FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, March DATE,March 13, 2003
Contact: Jana
Muntsinger, 804.754.2118
jana@mmpublicrelations.com
Parable Introduces First-Ever Customer
Appreciation Month
March 2003 Mailer Promotes Free Gifts,
Coupons, Exclusives
SAN LUIS OBISPO, CA—According to a
recent study by retailing experts Evans & Berman, customer retention is
frequently undervalued as a tool for significantly increasinge
retail sales. In the current economic
climate, The Parable Group believes it is imperative that member stores harness
the power of customer retention as part of their overall marketing strategy.. As a result, Parable has declared March 2003
“Customer Appreciation Month” to help stores retain their most loyal
shoppers. Earliery
this month, a Customer Appreciation Catalog--containing significant coupons,
free gifts and exclusive sales promotions—will bewere mailed
to thousands of frequent customers.
With
more than 114 member stores participating and a circulation topping 680,000,
the Customer Appreciation Catalog offers 24 pages of products and exclusive
promotions to thousands of Parable® shoppers. Most significantly, every customers can receive
a free battery-operated book light with a purchase of $20 or more while supplies
last. Each book light, perfect
for reading in bed, is imprinted with Psalm 119:105—“Thy word is a lamp unto my
feet and a light unto my path.” Other
promotions found in the Customer Appreciation Catalog include coupons on books,
framed prints, gift books, devotionals, CDs, videos and DVDs. Some of the high profile promotions include::
§
FREE Beginning Life Together Bible study book
($7.99 retail value) with the purchase of The
Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren (on sale for $17.97);
§
$8 OFF the regular
price of The Negotiator by Dee Henderson
(regularly $12.99, now $4.99);
§
FREE Cedarmont Kids
VHS or DVD with the purchase of two videos or DVDs.
§20% OFF the regular
price of ANY ONE framed print;
§40% OFF the regular
retail price of A
Woman After God’s Own Heart by Elizabeth
George (regularly $10.99, now $6.59);
§FREE Stories for the
Heart ($12.99 retail value) with the purchase of either Stories for a
Woman’s Heart or Stories for a
Teen’s Heart ($12.99 each);
§$5 OFF the regular
price of any one CD priced $16.98 or more;
§50% OFF the regular
price of The Bible Study Marketing
Kit (regularly $9.97, now $4.99) with the purchase of any Bible priced $19.97
or more;
§$8 OFF the regular
price of The Negotiator
by Dee Henderson (regularly $12.99, now $4.99);
§FREE Cedarmont Kids
VHS or DVD with the purchase of two videos or DVDs;
§30% OFF the regular
retail price of any ONE item in the store.
-more-
Customer
Appreciation Month, 2003, page two
John Strifler, manager,
Life and Light Bookstore in Indianapolis, IN, believes this catalog will
communicate honor to his best customers.
“The key is the emphasis of the catalog—customer appreciation—and that
is why we are here. This catalog gives
us another opportunity to impress our top customers with our level of
care. Since there are many coupons with
significant savings throughout the catalog, there is a very clear
reward-benefit to the customer.”
-more-
Customer Appreciation Month, 2003, page two
“Customer retention is not just a
smart marketing goal,” says Marilyn Largent, Vice President, Wholesale Sales
and Marketing, The Parable Group.
“Retaining customers involves superb customer service and value, so it
is part of Parable’s greater mission as well. .”
Based in the hills of San
Luis Obispo, CA, The Parable Group provides comprehensive marketing services to
hundreds of Christian retail outlets in the United States. Each member store is independently owned and
operated, representing more than $325 million in annual sales of Christian
products to consumers. Some of
Parable’s specialized services include full color catalogs, data base
marketing, in-store displays, e-commerce websites and exclusive products.
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March 13, 2003