As I mentioned in my last post, we've had an extremely successful year client-wise and thought it would be nice to share some of the work we have done for various client campaigns.
JCPenney
When JCPenney exclusively launched MNG by Mango in the U.S., they were given product videos to help promote the new line. Rather than just play the videos as is, JCPenney employed our service to create a clickable shopping experience for their users. So far, we have run two very successful interactive video campaigns with JCPenney. Both campaigns featured a sleek player with a clickable product carousel, Overlayed with "invisible" clickable targets that link directly to the product page as well as updated fonts and colours for each. You can check out the latest Fall/Winter campaign here.
MNG by Mango for JCPenney
Armani Exchange
Armani Exchange, or A|X as they are known, partnered with Overlay.TV to make their "How to Wear It" online section an interactive shopping experience. The videos feature stylists and celebrities discussing the latest trends with clickable hotspots on the clothes. They use a customized player, including a new product information panel, custom targets, and a complementary color scheme to match their site which is configurable for each new campaign. For their first interactive campaigns, we created the Overlays in-house, but as is the goal with our solution the team at A|X eventually decided to take on the creation process themselves, and with great success. After some personal training they were able to create their Holiday 2010 "How to Wear It" clickable video! Congrats to the A|X team for a job well done!
Armani Exchange Custom Player
Boss Orange
For the Fall/Winter 2010 collection, Hugo Boss brand, Boss Orange, wanted to expand their online presence through video and social media. We created a shoppable video for them using a behind the scenes video that can be accessed through their main site as well as on the Hugo Boss Facebook page for their more 500,000 fans. We customized the player colors to match their brand, and like all our players, it can also be shared to the various social media sites, including Facebook and Twitter.
Boss Orange Player
For more detailed information on these and any of our clients, please check out http://www.overlay.tv/clients.html.
Happy Holidays from everyone at Overlay.TV!
No tags
We have landed some pretty stellar clients this year, some by word-of mouth, others through good ol' fashioned pavement pounding and salesmanship. Part of our sales effort always includes sending the team out to the various trade shows throughout the year and demonstrating to the masses what we do best - interactive video. Trade shows are always a lot of fun, and one of the best ways to meet and greet potential new clients. And here, without further ado, are some highlights from the 2010 trade show circuit...
MarketLive Summit 2010 Conference - Sonoma California
This was our first time at the MarketLive Summit and what a terrific experience it was. What's great about this event is that MarketLive takes care of all the creative for your booth so the only thing you have worry about is getting there. It's a smaller affair with time to focus on each person, and because of this we were able to generate some extremely valuable leads. Plus our "taxi" ride to the airport didn't hurt either 
. Stepped out to hail a cab and this was waiting for us!
Taxi!
The 2010 Shop.org Online Merchandising Workshop - Huntington Beach, California
The Shop.org annual merch event is great to attend for 2 reasons: 1. it's always in California; and, 2. it's always in California. Who doesn't love California?! Location aside, we enjoy this event because of its smaller size, which means we can spend more time with people and really gauge their needs and get to know their business. Our booth almost didn't make it to the event this year (U.S. customs you are on my list!) and I spent a few panicky hours going back and forth with a local Kinkos in hopes of procuring new signs, but at the 11th hour our booth finally arrived. *Phew*
Tyler, Rob and Jim at the Shop.org Merchandising Workshop
Huntington Beach
The Shop.org Annual Summit 2010 - Dallas, Texas
Rob, Jim, Siân, Nadav and Tyler at the Annual Summit 2010
The Shop.org Annual Summit is one of the biggest trade shows of the year and is probably the most stressful but also the most fun (no offence to the other trade shows). Thankfully our booth arrived in its entirety and we had a terrific spot right by one of the food courts, which meant a steady stream of traffic. We've come a long way since our first attendance at the Annual Summit in 2009 so it was great to come back and show off all that we have accomplished in the past year. I thought the 2009 event would be hard to top (Vegas, baby!) but the team from Shop.org certainly outdid themselves, the highlight being the networking event at the Dallas Cowboys Stadium right on the field.
Rob on the centre star at the Dallas Cowboys Stadium
No tags
23
Online Customer Support: Live & Interactive
View Comments · Posted by Siân in eCommerce, Overlay.TV, Platform
In a 2008 survey done by The Neilson Company, they found that of the worlds internet users 85% of them have purchased something online and, according to a poll taken by Geek Sugar, 65% of people prefer shopping online to an actual bricks and mortar store. Like so many I am a convert to the ease and convenience of online shopping. To be honest, I never really liked shopping anyway (GASP!) I just like the end result - new clothes, new shoes, new books. The act itself though I could do without - tiny dressing rooms, crowded stores, long lines, pushy people, and why when I can shop for the same items online while lounging comfortably in my bed and often for less than what I would pay in a retail store. And c'mon who doesn't love getting a package?!
