Retail Systems

Coinstar Looking For New Identity - Retail Automate

2013-06-19T20:29:36Z

Extended analysis of business case for Coinstar. Challenges and advantages...Even though t

he next year or two Coinstar's (CSTR) subsidiary Redbox is projected to grow its kiosk business, the changing way people consume media has forced the company to incorporate the additional strategy of offering streaming video offerings to its existing and future customers.

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It has partnered with Verizon to create Redbox Instant, which is marketed as a service which offers movie fans an option to consume their favorite flicks on disk or digital.

Along with the ability to stream movies, - which costs $8 a month - are four credits which allow the user to go to Redbox kiosks and pick out four of their favorite movies. Subscribers can also acquire or rent new releases on-demand via the Redbox Instant store.

Redbox announced it will launch its Redbox Instant service on the Roku set-top device some time in the summer. Currently over 5 million Roku devices have been sold in the U.S.

It is also available on Xbox 360, Android and iOS devices, Samsung Smart TV and Internet Connected Blu-ray devices, LG Smart TV's, and Google TV.

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Latest Earnings Report

According to its latest quarterly report, Coinstar generated $575 million in revenue, with approximately $508 million of that from Redbox. Core adjusted EBITDA was at $104.2 million and $0.93 of core diluted earnings per share, according to Galen C. Smith - CFO at the company. He said lower R&D credits in 2012 resulted in a $0.02 benefit, which was offset by an incremental interest expense of $0.04 coming from new senior notes.

Guidance for the second quarter is for consolidated revenue in a range of $555 million to $580 million. Projections for core adjusted EBITDA are from $103 million to $113 million, with core diluted earnings per share of $0.90 to $1.05. Core diluted EPS in the second quarter will be affected by $5.4 million in incremental interest expense, $1.8 million of operating losses, and amortization of intangibles concerning NCR kiosks.

Guidance for the year was raised to as high as $5.55 per share, 4 cents above its prior estimate.

Income Statement

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Cash Flow Statement

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Balance Sheet

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Strengthening its DVD Customer Base

To solidify its customer base, the company has added features to the business to keep its best customers returning. One is a credit card initiative, which has grown to over 40 million participants. Using the cards as a metric, volume using the high-frequency cards in the first quarter jumped to its highest levels ever in the history of the company.

Another growth area is in Blu-ray, where rentals jumped 65 percent year-over-year, accounting for over 14 percent of revenue.

The Redbox kiosk business is benefiting from the further decline in the number of brick-and-mortar rental locations in North America. Coinstar says it continues to generate about $5.5 billion annually, and is projected to grow to $6 billion over the next two years.

Back in January 2013 DISH Network announced it was going to close another 300 blockbuster outlets. That means Redbox will end up with growth in those markets, even if the overall DVD rental industry is declining. My assumption is this is why Coinstar sees Redbox DVD sales continuing to grow for at least two years. With approximately 500 Blockbuster stores left in America, the closing of more of them is sure to happen, and over time many of those markets will gravitate toward Redbox. I think a lot of bears aren't taking that into consideration with the performance of Redbox.

In its latest earnings report, Chief Financial Officer Galen C. Smith said physical rental volume had improved from double-digit declines to low single digit declines.

Another reason I see DVD sales remaining a smaller but viable business is the weakness of the streaming model as far as viewing experience goes. Quite a number of my friends don't like the seemingly endless buffering that happens while watching the movie, so go back to the physical DVD experience. That's not to say DVD rentals aren't declining, just that there is a point where the decline will slow down, and we'll get a better picture of the base Redbox DVD rentals will work from. After all is said and done, there will remain a good number of consumers preferring DVD rentals or who have no other option available to them. That's where the high-frequency program should help.

Canada is another factor in play, as the company is working on significantly penetrating that market, albeit at a slower pace in the U.S., and with less projected revenue per kiosk. Expectations are to install from 1,500 to 2,000 kiosks in Canada in 2013.

Redbox accounts for 47.8 percent of DVD rental market share.

Launch of Redbox Instant

Into this environment Coinstar launched its streaming business. There is one reason for this: shareholders expect and demand a streaming response to the changing movie and game consumption habits of people.

Even though the physical DVD business isn't as weak as investors think, it's going to gradually lose business to streaming, and the company must offer an entry in that segment of the market to continue to be considered relevant.

It enters a crowded market, where Netflix, Hulu and Amazon's Prime Instant are battling it out, among other smaller players. Fortunately, it has a powerful partner in Verizon, which should help it to grow market share. Redbox has a 35 percent stake in the joint venture while Verizon has 65 percent. That limits its risk if the venture fails, but also its growth if it succeeds.

The key strategy Coinstar is using against its major competitor Netflix is to acquire content on a per-subscriber basis.

"We believe the strategy of acquiring the content on a per-subscriber basis vs. a fixed fee payment is a key variable in Redbox Instant being able to acquire this quality content," said Piper Jaffray's Michael Olson.

How it differs is it is less expensive to acquire content on the front-end using a per-subscriber strategy. Netflix must pay a much higher price to acquire large amounts of content in aggregate. That means more risk for Netflix when it buys content.

The downside for Coinstar is as its subscriber base grows it'll have to pay more for content because it's a variable price model, where the cost of content rises in conjunction with subscribers. So when Redbox adds content in any large degree, it will need to raise prices or cut the streaming margins.

It's an excellent way to enter the market and should help them grow the new business without adversely having a negative effect on the bottom line. Once it grows share the company will have to decide on whether or not to change the per-subscriber model.

