ECMODShout

NETWORKING IS PRICELESS

2010-08-19T07:37:00.000-07:00

Isn't it always the case that it isn't WHAT you know but WHO you know that makes the vital difference between success and failure. And that applies whether you're trying to advance your career in the sector, building your personal reputation or developing important contacts for the future of your business. You also know that unless you are utterly memorable, which few of us are, you are likely to be easily forgotten if you don't make a point of showing your face and making yourself heard on a regular basis. There are lots of ways to achieve that but one of the best and most rewarding is to network at every available opportunity particularly at long established events like ECMOD. For some that means booking a conference place and actively taking part in all the sessions that are intriguing; for others that means booking a stand and being sure to let everyone know where to find you. Others make a point of visiting ECMOD and making appointments to see key contacts who'll be there and they do it well in advance .... whichever you choose be sure to hot-foot it to ECMOD for priceless networking on 6th-7th October at Earls Court Exhibition Centre - the West Brompton station side of Earls Court Hall 1 - and to let everyone know you'll be joining us .... you can find out all you need to about the two packed days of conference sessions, the free seminars, which companies are exhibiting and more at
www.ecmod360.co.uk - and if yon need any additional info then call one of our team on 01271-866112

ECMOD2010 our 20th Anniversary Show

2010-07-01T00:45:00.000-07:00

With our 20th anniversary conference programme now close to completion we're delighted to announce that Johnnie Boden will be joining us for a special interview session. Johnnie, who had built one of the most successful multi-channel businesses in the UK rarely commits to public speaking engagements, so hosting the founder of Boden is a major coup for us. We will be announcing many more of our speakers over the coming days so do stay in touch via www.ecmod360.co.uk - our show dates are
6-7th October at Earls Court.

UK was very foreign to US mailers

2009-10-29T06:43:00.000-07:00

My first meeting with Don Libey took place in a lovely little Italian restaurant called Antico - Eton High Street - it is still there ! He and Jim Bromley from RapidForms had come over to sort out the acquisition of a UK business forms business called Standard Forms (Romsey, Hants)..

It was one of those meetings that went on and on ..... skipping from one topic to another - and I think (at least) found me a new a friend. Ever since - and I think it must have been as long ago as 1987 or perhaps 1988 - we've found ways to work together. Don has spoken at ECMOD as well as at a few other standalone conferences run by my business - and, of course, had been an ECMOD Awards judge as well as a speaker at Catalogue Exchange events. I've also been delighted to be able to publish articles by Don in Catalogue e-Business magazine - but that's a whole new story.

What many people don't know is that it was Don who initially recommended Amy Africa to me when I was scouring the world for a brilliant speaker on all things web ! Don also introduced to Kevin Hillstrom .... in other words he has been of enormous help to my businesses from way back right up to now.

Whoops some of charter event chaps overlooked

2009-10-28T05:18:00.000-07:00

How did I manage to forget Gordon Ellis-Brown from the roster of attendees at that very first ECMOD - sorry ! Think there were a few others too - very possibly John Hearle from Seton.

That brings me neatly around to Seton. Recall my first meeting with Dick Fiske who was then US CEO of the business at a conference of the Business Mailers Group in Chicago - 1984 ? Anyway made a small presentation there about international (UK) opportunities awaiting US B2B catalog businesses - and Dick decided to test. A few months later and the lovely John Hearle had been assigned from the UK Brady Corporation team to lead the start-up and my business LMI provided the lists, print management, and lettershop work. Suffice to say the Seton UK business went on to flourish and I even had a hand in finding its first marketing manager who was brought in as the first UK catalogues were coming on stream and I also had a bit of a hand in recommending Sanderson's Mailbrain solution to the business. What's great these days is that Seton has won lots of ECMOD Awards - it is a real role model for the B2B sector - and that its current CEO Peter Sephton spoke at our ECMOD2009 conference. (Indeed I remember when Peter first joined the business and took part in a certification programme which we ran in association with Ernie Schell in Worcester). And Dick Fiske along with head of international Guy Markhewka became fabulous sources of new US B2B contacts - including the fabulous Don Libey who I must have known since 1985 ?
more later ....

Deeper Inside - Anniversary Looming

2009-10-27T06:52:00.000-07:00

Ok so now here we are with ECMOD2009 delivered and feedback kindly collected and processed by Feefo - and responded to by yours truly.

