It's been some time since I've written on our blog.  Sometimes I wonder what I should say; so many people love to hear themselves think or speak.  I guess I'm not one of them.  Well, today is Thursday, December 17th.  We're in the back stretch of Chanukah (7th night), eight more days until Christmas, and 14 more days until the New Year, 2010. 

Things start to slow down a bit all around.  It's usually a good time to connect with some old friends that you've been out of touch with for some time.  It's also a time of reflection for me, when I realize how fortunate I am.  Other than a couple of bouts with kidney stones, I have my health.  Though if I don't start exercising and losing some weight, that will surely change.  I have a great staff at work that puts up with my mood that changes hourly.  And best of all, I cherish my family; my wife and 3 wonderful girls. 

Life moves by quickly when you have children.  Probably because time is measured in periods of your life.  The baby years; the elementary school years; the high school years; the college years; the empty nest year.  Empty nest!!!  My parents are empty nesters!!!   Slow down; it's moving too fast!!

I'm 52 years old now and I'm on the back end of raising my kids.  I guess my wife and I have done something good together because we have great kids.  They're still a big part of our life so I'm happy about that.  I haven't felt that loss when your daughter stops needing you because she's found the love of her life. 

Well, before I go off on some meaningless tangent, let me focus in on what I wanted to say.  Stop; look around; and have a very happy holiday season.  May you and your family enjoy the times you share together.  And always remember to smile and laugh each day.  Don't worry, it won't hurt. 

Happy Holidays.

After a few weeks of hard work, we came up with a very manageable and informative web site.  We thought about making this extremely interactive, but that wouldn't be us.  You know the kind of sites I'm talking about.  Everything is automative.  And if you want to talk to anyone, you have to send an email to mysteryperson@company.com 

It's almost like calling a company on the phone.  Can you remember the last time you spoke to a human being?  Press 1 for this; press 2 for that.  And if you do speak with anyone, you have to tell them everything you just pressed anyway.  I think they make you press those buttoms continuously until someone is actually available to speak with you.  And you know all the CSRs are on the other end laughing at you.  And I love the new line almost all voice mails have.  "Our menu has changed so listen up meathead."  Well, all this leads to a very frustrating experience. 

Anyway, that's not what we wanted.  It may not be as interactive as some, but we're "people" people.  We want you to know we're here for you on the other side of that phone call, or email.  The site is informative.  And if you have any questions, please contact us...we're here. 

www.catalystdm.com

info@catalystdm.com

973-831-4222

973-831-1933 (fax)

About 28 years ago, I started my little list business (Catalyst Direct Marketing) with a couple of generous financial backers and a lot of luck.  It took about a year before we started to see any profits; actually, that's pretty fast.  I branched out and started a compiled list reselling division (Database Network Associates) to complement the existing business model.  This showed a profit very quickly because we saw an existing audience from the start. 

When you begin a business high up on the learning curve, you not only avoid so many mistakes, you increase the likelihood of success.  So far so good, right?  Well don't get so cozy on your BarcaLounger just yet. 

Recently we dove into the world of online marketing services.  You know, email marketing, SEO, SEM, Affiliate Marketing, etc.  There was so much to learn.  And you have to find the right people to work with.  Sure, we still do list management and brokerage, but we had a vision that said the list industry and most all industries are going to be utilizing email and online marketing more than ever.  And you know what?  We were right.  Its taken a little more time than past ventures, but we are beginning to see things happen.  People are seeing an improved ROI and they're getting excited.  Do you know that in the coming months, companies are planning on increasing their online budgets?

We're just at the tip of the iceberg.  But we're ready to help our clients, and prospective clients, to pick up steam and reap the benefits of online marketing.  I've attached an article I thought you would enjoy.  Give it a moment of your time and then give us a call. 

http://www.adotas.com/2009/09/email-marketing-big-winner-in-downturn/

It's been some time since I've posted to our log.  Sorry, not much to report.  But I'll get back on track and start posting more. 

