Here's why:
4 October 2001
CARLSON MARKETING GROUP PURCHASES beenz.COM
Acquisition opens new frontier for consumer packaged goods companies
Carlson Marketing Group today announced a multi-million dollar plan to
acquire the beenz.com business, in a move that will dramatically enhance the
ability of packaged goods providers to identify their end customers and
build better relationships with them. beenz.com is the creator of beenz(r),
a rewards-based loyalty program for the Internet. The acquisition of
beenz.com includes the hardware and software assets, the beenz brand and all
of the company's intellectual property assets including its patents.
"The merging of the beenz patents with our existing proprietary technology
opens a whole new frontier in building brand loyalty for our clients,
particularly the packaged goods marketplace," said Jim Ryan, president and
chief executive officer, Carlson Marketing Group. "The RewardzCodessm
technology and Carlson's expertise in Relationship Marketing will expand
traditional loyalty concepts into exciting applications for the consumer
packaged goods industry, an industry that has had limited options to
identify customers and ways to build strong consumer loyalty.
"beenz's patented technology coupled with Carlson Marketing Group's
relationship-building strategies make this a compelling acquisition,"
continued Ryan.
"We've already begun to design several unique applications using beenz
technology for client programs. In addition, the beenz system for developing
unique on-package award codes will be used to further develop and expand our
Gold Points Rewards program internationally. The fact that we will now own
these patents puts us in a strong leadership position."
"In the midst of the downturn in the Internet economy and a challenging
business environment, we worked tirelessly to maintain the beenz network and
to continue the development of our sophisticated technology while
aggressively and effectively mitigating the business' liabilities," said
Stephen T. Limpe, president and chief executive officer of beenz.com inc.
"Today's announcement marks the successful culmination of this difficult
process and enables us to return significant value back to our shareholders.
We are particularly proud that our technology will be carried forward and
enhanced by Carlson Marketing Group. We view this integration of our core
business into Carlson Marketing, one of the world's pre-eminent marketing
companies, as the ultimate testament that beenz established an extremely
viable and valuable business."
Carlson Marketing Group's acquisition includes the following:
* The beenz network assets division. This includes the beenz transaction
engine -the technology that allowed consumers to earn and spend beenz - as
well as the technology that permitted retailers to accept beenz orders
online in real-time. This technology was developed in-house by beenz.com
using Oracle, Sun Microsystems and Exodus technology. It also includes the
beenz hardware and proprietary software which beenz.com developed in-house
and which managed the beenz consumer accounts network.
* The RewardzCodes division - a patented technology which allows businesses
to reward consumers digitally via codes printed on all product packaging.
The sale includes the transfer of the issued and pending patents relating to
this technology.
* The beenz brand - with more than five million registered accounts
world-wide, beenz.com became one of the highest profile Internet brands in
the space of 18 months. As part of the transition, beenz account holders
will be welcomed into the Gold Points Rewards program.
Gold Points Rewards
The technology and intellectual property assets of beenz.com will be
integrated into Gold Points Rewards, a subsidiary of Carlson Marketing
Group. Gold Points Rewards is a consumer loyalty program that rewards its
members both online and offline each time they use their card at
participating partners.
Today there are more than six million Gold Points Reward members who earn
and redeem points at more 3,500 partner locations. The Gold Points Rewards
program is centered around the issuance of points that never expire. These
points are redeemable for rewards such as travel, hotel stays, cruises,
airline miles, dining options, car rentals, flowers, and a wide variety of
merchandise and personal service
"The acquisition of beenz.com and its technology will not only allow us to
develop a stronger online rewards capability for our Gold Points Rewards
members, it also gives us access to an impressive global online community,"
said Harold Schrum, executive vice president and general manager for Gold
Points Rewards. "The beenz offline and online technologies are powerful
tools that will help strengthen Gold Points' position as the leading brand
in the rewards and loyalty field."
Carlson Marketing Group plans to leverage the beenz patents and assets far
beyond the Gold Points Rewards program. "This is a tremendous enhancement
for Gold Points, but we see hugely exciting opportunities for our consumer
products clients to reward long-term brand allegiance," concluded Ryan. "We
see well beyond traditional loyalty programs; we see consumer products
companies building better relationships with their best customers because of
services we can now design and deliver."
