Welcome Wagon
Encyclopedia
Welcome Wagon is a business in the United States operated by that contacts new homeowners after relocation, providing them with coupons and advertisements from local businesses. The company's full name is Welcome Wagon International, Inc.
The company was founded in 1928, by Thomas Briggs in Memphis, Tennessee
. Briggs later established the Thomas W. Briggs Foundation in 1957.
When the company was founded, Welcome Wagon "hostesses" would visit new homeowners with a gift basket containing samples, coupons, and advertising from contributing businesses. These home visits continued for over 50 years until 1998, when then-owner Cendant
laid off the "hostesses", saying that changing demographics meant few homeowners would be at home when representatives called.
Welcome Wagon Canada, a separate company, continues to offer home visits. It also operates events for people planning a wedding or expecting a baby. Welcome Wagon in Canada was founded in 1930 and was run for many years by Pauline Hill, who first became a Hostess in 1953 and advanced to be head of the company as CEO (1962–1990). Welcome Wagon Ltd. became a wholly Canadian-owned entity in 1979 when a group of Canadian managers purchased it outright from the US owners. Currently, Welcome Wagon Ltd. (Canada) is being led by its CEO, Pat Neuman and its head office is situated in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Hostesses are now known as representatives.
Welcome Wagon International has had several owners. In 1995, CUC International Inc. acquired Welcome Wagon. In 2001, Homestore Inc., later known as Move, Inc., bought Welcome Wagon.
Move, Inc. announced in August 2008 that it was putting Welcome Wagon International, Inc. up for sale.
On June 26, 2009, the South Florida Media Group, publisher of South Florida based local publications, acquired Welcome Wagon International, Inc.
Welcome Wagon International, Inc., originally based in Memphis, Tennessee, moved from Westbury, New York
to Plainview, New York
in 2004. The company had local representatives throughout the United States. Welcome Wagon still markets to new residents through mail, telemarketing
calls, and online. The company is now based in Coral Springs, Florida
.
The company was founded in 1928, by Thomas Briggs in Memphis, Tennessee
Memphis, Tennessee
Memphis is a city in the southwestern corner of the U.S. state of Tennessee, and the county seat of Shelby County. The city is located on the 4th Chickasaw Bluff, south of the confluence of the Wolf and Mississippi rivers....
. Briggs later established the Thomas W. Briggs Foundation in 1957.
When the company was founded, Welcome Wagon "hostesses" would visit new homeowners with a gift basket containing samples, coupons, and advertising from contributing businesses. These home visits continued for over 50 years until 1998, when then-owner Cendant
Cendant
Cendant Corporation was a New York-based provider of business and consumer services, primarily within the real estate and travel industries. In 2005 and 2006, Cendant broke up and spun off or sold its constituent businesses...
laid off the "hostesses", saying that changing demographics meant few homeowners would be at home when representatives called.
Welcome Wagon Canada, a separate company, continues to offer home visits. It also operates events for people planning a wedding or expecting a baby. Welcome Wagon in Canada was founded in 1930 and was run for many years by Pauline Hill, who first became a Hostess in 1953 and advanced to be head of the company as CEO (1962–1990). Welcome Wagon Ltd. became a wholly Canadian-owned entity in 1979 when a group of Canadian managers purchased it outright from the US owners. Currently, Welcome Wagon Ltd. (Canada) is being led by its CEO, Pat Neuman and its head office is situated in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Hostesses are now known as representatives.
Welcome Wagon International has had several owners. In 1995, CUC International Inc. acquired Welcome Wagon. In 2001, Homestore Inc., later known as Move, Inc., bought Welcome Wagon.
Move, Inc. announced in August 2008 that it was putting Welcome Wagon International, Inc. up for sale.
On June 26, 2009, the South Florida Media Group, publisher of South Florida based local publications, acquired Welcome Wagon International, Inc.
Welcome Wagon International, Inc., originally based in Memphis, Tennessee, moved from Westbury, New York
Westbury, New York
Westbury incorporated in 1932 as a village in Nassau County, New York in the United States. The population was 15,146 at the 2010 census.The Village of Westbury is in the Town of North Hempstead....
to Plainview, New York
Plainview, New York
Plainview is a hamlet located on Long Island in the town of Oyster Bay, Nassau County, New York, USA. The population of the CDP as of 2010 was 26,217. The Plainview post office has the ZIP code 11803....
in 2004. The company had local representatives throughout the United States. Welcome Wagon still markets to new residents through mail, telemarketing
Telemarketing
Telemarketing is a method of direct marketing in which a salesperson solicits prospective customers to buy products or services, either over the phone or through a subsequent face to face or Web conferencing appointment scheduled during the call.Telemarketing can also include recorded sales pitches...
calls, and online. The company is now based in Coral Springs, Florida
Coral Springs, Florida
Coral Springs, officially chartered July 10, 1963, is a city in Broward County, Florida, United States, approximately northwest of Fort Lauderdale. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city had a population of 121,096...
.
External links
- Welcome Wagon U.S. site
- http://www.thomaswbriggsfoundation.com/history.html
- http://www.prweb.com/releases/2009/06/prweb2575624.htm