Another deal that will help Redbox Instant grow is that which it made with Verizon, Coinstar and Roku, where the content offered by Redbox Instant will be available for download on the platform, which has surpassed 5 million users.

Long-Term Commitment to Redbox Questionable

There's a question as to the long-term commitment Redbox will have to the segment, as it's rolling out other new products which go along with the idea of being an "automated retail" business rather than primarily one that sells entertainment.

So while the firm is taking the necessary steps to stay competitive in renting and selling movies and games, it is also moving away from being thought of solely as a provider of entertainment. The low margins associated with streaming video, along with it being a commodity business where it is difficult to differentiate from other players, suggests this could be a spin-off business for the company in the future as it shrinks its dependence on Redbox and moves to more profitable growth markets, such as Rubi. The need to stream videos, which goes beyond its core business and competency, is why I see that as a possibility; although one that probably won't be considered for a couple of years.

Redbox is still the big revenue driver of the company, and streaming will be a continual focus at the company as DVD rentals continue to fall in the overall industry. For the next couple of years DVD sales for Redbox itself will continue to grow, providing the time the company needs to grow its video-streaming share along with its other unrelated projects.

Rubi

In its last earnings call, Coinstar put forth the idea that it is an "automated retail" company, as questions swirled around the future of Redbox in a disrupted space. That suggests while the company will continue to work on slowing the decline in DVD sales at Redbox, it will at the same time work on building out new products which will hopefully change the perception of what the company is.

One of those ventures is Rubi, which is an entry into the automated coffee machine, where Coinstar is partnering with Starbucks to sell its "Seattle's Best Coffee" line.

CEO J. Scott Di Valerio said, "The primary focus in 2013 will be on the Rubi business," adding, "This business continues to be a major area of focus, given its growth potential...." That's interesting to me in that the majority of those watching the company are almost completely focused on Redbox Instant as the future of the company - whether for failure or success.

Coinstar evidently sees the automated coffee market as a growth one, even though after numerous tries no individual company has been able to take the lead or made a significant business in that market. The company seemingly believes its expertise in the automated retail market and partnership with Starbucks may be the exception. If it is successful, it could be an extraordinary revenue source for the company.

It's unclear as to how many coffee machines could be placed by Coinstar, but it would have to be in the tens of thousands. Even so, it is an unproven, sustainable profit driver, yet one that Coinstar must try in order to get an alternative and significant revenue stream outside of Redbox.

Conclusion

Coinstar has become a schizophrenic company because of the disruption of its Redbox unit. Now in order to remain competitive, it must go far outside its core competence and stated business model to remain a viable company for at least several more years.

While the company states it is an automated retail company, the investing world largely focuses on the streaming of movies and possibly other content as the key to the success of Coinstar.

So when CEO Scott Di Valerio reaffirms the company is an automated retailer, it mostly falls on deaf ears because of the interesting story of competing in the streaming video market against major competitor Netflix. That remains true even after he clearly stated the major focus on the company for 2013 is Rubi.

There can be no doubt Di Valerio and the management team want to be positioned as an automated retailer in the minds of shareholders and investors, as the streaming video business is a weak business model, one that can easily be disrupted by the entry of a new player with some deep pockets. Amazon is an example of that already. More could come. Add to that the fact existing streamers see the need to differentiate by providing their own content, and it goes even further from the core business and competence of Coinstar. That's why it partnered with Verizon to lower its risk in the streaming market.

For that reason I believe that sometime in the future the Redbox division - if it includes Redbox Instant - will either be sold or spun off. How Coinstar can maintain its identity and core purpose while growing out a streaming content business is very unclear.

I don't believe it will happen in the near future, as the projected growth of Redbox DVD sales for the next couple of years looks to be legitimate, based on the company picking up new customers in markets Blockbuster no longer competes in. What streaming will do is provide the company with some time while it transitions to new markets in the automated retail sector.

What is concerning would be if Rubi were to utterly fail with no new product in the pipeline, or one that is unproven as well. It looks like within the next three years Coinstar will need to have a least one more big seller under its belt, and preferably two, to make up for the inevitable decline in DVD sales. The company can only get so much from failing Blockbuster before slowing DVD sales start to hit the bottom line in a big way.

It looks like Coinstar will do far better than expected over the next couple of years, but if Rubi doesn't take, the company will be in some real trouble. If Rubi exceeds expectations, the share price of Coinstar could soar, even as it shrinks its dependence on Redbox as its chief revenue source.

The streaming of entertainment makes for interesting headlines, but Coinstar definitely wants to lower its reliance on that and reinforce its commitment to automated retailing. It's there where its long-term future lies.

A good sign for the firm in the near term is short interest in Coinstar has dropped by just under 13 percent, with NASDAQ data as of May 31, 2013, showing declines of 1,562,675 shares in total short interest to 10,679,803 shares since May 15, 2013.

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There was also a drop in days to cover by over 26 percent, down from almost 18 days to just over 13 days. Usually that means either a long bet closed in response to Coinstar being shorted as a hedge, or the outlook for the share price of the stock has improved. It appears it's the latter in this case.

In the medium-term, Redbox will remain its most important revenue source, and could surprise over the next couple of years.

After digesting the data and guidance, it looks like the bearish outlook for Coinstar based on the disruption associated with its DVD rentals is diminishing as the potential damage is further out than expected. With that in mind, Coinstar could make some nice moves over the next couple of years because of low expectations. On the other hand, a debacle with Rubi would undermine the unexpected strength in Redbox and punish the stock. Take both into account when considering Coinstar as an investment option.

