[February 14, 2006] Mailnet Services Acquires New York-Based MarketingForce; Broadens Capability to Offer One-Stop Shop Online for Direct Marketing, Advertising and Brand Management Tweet FRANKLIN, Tenn. --(Business Wire)-- Feb. 14, 2006 -- In a move to expand its offering of online marketing applications, Mailnet Services, Inc. today acquired the assets of MarketingForce, a New York-based technology firm providing easy-to-use brand management solutions to more than 35,000 channel partners, franchisees and licensees of global brands. The two companies have worked together since forming a strategic alliance in 2003. MarketingForce's advertising and marketing collateral capabilities mirror those Mailnet Services offers for direct mail. The acquisition combines the strength of the two platforms and will give clients the ability to create and customize marketing materials using a single source. "Together our services will ensure campaigns can maintain brand image and integrity, from creative concept to execution," said Don Leyrer, president and CEO of Mailnet Services. "Because local entities will have the ability to conduct a customized, cost-effective campaign, our combined offering will be of significant interest to national franchisors and multi-unit operations." R. Shane Kennedy, founder and president of MarketingForce, will become vice president of integrated solutions for Mailnet Services. Before launching MarketingForce in 2000, Kennedy was executive vice president and COO of McCann-Erickson Consumer Health in New York and also served as senior vice president at Nelson Communications, a division of Publicis. Kennedy will remain in his New York office. The rest of MarketingForce's operation will be integrated into Mailnet Services' existing infrastructure in Franklin, Tenn. "Merging our operations provides an integrated dimension to our services," Kennedy said. "Clients will have a full-service marketing agency on their desktop to research, plan and execute campaigns, efficiently delivering customized, branded materials." "Prior to the merger we were impressed with the end-to-end features both companies brought to the table as partners," said Joe Ewart, vice president sales and marketing with CruiseOne & Cruises Inc. "Now that they're a single company we're looking forward to even greater efficiency and effectiveness." MarketingForce's clients include channel partners, franchisees, dealers and licensees of companies such as Coldwell Banker, Serta International, ERA Real Estate, CruiseOne and Assante Wealth Management in Toronto. Mailnet Services has a diverse set of clients, including Blackbaud, Inc. a worldwide developer of software and data services for the non-profit industry, GS Marketing, Inc., a full-service direct marketing company in Houston that focuses on the automotive industry; and, Franchise Services, Inc., headquartered in Mission Viejo, Calif., the parent company of nearly 900 Sir Speedy and PIP franchises across the country. About Mailnet Services, Inc. Mailnet Services, Inc. helps businesses deliver direct mail for marketing campaigns quickly and cost effectively through two Internet-based services, MailnetExpress(R) and Listcleanup.com(R). MailnetExpress is an on-line application that allows for the development, scheduling, and fulfillment of customized and program-based direct marketing campaigns. Listcleanup.com is a data quality service and was the first to provide list hygiene via the Internet. About MarketingForce MarketingForce is the leader in providing exceptionally easy-to-use brand management solutions to global brands. Founded in April 2000 by a team of advertising and technology veterans, MarketingForce is an online marketing tool that has revolutionized the way business managers execute marketing campaigns. With more than 32,000 end-users and a list of blue chip clients including Coldwell Banker, ERA and Serta International, the MarketingForce adbuilding technology is proven to build brand reach and effectiveness . For more information, visit www.marketingforce.com or call Shane Kennedy at 347-721-9234. [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]