Press Releases

Visual Magnetics Delivers Huge Cost Savings, Greater Promotional Flexibility For Oakley

Leading Performance Apparel Retailer Transforms In-Store Signage with Revolutionary Magnetic-Receptive Graphic System

Mendon, Mass., September 27, 2010 – Visual Magnetics, developer of the Visual Magnetics Graphic System, today announced that Oakley, Inc. has used its system to reinvent the way it creates and installs in-store signage. The new method of display enabled by the Visual Magnetics Graphic System has allowed Oakley to cut shipping costs associated with in-store signage by more than 50 percent, and achieve greater flexibility in changing out promotional graphics.

Visual Magnetics’ system is a unique large-scale graphics solution that matches magnetic-receptive technologies with high-quality print media to enable the creation of in-store graphics that can be updated effortlessly. Unlike traditional printable magnets, which are difficult to print on and cut, and require a steel base for installation, the Visual Magnetics Graphic System offers a patented, non-metal based media option that is flexible and smooth, easily printable, and can be applied on virtually any surface.

Come see Visual Magnetics at booth 3927 during the SGIA Expo taking place in Las Vegas, NV from October 13-15, 2010.

The Visual Magnetics system components include MagnaMedia magnetic-receptive papers and films, and InvisiLock magnet technology, which may be applied to virtually any surface, incorporated into frames and fixtures, or simply mounted directly to a wall. Once InvisiLock is applied, users can easily roll graphics printed on any MagnaMedia to achieve instant, high-quality signage and graphics. Visual Magnetics’ MagnaMedia is so thin that when combined with the properties of the InvisiLock magnet, it is possible to create layerable graphics to update images instantly for specific promotions, without the use of frames, fasteners or adhesives.

Oakley began using the Visual Magnetics system in 2005, when the retailer selected it to replace its traditionally printed and mounted foam board cash wrap displays. Oakley applied InvisiLock to 4’ by 8’ inset back frames located behind the cash registers in its Oakley and Oakley Vault retail outlets, and from then on, simply changed out the faces with new MagnaMedia–printed signage as the company’s graphic assets were updated. Installation of MagnaMedia is easy – users simply unroll the media onto the surface. According to Oakley concept development manager Philip Gordon, the company began realizing enormous benefits from the system almost immediately.

“Before using Visual Magnetics, every time we had an asset update, we were sending shipments to each store that weighed 60 pounds or more,” said Gordon. “With Visual Magnetics, because we only need to swap out the faces of the display, we can just roll the graphics up and ship them like paper. We started seeing enormous savings on shipping costs right away.”

Gordon continued, “Damages had also been a problem – a percentage of the assets we shipped were invariably damaged in transit, and resources had to be used to try to recoup our losses from those damages. With Visual Magnetics’ system, that is no longer an issue.”

Oakley was so pleased with the performance of the Visual Magnetics Graphic System in the cash wrap applications that the retailer began to integrate the concept into its store build-outs, by having the manufacturers put in magnetic walls. Today, all of Oakley’s 117 retail stores in the U.S. utilize the Visual Magnetics Graphic System for their promotional signage.

“The Visual Magnetics Graphic System is an elegantly simple interface for changing out graphics,” said Gordon. “Image quality is also important to us, and we have found Visual Magnetics’ media has a particularly nice white base that delivers excellent color reproduction. This technology has really exceeded our expectations in every way, and liberated us to be more flexible and free in our promotions.”

“We are delighted with the success that Oakley has had with our graphics system,” said Joe Deetz, founder and CEO of Visual Magnetics. “This technology has the potential to revolutionize the way companies roll out their promotional campaigns, and we are seeing an increasing number of customers around the world who are doing just that.”

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