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From kiosks to smartphones, tech-savvy shoppers driving big changes in retail - Retail Automate

2013-06-19T20:23:45Z

The latest retail trends were discussed at the Bloomberg Next Big Thing Summit in Half Moon Bay this week, pulling the curtain back on a retail world where technology and old-fashioned brick and mortar come together to satisfy a consumers'

very need and whim. The Bay Area is on the frontline of this retail shake-up, with many companies testing new products and services here and Silicon Valley entrepreneurs leading the way in new retail technology.

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Coinstar, a Washington-based kiosk company,

Coinstar, which started as a coin-counting kiosk chain, has recently expanded to sell lattes, beauty products, sandwiches and gift cards, all through self-service kiosks. (Coinstar photo)

has rolled out new automated retail technology in the Bay Area, and experts say kiosks are replacing costly big-box stores. Braintree, a mobile payments company in the Silicon Valley, is working to make mobile shopping easier for consumers, and Klout, a social network in San Francisco that assigns numbers to measure the influence a person or company, says it will help drive a new era of personalized shopping.

"With the shopper in control, it puts more pressure on every type of retailer to be more relevant," said Gwen Morrison, co-CEO of The Store, the retail arm of the Chicago-based marketing agency WPP. "It's not that consumers aren't going into stores, but they are going in for a very specific reason."

Shoppers can buy almost anything on any device -- phone, tablet and desktop -- and most want the in-store experience to be as quick and painless as the experience of making a purchase on their iPhone.

Coinstar CEO J. Scott Di Valerio says automated retail is the answer. The company, which started as a coin-counting kiosk chain, has recently expanded to sell lattes, beauty products, sandwiches and gift cards, all through self-service kiosks. It's been busy in the Bay Area, where it recently partnered with eBay's (EBAY) PayPal to allow customers to convert loose change into a PayPal deposit, and joined Starbucks to launch Rubi, a self-service coffee kiosk in supermarkets across the Bay Area. Coinstar is also is developing a deal with Blackhawk, a Pleasanton company that provides gift cards for brands like Apple (AAPL) and Nordstrom, to offer consumers cash for unwanted gift cards.

Kiosks are halfway between shopping on a smartphone and making a purchase at a store check-out. They offer consumers the technology experience but in a public retail setting, where they can choose to talk -- or not talk -- to anyone. And kiosks are generally in places where shoppers go weekly or monthly, including the supermarket, convenience and drug stores, and smalls.

"It's not like they're making a special trip," Di Valerio said.

He said he's working to add kiosks to locations where Amazon and Walmart have installed delivery lockers, where consumers can pick up online purchases. Already, some 7-Eleven stores have both Amazon lockers and Redbox kiosks, the movie rental service Coinstar holds.

While some traditional retailers welcome kiosks into their stores, others are adopting new mobile apps to help shoppers get better product reviews and to send shoppers promotions on their phones while in the store.

"Mobile will be the shopping companion," said Braintree CEO Bill Ready. It already is the primary shopping tool for most -- a recent Google (GOOG) study shows that about eight in 10 smartphone owners use their devices for help making purchases in stores.

The biggest change headed for consumers, though, might be how stores use social networks to learn more about their shoppers. Already, retailers compile huge amounts of data about customers, but experts say they expect more stores will use social media to personalize the shopping experience for each customer. For instance, Klout, a social network that assigns numbers to measure the influence a person or brand, uses technology to alert stores about the shoppers that enter their stores. CEO Joe Fernandez said stores could use that information to more quickly hone in on a shopper's needs, budget and fashion taste.

Fernandez said every shopping experience will be "about getting your questions answered having a personal shopper or concierge,"

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Wal-Mart's E-Stumble - Retail Automate

2013-06-19T13:40:15Z

After Years Giving Short Shrift to Web, Retailer Plays Catch-Up With Amazon Source link

For more efficient shipping, Wal-Mart is creating a system that uses workers in stores to pack items and send them to customers. The WSJ's Shelly Banjo tells Michael Arnold why Wal-Mart is lagging behind Amazon, the e-commerce leader.

Amazon.com Inc. AMZN -0.17% has become the runaway leader in online sales thanks to a network of more than 40 U.S. warehouses, some employing robotic assistants, which speeds orders to homes with ruthless efficiency.

As it seeks to play catch-up in e-commerce, Wal-Mart Stores Inc. WMT -2.15% has concluded it doesn't want to simply clone Amazon's model since it also has to worry about supplying its stores.

Instead Wal-Mart is creating a vast new logistics system that includes building new warehouses for Web orders, but also uses workers in stores to pack and mail items to customers, because Wal-Mart has determined it is faster and cheaper to send some shipments from its more than 4,000 U.S. stores.

"We're starting to gain traction," Chief Executive Mike Duke declared during the company's annual meeting this month. "I say starting because we know that it's an area we still have a long ways to go."

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Wal-Mart is being forced to invent its own solution because it still hasn't figured out how to economically deliver all its products into the hands of online shoppers, current and former executives say. It is a remarkable admission for the Bentonville, Ark., company, which became the world's largest retailer in part by the efficiency of its supply chain.

Despite countless promises to become an online force since it got into e-commerce a decade ago, Wal-Mart has fallen far behind Amazon.Last year, Amazon posted Web sales of $61 billion, compared to an estimated $7.7 billion for Wal-Mart, according to trade publication Internet Retailer.

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Asda steps up multichannel drive with kiosk and in-store collection locker trials - Retail Automate

2013-06-18T13:33:22Z

Asda upped the pace of its multichannel expansion with new online order kiosks and collection lockers in store as part of a trial.

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Asda has introduced transactional kiosks to allow shoppers to browse a wider range of non-food products via its website in 20 stores and log into their Asda account.

