Let’s start a project together

South Amboy Entrepreneur at Helm of Growing Tech Firm

South Amboy-based OpenEye, a global digital media consultancy, helps brands engage customers through a strategic digital in-store experience.

This technology allows companies to display a variety of dynamic marketing messages, localized offers, and core product information.

Founder Bryan Meszaros’ entrepreneurial success story began in the basement of his parents’ home in South Amboy when he was 23, and since has grown into a million-dollar company.

The company has experienced global success creating digital signage solutions for a range of brands, including The Corcoran Group in New York, the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History, FITCH, McDonald’s, Vodafone, Santander Bank and more.

OpenEye also has completed digital marketing projects at various businesses overseas

“OpenEye works to design and create strategic digital experiences that effectively engage consumers,” said Meszaros, 35. “We work across a multitude of markets, from retail to financial, helping those brands understand how to take advantage of today’s proven technologies to better communicate with their customers. We help them to understand what is applicable and craft a strategy that positions them to gain value from the investment in the solution.”

He said one of Open-Eye’s major clients is Santander, in their U.S. and U.K. divisions.

“They tasked us to help them create a more dynamic and engaging environment for their clients,” Meszaros said. “Their challenge, as it is with most banks, is how do you educate and convey the offerings of the brand in a meaningful manner each time the customer visits the branch?

“We took the time to study the branch, understand the ways in which the customer behaves when they are there, and also gained a better understanding of the Santander brand.”

He said with that understanding, they developed and deployed a digital merchandising program: digital signage.

“We developed a strategy that would allow the bank to communicate more effectively and help their customers understand the full breadth of offerings,” Meszaros said. “The program enables the bank to deliver specifically targeted messaging so it is always relevant and current.”

Born and raised in South Amboy, Meszaros attended St. Mary Regional High School, graduating in 1996. He attended Seton Hall University and graduated with a degree in communication arts in 2000.

Meszaros now is the firm’s managing director and on a daily basis, he said, he “manages the overall operations of the agency and also assists with strategy design and business development.”

*Originally published MyCentralJersey.com

 

Bryan Meszaros: Founder, OpenEye

Formed in 2003, OpenEye is a digital media consultancy, which looks to redefine how brands and retailers engage with consumers through a strategic digital in-store experience. With studios in New Jersey, New York, San Diego, London, and Moscow, OpenEye has worked with brands including The Nuance Group, The Corcoran Group, Apple, and Penske. In 2000, while working as the director of new media initiatives for MarketSource, Meszaros helped lead the development of the first university-based digital out-of-home network in the United States called Campus Central. At the age of 23, he went on to form OpenEye and was awarded one of the first ever DIGI Awards for his work with Regency Duty-Free (The Nuance Group) in New Zealand. OpenEye’s success continued as it worked with organizations like FITCH, Apple, Santander US & UK, McDonald’s New Zealand, and Vodafone.

Meszaros serves on the board of directors for SEGD and is also part of the advisory board for DSE & CETW. As an active speaker and contributing author, he is featured in publications and often invited to speak at conferences.

OpenEye Completes Digital Signage Rollout for Leading U.S. Bank

OpenEye, a global digital media consultancy, has announced the completion of a multi-million dollar, full rebranding initiative for one of the 25 largest retail banks in the United States. The company also is working to expand the digital merchandising program for the bank’s UK entity.

OpenEye upgraded more than 700 branch locations with 1,500 digital displays by creating a dynamic, modern environment, including a digital merchandising program that allows the bank to communicate more frequently and effectively with its customers. The program – designed and implemented by OpenEye – allows the bank to display a variety of dynamic marketing messages, such as real-time rate information, localized offers and core product information.

“We look at the relationships banks have with their customers and the means in which they communicate with them to create and position a digital merchandising program,” said Bryan Meszaros, OpenEye managing partner. “The goal was to allow the bank to maximize the impact of their marketing messages and help increase customers’ awareness around new product offerings.”

Meszaros says more banks are turning to digital as they explore ways to upgrade their in-branch marketing and boost engagement with customers.

