Jump to 2010
1970
George F. Valassis incorporated George F. Valassis & Co. as a sales agent for printing companies.
1971
Valassis purchased its first printing press; moved from its entrepreneur owner's home to Oak Park, Michigan, where it operated as a full commercial printer. Delta Printing Corporation, a wholly owned subsidiary of George F. Valassis & Co., also produced printing for the parent company.
1972
Valassis revolutionized the coupon industry with a unique product called the Co-op Free-standing Insert (FSI). Valassis was the first company to offer advertisers a well-organized, professional FSI program with national reach and a commitment to guaranteed publishing dates and market distribution.
1983
Valassis added a second printing facility in Durham, North Carolina.
Promotion Watch, a consulting service for customers' promotion security needs was introduced.
1985
Valassis added a third printing facility in Wichita, Kansas.
1986
Valassis purchased Newspaper Co-op Couponing (NCC) adding on-page, Run of Press (ROP) newspaper couponing to Valassis' product line. This acquisition made Valassis the only company to provide both color inserts and on-page newspaper couponing.
Valassis was acquired by Consolidated Press Holdings (CPH) of Sydney, Australia, owned by Kerry Packer.
1989
Valassis formed Valassis Impact Promotions (VIP), a specialty print promotion operation that produces custom promotional pieces featuring one company, often a food service or other franchise retail company. By 2001, VIP would grow into a division generating over $100 million in annual sales. VIP is now the Targeted Print and Media Solutions Division that produces products delivered to neighborhoods.
1992
CPH took Valassis public as Valassis Communications, Inc. (VCI), issuing 22.1 million shares of stock on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) at $17 per share; CPH retained 49 percent of the shares. Although VCI is now branded "Valassis," VCI remains the stock ticker on the NYSE.
Valassis introduced the C&D County Insert, which distributes FSIs to over 5 million households in small, rural communities with key retail locations. This program allows marketers to reach consumers in outlying areas with a four-color coupon vehicle, while promoting traffic in local stores.
1993
Valassis acquired Newspac® from the Newspaper Association of America and the Chicago Tribune. Newspac would eventually be developed into a family of targeted marketing products delivered to neighborhoods - Newspouch®, Retail Bag™, Brand Bag™ and Brand Bag+™ - all delivered via the home-delivered newspaper.
Valassis named one of the "100 Best Companies to Work for in America" by the concept originators, Robert Levering and Milton Moskowitz.
1995
Valassis expanded into Canada with the acquisition of Canadian marketing company McIntyre & Dodd.
1996
The Valassis Board of Directors authorized the company's first 5-million share repurchase program.
1997
CPH divested its interest in VCI and completed a successful secondary offering at $24 per share; Valassis became an independent public company, increasing liquidity and doubling trading levels in the stock.
Valassis completed construction of a new corporate headquarters in Livonia, Michigan.
Valassis developed Brand Bag and Brand Bag+, polyethylene newspaper bags imprinted with advertisers' messages, which can include a tear-off, weather-resistant coupon.
Valassis ranked one of the "100 Best Companies to Work for in America" by Levering and Moskowitz, in conjunction with Fortune magazine.
1998
Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, Alan F. Schultz, succeeded David A. Brandon as President and Chief Executive Officer. Under Schultz' leadership, Valassis began positioning itself to be more customer-driven versus product-driven, and developed a strategic growth plan.
Valassis named one of the "100 Best Companies to Work for in America" by FORTUNE magazine.
Valassis Promociones, a fulfillment group in Mexicali, Mexico was acquired.
The Valassis Board of Directors authorized the company's second 5-million share repurchase program.
1999
A 30% investment in Relationship Marketing Group, Inc. (RMG) to provide a
retail-sponsored direct mail vehicle targeting frequent shopper households based on prior
purchase behavior. RMG was later merged to become what is now Valassis
Relationship Marketing Systems (VRMS).
VCI stock split for the first time, 3 for 2.
Financial restructuring plan included reducing debt, lowering interest rates, purchasing $110
million of 9.55% senior notes due in 2003.
Valassis named one of the "100 Best Companies to Work for" by FORTUNE magazine.
2000
Valassis' purchased a minority interest in Coupons, Inc.
Valassis acquired PreVision Marketing, which added another level of 1 to 1 loyalty programs to retail trade through PreVision's customer base.
Valassis acquired AMN, a direct-to-door sampling business.
Valassis signed an agreement with VNU Marketing Information, Inc. to combine Valassis' RMG and VNU's Retail Marketing Systems (RMS) to produce VRMS. This merger accelerated Valassis' ability to target customer communications based on grocery retail frequent shopper data.
The Valassis Board of Directors authorized the company's third 5-million share repurchase program.
Valassis named one of the "100 Best Companies to Work for" by FORTUNE magazine.
2001
In April 2001, Valassis unveiled its new corporate identity: "Valassis … Connecting People to Brands."
Valassis offered 20-year zero coupon convertible notes.
Aztec two-dimensional bar code patent granted to Valassis.
The Valassis Board of Directors authorized the company's fourth 5-million share repurchase program.
Valassis reduced its debt by $70 million.
Valassis named one of the "100 Best Companies to Work for" by FORTUNE magazine.
2002
Working with Papel Media to develop a Hispanic newspaper database, Valassis launched the Hispanic FSI.
The first Integrated Solution was delivered, GM Hispanic Marketing Brand Bag, Direct Mail and Solo Insert.
