Stores Magazine - December 2007 - (Page 15)

Pulling the Plug on Analog TVs More than 60 million consumers should circle Feb. 18, 2009 on their calendars. That’s the day when broadcasters will no longer transmit analog signals. It’s also the day that non-digital TV sets not attached to a cable or satellite service (and not equipped with special converter boxes) will no longer work. At Best Buy, analog TVs are already a memory. The Minneapolis-based retail electronics chain stopped selling analog sets October 1 and pulled all remaining stock from its shelves. Best Buy executives say the move comes “as the end of the analog broadcast era draws near” and that they’re “committed to helping people understand the digital television transition.” The people who currently use antennas or analog TV sets have two options — buy a new digital TV or an analog-digital converter that will work on your old set. After the first of the year, the National Telecommunications and Information Administration will provide two $40 coupons for converters to homes that currently don’t have cable or satellite TV; Best Buy will sell coupon-eligible converter boxes. calls an old-fashioned approach,eMilkman.com is a thoroughly modern online grocery delivery service. Shoppers sign up for the service and can choose from about 1,800 items ranging from fresh milk and dairy products to juices, fresh breads and grocery items. Delivery rates start at $10.00, and all deliveries are made between 5 p.m. and 9 p.m. at night. Unlike days gone by, however, shoppers have to be home to receive the goods. The two entrepreneurs set deliveries based on the various ZIP codes in their East Tennessee service areas, and they’re planning to expand statewide if the business keeps growing. Burgess and Rule are marketing the service to timepressed consumers, young mothers at home and older adults who may not be able to make as many trips to the store as they once did. The delivery people wear uniforms reminiscent of the milkman’s “to emulate that wholesome image of someone you trust.” Second Look, Second Life If you thought the din surrounding Second Life had begun to die down, think again. Last month several companies announced plans to establish a presence in the 3-D virtual world. CNN plans to test the waters and find out exactly “what’s news” in the virtual world. Initial plans call for CNN to rely on Second Life residents to determine what constitutes news “in-world.” Following the approach used in real life where CNN asks its audience to submit I-Reports – user-generated content from cell phones, computers and cameras when STORES / DECEMBER 2007 15 Delivering Nostalgia – and Groceries Are you old enough to remember the milkman? If so, then you probably have fond memories of the icy cold bottles of milk packed in an insulated box. Two Tennessee-based employees of packaged goods giant Kimberly Clark, Josh Burgess and Jeff Rule, are hoping to recreate those nostalgic feelings with an online startup called eMilkman.com. But while the company name reWWW.STORES.ORG http://eMilkman.com http://eMilkman.com http://WWW.STORES.ORG

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Stores Magazine - December 2007

STORES - December 2007 Contents Executive Editor's Page President's Page Holiday Shopping Extravagance What Shoppers Think 10 Things You May Have Missed Numbers Worth Counting Full Price/Markdown Retail People Niche Marketing Eight Predictions for 2008 Concept2Watch Merchandising Strategy Sourcing E-Commerce Supply Chain Warehouse Management Software Contactless Payments Marketing Marketing Online Loeb Retail Letter ARTS Update Point of View NRF News Retail Industry Calendar Last Laugh

Stores Magazine - December 2007

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