America’s small business is BIG business Did you know that the American small business market is worth as much as $12 billion? And despite a tightening economy, that small business continues to grow at a compelling rate? But like every burgeoning industry, this one has its concerns, too. According to the National Federation of Independent Business, today's small business owners cite "cost-effective advertising" as their biggest business challenge as they struggle to compete with large players entering their turf. So how can they do it? Today, there's a highly cost-effective way for local merchants to drive customers into their stores, build their brand names, and even attract consumers to their Web sites - just like the big guys - but without the big price tags. Enter SuperCoups®, one of the nation's best co-op direct mailers, offering a fully integrated TV and online strategy to complement its co-op direct mail product. But not only is SuperCoups a boon to small businesses, it also represents a highly profitable franchise opportunity. "SuperCoups has become one of the nation's best franchise opportunities today," says Mark Franklin, vice president of franchise licensing for Avon, Mass.-based SuperCoups. "We've enjoyed dramatic growth in recent years, but now we want to take this successful franchise to the next level," he says, adding that SuperCoups is targeting eight specific cities in its 2001 growth strategy. "A SuperCoups franchise is a great opportunity no matter where you live," says Franklin, "but we're being pretty aggressive in our offer for these new cities, by providing two free mailings, which are valued at about $8,000." Specifically, SuperCoups is offering franchises in the following markets: Tucson, AZ; San Diego and Sacramento, CA; Washington, D.C.; Charlotte, NC; Philadelphia, PA; Austin and Dallas, TX; and Salt Lake City, UT. "We're seeking smart, entrepreneurial people who want to own prosperous home-based businesses and who bring sales or marketing experience to the table," says Franklin. "And when they join the SuperCoups team, we provide intensive sales training, professional and cutting-edge marketing and sales materials, ongoing field training support, national and regional meetings and constant product enhancements," he says. "Now is an exciting time to join SuperCoups," says Ron Benedetti, a SuperCoups franchise owner in Boston for more than 15 years. "As a SuperCoups franchisee, you get to offer a low-cost product to a high-growth market with high income potential, the ability to set your own hours and goals, work out of your home, with low overhead, no inventory and limited or no staff," he adds. In addition to an ambitious growth strategy, SuperCoups recently undertook a re-branding strategy in order to design an envelope based almost solely on consumer preferences. The new consumer-selected SuperCoups envelope featuring the tagline, "Local Coupons. Super Savings." is rolling out now, and will hit mailboxes across the nation within the next three months. "The feedback we have already received from advertisers is that they 'love it' and the new envelope 'jumps out of the mailbox,' which means even higher coupon redemption rates and further growth for our franchisees," says Franklin. As a subsidiary of ADVO, Inc., SuperCoups is backed by the nation's largest direct mail marketing services company with annual revenues of more than $1 billion. For more information on SuperCoups® franchise opportunities nationwide, call (888) 577-5334 or visit us online at www.supercoups.net.