News Releases from
Creative Solutions
International, Inc.

Innovative P-O-P Display Made of Sheet Spectar® Copolymer Puts Magazines Center Stage At Musicland Stores

An innovative point-of-purchase magazine display designed by Creative Solutions international, Inc. (Minneapolis, Minn.) for the Musicland Stores Corporation (Minnetonka, Minn.) has enhanced product visibility and increased sales at Musicland's On-Cue stores. The display, on which a patent is pending, is fabricated using a clear sheet extruded from Eastman Chemical Company's Spectar® copolymer.

"Musicland began with the idea of using wood for the fixture. We had worked with sheets of Spectar® copolymer for about 5 years and felt it would give us the design freedom, fabrication ease and toughness to meet Musicland's needs. The material permitted us to take the display off the wall for higher visibility and, at the same time, make it more eye appealing, more durable and more cost-effective. In fact, the fixture is virtually indestructible. To test its strength, I even walked up and down the shelf units as if they were steps on a ladder and caused no damage," said Todd Beggs, Creative Solutions International, vice president.

The free-standing pyramidical display was designed to be placed in the center of the retail selling space for high product visibility and a 360 degree view. The design couples a central frame with graduated shelf units that together form the A-frame structure. The clear shelves snap on easily with plastic clips. A striking bright blue and white silk-screened header identifies the product. The fixture is free of solvent bonds and is extremely sturdy and clear with nothing to distract the eye from the product displayed.

The On-Cue display was designed for maximum flexibility. With minor design modifications, it can be used to showcase magazines compact discs or sheet music. Individual stores can customize the size to meet their needs and display 40-156 titles in the same footprint. The display is held together with a plastic clip and tab assembly, allowing the entire unit to be easily disassembled, on-site, if necessary.

Toughness and fabrication case are important criteria for display manufacturers. Fixtures must withstand the routine abuse of high-traffic retail environments as well as the rigors of shipping. At the same time, innovative design is critical to merchandising success. "Designers have tremendous freedom when working with sheets extruded from Spectar® copolymer because, it is easy to form and fabricate. This gives an enormous competitive advantage. We are seeing global growth in demand for the resin at about 20%. It has been embraced by the display and store fixture industry. New markets include vending face, outdoor signage and building and construction. Industrial applications are a growth area because of the resin's toughness and chemical resistance," said Randy Beavers, Eastman business market manager.

Musicland has introduced the new eye-catching display in select On-Cue stores nationwide and anticipates it will be in 200 stores by year-end. "Structurally the fixture looks great and it works well in the store. Previously we had a wood stand against the wall; this design moves the product out into the middle of the store for better sight lines and greater shopping ease. The material brightly highlights the product and permits a clear view of the full face of the magazine on display, and that's a big advantage," said Mike Dupre, director of purchasing and store support at Musicland.

Based on the merchandising success of the On-Cue display, Musicland is looking to install similar fixtures in its other retail divisions. Creative Solutions International, according to Beggs, is developing designs for Musicland's Sam Goody, Media Play, and Musicland and Sun Coast Motion Picture Stores. "We will design new versions and stay with the same concept-no glue bonds and no polishing so the fixture remains virtually indestructible," said Beggs

Eastman Chemical Company, headquartered in Kingsport, Tennessee, U.S.A., manufactures and markets plastics, chemicals and fibers worldwide with 1998 sales of US $4.48 billion. The quality systems of all Eastman's plastics are registered under ISO 9000 except at plants in operation less than one year.

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