ShoutingInDigital
Retail, E-Commerce, E-tail and Digital News
24th
AUG
Tesco to offer used game trade-in scheme
Posted by Jodi | Filed under supermarkets
Supermarket giant Tesco are set to move into the lucrative used games market following a successful pilot project in selected stores earlier this year. The new scheme will allow gamers to trade in their old games in return for credit at 60 Tesco stores around the UK. The company hopes to expand the new game trade-in service to many more outlets nationwide over the coming months.
While customers will only be able to use money earned from old games in Tesco stores, the company has stated that a wide-selection of preowned games will be available to buy and that credit can be redeemed against anything in store.
Tesco believes that its trade-in prices compare favourably with those of high street specialist games retailers. Gamers can expect to receive about £19 for recent Xbox 360 and PS3 titles like 2010 summer hit Red Dead Revolver. Popular Nintendo Wii games like New Super Mario Brothers and Mario Kart Wii can be exchanged for around £17 credit.
Tesco is just the latest in a series of businesses to move into the games trade-in market. Previously the preserve of specialist high chains like GAME, the last few years have seen companies such as HMV add a trade-in service to their existing retail offering. Supermarket Asda and catalogue-store Argos are also expected to expand into used games in the near future.
Any infringement on the trade-in market will upset many specialist retailers who have already faced stiff competition from the supermarkets in recent years. Last year Tesco, Asda and Sainsbury’s caused controversy by offering major new releases like Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2, FIFA 10 and Batman: Arkham Asylum at rock bottom – and sometimes below cost – prices.
The move will also attract the ire of large games publishers who receive no income from used software trade-ins and have recently started offering customers incentives to buy brand new copies of games including special preorder bonuses and exclusive downloadable content.
Tags: game, PlayStation 3, retail, shopping, tesco, wii, Xbox 360
23rd
AUG
Xbox Kinect reveals UK release date
Posted by Kim | Filed under tech
Gamers are typically seen as a lazy bunch. Spending hours sitting in front of the TV or computer screen, only moving enough to change games or get new batteries. The Wii did something to help get rid of this image, because apparently if you don’t want to seem lazy, the best thing to do is pretending your playing tennis or dancing in a Broadway show. But the Wii isn’t exactly the hardcore gamer’s console of choice.
Well that’s where the new invention from Microsoft could come in and solve your problems. Information has been out about the Kinect has been out for a while now, with the new 250GB wireless ready Xbox being advertised as Kinect ready. So we knew it was coming soon. It’s been revealed that it’s going to hit our shelves on the 10th of November, just a few days after the US, and in plenty of time for Christmas.
So basically, instead of sitting down for hours on end using the buttons on your normal wireless controller, you can now control certain games using your movement and your voice. Much like the Eye Toy for the Playstation 2, the system uses cameras and microphones to detect your movements, and then use them in the game.
It certainly does take out the element of trying to learn the buttons when you’re playing a new game. For most seasoned gamers, picking up a new game is like second nature, but after trying to watch my Dad play Left 4 Dead with no instruction and promptly getting gang attacked by all the zombies, I’m sure this element would benefit the more casual gamers.
However, with a price tag of around £130, it leads me to wonder why you don’t just pay nearly the same amount for a Wii if you want to jump about like an idiot while you’re gaming. Personal preference I guess.
Image via Wikipedia
Tags: kinect, video games, xbox
4th
AUG
Apple is “most criticised brand” on Twitter
Posted by Austin | Filed under news, social media
A study carried out by Brandwatch has revealed that Apple is the least popular brand on Twitter.
The research showed that Apple was mentioned 1204 times on the social networking site with
the negative descriptor #fail attached to it. The majority of complaints were directed towards Apple itself, although rants about the company’s products such as the iPhone, iPad and Mac were all popular as well.
The study showed that the majority of grumbles were related to companies in the communication and technology sectors, with Facebook, Nokia and BlackBerry all receiveing flak as well.
However, broadcasters also came in for heavy criticism, with both the BBC and CNN ranking fourth and fifth in the study respectively. Many users were unhappy with the general service provided by the BBC, whilst some complained about the content of CNN’s news reports.