Valassis increased its ownership of VRMS to 88%.
Valassis entered into a $125 million revolving credit facility.
Valassis named one of the "100 Best Companies to Work for" by FORTUNE magazine.
2003
Valassis acquired NCH Marketing Inc., a coupon clearing and marketing services company with offices in France, Italy, Spain, Germany, England, United States and Mexico making Valassis an international company.
Valassis launched its Vision to be an innovative, integrated marketing solutions company focused on customers in a broad range of industries.
Valassis purchased remaining 12% of VRMS, making it a wholly-owned subsidiary.
Valassis purchased the remaining part of PreVision Marketing, making it a wholly-owned subsidiary.
Valassis offered 30-year convertible senior notes to institutional investors.
Valassis named one of the "100 Best Companies to Work for" by FORTUNE magazine.
2004
Valassis began testing new media products and services in Europe.
Valassis purchased Direct Marketing Services.
Valassis named to IndustryWeek’s “50 Best Manufacturing Companies” list for the first time.
Valassis reached $1 billion revenue milestone.
Valassis named one of the "100 Best Companies to Work for" by FORTUNE magazine.
2005
The Valassis Board of Directors approved the company’s share repurchase program of up to 5 million shares of common stock and utilization of up to $150 million of cash and up to 100% of 2006 free cash flow.
Valassis sold 110 integrated solutions exceeding its goal of 100.
Valassis launched eSettlement, a unique web-based system that links retailers and manufacturers in the management and settlement of trade promotions.
Valassis gained SysTrust certification on the co-op free-standing insert process. Valassis is the only company to offer this for FSIs.
Valassis was inducted into FORTUNE magazine’s “100 Best Companies to Work For - Hall of Fame” for being named to the list for eight consecutive years.
Valassis named to IndustryWeek’s “50 Best Manufacturing Companies” list.
2006
Valassis named to Fortune Magazine's "100 Best Companies to Work For" list for the ninth consecutive year.
The company also was named one of Advertising Age's 100 Leading Media Companies and ranked one of "America's 500 Largest Sales Forces" by Selling Power Magazine.
Valassis formed a strategic alliance with Insignia POPS.
2007
Valassis acquired ADVO, Inc. in March. Click here to read a brief history of ADVO.
Valassis named among 101 Best & Brightest Companies to Work For by the Michigan Business and Professional Association and a "Cool Place to Work" by Crain's Detroit Business.
Valassis also included among Selling Power Magazine's "50 Best Companies to Sell for."
The company signed a contract with Perimeter Media Technologies, an in-store marketing services division of Hobart, to co-develop, market and sell its Counteroffer™ brand.
2008
Valassis launched RedPlum, the company’s new consumer brand, and redplum.com, a dynamic, interactive consumer savings Web site.
Valassis successfully launched a proprietary targeting system, Integrated Media Optimization (IMO), designed to facilitate the cross-selling of all Valassis products.
Valassis was named one of the Best Adoption-friendly Workplaces in the advertising, marketing and public relations industry by the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption.
Valassis also became the first business to receive a Spotlight on Excellence Award, presented by the Great Start Collaborative-Wayne County (Michigan).
2009
Valassis shifted distribution of its RedPlum coupon book in additional select markets via consumers' mailboxes for free in the RedPlum Shared Mail Package along with their grocery and retail circulars.
Valassis entered into a partnership with Phil Lempert, The Supermarket Guru®, to have exclusive access to Supermarket Guru product reviews not available on any other coupon- or savings-focused Web sites.
Valassis celebrated its first recovery directly attributed to a missing child featured in the RedPlum free-standing insert (FSI) since the program's expansion to the FSI coupon booklet.
Valassis was awarded $300 million for compensatory damages in its lawsuit against News America Marketing (NAM), a subsidiary of News Corporation.
Valassis launched an online radio show Diva Toolbox Radio: Viva la Value. The monthly show, hosted by Lisa Reynolds, RedPlum's Mom Saver-in-chief, helps listeners achieve a value lifestyle that's easy and enjoyable through practical savings tips, coupons and coupon codes.
In conjunction with the United States Postal Service (USPS), Valassis announced the display of 33,000 posters in post offices across the country, asking the public to get involved in the search for missing children - a cause featured across its RedPlum portfolio.
Received seven workplace awards including the Black Collegian's list of the "Top 100 Employers of the Class of 2009;" the Alfred Sloan Award for Workplace Flexibility; Crain's Detroit Business "Cool Places to Work in Tough Times" list; and the Mosaic Award from the American Advertising Federation for our employee diversity programs.
Click here for a complete list.
2010
Valassis will mark the 25th anniversary of its "Have You Seen Me?®" missing child program in May of 2010. Each week Valassis distributes pictures and information of missing children to more than 100 million households. The "Have You Seen Me?®" program is featured on the RedPlum Direct Mail Package, RedPlum free-standing insert (FSI) and on redplum.com.
Valassis reached an agreement to settle its outstanding lawsuits against News America Marketing (NAM). Under terms of the settlement, NAM will pay Valassis $500 million and will enter into a 10-year shared mail distribution agreement with Valassis Direct Mail.
Founded in 1970, Valassis celebrates 40 years in the industry in 2010. Today, the company is a leading media and marketing services company whose RedPlum™ portfolio of products reach 100 million households each week.