Nicole Loepp is a marketing coordinator at WTWH Media, the publisher of Solar Power World.
When envisioning a kiosk, one of those stands in the shopping mall may come to mind—selling everything from cell phone cases and sunglasses to calendars and bathtub installations.
If puzzles and airbrushed T-shirts can sell in these stands, why not solar? The solar industry is taking to the kiosk trend in an effort to educate and market to a residential audience. Some companies are following tradition, strategically positioning booths in malls, while others are setting up in airports and universities.
Matt Case, marketing and sales manager at Phoenix Kiosk—a designer, manufacturer and distributor of kiosks—said he’s seeing more solar companies request kiosk services. “Solar companies are using kiosks as interactive marketing tools to better communicate the benefits of their solar program to customers and stakeholders,” he said. “These kiosks often receive praise for educating consumers regarding their impact on the environment and pay-back. Not only can solar companies efficiently engage their audience, but they can educate the public in the process to achieve a truly sustainable program.”
Last year, Sunrun introduced its BrightPath Station, an interactive kiosk that allows consumers to pinpoint their home on a map and quickly receive an assessment if they are suited for solar and get a quote. The kiosk uses Sunrun’s BrightPath software, which was developed with help from DOE SunShot 8 funding. After placing kiosks in four Hawaiian retail locations such as Costco, Sunrun saw same-store sales increased 10 times over the previous year. Andrew Pontti, corporate communications manager at Sunrun, believes that existing retail solar approaches are relatively unsophisticated and that kiosks can greatly improve engagement. “Shoppers seek a non-threatening experience to play, learn and ask questions,” he said. “They can do so in the highly engaging environment we’ve created.”
By answering a few simple questions, consumers can use the station to understand their energy needs and receive multiple home solar system design options that provide the best energy production and savings for their needs. Sunrun has also placed kiosks at retail locations across California and New York. The company plans to expand kiosk distribution with additional retail partners this year. “Consumers want to learn about and buy solar where they feel comfortable,” Pontti said. “We think retail environments offer a significant opportunity for increasing solar adoption through a quality experience.”
Sunrun and others using kiosk technology believe that this “new” way to look at solar will ultimately lead more American families to adopt solar. Why not take a look at this and other unconventional, creative ways to market your brand?
