By Sarah Knight
Oxford Street is the heart of London's shopping scene. With over 300 stores, this mile and a half long thoroughfare is the most popular retail district in the U.K. Vodafone, one of the world's largest cellular phone and wireless service providers, recently opened its third and largest "Experience Store" on this famous strip using Klipsch loudspeakers to immerse visitors in its interactive environment.
tsg, the U.K.'s leading media programming and systems company and a Klipsch business partner, designed the sound system at this flagship store bringing Klipsch loudspeakers in tune with the mobile wireless community.
According to Steve Dunn, marketing director for tsg, his company recommended that Vodafone use Klipsch products because they would deliver the store's music with clarity and even coverage.
"We chose Klipsch loudspeakers for this project because they offer superb intelligibility and predictable dispersion characteristics," Dunn said. "These high-performance speakers are also equally proficient at handling both audio and speech-based programming."
Inside this 3,000-square-foot store, tsg installed 24 SCR-2 two-way in-ceiling loudspeakers that feature a 360 degree rotating Tractrix® Horn, which allows the sound to be directed toward the listening area.
"Klipsch is eager to increase its commercial audio market share in the U.K. and is pleased that tsg selected our products for this high visibility location," said Bob Gassel, international business unit manager for Klipsch. "Bringing together these two best of class companies is a real benefit to the commercial music subscription industry in the U.K."
Like the other Vodafone Experience Stores, the Oxford Street location features interactive demonstration areas and innovative touchscreens, which have proved popular in offering customers the opportunity to try out a wide variety of lifestyle and business products from the Vodafone product range.
Collectively, the store's staff speaks over 14 languages and a wealth of information written in 24 languages is also accessible to store customers via an international touchscreen. If customers prefer, they can direct dial their home customer services and speak to them in their own language.
Vodafone Group Plc provides an extensive range of mobile telecommunications services, including voice and data communications. The group presently operates in 26 countries worldwide, with its mobile subsidiaries operating under the brand name 'Vodafone'. In the United States the Group's associated undertaking operates as Verizon Wireless.
Around 200 million people visit Oxford Street each year and those who check out the Vodafone store will be amazed by its high-energy vibe - thanks to Klipsch and tsg - and the services that will enable them to communicate, manage, organize, pay, play and experience life on the move in this mobile world.
Back Story:
tsg helps progressive national retailers throughout the U.K. create stimulating sensory environments within their shops, bars, restaurants, health clubs, casinos, pubs, showrooms and hotels. Through the use of programmed music, audio messaging, brand support material, promotional screen content and music video, tsg designs and installs systems that articulate its clients' brand personality and create memorable experiences for their visitors.
Klipsch is currently increasing its share of the commercial contracting market in the United States. Through its newfound partnership with tsg, Klipsch hopes to achieve the same success in the U.K.