• January 27, 2010

Veteran direct mail player Valpak is extending its reach with a concentrated digital component including an aggressive Valpak.com expansion, where more than 17,000 printable coupons are available.

Through a recent partnership with Kudzu.com, consumers searching for savings on Valpak.com can now view customer reviews and ratings for many local service providers.

Valpak recently launched free mobile couponing apps for the iPhone and iPod Touch, the Android platform and the Palm Pre. The company will be rolling out mobile couponing apps for the Palm Pre and BlackBerry. Other digital plans include applying augmented reality to upcoming advertiser promotions and promoting advertisers through social media.

Valpak's signature blue envelope of coupons now reaches 45 million households each month by mail, for savings opportunities from national and local advertisers. Coupon usage is skyrocketing in a down economy, increasing 26% year-over-year as of Q3 in 2009, the fourth straight quarter of strong growth. While direct mail is still consumers' primary source for savings, more than 10 million digital coupons were redeemed in the first half of 2009, up 25% year-over-year.--Tanya Irwin