• Artisan Complete, BroadSign and CognoVision Bring True Measurability To Retail Digital Media
• Artisan Complete Delivers Results For Reebok Canada
• Canadians Sweep POPAI's Annual P.O.P. Competition
• Artisan Complete Brings Interactive Digital Signage To The Retail Shelf
• Artisan Supports The 2nd International Scout Troop In Raising Awareness About Global Water and Sanitation Efforts

nCAPSULE is first fully integrated digital media deployment of facial detection technology to measure and enhance shopper engagement.

TORONTO and MONTREAL – June 10, 2008 – Artisan Complete has launched the first installation of its groundbreaking nCAPSULE digital merchandising solution, featuring best-of-breed digital signage software from BroadSign and the first retail deployment of facial detection software from CognoVision.

The nCAPSULE is a remotely programmed digital floor display that offers push-button interactivity using BroadSign™ Suite and automated audience measurement analytics using CognoVision’s Anonymous Impression Metric (AIM) technology.

“This is a major step for our company and for our clients,” said Stephen Ghigliotty, Account Director at Artisan Live, the digital arm of retail communications provider Artisan Complete. “Artisan has always designed and manufactured great retail displays...by working with BroadSign and CognoVision we are now able to see exactly how they are working to get the attention of shoppers.”

The first nCAPSULE was launched at the flagship Birks jewelry store in Toronto for the Movado Group and its Concord brand of luxury watches. Its sleek and elegant look is enhanced by high-definition content delivered through BroadSign’s Software as a Service (SaaS) platform.

 “Integrating BroadSign’s campaign execution system with CognoVision’s automated audience measurement tools allows any digital signage network to offer an unprecedented level of service to their advertisers,” said Rick Engels, CEO of BroadSign International. “It also provides a high-tech shortcut to measuring the advertising ROI, eliminating the usual significant time delay and reducing the need for traditional big-budget surveys.”

“The nCAPSULE is an exemplary embodiment of bringing together industry leaders to create an all encompassing, fully integrated digital media solution for retail,” said Haroon Mirza, Director of Business Development of CognoVision Solutions Inc. “The combination of CognoVision’s AIM audience measurement system with BroadSign’s digital signage suite provides an exceptional platform for advertisers to deliver, measure, and optimize their campaigns.”

Together, Artisan Complete, BroadSign, and CognoVision are spearheading the movement towards maximizing the effectiveness of digital signage.
 
About Artisan Complete

Artisan Complete is one of North America’s largest providers of retail communication solutions, offering creative and production services for static, digital and interactive POP signage and display. Through the manufacturing capabilities of Artisan Print+, the design and marketing services of Artisan Retail and the digital expertise of Artisan Live, we offer comprehensive in-store marketing solutions for brands, retailers and their agencies. With award-winning digital content services and an expertise in the constantly evolving technology landscape, Artisan provides a single source to marketers looking to extend their message onto new media at retail. Visit us at www.artisancomplete.com

About BroadSign International Inc.
BroadSign International Inc. is a leading worldwide provider of hosted solutions for managing digital signage networks. BroadSignTM Suite is a 'Software as a Service' (SaaS) platform that resolves the challenges facing modern digital signage networks: the need for acceptance by the mainstream advertising community, time to market and the need for full campaign execution functionality, accountability and true scalability. The software enables operators to target out-of-home audiences, sell network airtime; reliably play back scheduled content on each screen and account for campaign performance. Essential support and maintenance services are included in the per-player monthly license fee. BroadSign combines extensive expertise in digital signage software, media, advertising, and information technology and is a member of the Out-of-home Video Advertising Bureau (OVAB), OAAA, the Digital Signage Association and POPAI. Digital signage networks in 25 countries use the BroadSignTM Suite. The company's corporate office is located in Minnetonka, Minn., USA and Operations, Support and Development facilities are in Montreal, Canada. For more, visit www.broadsign.com

About CognoVision Solutions Inc.
CognoVision Solutions Inc. is an innovative provider of automated real-time audience measurement solutions. CognoVision's sophisticated video analytics solutions measure audience viewing information for out-of-home advertising on media displays, including: digital signage, TV displays, posters, kiosks, window displays, product displays, and endcap displays. The company's solutions have been built from the ground up for the specific purpose of audience measurement, and are not derived from homeland security algorithms. CognoVision's AIM system has been designed to completely respect people's privacy. No personally identifiable information is ever collected, and no images are ever recorded. Visit CognoVision at www.cognovision.com

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Contact:
Stephen Ghigliotty
Artisan Live
331 Amber Street
Markham, Ontario, L3R 3J7
905 475 2630 x 224
stephen.g@artisancomplete.com
 

Launch of HexRide exceeds sales expectations with strong point-of-purchase communication.

MARKHAM – June 4, 2008 - When Reebok Canada was looking for a partner to maximize its presence for the Canadian launch of the HexRide shoe, they turned to Artisan Complete for design, production and distribution of retail displays that would catch the eye of shoppers.