Giles Palmer, chief executive of Brandwatch, said that marketers should search for hashtags linked with their brand to help deal with any issues customers are facing.
Here’s the list in full:
Twitter #fails
Apple 1204
Facebook 153
Nokia 107
BBC 100
CNN 76
Firefox 74
Blackberry 66
Sky 65
Vodafone 64
HTC 61
Tags: apple, criticised, twitter
3rd
AUG
Carphone Warehouse launches Music Anywhere service
Posted by Austin | Filed under news
Mobile phone retailer the Carphone Warehouse has launched a new mobile music service, which aims to allow music fans the chance to access their entire music library wherever they are.
The service, known as Music Anywhere, will allow users subscribers the chance to listen to any track from their music collection, after “fingerprinting” their entire collection on the company’s online storehouse.
Priced at £29.99 a year, the service differs from that provided by traditional MP3 players, in that users will not be restricted by the limited space available on MP3 players.
It is thought that the relatively cheap pricing will lead to a drop in the number of people illegally downloading music.
The music industry at large has backed the service, with over six million songs from all of the major labels currently available. Subscription revenues will be split between the Carphone Warehouse, Catch Media (the company behind the technology that powers the service) and rights holders, meaning that artists and writers will receive royalties in much the same way they would if a song was played on the radio.
Harry Malone, chief executive of Catch Media, said:
“This is real turning point for the music industry. I do think it has the potential to transform the industry because it provides a new source of revenue and will help to reduce piracy.”
Tags: carphone warehouse, music
21st
APR
The Cape Is Back
Posted by James | Filed under news
The cape is back, according to a recent announcement by Debenhams. It has in the past 50 years been a fashion item that’s been reserved for private detectives and superheroes but now the once-again fashionable accessory is making a comeback.
Debenhams spokesman, Ed Watson, said: “In true Hollywood style, these difficult times seem to be producing a new generation of caped crusaders.”
Whether or not it’s the economic uncertainty that’s leading to more and more people purchasing capes is questionable, as it whether or not they are crusaders but the reality is this is the new/old in thing.
Cold weather has seen the cape jump back onto the UK fashion scene with the help of celebrity shoppers Twiggy and Jean Shrimpton both of whom were seen sporting the popular jacket.
Ed Watson argues that capes are the choice of superheroes as their designs lends itself both to comfort and warmth but also swirling whilst flying through the air. It’s believed that Twiggy and Jean Shrimpton have both adopted this clothing item for its comfort and fashionable qualities rather than for use whilst fighting crime.
About Debenhams: Debeham’s are a UK high street chain specializing in fashion, beauty, sports goods and home furniture, and with stores across the country selling everything from electrical to womens lingerie instore as well as a whole host of other goods online. More information about Debenhams can be found at their website http://www.debenhams.com/
1st
MAR
GAME Group to trim retail presence
Posted by James | Filed under supermarkets
- Image via Wikipedia
UK High Street games retailer GAME is to trim its high street presence with the closure of 12 GAME stores as well as six Gamestation stores and the removal of all its Debenhams concessions.
The move will see the closure of 43 outlets in total which the group attribute to tough market conditions. Most of the closures will occur where outlets are situated close to one another.
The company also said that it plans to seek employment opportunities for all 247 affected workers.
A statement made by GAME to Edge Online said:
“We are committed to evolving our business to make sure it operates as efficiently as possible while consistently delivering the high standards of service our customers demand,”
“We regularly review our entire store portfolio, including our concessions, to maximise the opportunities to reach customers while also ensuring that the business is running as effectively as possible.
“The majority of the identified sites are located close to another one of our stores, and we will help each customer affected by a closure to transfer to their nearest store as well as our online offerings.
“We will provide extensive support to the teams in each store. However, with deep regret, we have had to offer redundancy to 247 employees. We will do our utmost to redeploy roles if possible, and have started consulting with all affected employees in the 43 sites.”
