Customers

Handy AV creates UK’s first interactive cruise retail store with BrightSign players

Cruise 1st , the cruise holiday provider, have opened the UK’s first interactive holiday store in Manchester. Handy AV were commissioned to design and install new mixed office and interactive store in Salford’s Lowry Outlet Mall. Opened in January, the store offers customers a truly unique space in which to select their next cruise holiday. Visitors can view, configure and purchase the latest cruise holiday opportunities on one of twelve 22” iiyama touch screen terminals. Customers and passing shoppers are greeted by in window screens and a 2x2 video wall showing 4K video content and images delivered by BrightSignXT243 media players

Video content is used throughout the store to create a visually appealing, interactive experience for Cruise 1st customers including live TV content from Cruise 1st ’s own Sky TV channel (Channel 860). The 2x2 iiyama46” video wall is hung using B-Tech’s System X mounts with content delivered by BrightSign players via an award-winning Datapath Fx4 display wall controller. The window display signage uses iiyama screens mounted with B-Tech floor to ceiling mounts. BrightSign XT243 media players offer the most powerful 4K H.265 video engine capable of dual video decoding and frame-accurate video wall synchronization.

Launched in 2000, Cruise 1st has always been different to other travel agencies -operating from a boat in Manchester’s Salford Quays for much of its existence. In the intervening years, due to the increasing popularity of cruising holidays, it experienced significant growth and outgrew its first premises. So, when development owner Peel Holdings offered them a prestige unit in its newly redeveloped Lowry Outlet Mall it took the plunge. Cruise 1st is planning to further enhance the window signage from the office side of the building onto the quayside during 2018, with Handy AV developing a bespoke solution for this.

Download Case Study