Press Releases

Nurun Selected as Interactive Agency of Record for Havertys

2008-01-28

Relationship tied to retailer's eCommerce efforts, push to drive in-store traffic

ATLANTA, Jan. 28, 2008 - Nurun Inc. ("Nurun") (TSX: NUR), a global interactive marketing agency, today announced it has been selected as the interactive agency of record for Havertys (www.havertys.com), a full-service home furnishings retailer based in Atlanta. Nurun will work closely with Havertys on its 2008 interactive strategy aimed at driving online and in-store sales. This includes: search marketing, Web site optimization, media buying/planning, as well as benchmarking through behavioral and demographic targeting.

"Nurun's approach to targeting key consumers in various stages of the online decision-making process coupled with our strategic mindset as it relates to both online media and search marketing was a natural fit for Havertys' core interactive objectives," said Jacques-Hervé Roubert, president and CEO of Nurun. "Our global teams of professional experts have a keen understanding of the unique needs of retail organizations, specifically how interactive initiatives can drive in-store traffic."

The concept of using online efforts to drive in-store traffic comes at an opportune time; according to Jupiter Research, offline retail sales influenced by consumers' online browsing and research are expected to increase by a compounded annual growth rate of 12 percent for the next five years, and reach $1 trillion by 2011. And a 2006 study from PriceGrabber.com suggests that consumers are becoming more and more comfortable purchasing furniture online. The PriceGrabber.com research also revealed:

• Consumers are more prone to go online for furniture to find better prices, shop at their leisure, and avoid crowds; and
• Growth is predicted for online spending in furniture, with a 17.4 percent growth from 2005 to 2010 (JupiterResearch Internet Shopping Model, 11/05).

"Consumers continue to look to Havertys as an organization that provides products they can trust," said Thomas P. Curran, senior vice president, Marketing for Havertys Furniture Companies, Inc. "We wanted our interactive strategy to involve an agency that not only understood online nuances, but also had a proven track record and experience in the retail industry. The professionals at Nurun not only demonstrated their expertise with leading international retail organizations, they proved their understanding of the role eCommerce plays in today's business objectives."

Nurun launched its first online media campaign on Jan. 14, to push in-store traffic the weekend before the Martin Luther King holiday.


About Nurun Inc.
Nurun Inc. (TSX:NUR), a subsidiary of Quebecor Media Inc., is a global company which strategizes, executes and measures interactive programs that use technologies. From building awareness to acquiring and retaining customers, Nurun's solutions provide exceptional user experiences that enable e-commerce transactions while leveraging the lifetime value of client relationships. Since it was founded in 1985, Nurun has worked with a wide variety of companies and organizations including: L'Oréal, Groupe Danone, AT&T, Louis Vuitton, Thales, Home Depot, Pleasant Holidays, Renault, Europcar, Microsoft (MSN), Equifax, Telecom Italia and the government of Quebec. Nurun's centers of expertise employ more than 800 professionals in Canada, the United States, Europe and China. For more information, please visit www.nurun.com.

Nurun Media Contact:

United States
Nancy E. Bistritz
Director of Marketing Communications
nancy.bistritz@nurun.com
404.591.1652

Havertys Media Contact:
Jenny Hill Parker, Vice President, Secretary & Treasurer
Director of Marketing Communications
JParker@Havertys.com
404.591.1652