“Digital technologies have brought a major shift in consumer banking behavior. Brick-and-mortar branches will need to leverage the latest technologies to offer a personalized banking experience if they want to secure their place in the future. Digital tools are driving this transformation,” said Meszaros.

As banks explore ways to integrate digital solutions in their branches, Meszaros says no two clients are alike. That means the products and technologies that were successful with one client won’t necessarily work in the next project. Therefore, OpenEye engineers and designers listen to clients before they start to develop a solution and offer a customized approach.

“It shouldn’t just be a display on the wall – you should look at ways to integrate the displays within the design of the environment,” said Meszaros.

OpenEye is involved in all phases of the digital signage installation, from start to finish – and beyond. This includes conceptual design and content creation, either by OpenEye staff or one of its partners.

The company also completed projects at Provident Bank and Brooklyn Independence Community Bank, before it was acquired.

Bryan Meszaros of OpenEye Takes Tour of Burberry Store on Regent St. in London

Burberry has unveiled its new Regent Street store in London, after two years of renovation work, just in time for London Fashion Week.

“Burberry Regent Street brings our digital world to life in a physical space for the first time, where customers can experience every facet of the brand through immersive multimedia content exactly as they do online,” explains Angela Ahrendts, Burberry’s CEO. “Walking through the doors is just like walking into our website. It is Burberry World Live.”

Burberry‘s ultimate luxury customer service includes futuristic on-screen technology, bespoke digital signage on all floors and clever radio-frequency identification (RFID) which provides audio-visual content on selected items carrying microchips.

So when a customer takes a product and approaches one of the store’s screens in the common areas or in a fitting room, they have instant access to relevant information ranging from craftsmanship to catwalk looks.

Exerpt from “Inside Burberry’s London Flagship Store” by Christopher Parr

Digital Signage Expo Distinguished Faculty Recognized

Digital Signage Expo (DSE) Distinguished Faculty and Recognized Faculty members have contributed to the advancement of professional education in the digital signage, digital out-of-home and interactive technology industries through their presentations at DSE events.

For DSE educators to qualify as Distinguished Faculty and Recognized Faculty members, their presentations must meet the high standards set by DSE and its educational committees and the expectations of DSE attendees as evidenced by high marks on speaker evaluations for:

1. Presenter’s Knowledge, 2. Presenter’s Effectiveness and 3. Presentation Content.

DSE Distinguished Faculty members have presented at four or more DSE events and consistently earned scores of 3.5 or more on a 4-point scale on evaluations from attendees, or they have achieved scores of 3.7 or more at a minimum of two events (effective beginning DSE 2011).

DSE Recognized Faculty members have spoken at one or more DSE events and received an audience rating of 3.5 or more on a 4-point scale. (effective beginning DSE 2011).

DSE Distinguished & Recognized Faculty

DISTINQUISHED FACULTY

Alan Brawn, Principal, Brawn Consulting

Jonathan Brawn, Principal, Brawn Consulting

Lyle Bunn, Strategy Architect, BUNN

Laura Davis-Taylor, SVP, Managing Director BBDO Shopwork

Mike DiFranza, President & CEO, Otter Hill Advisors

Bill Gerba, CEO, WireSpring

Loren Goldfarb, COO, MediVista Media/Everwell

Steve Hargis, Director: Film & Video, Bass Pro Shops

Michael Hiatt, President, Dynamic Retailing

Linda Hofflander, Director, Vertical Marketing, Enterprise Business Division, Samsung Electronics America

Bryan Meszaros, Managing Partner, OpenEye

Stephen Randall, CEO, LocaModa

Kim Sarubbi, President & CEO, Saddle Ranch Digital

Rishi Shah, CEO & Founder, ContextMedia

Pat Stimpson, Digital Signage Manager/Global Brand Development, PlayNetwork

Adrian Weidmann, Managing Director, StoreStream Metrics

Anne White, Creative Executive + Strategic Consultant, HypeHouse Inc.

Mike White, President, Multi-Media Solutions Inc.

George Yunis, SVP, Marketing & Consumer Engagement Strategies, Allure Global Solutions Inc.

 

Emerging Technologies are Changing the Way People Behave

There’s no doubt that new and emerging technologies are changing the way people behave and the way they perceive and use public spaces. But are these changes for the better? How can experiences be designed to harness these exciting new technologies—but also inspire us to look up from our devices and reconnect with the physical world and each other?

