DEERFIELD, Ill., August 28, 2012 - Walgreens (NYSE: WAG) (NASDAQ: WAG) today announced a new application built into Facebook that allows desktop computer users to print their favorite photos, complete with likes and comments, at any Walgreens location nationwide.
A printed Facebook photo from Walgreens. (Photo: Business Wire)
With the “Photo by Walgreens” app, Facebook users can print photos that include all the context that comes with a photo on Facebook, including location, description, who was in the photo as well as likes and comments posted by friends.
“At Walgreens, we are providing customers with more creative ways to share special moments with friends and family,” said Rich Lesperance, Walgreens director of digital marketing and emerging media. “Users now can preserve the social comments around their favorite photos, which is a powerful part of the Facebook experience, while enjoying the lasting memories that a printed photo provides.”
Within “Photo by Walgreens,” users can utilize a new PrintWorthy feature, which helps them scan through photo albums to find the best candidates for printing based on anniversary dates, birthdays, photos that have been tagged and the number of likes and comments, as well as other variables.
“Considering that more than 300 million photos are uploaded to Facebook every day, there are many PrintWorthy photos out there,” said Jasbir Patel, Walgreens senior director and general merchandise manager of photo and e-commerce. “By offering printed photos available at any of our conveniently located stores in as little as an hour, Walgreens is encouraging people to use social media images in more unique, memorable ways.”
Facebook users can find the application by searching the terms Walgreens or “Photo by Walgreens” within the social media site and simply authorize the icon “Photo by Walgreens” within their page.
Each 5x7 PrintWorthy card normally costs $2.99 at the time of pickup at a Walgreens photofinishing lab but the retailer will offer them for free with coupon code “FREEWORTHY” through Sept. 1, 2012. *
The launch of “Photo by Walgreens” within Facebook provides another convenient and creative way to access the retailer’s photo printing services. Earlier this year, Walgreens introduced QuickPrints through its iPhone and Android applications, allowing mobile users to print photos directly from their smartphone to any of the 7,919 Walgreens stores nationwide in about an hour. Starting in July, Walgreens released the QuickPrints SDK for iPhone and Android devices, allowing third party developers to integrate the service within their existing mobile applications and share revenue from photo orders sent for printing at Walgreens.
About Walgreens
As the nation's largest drugstore chain with fiscal 2011 sales of $72 billion, Walgreens (www.walgreens.com) vision is to become America’s first choice for health and daily living. Each day, Walgreens provides nearly 6 million customers the most convenient, multichannel access to consumer goods and services and trusted, cost-effective pharmacy, health and wellness services and advice in communities across America. Walgreens scope of pharmacy services includes retail, specialty, infusion, medical facility and mail service, along with respiratory services. These services improve health outcomes and lower costs for payers including employers, managed care organizations, health systems, pharmacy benefit managers and the public sector. The company operates 7,919 drugstores in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. Take Care Health Systems is a Walgreens subsidiary that is the largest and most comprehensive manager of worksite health and wellness centers and in-store convenient care clinics, with more than 700 locations throughout the country.
*Coupon code FREEWORTHY valid thru September 1, 2012 on PrintWorthy 5”x 7” cards using the Photo by Walgreens Facebook app. Limit 5 PrintWorthy 5”x 7” cards per household. Code must be entered in the App checkout flow to apply discount. Discount does not apply to previous purchases or taxes. Cannot be combined with any other offer. Walgreens reserve the right to expire the offer at any time. In store sales associates reserve the right to monitor and prevent offer abuse.
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Walgreens
Robert Elfinger
(847) 315-2962
http://news.walgreens.com