Friday, November 30, 2007

More trouble for the American Red Cross

Just six months after being installed as the new CEO of The American Red Cross, Mark W. Everson has resigned under a veil of scandal. Just what the ARC needed. As one of the most recognizable non profits in the world this might cast a long shadow. The beleaguered ARC has had 8 CEO's in the past 12 years. When disaster strikes any where in the world, the ARC has always been there to give aid. Let's hope they can bounce back from this episode and reclaim their positive image.

Labels: fundraising, nonprofit

RMI's on the green bandwagon

Back in April of '06, we began issuing the majority of our reports and invoices online, easily saving over 30 thousand sheets of paper a year. Today we're taking our green initiatives a step further and have begun recycling all disposable paper products through Shred-it, a document destruction company. It's secure, convenient and amazingly affordable. Together Shred-it and their clients have saved more than 9 million trees each year! I encourage everyone to take a look at their brochure.

Here's another tree friendly idea: for the holidays (or any occasion for that matter) check out the Arbor Day Foundation's Give-A-Tree card program. For every greeting card purchased, a tree is planted in a national forest.

Labels: green, nonprofit, recycling

Foot notes from Nutrition Action

A few weeks back I wrote about the "Second Expert Report on Food, Nutrition, Physical Activity and the Prevention of Cancer: a Global Perspective" published by The American Institute for Cancer Research and the World Cancer Research Fund. This month's issue of the Nutrition Action Healthletter (published by Center for Science in the Public Interest) gives a very in depth review of what those findings are and what they mean. In addition they have an interview with Walter Willett head of the department of nutrition at Harvard School of Health in Boston. This article really boils down the information into a very understandable format. Excellent information.

Labels: health, newsletters, publishing

Thursday, November 29, 2007

And now, talking paper

No joke. Michael at News Blog points out a company called Labels that Talk which has developed a software allowing consumers to record a 10 second voice message into a bar code, like the one shown above. When scanned with a cheap scanner, or cell phone with a built in scanner, the message plays back. Target markets are pharmacies and hospitals for use on medicine bottles. I wonder - could there be potential for a new wave of direct mail?

Labels: paper, technology

Tuesday, November 27, 2007

News from National Arbor Day Foundation

With an eye towards the future the National Arbor Day Foundation is now Arbor Day Foundation. The Foundation's mission of inspiring people to plant, nurture, and celebrate trees continues to grow, now broadening to global outreach for global causes. Visit their web site for more information.

Labels: fundraising, green, international, nonprofit

Monday, November 26, 2007

Cyber I.D. Theft

In case you missed 60 Minutes this past Sunday, Nov. 25, the segment on I.D. Theft with Leslie Stahl, is on the CBS website. According to her report, store front retailers are easy marks for hackers to steal credit card information. No sophisticated equipment is needed and they can set up right outside the store in their car and get all the information they need. Retailers know about the upgraded security programs they need to prevent this but because it's so expensive, they continue to use outdated programs. Hackers can easily determine which programs are in use.

Major direct mail catalogers use data providers to assist in verifying the identity of customers at time of payment. A whole host of information is available to them like the last 4 digit of the SSN or the birth city or the type of car driven. This is to keep fraud down, not steal identification.

I can't remember the last time a retail cashier even compared the signature on my card to the sales receipt! Watch the 60 Minutes segment and then remember it the next time you check out.

Labels: fraud, identity theft, retail

Wednesday, November 21, 2007

Make-A-Wish launches viral game

Fundraising online has been a hot topic for nonprofits these days. Make-A-Wish recently kicked off Lamb Chop Drop, an entertaining and absolutely adorable game. An interactive program like this can easily blow your budget, but Make-A-Wish has it covered with a "Corporate Sponsors" page showcasing all of its donors and leaving room for nine more.

Darryl from Brandflakes notes that the "Donate your final score" option at the end is a very nice touch. And if nothing else, the game has at least generated awareness.

Labels: fundraising, nonprofit, viral marketing

Tuesday, November 20, 2007

New York and e-commerce tax

New York State is gearing up to add an 8.375% surcharge on purchases made online. The timing of this couldn't be any worse. Most retailers whether online, direct or storefront make most of their yearly sales during the holiday period. To announce this tax idea at this precise time is very harsh to say the least. According to Steven K. Berry of the DMA in and article from the DM News, it is questionable if this directive would even pass legal scrutiny.

Let's hope that this is a dead issue.

Labels: e-commerce, retail

Wednesday, November 14, 2007

Fundraising thru personal checks

I'm down to my last book of personal checks. It's at this point that I usually go on a rant about the lack of well designed checks available and turn to our local bank to order the same old batch. This insert however sold me immediately. The Breast Cancer Research Foundation has a new personal check package. Not only is it beautifully designed but a portion of the cost goes directly to the organization, and you have the opportunity to continually promote the cause. I love it.

I surfed the Internet to see if any other charities are doing the same thing and was surprised not to find any at all. And I have to believe that there are plenty of men out there who would love to support a good cause but may not be so quick to purchase a collection of pink checks... Nonprofits, here's your chance.

Labels: fundraising

Check out our snazzy booth

The professional photos of our new booth arrived today! Starring from left to right: Martin Stein, Tally Maffucci (hiding behind Martin), Mike Kertelits, Joe Russo, and Dennis Bass from CSPI. What a crowd.