One of the things I do find lacking from the online shopping experience is the attention and help you get from a live sales person, especially on sites where you may not be entirely familiar with the products. Not so long ago I ordered a DVD player from a large online electronics retailer and I needed what turned out to be a very specific cable, so I could hook it up to an LCD monitor. I'm not very techy and really didn't know what I was looking for so I tried the live chat with a customer service rep where you type in your query, but he didn't really understand what I was saying and his questions were a little too complex for my rote technical understanding. It's not like you can show them what you're talking about either, because you can't see them and they can't see you. So I ordered the wrong thing. Turns out I had to go into their actual store anyway with my monitor and show it to them so they could suggest the right cable for me to buy. All this could have been avoided with 2 webcams.
Meanwhile, our development team was already working on an application that would have helped me immensely in purchasing the cable I needed. It's a video chat tool. If you’re on a site and you need some help you can talk face-to-face with a real live person and show them exactly what you need. The video chat allows the customer service rep to make suggestions by dragging products into the viewing area for the customer see and even click on. It's the attention and service you get from going to a store, without ever having to leave your home.
Face-to-face live video chat
No tags
We received a lot of feedback last time we gave the site a makeover- positive overall, mixed with some constructive criticism. What we were finding was that while people generally liked the look and feel of the site, they just weren't getting enough information. We decided that a content and design overhaul was in order and what better time than spring to introduce a new look and feel?
Our new site is designed to not only look great and be easy to navigate, but also provide you with as much information as possible about what we do, the services we provide, our clients and everything in between. The blog also got a design update and is now integrated into the site's navigation instead of opening in a new window.
Please take a tour, watch the video, catch up on the blog and as always we welcome your feedback.
No tags
There was a time when air travel was considered a real privilege. Men and women donned their Sunday best like they would for any special occasion, while flight attendants wore uniforms that were just this side of enviable, more than appropriately stylish for the times. It was all very glamorous really. What's more, all passengers were treated like they were flying first class, because essentially they were.
Today's skyscape is a far different one filled with leisure suits, less than comfortable flying conditions and beyond heightened security, making travel more of a stressful occasion than a special one. Luckily there is FLIGHT 001(pronounced flight one) a site that's outfitted with all the flying essentials today's harried traveler needs, from regulation sized bottles for carry-on to kitsch travel accessories. Here are a few of the must-haves from FLIGHT 001:
1. Comfort is crucial when travelling. Does that mean I think you should wear pyjamas when you fly - no, it does not - but there's no reason for you to suffer in-flight with a stiff neck and the myriad afflictions associated with flying such as puffy eyes and sticky hands. For those flights that still allow carry-on (!), take the In Flight Comfort Kit. Comes complete with inflatable jersey neck pillow, earplugs, padded jersey eye mask, wet wipes and 10 sheets of paper soap and a handy little pouch to carry it all in.
In Flight Comfort Kit
2. Toiletries can often be a hassle, because you invariably forget something. Just in case I think every suitcase should be packed with a Hemergency or Shemergency kit. These tiny kits have everything you could ever think to use in a jam plus a few things more!
The Shemergency Survival Kit
The Hemergency Survival Kit
3. Packing (and unpacking) is probably one of my least favourite things to do, and I'm sure I'm not alone. There is an art to packing which very few have mastered, but the Flight 001 exclusive Spacepak can turn even the most helpless packer into a packing pro. According to Flight 001 "this system allows garments to undergo double compression and organization with 1 side for clean laundry and 1 side for dirty laundry." Ingenious!
F1 Spacepak Set
No tags
I don't know about you, but this time of year just isn't as fun as I rememeber it being as a kid. As a kid what was your major responsibility when it came to celebrating the holiday season? For me, it was to make my parents some crude holiday-related craft at school and wake up at dawn on Christmas day to open presents. Totally stress free. Now that I'm an adult (and I use that term lightly), there are a lot of stresses associated with the holiday season. Family obligations, friends to see, dinners to cook, dinners to attend, the endless parade of holiday parties, and I haven't even mentioned gifts. It's not the gift giving I have a problem with, it's the shopping - scavenging through the overcrowded malls and waiting in long lines with other tired and stressed-out shoppers. I said, No more! and for the past few years I order all my gifts online. Of course, this is not a novel idea and many people shop this way year round, myself included, but it can become a bit more daunting when you have several people to shop for. What sites should you visit?
I'm a big fan of department store sites where you can order gifts for your whole family in one spot, such as Nordstrom (they deliver to Canada too), and John Lewis in the UK. Most places will gift wrap, and shopping for one household on the same site saves on shipping costs too.
Gloves and Scarves for Her from Nordstrom
Hampers are terrific for families and couples because you only need to send one for a household and there is generally something in every hamper that will appeal to everyone. Once reserved solely for the British elite, high end grocer-turned-department-store Fortnum & Mason's charm has spread to to the masses, and now even delivers their world famous hampers to North America. With prices to suit all budgets they are really great way to send some love in a basket. They sell out quickly this time of year, but they still have several varieties available, so don't miss out.
Fortnum & Mason Christmas Hamper
For friends, co-workers and everyone in between, check out FredFlare.com. This quirky site has all kinds of inexpenisve gift ideas from the silly (bacon bandages anyone? $9), to the downright pretty (gold brocade tulle corset dress $52). And with almost everything under a hundred dollars, you might even have enough left over to buy yourself something to!