Initially rolled out at Athlete’s World locations across Canada, the campaign for HexRide focused on creating a connection between performance and lifestyle with an emphasis on the visual identity of hexagonal shapes in the sole of the shoe. Artisan developed a variety of retail displays including window graphics, merchandising towers and wall and counter displays. Wherever possible, innovative solutions and materials were used to draw the attention of shoppers to the hexagonal shape.

“HexRide has been a very successful launch for Reebok in Canada, thanks in part to the great work done by Artisan,” said Stewart Clark, Marketing Manager, Footwear and Apparel for Reebok Canada. “Our sales of Hexride in the first month since launch have definitely exceeded expectations, and feedback from the field and our retail partners have been very positive.”

The launch of HexRide marks the first collaboration between Reebok Canada and Artisan Complete. Based on the success of the launch, Reebok has engaged Artisan as its retail agency for several new projects being developed for 2008 and 2009.

About Artisan Complete

Artisan Complete is one of North America’s largest providers of retail communication solutions, offering creative and production services for static, digital and interactive POP signage and display. Through the manufacturing capabilities of Artisan Print+, the design and marketing services of Artisan Retail and the digital expertise of Artisan Live, we offer comprehensive in-store marketing solutions for brands, retailers and their agencies.
Visit us at www.artisancomplete.com

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Contact

Kris Matheson
Director, Sales & Marketing
Artisan Complete
100 Bentley Street
Markham, Ontario L3R 3L2
905 475 2860 x276
kris.m@artisancomplete.com

The annual competitions recognizes the very best in visual merchandising point-of-purchase campaigns for brand marketers, retailers and agencies.

MARKHAM - March 24, 2008 – Artisan Complete took home 14 statuettes at last week’s POPAI Outstanding Merchandising Achievement (OMA) Awards Gala honouring the most innovative and effective marketing at-retail programs which lift sales and make products memorable and enticing to consumers.

Competing for the coveted gold statuettes, OMA displays are judged based on the display’s objectives, design and engineering, shopper engagement, retail experience and sales and brand performance results. Currently in its second year, awards were also handed out at POPAI’s Digital Signage competition – acknowledging excellence in retail digital signage campaigns. Digital Signage scores are based on the spot’s ability to increase sales, obtain retail placements and work strategically to position the brand at the point of sale.

“Our in-house designers and production staff have created solutions that connect with consumers and motivate them to make a purchase in-store,” states Director of Sales & Marketing, Kris Matheson. “We are proud to be recognized in this prestigious competition for their outstanding work.”

Artisan Complete won 13 OMA awards for their temporary, semi-permanent and permanent point-of-purchase display designs and manufacturing. The company also picked up a Digital Signage award for their content design and production.

This year’s POPAI’s (The Global Association for Marketing At-Retail) OMA Awards were held in conjunction with GlobalShop 2008, at McCormick Place in Chicago. The tradeshow showcases the latest in retail strategy, design and technology.

Artisan Complete is one of North America’s largest providers of retail communication solutions, offering creative and production services for static, digital and interactive POP signage and display. Through the manufacturing capabilities of Artisan Print+, the design and marketing services of Artisan Retail and the digital expertise of Artisan Live, we offer comprehensive in-store marketing solutions for brands, retailers and their agencies.

###

Kris Matheson
Director, Sales & Marketing
Artisan Complete
100 Bentley Street
Markham, Ontario, L3R 3L2
905 475 2860 x 276
kris.m@artisancomplete.com

nCAP offers retailers and brands the first integrated, modular and measurable digital merchandising solution.

CHICAGO - March 18, 2008 - Artisan Complete, one of North America’s leading providers of retail communication solutions, unveiled a new dimension in shopper marketing today at the GlobalShop 2008 retail tradeshow. nCAP is an all-in-one digital merchandising solution that can be continually rebranded for different retail campaigns using:

• a fully modular design that supports multiple configurations and branding elements
• high definition, full motion content on a 24” LG monitor which can be rotated into portrait or landscape mode
• remote content management and reporting using Broadsign’s industry leading digital signage software over a secure Internet connection
• flexible interactive content navigation that enables shoppers to choose the information most relevant to them
• revolutionary media impression measurement through facial recognition software from Cognovision

“The nCAP solution creates unlimited opportunities to attract and engage consumers at the point of purchase,” says Mike Brown, Managing Director of Artisan Retail and Artisan Live, the retail marketing and digital signage divisions of Artisan Complete. “Using the nCAP, marketers can combine traditional static elements with full motion interactive messaging and receive continuous audience measurement from each location.”

nCAP is the natural evolution of the “end cap” fixtures used at the head of shopping aisles in most retail settings. The modular design allows retailers and brands to quickly and easily refresh the look of these areas, while also giving consumers informative, interactive screens that will help drive understanding and product awareness right at the moment when those consumers make buying decisions.

Developed by Markham, Ontario-based Artisan Complete, the nCAP is powered by technology partners including Broadsign, whose digital signage software suite delivers over 5 million pieces of digital content to screens worldwide every day and is the only Arbitron-certified distribution platform in the digital signage industry.

