Louisville, KY (April 4, 2002) – Toast! Network, a customer loyalty company working exclusively within the beverage alcohol industry, today announced the launch of its national customer loyalty program. The service allows retailers to better identify visitors in their store, collect information on their preferences and needs, and build stronger loyalty and repeat sales.

According to Steven Sarfin, managing partner of Toast! Network, LLC, the service provides retailers with an effortless means of communicating with their customers to encourage and promote store loyalty. The service leverages the speed and efficiency of email technology using a proven and proprietary software platform.

"We feel the new Toast! Network program is a win-win for the entire beverage alcohol industry. Retailers are able to build a powerful database that keeps them in touch with their customers. Suppliers are able to reach a highly-qualified, targeted base of confirmed users”.

Based in Louisville, Kentucky, the program is designed to help retailers communicate with their customers and increase shopping frequency. According to Toast! founders, retailers across the nation are already registering their customers using in-store sign-up materials provided by Toast! Network as well as direct mail and online campaigns.

“This is the first program of its kind that allows brands to reach potential customers directly through their local retailer, where they purchase the product,” Sarfin said.

Toast Network! provides free registration tools, advertising/communication services and customized store web sites to retailers participating in the national program. The Toast! Network program can be implemented by retailers of any size and requires no additional hardware or software purchases. Retailers can register their own customers or this can be done by Toast! Networks’ national customer service center. Once store customers are registered, they are included in national drawings and begin receiving personalized email communication. The retailer-branded follow-up tools include Toast! Magazine, a monthly personalized graphic-rich email newsletter, occasional product spotlight emails as well as birthday, member-anniversary and other special occasion e-greeting cards.

Retailers are offered the Toast! Network base program for free by agreeing to generate a minimum number of customer registrations. Toast! Network programs are supported by supplier content sponsors and enhanced retailer services. Supplier brands are featured within the editorial and interactive content of Toast! Network communication materials. Suppliers and retailers also participate in the research and data analysis aspects of the program.

Toast! Network is actively registering consumers into a national data base through affiliate partners, data aggregation and its growing retailer network.

Charter retailer partners have reported early success with the program:

“The Toast! Network program has been an easy, effortless process for us. Toast! provides the sign-up tools and technology, and we benefit by increasing our contact with customers. Consistent, professional contact leads to repeat sales.”

Jerry Rogers, Party Mart and Liquor Express

“We’re very excited about reducing our direct mail costs and improving our customer communication. We have quickly begun to convert our traditional mailing list into registered online profiles. We also have had success registering new customers in our store and at tasting events.”

Jill Baird, Old Mill Wine & Spirits Shoppe

Toast! Network is currently conducting an online industry survey related to customer loyalty. The survey, and additional information on the program, is available at www.toastnetwork.com. The site includes information on how retailers can join the program and how suppliers can participate as charter brand sponsors and receive exclusive positions by price range and category.

About Toast! Network
Toast! Network is the premier provider of relationship-building tools that allow beverage alcohol retailers and suppliers to generate new customers and strengthen existing customer loyalty. The Toast! Network platform includes customized registration features, Sweepstakes lead capture services, e-Newsletters, e-Greetings and integrated retailer web sites. For more information on Toast! Network, email info@toastnetwork.com or visit www.toastnetwork.com, or call 877-778-6278.

###