Pocket Guitar Hero from Fred Flare
Happy Holidays!
No tags
What a beautiful day! Sun is shining, the air is crisp and Overlay.TV has been named one on of the top 20 innovative technology companies in Canada by the Canadian Innovation Exchange (CIX). Each year CIX picks 20 Canadian owned and operated companies that have demonstrated, among other things, their ability to be innovative technology leaders in a competitive market.
Thanks to CIX for the honour and congratulations to everyone on the list including our Tech Capital portfolio partners PostRank and Metranome.
No tags
Since launching our eCommerce platform for online retailers we have been exposed to loads of cool e-tail sites in our travels, so I thought it would be neat to introduce a new feature to our blog that showcases the ones that are doing really innovative things.
At this year's Shop.org Annual Summit we met some of the gang from MyShape.com, an online retailer that finds clothes for you based on "your unique body shape." Interesting, I thought, and being someone that is proportionally challenged when it comes to clothing fit (AKA every woman on the planet!), I thought I should investigate further.
MyShape.com
Having ordered plenty of clothing online, I have come to realise that fit guides offered by most online shopping sites are dubious at best. What makes MyShape truly innovative is that it will find clothes for you based on your specific measurements and even pre-determine what size you should be for each item of clothing you select. Membership is free and once you've inputted all your measurements, MyShape will fill your "personal shop" with only the clothing that is best suited to your particular body shape. With an array of high-to low-end designers and brands there is something at MyShape to fit not only everyone's size, but also everyone's budget. Alas, they do not ship internationally, so my investigation stops here, but it looks as if they are working to fix that, and judging by the feedback peppered throughout the site, there have been a lot of satisfied customers!
Know of any eCommerce sites, or just cool sites in general, that you feel are doing truly innovative things we'd love to her from you! Leave us your suggestions in the comments section or tweet us @OverlayTV.
UPDATE: Good news! Just heard from @MyShape and they told me that customers outside the U.S. can get their "shapes" shipped internationally by using BongoUS.com. And here's the bonus: international customers who use Bongo will be offered a MyShape.com gift certificate!
No tags
In my last post I mentioned that I would be sharing some examples of companies and organizations that have integrated the Overlay.TV for Retail platform into their websites. Despite what its name implies, our retail platform has many functions that go beyond just allowing users to shop through video, it can also provide them with an opportunity to share and even give through video. Sounds like a lot of work but it's actually quite simple.
Case in point: Our friends at United Way Ottawa, United Way Toronto and the Government of Canada Workplace Charitable Campaign (GCWCC) have all implemented a version of the Overlay.TV Community Recorder, whereby their users and staff can record or upload videos of themselves sharing ideas and stories about helping the community. You don't need to be a computer whiz or filmmaker to use the recorder either. All you need is a web cam or video camera to get started. Giving doesn't have to be just about a monetary donation, it can also be about communities coming together to share their collective experiences about how we can make our workplaces, cities, environments and the world better and cleaner and about teaching others to be more tolerant of our differences. Simple.
United Way Ottawa
Have a story or an idea you would like to share? Check out the links below to record your own video and to find out what other people in your community are doing to give back. Feel free to share your video, or any other video you find inspirational, either by email or to Twitter and Facebook by using the share tabs located below the player.
No tags
28
What’s New Pussycat?
View Comments · Posted by Siân in Advertising, In the News, Overlay.TV, Platform, Stay Tuned
Time for an update on what's been going on at Overlay.TV. A few months ago we launched a new platform called Overlay.TV for Retail. At the time, the focus on our site was split between user-generated content and our new eCommerce video platform, but it became clear in the months that followed that interest in the UGC side was dwindling and that our energies would be better spent if we concentrated solely on our retail platform. It wasn't an easy decision to make as we had some very loyal users, but we felt that the new platform needed all of our love and attention, especially in these early stages, in order to deliver the best possible product to all of our clients. Check out the revamped site to see how our focus has changed and to find out more about Overlay.TV for Retail.
So, with our sites set on making Overlay.TV for Retail the most widely used eCommerce video platform, we thought it was time to have a coming out out party of sorts, and what better place to do that than in Las Vegas! Myself and some of the gang from Overlay.TV traveled to Vegas for the Shop.org Annual Summit 2009 at the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino where we set up shop in a 10x20 booth.
The Summit was 3 days of non-stop meet and greets. Not only were we able to introduce ourselves to loads of people from all over the world, but we were also given the opportunity to see what's new in the world of online retail. What we heard a lot was that online retailers are looking for new ways to integrate video, product and user-generated, into their sites to better engage existing customers and entice new ones. It's not just about pushing products and shopping, but about building a community of like minded consumers and giving them the ability to share their experiences with others. If you you missed the Summit, check out the Shop.org Blog for recaps on the show and keynote speakers. Thanks to the Shop.org crew for putting together a fabulous trade show. We couldn't have asked for a better coming out party.
Stay tuned, because over the next coming weeks and months I'll be posting stories and examples of how our clients are successfully integrating the Overlay.TV for Retail onto their sites.
No tags