Let's hope they do!!!
get the latest rewards program news here:
http://members.home.net/euroantik
4 October 2001
CARLSON MARKETING GROUP PURCHASES beenz.COM
Acquisition opens new frontier for consumer packaged goods companies
Carlson Marketing Group today announced a multi-million dollar plan to
acquire the beenz.com business, in a move that will dramatically enhance the
ability of packaged goods providers to identify their end customers and
build better relationships with them. beenz.com is the creator of beenz(r),
a rewards-based loyalty program for the Internet. The acquisition of
beenz.com includes the hardware and software assets, the beenz brand and all
of the company's intellectual property assets including its patents.
"The merging of the beenz patents with our existing proprietary technology
opens a whole new frontier in building brand loyalty for our clients,
particularly the packaged goods marketplace," said Jim Ryan, president and
chief executive officer, Carlson Marketing Group. "The RewardzCodessm
technology and Carlson's expertise in Relationship Marketing will expand
traditional loyalty concepts into exciting applications for the consumer
packaged goods industry, an industry that has had limited options to
identify customers and ways to build strong consumer loyalty.
"beenz's patented technology coupled with Carlson Marketing Group's
relationship-building strategies make this a compelling acquisition,"
continued Ryan.
"We've already begun to design several unique applications using beenz
technology for client programs. In addition, the beenz system for developing
unique on-package award codes will be used to further develop and expand our
Gold Points Rewards program internationally. The fact that we will now own
these patents puts us in a strong leadership position."
"In the midst of the downturn in the Internet economy and a challenging
business environment, we worked tirelessly to maintain the beenz network and
to continue the development of our sophisticated technology while
aggressively and effectively mitigating the business' liabilities," said
Stephen T. Limpe, president and chief executive officer of beenz.com inc.
"Today's announcement marks the successful culmination of this difficult
process and enables us to return significant value back to our shareholders.
We are particularly proud that our technology will be carried forward and
enhanced by Carlson Marketing Group. We view this integration of our core
business into Carlson Marketing, one of the world's pre-eminent marketing
companies, as the ultimate testament that beenz established an extremely
viable and valuable business."
Carlson Marketing Group's acquisition includes the following:
* The beenz network assets division. This includes the beenz transaction
engine -the technology that allowed consumers to earn and spend beenz - as
well as the technology that permitted retailers to accept beenz orders
online in real-time. This technology was developed in-house by beenz.com
using Oracle, Sun Microsystems and Exodus technology. It also includes the
beenz hardware and proprietary software which beenz.com developed in-house
and which managed the beenz consumer accounts network.
* The RewardzCodes division - a patented technology which allows businesses
to reward consumers digitally via codes printed on all product packaging.
The sale includes the transfer of the issued and pending patents relating to
this technology.
* The beenz brand - with more than five million registered accounts
world-wide, beenz.com became one of the highest profile Internet brands in
the space of 18 months. As part of the transition, beenz account holders
will be welcomed into the Gold Points Rewards program.
Gold Points Rewards
The technology and intellectual property assets of beenz.com will be
integrated into Gold Points Rewards, a subsidiary of Carlson Marketing
Group. Gold Points Rewards is a consumer loyalty program that rewards its
members both online and offline each time they use their card at
participating partners.
Today there are more than six million Gold Points Reward members who earn
and redeem points at more 3,500 partner locations. The Gold Points Rewards
program is centered around the issuance of points that never expire. These
points are redeemable for rewards such as travel, hotel stays, cruises,
airline miles, dining options, car rentals, flowers, and a wide variety of
merchandise and personal service
"The acquisition of beenz.com and its technology will not only allow us to
develop a stronger online rewards capability for our Gold Points Rewards
members, it also gives us access to an impressive global online community,"
said Harold Schrum, executive vice president and general manager for Gold
Points Rewards. "The beenz offline and online technologies are powerful
tools that will help strengthen Gold Points' position as the leading brand
in the rewards and loyalty field."
Carlson Marketing Group plans to leverage the beenz patents and assets far
beyond the Gold Points Rewards program. "This is a tremendous enhancement
for Gold Points, but we see hugely exciting opportunities for our consumer
products clients to reward long-term brand allegiance," concluded Ryan. "We
see well beyond traditional loyalty programs; we see consumer products
companies building better relationships with their best customers because of
services we can now design and deliver."
Let's hope they do!!!
get the latest rewards program news here:
http://members.home.net/euroantik
