Sony Opens Doors To Exciting New Shopping Experience At Upper Canada Mall In Newmarket, Ontario

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TORONTO, Sept. 8, 2011 /PRNewswire/ - Sony of Canada is pleased to announce the grand opening of the first newly branded "SONY" store in Canada, which offers an exciting new concept, design and customer experience.

Located at Upper Canada shopping mall in Newmarket, the 2,800-square foot Sony store features a world-class architecture and design, making it a unique destination at which consumers can explore the complete Sony experience, including electronics, games, movies, music, network services and future technologies.

"Sony's goal is always to exceed customer expectations by providing an exciting, interactive and entertaining shopping experience," said Doug Wilson, President and COO of Sony Canada. "Our new store concept gives shoppers an opportunity to interact with trained and knowledgeable staff as well as preview, test, compare and unlock the full potential of Sony's entertainment offerings."

"The new store in Newmarket is a significant step in building a blueprint for future Sony stores, both in the U.S. and around the world," added Kiyoshi Shikano, Global Sales and Marketing Officer, Sony Corporation. "In this store, Sony is eager to test innovative offerings and listen and learn from customer feedback. We will gather opinions so that we can continually evolve and improve our retail experience, both here in Canada and around the world. As Sony is increasing its focus on providing its customers with an integrated shopping experience that features all that Sony has to offer, from hardware to content to services, all of its Sony Style stores and websites globally will also be transitioning branding from Sony Style to Sony."

Showcase Areas

In the spirit of Sony's make.believe brand message, the new store is designed to immediately capture the imagination of customers and engage with all that Sony has to offer, in an integrated, interactive and inspiring way. 

The front of the new store features, literally, a window into the world of Sony. Inside, consumers will be able to access, experience and make connections with everything Sony, from testing out its network services -- including Video on Demand powered by Video Unlimited through the Sony Entertainment Network-- on network-connected products, to enjoying PlayStation's Move interactive 3D gaming experience on a PS3 and the 65" BRAVIA® HX929 Series 3D HDTV. Consumers will be able to shoot images and video on a wide range of Cyber-shot digital cameras and Handycam camcorders then upload onto VAIO laptops, get lost in a 3D movie from Sony Pictures, and test headphones while listening to Sony Music artists.

Highest Level of Personalized Services  

With the opening of the new store, Sony is introducing Premium Services to provide customers with an exceptional support experience for all Sony products from set-up to service and repair facilitation. Services include assistance and education by trained staff with setting up all products and the activation of wireless services. Also available are in-home consultation, delivery, and TV, and home audio and video installation by authorized technicians. Sony of Canada recently introduced the Fastrac Service integrating its enterprise software with Purolator E-Ship® Web Services to reduce costs while delivering enhanced customer satisfaction following a product repair.

Grand Opening Weekend

In conjunction with Toronto's Virgin 99.9 FM Radio, GTA residents will have be invited to enter with a chance to win a $5,000 Sony Store shopping spree from Sept. 9 to 23.

A live performance by Sony Music artist Kira Isabella is scheduled in the store on Sept. 9 at 7 pm featuring songs from her latest album.

Design and Location

The new store was designed in collaboration with Tokyo-based Klein Dytham architecture (KDa). It features a bright, open, inviting space, with products displayed on tables so that consumers can personally interact and engage with them like they would in a home environment. The layout of the store is flexible, with movable interior walls and changeable color schemes so that it can be adapted and reconfigured to highlight specific products, services, or content to engage and delight customers with fresh experiences each time they return.

The Sony Store is located at Upper Canada Mall, 17600 Yonge Street in Newmarket, Ontario. Store hours Monday to Friday are 9:30 am to 9 pm. Saturday store hours are 9 am to 6 pm and Sunday from 11 am to 5 pm. A directory of all 52 Sony stores across Canada can be found at  http://www.sony.ca/html/ss_location/sonystyle_store_map.html .

*Editor's Note:
Press releases are available for news media on the Sony of Canada news and information website at www.sony.ca/presscentre .

About Sony of Canada Ltd.

Established in 1955, Sony of Canada Ltd. is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Sony Corporation, of Tokyo, Japan, a world leader in High Definition. Sony provides end-to-end solutions through products that include the market-leading Blu-ray Disc™ players, BRAVIA® televisions, Cyber-shot® digital cameras, Handycam® Camcorders, VAIO® computers, broadcast cameras, IPELA security cameras and video conferencing and many more products that deliver the true entertainment experience.

Sony is one of the most comprehensive entertainment companies in the world with a portfolio that includes electronics, music, movies, games and online businesses. With headquarters in Toronto, sales offices in Vancouver and Montreal and distribution centres in Coquitlam, British Columbia, and Whitby, Ontario, approximately 1,000 employees support a network of more than 500 authorized dealers and 52 Sony retail locations across Canada.

SOURCE Sony of Canada Ltd.

Image with caption: "Robin Powell, Vice President Retail, Sony Canada, prepares for Grand Opening of the Upper Canada Mall Sony Store (CNW Group/Sony of Canada Ltd.)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20110908_C9637_PHOTO_EN_2981.jpg

Image with caption: "Customers enjoying the latest in home entertainment from Sony at the new-concept Sony Store at Upper Canada Mall (CNW Group/Sony of Canada Ltd.)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20110908_C9637_PHOTO_EN_2982.jpg

Image with caption: "Sony Store employee arranging Sony headphone listening station at the new-concept Sony Store at Upper Canada Mall (CNW Group/Sony of Canada Ltd.)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20110908_C9637_PHOTO_EN_2980.jpg