The grocer had previously trialled similar non-food kiosks that allowed shoppers to use the Argos model of ordering and collection in a store but had issues with fulfilment, retail director Mark Ibbotson told Retail Week.

The kiosks are in addition to the grocer's dedicated JML kiosks, which allow shoppers to browse the shopping channel's range.

The move echoes that of rival Tesco, which enables customers to peruse larger items and full ranges on kiosks in store. Marks & Spencer has also championed kiosks at its flagship Cheshire Oaks store, while Thorntons last week unveiled a trial of three kiosks to order hampers.

Asda, which has earmarked £700m to invest in digital developments and new stores this year, is also allowing shoppers who are given a unique code to pick up online non-food orders in 20 of its shops.

It is the latest move in Asda's tactic to add new collection methods for online orders as it scouts business parks, universities, train stations and park-and-ride schemes for collection locations.

Ibbotson said: "There's a lot of technology we are looking at. We are trilaling 20 order points, they will allow people to browse the website."

He added that the grocer's free wi-fi offered in store allowed shoppers to browse online via the kiosks or their own mobile device.

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Will Coinstar Become Outerwall? - Retail Automate

2013-06-17T19:02:19Z

Image via CrunchBase

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Coinstar said its proposed name change is intended to convey "pushing the walls of retail out into a new dimension through current and future automated retail solutions." The new umbrella corporate brand would also reflect the company's evolution from a single coin-counting kiosk business into multiple automated retail businesses, including its Redbox DVD rental machines and, most recently, Seattle's Best-branded Rubi coffee vending machines. | SEE STORY

Back when Coinstar was involved in bulk vending and cranes, its "4th Wall" front-of-store strategy aimed to create profit centers at the front of supermarkets and other retail outlets in "real estate" that typically lay dormant or underutilized. The company sold its entertainment division to National Entertainment Network in 2009. | SEE STORY

"More than two decades ago, Coinstar pioneered self-service coin counting and 10 years later, Redbox re-imagined a new way to deliver low-cost entertainment through DVD kiosks," said Coinstar chief executive J. Scott Di Valerio. "We continue to develop solutions that are simple, convenient and affordable."

If the new name is formally adopted, the company plans to change its NASDAQ ticker symbol from "CSTR" to "OUTR" and will announce the date trading under the new symbol will commence.

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Dick's Expands Ship-from-Store Capabilities Chainwide to 520 Stores - Retail Automate

2013-05-31T17:34:15Z

Noting that shipping online orders from its 520 stores is "cheaper and quicker," Dick's Sporting Goods CEO Edward Stack says the retailer is doing its best to maximize ship-from-store as a fulfillment method. Source link

"As we move to ship from store and we continue to get better at that, we look at it as having over 500 distribution centers across the country that can get product to customers quickly and inexpensively," said Stack during a recent conference call discussing Dick's Q1 financial results. While he did not provide any specific figures on the rise of ship-from-store, Stack called the increase "pretty dramatic."

Dick's other key omnichannel move is the addition of buy online/pick up in store functionality, which the retailer expects to have operational this year. E-commerce is a fast-growing and increasingly important part of Dick's business; it represented 3.7% of revenues in Q1 2012 but rose to 5.8% in Q1 2013, which ended May 4, 2013.

The retailer is not ignoring its brick-and-mortar stores by any means. Dick's will open a total of 40 new stores this year, including the introduction of a new Field & Stream outdoor concept store. "Our plans are to open two of these new stores this year, the first of which is scheduled to open in Pittsburgh in the third quarter," said COO Joseph Schmidt.

Dick's will also remodel 75 stores this year, including 56 by the end of Q2. The remodels include increasing the number of Nike and Under Armour store-within-store shops. From a current total of 178 Nike Fieldhouse shops and 111 Under Armour shops, the retailer projects to have 291 Nike and 240 Under Armour shops in its stores by the end of the year.

In another sign of the increasingly omnichannel nature of its business, Dick's now reports same-store sales for both brick-and-mortar locations and e-commerce business together. "It has become apparent that the traditional sales channels are overlapping with the digital space and that providing comp sales on a combined basis will be more meaningful," said CFO Timothy Kullman.

Sales for Q1 2013 increased 4.1% to $1.3 billion compared to the same period last year. Adjusted for a shifted calendar that added a 53rd week in 2012, same-store sales dropped 3.8% for the quarter.

For related content: Top Eight Retail Customer Loyalty Leaders

Top 5 and Bottom 5 Retailers of Q3 2012

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Google readies Chrome OS for all comers at the kiosk - Retail Automate

2013-05-03T15:05:55Z

Google Chrome will now support managed public sessions If you've yet to lay your hands on a Chromebook or Chromebox, that could change shortly, as the computers may soon find a new life in libraries, hotels, retail stores and even the break room. Today, Google announced an update to its management console for Chrome OS that allows for Managed Public Sessions -- in other words, a kiosk mode. Central to the idea, users will be able to login to the computer without supplying credentials, and their data will be automatically cleared at the end of the session. The setup has plenty of appeal for system administrators, too, as they'll find the ability to set the default web page, block access to specific sites and apps, configure device I/O operation and manage timed logouts. Google has tested Managed Public Sessions with Dillards, The Hyatt in San Francisco and the Multnomah County Library in Oregon. If anything, it's a good reason to keep a keen watch on your surroundings... you might just spot a Chromebook in the wild that's begging for some attention.

http://www.engadget.com/2013/04/30/google-readies-chrome-os-for-kiosks/

AVT and Utique, Inc. Enter into 10-Year Exclusive Partnership - Retail Automate

2013-04-16T16:58:32Z

CORONA, Calif., April 16, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- AVT, Inc. (OTC Markets: AVTC) (www.autoretail.com), a technology leader in developing automated retailing systems, customized kiosks and micro-stores, announced that they have entered into a 10-year exclusive licensing agreement with Utique, Inc. - a San Francisco based innovator of retail automation technologies and operator of U*tique Shop automated stores.

