Valpak Goes Live at Annual Convention

Largo, FL, February 03, 2008 --(PR.com)-- With the 48th Annual Convention of the International Franchise Association kicking off on February 9th at the Marriott World Center in Orlando, exhibitor and IFA member Valpak has decided to do things a little differently this year: it’s going live.

Valpak president Joe Bourdow had been contemplating ways to promote his company’s exhibit at the upcoming event and decided to draw from his past experience in radio to produce a live webcast from the Valpak booth on the convention floor. After consulting with IFA spokesman Terry Hill, it was decided that Bourdow and Mike Ryan of Franchise Business Now, a global franchising media center, would provide seven hours of live coverage over the course of the convention. The broadcast, which will air at various times on February 10th and 11th, will feature interviews with leading franchise executives as well as features, information and interviews with IFA leadership centered on the IFA’s various programs supporting franchising.

“Though this is the first time we are doing something like this, we are confident that our broadcast will be both entertaining and informative to our listeners,” said Bourdow. “It’s our hope that people will tune in for all or part of the webcast, submit questions and comments via email and possibly participate in a contest or two. Anything that will educate and advance the cause of franchising, we’re open to discuss.” Listeners can access the program from franchise.org – the IFA’s official Web site – franchisebusinessnow.com, valpak.com and a network of other franchise industry Web sites from 4:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. EST on February 10th and from noon to 2:30 p.m. and from 5 to 7 p.m. on February 11th. Programs will be archived and available on the Web site network through the convention and later on franchisebusinessnow.com. The program can also be heard live from Valpak’s exhibit at the convention.

Valpak, with its familiar blue envelope, is the most recognized direct mail brand in the United States. In 2007, more than 500 million envelopes filled with approximately 21 billion ads were mailed to some 45 million unique addresses in the United States and Canada. Valpak is owned and operated by Cox Target Media, a subsidiary of Cox Newspapers and is one of the leading direct-marketing companies in North America. The Valpak franchise network currently has franchise opportunities available in more than 65 non-major metropolitan areas in 24 states. A minimum of nine Valpak franchise opportunities are expected to be awarded in 2008.

Franchise Business Now (franchisebusinesnow.com) is a multimedia broadcasting center reaching decision makers in the franchise sector and featuring informative interviews with franchising industry leaders, franchising specialists, commentators and people who affect developments in franchising. Its unique online programs are broadcast directly to your computer and viewed by a large and rapidly growing industry audience throughout the Asia Pacific region and the United States. Interviews are available 24/7 and archived prominently for approximately three months, providing excellent ongoing exposure around the globe for contributors and guests.

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Franchisors or other franchise-centered Web sites interested in joining this special webcast network offering these programs on their sites are welcome to do so at no charge. E-mail lois_vines@valpak.com to receive the JPG banner ads linking to the program.