So what has changed since our very first event which, incidentally was co-located with a (then) groundbreaking seminar on that latest new breakthrough the CD-ROM - on Brunel University's Englefield Green, Egham, Surrey campus. Delegates included Nigel Swabey, who was heading up Innovations back then, and who attended with Judi Fox - who remains a colleague at Nigel's current business Scotts & Co. We also welcomed John Wright from Blue Sheep, Steve Blain from Sanderson, a couple of chaps from Polestar, Lynn Lewis from Nauticalia, & a smattering of others. I believe that we had some of the Misco & Waterlow people in attendance, Graham Lomax who was then with Power-Up Software, & possibly also Henry Heavisides. That was it. A simple single day conference. The brochure for the event was a very amateur looking 4 pager which mailed to our whole database - then a somewhat paltry 700 names. We got some coverage in Direct Response which helped build some awareness resulting in a total of 48 in attendance and the feedback was good enough to make us - Michael Balmforth and me - to stage a follow up.

Meanwhile the CD-ROM seminar delivered by US presenter & long term Fred Stern drew around 30 delegates from a wide range of organisations - UK & overseas - for which was pretty much cutting edge stuff for its era.

Inside Eye - 20 year anniversary looming

2009-10-27T04:46:00.000-07:00

What many ECMOD delegates, visitors, exhibitors, speakers, sponsors don't know is how ECMOD came into being or, for that matter, how long it has been going. This is important stuff because what most of you won't know either is that half a dozen or so major publishing groups have tried to acquire ECMOD over the years and all have been rejected. Yes, some were lucrative and would have seen yours truly able to walk away with a tidy reward. And the most recent was outrageous - ie: they'd take the show and swallow it whole into their own upstart event for, well, nothing at all ! OK times have become a little tougher these past two years and budgets have been cut by all businesses - but ECMOD is here to stay. If the right buyer comes along - ie: a buyer who will retain the Devon based team and grow the business - of course a deal will be done. But it has to be the right deal or no deal at all.

So where is the value in ECMOD ? Let's first consider its history. It is not an recent upstart of an event jumping on the internet/home shopping bandwagon and nor was it ever formed to make its founder a fast buck. It was one of few routes into the market left open to yours truly, following a real dog of a deal done with KLP (remember them?) for the direct marketing services business I used to own a minority stake in. As often happens, the buyer really didn't understand any of the dozen or more of the businesses acquired (funny that, as KLP's CEO went on to become President of the UK DMA !) and nor did the buyer bring anything tangible to the party. Instead it choked what had been a very successful entrepreneurial business with red tape, pointless meetings, stuff & nonsense whilst continuing to make further acquisitions.

Mere months into the new ownership - which saw me locked into a nasty no compete contract and having seen none of the promised rewards - I walked out leaving two particularly vicious employees (witches) battling to take my place. My onerous no compete service agreement prevented me from going into any of the business areas that the group was active in - and, of course, from taking any clients with me. Clients included many international publishing and B2B catalogue businesses - many of which were headquartered in the US as well as a growing number of consumer catalogue businesses and charities.

One of the aforementioned "witches" even had the gall to call me at home with a fake American accent pretending to be looking for help with its launch in the UK ... such was the paranoia of the group. I had never thought myself to be particularly powerful - I was simple good at sniffing out business opportunities, making two and two equal six or more, and following my nose. So there we were in leafy riverside Datchet with a private eye assigned to watch my house and receiving these silly calls. Crazy ! My then 7 year old daughter found the whole business hysterical. Looking back it was sheer madness - and once I started my new venture my former clients in the US, Asia, Europe and the UK were there for me in droves. I had lots of offers come my way but was careful not to wind up in court so with a little consultancy here and there to keep the wolf from the door I had the chance to do something that had always appealed to me.

I had always been a fan of Joe Hanson, the founder and publisher of Catalog Age and Folio magazines in the US. He had developed tradeshows for both titles and I'd exhibited at them, and had also been a regular (often lone British) exhibitor at the US DMA Fall & Spring shows. At one stage I helped Joe with some subscription marketing in Europe but there were few takers for Catalog Age as it was just too American for most. I got hold of my old friend Adrian Courtenay (founder & publisher of what was the leading US sector publication DM News) and asked his advice. I had modelled a publication I launched in the UK - called World List News - on his title (this was one of the assets of LMI that KLP was swift to have me sell off ). Old chum & former client Michael Balmforth was at a bit of a loose end - between roles - and within a few weeks of my exiting LMI, Mike and I had promoted and delivered our very first Catalogue Day conference. That was in 1990. Michael moved on to other major things in the US and Europe leaving me with a fledgling business that could only work if I undertook other projects - so undertake other projects I did !

more coming soon .....

Delivery promises ... broken

2009-09-07T02:24:00.000-07:00

A lot of sector businesses are busily shopping for alternative delivery services following the ongoing disruption to Royal Mail postal services. But who is working to bolster consumer confidence in buying direct during this period ? The long term damage caused to our multi-channel retail clients' businesses cannot easily be measured .... and not all businesses currently have the volumes to be able find an alternative carrier for all of the business they would ordinarily hand without question to Royal Mail. At ECMOD we will attempt to address these issues via two sessions which will review the current offerings in the alternative carrier market ... be sure to take part !

