Verizon’s local marketing includes launch of ‘Experience’ store

If MTV says it’s cool, it must be. That’s what Verizon is counting on when its opens its Verizon Experience store on Saturday at Fair Oaks Mall in Fairfax. The grand opening of the store, which is only the second location in the country, will include appearances by MTV VJ Stephen Colletti, as well as members of MTV’s reality show “Dance Life,” which features Jennifer Lopez.

The marketing behind the store, which has been compared to Apple’s popular interactive stores, spells out who the company is going after, said Verizon spokeswoman Christy Reap. The gadgets in the store are targeting a younger demographic, she said, but the location of the store is part of Verizon’s overall campaign to penetrate the Washington market.