Utique has spent the last 5.5 years developing patented retail automation hardware, software and a unique retail concept, the U*tique Shop, which has been awarded for its innovative design and compelling consumer experience. U*tique Shops have been deployed with strong repeat performance in major international airports, five star resorts, entertainment destinations and top malls, nationwide. AVT will operate the existing shops and continue to expand the brand throughout the nation.

U*tique's systems have been awarded the "Best New Airport Retail Concept in North America" by ACI, the "Gold Innovation Award for Best Store Design" by NAMA, and was named to McKinsey & Company's "Ones to Watch in Retail" report. U*tique Shops have also been recognized as a top innovation on the world's most visited site for consumer trends, Trendwatching.com, and were named in the Global Creative Intelligence Report. U*tique Shop has received worldwide press in publications such as: The New York Times, W Magazine, InStyle Germany, Self, Vogue Japan, O: The Oprah Magazine, Lucky, and many others.

"AVT continues to lead the industry in providing technologically advanced solutions, including systems that give retailers the ability to increase sales, enhance brand awareness and improve distribution through highly effective 'Micro-Stores'" stated Shannon Illingworth , Founder and Chairman of AVT, Inc. "The partnership with Utique, Inc. will immediately accelerate our growth while providing a higher-end solution for image-sensitive brands, advanced technologies that we can apply across our customer base, a deep knowledge of retail and supply chain management, and immediate capability to diversify our revenue streams."

Utique's turn-key automated retailing system has been shown to generate over 10x more revenue per square foot versus traditional retail, at far lower operating costs. "Retailers are looking for solutions that allow them to grow efficiently and to stay connected to consumers; consumers are seeking convenience and omni-channel shopping experiences. Utique identified these trends early and made an exciting entry into this market," according to Mara Segal , Founder and CEO of Utique. "We needed a partner to be able to deliver on the demand that we were experiencing across our business units. Our partnership with AVT will undoubtedly accelerate growth and enable us to provide vertically-integrated solutions - a win for both companies and most importantly, for our customers."

"We are pleased to bring this innovative team and their proprietary assets under the AVT umbrella, and we look forward to offering this technology to our customer base," Illingworth commented. "We will work collaboratively with Utique's management to service a strong pipeline of Fortune 500 customers that they have amassed over their operating tenure," he added. "Through key partnerships such as Utique, we will generate additional revenue streams, improved profits, and provide greater value for our shareholders."

For more information on AVT, please call 800-240-5175 or visit the website at: www.autoretail.com.

To view an article on Utique in San Francisco Magazine, visit: http://www.modernluxury.com/san-francisco/story/quick-gifting

To view an article featuring Utique in the San Francisco Business Times, visit: http://www.bizjournals.com/sanfrancisco/print-edition/2012/06/01/shop-charge-run.html?page=all

About AVT, Inc.:
AVT is a leading developer of customized automated retailing systems, Micro-Stores, and self-service solutions. Divisions include design, manufacturing, software engineering, leasing, media, and technology licensing. AVT is able to work with any size company to design a custom automated retailing solution that drives traffic, increases sales, improves security, and lowers overhead. AVT is uniquely qualified to take projects from concept to completion with speed, economy and ingenuity. For more information, visit: www.Autoretail.com.

AVT's stock is traded through the OTC Markets, Ticker Symbol: AVTC

About Utique, Inc.:
Utique, Inc. has created several patented and patent pending technologies for the automated retail/high-tech vending industry. Utique's back-end system, Mini Portal, provides robust cross-channel inventory, marketing, and technology management capability from any connected handheld or desktop device. Utique's unique user experience incorporates patented interactive lighting technology and an interface that helps consumers efficiently purchase their favorite items and discover new products through curated recommendations. Utique software also includes other first-to-market features such as: Rules-based Retail^™ that facilitates marketers/merchandisers to set pre-programmed contextual rules to provide greater control in messaging and merchandising. This technology ensures that every interaction ends with memorably great service and that the consumer is pointed towards relevant products to increase likelihood of purchase.

U*tique's version of automated retail emphasizes human experience and premium merchandising. Automated interactivity and interaction with touch screens allow people to be educated about the products they are buying. Consumers can learn which brands give back to charity, the story behind the product, how the product works, and even dispense a product sample.

U*tique Shop, is Utique's owner-operated automated retail stores. U*tique Shop is the world's first interactive, high-tech and distinctively designed self-service store that bridges the gap between e-commerce and traditional retail. Where e-commerce and traditional retail stores may feature hundreds or thousands of products, U*tique Shop is focused on curating 56 must-have products to ensure shopping is relevant, interesting and convenient. U*tique Shops emphasize convenience and discovery of new and must-have items for those who appreciate style on-the-go. In addition, the shops leverage Utique's ability to merchandise trend-forward products with high margins and high turns.

SOURCE AVT, Inc.

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http://www.autoretail.com ]]>

Google's Same-Day Delivery Pilot A Shot at Amazon? - Retail Automate

2013-04-12T21:38:49Z

Google c

ontinues to move beyond Internet search in the San Francisco area with a pilot program called Google Shopping Express. The project allows local residents to order items from participating retailers, including Toys "R" Us, Target, Walgreens, Staples, American Eagle Outfitters, Nob Hill Foods, Blue Bottle Coffee and more as well as items from multiple stores.

