VALPAK Franchise News

Indicates Three-year Decline in Summer Purchase Intentions
LARGO, Fla., May 23, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- As consumers get ready to kick off summer this Memorial Day, the Valpak annual Consumer Savings Report reveals it's going to be a scaled-back summer for many of them. The third annual summer report* indicates a steady decline in consumers' purchase intentions over the past two years, from 70 percent in 2010 planning to spend the same or more to just 50 percent in 2012. Only 23 percent of consumers plan to spend more this summer over last, down five percent from last year, on purchases ranging from vacations to home improvement to electronics.
Valpak, the 44-year direct and digital savings leader, conducted the report to explore how consumer spending is evolving year over year...

Leader in Local Print and Digital Coupons Seeks to Target Untapped Recruiting Source for Sales Positions
LARGO, Fla., March 28, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Valpak, a leader in local print and digital coupons, announced today its commitment to hire 100 veterans by the end of 2013. With the recent passing of the VOW to Hire Veterans Act, a national bill to encourage businesses to hire military veterans, Valpak plans to recruit veterans to join its sales team. According to recent studies, military candidates interested in sales have advantages over non-military when it comes to key sales traits including cordial communication style, competitive approach and accountability for core business results.
"With more than 40,000 troops expected to return from Iraq, joining another 2...

From Humble Handwritten Beginnings to More than $3 Billion in Annual Savings Each Year, the Coupon Proves Its Worth; Receives Long Overdue Party
LARGO, Fla., March 8, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Today more than ever before, consumers love savings, and businesses are using deals and discounts to drive their bottom line. The coupon turns 125 years old this year, and to commemorate the birthday, Valpak®, the 44-year-old savings and direct marketing leader, is throwing a "virtual party" celebrating their love of all things thrifty with a $5,000 Facebook sweepstakes, and expert advice to help consumers save money in today's digital age, including recommendations from writer, blogger and personal finance expert, Leah Ingram.
Humble Beginnings For The Coupon
More than a century ago in 1887, an Atlanta businessman created the first coupon to offer free samples of his new cola, now one of the most popular soft drinks in the world...

Apps Now Include Valpak Deals® and Personalized Features
LARGO, Fla., Feb. 27, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Savvy shoppers love their apps almost as much as they love saving, with more than 62% of smartphone owners using apps,* often to help them navigate the shopping landscape.
With mobile usage growing substantially, Valpak Direct Marketing Systems, Inc., a leader in local print and digital coupons, has redesigned two of its most popular apps: the iPhone® (iOS) app the and Android™ application.  And because tablet usage has more than doubled since the holidays**, Valpak has also unveiled an app for the iPad® tablet.
Consumers can visit the App Store or Android Market to download these free apps, which are now more personalized than ever...

LARGO, Fla., Feb. 21, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Grocery prices are on the rise and consumers everywhere are looking for ways to stretch the budget and still feed their families delicious meals; and Valpak wants to help.
Economists predict higher food prices this year*, and Valpak Direct Marketing Systems, Inc., a leader in local print and digital coupons, is giving consumers the chance to win $5,000 toward the purchase of groceries with its Great Grocery Giveaway sweepstakes this March.
"Most savers are familiar with the monthly Blue Envelope® filled with offers but they may not know Valpak.com is another option to help save money at the grocery store as well," said Deanna Willsey, director of corporate communications at Valpak...

Leader in Local Print and Digital Coupons Seeks Entrepreneurs to Open New Territories
LARGO, Fla., Feb. 21, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Valpak, a leader in local print and digital coupons, announced today it is seeking to expand its presence into Macon, GA. With the digital couponing industry quickly gaining popularity and overall coupon usage expected to grow by 150 percent from 2009 to 2014, Valpak is poised to rapidly expand and is currently seeking entrepreneurs to invest in new franchise territories.
A leader in cooperative direct mail, Valpak mails over 20 billion coupons to more than 40 million demographically-targeted households per month in more than 100 markets in 48 states and four Canadian provinces. Today, in addition to its flagship Blue Envelope®, the brand offers its business customers an impressive portfolio of digital advertising products including Valpak Deals®, Smartphone apps, QR codes, online coupons and SMS/text messaging to reach consumers at home and on-the-go...

Leader in Local Print and Digital Coupons Seeks Entrepreneurs to Open New Territories
LARGO, Fla., Feb. 21, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Valpak, a leader in local print and digital coupons, announced today it is seeking to expand its presence into Chattanooga, TN. With the digital couponing industry quickly gaining popularity and overall coupon usage expected to grow by 150 percent from 2009 to 2014, Valpak is poised to rapidly expand and is currently seeking entrepreneurs to invest in new franchise territories.
A leader in cooperative direct mail, Valpak mails over 20 billion coupons to more than 40 million demographically-targeted households per month in more than 100 markets in 48 states and four Canadian provinces. Today, in addition to its flagship Blue Envelope®, the brand offers its business customers an impressive portfolio of digital advertising products including Valpak Deals®, Smartphone apps, QR codes, online coupons and SMS/text messaging to reach consumers at home and on-the-go...