Labels: DMA, exhibit

Tuesday, November 13, 2007

Now the dumps are dumping on us

As thoughtful direct marketers and good stewards of the environment, our company wanted to find a way to recycle our loose paper. Our first stop was to search on line our regional resource and recovery authority, http://www.hrra.org/ . At the top of their web page was a place for "tip of the week" which was how to stop "junk mail". When you click on it you are taken to another site for New American Dream which rails against direct mail, advocates the creation of a "Do Not Mail" list and much more.

It seem odd to me that a resource recovery organization would promote this as opposed to creating an option by which people could recycle catalogs and loose mail. They could turn it into a win-win proposition.

Labels: recycling

Friday, November 9, 2007

AICR/WCRF launch expert report

Last week The American Institute For Cancer Research and the World Cancer Research Fund released it's second expert report called "Food, Nutrition, Physical Activity, and the Prevention of Cancer: a Global Perspective".

This 517 page report took 5 years to prepare and involved 9 research teams from universities around the world. The panel of 21 internationally renowned scientists drew 10 recommendations after assessing over 7,000 published studies relating to 17 cancers sites, the causes of obesity, cancer survivors and health related recommendations for other diseases. All the recommendations were geared towards ways to reduce the risk of cancer by diet and physical activity along with body composition.

Labels: fundraising

Thursday, November 8, 2007

Non-profits in the virtual world

If you attended the 2007 Fast Forward Day you would have heard all about "Second Life" and the virtual world. Half of the audience was interested and the other half thought it worthless. I was and continue to be intrigued by the concept. For years non profits have struggled with the task of gaining a foot hold with the younger audience. I'm not talking about the 50-60 group I mean the 20-40's. I believe this is the way. In the October 29th issue of DM News Chantal Tode writes about how The Human Society of the United States launched their virtual store front, There.com. This is just one more of a growing number of non profits who are testing the waters in the virtual world. The American Cancer Society and World Wildlife Fund have already made headway in this arena.

Create awareness early and develop donors later. If you want to tap into your future donor base this is how to do it.

Labels: fundraising, virtual reality

Wednesday, November 7, 2007

Capitol Hill

If you ever get an invitation to be part of a group from the DMA to spend the day on Capitol Hill, take it. It is a very gratifying experience. In one day you are given one on one exposure, up close and personal, to Senators and Representatives who affect the way we do business.

This year we went there with a mission: to make sure that those Senators and Representatives, who hold positions on committees that influence direct mail, are aware of what our positions are on environmental issues, "Do Not Mail" legislation, identity theft and the use of Social Security Numbers.

At each of the seven meetings we had, (which by the way consumed an entire day of walking on concrete or marble floors, traversing multiple House and Senate office buildings), we were with extremely bright and knowledgeable Members of Congress or Staffers. They were all well versed on each of the issues we brought up and understood their individual impact and how they related on the whole to the economy of direct mail. They were genuinely appreciative that we met with them.

Multiply our visit by as many groups, organizations and associations trying to make contact with them and you can respect how hard a job these elected officials and their staff people have.

The take away from this day is this: if you want to make your voice heard, you've got to get involved. I was given access to speak directly to the Congressmen and women who can enact change. It was awesome!

Labels: DMA, legislation

Condé Nast taps photo marketplace

HOW magazine reported that Condé Nast partnered with Corbis.com to license photos from its Women's Wear Daily publication. Great idea of an extra revenue source for publishers.

Labels: photography, publishers

Monday, November 5, 2007

Customer service in cyberspace

There are certain things that just don't go together very well. I've realized that "customer service" and "high tech" might just be two.

One nice thing about direct mail is that if you have a problem you can call customer service and speak to a person. You always have the option of sending the product back.

The Apple Store is taking super high tech to a place it shouldn't... customer service. Hopefully you won't have to do this, but if you have a problem with an item you bought from their store, you can't just walk in and get help. No, you have to go online and make an appointment with one of their "geniuses". And you have to do this 24 hours ahead of time. Then you get to choose a time available for only 15 minutes. I bought a Mac Book, it broke, I need it fixed. Simple. Nope, not in the world of High Tech customer Service. Make an appointment we'll see you when we're available.

Put up one point for Direct Mail.

Labels: computers, customer service, technology

More anti direct mail attacks

If you are a direct marketer and haven't realized our industry is under serious attack you've been on vacation too long. With 15 states having 18 "Do Not Mail" bills this year alone (and at last count at least 7 will be carry overs to next year) we need to get ahead of the issues. Not withstanding the all out assault by the environmental groups demonizing the use of direct mail, you've got a perfect storm to put big hurt on all of us. The DMA has identified about 13 organizations who would like it very much if commercial and non profit mail stops. Groups like GreenDimes, 41Pounds and CatalogChoice are well organized and have the backing of some very well healed foundations like Merck Family, Overbrook Foundation and Tudor Investment Corporation.

The DMA has put in motion several great initiatives which are geared towards self policing on issues like recycling and The Commitment to Consumer Choice(CCC) and Mail Moves America. However, these items never seem to make it to the major news outlets or your local news channel.

Get the facts from the DMA website and get involved.