Valassis, one of the nation's leading media and marketing services companies, announced today it will host its third annual Media and Consumer Landscape webcast on Wednesday, May 16 from 2 to 3 p.m. ET. Therese Mulvey, Valassis Vice President of Marketing Intelligence, will present information on navigating the consumer path to purchase, taking a look at how media directs and influences consumers as they make decisions.

"The consumer decision-making journey is more involved than ever," Mulvey said. "Media preferences are changing, due in great part to the swell of digital activity. Consumers are in control and using every type of media available. Savings are paramount and deals are the driver."

The webcast will explore the consumer journey on the new path to purchase, including what media they use and how age and ethnicity influence the process. Highlights of the webcast include:

• Multicultural Markets are the new Mainstream: In 2010, babies born to Hispanic, Black and Asian women will, for the first time ever, account for 50 percent of all births in the nation. The Census Bureau estimates that minorities will constitute a majority of Americans under age 18 in only one decade.
• Consumers 18-34 are Digitally Connected: 30% percent of consumers 18-34 regularly search the Internet using an Android Smartphone (25% for iPhone), compared to only 4% of consumers over 55 who do the same (5% for iPhone).
• Coupons Continue in Popularity: According to BIGinsight MBI, December 2011, 69% of consumers cut out coupons from advertising inserts; 62% from other sources (e.g. newspaper, magazines); 61% an email; 53% from a website; and 18% download coupons to a frequent shopper card.
• Consumers use Print AND Digital: The majority of consumers are using BOTH print and online media to plan grocery shopping trips according to Kantar Retail ShopperScape, 2012, with 45% of consumers 18-34 selecting paper coupons, 35% searching online;  53% of consumers 35-54 selecting paper coupons, 29% searching online; and 52% of consumers over 55 selecting paper coupons, and 16% searching online.

To sign up for the Wednesday, May 16 webcast, go to: http://bit.ly/ISPbDJ.  For more information, please call 1-877-529-5001 or email [email protected].