LARGO, Fla., Feb. 9, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Valpak Direct Marketing Systems, Inc., a leader in local print and digital coupons, announced today a new incentive program that supports returning U.S. military veterans seeking to start a Valpak franchise. Valpak will waive start-up fees for qualified, honorably discharged veterans, making it easier for them to start their franchise business and receive training at no direct cost. This savings is estimated at approximately $32,500.
"Providing opportunities to our honorably discharged veterans recently returning from deployment is not only good business, but it's the right thing to do to support their patriotic investment," said Rick McElwain, vice president of network sales development at Valpak...

January 31, 2012 // Franchising.com // LARGO, FL – While opinions vary on the pace of economic recovery, 55% of small and medium size businesses surveyed reported their business had either already recovered from the recession or they expected to recover within the next 6 months.
And those numbers are even more encouraging for businesses with 20-99 employees, as 62% reported recovery now or within six months according to a recent Valpak survey conducted by Research Now, an independent market research firm.
Business is picking up on Main Street. In response, businesses are thinking about what tactics to use to grow their business – advertising, promotions, staffing and more.

31% said they planned to hire additional staff (a 5% increase over 2010)
15% said they planned to hire temporary help
37% said they planned to expand their product/service offerings

An overwhelming number of businesses said they planned to increase their business marketing/advertising activities to grow their business...

January 09, 2012 // Franchising.com // LARGO, FL –  Valpak, a leader in local print and digital coupons, will expand its reach further by making its coupons available on  CheckPoints, an app that gives shoppers easy access to discounts and savings right when and where they need them.
Valpak, known for its hyper-local offers in 170 markets in North America, will offer its savings to mobile consumers via CheckPoints, the leading shopper rewards app with national brand partners such as Procter & Gamble, Unilever, Energizer, Belkin, Nestle, Kimberly Clark and Coca-Cola.
CheckPoints, "The App that Pays You Back," allows consumers to check in and earn rewards for scanning product bar codes at grocery stores, drug stores, restaurants and more, thanks to location-based service technology...

LARGO, Fla., Nov. 21, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- As consumers start the hunt for great deals and savings on gifts for the holiday season, Valpak Direct Marketing Systems, Inc., a leader in local print and digital coupons, has partnered with Savings.com to offer more than 20,000 online coupons from national brands and retailers on Valpak.com making shopping easier than ever this holiday season and beyond.
In addition to Valpak's free local online coupons, Savings.com offers now add tens of thousands of promo codes for additional savings on apparel, electronics, travel, home and garden, flowers and gifts, software, health and beauty products, kids and baby, and more. The savings are seamlessly integrated onto the site for a simple and easy consumer experience...

Valpak Deals® delivers a merchant friendly program that is an alternative to the big Deal of the Day sites causing problems for small business.
LARGO, Fla., Nov. 9, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- With its Valpak Deals® product now live in 43 cities with plans to expand to 50 by year end, Valpak® (@valpakcoupons), synonymous with savings for 43 years, believes it has solved the puzzle of how small businesses can safely navigate the pitfalls of the daily deals space.
Valpak Deals offers a twist on the typical "deal of the day" model. Valpak Deal savings can last more than one day -- even taking a break and coming back. That flexibility gives merchants the ability to structure their deal to match their business needs -- driving business, when and how it makes sense for them, rather than create a one-day rush that can be overwhelming to a small business...

Survey Uncovers the Where, When, How and the 'What For' of Holiday Spending
LARGO, Fla., Oct. 12, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- As the holiday season approaches, consumers say they're not letting economic worries steal their holiday cheer, according to the Valpak Semi-Annual Consumer Savings Report. The report revealed that nearly all consumers (95 percent) are somewhat or very worried about today's economy, but four out of five (78 percent) say their holiday shopping habits will go unchanged -- and some say they may actually spend a bit more.
Valpak, the 43-year savings and direct marketing leader, released the report in an effort to understand how consumer spending is evolving in our "post-recession" economy. Among the findings, several categories continue to improve in purchase intent, including vacation/travel and home improvement, while auto, medical and home entertainment appears to be trending down...

