Project Summary
Gary Huether, president of Arooga’s, knew from the onset that he wanted to include high-tech digital signage in his restaurants. “With being a sports bar, being able to incorporate real-time sports scores was very important,” Mr. Huether explains. He also aimed to use the digital signage for advertising daily and weekly specials and special events.

Mr. Huether first came in contact with Rise Display at the Las Vegas Nightclub and Bar Convention and Trade Show. Among Rise’s wares was a vertical display that caught Mr. Huether’s interest. “With so many TVs in our places, some of the horizontal displays can blend in,” he says. “But the verticals really draw people’s attention.”

Additionally, “We were finding that not too many [companies] offered the live sports feed, which was one of our biggest needs,” he says. “But Rise did.”

Rise Display worked with Mr. Huether to design and install four 42″ vertical boards, and many horizontal displays ranging from 37″ to 50″, at each Arooga’s location. At least one vertical board is located in each lobby and is used to display rotating specials and advertisements for special events. “While guests are waiting for tables, I think [the vertical displays] get more of their attention than a stand-alone billboard,” says Mr. Huether. “And once we have their attention and are rotating the ads, I think they’re retaining more about our specials because it is something neat and unique.”

Because the flexibility to make content changes himself was important to Mr. Huether, he was provided access to web-based software that allows for changes to be made within minutes. “It’s as easy as uploading a .jpeg to an e- mail,” Mr. Huether enthuses.

Among the 100-plus televisions in each Arooga’s location, the electronic displays keep customers updated with real-time sports scores and game time information. Arooga’s also uses the digital displays for direct marketing and co-op marketing, which was an additional benefit, says Mr. Huether.

“I think the [displays] are great,” he says. “They’re building advertising in-house, and we can upload content by ourselves in a minute. They’re also doing the wow factor. When people walk into the lobby and see a vertical board with our name and brand on it, I think they see that we’re up with technology. It’s something new.”

From the picturesque town called Hilversum, in Netherlands, our digital signage agent sent us info about this installation.

It is in fact digital signage installation, but not very dynamic. Or better to say – not dynamic at all. The digital board is showing one picture at the time, and the pictures change in regular rhythm. Their content – a bit of theater program, a bit of sponsors’ commercials. Does it look good and cool? Not really…

What strikes me is that every day I discover a new vertical market where professional deployments are made. Our local partner “Digiboard”, the Turkish market leader in DS, took us to a brand new installation at the Acibadem Private Hospital. I have to correct myself: this is a 5-star hotel with medical services. The building, due to be opened by the prime minister in ten days, is made of design, high-tech and digital signs just everywhere.

Fireplace – why should a traditional fire be used if it can be done by a HD display?

All the rooms are labelled by individual displays which hold all the patient’s public information and work as a guidance system.

And this is the room. You can book a standard room (in the picture) up to a suite with a living room, kitchen, two bedrooms. All the medical information are managed through a display which includes an RFID system identifying both doctor and patient.