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The Shopping Express pilot will be $69 a year and test subscriptions will include free same-day delivery for a year for Googlers, with deliveries priced at $4.99 a piece for non-members.

As the saying goes, never compete with someone who has nothing to lose, but that won't stop Google from expanding in e-commerce to better compete with Amazon.com as it seeks to increase growth and lessen its dependence on Web search, which currently accounts for the majority of its revenue. Last month, Google added to the online marketing tools that retailers use to increase Internet sales with the purchase of Channel Intelligence Inc. In November, Google acquired BufferBox Inc., a service for delivering e-commerce goods to physical kiosks.

Target was also a launch partner with eBay Now, another same-day delivery service that recently began expanding outside of San Francisco.

For related content:

Target App Competition Offers $75K for Innovative Mobile Experiences

Target Vows to Match Competitors Prices Year-Round

Target + Neiman Marcus Equals Epic Fail?

eBay Tests Same-Day Delivery Mobile App with Target, Best Buy, Macy's

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Can retailers sell delivery lockers idea? - Retail Automate

2013-04-10T14:25:24Z

Online retailers Walmart.com and Amazon.com are looking to extend their reach by putting delivery lockers in drugstores and convenience stores, and in chain stores like Staples, to meet customers' demands for faster access to online orders. Source link

Can retailers sell delivery lockers idea?

April 10, 2013 12:12 am

E-commerce giant Amazon has quietly been testing delivery lockers for about two years, primarily in New York City, Los Angeles, Washington, D.C., and Seattle. In March, Wal-Mart announced it was getting into the locker game for its online customers, and will start placing lockers in its own stores, and in other retail stores, beginning this summer.

For Amazon, the lockers are intended to make it more convenient for online customers to pick up packages at multiple locations, and to provide locations that are more secure than a stoop or the entranceway of an apartment building. Wal-Mart is testing lockers both to create more pickup locations, and to give customers a more convenient way to collect online orders at Walmart stores.

"This is all part of the race to be able to offer same-day delivery to customers," said Neil Stern, senior partner at the retail consulting firm McMillanDoolittle. Lockers in multiple locations can shorten delivery times by allowing a truck to deliver a dozen or more packages to a single location in the same time it would take to deliver one package to an individual address.

Wal-Mart has an edge over Amazon, Mr. Stern said, because it already has more than 4,000 stores in the United States where it can install lockers. Amazon is renting space in 7-Elevens, and other neighborhood businesses, for its lockers.

"They need to be places that are convenient to people," Mr. Stern said. "In the right neighborhoods."

Wal-Mart said its lockers will give customers the option of picking up a package at a store without having to wait online, or ask an employee for assistance.

A Wal-Mart spokesman said the company is not ready to reveal where the first lockers will be located. The company disclosed the locker plan at a media event where it discussed plans to grow its e-commerce business.

Amazon has kept quiet about its locker expansion, in part because of controversies over whether the e-commerce powerhouse should be required to collect sales taxes. Online retailers are required to pay state taxes if they have a physical presence in the state.

At one 7-Eleven store in Hoboken, N.J., a 6-foot-wide bank of Amazon lockers, with about 40 drawers for holding packages, shares space with soda displays and racks of chips. Customers who ask for their packages to be delivered to the store receive an email with a password when the package is ready to be picked up. The password is entered in an ATM-like screen in the bank of lockers, causing the drawer holding the package to swing open.

Henry Patel, owner of the 7-Eleven, said about 20 boxes a day are usually delivered to the lockers. He said having the lockers has been good for business because customers picking up packages usually buy something as well. He said customers use the lockers because they work nearby, and don't want to wait until they get home to get a delivery, or because they want packages delivered to a secure location. The lockers also are convenient, he said, because the 7-Eleven store is open 24 hours.

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Subway Kiosks Will Guide Riders (in Between Ads) - In-Store Retail Displays Interactive

2013-04-09T16:52:00Z

Dozens of 6-foot-4-inch stainless-steel kiosks are to be installed in 19 subway stations in the next few months in what the Metropolitan Transportation Authority calls its "On the Go! Travel Station" program. They will replace some of the poster-size paper maps on platforms, mezzanines and turnstile areas, and also cut down on notices that sometimes proliferate to the point that they look like wallpaper. Source link on Blogs of NYTImes

BUILDING BLOCKS April 8, 2013, 10:58 am 24 Comments

Subway Kiosks Will Guide Riders (in Between Ads)

By DAVID W. DUNLAP

David W. Dunlap/The New York TimesThe Metropolitan Transportation Authority plans to install as many as 120 new information and advertising kiosks with 46-inch interactive display screens in the subway system this summer.

Coming this summer to as many as 120 screens around New York City: "On the Go!"

BUILDING BLOCKS

How the city looks and feels -- and why it got that way.

David W. Dunlap/The New York TimesColin O'Donnell, chief operations officer of Control Group, at a prototype.

Thrill to your own personal journey underground, as bright ribbons of color snake through the boroughs, showing you how to get from here to there on the subway. Marvel as Gordian knots of "police investigations" and "earlier incidents" are cut by service updates. Then -- submit to the commercial messages.

Each kiosk will have an interactive display screen, measuring 46 inches diagonally, that can help riders navigate the system. The kiosks will also inaugurate a new kind of luminous, kinetic advertising that will be hard to avoid and almost impossible to ignore. Straphangers waiting for trains to arrive will be pretty much captive audiences. Who knows, though? Deep in commuting tedium, they may welcome a few minutes of diverting commercial video.