“This is an exciting project for BroadSign because it really thinks through how a digital signage solution can be effectively used in a retail environment” said Rick Engels, President and CEO of Broad- Sign International. “nCAP is also the first application on the market using the interactive triggers capability BroadSign will be releasing at the end of this month.”

nCAP also offers the cost-effective option of activating CognoVision’s AIM software, a breakthrough audience measurement solution based on anonymous face-detection technology.

"The nCAP is a revolutionary addition to any retail environment. CognoVision's AIM system uses anonymous face-detection technology to collect audience viewer ship metrics and target ads in real-time. The seamless integration of AIM with nCAP complements Artisan's pioneering efforts to improve the shopping experience," comments Haroon Mirza, Director of Business Development for CognoVision. "Clients will know how many people looked at the display, how long they looked for, audience demographics, and more. Using these metrics, content can now be optimized based on actual nCAP user characteristics. We are very pleased to offer our technology on this breakthrough product from Artisan."

Showing at GlobalShop (Artisan Complete booth #1028, At-Retail Marketplace), one of the world’s largest annual retail design and in-store marketing shows, Artisan is proud to showcase a piece that engages the consumer with award winning content and fulfills demand for information and purchase in a retail environment through interactive means.

Artisan Complete is one of North America’s largest providers of retail communication solutions, offering creative and production services for static, digital and interactive POP signage and display. Through the manufacturing capabilities of Artisan Print+, the design and marketing services of Artisan Retail and the digital expertise of Artisan Live, we offer comprehensive in-store marketing solutions for brands, retailers and their agencies. With award-winning digital content services and an expertise in the constantly evolving technology landscape, Artisan Live provides a single source to marketers looking to extend their message onto new media at retail. Visit us at www.artisancomplete.com

CognoVision Solutions Inc. is an innovative provider of automated real-time audience measurement solutions. CognoVision's sophisticated video analytics solutions measure audience viewing information for out-of-home advertising on media displays, including: digital signage, TV displays, posters, kiosks, window displays, product displays, and endcap displays. The company's solutions have been built from the ground up for the specific purpose of audience measurement, and are not derived from homeland security algorithms. CognoVision's AIM system has been designed to completely respect people's privacy. No personally identifiable information is ever collected, and no images are ever recorded. Visit CognoVision at www.cognovision.com

###

Stephen Ghigliotty
Account Director
Artisan Live
331 Amber Street
Markham, Ontario, L3R 3J7
905 475 2630
stephen.g@artisancomplete.com

MARKHAM, ON - July 11, 2007 – Marking the 100th anniversary of Scouts Canada, the 2nd International Troop based out of Calgary, Alberta got involved with CAWST, a Canadian non-profit organization that provides training and technical consulting in water and sanitation to organizations that serve those who do not have access to clean drinking water in developing countries. Through this project the troop constructed a biosand filter and incorporated it into a display about water awareness, in hopes of educating people about water treatment methods.

“In most developing countries most children die before they reach five years of age due to the lack of clean drinking water,” stated Scott Suvanto, leader of the 2nd International Calgary troop. “We want to help them [CAWST] to help others, and this initiative allows us to spread awareness about this important cause.”

The biosand filter, a simple, effective household water treatment technology, consists of a concrete container, enclosing layers of sand and gravel whose purpose is to eliminate pathogens from water. Placed inside the homes of developing nations in areas where food is prepared, the filter provides 0.6 liters of water per minute. Of the three filters built by the troop, two will be used at a nearby scout nature learning centre in addition to a training program on what people can do so they don’t pollute the environment. The display made will be showcased at the upcoming 2007 Centennial Project Scout Jamboree in England; a chance for the scouts to network and share their knowledge with 3,500 other youths in attendance.

Artisan contributed to the project by building the cloroplast display, a replication of the filter framework and a tool that houses information on water awareness. Artisan is proud to participate in such an innovative and proactive solution to environmental challenges.

Artisan Complete is the premier brand communications in-store provider. Supporting and marketing the activities of Artisan Print+, Artisan Retail, and Artisan Live, the company produces retail visual merchandising elements including store design, static signage, temporary and permanent display and new media initiatives such as digital signage and interactive kiosks. Employing more than 180 people and serving customers throughout North and South America, the 34-year old company provides a full range of services. Learn more at www.artisancomplete.com

Scouts Canada, the country’s leading youth organization, offers seven challenging programs for boys, girls and youth age 5-26 in nearly 3,600 individual groups in most cities and towns across Canada. Over 78,000 young people enjoy Scouts Canada’s programs, which are provided by 24,000 caring and dedicated volunteers. Scouts Canada’s national office is located in Ottawa and can be found online at http://www.scouts.ca/.

CAWST is a Calgary-based humanitarian organization that provides education, training and technical consulting in water and sanitation to organizations that serve the poor in developing countries. As of June 2006, this ‘teach a man to fish’ approach has resulted in a network over 92 implementing organizations impacting almost 1,000,000 people with improved water and sanitation. For more information visit www.cawst.org.

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Kris Matheson
Director, Sales & Marketing
Artisan Complete
100 Bentley Street
Markham, Ontario, L3R 3L2
905 475 2860 x 276
kris.m@artisancomplete.com