http://www.btobonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20100412/FREE/100419980/1078/newsletter011
Marketers have no doubt that e-mail and search were their top performing advertising channels in 2009, although they remain uncertain about the value of social media going forward. According to Datran Media's “4th Annual Marketing & Media Survey,” which surveyed more than 5,000 marketers online in December, 39.4% named e-mail their strongest channel last year, followed by 23.6% who named search.
Those selections far outstripped other channels, including display (7.1%), direct mail (6.3) and social media (4.7%).
When asked if social media marketing will generate quantifiable results for them this year, 50.4% said yes, while 49.6% either were unsure or said no.
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
Strata-G Communications acquires Justice & Young
Cincinnati—Strata-G Communications, an integrated marketing communications agency, has acquired marketing agency Justice & Young. Both agencies are based in Cincinnati.
The financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. Justice & Young will be merged into Strata-G; Justice & Young partner Dale Justice will join Strata-G as senior marketing strategist, and partner Gene Young will stay on through the transition until his previously planned retirement in July.
The financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. Justice & Young will be merged into Strata-G; Justice & Young partner Dale Justice will join Strata-G as senior marketing strategist, and partner Gene Young will stay on through the transition until his previously planned retirement in July.
CMO Council finds digital investment, realignment top goals
http://www.btobonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20100419/FREE/100419915/1078/newsletter011
Investing in digital marketing initiatives and aligning marketing and sales organizations are the top goals for marketers this year, according to the Chief Marketing Officer Council's “State of Marketing” report.
The report was based on an online survey of more than 500 senior marketers around the world, conducted during the first quarter. It found that the top marketing initiatives this year are: investing in digital marketing programs (46%), aligning sales and marketing organizations (40%), improving customer data integration and analytics (32%), and building marketing performance management systems (31%).
Investing in digital marketing initiatives and aligning marketing and sales organizations are the top goals for marketers this year, according to the Chief Marketing Officer Council's “State of Marketing” report.
The report was based on an online survey of more than 500 senior marketers around the world, conducted during the first quarter. It found that the top marketing initiatives this year are: investing in digital marketing programs (46%), aligning sales and marketing organizations (40%), improving customer data integration and analytics (32%), and building marketing performance management systems (31%).
Aegis Closes Digital Shop Farfar in Sweden
Staff at Farfar today were toldthe legendary Swedish digital ad agency is closing, five years after the four founders sold it to Aegis Group and it became part of the company's Isobar digital network.
The last of the four founders, Matias Palm-Jensen, quit in March, speeding up an exodus that had already started for Farfar staff. Drained of much of its senior talent, the agency is expected to be wound down over the next four or five months as client projects are completed, and it will be shut down for good this summer.
http://adage.com/globalnews/article?article_id=143186
The last of the four founders, Matias Palm-Jensen, quit in March, speeding up an exodus that had already started for Farfar staff. Drained of much of its senior talent, the agency is expected to be wound down over the next four or five months as client projects are completed, and it will be shut down for good this summer.
http://adage.com/globalnews/article?article_id=143186
Consumer-Goods Makers Pour Out Ads
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702304703104575174042139131092.html?mod=dist_smartbrief
As wary Americans start to crack open their wallets, household-goods makers like Procter & Gamble Co., Colgate-Palmolive Co., Kimberly-Clark Corp. and Clorox Co. are cranking up their advertising, hoping to coax consumers farther out of their shells.
Amid signs of an improving economy, recent survey data show consumers are more willing to splurge by eating out or buying new shoes, but the same doesn't necessarily hold for everyday household goods.
Major consumer-products makers are expected to spend an average 9.7% of their annual sales on advertising this year, up from 8.6% in 2009, Sanford C. Bernstein analyst Ali Dibadj said in a recent research report.
P&G, the world's biggest ad spender, plans a 20% increase in "consumer impressions," or instances when consumers see its ads, during the fiscal year ending June 30. The Cincinnati-based maker of Pampers diapers, Crest toothpaste and Pantene shampoo says it will introduce 30% more "significant" innovations in products this year, which CEO Robert McDonald describes as the most in his 30-year career at the company.