SEGD‘s technology and innovation event—Xlab 2013: Experience + Interaction in Public Space—will explore these questions and more October 24, 2013, at the Museum of the Moving Image in Astoria, Queens.

SEGD, the multidisciplinary community of people who design and create visual communications in the built environment, launched Xlab in 2011 to explore and help define the connection between design, digital technology, and the built environment. Xlab 2013
focuses on the evolving nature of interaction in public spaces and how design and technology can be used to reconnect and re-engage us with the physical environment. Xlab 2013 participants will investigate:

Clive Roux, CEO of SEGD, says it is an exciting time to explore the connection between digital technology and the built environment.
“Remember when we were all wondering what we would do with the ability to connect to the Internet via our mobile phones? It was not that long ago, but now we can’t do without it. The built environment is just entering that stage of finding the applications that make the most sense for people. Xlab is our platform for exploring the cutting edge of this interaction between people and place.”

This year, the Museum of the Modern Image—which recently completed a stunning renovation designed by architect Thomas Leeser—provides an inspiring space to “pose new, provocative questions about how we can use technology in our work creating experiences,” says Leslie Wolke (Leslie Wolke Consulting), Xlab Founding Chair. Her 2013 Co-Chair is Bryan Meszaros of digital media consultancy OpenEye. For more information or to register, visit the SEGD website at www.segd.org.

Xlab 2013 is sponsored by Daktronics (Presenting Sponsor) and Electrosonic.

The Corcoran Group’s Touch-Screen Windows Allow for Maximize Neighborhood Impact

The phones and tablets that are near us for nearly every breath of the day are responsive to our touch and the baby in our minds. Nowadays, actual babies see an image on a printed page and think that, like an iPad, it should be interactive.

New York City-based brokerage The Corcoran Group is feeding the new mind. The firm, a member of Realogy’s giant brokerage wing, NRT LLC, turned sections of five of its storefronts in the Big Apple into tablet-like, interactive displays in late 2011.

“We wanted to put something in the window that resembled how brand positioning works,” said Matthew Shadbolt, Corcoran Group’s director of interactive product and marketing.

Users can walk up to the windows anytime day or night and use their hands and fingers to navigate the content displayed on them, a projection from inside the office of what is essentially a website onto a plastic film stuck on the inside of the glass.

The firm, which has 26 offices in New York City, The Hamptons on Long Island and South Florida, has plans to add the technology to other offices with the right layout, Shadbolt said. An office must have large, street-level windows to optimize the touchscreen windows’ interactive potential.

The technology currently graces the windows of three of Corcoran Group’s offices in Manhattan and two in Brooklyn. The content of the interactive displays is programmed and controlled from Corcoran Group’s Madison Avenue headquarters.

The displays allow the brokerage to showcase more properties in the touchscreen-equipped windows, and “show curated things to do around a listing,” Shadbolt said. The technology also saves on printing costs and allows the firm to intersperse brand messaging like new ad campaigns and other content around listings, he said.

For example, when the firm launched a TV spot associated with its “Live Who You Are” marketing campaign last year, it pushed the spot to all of the interactive window displays.

The firm pushes out updated content to the displays in real time from its social media accounts like Foursquare, info about open houses, and corporate messaging, Shadbolt said.

But the majority of the content on each office’s display is chosen by the office itself. The offices select what listings and other info they want in the display, and headquarters produces the browser-based feed that’s displayed on the window.

So far, Shadbolt said, the Corcoran Group is seeing the windows used mostly at night, from about 7 p.m. to 11 p.m., when the brilliant window display set off against the dark attracts users like moths to light.

Corcoran Group partnered with New York City-based tech firm OpenEye Displays LLC to make the touchscreen windows. There are two films on the inside of the glass, said Bryan Meszaros, founder and managing partner of OpenEye Displays.

One of the films on the glass, a vinyl-like material, catches light from a high-quality projector positioned seven to 10 feet behind the window inside the office. The other film, between the vinyl layer and the glass, has sensors that detect disruptions in light waves, registering touch through the glass.

