TheBuzz
TheBuzz
It's now possible to go window shopping on your desktop. We used to be a "let your fingers do the walking" society, but now we're "let your mouse do the clicking" people. Kahala Mall lures browsers
with virtual tourFingers that may still "walk" through the yellow pages on occasion can now point and click their way through Kahala Mall, which has added a 360-degree virtual tour to its Web site.
The virtual tourist goes from outside the mall to inside, and through store entrances as well.
General Manager Ron Yoda believes it's the first mall in the United States to have such a feature on its Web site, and that it will cause more people to come to the mall to shop. The goal of Web designers and the companies which hire them, is to make sites "sticky," or interesting enough to encourage lengthy site visits.
"With the virtual tour, the customer will stay on the Web site longer, visit more merchants, see more products and will be encouraged to make a personal visit to the merchants at the mall," Yoda said.
The visuals were produced by 360 Degree Virtual Tours, a product of Magnus Corp. The company initially served real estate companies with 360-degree views of high-end real estate, also to put on the Internet.
360 Degree Virtual has expanded its own horizons by promoting its services to other potential clients such as resort hotels, golf courses, restaurants and other businesses.
The site, at www.kahalamallcenter.com, offers a directory of mall merchants with links to their Web sites along with an event calendar and other information one might expect. Another link provides contacts for leasing information.
More bragging rights
Hawaii's other shopping centers are no slouches either.The Hawaii Council of Shopping Centers recently presented the SCOTY -- or Shopping Center of the Year -- Awards.
Ala Moana Center took home two awards while another award went to a seemingly unlikely recipient, as it's not a shopping center at all.
In the marketing or promotion campaign or event category, Ala Moana Center was awarded for its "Fourth of July Spectacular," and the Big Island's Keauhou Shopping Center won for its "Hoolaulea."
Two awards for center ambiance were presented to Ala Moana Center for its centerwide renovation, and to Kings' Shops Waikoloa Beach Resort for its overall appearance.
The Estate of James Campbell won the achievement award for what judges called its "consistent contribution over the years to the shopping center industry" and for the quality of its retail at Kapolei and Ewa on Oahu as well as at Whaler's Village on Maui.
The new Ward Entertainment Center snagged the new development or renovation award for Victoria Ward Ltd.
Erika Engle is a reporter with the Star-Bulletin.
Call 529-4302, fax 529-4750 or write to Erika Engle,
Honolulu Star-Bulletin, 500 Ala Moana Blvd., No. 7-210,
Honolulu, HI 96813. She can also be reached
at: eengle@starbulletin.com