Local Entrepreneur Brings Savings to Businesses and Residents in Kent, Ottawa and Allegan Counties
Valpak, a leader in local print and digital coupons, announced today it has signed a franchise agreement with Lia Jensen to acquire the Valpak of West Michigan territory. The market was previously owned and operated by Valpak corporate. Jensen, a first-time franchisee, has assumed The Blue Envelope(®) distribution and began mailing out to residents and businesses in Kent, Ottawa and Allegan Counties in October.
"As a long-time resident of West Michigan, I was drawn to Valpak's brand strength and product recognition," said Lia Jensen, Valpak of West Michigan franchisee. "Their proven direct marketing system will allow me to assist businesses in the area by helping them reach and attract their target audience."
As a former small business owner, Lia Jensen was born and raised in Grand Rapids, Mich. She was first introduced to Valpak as a young child when her family received the blue envelope regularly. No stranger to the brand, Jensen knew Valpak of West Michigan had the product recognition and a proven system that she wanted to be a part of. After leaving the commercial real estate industry, she joined Valpak with more than 15 years of experience in sales and marketing.
"We're thrilled to welcome Lia as our newest franchise partner and are excited to see her sustain Valpak's suite of services in Kent, Ottawa and Allegan Counties," said Greg Courchane, Valpak's director of franchise sales. "She's an active member in the community and we are confident she's the right candidate to impact businesses and consumers in the market."
In addition to the flagship blue envelope, Valpak offers its business customers an impressive portfolio of digital advertising products including Smartphone apps, which are also integrated into the Samsung Wallet, iOS Passbook, Google Wallet and Windows Phone Wallet, as well as QR codes and online coupons to reach consumers at home, and on-the-go. Recently, Cox Target Media, which owns Valpak, also acquired Savings.com, a leading online source for savings and personalized deals. Working together, Valpak and Savings.com will offer consumers a more extensive selection of offers and rewarding shopping experience as content is shared across platforms.
A leader in cooperative direct mail, Valpak mails more than 20 billion coupons to more than 40 million demographically-targeted households per month in more than 100 markets in 45 states and four Canadian provinces.
Since its launch in 1968, Valpak has been broadly recognized and trusted, which has contributed significantly to its current success. Valpak's state-of-the-art, 470,000-square-foot manufacturing center in St. Petersburg, Fla., makes it possible for the company to mail to more than 500 million homes in North America. Valpak is also backed by experienced leadership with Cox Enterprises, one of the largest media companies in North America, which acquired the brand in 1991.
Ideal candidates for Valpak franchise ownership should possess a desire to join a trusted industry-leading brand, work within a proven franchise system, develop relationships with local businesses and have a comfort level with selling new, digital technologies. Franchisees should also possess a minimum liquidity of $75,000, and a minimum net worth of $150,000.
