Bang & Olufsen launches next-generation retail concept in North America

First USA flagship showroom will celebrate sound, design and sensory experiences, and will premiere in New York City

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Apr 16, 2014, 02:00 ET

NEW YORK and DEERFIELD, Ill. and STRUER, Denmark, April 16, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Bang & Olufsen unveils today its first newly redesigned store concept in North America, at the new Madison Avenue showroom location in New York City. The new store design is significant as it presents a breakthrough retail concept that evokes a true sensory experience and demonstrates Bang & Olufsen's commitment to providing extraordinary consumer experiences. The iconic Danish brand will debut the new showroom concept on Wednesday, April 16 to media, customers, and brand enthusiasts in a grand opening celebration hosted by CEO Tue Mantoni and new President of Bang & Olufsen America, Inc., Kathy Thornton-Bias.

Bang & Olufsen launches next-generation retail concept in North America (PRNewsFoto/Bang & Olufsen) (PRNewsFoto/Bang & Olufsen)

The 1400 square foot showroom, located on 600 Madison Ave, marks the very first USA showroom to implement the new store design layout, its sister showrooms in New York City will follow suit, as well as a handful of additional locations across the United States next fiscal year.

A dedicated team of retail, brand and creative designers from Bang & Olufsen- is behind the store concept. "The Bang & Olufsen store is where existing customers and a new generation of discerning consumers will hear, see and feel the Bang & Olufsen brand and be able to interact and play with our products," says Bang & Olufsen CEO Tue Mantoni.

"The new store concept features a luxurious and welcoming atmosphere, and the interior has been designed to captivate curiosity as you move through the store," states Kathy Thornton-Bias, President of Bang & Olufsen America, Inc. "This store concept will provide the perfect platform to interact and engage in the Bang & Olufsen universe of magical experiences."

Three zones to evoke the senses

At the heart of the new retail concept is a dedicated speaker wall that showcases all of Bang & Olufsen's best-selling speakers. You can listen to any kind of music, including your own playlist streamed from your smartphone and check out the sound of everything from the smallest cube speakers to the largest floor models.

A B&O PLAY zone invites you to listen to the brand's range of innovative designs created for more mobile lifestyles, comparing everything from the latest headphones to award-winning portable sound systems.

A more private area lets you settle in and immerse yourself in some of Bang & Olufsen's top-of-the-line viewing and listening combinations. Here, you can view films on the latest flatscreen technology with sumptuous surround sound, or discover the near-magical convenience of linking rooms and multiple entertainment sources through BeoLink system integration.

The scalable retail concept has been designed for spaces from 540 feet up to 2200 ft. and above, and will continue to be implemented in select Bang & Olufsen showrooms in major cities around the world.

Bang & Olufsen was founded in Struer, Denmark, in 1925 by Peter Bang and Svend Olufsen, two innovative, young engineers devoted to high quality audio reproduction. Since then, the brand has become an icon of performance and design excellence through its long-standing craftsmanship tradition and the strongest possible commitment to high-tech research and development.

Still at the forefront of domestic technology, Bang & Olufsen has extended its comprehensive experience with integrated audio and video solutions for the home to other areas such as the hospitality and automotive industries in recent years. Consequently, its current product range epitomizes seamless media experiences in the home as well as in the car and on the move.

For more information on Bang & Olufsen, please visit www.bang-olufsen.com.

Images are available free of charge from the Bang & Olufsen media centre: http://mediacenter.bang-olufsen.dk. If you are a first-time visitor, please follow the instructions and register as a new user. www.bang-olufsen.dk

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SOURCE Bang & Olufsen