Dec 18

Response December: A Beauty, CE Tools and the Big Top 50!

Mally Roncal shimmers on the cover of the December Response.

Mally Roncal shimmers on the cover of the December Response.

The December issue of Response is now available online, and I’m happy to say we closed out the year with a strong book, hitting two key vertical markets — beauty and consumer electronics. Let’s take a look at some of the key pieces to the issue!

  • The story behind celebrity make-up artist Mally Roncal’s incredible foray into home shopping and DRTV isn’t all glitz and glamour. Certainly, while Roncal parlayed her stellar work for such celebrities as Beyoncé, Rihanna and Angelina Jolie — among many others — into the now-powerful Mally Beauty brand of cosmetics, her background growing up in suburban New York City was far from glamorous. It did, however, prepare her to take the airwaves by storm from her first appearance on QVC in 2005. With the help of DRTV production veteran Bob Caudill, our story on Roncal and business partner Don Pettit showcases two people who truly love what they do. Here’s the link again, if you missed it above: Looking Beautiful, Feeling Beautiful
  • In a feature written by long-time Response contributor Bridget McCrea, we dig into the ways certain consumer electronics products are helping consumer electronics marketers utilize the tenets of direct response to sell their products. With the rise of smartphones and tablets as both marketing outlets and shopping devices, it’s our goal to continue to keep our readers abreast of the ever-changing technological landscape. If you missed the link above, here’s the story: CE Sells CE
  • One of our most eagerly awaited stories every year is the IMS ranking of the top 50 DRTV spots and infomercials of the year. Put together by Sam Catanese and his crack research and analysis staff in Philadelphia, this is the best-known annual ranking of DRTV success — and it’s appearing exclusively in the pages of Response for the 11th consecutive year! You don’t want to miss it, so — again — here’s the link: IMS Top 50 Infomercials and Spots of 2012
  • Our latest analysis of the DR industry’s quarterly media billings results takes a look at the DR radio space. Second-quarter 2012 results — from Response‘s partnership with Kantar Media —  continue the strikingly good news for 2012 thus far. The total of more than $11.2 million spent represents the best second quarter 2008. For a full look at all the categorical and outlet results, here’s the link: 2Q 2012 DR Radio Media Billings Jump 15.1 Percent
  • Finally, my Editor’s Note takes on a personal bent as I discuss my thoughts on the creeping shopping frenzy that’s become known as Black Friday. With the event spilling over into Thanksgiving night, the irony of watching retailers and consumers take part in a festival of greed on the day we’re supposed to be giving thanks for more important things was just a little too much to take. If you missed the link above, here’s my take: Giving Thanks … and Slowing Down Greed

Thanks again for reading and interacting with Response! Wishing you all a very happy holiday season, and all the best in 2013!

Jul 07

Response June: Money Mailer, Social Media and a Growing Market

Better late than never, here’s a look at my work in Response‘s June issue!

Money Mailer’s Chris Rimlinger leads Response’s June issue.

Our cover story on Money Mailer’s marketing leader Chris Rimlinger was a bit of a late bloomer, coming to us after a couple of other opportunities dropped out. But that turned out to be a lucky break, as Rimlinger was a pleasure to deal with and a very thoughtful interviewee. Not only that, but the size and scope of Money Mailer as a direct response marketer, via print, Web and mobile, was a surprise to me once we delved into the story. Money Mailer not only services hundreds of local communities across the U.S., but it’s also one of the leading franchise ownership opportunities in the country. To learn more, here’s the link once again: The Deal Is in the Mail

The latest Response Advisors’ Forum, about the growing power of social media, became a Web exclusive when the print version was cut for space. But that allowed for us to run all of our experts’ answers in their entirety. As usual, the opinions were varied as some believe social media is a perfect DR outlet whose measurability is truly underrated at this moment. Meanwhile, others still have questions about social’s viability as a standalone DR opportunity. To hear from the industry’s experts on social media in DR, click here: A Social Solution

Finally, my Editor’s Note column for June talks about some of the positive financial statistics that are trickling out in the DR space of late, questioning why so many folks you speak with in the industry still seem to downplay the industry’s health. The idea came up when researching recent media stats for a different project, but those numbers are hard to dispute: direct response is getting healthier every day, and often at a faster pace than other, more touted marketing mechanisms. To read my thoughts, here’s the link: Most DR Indicators Are Up

Thanks again for reading and interacting with Response!

Jan 30

Response January: An ICON, a Roundtable, and a Rant on Real Value

Rather than just putting links on my Facebook and Twitter with my Response Magazine stories this month, I figured I’d transition the links to a single blog post that I could then link to said social media. Plus, this forum gives me a little space to expand on each story and give you some deeper background.

ICON's Eric Watterson was an excellent interview.

  • The January cover features ICON Health & Fitness’ Eric Watterson. The story’s genesis came on a September visit to R2C Group’s Portland offices, when agency leader Tim O’Leary took Response Publisher John Yarrington on a tour of their facilities, including the edit bays. A new version of the show for ICON’s ProForm Tour de France Trainer was being cut in one of the bays, so when our January sports & fitness issue rolled around, I dropped a note to R2C to gauge ICON’s interest in a cover story on its newest DR product success. Within days, R2C’s Lisa Calais had connected me with ICON  — and the resulting story can be found here.
  • Our January issue also includes a Response Advisory Board roundtable previewing some of the issues and opportunities DR marketers will face in 2012. Technology, politics, the economy and more are all major topics of discussion. And, in case you hadn’t noticed, we’ve changed the name of this group from Editorial Advisory Board to Response Advisory Board (see the board’s members here)to better reflect the group’s service across our product offerings, including assistance with Response Expo’s educational sessions and the initial nominations for the annual DRMA Marketer of the Year Award. These are the thought leaders in the industry, and to see their latest takes in the January issue, click here.
  • Finally, my monthly Editor’s Note column touches upon some of the magazine’s newest content to kick off 2012, including new Nielsen research and our efforts to make reading Response a more interactive experience. At the same time, making a point about the true value of our properties — the fact that we always use third-party verification of our opted-in customers let’s both our readers and advertisers know our commitment to real service — feels more crucial in a time where competition is tight for all of us. As committed as those in the DR space are to their clients and customers are, Response’s commitment to you is just as strong. To read my take, just click here.

Most importantly, thanks for reading and interacting with Response!