Summer Fun
NEED A BREAK from this year’s boring presidential race? You might want to attend a couple of DM events where you can at least believe what you hear.
The first is the summer National Center for Database Marketing conference, which runs from July 31-Aug. 2 at Bally’s and Paris Las Vegas. This year’s theme is converting data into value you can measure.
That’s a hot topic, judging by DIRECT’s annual List Roundtable, which appears in this issue. Our panelists say they are relying more on their house files, which means they need advanced modeling tools.
NCDM features sessions not only on database marketing, but on the various disciplines associated with customer relationship management.
You’ll hear Philip N. Diehl, president of Zale.com and former director of the U.S. Mint, on how to create a truly customer-centric organization.
Bruce W. Schnitzer, chairman of Wand Partners, will speak on the future of database modeling. NCDM also has one-day intensives for beginners. Still bored? There’s always the gaming tables.
The other warm-weather event is List Vision, formerly known as List Day. It takes place at New York’s Grand Hyatt on Aug. 17. The highlight will be an interactive roundtable led by Donn Rappaport, American List Counsel; Ben Isaacson, the Association for Interactive Media, and Jay Schwedelson, Worldata.
List Vision is always one of our favorite events of the year. Some people go for the sessions. Others go to mingle in the hallways and for the tabletop exhibit area. There’s an exciting mercantile atmosphere about it all.
Do you rent lists, either traditional or e-mail? Is your own list on the rental market? Then you should spend the day at the Grand Hyatt. And you can prepare for the event by reading our Roundtable. Unlike past years where we invited managers and brokers, this year we spoke to the mailers themselves. And they had plenty to say. Thanks to moderator Lesli Rodgers for putting them on the spot.
Personal Notes
Congratulations to Beth Negus on her marriage to Paul Viveiros. Between editing 1to1 magazine and preparing for the wedding, Beth had plenty going on during the months of May and June. You can read her reflections on the bridal shopping experience in Pushing the Envelope.
And best wishes to Laura Beaudry, who has resigned as editorial director of Catalog Age after 12 years on the magazine. In addition to being a good friend, Laura is a model of editorial excellence and integrity. We’ll miss her.
