AN INTRODUCTION TO PUBLISHERS CLEARING HOUSE
Publishers Clearing House is one of the largest and most successful direct marketing
companies in the world. Founded in 1953 as a magazine circulation agency selling
discounted subscriptions by direct mail, Publishers Clearing House has since increased
consumer response with the addition of TV campaigns - now featuring the Prize Patrol,
a team of PCH employees that travels to locations near and far to award prizewinners
of thousands and millions of dollars. To broaden its business, Publishers Clearing
House began offering a wide variety of merchandise in 1985 that now accounts for
well over half of the company's sales. In 1999, Publishers Clearing House launched
its website, pch.com, providing online means to enter sweepstakes, additional prizewinning
opportunities and product offerings. A family of websites emerged in 2008, presenting
exciting, new ways to win.
ABOUT OUR BUSINESS
The PCH Family of Websites
The company's great success with magazine subscription offers, sweepstakes and its
online service paved the way for a new family of websites. These microsites began
to take shape in 2000 with the launch of PCHLotto, a destination site where anyone
could pick and play lotto numbers for a chance to become a millionaire. A relaunch
of PCHLotto in 2008 was quickly followed by the arrival of PCHGames, PCHQuiz4Cash,
PCHScratchCards, PCHShare&Win and the newest endeavor PCHtrivia. Here's a brief
overview of the microsites
PCHLotto
Play your lucky numbers, and you could win $1 Million and other fantastic prizes!
PCHtrivia
A site where you can play FREE online trivia games, collect tokens and redeem them
for sweepstakes entries! You can combine your tokens with those earned at PCHGames
to enter sweepstakes of even greater value.
PCHGames
Play card, casino, strategy and more of your favorite online games for FREE. Plus
earn tokens and redeem them for chances to win a variety of gift cards. You can
combine your tokens with the ones you collect at PCHtrivia to enter sweepstakes
of even greater value.
PCHQuiz4Cash
What you know could win you prizes! Take quizzes, earn points and spin for prizes
- including a Super Cash Jackpot.
PCHScratchCards
Three chances to instantly win prizes every day! Plus you can send personalized
scratch cards as gifts to friends and family.
PCHShare&Win
Play the fun, FREE and rewarding PCHMatch 3 Widget for your chance to instantly
win prizes. Grab and share the widget with friends for extra chances to win!
pch.com
The company's rapidly growing website, pch.com, offers the general public access
to PCH's marketing activities and a broad array of company information. For web
surfers, pch.com provides sweepstakes entry and shopping opportunities for magazines
and merchandise. For consumer marketing companies, pch.com offers cost - efficient
marketing partnerships that generate substantial numbers of qualified leads.
Magazines
At the start, Publisher Clearing House founder Harold Mertz, a magazine circulation
veteran, saw an opportunity to pool the subscription offers of many publishers into
one direct mail effort that offered the consumer "unbeatable" variety and value,
plus convenience. He invented the colorful multi - offer "stampsheet," which became
a centerpiece of company "Bulletins" sent at first to thousands, then to tens of
millions of potential customers. Response was immediate and dramatic, leading the
company on a never - ending exploration of new and more involving selling techniques.
Today Publishers Clearing House serves hundreds of publishers, providing new readers
and significant circulation boosts to individual titles while contributing to the
overall health of the magazine publishing industry.
Merchandise
While the heritage of Publishers Clearing House is magazines, the company has evolved
into a predominantly merchandise business.
In the mid 1980s, the company responded to changes in consumer buying habits by
offering a small variety of "new products." Today that range of products has burgeoned
to include household items, food, health and personal care products, music, videos,
DVD's, books, jewelry, horticulture, collectibles, coins and more.
Consumers are clearly drawn to the quality products and good values that the company
sells. Their confidence is bolstered by the Publishers Clearing House 100% Satisfaction
Guarantee and trusted household brand names, such as Sunbeam®, Farberware®, Time
Life, John Deere and Figi's®. Additionally, the company offers a variety of much
sought - after "As Seen on TV" products. Always on the lookout for new product offerings,
the company's staff of buyers particularly seeks unusual and "hard-to-find" items
that answer the needs of at - home shoppers.
International Programs
In addition to the U.S., Publishers Clearing House operates in Canada with mailing
programs promoting the sale of discounted magazine subscriptions and merchandise.
MORE ABOUT PUBLISHERS CLEARING HOUSE
Publishers Clearing House is headquartered in Port Washington, Long Island, NY near
the home where the founders (now deceased) started it all - in their garage! The
Mertzes' philanthropic spirit lives on with nearly half of the company's profits
going to benefit charitable causes, ranging from the arts to social services to
the environment. The New York Botanical Garden, Lincoln Center for the Performing
Arts and the Alzheimer's Disease and Related Disorders Association are just a few
of the major beneficiaries of PCH's more than 50 years of success.
