WESTFARMS INTRODUCES NEXT-GENERATION SHOPPING TOOL TO MAKE BACK-TO-SCHOOL MALL TRIPS SIMPLE AS "A-B-C"
Released: 08/22/06
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
August 22, 2006
MEDIA CONTACTS:
Shannon Eterginio
860.677.5031
shannon@crimsoncomm.com
Wendy Haggerty
860.561.3420 x2117
WHaggerty@Taubman.com
WESTFARMS INTRODUCES NEXT-GENERATION SHOPPING TOOL TO MAKE BACK-TO-SCHOOL MALL TRIPS SIMPLE AS "A-B-C"
-"My Mall" Launches This Week-
FARMINGTON, CONN. - Westfarms mall has just put itself ahead of the class with an innovative, new, free service that makes it possible to save time and money on back-to-school shopping trips.
The new "My Mall," launching this week, will not only help time-pressed shoppers prepare their children for the new school year, it will remain an ongoing Westfarms service sure to help if you've ever:
* Taken a stack of coupons to the mall - and then discovered you left the best one behind on your kitchen table
* Tried to save time by mailing a gift directly from the store - and realized you didn't have the address with you
* Forgotten an errand because you overlooked the scribbled memo on your shopping list
The user-friendly "My Mall" gives shoppers a next-generation shopping experience by letting shoppers create their own customized shopping lists.
To build a personalized shopping list, all you have to do is click the "My Mall" icon on the Westfarms Web site www.shopwestfarms.com.
"The site guides you through the simple process of organizing and building your own individualized shopping experience," says Wendy Haggerty, Westfarms marketing & sponsorship director. "You can click any coupon, offer or event - from our Web site- to move it into your personal shopping list."
You can also transfer information about special events, mall promotions, sales and other information in the same way. Want to add a memo - perhaps an address for a graduation gift, a relative's favorite color or pant size, or even a reminder to stop for milk after shopping? Just type it in and it appears on your list. You can then print your all-inclusive shopping itinerary, send it to your personal e-mail, or even e-mail it to friends or family who may be joining you at the mall.
To plan parking and shopping more efficiently, you can also view and print a helpful store directory and interactive map from the center's Web site.
Taubman Centers Inc. (NYSE:TCO), which owns Westfarms, simultaneously launched the one-of-a-kind shopping organizer/planner at its 19 managed shopping centers nationwide. It is the country's first comprehensive Web-based mall service that allows shoppers to re-create personally selected coupons, sales and center events onto customized shopping lists.
"'My Mall makes it fast, easy and convenient for our customers to build efficiency and economy into every shopping trip, whether it's back-to-school clothing or holiday gifts," observes Haggerty.
"And one of the best features is that shoppers can create and save up to seven shopping lists at a time," she adds. "You might have one list for back-to-school shopping with the kids, one for items to pick up that afternoon and yet another list planning a fun weekend wardrobe excursion with a friend - each one with the relevant sales and coupons stored directly within the appropriate list. Or you might want to plan a separate list for a day of shopping with each child."
Anyone who builds a shopping trip through "My Mall" before (September 30, 2006) will be eligible to win a $500 Westfarms gift card.
The free "My Mall" tool is one of several enhancements to Westfarms' Web site and e-bulletin program, according to Haggerty. E-Bulletin subscribers, formerly limited to sale alerts and other news from specific favorite stores, can now choose entire categories of favorite stores. That introduces them to exclusive offers and new retailers they may otherwise not have known about. Shoppers can easily change their "favorites" list at any time by updating their profile as a registered user.
In addition, customers can now use our Gift Reminder tool to sign up to receive e-mail alerts for upcoming birthdays, anniversaries and other gift-giving occasions.
'''My Mall is the perfect example of how we're continually considering what our customers tell us and incorporating their suggestions into whatever we do," explains Haggerty.
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Westfarms, located off Exit 40 on I-84 and Exit 30 on Route 9, features 160 shops and restaurants along with Nordstrom, Filene's, Lord & Taylor, JCPenney, Rainforest Cafe and California Pizza Kitchen. Shopping hours are 10 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday. See what's on sale before you shop at www.shopwestfarms.com.