CHICAGO -- Positioning its nicotine-delivery pouch Zyn as a hip, discreet alternative to smoking, Swedish Match designed a temporary retail store in Chicago to resemble an upscale coffee shop, complete with common seating area, free Wi-Fi and vinyl record players.
The marketing play echoes what Swedish Match has done in the past, having opened concept stores for its General Snus product a couple of years ago. As for Zyn, Swedish Match started rolling out the product after an initial test in Denver and West Coast markets in 2015. Zyn is now in 13 western states, with the Midwest launch currently progressing toward its goal of 1,000-1,200 c-stores, gift shops, tobacco outlets and other retail spaces in the Chicago area.
“We’re building toward capacity,” said Joe Ackerman, director of marketing, new products, for Swedish Match, Richmond, Va. “Chicago is a market that’s important to us.”
Here’s a look into the Zyn pop-up store in Chicago ...
Customers must be 21 or older to enter the Zyn store, where they'll find the new product available in six flavors: cool mint, wintergreen, cinnamon, peppermint, spearmint and coffee. The Zyn pouches come in circular, child-resistant containers and are available in two nicotine strengths: 3 milligrams or 6 milligrams.
The store also offers T-shirts, mugs and other merchandise with the Zyn logo. Customers can buy the items or receive them as rewards given through a punch-card loyalty program. The Zyn store in Chicago is at 840 W. Armitage Ave. and is scheduled to close up shop by Saturday, June 30.
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