Marketing Information

Two non-profit industry consultants, Graphix Products and Douglas Shaw and Associates, are teaming up to present "Making a Difference: A Round-Table Discussion for the Non-Profit Industry" on April 11 from 9:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in West Chicago, Illinois.

Speakers include Doug Shaw, President/CEO/Founder of Douglas Shaw and Associates; and Jason Tews and Chris Tews of Graphix Products. All non-profit development, marketing and communications directors may attend the presentation at no charge. To make a reservation, call 630.231.2425 or email vicky@gpimage.com. Graphix Products will host the event at their print production center, located at 399 Wegner Drive in West Chicago, Illinois.

Jason Tews, an officer of family-owned Graphix Products, says this event is the culmination of a six-month campaign to connect companies with non-profit giving opportunities. Launched in the fall of 2006, the "Making a Difference" non-profit awareness campaig...

A recent survey conducted by Aberdeen, a Harte-Hanks Company (NYSE: HHS) determined that over two-thirds of companies that have implemented a marketing solution within the last two years have seen a 10 percent improvement in the lead-to-sales conversion rate. Companies that have implemented marketing automation solutions are seeing improvements in key performance indicators.

Marketing departments are looking at marketing automation solutions as a means to improve the return-on-investment (ROI) of marketing campaigns. Currently 53 percent of companies are using Marketing Automation solutions for lead management, with 83 percent planning on implementing a marketing automation solution within the next 24 months. As accountability for marketing departments continues to increase and the pressure to demonstrate a positive ROI on campaigns mounts, these solutions provid...

Companies with Incentive Compensation Management (ICM) applications deployed are able to exceed overall Best-in-Class performance in rolling out changes or new programs -- and they are 50% more likely to design, model, test and implement in less than 1 month, according to a new report from Aberdeen, a Harte-Hanks Company (NYSE: HHS). The latest Human Capital Management (HCM) benchmark report from Aberdeen, titled "Incentive Compensation Management: Aligning Employee Performance with Business Goals," also found that the need to align employee behavior and performance to business goals is the key driver prompting 88% of companies to use incentive compensation programs.

"Variable compensation can be one of the most effective levers for aligning employee behavior to corporate business goals," said Cindy Jutras, vice president and service director, HCM, ERP & Manu...

To avoid a 7.96% increase in logistics costs (what the average process industry company has experienced in the past two years), companies should follow the roadmap of Best in Class companies, which have been able to reduce costs or keep them flat via supply chain transformation. These are the findings of a study of 74 process industry companies conducted by Aberdeen, a Harte-Hanks Company (NYSE: HHS). Process industry companies include those in the chemicals, pharmaceuticals, food & beverage, oil & gas, and pulp & paper sectors.

"Although three-quarters of all process industry companies are focusing on supply chain transformation, we found that Best in Class companies are strikingly ahead of their peers in achieving their transformation goals," says Beth Enslow, Aberdeen SVP of Enterprise Research and report author. "They are four times more likely th...

Through the analysis of over 200 manufacturing execution initiatives Aberdeen Group's newest benchmark report, There is no Execution without Integration: MES Adoption Drives Performance, has correlated very specific business capabilities to Best in Class operational performance. For the purposes of this study, Aberdeen has evaluated and classified manufacturers based on five key performance indicators: On Time Delivery, Throughput, Stock Outs, Direct Material Usage Variance, and Work in Process Reductions. Best in Class manufacturers are defined as the top 20% of performers in a weighted average across the aforementioned five KPIs and results show that Best in Class performance is: Putting these findings in context Matthew Littlefield, a Manufacturing Research Analyst with the Aberdeen Group, states, "Best in Class manufacturers are 52% more likely to utilize MES, three times more likely to utilize MI (Manufacturing Intelligence), and 61% more likely to integrate MES with ERP. Addi...

Although the majority of enterprises realize the inherent danger of supply risk, many organizations simply do not place a high-enough priority on risk management, according to a new report by the Aberdeen Group, a Harte-Hanks Company (NYSE: HHS).

Supply Risk Increasing While the Market Stands Still found that leading procurement and supply management executives are faced with significant pressure to minimize the financial impacts of supply disruptions, while also insulating customers addressing increased market tightening and regulatory concerns for these same risks. Drawing research culled from over 210 companies, the report discovered that Best in Class enterprises are 54% more likely than their peers to identify supply risk as a high priority for corporate action and nearly one-third have had programs in place for more than three years.

"Supply risk can ne...

CISCO PARTNER SUMMIT 2007 -- Cleveland Metroparks Zoo is making a trip to the zoo an entirely new experience for school kids around the country.

The zoo is now providing video learning programs from many of its animal exhibits throughout the 168-acre park using Cisco® (NASDAQ: CSCO) wireless mesh technology provided by Total Systems Integration, Inc. TSI is a Cisco Premier Certified Partner, Advanced Wireless, and Wireless Mesh Authorized Technology Provider (ATP).

Prior to the implementation of wireless technology, Cleveland Metroparks Zoo would broadcast animal education programs from within the walls of its two media centers. This meant that program presenters had to show animals in their zoo exhibits through the use of pictures and videos. Today, a program about orangutans, for example, can be broadcast from the actual viewing area where the prim...

China Direct Trading Corp. (OTCBB: CHDT) (China Direct), a Florida corporation, announces its wholly owned subsidiary, Capstone Industries ("Capstone"), has developed a new product called the "Travel Flip-Neck Booklight." This product will be introduced through a major book retailer's chain-wide 2007 Father's Day promotion. Our new booklight will be offered to all of Capstone's existing retail partners.

The Travel Flip-Neck Booklight is "ultra" lightweight for "Reading-On-The-Go" and easily fits into briefcases, pocket books, backpacks and is perfect for leisure and business travel. The 2 Super Bright LED Lights offer the consumer extra wide reading area coverage with a sturdy clip for all reading materials.

"Capstone intends to continue to develop new and innovative lighting products for our customers in the booklight market," said Gerry McClinton, Pres...

CISCO PARTNER SUMMIT 2007 -- Cisco® (NASDAQ: CSCO) today introduced Cisco Smart Care Service, designed to help small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) and midmarket customers simplify network maintenance through regular, proactive network assessments, remote software repairs and technical support. Based upon a collaborative approach to delivering services, Cisco Smart Care Service combines the complementary strengths of Cisco and its channel partners to proactively verify that a customer's network is secure, reliable and functioning optimally at all times. This global collaborative service is delivered exclusively through Cisco certified channel partners via a single maintenance customer service contract.

"As the network becomes the platform for business success in companies of all sizes, the service and support needs of SMB and midmarket customers are ...

Viva World Trade, Inc. (PINKSHEETS: VVWT) (the "Company" or "Viva") and its Mexican subsidiary Canmex Imports ("Canmex"), the exclusive importer and national distributor of the "mike's hard lemonade" brand family in Mexico, are pleased to announce the Company has entered into a sales and marketing agreement with Grupo ServiBar, S.A. de C.V. to introduce "mike's" to up to 50,000 hotel minibars across Mexico.

ServiBar is the one of world's largest manufacturers and administrators of complete turnkey hotel minibar and safe systems. Founded in 1973 and headquartered in Queretaro, Mexico, the company currently has systems located in over 300,000 hotel rooms worldwide.

The agreement will allow the Company to rollout "mike's hard lemonade" to up to 50,000 hotel room minibars across Mexico, with a large presence in Mexico City and all the popular resort areas...