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Tags: Business, Debenhams, Edge, game, Game theory, Gamestation, high street, retail
25th
FEB
Tango launch limited edition cans with thermo-sensitive ink
Posted by James | Filed under branding
- Image by moostive via Flickr
Talking Retail reports Tango has launched a new limited edition drinks can which uses temperature sensitive ink to reveal a series of jokes once cans have been properly chilled.
Appearing in fridges across the country from last Monday (15th Feb) the gimmick features across 20 million cans built on the ‘too much Tango causes side effects’ theme, which launched in 2009. The theme will continue through Tango’s 2010 plan and strap lines will run across orange, apple and cherry Tango varieties.
Strap lines will include such witty gems as:
“Chilled Tango Froze my Peel Off”
“Chilled Tango Made My Stones Shrink.”
“Chilled Tango Made My Pips Go Hard”
The limited edition cold effect can will be supported by a cash and carry 24 for 20 promotional deal, which will run for 12 weeks while retailers’ POS kits will also be available upon request and include wobblers and chiller stickers to raise awareness and drive trial say Tango’s maker, Britvic.
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Tags: britvic, cash and carry, chilled, drink, fridge, jokes, tango, thermo-sensitive ink
22nd
FEB
Wagamama launch iPhone ordering app
Posted by James | Filed under news
Marketing Magazine reports that restaurant chain Wagamamas has launched an iPhone application that allows users to place a take-away order directly from the handset.
The app also allows users to locate their nearest branch and browse the menu to place their order, which is sent directly to the kitchen for preparation. Users can specify a collection time and pay for the order via the app.
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Tags: Business, Chain store, Handhelds, Hospitality, iphone, Marketing, Restaurant Chains, Smartphones
22nd
Research proves bad customer service impacts future sales
Posted by James | Filed under news
- Image via Wikipedia
Talking Retail reports recent research by the Consumer Forum has found that bad customer service really does impact consumers’ perception of retailers and where consumers are likely to spend their cash.
A survey revealed that more than 80% of consumers tell their friends, family and associates about good or bad customer experiences they have had. And of those who spill the beans its more likely the feedback will be negative. Three times as many respondents (25.2%) would relay bad experience over good (8.4%).
Almost all respondents also indicated that bad customer service would likely compel them to take their business somewhere else.
The Consumer Forum surveyed thousands of customers on all aspects of retail experience, from online shopping to the brands and services they like and dislike.
Simon Calver, CE and founder member of the Consumer Forum said the results provided a real insight into how UK consumers think about where to spend and on what products.
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Tags: Business, consumer, Consumer organization, customerservice, home, online shopping, Research, Retailing
19th
FEB
2-Hour WordPress outage takes down millions of blogs
Posted by James | Filed under tech
- Image via Wikipedia
Millions of Wordpress blogs were unavailable for almost two hours on Thursday after a datacentre problem caused routing issues and prevented blogs from being served to viewers.
The downtime was the worst experienced by Wordpress.org for four years and more than 10 million blogs were affected. The outage cost bloggers some 5.5 million page views and Wordpress-hosted blogs were unavailable for 110 minutes as a result.
The outage was blamed on the unscheduled changing of a core router at one of Wordpress’ datacentre providers and also took down safeguards meaning any blogs hosted by Wordpress were inaccessible during the downtime, although no data was lost.
“It also broke all the mechanisms for failover between our locations in San Antonio and Chicago. All of your data was safe and secure, we just couldn’t serve it,” said WordPress. “I know this sucked for you guys as much as it did for us. The entire team was on pins and needles trying to get your blogs back as soon as possible.”
The outage affected all regular blogs hosted by WordPress.com, as well as those sites hosted through the enterprise-class VIP service the company offers, including tech blogs like TechCrunch and GigaOM. Blogs which host Wordpress open source release on their own servers were not affected.
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Tags: Blog, GigaOM, Om Malik, Router, San Antonio, TechCrunch, Wordpress, WordPress.com
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James and the team who run Shouting in Digital work for a digital marketing agency.
Sometimes we'll end up blogging about clients. When that happens it's because the client has done something worthy of a e-tail blog's attention. All the posts here are our opinion, insight and stuff we'd like to share for you please don't consider this meaningful advice.