Simon, IU and Purdue Introduce Strategic Marketing Alliance to Promote Co-Branded Gift Cards
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Simon, IU and Purdue Introduce Strategic Marketing Alliance to Promote Co-Branded Gift Cards August 26, 2004 Affinity card is perfect for Hoosier and Boilermaker students and fans INDIANAPOLIS, Aug 25, 2004 /PRNewswire-FirstCall via COMTEX/ -- Fierce rivals in athletics, Indiana's two Big Ten universities, Indiana University and Purdue University, are teaming up for the first time in their prestigious histories to jointly market a product -- the Simon Giftcard. Simon Property Group, Inc. (NYSE: SPG) announced today that it is introducing the Simon Indiana University and Simon Purdue University Giftcards. Now IU and Purdue fans don't need to wait for a game at Assembly Hall or Ross-Ade Stadium to show their spirit: they can simply flash their Simon IU Giftcard or their Simon Purdue Giftcard and pay for their purchases at their favorite Simon Mall or wherever Visa debit cards are accepted. A portion of the proceeds from sales of the Simon IU Giftcards will go to support scholarships from the IU Varsity Club, and a portion of the sales of the Simon Purdue University Giftcards will go to the General Scholarship Fund at Purdue University. Indiana calls home to nearly 400,000 IU and Purdue alumni in addition to the tens of thousands of students currently enrolled. "We're excited to enter into a strategic partnership with these two prominent Indiana institutions," said Stewart Stockdale, chief marketing officer of Simon Property Group and president of Simon Brand Ventures. "These pre-paid gift cards are great loyalty products, but they are also excellent budgeting tools for IU and Purdue students. "The introduction of the IU and Purdue co-branded gift card program is just the first step in what is a broader marketing alliance between Simon and both universities," Mr. Stockdale added. "We really appreciate the support that Simon Property Group has given Indiana University," Indiana director of athletics Terry Clapacs said. "The Simon Indiana University Giftcards will be a huge boost to the IU Athletic Scholarship Fund." "Boilermakers throughout Indiana can show their pride and help support scholarships at Purdue through this program," said Morgan Burke, director of intercollegiate athletics at Purdue. "We're glad to join Indiana University to help provide financial support for our students." In 2003, Simon Brand Ventures completed the rollout of the Visa Simon Giftcard. It quickly became the world's largest Visa gift card program with total annual sales of approximately $340 million in its first full year. The launch of the Simon IU and Purdue Giftcards represents another expansion of the brand's affinity card market through partnerships with universities and sports teams where Simon has a significant shopping center presence. Fans of the NBA's Indiana Pacers and San Antonio Spurs have their own Simon Giftcards as do boosters of the University of Texas-Austin with the Simon Longhorn Giftcard. Beginning Thursday, August 26, Simon IU and Simon Purdue Giftcards will be available in increments of $20 to $500. The card has a $2.50 handling fee; other terms and conditions apply. The cards will be sold at the guest services center at most Simon Property Group locations throughout Indiana including College Mall in Bloomington and Tippecanoe Mall in Lafayette. Other participating statewide malls include Eastland Mall (Evansville), Markland Mall (Kokomo), Muncie Mall (Muncie) and the following Indianapolis-area locations: Castleton Square, Circle Centre, Fashion Mall, Greenwood Park Mall, Lafayette Square and Washington Square. The Giftcards will also soon be available online at http://www.simon.com . About Simon Property Group Simon Property Group, Inc. (NYSE: SPG), headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana, is a real estate investment trust engaged in the ownership, development 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 245 properties in North America containing an aggregate of 189 million square feet of gross leasable area in 37 states plus Canada and Puerto Rico. The Company also holds interests in 48 assets in Europe (in France, Italy, Poland and Portugal). Additional Simon Property Group information is available at http://www.simon.com . About Simon Brand Ventures Simon Brand Ventures (SBV), Simon's business-to-consumer arm, has pioneered the transformation of shopping malls into a medium where consumer brands can build one-on-one relationships with shoppers who make approximately 2 billion visits to Simon Malls each year. Simon's vast franchise of market- leading shopping centers nationwide provides SBV the foundation to monetize the distribution system through numerous consumer ventures. SBV has engaged in a number of consumer business initiatives, including the Simon Giftcard(TM), launch of Simon platform programs such as Simon Kidgits Club(TM), Simon Super Chefs Live!(TM), Simon DTour Live(TM) and Simon Mall for You(TM), a national media delivery channel including experiential marketing methods, and multiple national and local marketing alliances with Coca-Cola, Visa U.S.A. and Cingular Wireless, among others. SOURCE Simon Property Group, Inc. Billie J. Scott, +1-317-263-7148, or Les Morris, +1-317-263-7711, both of Simon Property Group, Inc..