As wary Americans start to crack open their wallets, household-goods makers like Procter & Gamble Co., Colgate-Palmolive Co., Kimberly-Clark Corp. and Clorox Co. are cranking up their advertising, hoping to coax consumers farther out of their shells.
Amid signs of an improving economy, recent survey data show consumers are more willing to splurge by eating out or buying new shoes, but the same doesn't necessarily hold for everyday household goods.
Major consumer-products makers are expected to spend an average 9.7% of their annual sales on advertising this year, up from 8.6% in 2009, Sanford C. Bernstein analyst Ali Dibadj said in a recent research report.
P&G, the world's biggest ad spender, plans a 20% increase in "consumer impressions," or instances when consumers see its ads, during the fiscal year ending June 30. The Cincinnati-based maker of Pampers diapers, Crest toothpaste and Pantene shampoo says it will introduce 30% more "significant" innovations in products this year, which CEO Robert McDonald describes as the most in his 30-year career at the company.
Mary Meeker: Internet Trends
Mary Meeker presentation on Internet Trends
http://gigaom.com/2010/04/12/mary-meeker-mobile-internet-will-soon-overtake-fixed-internet/
On the social networking side, Meeker’s report notes that social network use is bigger than email in terms of both aggregate numbers of users and time spent, and is still growing rapidly. Social networking passed email in terms of time spent in 2007, hitting about 100 billion minutes/month globally — it’s now twice that — and passed email in terms of raw user numbers in July of 2009, with more than 800 million. Given the rate at which Facebook has been growing, that number is probably now closer to a billion. Meeker attributes social networking’s success to the fact that it’s a “unified communications + multimedia creation tool/repository in your pocket.” And Japan’s experience makes how crucial mobile is to that equation: Mixi, one of the country’s largest social networks, has seen its mobile page views grow to 72 percent of the total from just 17 percent three years ago.
http://gigaom.com/2010/04/12/mary-meeker-mobile-internet-will-soon-overtake-fixed-internet/
On the social networking side, Meeker’s report notes that social network use is bigger than email in terms of both aggregate numbers of users and time spent, and is still growing rapidly. Social networking passed email in terms of time spent in 2007, hitting about 100 billion minutes/month globally — it’s now twice that — and passed email in terms of raw user numbers in July of 2009, with more than 800 million. Given the rate at which Facebook has been growing, that number is probably now closer to a billion. Meeker attributes social networking’s success to the fact that it’s a “unified communications + multimedia creation tool/repository in your pocket.” And Japan’s experience makes how crucial mobile is to that equation: Mixi, one of the country’s largest social networks, has seen its mobile page views grow to 72 percent of the total from just 17 percent three years ago.
When Marketing Becomes Almighty
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/18/business/18shelf.html?src=busln
“The Age of Persuasion: How Marketing Ate Our Culture” (Counterpoint, $26).
Mr. O’Reilly hosted the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation series “O’Reilly on Advertising” and co-founded Pirate Radio and Television, a production company. The book is named after another CBC series, “The Age of Persuasion,” created by Mr. O’Reilly and Mr. Tennant, a freelance writer and lecturer.
Their book is at its best tracing the evolution of modern advertising — from the mid-19th century through the present.
“The Age of Persuasion: How Marketing Ate Our Culture” (Counterpoint, $26).
Mr. O’Reilly hosted the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation series “O’Reilly on Advertising” and co-founded Pirate Radio and Television, a production company. The book is named after another CBC series, “The Age of Persuasion,” created by Mr. O’Reilly and Mr. Tennant, a freelance writer and lecturer.
Their book is at its best tracing the evolution of modern advertising — from the mid-19th century through the present.
Maurice Lévy to leave Publicis Groupe
Maurice Lévy, the chairman and chief executive of the French advertising giant Publicis Groupe, is to step down after 40 years.
