Mass Connections First to Introduce Full Line of Social Sampling 'Apps'

Marketing Company Combines Online Capabilities with Savvy Face-to-Face
Engagement to Create Brand Awareness, Drive Sales

CERRITOS, Calif., Aug. 27 /PRNewswire/ -- Mass Connections (MC), a leading
shopper marketing company, today introduced its social sampling resources for
retailers and consumer packaged goods companies (CPG) looking to create brand
awareness and build sales. MC's robust marketing menu now includes specialized
microsite development, video campaigns, targeted research through MC's vetted
Consumer Connector database and coordinated "Life Parties," where MC's team of
Consumer Connectors host parties with friends and family sampling enticing
products.

"Social sampling is a term we use to describe digital and personal gatherings
where trial influences positive brand association and purchases," explains
Caroline Cotten-Nakken, president and CEO of MC. "With all of these tools at
our fingertips--as well as robust research capabilities--we'll sit down with
our retailer and CPG clients and figure out together what resources will work
best to turn consumers into brand advocates. We take it from start to finish,
making sure shoppers who love a retailer's promotion know in advance there's
an in-store event and ensuring the in-store event itself goes flawlessly by
using our Consumer Connectors. And when the shopper returns home, we continue
to build brand advocacy through special microsites, YouTube content and
coordinated celebrations in the home."

MC is the only shopper marketing company that bundles this suite of marketing
services, providing better return on investment for retailers and CPGs. For
example, for a recent Huggies promotion, in addition to providing in-store
event coordination, MC developed a special microsite where moms could download
images of their children taken during the in-store event.

"Our objective is to create emotional, as well as intellectual responses in
consumers," said Cotten-Nakken. "The Huggies event is a great example of being
able to sustain shoppers' awareness for the product beyond the store setting."

Another way MC connects consumers is through "Life Parties." Hosted by a MC's
Consumer Connector, these parties come complete with invitations, balloons,
coupons and a featured line of products. As party-goers sample these items,
the Consumer Connector host shoots a brief five minute video of invitees using
and talking about the product they are experiencing. MCs' retailer and CPG
clients say these videos, which can be posted to a microsite, their Website,
YouTube and other Web based content providers, provides an engaging, "real
world" snapshot into how people use and think about a product, creating
consistency of brand message and generating a better return on investment.

MC also works with customers to create and distribute a range of product video
content. About this service, Erin Alonso, CEO for beauty products company
DermFX, said, "MC created a viral video to help extend the reach of the DermFX
brand and raise awareness for the new beauty products we were expanding. The
results were far beyond my expectations. They identified my audience and
created online buzz with a video that would stick out in viewers' minds. There
is no doubt I would use MC for our next on line venture."

Another important aspect of MC's value to retailers and CPGs is its robust
database of event personnel who, in addition to staffing in-store events, can
be called on for research, survey and opinion polls. The benefit: engaged,
aware shoppers who precisely fit a key demographic and who can be tapped for a
point of view at a moment's notice.

"Everything we do is focused on engaging with consumers In Stores, On Line and
In Life," observed Cotten-Nakken. "I'm pleased to say that, according to our
customers, these services do just that."

These expanded services build on MCs' continued retail marketing innovation
including its "Consumer Alert" program that delivers real-time notifications
about retail promotions to consumers through mobile devices, in-store radio
and television programming. Also this year, MC announced it secured a patent
for its "Accountable Tracking Process," a technology-based system that
monitors the implementation of programs and tracking of the company's hundreds
of thousands of people and in-store events nationwide in real-time.

MC History

Founded by Cotten-Nakken in 1990, MC provides marketers with ways to connect
consumers In Store, On Line and In Life. Multiple case studies, many tests and
huge investments in research and technology provided the solutions for the
best results. MC's series of research books, "Touch America," offers insight
to retailers and manufacturers about consumers' grocery shopping habits and
motivations. The latest, "Connecting with Consumers In Store, On Line and In
Life," available at http://touchamerica.massconnections.com, was released in
September 2008 and features the findings of nine major research projects,
including candid feedback about the effectiveness of marketing programs from
CPG Brand Managers and consumers.

MC has many "firsts" in the industry, from monthly background checks, food
safety training, photo ID badges, flexible labor scheduling systems, matching
talent/personnel to brands, "custom" online training, and uploading project
photo/videos, to becoming the first marketing company to incorporate social
media into its recruiting and hiring process. "Consumer Connectors" are linked
together through social media sites http://www.stayingconnected.com/ and
http://www.cooking-hits.com. Through these sites, Connectors can view projects
that pay approximately 40 percent higher than the industry standard and match
their interests or schedules, enabling flexibility for parents, students and
other part-time professionals.

Additional news regarding MC will be posted at www.massconnections.com.

About MC
Based in Cerritos, Calif., MC is ISO 9001 certified, woman-owned and is a
leading marketing company, connecting brands with consumers In Store, On Line
and In Life. By utilizing innovative and unrivaled technology, MC responds to
the need for accountable execution, implementing more than 1 million in-store
events annually through more than 100,000 "Consumer Connectors" (employees)
who have been screened, background-checked and trained nationwide to promote
brands for MC clients. Cooking-Hits.com is the company's latest platform,
which allows consumers to share original recipes via video from their
kitchens. For more information please visit http://www.massconnections.com or
phone 562-365-0200.

SOURCE Mass Connections

Deborah Rapoport of Fleishman-Hillard, +1-310-482-4276,
deborah.rapoport@fleishman.com, for Mass Connections