Dave Haynes

Microsoft recently announced it was going to start opening up its own retail shops to go head to head, sort of, with Apple and its own hip and very successful retail outlets. Someone has now slipped the guys at Gizmodo a Powerpoint presentation from the retail design firm engaged to come up with the look and feel of the shops. Happily, and mercifully, there's a big nod to digital screens. The few times I have seen screens work really well in retail, so far, have been when the things have been schemed in from the start and are part of the strategy. More typically, so far, it's been a case of a store getting designed and somebody suggesting a screen or two get put in where there's room. Microsoft has commented on the leak and said nothing is firmed up. But stores are supposed to open this fall, so whatever is being done would pretty much have to already be settled on ... (more)

Quebec DS company continuing to get traction in, of all places, Alberta

  I was born in Alberta and spent my 30s there, so I know the mindset and I continue to be impressed that Groupe Viva, a suburban Montreal DS company that is very clearly Francophone, continues to make headway in the Canadian equivalent of Texas. (Disclosure - old clients, still good friends) The company just announced it is expanding the footprint of screens it manages and produces content for a hockey superstore chain opening up in the  oil-rich and hockey-mad province. Groupe VIVA is announcing it will reinforce its presence in Western Canada as its client, Pro Hockey Life S... (more)

CoolSign gets a VP Global Sales

CoolSign's President, Lou Giacalone, Jr., sent me a note this weekend letting me know he's hired industry veteran Leo Bull on as the company's Vice President of Global Sales, with Atlanta-based Bull coming over from Wireless Ronin, where he was a regional VP. This is a good move for Lou as he spins a bunch of dishes every day and the less he has to worry about day to day sales issues, the more time he has for other stuff. He has a couple of strong sales guys in Chris Colt and Raffi Vartian, but from what I can tell Giacalone has worn a sales hat as well since he came back to the ... (more)

65,000 new store builds over next two years, aka 65,000 places to scheme in screens

Lyle Bunn sent me an interesting link to a retailing story on Thursday, but it has taken until now for me to actually read it through. VERY interesting stuff for anyone chasing retail. Recession, whatever. There are still almost 65,000 new stores expected to open in the US over the next two years, according to research from RBC Capital Markets and Retail Lease Trac. The research shows that the 2,000 retailers the firms are tracking plan to open 64,926 stores over the next 24 months. That is down 5.7 percent year-to-date from a high of 68,854 that the firms counted in January. Th... (more)

CognoVision cited as Canada's top new, innovating company

Toronto-area audience measurement guys CognoVision has been named Canada's Innovation Leader for 2009 at the Canadian Innovation Exchange (CIX), describe as Canada’s most important gathering place for innovative technologies. The exchange does an annual search for innovative technology, products, services and companies in Canada, and whittles that down to a list of 20 finalists who then present and pitch to both Canadian and US senior executives and investors at a one-day conference held last week in Toronto. Industry peers at the event then vote on who they believe should be t... (more)