Joanna Cosgrove09.01.08
WebMD, GNC Join Forces
The goal of this partnership is to deliver enhanced supplement information both online and at GNC stores nationwide.
By
Joanna Cosgrove
Online Editor
Greg Miller, a spokesman for GNC commented that the inspiration for this unique partnership was borne out of “the commitment of GNC and WebMD to promote personal health and wellness and the strength in both brand leaders’ ability to provide high quality products and personalized information to consumers.”
According to a WebMD company spokesperson, the partnership was logical considering WebMD had noticed increased traffic regarding the areas of health and wellness. “As we have seen the rise in consumer interest in these areas, we have increased our coverage on the topics,” commented the spokesperson. “There has been an increased demand from our health-involved consumer audience for more information on products that have health and wellness benefits, including vitamins and supplements, as well as functional foods and beverages. The WebMD and GNC partnership is meeting this consumer demand with health and nutritional information that aims to increase the understanding of vitamins and supplements.”
“Given the strong leadership and commitment of our two companies to promote personal health and wellness, there is tremendous synergy in leveraging the strengths of two brand leaders to provide consumers with the personalized information that can help them live healthier lives,” said Wayne Gattinella, CEO and President, WebMD, via a company press release.
The sentiment was echoed by Joseph Fortunato, CEO of GNC, who said, “This innovative partnership complements GNC’s long-standing commitment to provide consumers with the highest quality products and the best available information on nutritional supplements. GNC has been the leader in vitamin and supplement retailing for more than 75 years. The WebMD brand brings with it tremendous trust and credibility. As a result, this affiliation between our two companies provides health-conscious consumers with the perfect combination of resources. I am delighted that our loyal and growing customer base will have access to the objective and credible information on the new Live Well Topic Center on GNC.com and WebMD.”
GNC’s Mr. Miller said the partnership between the two companies was exceedingly logical. “GNC partnered with WebMD because of the strength of WebMD’s online brand and traffic, their international web presence, and their access to health-conscious consumers looking for objective and credible information,” he said.
Partnership Specifics
With a network of some 4900 U.S. retail locations (including 978 franchise and 1358 Rite Aid store-within-a-store locations) and franchise operations in 49 international markets, GNC has demonstrated that it is a company accustomed to educating consumers and meeting their needs.
Under the terms of this “multi-year partnership” agreement, a new “Live Well Topic Center” is being hosted on GNC.com and on WebMD.com, giving users access to WebMD content on health and wellness as well as direct links to GNC.com. In addition, consumer education and product information is being distributed across GNC’s U.S. retail locations as well as to the WebMD network of over 50 million unique monthly users and GNC.com.
Mr. Miller said the Live Well Topic Center on both GNC.com and WebMD.com will give consumers “personalized information on their health needs. In the coming months, Live Well Topic Center’s interactive, personal health assessment will be available to help consumers establish their health goals and identify the nutritional supplements that would be most beneficial for them.”
In addition, GNC information and interactive tools are featured across the WebMD network and GNC.com site in “targeted areas” where consumers go most often for information on personal health, diet and nutrition information, including search, home page and other highly visited healthy lifestyle areas.
In time, the companies expect the partnership to deepen but would not divulge the projected extent, given that the partnership is still so fresh. The WebMD spokesperson said the company is “looking to build a long relationship with GNC.”
The current deal allows GNC to license WebMD’s interactive tools as well as its “valuable” point of purchase content for use in GNC’s domestic retail network locations. GNC’s Mr. Miller concluded that this would further increase “consumer awareness of personal health and wellness education and beneficial nutritional supplementation.”