DMA's Fast Forward, Directo Day, International Day, and List Day Incorporated into 2008 DM Days New York Conference & Expo

April 3, 2008 — The Direct Marketing Association (DMA) has announced that four of its popular annual events are being incorporated into the 2008 DM Days New York Conference & Expo. The four DMA events that now will be part of the DM Days line-up are: Fast Forward, Directo Day, International Day, and List Day.

Curtains will be raised for the “conferences within the conference” on Monday, June 9, when senior-level list executives gather for Fast Forward 2008, which will be held at the Sheraton New York Hotel and Towers. The main show, DM Days, will kick off the following morning (Tuesday, June 10) and run through Thursday, June 12 at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in New York, NY.

Before the curtains close on DM Days on June 12, entering at stage left will be: Directo Day, the only conference focused exclusively on direct marketing to Hispanics; International Day, which educates professionals on how to market outside the United States; and List Day, which provides list expertise to direct marketing professionals.

Commenting on these additions to the 2008 DM Days Conference & Expo, DMA Group Show Director Rachael Mark said, “In planning this year’s event, we thought, ‘What better way to show our appreciation to the greater direct marketing community than to provide them with so many specialized areas of expertise — all in one place?’ Also, we are building an entire week’s worth of events, presenting multichannel marketers with a plethora of educational sessions, exhibit floor presentations, and networking opportunities. This direct marketing week is a can’t miss.”

Fast Forward

Monday, June 9

The Sheraton New York Hotel and Towers

When it seems like the marketplace won’t take its finger off of the fast forward button, look to DMA to host this full-day event for senior-level list professionals whose companies specialize in data and marketing information services. Fast Forward moves ahead of marketplace trends and addresses the needs, challenges, and opportunities of the rapidly changing business environment of lists and customer data exchange. Speakers will include best-selling author Seth Godin and Don Peppers, author and a founding partner of Peppers & Rogers Group. For additional information on Fast Forward, visit www.dmafastforward.com.

But first, at the List Leaders Group Breakfast, executives will hear from DMA President & CEO John A. Greco, Jr. and DMA Chairman and American List Counsel, Inc. Chairman & Chief Executive Officer Donn Rappaport. Separate registration is required for this breakfast. For additional information on the breakfast, visit http://www.the-dma.org/conferences/dmafastforward/specialevents.shtml.

That Monday evening, the DMA List & Database Council will host its annual List Leader of the Year Reception and Dinner. Separate registration is required for the awards dinner, as well. For additional information on the breakfast, visit http://www.the-dma.org/conferences/dmafastforward/specialevents.shtml

Directo Day

Thursday, June 12

Jacob K. Javits Convention Center

With marketers spending this year an estimated $3.9 billion to tap US Hispanics’ $1 trillion in purchasing power, this market es una fuerza formidable. DMA’s Directo Day reveals best practices for reaching this market, from understanding the diversity within the Hispanic population to sending language-appropriate emails, and more. The Directo Day sessions are:

· Brave New World: How Companies are Successfully Marketing to US Hispanics — 10:45 to 11:40 a.m. — The US Census predicts the US Hispanic population will reach nearly 48 million by 2010. Panelists from companies that already are marketing successfully to this growing and lucrative market will reveal what attracted them to Hispanic marketing, the strategy behind the channels they used, and the results — good and bad.

· How to Organically Build Hispanic Email Lists — 11:50 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. — Even though Hispanics are expected to represent more than 15 percent of the US population by 2010, many email marketers have left this market untapped. This session will explore best practices to grow Hispanic email lists organically, conduct culturally sensitive campaigns, and create opt-in programs.

· Finding the Sweet Spot: Hispanic Marketing for a New Decade — 1:30 to 2:25 p.m. — Just as direct marketing is diverse — from online to print, and from broadcast to telecommunications — so is the Hispanic market. One size definitely does not fit all. This session will explore segmentation strategies designed to help marketers communicate with Hispanic-Americans with different mindsets, lifestyles, and product and service needs.

· Tap into the Fastest Growing Market in America…Hispanic DRTV — 3 to 3:55 p.m. — Blue Casa, a phone company that touts a national customer figure of 30 million, started in the bilingual California market in 2003. So it was only natural to market to Hispanics, who have embraced the company with the smiling blue house logo and helped increase sales by 25 percent. The secret? Direct response television, backed by a bilingual call center.

International Day

Thursday, June 12

Jacob K. Javits Convention Center

The après-Aristotle view that the world is spherical is challenged by New York Times columnist Thomas Friedman in his newest book, The World Is Flat 3.0, and by speakers at DMA’s International Day. From outsourcing and offshoring jobs, to literally mobilizing workforces with mobile phones, laptops, and the Internet, anyone can conduct business anywhere in the world. There are still a few challenges, though. This full-day conference helps flat-world adherents level the playing field.

· The State of Direct Marketing Worldwide: Is the World Truly Flat? — 10:45 to 11:40 a.m. — As the world becomes flat in terms of competition, it is still very round and divergent in terms of direct marketing deployment and sophistication. Through economic and survey data and actual campaign materials drawn from around the world, International Day attendees will look at the current state and promise of worldwide direct marketing.

· Macro Trends in Direct Marketing: A Perspective from Asia — 11:50 a.m. to 12:45 p.m.

Macro Trends in Direct Marketing: A Perspective from Latin America — 1:30 to 2:25 p.m.

Macro Trends in Direct Marketing: A Perspective from Europe — 3 to 3:55 p.m.

During each of these three sessions, panelists with expertise on conducting business in the regions will discuss key trends and issues. Topics will range from unique consumer behavior to building business abroad, where legal issues vary, technology infrastructure can be diverse, and environmental concerns may be far different from those in the US. Attendees will learn what’s hot and what’s not in Asia, Latin America, or Europe.

List Day

Thursday, June 12

Jacob K. Javits Convention Center

The Knowledge Economy has claimed many casualties, but one profession that has thrived is obvious: Lists. Indeed, list experts may never have been more in demand than today. List Day is aimed at celebrating and perfecting the skills of the professionals who supply more complete, accurate, and segmented data than ever before about today’s engaged, multichannel consumers. As consumers demand relevant and timely offers, list professionals are there to meet the challenge.

· The Importance of and Strategies for Implementing Enterprise-Wide Data Management — 10:45 to 11:40 a.m. — Marketers know that it’s not enough to implement world-class data management techniques and strategies. It’s critical to develop and implement a strategy for enterprise-wide data management. So attendees will gain insight into data integrity issues experienced by companies and learn how they overcame challenges.

· Finding Business Clients in a Universe of Consumers — 11:50 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. — Business and consumer clients aren’t always mutually exclusive. This session will help conferees determine which consumers are also interested in business products and services.

· Tap into Unknown Markets by Creating New Verticals — 1:30 to 2:25 p.m. — Unbeknownst to attendees, marketing niches lurk in the nooks and crannies of their customer files. This session will help them learn how to create new verticals out of old information by integrating database management with the lowdown on today’s online marketer.

· Email Acquisition 2.0 — 3 to 3:55 p.m. — The brick-and-mortar General Store may have all but disappeared, but the timeless advice of “know your customer” still remains Commandment No. 1, despite — or perhaps because of — the potential anonymity of email. This session will help attendees put the customer at the center of the email experience in order to reactivate and re-engage customers.

For more information or to register to attend DM Days NY, please visit www.dmdays.com or call 212.790.1500.

# # #