FTD Announces New Partnership with the USO Offering Discounts through FTD.COM and a Portion of Proceeds Donated to the USO


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DOWNERS GROVE, Ill.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- FTD.COM, Inc. is proud to announce today a partnership with United Service Organizations, Inc. (USO). Under this new arrangement, customers who purchase through the FTD/USO branded website will receive discounts on flowers, plants and gifts and FTD will donate a portion of its proceeds to the USO, which will benefit America's troops and their families.

"We are proud to forge a strong partnership with a wonderful, well-respected organization like the USO," said Rob Apatoff, president of FTD. "The men and women of the U.S. Military perform an invaluable service to this country and we are proud to support an organization that provides them with so many important services and programs. The money that FTD donates to the USO through this new partnership will help to provide support services to service men and women and their families around the globe."

The USO is a nonprofit, charitable organization chartered by Congress in 1941 to support America's troops. The USO provides an extensive range of programs at more than 160 locations worldwide.

Customers who shop at the newly-launched FTD/USO branded website, www.ftd.com/USO, will receive a 15% discount on flowers, plants and gifts.[1] Five percent of the merchandise purchase price of each product bought on this site through September 30, 2012 is donated by FTD to the USO.

In addition, each month, FTD will offer a special FTD USO Collection consisting of a limited number of specially selected floral arrangements, plants and gifts that can be purchased directly through the FTD.COM website. Through September 30, 2012, when customers purchase any of the specially designated items, FTD donates 15% of the merchandise purchase price of each item to the USO. In honor of the 2011 Thanksgiving holiday, FTD donated floral centerpieces to five USO locations — USO Fort Hood, USO Delaware, USO San Antonio, USO Fort Riley, and USO Fort Campbell. In addition, FTD donated floral centerpieces for a 2011 Christmas event at the USO Fort Carson.

"For more than 70 years, the USO's mission has been to lift the spirits of troops and their families, so we are proud to partner with companies like FTD that share our commitment to recognizing the men and women who sacrifice so much for our country," said USO SVP and Chief Development Officer Kelli Seely. "FTD's donation of centerpieces provides a touch of home for troops and their families this holiday season at USO centers. By creating a co-branded website and special patriotic arrangements, FTD is also giving its customers a chance to say thank you to our troops and there's no better way to show our appreciation."

The FTD USO Collection is the latest in a line of innovative new offerings from FTD including:

  • The FTD College Rose Collection featuring rose arrangements uniquely bi-colored to match school colors, complemented with a colored keepsake vase etched with the school's logo.
  • Jane Seymour Silk Botanicals by FTD Collection, a selection of premium permanent botanical arrangements.
  • Better Homes and Gardens™ Flowers by FTD®, featuring an "Editors' Choice" arrangement chosen by Better Homes and Gardens editors.
  • FTD Luxury Collection, a beautiful selection of premium floral artistry featuring lavish flower varieties in artfully crafted designer vases.
  • Floral Jewels™ Birthstone Collection, featuring unique floral arrangements in the color of the birthstone for each month of the year paired with gorgeous matching birthstone jewelry.
  • The Gift Galleria, featuring premium gifts selections from world-class brands that include luscious chocolates and sweets, savory gourmet snacks, fresh fruits and soothing coffees and teas.
  • Smithsonian® Flowers by FTD®, a line of potted orchid plants inspired by the rich and distinctive Smithsonian® Horticulture Division collections.

To view the arrangements available through the FTD USO Collection, and these other innovative collections, please visit www.ftd.com.

High resolution images available upon request.

About FTD

FTD Group, Inc., through its operating subsidiaries including FTD.COM, Inc., is a leading provider of floral related products and services to consumers and retail florists, as well as to other retail locations offering floral products, in the U.S., Canada, the U.K. and the Republic of Ireland. The business utilizes the highly recognized FTD and Interflora brands, both supported by the Mercury Man logo, which is displayed in approximately 40,000 floral shops worldwide. The consumer businesses operate primarily through the www.ftd.com Web site in the U.S., the www.ftd.ca site in Canada, and the www.interflora.co.uk Web site in the U.K. and are complemented by the florist businesses which provide products and services to FTD's independent members. FTD Group, Inc. is a subsidiary of United Online, Inc. (Nasdaq: UNTD). For more information about United Online, please visit www.unitedonline.com.

About the USO

The USO (United Service Organizations) lifts the spirits of America's troops and their families millions of times each year at hundreds of places worldwide. We provide a touch of home through centers at airports and military bases, top quality entertainment and innovative programs and services. We also provide critical support to those who need us most, including forward-deployed troops and their families, wounded warriors and their families and the families of the fallen. The USO is a private, non-profit organization, not a government agency. We rely on the generosity of our volunteers and donors. In addition to individual donors and corporate sponsors, the USO is supported by President's Circle Partners: American Airlines and TriWest Healthcare Alliance and Worldwide Strategic Partners: AT&T Inc., BAE Systems, The Boeing Company, Clear Channel Communications, The Coca-Cola Company, Lockheed Martin, Microsoft Corporation, Northrop Grumman Corporation and Procter & Gamble. We are also supported through the United Way and Combined Federal Campaign (CFC-11381). To join us in this patriotic mission, and to learn more about the USO, please visit www.uso.org.

Cautionary Information Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the "safe harbor" provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, as amended. These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements about FTD's proposed marketing initiatives and product offerings. Potential factors that could affect the United Online's and FTD's ability to perform and consequently its or their business, financial condition and results of operations include FTD's or USO's compliance with or the operation of contractual provisions, FTD's inability or failure to implement any or all planned marketing initiatives, to satisfy demand for the products or services offered or to achieve expanded marketing opportunities, efficiencies and other benefits associated with the products and services, technological issues and other problems associated with FTD's suppliers and their operations, systems and technologies, FTD's pricing and marketing strategies, the occurrence of unanticipated events, as well as other factors described in United Online, Inc.'s annual and quarterly reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (http://www.sec.gov), including, without limitation, information under the captions "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" and "Risk Factors."

[1] Exceptions Apply: Discounts, Miles and Points are not applicable to any products featured under "Add Special Gifts," FTD Gold Membership fees, or other fees such as service fees and shipping fees or applicable taxes. In addition, discounts are also not applicable on the following collections: Steuben, Nambe, Baccarat, and Ultimate Roses. This offer is not available in retail stores. Available online only. Promotion cannot be combined with any other offers or discounts. Offer subject to change without notice.

FTD Contacts:
Media:
United Online, Inc.
Scott Matulis
Vice President, Communications
818-287-3388
pr@untd.com
or
Investors:
United Online, Inc.
David Bigelow
Vice President, Investor Relations
818-287-3350
investor@untd.com
or
USO Media Contact:
Kenya Friend-Daniel
703-908-6491
Kfriend-daniel@uso.org

Source: FTD.COM, Inc.