Lévy will not seek to renew his contract with Publicis, owner of ad networks including Saatchi & Saatchi, when it expires at the end of next year, MediaGuardian.co.uk can reveal.
"My contract is finishing at the end of 2011 and you can say that I will not be seeking a new term," said Lévy, speaking to MediaGuardian.co.uk. "There are strong candidates [inside Publicis Groupe] but it will be up to the board to make the decision and choose. As far as I'm concerned what I can do is make a recommendation which I will do."
Lévy, 68, joined Publicis Groupe in 1971 and will have worked at the French advertising giant for 40 years when he steps down at the end of his current contract. He has held the role of chairman and chief executive for more than 20 years, being appointed to the top job in 1987.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2010/apr/22/maurice-levy-leave-publicis-groupe
He added that he had yet to determine whether he would continue to work for Publicis Groupe in some form of advisory or non-executive role.
Lévy will not seek to renew his contract with Publicis, owner of ad networks including Saatchi & Saatchi, when it expires at the end of next year, MediaGuardian.co.uk can reveal.
"My contract is finishing at the end of 2011 and you can say that I will not be seeking a new term," said Lévy, speaking to MediaGuardian.co.uk. "There are strong candidates [inside Publicis Groupe] but it will be up to the board to make the decision and choose. As far as I'm concerned what I can do is make a recommendation which I will do."
Lévy, 68, joined Publicis Groupe in 1971 and will have worked at the French advertising giant for 40 years when he steps down at the end of his current contract. He has held the role of chairman and chief executive for more than 20 years, being appointed to the top job in 1987.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2010/apr/22/maurice-levy-leave-publicis-groupe
He added that he had yet to determine whether he would continue to work for Publicis Groupe in some form of advisory or non-executive role.
Monday, April 26, 2010
Agency Report: Revenue Slumps 7.5%, Jobs at 16-Year Low
http://adage.com/agencynews/article?article_id=143467
First the good news: The agency business is starting to see at least tepid growth. Analysts expect 2010 combined worldwide revenue for the top four agency companies to rise about 2% on an organic basis, factoring out currency shifts and acquisitions.
Now the bad news: Revenue for U.S. marketing-communications agencies -- advertising, marketing services, media, health care, public relations -- tumbled 7.5% to $28.4 billion in 2009, according to the Ad Age Agency Report.
That's the sharpest revenue decline in the 66 years
U.S. digital agencies eked out a 0.5% revenue gain in 2009, according to the Agency Report. Health-care agency revenue slipped 1.6%. Fortunes sank in every other agency sector.
Revenue for traditional ad agencies dropped 9.3%, mirroring an 8.9% decline last year in U.S. ad agency employment. Media agency revenue plunged 10.3% in a year when U.S. measured media spending (as tracked by WPP's Kantar Media) fell 12.3%.
Revenue for customer-relationship-management/direct-marketing agencies declined 7.4%, outperforming ad agencies as marketers put more emphasis on data-driven marketing.
Promotion-agency revenue tumbled 13.1%, depressed by lower spending on event marketing.
First the good news: The agency business is starting to see at least tepid growth. Analysts expect 2010 combined worldwide revenue for the top four agency companies to rise about 2% on an organic basis, factoring out currency shifts and acquisitions.
Now the bad news: Revenue for U.S. marketing-communications agencies -- advertising, marketing services, media, health care, public relations -- tumbled 7.5% to $28.4 billion in 2009, according to the Ad Age Agency Report.
That's the sharpest revenue decline in the 66 years
U.S. digital agencies eked out a 0.5% revenue gain in 2009, according to the Agency Report. Health-care agency revenue slipped 1.6%. Fortunes sank in every other agency sector.
Revenue for traditional ad agencies dropped 9.3%, mirroring an 8.9% decline last year in U.S. ad agency employment. Media agency revenue plunged 10.3% in a year when U.S. measured media spending (as tracked by WPP's Kantar Media) fell 12.3%.
