Kansas City, MO., Aug. 12, 1997 -- Sprint and General Mills are poised to score major points with consumers during the upcoming NFL season. The two companies are mounting unique, complementary national promotions that offer sports fans a winning, collectible combination -- Sprint prepaid cards bearing the authentic images of today's hottest NFL superstars and Quarterback Club members.
General Mills will kick-off a massive consumer sweepstakes to coincide with the start of the NFL season, Sept. 1. Consumers have a chance to instantly win Sprint NFL Prepaid FONCARDs randomly inserted in General Mills products. Millions and millions of boxes, including Cheerios, Honey Nut Cheerios and Total brand cereals, as well as Hamburger Helper, Tuna Helper and Betty Crocker specialty potatoes, will flag the sweepstakes -- putting the Sprint brand on the shelves of potentially every grocery and convenience store throughout the United States.
Simultaneously, Sprint will launch its own football-themed promotion in support of its Spree(R) branded prepaid card. Consumers will receive one of twelve Spree NFL cards inside every specially marked package of $10 and $20 Spree Prepaid FONCARDs.
Sprint's retail branded prepaid cards are currently available in nearly 30,000 gas and grocery stores, convenience and drug stores and college bookstores nationwide.
The limited-edition Spree cards are worth an extra 10 free minutes of long-distance time and carry the images of NFL stars and Quarterback Club members Brett Favre, Steve Young, Dan Marino, Drew Bledsoe, Marcus Allen, Troy Aikman, Barry Sanders, John Elway, Junior Seau, Kordell Stewart, Jerry Rice and Jim Harbaugh.
They also sport the official team and NFL logos. Spot radio, print and eye-catching point of purchase advertising, including life-size standups of future Hall of Famers Allen, Marino and Young, will promote the offer.
General Mills is giving away Sprint NFL Prepaid FONCARDs in four different designs, featuring 30 minutes of free long distance and action photos of Super Bowl champions Favre and Young, all-time passing leader Marino and rising star Bledsoe. General Mills will support the sweepstakes through national free standing insert and trade advertising.
Both promotions pack a distinct one-two punch in targeting consumers -- real dollar value for long-distance calling and the emotional significance of a unique collectible.
"Our retail program for Spree and our promotional relationship with General Mills allow Sprint to build incredible brand presence in the prepaid calling card category," said Marlene Waltz, Director of Prepaid Cards, Sprint. "We are capitalizing on two critical marketing dynamics -- the growing popularity of prepaid cards and the power of Sprint's NFL sponsorship. We designed the two campaigns to complement one another, giving retailers added sales momentum and reinforcing consumer awareness."
Sprint and General Mills had a prior marketing relationship in a record-breaking prepaid card promotion in June 1995. The current campaign is three times the size of that sampling offer, which placed five-minute Spree cards in six different brands of General Mills adult cereals.
"This is another outstanding opportunity for General Mills to work with Sprint and leverage the excitement surrounding the NFL," said Pam Becker, manager, General Mills. "NFL prepaid cards have twice the value over traditional premiums -- they double as a calling card and as a collectible. Plus, Sprint's experience and reputation in the prepaid card arena assure General Mills that this will be a winning promotion."
As the official telecommunications provider to the NFL, Sprint is the only prepaid card provider able to market cards bearing the logos of the NFL and its 31 teams. Sprint has been the leading innovator in the prepaid industry since 1993, when it became the first major long distance company to introduce a retail prepaid card. This year the company eclipsed the 100 million mark in total number of prepaid cards produced. Sprint currently holds a 30% share of the overall prepaid card market.
From: David Crane
The official mail in form, Zellers receipt, and UPC codes is required. Requests must be postmarked by October 31, 1997. The form is on displays at Zellers, but it is very difficult to find. It took 3 store employees to find me some of the forms which were randomly placed on 2 of about 6 displays.
I have a supply of request forms if anyone needs one. Emailto:fedjr@netcom.com
From: Frank Duzick
From: Jan Cooper
Until Next Week,
Alan
2) Direct e-mail. Send a message to: phoneline@cardmall.com
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