PRESS RELEASE
2 September 2008
Tapiola opens T-Room by the Narinkka Square next to Kamppi shopping centre in Helsinki city centre. The T-Room is a totally fresh experience combining a living room, cafe, reading room and events. Guests can also get acquainted with various financial services while enjoying their moment of relaxation.
The T-Room will open for public on Wednesday 3 September 2008 at 11.00 AM.
T-Room Brings Financial Services Closer to Customer
The objective of the T-Room is to bring insurance and financial services closer to customers.
- The T–Room was planned under the leadership of Regional Director for Helsinki Metropolitan Area Jukka Kinnunen. This concept will add a fresh touch to the financial service branch, since it can be considered as a self-service supermarket. Consumers have a need to get acquainted with, e.g., gift ideas in a peaceful and pleasant environment, like you do in a department store, states Ann Wahlroos-Jaakkola, Tapiola Group Director for Regions, Telephone and Online Services.
Tapiola’s new finished product packages, such as presents for grandchildren, graduation and confession gifts, serve as prime examples of the new ideas available at the T-Room.
- Banking, savings and insurance services are often considered complex. Therefore, we have bundled products and services into customer-friendly packages. During a single visit at the T-Room, you can for instance buy fund units as a gift for a graduate by just one signature. This is totally new and different, Wahlroos-Jaakkola comments.
Tapiola Group Helsinki Metropolitan Area Services is responsible for the business operations of the T-Room that significantly increases visibility of the entire Tapiola Group especially in the Helsinki Metropolitan Area but also in the rest of the country.
What is the T-Room?
Tapiola’s new concept has been planned for a year. Ideas have, for instance, been brought from Germany, but the T-Room in Helsinki is Tapiola’s own product. At the T-Room the customers will find a living room with books and magazines, lecture room “Front row” as well as an exhibition space with varying exhibitions by the University of Art and Design Helsinki.
Design is visible in the general image of the T-Room. Martela, Finland’s largest provider of furniture for public spaces, has participated in the furnishing of the T-Room. The T-Room bar fits 40 customers and serves tea, special coffees, wine and snacks.
Variety of Events at T-Room
The T-Room is genuine in Finland and it offers a great place to mix business with pleasure. The T-Room will serve as a venue for various events ranging from investment lectures to safety lessons and discussions on current topics. The purpose is to encourage people to take care of their personal and financial balance over a drink or lunch.
On Tuesdays and Wednesdays the T-Room programme contains lectures and information on wellness, management of finances, investments and savings. Five o’clock tea will be served every Thursday, and on Fridays the theme is rendezvous at T-Room. The T-Room is also open on Saturdays with various events.
The five o‘clock tea will be hosted by the former top decathlete and present advertising entrepreneur Petri Keskitalo. He will interview interesting guests about topics of current interest. According to Keskitalo, his guests are characteristic men and women, some more famous, some less.
- I think it is a brilliant idea to produce services and events so that people can stop for a moment and take a look at them. We shall discuss wellness in everyday life, and I want to encourage people to seize the opportunity when it presents itself. I believe that the audience can get inspiration from the guests’ experiences for their own lives, Keskitalo says.
Actor and interaction and improvisation trainer Outi Mäenpää will be the guest at the first five o’clock tea on Thursday 4 September 2008.
T-Room Partners
The T-Room partners are Fazer Amica, Martela, Suomalainen kirjakauppa and the University of Art and Design Helsinki.
Tapiola’s sponsorship partners Finnish Red Cross, EMMA and the Finnish Association for Nature Conservation are also visible at the T-Room this autumn.
For more information on the T-Room and event listings, please visit the T-Room website at www.t-hetki.fi (as of 3 September 2008).
T-Room
Simonkatu 9
Narinkka Square by Kamppi Shopping Centre
00100 Helsinki
Opening hours:
Mon 11AM – 6PM
Tue-Fri 11AM – 8PM
Sat 10AM – 3PM
Additional information:
Ann Wahlroos-Jaakkola
Director for Regions, Telephone and Online Services
040-3501 256
forename.surname@tapiola.fi
Anna Tapio
Marketing Director, Tapiola Group
040-7171051
forename.surname@tapiola.fi