Revenue for customer-relationship-management/direct-marketing agencies declined 7.4%, outperforming ad agencies as marketers put more emphasis on data-driven marketing.
Promotion-agency revenue tumbled 13.1%, depressed by lower spending on event marketing.
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
J.P. Morgan Forecasts a 'Strong' Q1 for Newspapers
NEW YORK Newspaper advertising revenue is expected to make a modest comeback this year with overall percentage declines estimated to be in the low single-digit range, according to a Q1 preview from J.P. Morgan.
Publishers are expected to announce stronger results in Q1 and should "be more optimistic about the outlook, citing improved revenue trends, largely from stronger national spending and a bounce-back in auto classified advertising," wrote analysts Alexia Quadrani, Monica DiCenso and Townsend Buckles. For the companies in J.P. Morgan's coverage universe, Gannett's 2010 newspaper ad revenue is forecasted to be off 5.6% (compared to a decline of 28.4% in 2009). In Q1, Gannett's ad revenue is anticipated to drop 7.2%, with approximated EBITDA of $261 million. That represents a 19.7% margin versus a 14.3% margin from Q1 2009.At The New York Times Co., ad revenue should fall 5.5% for the year and roughly 8% for Q1. EBITDA margins should improve in Q1, anticipates J.P. Morgan, coming in at 9.7% compared to 2.7% in the same quarter of the previous year.Advertising revenue during Q1 at E.W. Scripps is expected to decrease 12.5% with more than $25 million in free cash flow. Q1 EBITDA is forecasted at $17 million.
McClatchy's ad revenue will likely fall 8.4% in Q1. Thanks to cost-cutting, margins are on track to improve greatly to 25% in Q1 from 12% of the same quarter last year. EBITDA is expected to be up 91% year-over-year to $83 million.
Analysts said they expect Q1 results and revised estimates to provide a "little further steam" to the recent rally in newspaper stocks.
http://www.editorandpublisher.com/eandp/departments/business/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1004082925
Publishers are expected to announce stronger results in Q1 and should "be more optimistic about the outlook, citing improved revenue trends, largely from stronger national spending and a bounce-back in auto classified advertising," wrote analysts Alexia Quadrani, Monica DiCenso and Townsend Buckles. For the companies in J.P. Morgan's coverage universe, Gannett's 2010 newspaper ad revenue is forecasted to be off 5.6% (compared to a decline of 28.4% in 2009). In Q1, Gannett's ad revenue is anticipated to drop 7.2%, with approximated EBITDA of $261 million. That represents a 19.7% margin versus a 14.3% margin from Q1 2009.At The New York Times Co., ad revenue should fall 5.5% for the year and roughly 8% for Q1. EBITDA margins should improve in Q1, anticipates J.P. Morgan, coming in at 9.7% compared to 2.7% in the same quarter of the previous year.Advertising revenue during Q1 at E.W. Scripps is expected to decrease 12.5% with more than $25 million in free cash flow. Q1 EBITDA is forecasted at $17 million.
McClatchy's ad revenue will likely fall 8.4% in Q1. Thanks to cost-cutting, margins are on track to improve greatly to 25% in Q1 from 12% of the same quarter last year. EBITDA is expected to be up 91% year-over-year to $83 million.
Analysts said they expect Q1 results and revised estimates to provide a "little further steam" to the recent rally in newspaper stocks.
http://www.editorandpublisher.com/eandp/departments/business/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1004082925
Hearst Nears iCrossing Pact
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB20001424052748703594404575191953291549276.html#mod=todays_us_marketplace
Newspaper-and-magazine publisher Hearst Corp. is near a deal to acquire digital-marketing firm iCrossing, according to people familiar with the matter, the latest sign of how publishers are going head to head with Madison Avenue to grab some of the growing revenues from online advertising.
Under the deal, which is in the final stages of negotiations, iCrossing, one of the nation's biggest independent digital-marketing shops, is likely to fetch about $375 million, plus bonus payments if it reaches certain targets, these people said.
