Peerless-AV^® & LuLu’s Public House

Overview

LuLu's Public House, a popular vendor at the Minnesota State Fair, sought a solution to streamline their customer experience and improve operational efficiency. Known for its lively atmosphere and wide selection of food and drinks, LuLu’s faced challenges in managing customer flow, particularly with the large crowds at the fair. To address these issues, the company partnered with Peerless-AV and its consulting integration partner Innovative Sales Solutions Inc. to implement a digital signage solution that would transform how menus were displayed and enhance the customer experience during the fair’s busiest days.

The project, which took place at the Minnesota State Fair Grounds in St. Paul, Minnesota, began with installation from August 1 through August 7, 2024. Peerless-AV provided a range of high-performance display solutions, allowing LuLu’s to showcase dynamic, real-time menu information both indoors and outdoors, ensuring high visibility in direct sunlight and increased customer engagement. The project was so successful it has been replicated for 2025.

The Challenge

LuLu’s has previously relied on traditional printed menus, which created several inefficiencies. The large crowds at the Minnesota State Fair - approximately 20,000 visitors per day - made it difficult for customers to make decisions promptly, often backing up the cash registers and delaying orders. Additionally, as menu items and prices could change frequently, manually updating printed menus was time-consuming and limited the ability to quickly respond to operational needs.

The required solution was a dynamic, easy-to-update digital signage system that would streamline customer flow, improve operational efficiency, and maximize sales. LuLu’s needed a display solution that could handle the fair's high foot traffic and unpredictable environmental conditions, including exposure to bright sunlight.

The Solution

After evaluating their needs, LuLu’s turned to Peerless-AV. Peerless-AV’s experience in outdoor installations, along with its reputation for durable, high-brightness displays, made it the ideal partner for this project. 

The installation included six individual outdoor digital menu boards, using Peerless-AV’s 55" Xtreme™ High Bright Outdoor Displays (XHB554), mounted in portrait using corrosion-resistant, low-profile Outdoor Wall Mounts (ESF655P). A 65" MaxHub LCD display in the patio area was also supported by an ESF655P mount.

For indoor menu boards behind the bar, five 43" MaxHub LCD displays were installed individually in landscape, supported by Peerless-AV’s Ceiling Plates (CMJ470), Adjustable Length Extension Columns (AEC0203), SmartMount® Ceiling Mount Tilt Boxes (PLCM-2) and Universal I-Shaped Adaptors (PLP-UNL).

“We understand the unique challenges of installing digital signage in outdoor environments and the importance of choosing the correct solution to ensure its performance excels beyond expectations,” said John Peterson, VP Technology Sales at Innovative Sales Solutions, Inc. “Understanding LuLu’s required a solution for better efficiency, clear visibility in all weather conditions, and overall improvement to operations, we knew a combination of Peerless-AV’s durable and reliable professional displays and mounts would make a lasting impact."

“Not only does Peerless-AV have a great product but they also have a knowledgeable and skilled team! Our sales contact, Gina Schneider, was super quick and helpful at getting us what we needed so we could deliver on time to the customer!” Peterson added.

Peerless-AV's solutions would provide the bright, clear images needed to ensure visibility, even in direct sunlight.

The Installation

Installation took place in early August 2024, managed by Innovative Sales Solutions, chosen by LuLu’s Public House for the team’s previous installations in the Minnesota State Fair and knowledge of complete solution delivery, including mounting, cabling, displays, content management and creation.

The installation process was smooth and straightforward, the only challenge being the routing of cables to the display locations. After considering a Wi-Fi-based system, the decision was made to implement a hardwired solution to ensure reliable performance and prevent connectivity issues. The installation was completed without disruption to the restaurant's operations, and the displays were up and running before the busy fair season began.

The Results

The digital signage solution from Peerless-AV delivered tangible results for LuLu’s at the 2024 Minnesota State Fair. The product investment paid off after year one and will continue to each year. By replacing static menus with dynamic digital displays, the business experienced a 100% increase in customer flow. With customers already aware of their orders before reaching the register, there was less congestion and quicker turnaround times, leading to increased sales.

Additionally, the ability to quickly change pricing and menu items in response to operational needs, such as the substitution of a slow-moving drink, directly impacted revenue, allowing for better adaptation to fluctuating demand. The system also provided an enhanced, modernized experience for customers, who appreciated the easy-to-read menus and the ability to quickly make decisions.

"The displays are not just visually appealing; they're highly functional, helping staff manage high-volume days much more efficiently," said Erin Brumm, CEO of Innovative Sales Solutions, Inc. "LuLu’s are processing more sales, quicker service, and happier customers!”

LuLu’s was also pleased with the excellent customer service received, as well as the quality and competitive pricing of the products, which helped ensure that everything ran smoothly throughout the busy fair period.

The 2024 project was so successful that Lulu’s is excited to repeat last year’s success again in 2025. Minnesota State Fair 2025 begins on August 21^st and runs through to Labor Day on September 1st.

Charlie Burrows, Owner of Lulu’s at the Minnesota State Fair, had one main goal with the technology refresh: to process as many orders as possible while delivering a great customer experience. “The key is having customers make their ordering decision before they reach the counter. The Peerless-AV high bright display allows them to see their options from a much greater distance, resulting in faster engagements and shorter wait times. Digital signage software lets us update menu changes as we need to with no downtime. We’re pleased to say that the digital signage solution from Peerless-AV and delivered by Innovative Sales Solutions was key to our record setting year in 2024. We are excited for 2025!”

About Innovative Sales Solutions

ISSI has been in the consumer electronics channel for 19 years.  They partner with industry leaders to develop exceptional solutions and experiences for their customers.  ISSI has deployed digital signage solutions for bars/restaurants, hospitality, medical/dental, education, government, corporate, and retail locations.  Although most of their clients are in North America, they also have worked on projects in Asia and Europe.  For more information, visit www.isellsolutions.com