Viewers, savers can enter for chance to win trip, Emeril's kitchen essentials
October 05, 2011 // Franchising.com // (LARGO, FL) – Hallmark Channel returns this fall with two shows, two pros, one network, and one great sweepstakes from Valpak Direct Marketing Systems, Inc.
The pros and shows are Martha Stewart from "The Martha Stewart Show" and Emeril Lagasse from "Emeril's Table." One lucky winner of the sweepstakes will receive a trip to New York to be part of the audience for the live taping of "The Martha Stewart Show" and take home Emeril's Kitchen Essentials prize pack.
The Valpak sweepstakes was recently announced live on the show by Martha and Emeril themselves. Martha and Emeril are featured on the Blue Envelope, which will be hitting homes starting this week...

LARGO, Fla., Sept. 8, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- This month Valpak Direct Marketing Systems, Inc. (@Valpakcoupons) launched its newly redesigned website developed using data from 11 different consumer research projects including more than 11,000 consumer interviews --all to give consumers an ideal savings hub experience.

The research, led by the Valpak® research services team, used third party services to conduct online and in-person surveys, usability testing of prototype sites and eye-tracking studies.
"As of today, www.Valpak.com offers a fundamental change of the way consumers interact with Valpak digital both on the web and mobile web," said Michael Vivio (@mvivio), President of Cox Target Media, Inc., provider of Valpak...

Consumers have a fun, easy way to save money, find coupons on the go through the augmented reality application March 29, 2011 // Franchising.com // (LARGO, FL and SAN FRANCISCO) – Valpak Direct Marketing Systems / Cox Target Media and junaio today announced that Valpak coupons will now be available on the junaio app, allowing consumers to save money at nearby businesses with geo-targeted coupons that pop up on their smartphones.

With the Valpak coupons on the junaio app, consumers don't wait to receive coupons, the geo-location coupons are available whenever they want them. The app launches the smartphone's camera and GPS to overlay a set of 3D icons in real-time, showing the available Valpak coupons in the vicinity as the user scans the surroundings, with a radius varying from 5 feet to 20 miles away...

March 02, 2011 // Franchising.com // (LARGO, FL)– Sandra Lee returns to the Valpak Blue Envelope with a chance to enter and win one of 15 Pyrex® kitchen "bakeovers" now through April 8.

Sandra lends her cheery know-how to her magazine, Semi-Homemadeand helps readers "Keep it simple, keep it smart and keep it semi-homemade," using her trademark 70/30 Semi-Homemade® philosophy, which combines 70 percent ready-made products with 30 percent fresh ingredients.

With the kitchen bakeover sweepstakes, Sandra will bring a little bit of her kitchen to your kitchen with chances to win a full setof Pyrex bakewarevalued at $250, a 1-year subscription to Sandra Lee Semi-Homemade Magazine, and a signed copy of her latest kitchen helper, Sandra Lee Bake Sale Cookbook, whose proceeds go to Share Our Strength No Kid Hungry...

Continued expansion and strong financial growth predicted for 2011 February 10, 2011 // Franchising.com // (LARGO, FL) – Valpak, one of the leading direct mail companies in the United States, has recently been honored with several accolades from some of the leading authorities in franchising.

Valpak has been named one of the top 500 franchise systems in the U.S., according to the January 2011 issue of Entrepreneur magazine. In the 32nd annual edition of the Franchise 500®, Valpak is ranked as the No. 1 franchise in Advertising Services – Direct Mail category this year. Valpak also leapt to spot 179 overall, up from No. 401 in last year's ranking. Entrepreneur's Franchise 500® became a tradition with the magazine in 1980 when they created the first ranking of franchises in the industry...

Survey takes a look at how consumers spend on gifts, entertainment and travel over the holidays November 12, 2010 // Franchising.com // (LARGO, FL) — With holiday decorations popping up everywhere, visions of sugarplum deals may be dancing in the heads of shoppers. According to the Valpak Semi-Annual Consumer Savings Report*, 75 percent of shoppers plan to spend the same or more on holiday purchases, yet nearly one fourth (22 percent) will spend less than 2009. While holiday budgets this year will vary, shoppers likely have one thing in common: more than half typically use coupons on holiday-related purchases, including gifts, entertainment and travel. The survey that talked to 1,000 households in the U.S. and Canada also found: One out of eight shoppers (12 percent) will spend more than 2009...

Direct mail brand prepares for new ownership, expansion in Portland November 12, 2010 // Franchising.com // (Portland, Ore.) — When Shawn Hebert started working at Park Shuttle N Fly as general manager four years ago, he sought to implement fresh marketing strategies that would bring in new business and make a significant difference within his Portland airport parking company. Luckily, he was able to do just that with the help of Valpak, the most recognized direct mail brand in the U.S.

"I noticed the extra revenue generated from Valpak coupons immediately. Every month, our most popular coupon seems to be "One Day of Free Parking," said Hebert. "Since we've started, we've seen a steady flow of redemptions. We mail out 50,000 coupons monthly and receive about 180 back at the end of each month...