COMPANIES
HP Joins Forces with Salesforce
What is it? HP unveils HP Relate, a brainchild of its collaboration with Salesforce.
WIIFM? An extension of HP Exstream, the company says the cloud-based platform allows users to create, and deliver personalized customer communications, such as sales quotes, proposals, and direct marketing.
Who’s talking? “Today, with HP Relate for Salesforce, we are able to generate personalized customer communications, helping us connect with them in a more meaningful way that delivers on our commitment to a superior customer experience,” says Alistair Firmin, VP of customer service at The Standard, one of the early adopters.
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Lighthouse Snatches up Sweeps and Savings Data
What is it? Lighthouse List Company announces that it’s the exclusive provider of data from bSaving.com, and Sweepstakes.com.
WIIFM? Access to users of two of the largest giveaways, sweepstakes, and savings sites in the U.S.
Who’s talking? “We are very excited to be able to provide customers with data from two very responsive sources,” says VP of Sales Mark Traverso.
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Direct Mail Love Letters: The Story of Enve and Lope
What is it? A new promotion from Mohawk, The Story of Enve & Lope, How the Envelope Came to Be, is told through a series of envelopes mailed to their customers.
WIIFM? This goes to show that romance isn’t dead in direct mail, after all.
Who’s talking? “A beautifully designed, high quality envelope made with premium Mohawk paper will get noticed and will stand out in the mail box, or in a stack of mail on a desk,” says Vincent Giannetti, director of envelope operations.
PRODUCTS
28 Cents For a Postcard Received in 72 Hours
What is it? Synergy Direct Response discovers a little-known USPS program that cuts postage costs to 14.9 cents per piece and wants to share the love with its Synergy Consumer Connect program.
WIIFM? The California-based direct mail agency offers to deliver full-color postcards in 48 to 72 hours for 28 cents per piece, depending on size and mail quantity.`
Who’s talking? “This is a whopping 42 percent price cut, making it a very attractive channel for marketers who have previously rejected solo direct mail because of the high cost of postage,” says Shayne Walters, Synergy’s Consumer Connect program expert.
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Anametrix Announces Social Analytics Solution
What is it? Anametrix introduces Social Analytics, a solution that aggregates all social-media data in one place.
WIIFM? According to Anametrix, the platform enables marketers to quantify ROI of earned media by assessing key marketing metrics around reach, engagement, and conversion, and to compare social media performance to that of paid and owned media.
Who’s talking? “The Anametrix Social Analytics solution allows marketers and social-media teams to finally demonstrate the value of social-media efforts, the impact on revenue and how these activities fit into the overall marketing mix,” says CEO Pelin Thorogood.
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New Grid Exposes CRM Winners and Losers
What is it? G2 Crowd announces the release of the Grid for CRM, rating vendors based on peer reviews.
WIIFM? The Grid allows businesses to compare CRM vendors based on objective advice from peers, and real-time data, as opposed to potentially subjective analyst opinions. Salesforce.com and Microsoft Dynamics have both earned leader status on the Grid.
Who’s talking? “The Grid from G2 Crowd provides entirely new insights based on crowdsourced peer reviews that have simply not been available to CRM buyers until now,” says Ben Doyle, VP of sales enablement at Enterasys.
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‘Tis the Season for Bronto
What is it? Bronto releases the 2013 edition of the Bronto Holiday Resource Center.
WIIFM? The solution is designed to assist retail marketers in planning for the upcoming holiday season.
Who’s talking? “The fourth quarter is always the most important for commerce marketers and we’ve designed the Bronto Holiday Resource Center to help them prepare early so they can maximize every sales opportunity in the holiday season,” said CEO Joe Colopy.
EXECUTIVE MOVES
Who is it: Jeff White named chairman and CEO, and Mark Thompson CTO of IMS, a provider of direct-response research and analytics.
What’s his role: Under the new leadership, IMS seeks to enhance its user experience, and to expand its network coverage to Latin America.
Where was he prior: White started his career at HP. Later, he founded, and operated several tech startups, such as Fingerworks. Thompson has a background in military intelligence, big data analytics, and video analytics.
Why was he appointed: “We’re here to ensure that IMS resonates,” says Mark Thompson.
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Who is it: Ofir Shalom appointed CTO of OrderGroove, a provider of subscription retail solutions.
What’s his role: Shalom will be responsible for assembling a team to scale OrderGroove’s technology and engineering capabilities.
Where was he prior: Before joining OrderGroove, Shalom served in executive leadership roles at TheLadders, Group Commerce and Mercury Interactive.
Why was he appointed: “Ofir brings significant expertise in guiding and constructing engineering organizations and has driven tremendous value for every company he’s been a part of,” says CEO Greg Alvo.
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Who is it: Founder Michael Starke resumes ownership of PMD Advisory Services, a 30-year provider of data, analysis, and strategic planning for the 50 plus business sector.
What’s his role: Starke will provide independent consulting and market research for owners, and operators of senior housing operations.
Why was he appointed: “As an established firm in the mature market business sector … we are uniquely positioned to help owners, managers, developers and lenders make sound decisions to manage the risk of acquisition, development, expansion and investment,” Starke says.