ICrossing, whose clients include Travelocity, Coca-Cola and Toyota Motor, has about 550 employees specializing in Internet-search marketing. In the past few years, it has acquired several digital-marketing companies to expand into other areas, such as marketing on social-media sites and Web analytics, or measuring, collecting and analyzing Internet data to aid in ad targeting.
ICrossing is led by Chief Executive Officer Don Scales, the former CEO of Omnicom Group's Agency.com, and Chairman Richard Rosenblatt, former chairman of social-networking site MySpace.
http://adage.com/agencynews/article?article_id=143375
Why would a publisher want a search shop?
"If you're selling media, what do you do with search? I don't know. It doesn't make sense," said Michael C. Seidler, CEO of Madison Alley. "Meredith makes sense -- they sell media, so they can do custom publishing and custom digital marketing to broaden its offering, which they've done well."
Compare that model to iCrossing, which is the largest U.S. search agency by 2008 revenue, according to Ad Age DataCenter. Founded in 1998, the Scottsdale, Ariz.-based agency has made attempts to diversify its services beyond search, though some have called those attempts unsuccessful. ICrossing acquired web development shop Proxicom in 2007, but that integration is said to have gone badly.
ICrossing also offers services in mobile and analytics, though 50% to 60% of the agency's revenue comes from search, according to a spokesman. Across 12 offices, iCrossing counts Bank of America, Toyota Motor Sports and Sears as clients, and it had $120 million in U.S. revenue in 2008, according to Ad Age DataCenter. The agency has attracted $125 million in funding from Goldman Sachs, Oak Investment Partners and other investors.
If it goes through, this deal would speak volumes about the difference between Hearst's agency acquisition strategy from that of Meredith Corp. According to the reported terms, Hearst will get one large shop for a price tag as high as $375 million. Compare that to Meredith's multiple acquisitions across social media, digital, database and consumer relationship management -- all functions that dovetailed nicely with the publisher's existing custom-publishing unit. What's more, execs familiar with the matter estimate Meredith's total acquisitions, taken in $20 million to $30 million chunks, would come in at less than $375 million.
Under such a deal with iCrossing, Hearst, the publisher of Esquire, Good Housekeeping and daily and weekly newspapers, would automatically add 550 digital agency employees. In contrast, Meredith has built its staff of 550 through multiple acquisitions since 2006. Longtime digital agency exec Martin Reidy heads Meredith Integrated Marketing, which encompasses the acquisitions of digital agencies O'Grady Meyers and Genex; social media shop New Media Strategies; database marketing agency Directive; and health-care marketing specialty Big Communications. Last summer, Meredith bought a stake in mobile agency The Hyperfactory.
"What Meredith did was buy creation, which also helps advertisers build customer programs," said Rob Norman, CEO of Group M North America. "What Hearst is doing is buying assets to help distribution ... and, sure, if Hearst is creating content on behalf of clients, they'd want to offer their agencies their best distribution for that content."
Newspaper-and-magazine publisher Hearst Corp. is near a deal to acquire digital-marketing firm iCrossing, according to people familiar with the matter, the latest sign of how publishers are going head to head with Madison Avenue to grab some of the growing revenues from online advertising.
Under the deal, which is in the final stages of negotiations, iCrossing, one of the nation's biggest independent digital-marketing shops, is likely to fetch about $375 million, plus bonus payments if it reaches certain targets, these people said.
ICrossing, whose clients include Travelocity, Coca-Cola and Toyota Motor, has about 550 employees specializing in Internet-search marketing. In the past few years, it has acquired several digital-marketing companies to expand into other areas, such as marketing on social-media sites and Web analytics, or measuring, collecting and analyzing Internet data to aid in ad targeting.
ICrossing is led by Chief Executive Officer Don Scales, the former CEO of Omnicom Group's Agency.com, and Chairman Richard Rosenblatt, former chairman of social-networking site MySpace.
http://adage.com/agencynews/article?article_id=143375
Why would a publisher want a search shop?
