Shorewood Receives Recognition for ActiVision's Guitar Hero III

New York, NY - May 12, 2008 - Shorewood Packaging, a business of International Paper, had garnered double awards for the design and production of its P.O.P. display for ActiVision's Guitar Hero III video game.  The display, which is featured in Toys R Us stores across the country, has contributed to the enormously successful launch of the latest in the Guitar Hero series for ActiVision.

This permanent, interactive display received a Silver Award in the 2008 Outstanding Merchandising Achievement (OMA) awards, sponsored by POPAI (a.k.a. Point-of-Purchase Advertising International).  POPAI is the international trade association for the P.O.P. display industry.  The award was one of three that Shorewood received in this annual competition, which honors the best in Marketing-at-Retail.  (The other two trophies, a Gold and a Bronze Award, were given for displays of Unilever products.)

Graphic Design: USA (GDUSA) magazine selected the Guitar Hero III display as one fo the winners of its In-store Graphics category in the "American Package Design" competition, now in its third year.  This competition spotlights packaging and display design and other communications vehicles that best influence how, when and why consumers make their purchasing decisions.  A photograph of the display is featured in the magazine's "Package and In-store Design Awards" annual.

"We are delighted that the Guitar Hero III display has received so much acclaim this year," said Michael Williams, vice president, Shorewood Display.  "Everyone on our sales, design and production team is to be commended for their dedication and excellence in creating this exciting piece."

The Guitar Hero III display was designed to hold all of the elements needed to drive sales by enabling consumers to try out a demo of the video game in the store.  One side of the display featured a real guitar, Xbox console, flat-screen TV panel and software, while the other side had wire shelves stocked with product in Shorewood-produced packaging.  Graphics, color and logo treatments were designed to coordinate with and emphasize the art assets of the Guitar Hero brand on the packaging.  This permanent display was designed with multiple components and materials, and engineered to be strong and durable enough to last a year in stores.

2008 marked the 50th anniversary of the POPAI OMA Awards, the display industry's largest and longest running awards contest.  It recognizes the most innovative and effective marketing at-retail displays and programs which lift sales and make products memorable and enticing to consumers.  For more information, visit http://popai.com.

This was the third year of the "American Package Design Awards" competition, presented by Graphic Design: USA, the news magazine for creative professionals.  Winners were chosen in eleven packaging and four in-store graphics categories.  Shorewood's special DVD gift set for NBC Universal's The Bourne Files was among the winning packaging entries.  For more information on this awrds program, as well as others conducted by the magazine, visit http://gdusa.com.

For more information on all of Shorewood Packaging's winning entries, please contact Linda Lombri, director, marketing services at 212.508.5662 or linda.lombri@ipaper.com. 

 

Shorewood Packaging (www.shorewoodpackaging.com) is a leading value-added provider of high quality creative, printing, packaging and retail display products that help customers enhance their brands in the global marketplace.  Shorewood serves a diverse range of customers in the home entertainment and tobacco industries, in addition to pharmaceutical, cosmetic, confectionary, sporting goods and private label customers in the consumer products industry.  Shorewood is committed to helping customers achieve their sustainability goals through its greenchoice™ sustainable packaging solutions program.  Shorewood Packaging is a business of International Paper and has multiple manufacturing facilities in North America, Europe and Asia.  To learn more about Shorewood and its products and services, visit www.shorewoodpackaging.com.

 International Paper (NYSE:IP), is a global paper and packaging company with manufacturing operations in North America, Europe, Latin America, Russia, Asia and North Africa.  Its businesses include uncoated papers and industrial and consumer packaging, complemented by xpedx, the company's North American distribution company.  Headquartered in Memphis, Tenn., the company employs more than 50,000 people in more than 20 countries and serves customers worldwide.  2007 net sales were approximately $22 billion.  For more information about International Paper, its products and stewardship efforts, visit www.internationalpaper.com.


Media Contact: Linda Lombri, 212-508-5662