| [February 10, 2012] |
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Walgreens Makes Shopping Easier with Additional Online Savings and New Weekly Ad Circular
DEERFIELD, Ill. --(Business Wire)--
Walgreens (NYSE: WAG) (NASDAQ: WAG) advertising circular, a Sunday
staple read by more than 50 million U.S. consumers each week, has
re-launched with a robust digital offering that offers hundreds of
additional items through Walgreens.com and its award-winning mobile
applications, while the print version gets a new look and feel designed
to improve the shopping experience.
A recent Nielsen study1 shows more than 70 percent of
shoppers express a desire for basic digital delivery of advertising
inserts in the future. As traffic to Walgreens.com continues to grow,
online views of the circular alone have increased more than 50 percent
year over year, while Walgreens has driven profitable sales.
"This is the most dramatic refresh we've made to the weekly ad in more
than two decades, delivering added value for our growing numbers of
online and mobile customers, as well as a better experience for those
who look forward to seeing it in print," said Joe Magnacca, Walgreens
president of daily living products and solutions. "We're giving people
more convenient ways to shop and save, and this complements our
multi-channel strategy by finding new and different ways to cater to
today's consumers."
What's New in Print
The new design includes coupons grouped together by category on
easy-to-find pages as well as sale items featured more prominently
throughout.
Walgreens has also added "QR codes," enabling mobile users to quickly
view more deals directly from a smartphone. Customers can also visit
category-specific Walgreens websites highlighted in the ad or find
additional bonus buys inside stores.
What's New Online and Mobile
The online and mobile circular features hundreds of additional in-store
offers, online exclusive pages and other "bonus buys." Online ads also
allow for social sharing via Twitter (News - Alert) andFacebook, the ability to create
advanced shopping lists and more.
Those who sign up to receive the weekly ad via email will receive it as
a sneak peek, delivered on Fridays. Signup is available online at www.walgreens.com/sneakpeek
or in stores. Those who register will receive a $5 coupon.
"We know that for approximately half of the visitors to Walgreens.com,
their next action is to go to one of our stores to shop," Magnacca said.
"For our loyal customers who don't use computers or the Internet, all of
the items we feature online each week will also be specially-marked in
our stores."
To view the new weekly ad, visit www.walgreens.com/weeklyad.
The new circular is Walgreens latest initiative that brings savings to
consumers wherever they are and when it's most convenient.
Last November, Walgreens unveiled the largest retail mobile coupon
offering in the U.S. on "Black Friday (News - Alert)," with point-of-sale scanning
available at more than 7,800 stores nationwide. The program helped
generate more than 500,000 downloads of the Walgreens mobile application
in December.
Walgreens is also leveraging mobile and social technology to send mobile
coupons via Twitter and to customers who check in from Walgreens stores
through platforms such as Foursquare (News - Alert).
To help pharmacy customers better manage their health, Walgreens mobile
applications and online tools feature mobile resources such as
prescription text alerts, which notify patients when refills are due and
when prescriptions are ready. Text alerts are used by more than 2
million pharmacy customers. In addition, Walgreens Refill by Scan
application enables pharmacy customers to order prescription refills
simply by scanning a barcode. Nearly 40 percent of Walgreens online
refills currently come through mobile scanning.
Through Walgreens.com, Walgreens pharmacy staff is available 24/7 online
for live chats to answer patient questions and concerns.
1 The Evolution of Circulars - Q4, 2011
About Walgreens
Walgreens (www.walgreens.com)
is the nation's largest drugstore chain with fiscal 2011 sales of $72
billion. The company operates 7,830 drugstores in all 50 states, the
District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. Each day, Walgreens provides
nearly 6 million customers the most convenient, multichannel access to
consumer goods and services and trusted, cost-effective pharmacy, health
and wellness services and advice in communities across America.
Walgreens scope of pharmacy services includes retail, specialty,
infusion, medical facility and mail service, along with respiratory
services. These services improve health outcomes and lower costs for
payers including employers, managed care organizations, health systems,
pharmacy benefit managers and the public sector. Take Care Health
Systems is a Walgreens subsidiary that is the largest and most
comprehensive manager of worksite health and wellness centers and
in-store convenient care clinics, with more than 700 locations
throughout the country.

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