Couponstar, which provides consumer-printable coupons, has reported a 400 per cent increase in the number of coupon campaigns run on behalf of clients last year.

In the past year, Couponstar has worked with brand owners such as Unilever, Mars, Colgate Palmolive, Johnson & Johnson, GlaxoSmithKline and Ocean Spray.

Couponstar managing director Jared Keen said: “As UK consumers continue to voraciously embrace the internet and become more sophisticated in their online behaviour, FMCGs are having to find more innovative, interactive methods of engaging with consumers, which increasingly requires them to offer tangible rewards to their customers; a task at which print-at-home coupons excel.

“As a result of these significant developments, we saw a 513 per cent increase in the number of coupons printed, and a 652 per cent increase in coupons redeemed, which clearly illustrates the appetite and faith consumers have in us.”

Couponstar’s technology enables brands to issue personalised and trackable coupons via the internet, bridging the gap between online marketing and consumers’ offline purchasing behaviour.

With typical redemption rates of 23.5 per cent and above – higher than the industry average – Couponstar can help brands to acquire new customers and drive in-store sales.

Couponstar said its success owes much to its new CouponNET service, the first online network for distributing consumer-printed coupons and vouchers in the UK, which launched in December 2006. Through this network, Couponstar provides brands with access to a network of leading consumer websites, as well as providing the turn-key platform for distributing printable coupon and voucher offers over the internet.

Since its launch, CouponNET has attracted support from more than 60 leading website publishers, including GMTV, UKTV, Yours.co.uk, CloserDiets.co.uk, Now Magazine, and Bounty.com. Interest in the offering continues to increase.

Keen said: “Following our success in 2007, we have already seen a good start to 2008 with two consecutive record-setting months in January and February in terms of the number of campaigns run, the number of coupons distributed, and the total revenue generated. And, as we continue to expand our offerings to meet the growing demands of our clients, we look forward to building on this success even further.”