Indianapolis — Through a partnership with ACI Worldwide, locally based MerchantWired recently began offering retailers a suite of payment software solutions designed to boost revenue, cut costs and reduce transaction times. The two companies intend to provide many other revenue- and service-enhancing solutions to retailers, MerchantWired announced.
“By utilizing MerchantWired's always-on, high-speed network, we will reduce retailers' transaction times and costs exponentially,” says James Giuliano, III, president and CEO of MerchantWired. “Leveraging the technology infrastructure that our partnership with ACI provides, retailers will now have the enhanced information and solutions they need to monitor buying trends, track merchandising effectiveness and meet customer needs during the buying process.”
ACI Worldwide is an international provider of enterprise e-payment software. Founded in 1999, MerchantWired is a business and technology solutions provider to the retail industry. It works in partnership with a coalition of leading property owners and technology companies.
Roselle Park, N.J. — Locally based PeopleVision unveiled a new display enabling users to create ghostly 3-D images by projecting video onto a thin, water-filled membrane.
The company produces and markets special effects for theme parks, theme retail, museums and corporate trade shows. According to PeopleVision president Wayne Sullivant, the product, called “CloudBubble,” includes a small cloud contained within a thin membrane of water. The water is in the shape of a bubble that seems to hover in midair.
Because the cloud is translucent, video images can be projected onto it, creating interesting visual effects. PeopleVision produces several other water-based special effects products, which can be customized based on customer requirements.
Youngstown, Ohio — Bishara Computer Systems recently launched an Internet-based property management database that provides leasing agents and executives access to tenant, leasing and property information via handheld wireless devices.
The new solution, ilambs.com, can be accessed using either Palm Pilot VII or laptop PC. It allows owners and property managers to enter and update property and leasing information in an online database via traditional Internet browsers. Users pay a monthly fee to rent ilambs.com software.
Youngstown-based Bishara Computer Systems began offering property management software in 1975.
Minneapolis — Clearr Corp. released a new full-screen motion light box display designed to simulate the look of a live-action video image at a fraction of the cost.
Called AnimAction, the light box brings graphic images to life using computer-generated motion patterns. Single- or double-sided models are available in sizes up to 28 inches by 40 inches. The company maintains a website at www.clearrcorp.com.
Roseville, Minn. — Rosedale Center, a 1.1 million-sq.-ft. regional mall in Roseville anchored by Dayton's, JCPenney, Mervyn's and Herberger's, recently launched a new online shopping site.
MyRosedale.com offers a store directory, hours of operation, driving directions, a calendar of events, online gift searching and other features. As the site expands, visitors will be able to subscribe to e-mail gift reminders, obtain gift certificates, review gift guides and product reviews, and learn about employment opportunities.
The site was designed by MallFinder Network, which manages websites for more than 100 U.S. shopping centers. Rosedale Center is managed by Jones Lang LaSalle and owned by Equitable Life Insurance Society of the United States.
Cleveland — Forest City Enterprises announced plans to follow up on its aggressive 2000 technology campaign by launching interactive loyalty-shopping programs at four malls by December 2001.
The Cleveland-based developer already operates the technology programs at several properties via Centerlinq Internet kiosks. The malls include The Galleria at South Bay, Redondo Beach, Calif.; Tucson Mall, Tucson, Ariz.; The Galleria at Sunset, Henderson, Nev.; Antelope Valley Mall, Palmdale, Calif.; Boulevard Mall, Buffalo, N.Y.; The Promenade in Temecula, Temecula, Calif.; and The Avenue at Tower City, Cleveland.
Placed in common areas, Centerlinq's latest kiosks are footpad-activated and respond when users approach. They provide Internet access and are equipped with cameras, enabling shoppers to send postcard e-mail greetings to friends from the mall.
Centerlinq is a division of Van Nuys, Calif.-based GenesisIntermedia.
Seattle — PhotoAccess recently launched a turnkey solution that enables retailers to provide digital camera photo-finishing and merchandise. After signing with PhotoAccess, retailers basically outsource their digital photo-finishing business to the Seattle-based firm via the Internet.
“Retailers that are not offering digital camera photo-finishing services today are losing hundreds of thousands of dollars, not to mention customer loyalty and long-term market share in the photo finishing category,” notes Jerry Barber, PhotoAccess president and CEO.
PhotoAccess cites research showing that digital camera sales are expected to exceed those of traditional cameras in the near future, with a projected 41.6 million digital cameras sold by 2004. The company aims to offer retailers a cheap and easy way to expand their digital photography services.
“In just three weeks, retailers can have their own online, e-commerce digital camera photo-finishing center, offering customers film-quality prints,” Barber says.
Bethesda, Md. — Locally based Storetrax.com has added the listings for Irvine Retail Properties Co., a division of The Irvine Co., Newport Beach, Calif. Irvine Retail's 30 properties total more than 6.3 million sq. ft. and are located throughout the Irvine Ranch in Orange County. With the Irvine Retail properties, Storetrax.com now lists more than 660 million sq. ft. of retail properties.