Mirada Media`s Powering COOPSCO`s In-store TV Network

We recently started deploying an in-store digital merchandising network for COOPSCO cooperatives which operate retail locations in francophone schools and universities in the province of Quebec.

Both the marketing arm of the headquarters for the cooperative and the independent retails have access to a web-based content management system to create and distribute content.  On a weekly basis, HQ provides ad campaigns created in Flash to supplement their paper-based marketing. Managers at the retail level get notifications in the form of a digest about new content and they can pick and choose ads based on their goals or inventory.

The retail locations can also create their own content based on templates to advertise products or communicate school events and charitable work.

Here’s a couple pictures of one of the locations in northern Montreal:

The complete release is below or download a PDF:

Mirada Media Provides Custom Signage Solution for COOPSCO’s In-store TV Network

The COOPSCO network of cooperatives, which operates retail locations in the majority of Quebec’s francophone colleges and universities, has selected Mirada Media to develop and deploy an in-store and point-of-sale digital signage network in the institutions it serves.

Mirada Media, a Montreal-based digital signage integrator and software developer, is pleased to announce its recent engagement with the Fédération québécoise des coopératives en milieu scolaire (FQCMS). Mirada has been selected to provide FQCMS with project and content management solutions for their in-store digital signage network at cooperatives in the educational sector, which operate under the COOPSCO banner.

The COOPSCO network, which includes 60 cooperatives with over 100 outlets inside French-speaking high schools, colleges and universities in Quebec, will be rolling out LCD screens powered by a custom version of Mirada Media’s ChannelView player and content management system at participating school supply and book stores, clothing boutiques and cafeterias.

COOPSCO chose to deploy digital signage not to replace other media, but rather to support their existing media channels and have it as an essential part of their integrated marketing communications strategy. “It was important for us to boost our message frequency and printed material does not always give us this flexibility,” says Paul Rondeau, Merchandising Director at FQCMS/COOPSCO. He adds that “the Web is good for us, but we must wait for customers to come visit us. On the other hand, the electronic displays have the reverse effect. We can blast messages to our customers and provide support to our website.”

Mr. Rondeau also notes that “Our first goal is to have the opportunity to advertise products quickly and in a visually dynamic way. By installing a digital signage system, we have managed to better inform our customers with a very short turnaround time. On the client side of things, we’re realizing that the signage interests them and that they’re eager to know about new promotions. It’s a good way to capture their attention.”

While digital signage is used primarily to promote products and specials, a significant part of the content for the COOPSCO network is dedicated to informing members about the cooperatives’ events, initiatives and profit-sharing program.

Although one of the goals of cooperatives is to work together for the mutual benefit of members, COOPSCO’s diverse locations and large footprint necessitated some content independence. Mirada Media customized its ChannelView web-based content management system to allow the Fédération to post ads to a collective media bank, from which store managers are able to select individual media files to display in accordance with their unique marketing strategies. The ability to display certain ads may be restricted by the Fédération in order to accommodate time-sensitive promotional campaigns such as limited-time or seasonal offers. Managers are automatically notified of new content postings via system e-mails and are able to mark items as “read” to better manage their campaigns.

Mirada Media will be including the functionality developed for COOPSCO into the next release of its flagship ChannelView digital signage software offering, slated for Fall 2010.

Mirada Media Outfits Trendy Montréal Clothier with Digital Signage

Finn Logo

Boutique Finn, a Montréal-based clothing designer, selects Mirada Media to install digital signage at their flagship outlet in Rosemère, Quebec.

Montréal, December 19, 2008 – Mirada Media, a leading provider of digital signage integration, is pleased to announce the recent installation of its ChannelView system at Boutique Finn, a retailer which sells its own line of clothing and accessories.

finn boutique lcd signageBoutique Finn was looking for a cutting-edge means through which to showcase its merchandise and clothing at its retail location. In addition, because of the regular changes in its clothing collections, Finn also needed a way to update its promotional material. Mino Kelechian, Finn’s owner, noted that “Our constant replenishment of new merchandise at the retail level requires promotion. The digital signage system allows that and fits in with the overall store concept perfectly.”

Furthermore, Mr. Kelechian noted that the ability to customize and change content on a regular basis was a valuable feature which would be almost impossible to replicate via traditional printed media. He also highlighted that selecting the proper marketing channel is of the utmost importance, especially in the retail industry, and added that Finn “needed to reach out and grab our media-minded clientele’s attention and that traditional, static, one-dimensional printed signs wouldn’t cut it.”

digital signage ad Mirada Media helped Finn accomplish these objectives by creating a customized solution integrating Mirada’s ChannelView system with two 52-inch high-definition LCD screens placed in key locations at Boutique Finn. Once finalized, the content is posted to the ChannelView system and displayed on the in-store LCD monitors. Thus far, Finn’s digital signage system has received considerable attention and praise, but Mr. Kelechian has ambitious plans to leverage the ChannelView platform even more: He plans to continue developing even more cutting-edge content through Mirvik Design, Finn’s sister company, which specializes in digital media production.

The use of digital signage by retailers is on the upswing, as it allows business owners to enhance customers’ shopping experience by offering memorable, captivating content. According to Eric Morello, Mirada Media’s director of marketing, “The benefits of digital signage for retailers to showcase their merchandise are definitely there, especially when merchants are catering to a younger, media-conscious audience. In a world where consumers have a plethora of choices for everything from clothes to electronics to food, digital signage offers merchants the opportunity to create a distinctive shopping experience and to get customers to come back.”

Finn has just released its Winter 2009 collection, which is available at www.boutiquefinn.ca. For more information about this press release, please contact Mirada Media at (514) 789-1989.

finn boutique storefront