Vertis Offers Online Marketing Opportunities for Grocers

Vertis Communications has forged a strategic partnership with Grocery Shopping Network that will enhance the Inserts2online (I2O) services Vertis provides to some of the most recognized grocers in the United States and Canada.

Nearly 100 of North America’s top brands – including three of the top five food retailers – use Vertis’ I2O services to transform their traditional printed store circulars into interactive Web content that advances their marketing strategies and has measurable impact on the bottom line.

“Consumers buying everything from televisions to tortillas are researching purchases before they set foot in a store,” said Jerry Sokol, interim president, CEO and CFO at Vertis Communications. “Grocers need to be online with savings opportunities and product information, as well as tools consumers can use to plan their trips to the store. Our new partnership with GSN will give grocers the power to connect with their customers while also generating revenue and driving sales. It’s a win-win all around.”

More than one third of U.S. households access advertising circulars via store websites, the majority of whom (65 percent) research weekly specials and discount coupons, according to Vertis Customer Focus research.

Vertis I2O for Grocers will enable grocery retailers to meet demand for online content while doing the following:

- Generating revenue from GSN digital display ads placed on online circular pages.
- Achieving greater return on their investment in printed circulars by converting advertising insert design to web content and adding functionality available only online.
- Building customer awareness, program participation and website traffic through opt-in registration, RSS feeds, e-mail features and social sharing.
- Increasing store traffic by promoting weekly specials and unique offers.
- Boosting sales through e-commerce integration.
- Measuring impact with analysis of online activity and leveraging that intelligence to better target their customers’ viewing and buying preferences.

The partnership gives Vertis I2O for Grocers’ clients access to GSN’s display advertising network, which operates on more than 90 sites. As grocers build display ads into their online circular pages, they open new revenue streams and provide product-specific information to customers planning their grocery purchases. Grocers also have the ability to access data about consumer engagement with display ads, making future marketing efforts more targeted and relevant to customers.

“Like Vertis, GSN is extremely data-focused. We create the industry’s most precise data on shopping behavior to connect grocery consumers with the resources they need to optimize their shopping experience,” said Scott Lutz, GSN CEO and president. “We are committed to harnessing the power of digital communications to improve the shopper experience by conveniently saving time and money. The combination of Vertis’ I2O client sites and our display advertising network will ensure shoppers have the most relevant information while deciding what to buy.”

Vertis Communications is a marketing communications company that delivers inventive advertising, direct marketing and interactive solutions to prominent brands across North America, with 100 strategically positioned locations.
 
Grocery Shopping Network Inc. connects consumers, retailers, and brands through its premier content, advertising and software for retail websites.