HP recently announced a new customer agreement with Duane Reade Inc., the “uniquely New York” drug store chain, to install HP Retail Publishing Solutions (PDF link) throughout its stores.
Following an extremely successful 2008 pilot program in key stores, Duane Reade now intends to offer HP Photo Center solutions in more than 200 locations in the greater New York City area, where it has the largest market share of any drug store retailer. HP claims the Duane Reade pilot stores achieved up to 50 percent year-over-year improvement versus the chain-wide average in the in-store photo category.
HP explains that HP Photo Center solutions will enable Duane Reade customers to order lab-quality photos and create a variety of photo products such as photo books, calendars, greeting cards and posters – all while they shop for everyday items to make their lives easier.
“Our brand is all about New York living made easy,” said Joe Magnacca, chief merchandising officer, Duane Reade. “Making this level of quality digital photofinishing convenient through HP kiosks and full-service counters across 200 of our stores is one more way we can be relevant and helpful to our customers on a daily basis. We’re very happy when we can partner with the best to make life easier for New Yorkers.”
Under the agreement, Duane Reade is installing a customized mix of HP Retail Publishing Solutions across its stores. In middle- to high-volume stores, the HP Photo Center provides front and back of counter operations to allow customers to order instant 4 x 6-inch and 5 x 7-inch prints, 8 x 10-inch enlargements, and creative products such as photo books, calendars, greeting cards, posters and 100-year archive DVDs.
In non-photo lab stores, Duane Reade customers can use the HP Photosmart Express instant-print kiosk – a standalone, self-serve solution designed to produce 4 x 6-inch prints and photo CDs. The intuitive interface of both the HP Photo Center and the HP Photosmart Express Station enables fast and easy ordering, getting customers in and out of the store with all of their photo needs satisfied.
“With retail photo print volume projected to grow to more than 61 percent of the total print market by 2013, HP is poised to help Duane Reade transform its photo labs into publishing centers that offer customers new opportunities for creative, customized output,” said Rohit de Souza, vice president and general manager, Retail Publishing Solutions, Imaging and Printing Group, HP. “By partnering with Duane Reade, we will be able to offer our services to a wide range of customers in New York.”
