History of the Student Survival Kit

Student Survival Kit History and Facts

History. Fresh out of college, founder Rick Giesa produced the first Student Survival Kit at Western Washington University in the fall of 1981. It had 22 coupons and 15 participating sponsors. Today, a typical Student Survival Kit Coupon Book contains nearly 200 coupons and 80 individual partners offering discounts to students.

Distribution. The Student Survival Kit is distributed at five major universities in the Pacific Northwest: Oregon State University (20,000+/quarter), University of Washington (23,000/quarter), University of Oregon (20,000+/quarter), Washington State University (17,500/semester) and the University of Idaho (10,500/semester.) Together, well over a quarter million (300,000) coupon books are distributed free on these campuses each year. Coming soon to a University near you!

Sponsorship/Support. The Student Survival Kit Coupon Book model is largely successful due to a unique partnership between Giesa Communications and the universities we serve. A portion of all ad fees are returned to non-profit campus sponsors to fund student programs and scholarships. This partnership enables Giesa Communications to mail the 'Kit to students at their homes and to distribute the Student Survival Kit in very sensitive "on-campus" areas, including many student bookstores and student's on-campus and off-campus mailboxes. Additionally, Rick supports higher education in the Pacific Northwest as a life member of both the WSU Alumni Association and WWU Alumni Association.

Low, Competitive Ad Rates. Our "strength in numbers" allows us to pass on extremely competive advertising rates to you, the local business. We know that in order to produce a book that students will use, we must first produce a book that delivers exceptional value to the students. The bigger the book, the better response rate for all advertisers. (A surging tide raises all boats.) The results of this strategy are coming in....a University of Idaho Business Department study recently revealed the Student Survival Kit as the #1 buying influence among college students in 2007.

Community Service. Since 1999, Giesa Communications has done its part in the war on tobacco usage among college students. Every Student Survival Kit Coupon Book includes a hard-hitting full-page ad discouraging the use of tobacco among young adults. It's an in-your-face campaign that currently employs the "its an outrage" and "it smokes you" messages. Ten full-page ads per year remind students of the dangers of tobacco use.

No Alcohol/No Tobacco on Coupons at OSU, WSU/UI and UO. Since many of our readers are still minors, the publisher in 1996 voluntarily implimented a "no alcohol/no tobacco" policy for coupons. Advertisers may, of course, advertise the fact they serve alcohol and sell tobacco, but coupons may not be designed to sell alcohol at a discount. This policy applies only at OSU, UO, UI and WSU - institutions with non-profit groups that sponsor the Student Survival Kit.

24/7 Student Access. In addition to 300,000 printed copies distributed free each year, thesurvivalkit.com is visited by approximately 14,000 unique student users per month. Our server delivers 40,000 page views per month and records 140,000 "hits" per month. Advertisers are allowed 2 versions of their coupons, one that is published in the printed edition, and a less-aggressive coupon that is published on thesurvivalkit.com that students may print repeatedly at home. There is no extra cost to participate online. (Entry-level Value Coupons not included.)

Member, Pullman Chamber of Commerce, Corvallis Chamber of Commerce & Seattle Chamber of Commerce. Giesa Communications is not only a responsible member of the collegiate community, we're a responsible member of your local community.

For more information about the Student Survival Kit, visit our sponsor page or call Rick or Melissa Giesa at 1-800-845-4906.

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Rick and Melissa Giesa, Publishers