Recently, something happened that really pissed me off.  I still can't believe it happened.  I've taken a few days to cool off about it, but since I'm writing in our blog about it, I guess I'm still pissed. 

Catalyst Direct Marketing is a traditional list management and brokerage company.  We've been in business for about 28 years.  About 15 years ago I started a new division, Database Network Associates (DNA), whose function was to resell compiled data and services.  The division has done extremely well over the years.  Many of the traditional list companies do the same thing but ususally under their existing company name.  No big deal; just a matter of choice. 

Recently I discovered that a somewhat reputable list brokerage company had stolen business away from DNA; or had they?  I have been receiving orders from a specific mailer through this list broker for a few years.  No problems; the list worked and they continued to use the file.  In our line of business, that a good thing for everyone.  I receive a call from a different list broker that the orders for this mailer were now going to be written by him.  Not a problem; this happens in any industry.  Clients move to new vendors all the time.  Well, everything was groovy until the new broker started asking a few questions about the history of these past orders, and if I can omit them from new orders he was going to place with me.  OK, ready for this.   Here it comes. 

Normally, I can omit prior usage on a list.  But to do this, you need to have processed the prior order in the first place.  He gave me a few orders to research, but I never processed any of them.  How can this be?  Well, the original list brokerage company also resells data, and has their own in-house database.  Apparently they stopped ordering the data through DNA, and fulfilled these orders through their own in-house database division, but still represented the list to their client as mine.  How unethical is this?  I was furious.  Is this normal practice by this list brokerage company?  Is this normal practice by other data resellers?  It isn't for DNA, and I was pissed. 

I couldn't stop to think about the Adam Sandler movie, "Billy Madison".  Remember at the end of the movie there's this academic contest where the person that wins the most events, wins the company?  Well, Billy is a drunkin' moron (but since he gets the girl at the end, he's my hero) and the other guy is a slime ball, unethical businessman that already works for the company.  Do you see where I'm going with this yet? 

Well the last event is something like Jeopardy, where you pick a category and the other guy has to answer the question.  Well Billy is looking over the board of all the categories, trying to find something that the other guy cannot answer.  And then he finds it....."I choose 'Business Ethics'.  Well the other guy is such an unethical businessman, he can't answer the question.  Billy wins the company, wins the girl, and I think you know pretty much the rest. 

Now getting back to me.  I'm married so winning the girl is meaningless.  But the new list broker is placing the orders back with DNA, so I win the business.   Yahoo!!!! 

I've been using LinkedIn to network with colleagues and friends for some time now.  Like all the social networks, sometimes you find the person you want, and sometimes you don't (if you know what I mean).  Recently, I connected with an old friend and colleague, Ben Perez.  Most people in the list business know Ben as President of Millard Group (unless you lived under a rock).  With all the changes to Millard Group these last couple of years, I'm not too sure what Ben's position is, but nontheless, he's a well respected veteran of the list business and a good person to know. 

As we all know, Millard Group isn't what we remember it to be.  Just ask the several employess that have been let go over the last couple of years since infoGroup purchased it.  It's just never been the same.  I do remember Ben ran an excellent company; one that I always respected and hoped I could emulate with my list business. 

Well things have changed.  For Millard and for the rest of the list industry.  I'm not putting all the blame on infoGroup; I think a little thing like the economy had something to do with it.  But does a company lose its backbone in hard times?  I mean, when things get tough, do we forget to do the little things that got us here in the first place?  What happened to the personal service that separated you from all the other companies.  These are the little things people used to remember about you.  It's why our industry used to be about relationships, and not just about undercutting commissions. 

Well, I wish Millard Group; Millard/Mokrynski; Millard Group; Direct Media/Millard all the best.  I'm not afraid of some friendly competition; particularly with good people like Ben Perez.  Hey Ben, do you remember how we used to play basketball with a bunch of colleagues at the DMA conferences?  I remember one time many years ago in Miami when we wouldn't throw Michael Miller the ball.  I think we made him cry.