Direct Marketing Association Kicks Off DMA08 Annual Conference & Exhibition in Las Vegas r u Connected?

Las Vegas, NV, October 11, 2008 — The Direct Marketing Association (DMA) today kicks off DMA08 Conference & Exhibition, the Global Event for Integrated Marketing in Las Vegas, Nevada, asking the question, “r u Connected?”

Las Vegas is a mecca for shopping, dining, entertainment, and even family vacations. This year, the “Entertainment Capital of the World” is also playing host to DMA’s annual conference, the world’s largest gathering of integrated, multichannel marketing professionals. DMA08 is the place where professionals from across the full spectrum of the international direct marketing community will connect with people, companies, ideas, trends, and technology that will shape marketing’s future.

“DMA08 comes at an important time as the entire marketing community is facing tremendous economic uncertainties,” said DMA President & CEO, John A. Greco, Jr. “This year’s attendees are connected with the newest strategies and best practices, forward-looking roundtable discussions, workshops, training, research, and networking with more than 12,000 marketing professionals.

“In times of slowing growth, marketing directly helps keep costs down, and improves overall results,” continued Greco. “As a community, direct marketers have continued to be profitable and attending DMA08 gives marketers a great opportunity to keep and sharpen that important edge.”

In true Vegas fashion, DMA08 is bringing in a legendary headliner and performer. Entertainment icon and “Tonight Show” host, Jay Leno lauds international direct marketer’s greatest work as he hosts the 2008 International ECHO Awards Ceremony and Gala, featuring the single international accolade symbolizing excellence in direct marketing creativity, marketing strategy, and response results.

DMA08’s keynote speakers are some of the most innovative individuals; truly the best, brightest, and some of the most recognizable names in today’s integrated, multichannel, digital marketing community. They are host of ABC’s “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” Ty Pennington; Playboy’s Christie Hefner; crayon’s Joseph Jaffe; and the “Craig” of Craigslist, Craig Newmark.

Boasting over 100 educational sessions and connections beyond the Exhibit Hall booths — where exhibitors, representing state-of-the-art goods and services for every marketing channel gather to showcase solutions, technology, and innovative practices — DMA08 attendees are sure to be enlightened.

Starting today, October 11, and running through October 16, DMA will present an impressive array of special events that are sure to entertain, educate, and connect:

· DMA08 Kickoff Party at Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino’s Privé Nightclub, tonight at 7 p.m. for all attendees.

· Direct Marketing Educational Foundation’s Annual Awards Dinner at the Bellagio Las Vegas, tonight at 6 p.m. (Registration is CLOSED.)

· The Power of Direct Marketing 2008 Press Conference, room N115 in the Las Vegas Convention Center on Monday, October 13, at 1:45 p.m.

· The Marketer of the Year Award, being presented at the Las Vegas Convention Center on Tuesday, October 14, at 10 a.m.

· The Hall of Fame Awards Luncheon, being presented at the Las Vegas Convention Center on Tuesday, October 14, and 12 p.m.

· The 2008 International ECHO Awards Ceremony and Gala with “Tonight Show” host, Jay Leno, being presented at the Bellagio Las Vegas on Tuesday, October 14, at 6:30 p.m.

DMA08 has also lined up four incredible keynote speakers:

· Sunday, October 12

Joseph Jaffe, Creator, Founder, and President, crayon, a new marketing company

· Monday, October 13

Ty Pennington, Host, ABC’s “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition”

· Tuesday, October 14

Christie Hefner, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Playboy Enterprises

· Wednesday, October 15

Craig Newmark, Customer Service Representative and Founder, Craigslist

Attendees will want to download the first ever DMA08 Widget for special event information; log onto MyDMA08, www.dma08.org/MyDMA08, for the interactive event planner; check out the new DMA08 mobile website, www.dma08.mobi, viewable on mobile phone browsers for the “schedule-at-a-glance;” or employ the DMA08 SMS Mobile Concierge (send a text message of the keyword INFO, a space, and a question to 47201) for on the go information when planning what to do during their time in Vegas. (Standard text message rates apply.)

About DMA08 Conference & Exhibition

The DMA08 Annual Conference & Exhibition, the Global Event for Integrated Marketing, is the world’s largest gathering of multichannel marketing professionals. DMA08, which will be held October 11-16 in Las Vegas, will feature keynote presentations, educational sessions, roundtables, case studies, white papers, and research reports. DMA08’s exhibit hall will feature 575 exhibiting companies. For additional information, or to register for the six-day multichannel marketing event of the year, please visit www.dma08.org.

For information about DMA08 exhibition and sponsorship opportunities, please contact Donna LoPorto at 212.790.1468 or dloporto@the-dma.org.

DMA provides complimentary registrations for editorial staff of media outlets covering multichannel direct marketing. To request press registration, please email DMA at pressregistration@the-dma.org. For information about DMA’s requirements for press credentials, visit http://www.the-dma.org/press/pressevents.shtml. For additional information or queries, contact DMA at pressregistration@the-dma.org or 212.768.7277, ext. 1422.

About Direct Marketing Association (DMA)

The Direct Marketing Association (www.the-dma.org) is the leading global trade association of businesses and nonprofit organizations using and supporting multichannel direct marketing tools and techniques. DMA advocates standards for responsible marketing, promotes relevance as the key to reaching consumers with desirable offers, and provides cutting-edge research, education, and networking opportunities to improve results throughout the end-to-end direct marketing process. Founded in 1917, DMA today represents more than 3,400 companies from dozens of vertical industries in the US and 48 other nations, including half of the Fortune 100 companies, as well as nonprofit organizations.

In 2008, marketers — commercial and nonprofit — will spend $176.9 billion on direct marketing, which accounts for 52.1 percent of all ad expenditures in the United States. Measured against total US sales, these advertising expenditures will generate approximately $2.057 trillion in incremental sales. In 2008, direct marketing accounted for approximately 10 percent of total US gross domestic product. Also in 2008, there were 1.6 million direct marketing employees in the US. Their collective sales efforts directly support 9.3 million other jobs, accounting for a total of 10.9 million US jobs.

The Power of Direct: Relevance. Responsibility. Results.

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