For the technology to work, an office must have a layout large enough to provide a clear path for an image to be projected, Meszaros said. The glass has to be thin enough for the sensors to pick up activity on the other side. Cost is also a factor — a projector alone can cost $7,000.

So far, Corcoran Group is the only firm, brokerage or otherwise, that OpenEye Displays has implemented this technology with, Meszaros said.

SEGD NYC Chapter Event

New York members were treated to a guided tour at Madame Tussauds Wax Museum in Times Square on August 25, 2015. The tour was led by Bryan Meszaros from OpenEye Global and Eric Fluet from Madame Tussauds, who discussed the new digital experiences recently implemented by OpenEye Global. Following the tour guests were able to explore the museum on their own and also gather at a networking reception overlooking the 42nd Street theater district.

Our inside track to the week!

This year, New York Digital Signage Week will take place November 2-6, 2015 and as usual OpenEye will be involved with several of the events. Here are the details:

Event: Coffee and Controversy – A Breakfast Event
Date: November 3rd
Time: 8:30 AM – 12:30
Location: Guy’s American Kitchen & Bar – New York City

Coffee & Controversy – a Breakfast, featuring a spirited panel discussion in New York City during New York Digital Signage Week on Tuesday, November 3rd from 8:30-10:30 am at Guy’s American Kitchen and Bar near Times Square.  Following the breakfast and panel discussion will be an optional installation tour of a major New York City digital signage project.

The DSF panel discussion, moderated by Ken Goldberg, DSF’s outgoing 2015 Chairman & CEO of Real Digital Media,  will explore a number of topics related to technology, content and operations. The morning’s format will be rapid fire, possibly irreverent and will invite audience participation by providing a mobile voting app allowing those in attendance to weigh in after each topic.

Attendees are also invited to suggest panel topics by tweeting to @DSFederation with the hashtag #coffeetopic. Topic authors will be identified as topics are posed to the panel, which will consist of:

Register Here

——————————————-

Event: SEGD Xlab 2015
Date: November 5th & 6th
Time: 8:30 AM – 5:30 PM
Location: SVA Theatre / 333 W 23rd St, New York
Note: On Nov. 5th OpenEye will be hosting a tour of our project at Madame Tussauds 

What is Xlab?

Xlab is the event where technology, place and design intersect. (SEGD’s fast-growing tech-focused experiential design conference is now a part of New York Digital Signage Week. )

Why Xlab? 

Because Xlab brings together the designers, thinkers and makers who are transforming the landscape of experience design and influencing our future through the use of technology, from connected data and wearables, to enhancing interaction with the environments we live, work, travel and play in. It’s an engaging and inspiring exploration, which will open new dialogues and change the way we think about design and the future.

Xlab now includes a limited number of spots on NYC project and studio tours. Only participants registering before tours fill up can attend a tour, so reserve a spot soon!

COFFEE AND CONTROVERSY – A BREAKFAST EVENT

Coffee & Controversy – a Breakfast, featuring a spirited panel discussion in New York City during Digital Signage Week on Tuesday, November 3rd from 8:30-10:30 am at Guy’s American Kitchen and Bar near Times Square. Following the breakfast and panel discussion will be an optional installation tour of a major New York City digital signage project.

The DSF panel discussion, moderated by Ken Goldberg, DSF’s outgoing 2015 Chairman & CEO of Real Digital Media, will explore a number of topics related to technology, content and operations. The morning’s format will be rapid fire, possibly irreverent and will invite audience participation by providing a mobile voting app allowing those in attendance to weigh in after each topic.

Attendees are also invited to suggest panel topics by tweeting to @DSFederation with the hashtag #coffeetopic. Topic authors will be identified as topics are posed to the panel, which will consist of:

Randy Dearborn, DSF 2015 Vice Chairman & Vice President Multimedia Technologies, MGM Resorts International Phil Lenger, President & Creative Director, Show + Tell Bryan Meszaros, CEO & Founder, OpenEye Tom Nix, CEO Scala

Location: Guys American Kitchen and Bar 220 W. 44th St., New York City, 10036

Schedule: 8:30 AM – Breakfast is served 9:00 AM – 10:15 – Panel Discussion