Circle K Takes 'Convenience' to a New Level on the Internet; New Web Site Offers Local Residents Better Service Through Localized Internet Options.Business Editors PHOENIX--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec. 8, 2003 Circle K, one of the world's leading convenience store chains, today launched a new Web site designed to enhance the Circle K shopping experience by creating Web-based functions that facilitate store visits. The re-tooled site is particularly focused on localized promotion, helping customers learn about store specials at Circle K locations in their neighborhood, giving them incentives to visit and providing driving directions. "The biggest challenge for retailers, particularly in the convenience store industry, is using the Web to drive visitors to stores in a way that is simple, quick and relevant to the individual," said Brad Beranek, Web services (1) Loosely, any online service delivered over the Web. Such usage appears in articles from non-technical sources, but not in IT-oriented publications, because definition #2 below describes the correct use of the term. director for Circle K. "Ultimately, we believe site visitors will care most about specials, promotions and events that are happening at the one or two Circle K locations where they shop." The new site allows customers to type in their ZIP code zip code System of postal-zone codes (zip stands for “zone improvement plan”) introduced in the U.S. in 1963 to improve mail delivery and exploit electronic reading and sorting capabilities. and select an individual store to view "Top Picks," or store specials and activities for that Circle K store. Site visitors can choose to have these specials e-mailed to them once a month, further enhancing the value of the site. Customers who are new to the area or who are traveling can view maps with directions to these stores as well. In addition, a coupon section of the site allows customers to download online coupons See e-centives. to be redeemed at Circle K stores for new or popular products. "Americans have increasingly relied on convenience stores The following is a list of convenience stores organized by geographical location. Stores are grouped by the lowest heading that contains all locales in which the brands have significant presence. to help keep up with a busy lifestyle, and Circle K's redesigned Web site strengthens the link between customers and the stores they visit by providing location-specific details and maps, as well as coupons -- all from the convenience of their home or office computers," said Beranek. Other features on the site that will push retail store visitation and assist customers include a store locator function that lets visitors search for Circle K locations and select those with popular amenities including car washes, diesel fuel, ZapLink electronic services kiosks and Western Union money transfer. In addition, an online trip planner will help site visitors map out Circle K stores along their travel routes, ensuring families have a familiar, reliable place to refuel re·fu·el v. re·fu·eled also re·fu·elled, re·fu·el·ing also re·fu·el·ling, re·fu·els also re·fu·els v.tr. To supply again with fuel. v.intr. the car and feed the family along the way. Other Useful Features on circlek.com: -- Contests to win prizes such as trips and free merchandise, and, in the future, online interactive games with more chances to win the more customers play. -- Lottery results for every state and all the multi-state games in one place! -- Information about opportunities to own a Circle K franchise domestically or internationally. Circle K has more than 3,500 franchised locations outside the United States United States, officially United States of America, republic (2005 est. pop. 295,734,000), 3,539,227 sq mi (9,166,598 sq km), North America. The United States is the world's third largest country in population and the fourth largest country in area. . -- Fun Circle K Trivia. Did you know, for instance, that one in nine Americans eat a hot dog at Circle K each year? Or the name Circle K originated from a cattle brand of the original owner's name? -- In the future, the site will offer customers the ability to purchase unique products online that may not be available in stores. The circlek.com site was designed and developed by the Phoenix-based team of Mighty Interactive, Sitewire and B12. "Historically, convenience store Web sites haven't had features that could drive Web site users to return to the site," said Jason Baer, president of Mighty Interactive, which provided interactive marketing, customer experience and online strategy consulting for the site. "Circle K wanted to build a site that went beyond their customers' expectations. The level of localization Customizing software and documentation for a particular country. It includes the translation of menus and messages into the native spoken language as well as changes in the user interface to accommodate different alphabets and culture. See internationalization and l10n. demonstrates Circle K's commitment to the communities where they operate." About Circle K Circle K is a registered trademark of ConocoPhillips (NYSE NYSE See: New York Stock Exchange : COP) or its affiliates. Circle K convenience stores are located in 18 states and seven countries. ConocoPhillips is a major international integrated energy company headquartered in Houston with operations in more than 40 countries. More information is available at www.conocophillips.com and www.circlek.com. About Mighty Interactive Founded in 2000, Phoenix-based Mighty Interactive provides Internet consulting and interactive marketing solutions that help leading companies improve their online initiatives. Mighty Interactive clients include Pinnacle West, Phoenix Children's Hospital A children's hospital is a hospital which offers its services exclusively to children. The number of children's hospitals proliferated in the 20th century, as pediatric medical and surgical specialties separated from internal medicine and adult surgical specialties. , Arizona Highways Magazine, Greater Phoenix Chamber of Commerce, DC Ranch, NextStudent, Phoenix Greyhound Park and Williams Gateway Airport. For more information, visit www.mightyinteractive.com. About Sitewire Sitewire, an e-marketing consulting firm Noun 1. consulting firm - a firm of experts providing professional advice to an organization for a fee consulting company business firm, firm, house - the members of a business organization that owns or operates one or more establishments; "he worked for a focused on customer attraction and retention, provides strategic marketing, Web application development and loyalty marketing services. Since its inception in January 1999, Sitewire has worked with many clients including Pulte Homes Pulte Homes, Inc (NYSE: PHM) is a Bloomfield Hills, MI based company founded by Bill Pulte. Pulte is the third largest (by units) builder of homes and residential community developers in the United States according to Builder Magazine's"Builder 100", and is the nation's Inc./Del Webb Corp., Rich Dad Poor Dad, The Irvine Co., Lake Las Vegas Lake Las Vegas is located in Henderson, Nevada. Lake Las Vegas refers to both a man made 320 acre (0 km) lake and to the area built around the lake. The area is sometimes referred to as the Lake Las Vegas Resort. Resort, Pelican Hill Golf Club and University of Phoenix. For more information, visit www.sitewire.net. About B12 B12 is an award-winning Scottsdale-based graphic design firm specializing in Web, corporate identity, print communication and interface design. With more than a decade of experience in San Francisco San Francisco (săn frănsĭs`kō), city (1990 pop. 723,959), coextensive with San Francisco co., W Calif., on the tip of a peninsula between the Pacific Ocean and San Francisco Bay, which are connected by the strait known as the Golden and Silicon Valley, B12 delivers integrated communications solutions for companies such as Charles Schwab, Downtown Phoenix Partnership, Confoti Inc., AvantGo, Google and IBM (International Business Machines Corporation, Armonk, NY, www.ibm.com) The world's largest computer company. IBM's product lines include the S/390 mainframes (zSeries), AS/400 midrange business systems (iSeries), RS/6000 workstations and servers (pSeries), Intel-based servers (xSeries) . For more information, visit www.btwelve.com. |
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