Still on the issue of delivery, how gracious of Cotton Traders to finally write to me on 2nd September to cancel an order placed on 20th July - for which it had seen fit charge my credit card on processing said order. Without putting too fine a point on it, this is contrary to the spirit of distance selling regulations and it makes me wonder how many others are inadvertently "funding" the likes of Cotton Traders. Can't be doing its own, or indeed the sector's, reputation any favours through such shoddy practice and its tardy customer communications process.

ECMOD conference programme published !!!!

2009-06-27T03:40:00.000-07:00

All the chasing & the juggling is now complete - we have our all new, sizzling, conference programme for the 7th & 8th October fully confirmed. We're back at Earls Court Exhibition Centre - in the Brompton Halls which is right opposite West Brompton station.

We've a special overnight room rate secured at our ECMOD HQ hotel The Copthorne Tara, Kensington as well as the Catalogue Exchange/ECMOD Supplier Awards taking place at the hotel on the evening of 7th October.

All ECMOD delegates can look forward to a fantastic array of speakers from the UK & the USA with great networking, business development and learning opportunities - all under one roof. Not forgetting the extensive ECMOD exhibition which features some of the best specialist suppliers in the business ! There is plenty to appeal to everyone and until August 15th there are fabulous early bird discounts on offer with all delegates from Catalogue Exchange member companies receiving great discounts too !

It can all be found at www.ecmod360.co.uk

Thanks, thanks, thanks

2009-06-13T08:21:00.000-07:00

A frantic few days & all the finer details of the ECMOD programme are finally in ... and we have to say that this year's offering is nothing short of awesome. Our theme Driving Profitability has really begun to strike chords in our ECMOD community - and client side speakers are keen to share their experience & help others on the path to success. There isn't a multichannel, etail , retail or catalogue business of note that won't be looking to take part. And with some of the most talented expert speakers heading over from the US, all ECMOD participants get access to the best of both worlds. Understandably we are already fielding registrations for the conference and for the exhibition .... and there are fantastic early bird deals available for those who move quickly to snap up the allocation.

Latest speakers to join: Andrew Shapin of Long Tall Sally; Sam Andrews of Snow Valley; Luke Dashper of Selective Marketplace; Terry Flynn of Headsets.com (USA) ..... & new exhibitors are signing up daily

www.ecmod360.co.uk to keep up to date

ECMOD2009
7-8 October
Earls Court Exhibition Centre

Driving Profitability - a fitting ECMOD theme

2009-06-10T23:09:00.000-07:00

Will admit to having been somewhat sidetracked over past month ... with the hugely successful Catalogue Exchange Annual Summit on June 3rd - the Feefo reviews of said Summit, new developments for the Catalogue Exchange website, Twitter (yes, we're hooked follow us @ECMODSHOW) and chasing our lovely ECMOD speakers for the niceties - like pix & biogs ....
& do we have an impressive line-up this year ?!!!

I can now confirm the full programme which has so much great material to compress into two solid days that we've added breakfast sessions, over-lunch sessions, a great evening soiree for the Catalogue Exchange members & their guests ...& more - we have US experts galore combining with some of the most successful practitioners in the UK to deliver a brilliant blend of inspirational "on the money"tips, advice, all of it practical & applicable to your business. Session topics include digital & direct marketing, exploiting social media, trigger emails, branding, copywriting, creative, international, website usability, data mining, catalogue circulation planning, systems implementation, production, SEO, SEM, business development & more. Remember too that unlike many of the current wave of broader based events, when you take part in the ECMOD conference you will not be queueing with a bunch of students and assorted freeloaders to listen to sales pitches from suppliers in a flimsy temporary structure with poor acoustics - you will instead be taking your seat in a purpose built, comfortable conference room with your peers. Our registration fees are modest - the value is stunning - and with early bird rates in place to encourage you to reserve your seats ...... this year's ECMOD is a stunner.

Catalogue Exchange members get an even bigger discount as well as access to special member only sessions - including the unique Behind Closed Doors discussion for client side CEOs, MDs, & other board directors .... and there is a even a VIP dining area this year ! Sorry to keep wittering on about the Catalogue Exchange - but you must understand how passionate we are about it. It is an inner circle that has some of the most active businesses in the sector fully involved in supporting each other .... and with annual membership of just £245 for client side businesses with sales up to £1 million - and just £495 for those with over £1 million annual sales - it is the bargain of the century. Associate membership for supplier organisations is pegged at £695 a year ... and helps these businesses to foster strong mutually beneficial relationships with our full member companies. www.catalogueexchange.co.uk or follow @CatalogueEx on Twitter to learn of new members joining, upcoming events, and special member offers.

