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| Simon Malls Launch New National Club for Kids |
Simon Kidgits Club Provides Platform to Reach Valuable Demographic
INDIANAPOLIS, June 9 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Just in time for summer,
Simon Property Group, Inc. (NYSE: SPG) has introduced a new children's club,
Simon Kidgits Club, designed to build consumer loyalty and reinforce the mall
as a family destination, especially among the powerful 25- to 49-year-old
female audience.
The Simon Kidgits Club offers programs focused on health and wellness,
education, safety and entertainment. Since the program was announced last
month, nearly 25,000 children and parents have enrolled. This month, Simon
Kidgits Club will ramp up with a "Safe Summer Fun Summer" event in 80 Simon
malls across the country, featuring summer safety tips for parents and fun and
educational activities for children. Safe Summer Fun Summer will be conducted
in partnership with local safety-oriented community organizations and
agencies, and will include guidelines and suggestions provided by the National
SAFE KIDS Campaign.
The Simon Kidgits Club is the latest platform within Simon's business
strategy to further reinforce the company's position as a highly effective
marketing channel through Simon Brand Ventures, its strategic marketing
division. Additional programs currently in development include platforms
targeted at teens, boomers, entertainment, holiday and fitness, among others.
"We created this platform as a licensed program in order to build a brand
that will connect and interface with a key consumer base," said Stewart
Stockdale, chief marketing officer of Simon Property Group and president of
Simon Brand Ventures. "The platform is experiential in nature, scalable, and
it will engage tenants, consumers and consumer brands through unique
programming opportunities."
Simon Kidgits Club also is a compelling tool for Simon's marketing
partners who, through the Simon Kidgits Club, can connect with the important
25- to 49-year-old female audience, according to Cathi Weiner, senior vice
president of business development for Simon Brand Ventures.
"While each mall will have its unique programs, they will also have
programs that will be consistent across our mall portfolio," Ms. Weiner said.
"The proprietary nature of the Simon Kidgits Club provides Simon the
opportunity to build on the content and merchandising of the licensed
characters, as well as to develop product and marketing alliances that will
enhance the programming for our club members," she added.
Beyond Safe Summer Fun Summer, additional Simon Kidgit Club programming is
currently being developed to appeal to title sponsors in such categories as
toys, nutrition and consumer packaged goods, among others, who target this
valuable demographic to whom the Simon Kidgit Club appeals.
Each Simon Kidgits Club member receives his or her own official Simon
Kidgits Club membership package and T-shirt at the time of enrollment. Other
Simon Kidgits Club membership benefits include: special invitations to
programs and activities at the mall; special discounts and rewards for members
only; a Birthday Club (including birthday card and gift redemption
certificate); and a periodic newsletter with games, educational features and
special news.
A special Simon Kidgits Club website, http://www.simonkidgitsclub.com , offers
more club information and activities. The http://www.simon.com website also contains
a link to the Simon Kidgits Club.
About National SAFE KIDS Campaign
The National SAFE KIDS Campaign is the first and only national nonprofit
organization dedicated solely to the prevention of unintentional childhood
injury -- the number one killer of children ages 14 and under. More than three
hundred state and local SAFE KIDS coalitions in all 50 states, the District of
Columbia and Puerto Rico, comprise the Campaign. http://www.safekids.org
About Simon Brand Ventures
Founded in 1997, Simon Brand Ventures has pioneered the transformation of
shopping malls into a medium where consumer brands can build one-on-one
relationships with more than 100 million shoppers who make approximately
2 billion visits to Simon malls each year.
Simon Brand Ventures has entered into strategic partnerships with more
than 100 retailers and sponsors within the last year, including Coca-Cola,
Cingular Wireless, Reebok and VISA U.S.A., to stage memorable brand
experiences in Simon malls through a variety of media platforms.
About Simon Property Group
Simon Property Group, Inc. (NYSE: SPG), headquartered in Indianapolis,
Indiana, is a real estate investment trust engaged in the ownership and
management of income-producing properties, primarily regional malls and
community shopping centers. Through its subsidiary partnerships, it currently
owns or has an interest in 238 properties containing an aggregate of 182
million square feet of gross leasable area in 36 states, as well as nine
assets in Europe and Canada. Additional Simon Property Group information is
available at http://www.simon.com .
SOURCE Simon Property Group, Inc.
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CONTACT:
Billie Scott of Simon Property Group, Inc.,
+1-317-263-7148
