iMarlin LLC is "Opening Doors" with Customer Connection

Customer Connection is the result of the merger of MarketWorks, Inc. and iMarlin LLC in June of 2002. Bringing together the database marketing and design expertise of MarketWorks with iMarlin's innovative and creative approach to online technology has produced the most comprehensive service for today's companies looking to become closer to their customer and improve customer relationships.

"Bringing together the database marketing and design expertise of MarketWorks with iMarlin's innovative and creative approach to online technology has produced the most comprehensive service for today's companies looking to become closer to their customer and improve customer relationships," states Linda J. Bortis, the new General Manager of iMarlin LLC.

The typical foodservice channel requires communications through multiple contacts each with their own agenda. These contacts include brokers and distributors or dealers. According to Tom Rankin, Interactive Director at iMarlin "Technology provides the opportunity for direct communication that maintains the image and clarity of the message."

There are 3 key characteristics of the products and services offered by an interactive agency:

- Provide an opportunity to have a continuous dialogue with the audience,
- Deliver a targeted marketing message that can be measured against both the cost and the response, and
- Acquire immediate feedback on the effectiveness of the campaign and therefore manage the outcome more effectively.

Almost every company today has a web site, but few are database driven. According to Bortis, "That is the opportunity. It's the use of database marketing that will make Internet communication relevant. The more relevant the communication, the more the visitor will recognize a benefit to their business. It is this approach that will entice the visitor to come back and build a two-way dialogue and it's this dialogue that will drive the communication. Interactive communication allows a reach and return that traditional advertising cannot offer."

Industry research and trends validate what iMarlin is all about. DMA (Direct Marketing Association) offers statistical data that supports the "coming to life" of the interactive agency and its role in advertising and marketing. Seventy-five percent of companies plan to increase their overall investments in interactive media. Improving customers' experience online is now a priority.

iMarlin's Devon Gerchar, Director of Database, continues, "Without relationships, communication is spam. iMarlin helps manufacturers create customer connections, so communications are relevant, welcomed and continuous."

As a leader in interactive technology, iMarlin is sponsoring an online study that will compare current business practices and trends regarding the use of interactive media in marketing programs within the foodservice industry. This study will be completed in March of 2003. All foodservice companies that participate in the survey will receive a free Executive Summary.

"This approach is not only opening doors for our clients' customers, but establishing new interactive agency standards," says Bortis. For more information on how you can open doors with your customers, contact Linda J. Bortis at 417-887-7446 x18 or email us at info@imarlin.com.