Coinstar Announces the Second Annual 'Next Big Idea' Contest

BELLEVUE, Wash., Aug. 16 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Coinstar, Inc. (Nasdaq: CSTR) today announced that it is accepting entries for its Next Big Idea contest.  Entrepreneurs with a viable business idea for an innovative, kiosk-based solution are invited to submit their entry for consideration.

"We are delighted to kick off our second annual Next Big Idea contest," said Gregg Kaplan, president and chief operating officer of Coinstar, Inc.  "As a leader in automated retail, Coinstar is looking to reward entrepreneurs who have an innovative idea for a self-service solution and to identify high-potential companies for future investment opportunities.  Last year we saw some great concepts and were pleased to name ecoATM's solution as the winning idea."

Qualified entries to the contest will be judged on, among other things, the best solution for a consumer and/or retailer, potential market size and growth, originality and practicality.  Winning ideas may come from a service that doesn't exist today, such as self-service coin counting that was pioneered by Coinstar in the early 1990s, or from changing the way an existing product is offered, like redbox DVD rental.

Entries are due by Sept. 30, and the winner will be announced at the Customer Engagement Technology World conference on Nov. 10 in New York City.

"We were thrilled to have been the winner of last year's Next Big Idea contest and the recipient of the $10,000 prize money," said Tom Tullie, chief executive officer of ecoATM.  "Our eCycling stations allow consumers to trade in used electronic devices for cash and store credit.  We're grateful to have been introduced to Coinstar through the contest last year.  The initial prize money and subsequent investment by Coinstar is allowing us to build our business and broaden our market presence."  

Entry forms and complete contest rules are available on Coinstar's web site at www.coinstar.com/ideas, as well as complete judging criteria, odds of winning, and description of prizes. All submissions are due by 11:59 p.m., Pacific Time, on Sept. 30, 2010, or when Coinstar receives 100 eligible entries, whichever is earlier, no purchase necessary. Void where prohibited. Contest is subject to Official Rules. Contest Sponsor: Coinstar, Inc., 1800 114th Avenue Southeast, Bellevue, WA 98004.

About Coinstar, Inc.

Coinstar, Inc. (NASDAQ: CSTR) is a leading provider of automated retail solutions offering convenient services that make life easier for consumers and drive incremental traffic and revenue for retailers. The company's core automated retail businesses include the well-known redbox^® self-service DVD rental and Coinstar^® self-service coin-counting brands. The company has approximately 26,900 DVD kiosks and 19,000 coin-counting kiosks in supermarkets, drug stores, mass merchants, financial institutions, convenience stores, and restaurants. For more information, visit www.coinstar.com.

About Customer Engagement Technology World

For 14 years, Customer Engagement Technology World (featuring KioskCom & The Digital Signage Show) has delivered strategic, marketing and technical business solutions for organizations focused on enhancing their customer engagement programs through digital media such as kiosks, digital signage, self-service, digital out-of-home/place based media, mobile and other customer-facing technologies.  Having recently been named by Tradeshow Week as one of the 50 Fastest Growing Trade Shows in North America for the fourth time, the event has maintained success by delivering critical content and strategies to ensure deployment success directly from end-user companies that utilize these technologies within their organizations.  For more information, visit www.CETWorld.com.

SOURCE Coinstar, Inc.