In any case, it will be possible to stop the ads with a single tap on the screen by anyone who wants to consult a map or service bulletin.

"Above all else, the screens are a customer communications device," said Paul J. Fleuranges, the senior director of corporate and internal communications at the authority, "so customers have to have at their disposal maps, service status, trip planning and other services that are just a tap away."

The kiosks were designed by Antenna Design, which also designed the MetroCard vending machines and the R142 and R142a subway cars. Thirty will be manufactured by MRI Inc. and programmed by CBS Outdoor, which already controls subway advertising under a 10-year contract with the authority. Between 47 and 90 kiosks will be manufactured by Comark Corporation and programmed byControl Group, a young and growing technology firm.

David W. Dunlap/The New York TimesThis is not an actual ad, but an example of the kind of advertiser that might appear on the kiosks. The service bar at the top of the screen will always be visible and the ad can be stopped with a tap on the screen.

As licensees of the transportation agency, CBS Outdoor and Control Group are to purchase the kiosks for about $15,000 each and furnish the software and programming. They will deliver the kiosks to the authority, which will own, install and maintain them, and supply power and data to them. Until the companies recoup their cash investment, they will be entitled to 90 percent of gross advertising receipts generated by the kiosks. The other 10 percent will go to New York City Transit.

Read rest of article at Source link on Blogs of NYTImes

For Coinstar CEO, no time to ease into new job - Retail Automate

2013-04-09T16:46:35Z

New Coi

nstar Chief Executive Scott Di Valerio takes over the Bellevue-based company amid tough questions on Wall Street: Is Coinstar's all-important Redbox movie DVD business past its prime? And can its new Rubi coffee-vending machines succeed where others have failed?

Source article

New Coinstar Chief Executive Scott Di Valerio takes over the Bellevue-based company amid tough questions on Wall Street: Is Coinstar's all-important Redbox movie DVD business past its prime? And can its new Rubi coffee-vending machines succeed where others have failed?

Di Valerio, who became CEO last Monday after three years as Coinstar's chief financial officer, gives two simple answers: "No" and "Yes."

"Our focus is to try to double the size of the company over the next five years," he said during a recent interview at Coinstar's headquarters near downtown Bellevue. "Innovation is important, and new ventures are going to help us get there."

Wall Street's worries are driven by a shift in consumer behavior from physical movie-disc rentals to digital streaming.

Redbox, which rents new-release DVDs for $1.20 a day at self-serve kiosks, generated a whopping 86 percent of Coinstar's $2.2 billion in revenue last year.

ELLEN M. BANNER / THE SEATTLE TIMES

Coinstar CEO Scott Di Valero, who assumed the post April 1, stands near a Coinstar kiosk at its Bellevue headquarters.

Scott Di Valerio

Title: New chief executive of Coinstar

Age: 50

Personal: Lives in Sammamish with wife, Shara, and their teen son, the youngest of three children.

Education: Graduated from the University of San Diego with a bachelor's in business administration and accounting.

Career: Became Coinstar CEO on April 1 after three years as chief financial officer. Previous employers include Lenovo and Microsoft.

2011 pay: $1.6 million, including bonuses, stock and options awards, and a 401(k) match

Community: Serves on the boards of Childhaven, a Seattle nonprofit that seeks to prevent child abuse and neglect, as well as the University of San Diego School of Business Administration.

Source: Seattle Times research

Scott Di Valerio

Title: New chief executive of Coinstar

Age: 50

Personal: Lives in Sammamish with wife, Shara, and their teen son, the youngest of three children.

Education: Graduated from the University of San Diego with a bachelor's in business administration and accounting.

Career: Became Coinstar CEO on April 1 after three years as chief financial officer. Previous employers include Lenovo and Microsoft.

2011 pay: $1.6 million, including bonuses, stock and options awards, and a 401(k) match

Community: Serves on the boards of Childhaven, a Seattle nonprofit that seeks to prevent child abuse and neglect, as well as the University of San Diego School of Business Administration.

Source: Seattle Times research

The Oakbrook Terrace, Ill.-based subsidiary grew 22 percent, boosted by strong demand for pricier Blu-ray discs and video games, as well as the addition of 8,300 new kiosks. But Redbox plans no more than 1,000 additional kiosks this year, stoking concerns about its growth prospects.

At the same time, Coinstar is spending up to $25 million annually on new ventures with little so far to show for it. The company reported only $2.5 million in revenue last year from new ventures, including machines that sell coffee, refurbished electronics and personalized photos.

"I'm not a big fan of some of their new ventures, and some of them make a lot of sense to me," said analyst Michael Pachter, of Wedbush Securities in Los Angeles.

While Pachter believes Coinstar's coffee dispensers show promise, he's less optimistic about its new photo-booth concept, which lets customers decorate and share photos via email or Facebook.

"I think the photo idea is a bad one. Seriously, you can take a photo with your iPhone and Photoshop it on your PC," Pachter said.

As for the CEO changeover at Coinstar, Pachter is unequivocal.

"I love Scott," he said of Di Valerio. "He's very bright. He understands what he's doing, and he has a focus."

Surprise shift

Coinstar surprised Wall Street in January when the company announced that Di Valerio, 50, would replace Paul Davis as CEO on April 1. Coinstar said only that Davis, 56, was retiring after four years in the post.

Davis said during a short interview last month that he felt it was time to move on.

"I'm going to continue to be involved in the community, and then I'll just look at other opportunities," said Davis, who's active with local nonprofit FareStart, which teaches culinary skills to homeless people.

Davis said Di Valerio will "do great" in his new role.

"Scott and I have worked side by side for three years. He's a highly capable, talented leader, as is the rest of the team," Davis said.

