Meijer Goes 'Back to School' With Kelly Clarkson

Meijer Goes 'Back to School' With Kelly Clarkson

Recording Star Sings Meijer's Praises in 'Back To School' Campaign; Students Have Opportunity to Win Week-Long Tour With Singing Sensation

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich., July 25 /PRNewswire/ -- Students shopping at Meijer stores for their back-to-school needs may want to add luggage to their list, as the large retailer announces a sweepstakes promotion with Kelly Clarkson that includes a grand prize of spending one week on tour with the popular recording artist.

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20050725/NYM037 )

The top-selling singer and former American Idol winner has teamed up with Meijer to promote the retailer as the one-stop destination for students heading back to school this year. Clarkson will be seen in Meijer advertising, in-store signage and on its website, as well as heard in Meijer radio commercials touting the store's vast selection of fashion, electronics, school supplies and other items for teens, pre-teens and kids of all ages.

But it is the "Meijer Back-to-School with Kelly Contest" that is sure to get most students excited about the coming school year. The grand-prize winner will join Clarkson for one week during her 2006 U.S. tour, as well as receive a $500 shopping spree, $500 in spending money and concert tickets.

Meijer will also be awarding a first-prize that provides the winner with the opportunity to play host to the popular singer at his or her school while she serves as "Principal For A Day." In addition to the personal appearance by Clarkson, the winner will also receive concert tickets to upcoming Clarkson shows and a $250 shopping spree. In total, Meijer will be giving away more than 500 concert tickets as part of the contest.

Furthermore, Meijer is hosting an additional contest solely on its corporate website ( http://www.meijer.com/ ), where entrants have the chance to win even more Clarkson tickets.

"Meijer stores have always been the obvious choice for back-to-school items -- whether it is school supplies or new fashions -- and getting Kelly Clarkson on board was an obvious choice on our part," said Steve VanWagoner, Meijer spokesman. "She really resonates with today's youth which makes her the ideal choice to help usher in this exciting season."

The "Meijer Back-to-School with Kelly Contest" begins July 24, with an entry deadline set for September 3. Students 18 years and younger can enter at any of the 171 Meijer stores throughout the Midwest. For full details on how to enter, visit http://www.meijer.com/ .

For the next month and a half, Meijer gears up for the back-to-school season with a seemingly endless array of school supplies, the latest personal entertainment items and electronics, contemporary fashions for students of all ages, and thousands of other offerings to make the school year special.

Clarkson, who initially gained fame as the inaugural winner on American Idol in 2002, is currently performing her "Behind These Hazel Eyes" national tour. This platinum-selling artist has achieved phenomenal success since her first album was released in 2003. Within the first week of its release, the debut single, "A Moment Like This," shot to number one. She is also the first artist to have two songs in the top three simultaneously on the Billboard 100.

About Meijer

Meijer, a family-owned and operated grocery and general merchandise supercenter, operates 171 stores throughout Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan and Ohio. For further information on Meijer, please visit http://www.meijer.com/ , or contact Steve Van Wagoner at 616.791.3219.

Photo: NewsCom: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20050725/NYM037
AP Archive: http://photoarchive.ap.org/
AP PhotoExpress Network: PRN4
PRN Photo Desk, photodesk@prnewswire.com
Source: Meijer

CONTACT: Kelly Durcan, +1-212-431-4694

Web site: http://www.meijer.com/

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