Kansas City, MO September 23, 2008. United Electronics Corporation (U.E.C.), an $800M division of the multi-billion-dollar Saudi conglomerate Al Fozan, wanted to develop a new boutique high-end consumer electronics retail chain that would capitalize upon the world-wide digital convergence trend.
After an extensive international R.F.I./R.F.P. process, they selected Kansas City-based Winntech to handle their project on every level from ideation through final execution--at EVERY level. Winntech’s marching orders were simultaneously both simple and daunting: “Ensure that these new stores represent the absolute pinnacle of retail strategy, environmental design, and technological integration. It is key that we are recognized as the clear category leader in any market we endeavor to enter, anywhere in the world.” Solving this equation, of course, meant agreeing early on that the design team would hold back nothing, nor compromise anything.
Winntech would craft the retail experience squarely around the needs and desires of the targeted consumer. The U.E.C. team was completely on-board with that strategy, and provided unending support in every imaginable fashion moving forward to ensure these lofty goals would be realized, not merely envisioned only to later be abandoned. World-class projects are inevitably the result of world-class teams. To that end, Winntech wasted no time in identifying two key partners to bring on board: Lippincott Mercer, New York, N.Y.: for helping to define the core brand pillars and to create the new “Zonik” name and brand identity.
E.U.K. (Entertainment U.K., a division of Woolworth’s), London, England: for helping to develop and deploy Zonik’s online digital content services for thousands of major Hollywood studio films, and millions of major record label songs. Indeed, Zonik’s digital download download service is the FIRST LEGAL digital content distribution platform in the entire Middle East! Together, the teams worked to conceive of a retail strategy that, for the first time anywhere on the planet, brings the very best digital convergence products and services TOGETHER into a seamless offer that is simple and fun for every-day consumers to immediately understand and connect with.
At Zonik, you can audition live products, best-in-class content, relevant bundled accessories, and then walk out of the store completely ready to enjoy. Zonik’s unique “Demo-Go-Round” kiosks (international patents pending) allow customers to literally spin the wheels to select between 40 different hand held best-in-class digital convergence products per kiosk, get interactive information directly at the point-of-discovery, choose and directly download their favorite digital entertainment content, and check out of the store--all in one simple and intuitive process, in just under one square meter of floor space.
Once indoctrinated into the world of Zonik, addicts and aficionados alike are encouraged to linger around as long as they like in the upstairs Digital Download Café. Here, hot and cold beverages are served for free, and super-high-bandwidth wireless internet access and a bevy of canary yellow “Lamborghini” edition Acer laptops are standing by to ensure that patrons’ extended downloading experiences are as comfortable and swift as imaginable. Further, the baristas and bartenders serving these beverages are all degreed electrical engineers--not mere geeks, and are available to talk customers through any technical questions or just talk shop while patrons enjoy their digital trek. The results: Winntech has already won an international A.R.E. award of merit for Retail Fixture of the Year for the Zonik Demo-Go-Round Kiosks, and the prototype location has been so successful, Winntech and the U.E.C. are constructing fifteen more stores simultaneously for expected openings in the fourth quarter of 2008. Extended partnerships for Zonik shop-in-shop locations affiliated with major international consumer electronics and telco vendors are well underway, and new locations for flagship stores in London and New York are on the near horizon. Winntech conceives, designs, produces, installs and services award-winning retail environments and interactive content for companies like Sony, Sprint, Sears, Bose, Time Warner, Bed Bath and Beyond, RadioShack and Sirius Satellite Radio.
Winntech World Headquarters is located at 7023 East 12th Terrace, Kansas City, Missouri, 64126. Zonik: Modern, Connected, Energetic, and fun.
REALLY FUN! For further information, contact Thom Walker at 816.241.4002 x 125 or thomw@winntech.com. |
