Vets look at pets from a whole new perspective

Valpak direct mail services have been helping businesses reach their targeted consumers for almost 40 years. Valpak, North America's direct mail leader, delivers households that are projected to spend six percent more annually for pet supplies and 22 percent more for care and veterinary services than the average household. Promotions from Valpak are a great way to tell people they can come to you for the latest information about pet products and service.

Click to read more ...

Aging Homes Spur Remodeling Trends

America's inventory of existing homes is getting older, and homeowners are feeling the urge to remodel and renovate. Even with the ups and downs of the economy, growth in spending on residential remodeling and repairs has been remarkably steady.

The average age of a house in North America is 32 years and rising, according to a recent Harvard University study. Residences in constant need of repair have sent remodeling spending soaring to a quartertrillion dollars each year, with no sign of slowing.

Click to read more ...

Italian restaurants catering to consumers short on time and money

Today's restaurant customers are more demanding than ever, expecting more from their restaurant experiences than great meals, according to research released recently by the National Restaurant Association. Consumer trends that are shaping the restaurant industry in 2008 include demands for more convenience, control, flavors, comfort and choices, including healthful options.

"Consumers want help to fit quality meals into their busy schedules, and require a lot of variety when doing so," said Dawn Sweeney, President and CEO of the National Restaurant Association. "They expect restaurants to make available a variety of healthful options and exciting flavors on menus, and they want to place their orders quickly and easily."

Click to read more ...

Are Homeowners Still Hungry For Pricey Kitchen Makeovers?

With pending home sales at a six-year low and home prices flat, homeowners are reluctant to sink as much money into their kitchens as they were during the boom. However, they haven’t taken remodeling projects completely off the table. Even in a troubled market, many homeowners are convinced that it’s important to
update their kitchens at least somewhat to preserve resale value.

Approximately 7.6 million kitchens were remodeled in 2007, roughly 200,000 more than the year before. Most real-estate agents still recommend upgrading the kitchen, since that’s the room that can often make or break a sale.

Click to read more ...

Direct Mail Marketing and Coupons Boost Restaurant Businesses

And let’s not overlook the importance of coupons in a restaurant owner’s marketing campaign. Research from a study published in Cornell University’s August 2002 Hotel and Restaurant Administration Quarterly proved that restaurant coupons offer some great benefits. The study found that customers who redeemed a restaurant coupon were almost 7.5 times more likely to make a post-promotion repeat purchase than customers who didn’t use a coupon.

Click to read more ...