventions by designing and producing innovative and compelling site-specific interactive multimedia installations that attract and engage with targeted audiences around the world.

Clear Channel Airports a brand division of Clear Channel Outdoor (NYSE: CCO), an indirect subsidiary of iHeartMedia Inc., has announced that it has won a 10-year contract with San Diego International Airport (SAN) to provide brands with innovative advertising solutions.

The new partnership began Nov. 1, 2018 and media upgrades begin mid-2019. Operated by the San Diego County Regional Airport Authority, SAN is experiencing record-breaking passenger traffic with double-digit passenger growth in the first half of 2018, bringing the airport’s annual passenger count to over 22 million.

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