LEEDS, July 13 /PRNewswire/ --     Companies with vouchers and discounts on voucher code
sites such as VoucherSeeker.co.uk are more equipped to deal with the
recession.

"Discount vouchers and voucher codes are an effective marketing tool, and
are quickly becoming a staple diet of shoppers," states Ed Hall, Director at
VoucherSeeker. No longer a coupon in the newspaper to cut out, the voucher
code industry continues to grow. Searches on the term "Voucher Codes" is up
more than a quarter according to data from leading online intelligence
service Hitwise. (The weekly search term share of all UK search traffic.
Comparison of week ending 04/07/09 with 05/07/08).

As a growing proportion of the UK population has ready access to
broadband speed internet, they are better placed than ever before to access
and reap the benefits of voucher code sites. Recent research by the e-tailing
group on shopping cart abandonment has shown that 27% of consumers in the USA
study left a purchase at the checkout in order to find discount codes for the
product elsewhere, highlighting that their use is no longer a trivial matter.
Indeed a recent survey highlighted that a high 40% of diners in the UK use
restaurant vouchers. Even more revealing is the statistic offered by the
study that 1 in 4 people said they would only visit restaurants that supplied
vouchers.

As shoppers search for more ways to save money, their attention is
quickly turning to online discount code sites. According to research by KPMG/
Synovate Retail Think Tank, recession hit consumers are learning new
behaviours, changing the way they shop and how they decide what to shop for,
and these new behaviours are set to become permanent. Changes in shopping
behaviour include choosing to shop at charity shops and being prepared to
search and compare products and prices in order to get a better deal.

In short, consumers are becoming more empowered and proactive in seeking
discounts.

Shops which have a good voucher code presence on sites such as
VoucherSeeker (http://www.voucherseeker.co.uk/) are equipped to deal with the
economic downturn, as customers specifically search out these discounts.

The recession is ensuring many high streets are left empty and abandoned
as retailers struggle to maintain consumer interest. Recent research by
Experian has suggested that up to 100 shops a day could close as a result of
the recession, amounting to 35,000 shops a year closing due to difficult
trading conditions. Examples of household names affected of late include
Debenhams announcing a share issue to raise GBP323 million in order to reduce
its GBP972 million of bad debts, whilst famous toy shop Hamleys is beginning
a period of restructuring management staff to cut costs. Added to this list
are the retailers which have already gone into administration such as Coffee
Republic in the last week, Setanta Sports, MFI and of course Woolworths.

The difficult trading conditions were first highlighted at Christmas, a
time crucial to retail outlets survival. Online sales flourished, whilst high
street stores were left behind, resulting in introducing strong measures to
ensure customers spent money. Bringing sales forward and offering bigger
discounts early did little to help the seasonal lack lustre. This has
continued throughout the year, with marketing ploys such as pedestrianising
Oxford Street and hosting fashion shows in a desperate bid to get consumers
to part with their money.

As such, highly respected brands are getting involved in the voucher code
success story. Vodafone promotional codes and Currys discount codes are
actively being sought by increasingly internet-savy consumers, and they are
not left wanting. These, along with Littlewoods discount codes, and other
well know corporate names are currently on the VoucherSeeker 
(http://www.voucherseeker.co.uk/) site. Not all big brands are featured
however: there is no Orange promotional code for example, though two offers
are listed. However the inclusion of Comet discount codes and Dixons discount
codes on the site serves to highlight just how ingrained deals now are in UK
retail.

Retail outlets are becoming all too aware that discount vouchers and
promotional codes are becoming a necessity rather than an add-on to ensure
their survival in the current economic downturn. As consumers become more
aware of product prices and where they can find products for less, the shape
of the high street and the shops which make it up will inevitably continue to
change both offline and on.

About VoucherSeeker

http://www.voucherseeker.co.uk is a leading UK voucher codes website. It
features all the latest vouchers, voucher codes and discount codes from a
wide range of shops and top brands. Users can use the site to find the latest
discount vouchers and promotional codes to save money on many products and
services. VoucherSeeker also provides its users with details of all the
latest sales and promotions.

VoucherSeeker(TM) and ClickAngel(R) are trademarks of ClickAngel Ltd. All
other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

For further information, please contact Deborah Read at VoucherSeeker:
email: deborah.read@clickangel.co.uk direct line: +44-113-380-0891.