POTOMAC MILLS CELEBRATES THE SIMON KIDGITS CLUB’S
10th ANNIVERSARY
Simon Kidgits Club highlights a decade of fun, educational programming
for children and parents
WOODBRIDGE, VA (April 4, 2013) — To celebrate Simon Kidgits Club®’s 10 years of delivering entertaining, educational programming to kids at Simon® malls, Potomac Mills, the largest outlet and value retail shopping destination in the Washington, D.C. area, is offering Kidgits Club members a birthday puzzle when they visit Simon Guest Services in Neighborhood 4 (near the Food Court) with a valid Kidgits membership card throughout the month of April. Children will also receive birthday bubbles* during of the Kidgits Club’s spring event on Thursday, April 18 from 10 a.m. – 11 a.m.
As part of the ongoing anniversary celebration, children of all ages will spring into fun at this special Third Thursday event held at Bloomingdale’s – The Outlet Store in Potomac Mills’ Neighborhood 1 Fashion District. Kidgits Club members will enjoy live musical entertainment from local children’s performer,Banjo Man Frank Cassel, delight in complimentary refreshments courtesy of Starbucks and Rita’s Ice and giveaways for moms and dads. In addition to birthday bubbles, children will also receive a complimentary pinwheel* in celebration of spring. Plus, for just $1, attendees will be able to enjoy VIK (Very Important Kid) goodie bags filled with delicious snacks**.
Introduced to Simon mall shoppers in 2003 by Simon Property Group, Inc. (NYSE:SPG), the world’s leading retail real estate company, the Simon Kidgits Club is a fun and informative program that focuses on health, wellness, education, safety and entertainment for children ages 3 to 8. Throughout the past decade, the Simon Kidgits Club has served as a community event staple for kids and parents by rewarding young members for good behavior; offering reading hours featuring favorite children’s authors; helping children enjoy time in the kitchen; and celebrating holidays like Halloween, Christmas and Easter.
More than 100 Simon malls, including Potomac Mills, offer Simon Kidgits’ Club programs which have played a key role in reaching the following milestones:
· Engaging with over 1.8 million parents and kids since the inception of the program.
· Hosting more than 10,000 family-focused events with more than 1,000 events annually.
· Celebrating more than one million children’s birthdays by sending cards and receiving gifts.
Families are invited to join Simon Kidgits Club and receive a variety of benefits. Each Simon Kidgits Club member receives his or her own official Simon Kidgits Club membership package and T-shirt at the time of enrollment. Other benefits include: a ‘spin’ at the prize wheel whenever the Kidgits Club member visits the mall; special invitations to programs and events at the mall; special discounts and rewards for members only; a Birthday Club (including birthday card and gift redemption certificate); and a periodic newsletter with games, educational features and special news.
“The impact the Simon Kidgits Club has had on our members over the last decade has been phenomenal,” said Cathi Weiner, Senior Vice President, Simon Brand Ventures, “and we have also been able to use the platform as a catalyst to build relationships with consumer packaged goods companies, toy brands and entertainment properties who want to easily and directly reach parents and kids. Shoppers and sponsors alike realize the power of the mall as an entertainment and learning destination. The scope of the program has exceeded our expectations and we’re looking forward to the next 10 years.”
“Thousands of children and their parents participate in Kidgits Club activities each year,” said Jayne Stilson, SPG’s Assistant Vice President of Business Development who helped launch the Kidgits Club and has directed the program since its inception. Stilson continues, “Kidgits Club programming is varied but has always emphasized fun and learning. We’ve had a great time.”
* While supplies last
** All of the proceeds collected from the VIK bags will benefit Simon Youth Foundation, which helps at-risk students earn high school diplomas and scholarships to realize their dream of going to college.
About Potomac Mills
Potomac Mills is the Washington, DC area’s largest outlet mall with more than 220 stores including Bloomingdale’s – The Outlet Store, Last Call by Neiman Marcus, Nordstrom Rack, Saks Fifth Avenue OFF 5TH, True Religion Outlet, Michael Kors Outlet, Talbots Outlet, Tommy Bahama Outlet, Polo Ralph Lauren Factory Store, J.Crew | Crewcuts and Ann Taylor Factory Store. In addition, the center boasts over 25 eateries and the AMC Potomac Mills 18 Theatres with IMAX. A much anticipated new restaurant expansion has added The Cheesecake Factory and Bahama Breeze to the mix, with Bobby’s Burger Palace to follow later this year.
Simon Property Group, Inc. (NYSE:SPG) is an S&P 100 company and the largest real estate company in the world. The Company currently owns or has an interest in 326 retail real estate properties in North America and Asia comprising 242 million square feet. We are headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana and employ approximately 5,500 people in the U.S. For more information, visit the Simon Property Group website at www.simon.com.
About The Mills, A Simon Company
The Mills®, one of Simon Property Group's five real estate platforms, offers a unique brand of shopping with a mix of popular name brand outlets, value retailers and full-price stores, plus family-oriented dining and entertainment concepts. The Mills are well-located in major metropolitan markets and many are recognized as leading tourism destinations. Notable properties include Arundel Mills (Baltimore), Gurnee Mills (Chicago), Grapevine Mills (Dallas), Ontario Mills (Los Angeles), Opry Mills (Nashville), Potomac Mills (Washington, DC) and Sawgrass Mills (Ft. Lauderdale/Miami).
Simon Property Group, Inc. (NYSE:SPG) is an S&P 100 company and the largest real estate company in the world. The Company currently owns or has an interest in 325 retail real estate properties in North America and Asia comprising 242 million square feet. We are headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana and employ approximately 5,500 people in the U.S. For more information, visit the Simon Property Group website at www.simon.com.
About Simon Brand Ventures
Simon Brand Ventures (SBV), Simon's business-to-consumer arm, is pioneering the transformation of shopping centers into a medium where consumer brands can build relationships with Simon shoppers who make over 2.8 billion visits each year. Simon's vast franchise of market-leading shopping centers nationwide provides SBV the foundation to monetize the distribution system through numerous consumer ventures. SBV and its affiliates have engaged in a number of consumer business initiatives, including the Simon Visa Giftcard® and the American Express®/Simon Giftcard; launch of Simon platform programs such as Simon dTour Live® and Simon Kidgits Club®; a national media delivery channel including static, digital and experiential marketing and advertising vehicles; and multiple national and local marketing alliances with Coca-Cola and Visa U.S.A. among others.
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