Czar Teams with Coca-Cola for Virtual Convenience Experience

Longtime customer, Coca-Cola, turned to the Czarnowski team to improve their brand presence at last month's NACS (National Association of Convenience Stores) event, the largest trade show for convenience retailers in the US. At the show, buyers for convenience stores such as 7-Eleven and Circle K convened at NACS in Atlanta to “shop” for products to sell in their stores. It’s one of Coke’s  premier events of the year, offering an abundance of sales opportunities – and competition. 

Czarnowski's Creative Team developed the concept of a Digital Cold Vault, a virtual version of a convenience store’s huge beverage coolers. In reality, the store’s “wall of fridges” can generate significant profits, especially if it offers the right products to the right customer. The Digital Cold Vault shows buyers different beverage coolers stocked with Coke products selected to appeal to specific customer groups – in a life-size, real-time format. 

Controlled by a Coke representative through an interactive kiosk, the Digital Cold Vault displays different product combinations on 60 video microtiles that come together to create a digital, life-size cooler wall. Product information and videos also were programmed into the experience, so visitors could learn more about Coke's newest product innovations anytime during the presentation. More than 120 retailers engaged with the system throughout the course of the show, some staying for 15 minutes or longer to discuss shopper strategy with Coke representatives. Competitors were also intrigued by the Cold Vault – many stopped by for photos, and one even said, “I’ll have to make sure I have one of these next year at our booth!” 

One of our Coca-Cola direct contacts called the show “a game-changer,” saying “our Digital Cold Vault experience let us spend time working with retailers to not only showcase our brands and packages, but also our thought leadership and category expertise.” Coke has also asked Czarnowski to incorporate the Digital Cold Vault into three permanent installations and create a mobile version for Coke sales reps. 

Well done to the CZAR and Coca-Cola Partnership!

Not Just Another Interactive....

We've all learned that UV light is harmful to our eyes, but did you know that within the visible light spectrum there are varying wavelengths and some are harmful? Some types are important to our overall well-being (they regulate our sleep cycle, for example), while others can damage our skin and eyes. Crizal, a new product from France-based lens manufacturer Essilor, is a coating on glasses lenses that filters out harmful light while letting beneficial light pass through. 

Not an easy product to describe, right? Now imagine trying to tell that story on a Tradeshow floor! That's why Essilor turned to us to create a custom interactive at the Vision Expo West show earlier this month in Las Vegas. The challenge was to develop an engaging customer journey to showcase the Crizal product, its benefits and the Essilor brand. A team from multiple locations worked together on the sophisticated interactive, a 12' by 25' tunnel that used audio, visuals and technology to explain how Crizal works. An added challenge? The best part of the story is teaming another exhibit agency, which meant working within their timeframes and processes with the customer's goals being the #1 priority.

It's an Exciting Fall 2013 in Europe!

Czarnowski Cologne has had a busy fall show season so far, supporting clients at a variety of events across Europe. Czar Cologne works with domestic locations (including Atlanta, Boston and Chicago, among others) and our global implementation partner, Uniplan, to bring projects to life. Here's a look at some of their work during September (clockwise from top-right): 

• Mazor Robotics at Eurospine in Liverpool, which was the first stand we facilitated for Mazor outside the U.S. Our next show with Mazor will be DWG, Dec. 5-12 in Frankfurt, Germany.
• American Orthodontics at DGKFO in Saarbrüken, Germany, another first for Czarnowski and AO working together internationally. AO has three more European shows on the schedule in the months ahead.
• Philips at the European Society of Intensive Care Medicine (ESICM) show in Paris, which the client reported "had lots of interest, lots of photos taken and a really great team spirit," in an email to the team.
• Ellex at the European Society of Cataract & Refractive Surgeons (ESCRS) show in Amsterdam

Another Success in Germany!

Each September, more than 300 exhibitors and nearly a million visitors convene in Frankfurt, Germany for IAA, one of the world's biggest auto shows. Czarnowski, working with Uniplan, our execution partner in Europe and Asia, helped us bring booths to life for two domestic brands: Cadillac and Chevrolet. 

While working internationally has a unique set of challenges, consistency is key. "The idea is to not differ from the US," explained Czarnowski's Chevrolet Account Director Erik Schoneman. "We are going for brand consistency globally for all GM brands, so [global shows] should have the exact same look and feel. Think Apple stores globally -- all the same and instant brand recognition." 

The client was thrilled with the final space, and press day was packed, especially when DJ Antoine stopped by the booth to sign autographs, says Czarnowski's Cadillac Account Director Jan Gogerty. 

Our strategic locations around the world brought these projects to life, with design by Czarnowski Detroit, engineering and fabrication by Uniplan and project management from our Detroit and Cologne offices. 
Congratulations to all involved on a successful IAA 2013!