Press Releases

Best Buy Learning Lounge, Developed by Creative Channel Services, Wins Stevie® Award for Best Training Site in 2009 American Business Awards^SM

LOS ANGELES, June 23, 2009 – Leading retail marketing agency Creative Channel Services, LLC (CCS) is pleased to announce that Best Buy Learning Lounge has won the Stevie Award for Best Training Site in the 7th annual American Business Awards. Developed by CCS in partnership with Best Buy, Learning Lounge is an innovative online learning community with a new approach to retail training, utilizing interactive product and technology information, eLearning modules, message boards, blogs, video, incentives and other features for Best Buy retail employees nationwide.

“Placing product knowledge training into an online environment complete with social networking is an innovation that positions Best Buy at the forefront of an industry trend towards collaborative learning," said Andy Restivo, president & CEO of CCS. “We are honored to be recognized for Learning Lounge and to support Best Buy’s commitment to developing their employees, which ultimately contributes to creating an outstanding customer shopping experience.”

Accessible anytime and anywhere, Learning Lounge gives Best Buy associates the freedom and motivation to directly influence their training and choose modes of learning that fit their individual needs and styles. Employees collaborate through message boards and contribute self-created content including video uploads. In addition, employees learn from product manufacturers through branded “vendor hubs” that deliver timely eLearning, quizzes and resources. To encourage open dialogue regarding products and technologies, Learning Lounge offers manufacturers the ability to blog or post messages for associates, who in turn can post comments and questions on the manufacturers’ products.

CCS previously won the 2007 Stevie Award in the Best Corporate Website category for its company site, http://www.creativechannel.com, and the 2008 Stevie Award in the Website: Intranet category for its company intranet-extranet.

The American Business Awards are the nation’s premier business awards program. All organizations operating in the U.S.A. are eligible to submit entries to the ABAs – public and private, for-profit and non-profit, large and small. More than 2,600 entries from companies of all sizes and in virtually every industry were submitted for consideration in more than 40 categories. Stevie Award winners were announced during the annual gala on Monday, June 22 at the Marriott Marquis Hotel in New York City. Details about The American Business Awards and the list of Winners and Finalists in all categories are available at www.stevieawards.com/aba. 

About The Stevie Awards
Stevie Awards are conferred in four programs: The American Business Awards, The International Business Awards, The Stevie Awards for Women in Business, and the Stevie Awards for Sales & Customer Service.  Honoring companies of all types and sizes and the people behind them, the Stevies recognize outstanding performances in the workplace worldwide.  Learn more about The Stevie Awards at www.stevieawards.com.

About Creative Channel Services, LLC
Creative Channel Services (CCS) is a leading retail marketing agency that improves sales and profitability for our manufacturer and retailer clients by helping them enhance their customers’ experience at the point of sale where most buying decisions are made. CCS’ In-store Influencer Marketing solutions focus on educating, empowering and motivating retail personnel to connect our clients’ brand promise with consumers’ needs in the critical moments leading to a purchase decision. CCS' core competencies include field sales & marketing, learning development, interactive services and promotional marketing to build brand advocacy. Established in 1995 and headquartered in Los Angeles, CCS is a part of Omnicom Group Inc. (NYSE: OMC) (www.omnicomgroup.com), a leading global advertising, marketing and corporate communications company. Omnicom's branded networks and numerous specialty firms provide advertising, strategic media planning and buying, digital and interactive, direct and promotional marketing, public relations and other specialty communications services to over 5,000 clients in more than 100 countries.

For more information, contact:

Mark Boeder, Director of Marketing
Creative Channel Services
310-665-9900, ext. 345
Email Mark Boeder