PETALUMA, CALIFORNIA — Hundreds of tourists flood Iceland’s Keflavík International Airport each day, and many of them make a point to stop at the airport’s two Duty Free Iceland shops. To cultivate an encouraging retail atmosphere while customers search for the perfect souvenir, Duty Free Iceland Store Manager Þorgerður Þráinsdóttir set out to replace two 70 Volt audio systems with one cohesive, cutting-edge audio system. To do so, she called upon Thor Halldórsson and his team at Northern Lights Audio to design and install a low maintenance, yet highly functional four-zone audio system that spans the airport’s upper and lower level Duty Free Iceland shops with a Niles Auriel Multi-Room Audio Controller.
“At first, my team was asked to design, develop and install a system in the airport’s 24/7 operating Duty Free Iceland in the Departures Hall,” Halldórsson explained. “After we succeeded in building a powerful and reliable three zone audio system, we were then asked to extend our services to the second Duty Free Iceland in the Arrivals Hall on the lower level. Store management was so impressed with Auriel’s capabilities. The new system has completely changed how they handle their operations; they are now able to autonomously stream music from Spotify into different zones.”
Since Duty Free Iceland never closes, a reliable audio system is a must. To make functional and reliable audio a reality, Halldórsson installed a Niles MRC-6430, 30 Niles OS6.3 speakers and two Niles SI1230 12-channel amplifiers, all of which can be controlled by store management on one Niles nKP7 keypad. “Niles Auriel offers control for the end-user, and seamless integration for the installer,” Halldórsson added. “Both of these elements are key to the success of an installation of this nature.”
Given the heightened security in an airport terminal, Halldórsson had limited time to complete the installation. With meticulously constructed plans and a team of professional experts, the first store’s audio system was completed in three days total. “We started and completed the system in three days’ time,” Halldórsson stated. “Working within an airport’s guidelines is tricky. We’d have to go through security every day with equipment, as if we were boarding a flight. It was a very unique way to work through an installation.”
Halldórsson first established three zones of audio based on location and function to cater to the store’s specific retail elements. For example, Halldórsson integrated the store’s cash register intercom to the speakers closest to the check-out area; this function allows open registers to indicate their status by calling customers forward. Only the speakers at the front of the store operate as such. “It was very easy to integrate the store’s cash register system with the speakers closest to the register,” Halldórsson said. “In between the register announcements, the speakers will stream music from a pre-made Spotify playlist.”
To ensure that customers can hear important announcements about their flight, Halldórsson integrated the airport’s formal intercom system in with the store’s audio system. “The music will stop once an announcement of greater importance is registered within the system,” he added. “This functionality is crucial for an airport application.”
For the second addition of the Duty Free Iceland shop in the Arrivals Hall on the lower level, Halldórsson added a fourth zone approximately three months later. “We arranged to add a fourth audio zone on the Auriel system upstairs to extend downstairs,” Halldórsson explained. “So, instead of an installing an entirely new system, I effectively installed a second Niles SI1230 12-Channel Amplifier and twelve more Niles OS 6.3 speakers. Both systems can therefore be controlled by one Niles Auriel Multi-Room Audio Controller.”
Overall, Duty Free Iceland’s management team is thrilled with the new audio system. “Now, we can feed seasonal pre-made Spotify playlists through the system. It’s a significant improvement and completely alters the vibe of both retail locations,” Þráinsdóttir said. “Having the option to customize audio in different zones makes a huge difference.”
About Niles
Niles®, from Core Brands, is synonymous with premier whole home audio solutions. For nearly four decades, Niles has delivered innovative products that enable easy access to advanced home entertainment –both indoors and outside. Additional information is at www.nilesaudio.com.
About Core Brands
Core Brands combines the product and marketing strengths of iconic and award-winning audio, power management and control brands including ELAN®, SpeakerCraft®, Gefen®, Niles®, Panamax®, Proficient®, Furman®, Sunfire® and Xantech® to deliver a portfolio of connected home solutions to its channel partners and end users. For further information, visit www.corebrands.com.
About Nortek, Inc.
Core Brands is a Nortek company. Nortek Inc. (Nasdaq: NTK) is a global diversified company with leading brands and innovative, technology-driven products and solutions for lifestyle improvement at home and at work. For further information, please visit www.nortek.com.
