2004 a Record Year for DM Deals

| Mark Del Franco

Mergers and acquisitions activity within the direct marketing industry was at a record high last year, according to New York-based investment banking firm Petsky Prunier. The firm tallied 550 transactions in 2004 among direct marketing, marketing service, and marketing technology companies

Joie de Vivre

| MCM staff

It’s good to be Vivre these days. The New York-based luxury brands cataloger’s sales rose 54% last year, far exceeding expectations, to an estimated $60

Out of Order

| MCM staff

Steve Dethlefs, DC ManagerPendleton Woolen MillsPortland, OR Our fashion merchandise is basically perishable, so our planning is tight. We don’t want

Ballard Designs heads outside

| Mark Del Franco

Based on the success of the patio furniture and other outdoor products sold in its spring and summer catalogs, Atlanta-based home decor title Ballard

TEN STEPS TO ACCURATE SKU PROFILING

| MCM staff

SINCE THE EARLIEST DAYS of warehousing, operators have searched for the most efficient method to store and retrieve inventory. For a long time, finding

Slow & Steady

| Debra Ellis

There is a breakdown between the theory and the implementation of customer relationship management. The theory seems simple enough: Create a unique shopping

Deal market in hibernation for Q4

| Mark Del Franco

Deal-making bears spent the fourth quarter of 2004 hibernating, judging from the scarcity of industry mergers and acquisitions during the time. Only 11

Collegiate Pacific Buys Another Distributor

| MCM staff

Dallas-based sports equipment marketer Collegiate Pacific has signed a letter of intent to acquire $7 million Bourbonnais, IL-based team sports distributor Salkeld Sports.