"If you're selling media, what do you do with search? I don't know. It doesn't make sense," said Michael C. Seidler, CEO of Madison Alley. "Meredith makes sense -- they sell media, so they can do custom publishing and custom digital marketing to broaden its offering, which they've done well."
Compare that model to iCrossing, which is the largest U.S. search agency by 2008 revenue, according to Ad Age DataCenter. Founded in 1998, the Scottsdale, Ariz.-based agency has made attempts to diversify its services beyond search, though some have called those attempts unsuccessful. ICrossing acquired web development shop Proxicom in 2007, but that integration is said to have gone badly.
ICrossing also offers services in mobile and analytics, though 50% to 60% of the agency's revenue comes from search, according to a spokesman. Across 12 offices, iCrossing counts Bank of America, Toyota Motor Sports and Sears as clients, and it had $120 million in U.S. revenue in 2008, according to Ad Age DataCenter. The agency has attracted $125 million in funding from Goldman Sachs, Oak Investment Partners and other investors.
If it goes through, this deal would speak volumes about the difference between Hearst's agency acquisition strategy from that of Meredith Corp. According to the reported terms, Hearst will get one large shop for a price tag as high as $375 million. Compare that to Meredith's multiple acquisitions across social media, digital, database and consumer relationship management -- all functions that dovetailed nicely with the publisher's existing custom-publishing unit. What's more, execs familiar with the matter estimate Meredith's total acquisitions, taken in $20 million to $30 million chunks, would come in at less than $375 million.
Under such a deal with iCrossing, Hearst, the publisher of Esquire, Good Housekeeping and daily and weekly newspapers, would automatically add 550 digital agency employees. In contrast, Meredith has built its staff of 550 through multiple acquisitions since 2006. Longtime digital agency exec Martin Reidy heads Meredith Integrated Marketing, which encompasses the acquisitions of digital agencies O'Grady Meyers and Genex; social media shop New Media Strategies; database marketing agency Directive; and health-care marketing specialty Big Communications. Last summer, Meredith bought a stake in mobile agency The Hyperfactory.
"What Meredith did was buy creation, which also helps advertisers build customer programs," said Rob Norman, CEO of Group M North America. "What Hearst is doing is buying assets to help distribution ... and, sure, if Hearst is creating content on behalf of clients, they'd want to offer their agencies their best distribution for that content."
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
Hearst Jumps Into the Apps Business
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704655004575113911041390740.html?mod=dist_smartbrief
At Hearst Corp., a handful of employees are cranking out what the media company hopes will add up to the next big thing.
Hearst, best known as a publisher of magazines and newspapers, is jumping into the business of developing software applications, or "apps," for use on Apple Inc.'s iPhone. Hearst is focusing its apps on what it knows best: information, mainly in the realms of sports teams, players and celebrities, but also hobbies and topics, like coffee, Barbie and cupcakes.
At Hearst Corp., a handful of employees are cranking out what the media company hopes will add up to the next big thing.
Hearst, best known as a publisher of magazines and newspapers, is jumping into the business of developing software applications, or "apps," for use on Apple Inc.'s iPhone. Hearst is focusing its apps on what it knows best: information, mainly in the realms of sports teams, players and celebrities, but also hobbies and topics, like coffee, Barbie and cupcakes.
Shout Out: MDC Partners Creates Production Co.
http://www.mediapost.com/publications/?fa=Articles.showArticle&art_aid=124242
MDC Partners, the holding company whose portfolio spans from direct mail to crafting ads for Burger King, is moving into TV production. The company has formed a quasi-studio that already has a show lined up on Bravo.
MDC has a majority stake in Shout Media, newly structured with producer Michael Rourke, who oversaw a run of syndicated court shows for Sony Pictures Television. Along with producing traditional TV series, Shout will develop branded entertainment content for clients represented by MDC shops.
MDC Partners, the holding company whose portfolio spans from direct mail to crafting ads for Burger King, is moving into TV production. The company has formed a quasi-studio that already has a show lined up on Bravo.
