Consumers Find More Ways to Save With Downloadable Coupons on Redplum.com

LIVONIA -- The coupon publisher Valassis (NYSE: VCI) said Thursday that its proprietary technology to transfer coupons to store loyalty cards and even ID cards has been extended to its redplum.com Web site.

At the site, consumers can easily download coupons direct to their store card or ID. Those coupons are good at nearly 20 regional grocery chains representing more than 4,000 stores.

On redplum.com, this functionality is known as "Clip-free Coupons." Clip-free Coupons offer consumers an additional way to save. For retailers, benefits include greater visibility and awareness for special offers, including private label promotions in their stores and opportunities for new customer acquisition and activation to their store loyalty programs.

Consumer packaged goods manufacturers also benefit from the additional consumer engagement; enhanced security; ability to integrate Clip-free Coupon downloads into brand exclusive programs; and incremental insight into digital coupon usage behavior as consumers download and redeem select offers via their retailer shopper cards or IDs.

"This advanced technology is a prime example of the sophisticated multi-media solutions we offer our clients to reach today's consumers who are looking to find value how, when and where they want," said Alan F. Schultz, Valassis Chairman, President and CEO.

Here's how Clip-free Coupons work: Consumers visit redplum.com and click to join Clip-free simply by providing their name, e-mail address and Zip code. First-time users are prompted to register their participating retailer card, and once the account is registered, the savings begin. They can browse and download the coupons that are most relevant to them directly from redplum.com. Consumers can view their downloaded coupons; send a list via e-mail; and check the status of the coupons. Once downloaded, to redeem, they simply present their card at check out and the savings will automatically be deducted from their shopping bill based on eligible purchases.

According to research Valassis conducted with BIGinsight, more than 80 percent of consumers have one or more retailer frequent shopper cards. Additional findings include: * Two out of three consumers have expressed an interest in trying to load coupons to their cards; * More than 80 percent of consumers who have downloaded coupons to their cards have redeemed at least one; and * Seventy-one percent of consumers go to coupon sites for offers.

The Valassis coupon-to-card/ID network includes nearly 8,000 stores across 47 retail banners from coast to coast where digital coupons are published on retailer websites and accessible for download by millions of frequent shopper cardholders.

The company's technology platform, DigitalOfferExpert, is a smart system that manages digital distribution across secure print, coupon to card/ID, mobile devices and more. Valassis was recognized this year on the InformationWeek 500 list as an innovator for this technology, which enables it to securely manage and distribute digital coupons to consumers with ease.

Valassis continues to develop optimal digital media solutions and coupon functionality that empowers its clients and their brands to better reach, engage and activate consumers across today's ever-changing digital landscape.   At the same time, these advancements increase the availability of coupons for today's deal seekers and create the simplest, most reliable and most efficient way for consumers to print and download digital coupons.