Marketing Information

Best-in-Class companies are 6 times more likely to have gained significant competitive advantage due to implementing Supply Chain Finance (SCF) technology, according to a new benchmark report from Aberdeen Group, a Harte-Hanks Company (NYSE: HHS). A company was named "Best-in-Class" in using SCF technology if it had reported performance improvements over the past 18 months in at least 3 of a series of financial/process metrics that could be directly attributed to the use of a financial supply chain technology platform.

Based on the survey findings, Best-in-Class companies are more likely to understand the value SCF technology can bring in improving corporate financial performance, while their peers are focused more on transactional efficiency improvements. Best-in-Class companies were found to process twice as much volume via their main SCF platform as their low...

Linkwell Corporation (OTCBB: LWLL), a leading developer, manufacturer and distributor of healthcare related disinfectants in China, today announced that its wholly owned subsidiary, Shanghai Likang Disinfectant, has recently signed an agreement with Shanghai Youlai Chemical Technology Company, Limited ("Shanghai Youlai") to manufacture disinfectant products specifically designed for use on containers inspected by China Customs through ports in Shanghai, China. The annual additional revenue from this one agreement for Shanghai Likang Disinfectant is estimated to be $1.2 million.

China Customs inspects tens of thousands of containers that are shipped in and out of China each month. China Customs is required by law to disinfect any containers that they inspect. Shanghai Branch of China customs charges shippers or manufacturers approximately $26 million per year ...

Retailers are showing signs of significant maturation in their approach to RFID. While only 6.5% of retailers surveyed are spending money on RFID technology today, twice that have budget allocated toward RFID implementation.

In a new report by Aberdeen Group, a Harte-Hanks Company (NYSE: HHS), titled "RFID: Roadmap for Retail," Aberdeen reveals that retailers are dropping mandate-driven RFID initiatives in favor of programs that will address supplier visibility, inventory management and customer service. Thus, the value proposition of RFID to retailers can be segmented into three general areas: "Many RFID initiatives suffer because they are perceived as an IT issue. When the retail CEO taps an operations manager with technical skills to be the RFID 'thought leader' for the organization and enlists the collaboration of the IT group, the initiative has a much bett...

The once clearly defined differences in high availability, business continuance and disaster recovery are becoming blurred as more end users try to centralize the process of keeping businesses running 24/7, according to a new report by Aberdeen Group, a Harte-Hanks Company (NYSE: HHS) titled "High Availability: Data Protection and Recovery for Continuous Uptime."

"Our research shows that the process of protecting businesses against risk is evolving and it is becoming more centralized," said Sonia Lelii, a research analyst at Aberdeen Group. "Ultimately, this should weed out inefficiencies that occur when business continuance, high availability and disaster recovery are treated as three separate initiatives."

Aberdeen's research also found that organizations understand the importance of high availability in insuring their applications and data are available co...

Small to midsize enterprises (SMEs) are leveraging product lifecycle management (PLM) technology and adopting best practices to improve product development and deliver more innovative products to customers. A recently published report, Profitable Product Development for SMEs by Aberdeen Group, a Harte-Hanks Company (NYSE: HHS), finds that Best in Class companies are hitting the product development metrics that drive profitable growth 49% to 74% more frequently than average competitors. These top performers are up to 14 times as likely as their poorer performing competitive counterparts to meet key targets for product launch dates, product revenue, product costs, development budgets and quality targets.

"As a result of their superior ability to meet development targets, Best in Class companies are delivering innovative products to market an average of 22% faster t...

Digital prototyping and electronic notification technologies are helping engineering and manufacturing organizations to meet launch dates, revenue, cost and quality targets -- on budget -- despite demand for more products of increasing complexity according to a new report from Aberdeen, a Harte-Hanks Company (NYSE: HHS).

Findings from Aberdeen's Digital Product Development Benchmark Report show that digital prototyping enables the assessment of a product's performance and manufacturability. Additionally, electronic forms, lifecycle management and workflows all automate the notification of product development stakeholders. For example, among companies surveyed, 51% of top performers assess manufacturability prior to design kickoff through digital prototypes.

"Digital product development technologies allow companies to build fewer physical prototypes, process f...

IWT Tesoro Corporation (OTCBB: IWTT), a market leader in wholesale distribution and merchandising of ceramic, porcelain, and natural stone floor and wall tiles, announces that it is has contracted with Global Media Fund, Inc.(GMF). GMF will provide $5 million worth of nationally syndicated newspaper features, nationally syndicated radio features and other pre-paid media over the next three years using GMF's currently utilized, industry standard advertising rates. The agreement calls for the regular distribution of feature articles to approximately 10,000 newspapers, news and wire services, industry journals, and consumer publications. The campaign also includes support for Tesoro's distribution channels and wholesale customers. In addition, GMF will coordinate an annual conference specifically focused on meeting Tesoro customer needs and showcasing the company's ...

PrimEdge, Inc. (PINKSHEETS: PEDG) proudly announces that its subsidiary, Orangebox Entertainment, completed the entire post-production on "Premonition," a science-fiction thriller starring Sandra Bullock ("Miss Congeniality" (2000), "Two Weeks Notice" (2002), "Forces of Nature" (1999), "Hope Floats" (1998), "While You Were Sleeping" (1995), and "Speed" (1994)).

PrimEdge is pleased to report today that worldwide ticket sales have toppled $50,000,000 worldwide.

The Sony Pictures (www.sonypictures.com) blockbuster hit, produced by Hyde Park Films ("Shopgirl" (2005) and "Walking Tall" (2004)), opened on March 16, 2007, less than one month ago.

In the movie, Sandra Bullock plays a woman that learns her husband, played by Julian McMahon (Dr. Christian Troy on FX Channel's "Nip/Tuck"), was killed in a car accident...

The Cobalt Group, the leading provider of marketing services to the retail automotive industry, and its Dealix division, the leading provider of automotive Internet sales leads, announced today that it is once again a provider of choice to the nation's top 100 Internet dealers, as ranked by Ward's Dealer Business. This year, 94 of the nation's top Internet dealers use Dealix and its parent company Cobalt.

Every year, Ward's, a preeminent source for automotive industry information, ranks the top 100 dealers in the nation on the basis of units sold via the Internet. Ward's was the first automotive trade publication to recognize the increasingly important role that Internet departments play in overall auto sales, and the first to rank the top Internet dealers in the US.

"These dealers are making significant improvements on their Internet sales numbers every year -- collectively going from 61,000 vehicles sol...

Claritas Inc., the premier provider of intelligent marketing information and target marketing services, announced today it had entered into an agreement with PRO Group, a leading co-op for independent consumer electronics retailers, to provide its membership with targeted marketing information developed from the PRIZM® NE lifestyle segmentation system.

Neil Portnoy, Claritas Assistant Vice President, Consumer Durables, said the PRIZM NE data will be utilized to create custom segments based on data from PRO Group members' customer files. He added that the analysis of the customer data, which is being funded by a major electronics manufacturer, is currently underway.

"This level of cooperation between retailers and manufacturers is groundbreaking and will result in the execution of target marketing strategies aimed at upscale consumers in all trade areas where PRO Group retailers are located," Portnoy said. "PRO Group retailers will drive more foot-traffic into stores," cont...