MDC has a majority stake in Shout Media, newly structured with producer Michael Rourke, who oversaw a run of syndicated court shows for Sony Pictures Television. Along with producing traditional TV series, Shout will develop branded entertainment content for clients represented by MDC shops.
Ad Spending Dropped 12% in 2009, but Things Are Looking Up
Overall ad spending in the U.S. fell 12.3% in 2009, according to a new report from Kantar Media, triple the rate of decline from 2008. But last year's ad-sales drop was moderated somewhat by a fourth quarter in which nearly all media improved on their performances from earlier in the year. And things seem to be looking up further still -- depending on what happens with consumer spending.
"The advertising recession began to ease in the final two months of 2009 and preliminary figures from the first quarter of 2010, when compared against the abyss of a year ago, indicate many sectors are experiencing growth," said Jon Swallen, senior VP-research at Kantar, in the report. "Given the restraint in consumer spending, it appears marketers have more confidence right now than their customers. As we get deeper into 2010, the pace of consumer activity will be a key determinant of the strength and durability of the advertising recovery."
http://adage.com/mediaworks/article?article_id=142832
"The advertising recession began to ease in the final two months of 2009 and preliminary figures from the first quarter of 2010, when compared against the abyss of a year ago, indicate many sectors are experiencing growth," said Jon Swallen, senior VP-research at Kantar, in the report. "Given the restraint in consumer spending, it appears marketers have more confidence right now than their customers. As we get deeper into 2010, the pace of consumer activity will be a key determinant of the strength and durability of the advertising recovery."
http://adage.com/mediaworks/article?article_id=142832
Merkle acquires loyalty marketing firm Metzner Schneider
http://baltimore.bizjournals.com/baltimore/stories/2010/03/22/daily7.html
Columbia marketing agency Merkle Inc. said Monday it has acquired Dallas’ Metzner Schneider Associates.
Terms of the deal were not disclosed.
Metzner Schneider, a loyalty marketing firm founded in 2002, designs marketing programs aimed at helping companies attract new customers and retain existing customers for the long term. The firm’s clients have included Sears Holding Corp. (NASDAQ: SHLD), Marriott International (NYSE: MAR) and Hewlett-Packard (NYSE: HPQ).
Merkle said the deal is part of its efforts to double the size of its marketing strategy consulting group from 35 to about 70 in the next year.
Columbia marketing agency Merkle Inc. said Monday it has acquired Dallas’ Metzner Schneider Associates.
Terms of the deal were not disclosed.
Metzner Schneider, a loyalty marketing firm founded in 2002, designs marketing programs aimed at helping companies attract new customers and retain existing customers for the long term. The firm’s clients have included Sears Holding Corp. (NASDAQ: SHLD), Marriott International (NYSE: MAR) and Hewlett-Packard (NYSE: HPQ).
Merkle said the deal is part of its efforts to double the size of its marketing strategy consulting group from 35 to about 70 in the next year.
Saatchi Bros. Acquire Mobile Shop
M&C Saatchi on Wednesday agreed to acquire mobile marketing firm Inside Mobile. In turn, the independent ad agency is rebranding as M&C Saatchi Mobile. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.
http://www.mediapost.com/publications/?fa=Articles.showArticle&art_aid=124923
http://www.mediapost.com/publications/?fa=Articles.showArticle&art_aid=124923
Thursday, April 8, 2010
Publicis Groupe Snaps Up In-Sync
Publicis Groupe said it has acquired In-Sync, a 75-person healthcare communications firm in Toronto. The company becomes part of Publicis Healthcare Communications Group. President and founder Janet Winkler will continue to run the unit, reporting to Sam Welch, COO of PHCG N.A. For Publicis, adding the firm strengthens its biopharma practice, while In-Sync gains the reach and scope of working under the umbrella of a global agency organization. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.
http://www.adweek.com/aw/content_display/news/agency/e3ib2760edf9d29719e5748f115814ab444
http://www.adweek.com/aw/content_display/news/agency/e3ib2760edf9d29719e5748f115814ab444
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