Back to ECMOD ....
New this time is an International Boulevard in the exhibition hall for all our expert international service providers - international is huge this year with great opportunities for businesses in all niches to extend their reach ..... we have some excellent conference content too on international marketing & logistics ....

We also have a Catalogue Exchange Village - a lovely area of the exhibition hall constructed around a central cafe with CatEx associate member stands lining its walkways - here there'll be hosted lunch sessions, a meeting point, advice desks & lots more ....

TA Design is running a competition to win free catalogue makeover worth £7000 .... and there are loads of other great show offers being lined up.

The dates: October 7-8 at Earls Court Exhibition Centre
www.ecmod360.co.uk

Getting It Sorted !

2009-05-08T08:50:00.000-07:00

Lovely day today. Getting all the speaker biogs into shape & putting the structure in for the conference programme - it is looking good ! John Lenser & Michelle Farabaugh from Lenser in the USA, Amy Africa & Ernie Schell coming back over, Bill LaPierre from Millard over for the first time, the delectable Justin Metcalf returning to grace our event - plus lots of fabulous client side contributors.

What with the Catalogue Exchange Village and the International Boulevard lined up for the Exhibition Hall it is all looking spectacularly good. Exhibition stands are being booked on a daily basis now that we're into the new financial year's budget for lots of companies.

Visit www.ecmod360.co.uk for an update on how the show is developing - you can also register there to visit the exhibition on 7th & 8th October - no charge for coming in to browse the stands - and the conference fees will be finalised next week with fabulous discounts on offer for all those who book early and are/or are Catalogue Exchange members ..... watch this space ....

Integrate or (dis) integrate ...

2009-04-30T06:12:00.000-07:00

A few years ago everyone - and I mean everyone thought that the days of print catalogues, retail stores, call centres manned by real human beings, & off the page ads were numbered. And OK we have all been through a seriously challenging period and yes, there have been casualties across the Board - we've seen major retail chains collapse, catalogue businesses run clean out of funds, as well as some major multi-channel names turn in some pretty poor trading results. Some were weak anyway and and the downturn simply accelerated their decline or demise, but we and our esteemed contacts can't help thinking that some could have been saved. OK we agree that hindsight is a marvellous thing .... but consider this ...

The rules of engagement for each of the channels most direct businesses now deploy are markedly different - but the goal is the same.

We seek customers who will take a look at our offering, decide it is for them and make their first purchases - we want each of them to be pleased with the service we gave as well as with the item(s) they bought and we'd like it very much if they'd return and buy again as well as spread positive opinions about us. This applies to every business in our sector whether it targets businesses and organisations, or consumers, and regardless of the channels the seller uses to reach and service customers.

This year we are seeing many businesses which vowed they would forever be wholly web/online centric clammering to learn how to create & produce effective catalogues, direct mail pieces, loose inserts, customer magazines & gain PR coverage in print media . Slow adopters of web/online channels are entering partnerships with businesses that have mastered the channels they have not ... or are engaging in lengthy searches to find the right suppliers to support them. No business can afford to err or compromise its brand values through naff execution as it adopts new channels and we are recording a growing desire from businesses for expert guidance which will help them to embrace, orchestrate and optimise campaigns across all channels along with demand for training on precisely how best to leverage all of the tools available to their full potential.

The questions we all need to ask are:

what drives demand for our businesses most cost-effectively and delivers long term profitable customers ? how do we accurately measure our performance across each channel ? how do we apportion our budgets for the very best ROI ? how can we fully integrate our campaigns and maximise their effectiveness ? how can we embrace the opportunities and succeed even wwith constrained budgets ?

All of this & much, much more will be explored (along with a good deal more) at ECMOD this October courtesy of the expert practitioners and thought leaders taking part in our multi-stream conference programme. The programme will be released very soon.

Paid for Search ... is it over ?

2009-04-24T06:49:00.000-07:00

Spend is declining on paid for search according to research carried out by Efficient Frontier. Is this because budgets are tightening and stricter ROI measures are being applied ? Or is because savvy site owners are deploying greater SEO skills ?

These issues will be fully explored at ECMOD October 7-8th within the ECMOD2009 Conference programme.

Welcome

2009-04-24T05:41:00.000-07:00

Hot on the heels of our ECMOD Awards, we're revving up for major focus n our upcoming ECMOD Show - and will be announcing new speakers on the hour every hour via our new Twitter account twitter @ ECMODSHOW

This year's show will see a return to our tried and trusted format with a host of U.S. experts flown in to share their experience & wisdom along with a raft of seasoned client side practitioners from some of our best known & most successful homegrown companies.

There will also be a special stream for The Catalogue Exchange and its members - CatEx@ECMOD plus, we understand an after hours networking party on he evening of the 7th October ...