Amerivon

Headquarters: 2101 4th Avenue Suite 1250 / Seattle / Washington / 98121
CEO: Dan Brettler
www.wirelessadvocates.com

Background
Wireless Advocates, founded in 2004, is a private partnership between Amerivon and Car Toys, one of the nation’s largest mobile electronic retailers. The company provides wireless telephones and accessories to Costco members from a manned, in-building kiosk in all of Costco's warehouses in the United States, offering subscriptions and devices from partners Verizon Wireless, T-Mobile and AT&T.

Challenges
Wireless Advocates sought to create, staff, and implement a nationwide roll-out of staffed wireless kiosks within Costco warehouses nationwide.

Amerivon Contribution
Amerivon helped create, prepare, and introduce Wireless Advocates to key decision makers within Costco and provides ongoing support leveraging Amerivon's retail consulting expertise and key headquarter relationships.

Results
Wireless Advocates kiosks are currently operating in every Costco store throughout the country. The success of Wireless Advocates is recognized by utilizing Wireless Advocates employees in a consultative sales approach and by having best in class agent agreements with multiple carriers.

Headquarters: 1416 W. San Pedro Street, Suite 101 / Gilbert, AZ 85233
CEO: Mel Sauder
www.microblendtechnologies.com

Background
MicroBlend is poised to revolutionize how the $60B paint industry manufactures, distributes and sells paint. Developed in the first half of the 20th century, today’s paint distribution process is antiquated. Relying on centralized manufacturing facilities the process requires substantial labor and overhead for filling, labeling, bailing, boxing, and palletizing. Paint is then transported to retail stores in small containers before being placed on racks and moved from shelf to shelf.

MicroBlend’s patented Automated Paint System™ is based on today’s latest technologies and innovations resulting in a significant reduction in inventory, labor, and overhead. Collapsing the traditional supply chain, the five essential raw materials used in producing latex paints are instead manufactured in bulk and shipped directly to retail stores. The materials are placed in large permanent tanks, one for each material, within a kiosk located on the retailer’s store floor. Using a touch screen computer a kiosk’s attendant blends the components and colorants to produce an exact formulation and color. Container sizes range from a quart to five-gallons.

Challenges
MicroBlend recognized a great fit for the company’s Automated Paint System™ existed for mass market retailers wanting to be in the retail paint business, but couldn’t due to the required store metrics. They also believed traditional big box retailers already in the paint business could benefit substantially from reduced footprint and inventory requirements offered by MicroBlend.

Amerivon Contribution
An investment by Amerivon in MicroBlend provided necessary capital to successfully implement pilot programs and enhance further research and development. Amerivon executives Spike Anderson and John Tyson joined MicroBlend’s Board of Directors in 2006 to further assist MicroBlend with strategic planning, corporate governance and growth planning. 

Results
The partnership between MicroBlend and Amerivon helped support efforts with Costco. Within a few months a pilot test was underway at the retailer’s Tukwila, Washington location. Quickly meeting Costco’s demanding expectations, Costco agreed to continue rolling out the program to additional test markets, including San Jose, California in November of 2006 with expectations for an additional 14 retail locations nationwide beginning in early 2008.

Headquarters: 15890 Bernardo Center Drive
San Diego, CA 92127
CEO: Cecilia Gonzales
www.retailinkjetsolutions.com

Background
Founded in 2004, Retail Inkjet Solutions developed and markets the InkCenter™, an innovative in-store inkjet cartridge refilling station.  The InkCenter™ is designed to be placed behind the counter of a one-hour photo or business service center, and provides a low-cost, greener alternative to consumers. 

Challenges
Retail Inkjet Solutions sought to gain distribution in mass market retail, in order to scale its business nationally.  The company required growth capital for ongoing product development, as well as for marketing and the working capital needed to roll out with national retailers.

Amerivon Contribution
Amerivon invested growth capital in Retail Inkjet and has acted as the company’s exclusive sales representative in certain mass retail accounts.  We continue to play an active Board role with the company.

Results
The InkCenter™ has been deployed at a number of CVS, Costco, and Sam’s Club  locations in the U.S.  Costco elected in 2009 to significantly increase the number of locations offering the InkCenter™, and is nearing completion of its national roll-out with Retail Inkjet.

Headquarters: 11781 S. Lone Peak Parkway, Suite 22-270/ Draper, UT 84020
CEO: Chett Paulsen
www.avincimedia.com

Background
aVinci Media’s aVinci Instant Movie enables consumers to create and produce complete professional-quality DVD movie presentations.

Challenges
Founded in 2003, aVinci Media quickly discovered the aVinci Instant Movie would be successful among consumers with its Photo Max product being distributed through a large direct marketing organization. The challenge, however, would be bringing aVinci Instant Movie to mass retail channels.

Amerivon Contribution
Amerivon provides critical support and resources in executing aVinci’s strategic retail roadmap, including a private equity investment necessary to accelerate the growth opportunities within mass retail channels and introductions to executive-level decision makers. Amerivon serves on the company's Board of Managers and is the largest single equity holder.

Results
In June, 2007, Wal-Mart integrated the aVinci Instant Movie in over 4,500 stores covering nearly 14,000 photo kiosks. In March, 2008, Costco.com debuted MomentsCaptured by aVinci, offering members an opportunity to quickly, and easily create themed DVD productions.

Headquarters: 1388 Bridgewater Road/Bensalem, PA 19020
CEO: Mark Byron
www.smartpacksolutions.com
 

Background
Smart Pack Solutions is the largest national supplier of complete residential moving kits, fulfilling thousands of customer orders from its distribution centers in Jacksonville, Chicago, Dallas, Fresno and their headquarters in Philadelphia.
Smart Pack Solutions buys boxes by the truckload and ships custom quantities direct to customers. The customized moving kits include all necessary boxes, supplies and packing materials for homes of all sizes. Orders are shipped the same day with nationwide home delivery typically within 1-2 business days.

Challenges
Smart Pack Solutions' required access to key retail channels to expand distribution within mass market retail environments.

Amerivon Contribution
Amerivon provided strategic product positioning, a comprehensive mass market retail strategy and execution, including participation on the company's board of directors.

Results
Smart Pack Solutions' moving kits are available at Costco.com, Samsclub.com, OverStock.com, Lowes.com, Officemax.com, UPS stores, and PODS. Additionally, Smart Pack Solutions is the exclusive moving box distributor for the US Post Office online address change program.