Granada concept site

On jan. 15, Granada Canada opened a 5,500-square-foot concept store in London, Ont.

The store, which contains 2,500 square feet of showroom space, is designed to give shoppers the opportunity to touch and try out the various high-tech products available. Shoppers can also try their hands at virtual reality games such as hockey and soccer.

Granada carries brand name home entertainment products by such manufacturers as Mitsubishi, Sony, Hitachi, Panasonic and Pioneer.

Delta Hotels/GM deal

Delta Hotels & Resorts has teamed up with General Motors of Canada to launch a $250,000 sweepstakes called Vroom Service.

From Jan. 11 to May 31, travellers who use their gm credit card at any Delta Hotels & Resorts property in Canada or Florida will automatically become eligible to win one of 514 prizes.

The prizes include three 1994 Pontiac Gran Prix SEs and vacation packages to Bangkok, Thailand, Santiago de Cuba, Cuba, Whistler, b.c. and Orlando, Fla.

Aeroplan venture

Air Canada has enhanced its Aeroplan frequent flyer program by enabling Aeroplan members to collect points when flying on certain Air France routes.

The new arrangement, which went into effect Jan. 1, follows the announcement last year by the two airlines of a global partnership.

Companies split

Signs Now Canada has split with National Real Estate Service.

National Real Estate has owned the Canadian rights to the computerized, custom sign maker since acquiring them from u.s.-based Signs Now in 1991.

Effective Jan. 14, Canadian Signs Now President John Pozer assumed ownership of the company he built from a single store in 1991 to 14 franchise outlets.

There are 160 Signs Now outlets in Canada and the u.s.

Cheerios gets tactical

General Mills Canada has added Xs to the Os in its Cheerios brand breakfast cereal.

This year marks the 40th year Cheerios has been available in Canada, and to commemorate the anniversary, General Mills Canada has developed a tactical marketing campaign featuring a 30-second tv spot, cents-off coupons, special packaging and, of course, the X-shaped cereal.

The packaging features various tic-tac-toe games that can be played using the X- and O-shaped cereal pieces.

The tv spot, which airs Jan. 17 to April 17, is slated to run during peak children’s viewing hours. The promotion ends in May.