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Consumers Win as Idearc Media's Exclusive SuperGuarantee Wages War on the Recession
Consumers Using Superpages.com(R), the Verizon(R) Yellow Pages and SuperpagesDirect(TM) Can Trust the Contractor, Plumber, Auto Body Repair Shop and Other Service Providers Will Get It Right or Idearc Media Will Make It Right
DALLAS, Mar 18, 2009 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Consumers across the country will be stimulating the economy while saving valuable time and effort, according to Idearc Media LLC (OTC:IDAR). Idearc Media not only guarantees it; they "SuperGuarantee" it.
Idearc Media's SuperGuaranteeSM program is a national consumer guarantee initiative designed to increase spending in local economies by dramatically lowering the risk associated with hiring contractors, plumbers, auto body repair shops and thousands of other eligible service provider category based businesses.
Whether it is dry cleaners in Seattle, dog grooming in Austin or wedding consultants in Philadelphia, consumers can trust the service they are paying for will get done right, or Idearc Media will make it right.1 Idearc Media will work with the consumer and the client to resolve any issues that may arise from a service or reimburse the consumer up to $500 of labor services.
SuperGuaranteeSM companies, indicated by the SuperGuaranteeSM shield, are found exclusively in Superpages.com(R), new editions of the Verizon(R) Yellow Pages directories and SuperpagesDirect(TM) direct mail products. Consumers register the service in advance through Superpages.com. Businesses receiving multiple complaints may be removed from the program.
"Today's announcement positions us as a true catalyst for commerce because we are positively impacting consumers and small-to-medium sized businesses across the country," said Scott W. Klein, chief executive officer of Idearc Inc. "We are declaring war on the recession as we make it easier for consumers to spot the good guys and as we help our clients put the good back in front of service.
"For too many years Idearc did not put the consumer first; instead they focused on everything but the consumer. When I joined Idearc Media in June 2008, 'Mission Critical' was to get to the day where we catered to and focused on the consumer. That day is here. We only succeed as a company if consumers use our products, and consumers will only use our products if there is a substantial reason to do so."
Idearc's War on the Recession Provides 'Super' Benefits for Consumers and Clients
The SuperGuaranteeSM program is free for consumers and eligible businesses. Clients may qualify for the SuperGuaranteeSM program based on heading, category, and ad program. All eligible clients were placed into the program at first launch on Feb. 17. It is a first of its kind consumer guarantee for the Yellow Pages and Internet Yellow Pages industries.
"The SuperGuaranteeSM program represents a bold, potentially game-changing move by Idearc Media," said Neal Polachek, CEO of The Kelsey Group, the leading provider of research, data and strategic analysis on directories, small-business advertising, online local media, vertical market advertising and mobile advertising. "They are on the right path of differentiating themselves from the competition."
As consumers use the SuperGuaranteeSM program they will be asked to submit user ratings and reviews on Superpages.com(R) about the service they received. This will generate more content on Superpages.com(R), providing even more relevant information for consumers as they decide where to spend their money, and delivering more traffic to Idearc Media clients.
"The initial response from consumers and clients is nothing short of super," said Klein. "I've heard countless stories of our clients saying the SuperGuaranteeSM program will bring more business to them and many are already using it as a way to generate more business for themselves - it provides them an instant competitive advantage."
National Advertising Campaign: Spotting the Good Guys
TM Advertising, an independently managed subsidiary of Interpublic Group, was selected as agency of record and will manage the development of Idearc Media's online and traditional advertising, as well as media planning and buying.
'Spotting the Good Guys' commercials are premiering this week during national primetime programs like "Grey's Anatomy," "Private Practice," and the NCAA Basketball Championship.
Heroic service providers wearing yellow capes and branded SuperGuaranteeSM shields, which make it easy for consumers to spot the 'Good Guys,' are front and center in the campaign. The campaign will run through the end of the year and consist of TV, radio and online.
View the 'Good Guys' commercials by logging onto Idearc.com/about.jsp and clicking on "See the SuperGuarantee TV Commercial" banner.
"Moving forward we will continue rolling out new programs, product enhancements and better ways of doing business that will forever change how consumers search for products and services, how we interact with our clients and how we are perceived," Klein said.
For more information visit SuperGuarantee.com.
Certain statements included in this press release and the hyperlinked materials constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements reflect Idearc management's current views with respect to Idearc's financial performance and future events with respect to its business and industry in general. Statements regarding Idearc's exploration of alternatives related to its capital structure are forward-looking statements.Statements that include the words "believe," "will," "anticipate," "foresee," and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements. Idearc cautions you not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. The following important factors could affect future results and could cause those results to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements: (i) risks related to Idearc's inability to successfully implement any potential restructuring through a "pre-packaged,""pre-negotiated" or similar plan of reorganization under federal bankruptcy laws; (ii) risks related to Idearc's substantial indebtedness, including covenant compliance; (iii) risks related to Idearc's declining print revenue, including a reduction in customer spending resulting from the current economic downturn; (iv) limitations on Idearc's operating and strategic flexibility under the terms of its debt agreements; (v) changes in Idearc's competitive position due to competition from other yellow pages directories publishers and other traditional and new media and its ability to anticipate or respond to changes in technology and user preferences; (vi) declining use of print yellow pages directories; (vii)access to capital markets and changes in credit ratings; (viii) changes in the availability and cost of paper and other raw materials used to print directories and reliance on third-party printers and distributors; (ix) increased credit risk associated with reliance on small- and medium-sized businesses, in particular in the current economic environment; (x) changes in operating performance; (xi) Idearc's ability to attract and retain qualified executives; (xii) Idearc's ability to maintain good relations with its unionized employees; (xiii) changes in U.S. labor, business, political and/or economic conditions; (xiv) changes in governmental regulations and policies and actions of regulatory bodies; and (xv) risks associated with Idearc's obligations under agreements entered into with Verizon in connection with the spin-off. For a discussion of these and other risks and uncertainties, see Idearc Inc.'s periodic filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, which you may view at www.sec.gov, and in particular, Idearc Inc.'s Annual Report on Form 10-K.
About Idearc Media LLC
Idearc Media LLC, a subsidiary of Idearc Inc., delivers products on multiple platforms to help consumers find the information they want, wherever they are. Idearc's multi-platform of advertising solutions includes, but is not limited to, Idearc(R), Idearc Media(R), the Idearc logo, the Idearc Media logo, Verizon(R) Yellow Pages, Verizon(R) White Pages, Verizon(R) Yellow Pages Companion Directories, FairPoint(R) Yellow Pages, FairPoint(R) Yellow Pages Companion Directories, Superpages(R), Superpages.com(R), Switchboard(R), Switchboard.comSMLocalSearch.comSM, Superpages MobileSM, Solutions on the Move(TM), SolutionsDirect(TM), Solutions Direct Exclusive Mailer(TM) and SuperGuaranteeSM. For more information, visit www.idearc.com.
(IDAR-G)
1 Restrictions apply. For full details, see the Terms and Conditions for this program at www.superguarantee.com.
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SOURCE: Idearc Media LLC
Idearc Media LLC
Media Relations:
Andrew Shane, 972-453-6473
andrew.shane@idearc.com
or
Lisa Vilfordi, 972-453-3916
lisa.vilfordi@idearc.com
or
Investor Relations:
Ryan Gaddy, 972-453-8724
ryan.gaddy@idearc.com
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