"I've done what I love to do," he said. "I love reconstructing businesses, and have set the stage for many, many years of growth."

Rest of story Source article

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Parcel Delivery System features fully automated operation - Retail Automate

2013-04-08T18:28:54Z

April 8, 2013 - Ensuring package control through order placement, shipping, delivery, and notification to purchaser as well as shipper, parcel delivery system employs combination of bar code tracking, cellular technologies, RFID master access, and texting or emailing. System is specifically designed to meet needs of retailers and internet companies that deal with delivery of products through central pick up point.

Parcel Delivery System Fully Automated

Manalapan, N.J. - Excelsior Metal Products, the makers of state of the art electronic locker products, today announced that they have completed development of their new state of the art parcel delivery system.

The system ensures package control through order placement, shipping, delivery, notification to the purchaser as well as the shipper. A combination of bar code tracking, cellular technologies, RFID master access and texting or emailing. The system was designed to meet the needs of major retailers and internet companies who appreciate the timely and stress-free delivery of products through a central pick up point.

The system was developed with efficiency, seamless processing and convenience while maintaining realistic budget concerns in mind.

About Excelsior Metal Products LLC
Founded in 2001, Excelsior Metal Products is the manufacturer of the popular electronic lockers systems. Its lockers and services are known for their structural integrity and technology.

For more information about Excelsior Metal Products, visit its website atwww.excelsiorlockers.com

For more information please contact:

Jordan Cayne
EXCELSIOR METAL PRODUCTS LLC
151 Route 33
Manalapan, New Jersey 07726
Phone: 800 919-4422
732 651-9914
Fax: 732 651-9980
Email: jordanc@excelsiorlockers.com

LEID Products Participates in KPLA Conference to Inform Attendees of Innovative iLibrary System - Retail Automate

2013-04-08T15:58:49Z

"LEID Products' iLibrary System is an innovative approach to extending library hours and accessibility," said Sam Hoff, president, LEID Products. "The libraries of Kentucky have already recognized benefits of using LEID's self-service solutions. Seven library districts in the state have installed our systems in multiple locations to provide better access to library materials for their patrons."

By the Midland Daily News
Posted: Friday, April 5, 2013 10:00 am | Updated: 5:06 pm, Fri Apr 5, 2013.

LEID products supporting Kentucky libraries by delivering cost effective standalone self-service branch for expanding services

Auburn Hills, MI (PRWEB) April 05, 2013

LEID Products, LLC., the leader of electronic locker and cabinet storage with biometric asset protection and control, today announced it will attend the Kentucky Public Library Association (KPLA) Conference in Lexington, KY April 8-10, 2013. The company will display its iLibrary and Access.it systems that enable libraries to offer extended self-service hours or offer a complete standalone service branch to bring library service closer to their outlying communities.

LEID's system encompasses the iLibrary Kiosk and Access.it electronic lockers with keypad to store library holds for patron pick-up. Patrons can browse materials online or directly through the iLibrary System Kiosk; orders are placed through the kiosk or remotely via the internet using their library card number. Patrons can choose to receive an email or phone call with an access code when their materials are available for pick-up.

The theme of the conference this year is "Kentucky Public Libraries - On Target". LEID Products would like to invite any interested parties to stop by its booth during the event for a demonstration of the iLibrary System. To register for the conference, please visit http://kpla.org/spring-conference/2013-conference/.

About LEID Products:

Law Enforcement Intelligent Devices (LEID), LLC is the manufacturing leader of electronic locker and cabinet storage with biometric asset protection and control. Originally founded to assist police departments in securing guns, weapons, radios, etc. through an electronic tracking and fingerprinting system, LEID products are also utilized to track books within a library system, medical supplies, laptops and even business documents to selected personnel. Their Biometric Access Control Systems (BACS™) streamlines operations and provides full accountability for critical business assets. For more information and demonstrations of our products, visithttp://www.leidproducts.com.

For the original version on PRWeb visit:http://www.prweb.com/releases/prwebLEIDProducts/KPLA2013/prweb10605065.htm

Samsung kiosk plan pumps up Best Buy stock - Retail Automate

2013-04-08T15:41:47Z

within-store kiosks for Samsung products - a vote of confidence from a major consumer electronics retailer that the brick-and-mortar format is still an important way to sell products.

Source link

The Minneapolis-based company has battled the "showrooming" effect as more and more people browse in stores and then buy items cheaper online. This has led to fears that the big-box store format is growing obsolete.

But Best Buy has aggressively fought back under new CEO and turnaround expert Hubert Joly, introducing an online price-matching policy, giving employees extra training and cutting costs and revamping stores.

The latest deal is a sign that consumer electronics retailers are sticking with the chain. The company will offer Samsung-dedicated kiosks at 1,400 Best Buy and Best Buy Mobile stores. Shops will offer the full range of Samsung's mobile products, including smartphones, tablets, laptops, cameras and accessories.

Best Buy shares rose $3.48, or 16.1 percent, to close at $25.13 Thursday, after briefly reaching a 52-week high of $25.30.

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Subway Kiosks Will Guide Riders (in Between Ads) - In-Store Retail Displays Interactive

Subway Kiosks Will Guide Riders (in Between Ads)

BUILDING BLOCKS

For Coinstar CEO, no time to ease into new job - Retail Automate

Parcel Delivery System features fully automated operation - Retail Automate

Parcel Delivery System Fully Automated

LEID Products Participates in KPLA Conference to Inform Attendees of Innovative iLibrary System - Retail Automate

Samsung kiosk plan pumps up Best Buy stock - Retail Automate