PAB Fwd: AIM / DMA Press Release

[Dave Crocker <dcrocker@brandenburg.com>]

In case you missed this...

>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE October 12, 1998
>THE DMA ACQUIRES ASSOCIATION FOR INTERACTIVE MEDIA  TO CREATE THE
>WORLD'S LARGEST TRADE ASSOCIATION FOR BUSINESSES ON THE NET
>
>SAN FRANCISCO -- The Direct Marketing Association (The DMA) today
>announced its acquisition of the Association for Interactive Media
>(AIM), creating the largest trade association for businesses on the
>Internet.  The acquisition, announced during The DMA 81st Annual
>Conference & Exhibition, combines the largest trade association
>representing the $1.2-trillion direct marketing industry and the largest
>trade association representing the $100-billion Internet marketing
>industry.
>
> "This acquisition is a sign of the times -- a snapshot of what's going
>on in the business world today," said H. Robert Wientzen, president and
>ceo, The DMA.  "Many mainstream, stable and traditional businesses are
>merging with younger, entrepreneurial start-ups on the verge of
>success.  Each side needs the other to move e-commerce into a successful
>future."
>
>The DMA's members include more than 4,100 businesses in interactive and
>database marketing from the United States and 53 other nations,
>including such companies as IBM, Dell Computer, LL Bean, J Crew, AT&T,
>MCI, Time Inc., Microsoft, The McGraw-Hill Company, Rodale Press, AOL,
>and Lucent Technologies.  AIM's members include nearly 250 of the most
>prominent companies that use the Net for business purposes such as
>MindSpring, Yoyodyne, Hotmail, Bloomberg LP, Citicorp, Nielsen Media
>Research, SportsLine USA, Universal Studios, and MTV Interactive.
>
>"This acquisition is about sharing intellectual capital," said Andy
>Sernovitz, president, AIM.  "Direct marketers have the marketing
> know-how' and the new media architects have the technological
> know-how.'  Businesses using the Internet must marry the new
>interactive nature of the Net with traditional marketing tools to
>fulfill the promises made to consumers."
>
>The New York-based DMA has more than 81 years' experience providing
>industry research, cutting-edge marketing information, networking
>opportunities among the world's leading direct marketers, and effective
>representation of business interests before state and federal
>legislative and regulatory officials.
>
>AIM, established in 1993 and headquartered in Washington, D.C., will
>operate as a subsidiary of The DMA.  The organization has experience in
>promoting consumer confidence in e-commerce, providing
>business-to-business networking opportunities and representing the
>online industry in Washington.
>
>AIM corporate members will maintain the same membership benefits as
>before the acquisition and gain a solid infrastructure to support AIM's
>initiatives.  The DMA will get an infusion of experience in the
>interactive world and a closer relationship with developing e-commerce
>companies.
>
>"Even though AIM has become a subsidiary of The DMA, it will continue to
>operate with the freedom and flexibility necessary in the fast-moving
>Internet industry," Wientzen continued.  "We recognize that there are
>unique cultural issues inherent in the Internet industry and we intend
>to significantly enhance AIM's capabilities without altering its ability
>to communicate with its
>membership."
>
>"Working with The DMA is a great fit for AIM and for each of our
>members," Sernovitz said.  "The DMA has been at the forefront on many of
>the issues that are important to us: privacy, spam, taxes and helping to
>get consumers to feel comfortable about buying online.  The DMA is the
>central organization in fighting these battles effectively for business
>time and again.  AIM will now have more muscle to join in the battle for
>Internet business."
>
>The DMA was founded in 1917.  Its members include direct marketers from
>every business segment as well as the nonprofit and electronic marketing
>sectors.  Included are catalogers, Internet retailers and service
>providers, financial services providers, book and magazine publishers,
>book and music clubs, retail stores, industrial manufacturers and a host
>of other vertical segments including the service industries that support
>them.  In 1997, approximately $705 billion in direct marketing purchases
>were made by consumers and $554 billion were made by businesses.
>
>Founded in 1993, AIM is a not-for-profit association representing nearly
>250 member organizations that conduct business on the Internet.  Leading
>companies in a variety of industries turn to AIM for support for their
>Internet ventures.
>
>           ###
>
>Media Contact Only:  Connie F. LaMotta
>Conference Press Office:  415.978.3508/3509/3510
>Voice Mail:  212.790.1520
>http://www.the-dma.org
>
>Association for Interactive Media
>Ben Isaacson, 202-408-0008
>ben@interactivehq.org
>http://www.interactivehq.org


=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
Dave Crocker                                         Tel: +60(19)3299 445
<mailto:dcrocker@brandenburg.com>                    P.O. Box 296, U.P.M.
                                                  Serdang, Selangor 43400
Brandenburg Consulting                                           MALAYSIA
<http://www.brandenburg.com>
                                                     Tel: +1(408)246 8253
Fax: +1(408)246 8253              675 Spruce Dr., Sunnyvale, CA 94086 USA