Canwest’s dailies are teaming up with Chicago-based multi-channel advertiser ShopLocal to help connect retailers with consumers online and in-store. The partnership, announced this morning, will see Canwest as the exclusive supplier of ShopLocal products and services in Canada, enabling retailers across the country to deliver highly interactive, targeted and localized promotions to shoppers via Canwest’s newspaper websites.
The ShopLocal Canadian site will bring together content from display ads placed in Canwest newspapers across the country as well as SmartCirculars’ online flyers, making them searchable by shoppers on canada.com and Canwest newspaper websites, as well as on social media sites like Facebook, MySpace, Lycos and Local.com. Further opportunities are also expected on the horizon through Canwest’s partnership with Oodle.
Retailers Canadian Tire, Mark’s Work Wearhouse and Toys R Us are currently on board, driving in-store sales by converting their local print promotions into digital formats that connect with consumers.
‘Canwest can now offer Canadian advertisers this exceptionally effective tool to get local deals to local markets through multi-channel distribution,’ says Derek Mah, GM online classifieds and retail, Canwest Digital Media. ‘It’s a great way for consumers to research and discover weekly and daily specials from the stores in their neighbourhoods.’
‘For retailers,’ says Vikram Sharma, CEO ShopLocal, ‘the Internet is a timely, far-reaching and cost-effective way to present offers to consumers who appreciate the convenience and cost savings of a more informed shopping trip.’
ShopLocal can be accessed in Canada through any of Canwest’s daily sites, including
Vancouversun.com/shoplocal, Vancouverprovince.com/shoplocal, Timescolonist.com/shoplocal, Calgaryherald.com/shoplocal, Edmontonjournal.com/shoplocal, Leaderpost.com/shoplocal, Thestarphoenix.com/shoplocal, Montrealgazette.com/shoplocal, Ottawacitizen.com/shoplocal, Windsorstar.com/shoplocal and Canada.shoplocal.com.
