Entertainment Publication's website traffic shoots up 50 percent

A down economy is usually bad news for businesses, but not Troy-based Entertainment Publications.

The company provides discounts and promotions on the Internet and in traditional coupon books, the type of places people look to save money in tough times. The firm's website traffic has shot up 50 percent this year and its coupon prints are up more than 33 percent. It expects more than 1.5 million prints by the end of the year.

"We have really used our website to complement Entertainment's books," says Ted Speers, director of corporate marketing for Entertainment Publications.

This big expansion of business is also coming with an expansion of staff. The company expects to hire about 100 people this year and to continue to expand next year.

Of those new hires, 20-30 percent of them will work in Metro Detroit. The rest will be part of the sales team spread out across the U.S.

"We are a growing company during difficult economic times," says MaryAnn Rivers, CEO of Entertainment Publications.

Entertainment Publications began in 1962 as a "mom and pop" coupon book developed by suburban Detroit couple, Hughes and Sheila Potiker. It has expanded and diversified since then adding the likes of gift products and cookie dough fundraisers.

Source:
Ted Speers, director of corporate marketing for Entertainment Publications
Writer: Jon Zemke
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