Chicago Tribune Signs on to be the 'Official Newspaper of Woodfield'
Released: 12/06/02
Media Contact: Bonni Pear or Andy Perez, Miller-Pear Public Relations, (312) 649-0466; info@millerpear.com
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CHICAGO TRIBUNE SIGNS ON TO BE
OFFICIAL NEWSPAPER OF WOODFIELD
SCHAUMBURG, Ill. (November 20, 2002) The Tribune Company (NYSE-TRB) owned newspaper, The Chicago Tribune and Woodfield shopping center recently announced the launch of a major, five-year marketing alliance in time for the 2002 holiday season. As the official newspaper of Woodfield, the Tribune will be the name sponsor of the centers Illinois Collection holiday dicor and Holiday Service Center, providing gift wrapping, Woodfield gift certificates, coat and bag check, complimentary strollers and wheelchairs, and other shopper conveniences.
The partnership calls for special Tribune subscription offers to Woodfield shoppers during the holiday season and additional joint promotional activities throughout the year.
Centered around the Chicago areas tallest indoor Christmas tree, Woodfields new, Tribune-sponsored holiday dicor features an awe-inspiring array of 20-foot-tall, tree-side replicas of the State Capitol, Wrigley Field, John Hancock Building, Tribune Tower and other Illinois landmarks. At the bottom of the 54-foot fir, a seasonal Chicago street scene unfolds, complete with four moving trains and brightly decorated storefronts whose windows disclose a glimpse into Tribune properties including the Chicago Cubs, WGN and CLTV. Even the topiary reindeer in the adjacent park are reading the Chicago Tribune.
Limited edition, Radko-inspired landmark ornaments featured on Woodfields tree are available for purchase at the malls Chicago Tribune Holiday Service Center for $5, with proceeds benefiting Chicago Tribune Charities. This season, ornaments depicting the Chicago Tribune Tower and the Illinois State Capitol are being offered. More keepsake ornaments from the collection will be introduced in future years.
Jim Zielinski, Woodfields Director of Marketing, called the Tribune alliance a win-win for the mall, the Tribune, and the malls 27 million shoppers. This partnership brings together the largest mall in Illinois and the states number one newspaper, said Zielinski. He added, Our shoppers will benefit by enjoying a truly unique holiday display, free holiday services, and special discounted subscription rates for the paper. The Tribunes Community Development Manager, Barb Slotten says Woodfields regional draw and powerful tourism base, gives the Tribune additional exposure to a vast audience. She says the partnership will also provide additional support to Chicago Tribune Charities, a fund of the Tribune McCormick Foundation, whereby over $4 million is distributed to needy organizations in the Chicago market.
Located at Golf Road and Route 53 in Schaumburg, Ill., Woodfield is the Chicago areas largest shopping center with nearly 300 of the worlds favorite retailers, including dozens that cant be found anywhere else in the Midwest. Merchants range from the unique fine art and jewelry dealers, Italian sunglass salons, sports merchandise emporia, and Belgium chocolate purveyors to renowned department stores Nordstrom, Marshall Fields, Lord & Taylor, JCPenney and Sears, along with 30 restaurants and food specialty shops. Notable newcomers since last holiday season include aura science skin care and cosmetics, the first ar*Abesque handcrafted gifts gallery outside southern California, womens apparel retailers Adrienne Vittadini, XXI Forever and Reference, Zales Jewelers, and Todai Seafood Buffet, an upscale, all-you-can-eat Japanese restaurant. The 2.2 million square foot mall is managed by The Taubman Company (NYSE-TCO) of Bloomfield Hills, Michigan.
For information on Woodfields extended holiday shopping hours, seasonal programs and services, call (847) 330-1537 or visit www.shopwoodfield.com. The Woodfield Web site offers many features to help shoppers plan their holiday excursion, down to the detail, before ever leaving home. There are hundreds of on-line gift suggestions, a center map, store directory and merchandise finder, downloadable coupons, and a free, customized weekly e-bulletin roundup of sales, special promotions and just-arrived merchandise.