Cataloger Collections Etc. Selects Harte-Hanks to Optimize Customer Value - Harte-Hanks to build, implement and expand sophisticated customer database using Allink(R) database marketing solution - ORLANDO, Fla., Dec. 6 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Harte-Hanks, Inc. (NYSE: HHS), a worldwide, direct marketing and targeted media company, today announced that Collections Etc., a specialty catalog company, has engaged Harte-Hanks to assist the company in taking a more predictive and effective approach to marketing. By building and implementing a customer-oriented database marketing solution, Harte-Hanks seeks to help Collections Etc. grow its customer base significantly and foster one-to-one dialogues with both customers and prospects. "Savvy consumers, with unprecedented access to information and choices from other multichannel marketers, are demanding more from their relationships with retailers and catalogers," said Kathy Calta, corporate officer and senior vice president, Harte-Hanks. "Collections Etc., like other catalogers today, is faced with increased marketing costs, list performance pressures, challenging response rates and an ever-increasing competitive landscape. To respond to these market pressures, catalog mailers are seeking products and services that optimize customer value and return on investment (ROI) against their multichannel marketing investment strategies." "Collections Etc. is working to break out of 'business-as-usual' marketing strategies, position the company for profitable growth, and reduce operating costs by implementing a sophisticated customer database marketing solution," said Todd Lustbader, president, Collections Etc. "We selected Harte-Hanks to help us achieve these goals because the company has the ability to integrate marketing strategy, analytics and the right technologies into a valuable corporate asset that will help us grow our business. With many years experience applying best practices in database marketing, Harte-Hanks has a proven track record of success and innovation." "Harte-Hanks will meet Collections Etc.'s short- and long-term marketing needs by combining the right mix of experienced people, proven process and leading technology solution," Calta said. "To ensure the speed and success of the engagement, we will apply the best practices found in our Allink solution and utilize the Allink Services Center, an interactive workroom that utilizes cutting-edge Web portal technology to facilitate everything from planning to implementation; and from application level support to on-demand marketing assistance." Harte-Hanks will support Collections Etc. in achieving its cross-sell and retention goals by creating a complete "360-degree" view of customer interactions. Collections Etc. will look to maximize retention and up-sell programs, better integrate customer and prospecting efforts, seamlessly support complicated multi-tiered campaigns, help control mail costs, and communicate more effectively with customers through the catalog and on the Web. Working together, Harte-Hanks will help Collections Etc. shift from mass marketing to segmented targeting through different channels and develop sophisticated segmentation beyond the RFM (recency, frequency and monetary) scores. These strategic initiatives will also improve the cataloger's knowledge of customers' preferences and turn that insight into real customer intelligence, enabling more informed decisions about merchandising and product bundling. Harte-Hanks made the announcement at the National Center for Database Marketing Winter 2004 Conference here today. The company is exhibiting at the show and can be found at booth #710. About Collections Etc. Collections Etc. is privately owned catalogue company located in Elk Grove Village, Illinois. The catalog operation was founded in 1997 and today offers a collection of unique selection of gifts, home essentials and garden accessories for $14.99 or less. Sales and Special items are available to Web site customers at $8.97. The company, which offers more than 800 active SKUs, backs each product with a 100% unconditional guarantee to ensure complete customer satisfaction. Collections Etc. is ranked number 85 in the "2004 Catalog Age 100" list published by Catalog Age magazine, beating other brand names including Ross Simons, Lillian Vernon, and J Crew. The list ranks the top 100 U.S.-based catalogers based on catalog and Web sales in 2003. About the Allink(R) Solution Suite and Harte-Hanks The Allink(R) Solution Suite helps companies in diverse markets achieve measurable ROI (return on investment) through the application of data-driven marketing strategies for a more relevant and better-targeted approach to marketing. The Allink Solution Suite is a blend of Harte-Hanks 30 years' experience in vertical marketing strategy, analytics, direct marketing best practices, end-to-end marketing services and leading-edge technology. Each Allink solution is built to meet the unique requirements of marketers within specific vertical markets who want to increase multichannel marketing know-how and effectiveness, contain personnel resources and costs, act on customer information in real-time, and develop tailored marketing programs that give their companies a competitive advantage. Harte-Hanks, Inc., San Antonio, TX, is a worldwide, direct and targeted marketing company that provides direct marketing services and shopper advertising opportunities to a wide range of local, regional, national and international consumer and business-to-business marketers. Harte-Hanks Direct Marketing improves the return on its clients' marketing investment with a range of services organized around five solution points: Construct and update the database - Access the data - Analyze the data - Apply the knowledge - Execute the programs. Visit the Harte-Hanks Web site at http://www.harte-hanks.com/ or call (800) 456-9748. Harte-Hanks, the Harte-Hanks logo, and Allink are registered trademarks of Harte-Hanks, Inc. Media Contacts: Chet Dalzell, Harte-Hanks (212) 520-3232 Michelle Boockoff-Bajdek, Harte-Hanks (978) 436-8729 Liza Colburn, Horn Group, Inc. (781) 356-7123 DATASOURCE: Harte-Hanks, Inc. CONTACT: Chet Dalzell, +1-212-520-3232, , or Michelle Boockoff-Bajdek, +1-978-436-8729, both of Harte- Hanks; or Liza Colburn of Horn Group, Inc., +1-781-356-7123, Web site: http://www.harte-hanks.com/

Copyright