VNU Business Media to integrate PriceRunner Solution Following Changes in Consumer Shopping Behaviour

PriceRunner Unveils Latest Section – Photo Printers

VNU Business Media to integrate PriceRunner Solution Following Changes in Consumer Shopping Behaviour

16 July 2003 - 10:00

Lisa Hancox

Europe’s leading IT publisher, VNU Business Publications, today announces a partnership with PriceRunner.com to integrate its independent online comparison-shopping service on vnunet.com and across its Computeractive, Personal Computer World, PC Magazine and What PC? websites.

Changes in purchase behaviour means consumers turn to magazines for inspiration and technical data, and then go online for the latest price information (source: DoubleClick, 2003). Currently, for each £1 spent online, £6 is spent offline as a result of online information searches (source: Jupiter, 2003). Building on this change in buying patterns, VNU Business Publications has signed an exclusive agreement with Pricer

Runner.com to offer customers a total shopping information model.

PriceRunner.com is the leading consumer-orientated comparison-shopping website in Europe and was chosen as VNU’s partner as it is the only company that can give truly independent price comparison data: PriceRunner.com lists prices from retailers irrespective of whether they have a commercial relationship. Unlike many other price comparison websites, PriceRunner.com is the only service that compares prices from the high street and online retailers to give shoppers the best possible view of the UK marketplace.

PriceRunner.com will build, maintain and host the service and users will be able to compare products, prices and retailers in the following categories: Computing, Games and Consoles, Home Cinema, Phones, Photography, Sound and Vision and Software.

“PriceRunner.com is the best consumer-focused price comparison site in Europe and this agreement with VNU is the first of its kind. PriceRunner is constantly increasing the quality and depth of product knowledge and information enabling users to actually compare products and make their purchase decisions online. PriceRunner.com compares prices from offline and online retailers making it quicker and easier to make a smart purchase,” said Magnus Wiberg, Co-founder of PriceRunner.

“VNU wants to offer customers a wholly integrated shopping information system, incorporating both print and online products to give the best all round service possible. The combination of VNU’s quality editorial and Pricerunner’s total comparison-shopping service allows us to inspire our users and offer them better value and support in their purchase processes,” added Guy Phillips, Consumer Technology Group Publishing Director at VNU.

Ends

Notes to editors
VNU background
VNU is a global information and media company with leading market positions and recognised brands in marketing information (ACNielsen), media measurement and information (Nielsen Media Research), business information (Billboard, The Hollywood Reporter, Computing, Intermediair) and directory publishing (Golden Pages).

VNU is active in more than 100 countries, with headquarters in Haarlem, The Netherlands and New York, USA. The company employs 38,000 people. Total revenues amounted to EUR 4.3 billion in 2002. VNU is listed on the Euronext Amsterdam (ASE: VNU) stock exchange.
For more information, please visit the VNU website at www.vnu.com

PriceRunner.com background
PriceRunner.com is one of two business areas within PriceRunner. PriceRunner.com offers product and price comparisons in the categories personal care, books, computers, films, finance, games and consoles, golf, home appliances, home cinema, household bills, insurance, music, phones, photography, software and sound and vision. PriceRunner.com compares information from both online and high street stores. By giving the consumer an objective and informative overview, PriceRunner.com makes it easier for the consumer to make a smarter purchase more quickly. The other business area is Pricerunner Research, which generates and refines statistics based on data from PriceRunner.com, e.g. price statistics, product statistics and consumer behaviour statistics. PriceRunner was founded in July 1999 and the service was launched in December 1999. The main owners are NewMedia SPARK, Bonnier Venture, TDC (former Tele Danmark) and 3i.

Sources
Doubleclick “Effective Marketing Sequences in the Interactive Media Age” 2003, US.
Jupiter Research “Retail through 2007” 2003, US.

For more information on VNU please contact:
Stephen Green
Midnight Communications
T: 0870 458 4182
M: 07788 593686
E: vnu@midnight.co.uk