High Fashion Meets High Tech: Best Buy Canada and HP Bring Canadian Fashionistas the World’s First Digital Clutch
Special edition HP Mini designed by renowned fashion designer Vivienne Tam
January 28, 2009 @ 08:00AM
Toronto, ON – January 28, 2009 – Digital divas rejoice! Best Buy Canada and HP today announce the retail launch of the HP Mini 1000 Vivienne Tam Edition. Designed with the fashion-conscious consumer in mind, this digital clutch represents the first partnership between a computer company and a world-renowned fashion designer to personalize a product for the fashion-forward, trend-setting digital diva.
“The HP Mini Vivienne Tam Edition is the ultimate tech accessory for fashion-conscious consumers,” said Loveena Chera, director of marketing, Best Buy Canada. “Integrating the latest in fashion and technology, we are pleased to partner with HP on this initiative as they understand the increasing demand we see from our customers for electronics that reflect personal style and design, as well as functionality and portability.”
According to Forrester Research, “Laptops are now judged heavily on their aesthetic characteristics, which reflect the tastes and values of their owners. Netbooks, like mobile phones, are even stronger fashion accessories — they fit in any bag or purse and can be carried around nearly 24/7. HP explicitly taps into this trend with high-end designs by designers like Vivienne Tam” “Netbooks Are The Third PC Form Factor”, Forrester Research, January 2009.
The peony flower design represents a unique blend of Asian and Western cultures, antiquity with modern style, technology and fashion. It was inspired by the peony flower as it is one of the most beautiful flowers in the world. It exudes femininity, the tranquil feeling of nature, and the most vibrant yet subtle pink and purple color palettes. It has inspired a fluid and harmonious balance for Tam’s Spring 2009 collection.
“Vivienne Tam has reinterpreted traditional Chinese art into a global fashion trend,” said Satjiv Chahil, senior vice president of Worldwide Marketing, Personal Systems Group, HP. “With her Spring 2009 collection, Tam helped HP take the personal computer from a necessity to a lifestyle and fashion ‘must have.’”
The top of the notebook is vibrant red and bursting with peony flowers. The peony design continues inside the notebook and under the keypad, with the Chinese character for double happiness on the “Enter” key. This mini companion PC also features a complementary embroidered silk storage sleeve to keep the exterior protected while being carried as a clutch.
The HP Mini 1000 Vivienne Tam Edition is part of HP’s new mini PC portfolio and offers the features and performance that customers have come to expect from HP. It features a 10.1” diagonal BrightView Infinity display, weighs only 2.45 lbs and is powered by an Intel® Atom™ Processor N270. It comes with a 60 GB Hard Disk Drive, Microsoft® Windows® XP Home Basic and is ENERGYSTAR® qualified.
This special edition companion PC is available now in Best Buy stores and online at BestBuy.ca for $799.99. For a limited time your purchase at Best Buy stores also includes a matching Vivienne Tam mouse and the notebook also comes with as a design-matching protective sleeve for the fashionista on the go.
Quotes
“The HP Mini Vivienne Tam Edition is the ultimate tech accessory for fashion-conscious consumers,” said Loveena Chera, director of marketing, Best Buy Canada. “Integrating the latest in fashion and technology, we are pleased to partner with HP on this initiative as they understand the increasing demand we see from our customers for electronics that reflect personal style and design, as well as functionality and portability.”
According to Forrester Research, “Laptops are now judged heavily on their aesthetic characteristics, which reflect the tastes and values of their owners. Netbooks, like mobile phones, are even stronger fashion accessories — they fit in any bag or purse and can be carried around nearly 24/7. HP explicitly taps into this trend with high-end designs by designers like Vivienne Tam” “Netbooks Are The Third PC Form Factor”, Forrester Research, January 2009.
“Vivienne Tam has reinterpreted traditional Chinese art into a global fashion trend,” said Satjiv Chahil, senior vice president of Worldwide Marketing, Personal Systems Group, HP. “With her Spring 2009 collection, Tam helped HP take the personal computer from a necessity to a lifestyle and fashion ‘must have.’”
Boilerplate
Best Buy stores in Canada are a division of Burnaby, BC-based Best Buy Canada Ltd., a wholly owned subsidiary of Best Buy Co., Inc. (NYSE:BBY).
Best Buy is Canada's fastest-growing specialty retailer and e-tailer (www.bestbuy.ca) of consumer electronics, personal computers and entertainment software and also operates the Geek Squad (www.geeksquad.ca). Best Buy Canada also operates Best Buy Mobile, which sells mobile phones, plans and accessories in 3 shopping center locations in Greater Toronto. There are currently 58 stores in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec and Nova Scotia.
Best Buy offers consumers a unique shopping experience with the latest technology and entertainment products, at the right price, with a no-pressure (non-commissioned) sales environment. The Company is committed to kids and communities, supporting non-profit organizations that help youth develop their skill set, discover their talents and sustain a lasting interest in education.
For more information about Best Buy, including store locations, visit www.bestbuy.ca.
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Heather Seabrook
I apologize for the situation Connie encountered at the store - this is not the type of experience we like to offer to our customers.
There was definitely a lack of store sales support here which is disappointing because as noted, our intention with showcasing this product and offering these accessories is to attract female fashion-conscious consumers that want to see these items. It is disappointing to see that our PR efforts drove her to the store, only to be met with poor customer service once she arrived.
I appreciate Connie’s feedback and will share this with the store with the intention of learning from it for future customer opportunities. I also hope to discuss this with her further if she is able to take the time to do so.
February 04, 2009 @ 01:57AM
Connie Crosby
After seeing this press release I was quite keen on checking out this new netbook and hopefully buying it. First, I was a bit frustrated at finding it on the Best Buy Canada website (the problems I encountered with the search seem to have been since corrected). I then went to Best Buy at Bay & Dundas on Saturday for a closer look. When I arrived I found it plunked in with all the other netbooks, not highlighted in any way. I was a bit disappointed that it is not in the pearlized/metallic finish of the other HPs, but was still interested.
There were not a lot of customer service staff around and it was quite busy with people looking at this and the other computers. When I finally found a staff member, he wasn't very helpful. I asked about seeing the special offer mouse and design-matching sleeve. He didn't know anything about it, so went to the back to check with his manager. He came back and told me it was in a box, that the sleeve was a regular neoprene sleeve but red (it isn't, is it?) and the only way I could view it was if I purchased it. I was appalled that I could not view some of the style features (i.e. accessories) that would determine whether I would buy this computer.
I'm afraid by this time I was just too frustrated to pursue this purchase any further. I had planned on spending about $500 on a netbook but the specialness of the design almost had me convinced to spend the extra $300. Instead, I saved my money.
I still remain impressed with this Social Media Release--it hits the right tone for the fashionable girl geek market. Unfortunately the Best Buy store still has some work in that regard.
Connie Crosby
February 02, 2009 @ 09:44PM
choyr
I Like brands of HP computers. HP Computers provides a solution for every need, ranging from multimedia to business. These include laptops and tablet PCs, desktop and all-in-one PCs as well as various computer accessories for both home and business purposes. HP computers also offers IT solutions for large enterprises like technology solutions, industry solutions, software, laptops and tablet PCs, desktops and workstations and an all-inclusive range in a bid to meet the computing and IT requirements of these large enterprises.
April 03, 2009 @ 08:10AM