Amy L. Lyons
Vice President/Sales & Marketing
201-865-5800 Ext. 2216
amylyo@specialistsms.com
Specialists Marketing Services, Inc. to acquire 21st Century Marketing
August 15, 2007
Weehawken, NJ: Specialists Marketing Services, Inc. (SMS, Weehawken, NJ) and 21st Century Marketing (21st, Farmingdale, NY) have announced the joining of their two companies with an expected closing date of August 31, 2007. SMS will acquire 21st Century Marketing in a move which will bring together two of the longest-standing direct marketing and media services companies.
According to David O. Schwartz, President and CEO of 21st Century Marketing, who founded his company in 1978, “Lon (Lon Mandel, CEO & President of SMS) and I have often spoken about a merger over the course of our 30-year friendship. You might say, we have been planning the event for some time and finally, the day has come. We, at 21st, couldn’t be more pleased to join in an organization that is not only led by a forward-thinking and progressive CEO, but also shares the same corporate culture and values that we at 21st have.”
Lon Mandel expressed similar sentiments, noting that “SMS and 21st are alike and complementary in many ways. We have different strengths which, when combined, will provide a complete, leading-edge direct marketing solution to our valued clients. For example, 21st has a very strong multicultural division.”
In addition, the current B2B Groups of SMS & 21st Century Marketing will be joined under the direction of Executive Vice President, Pete Candito, and operate out of the Farmingdale facility.
SMS is recognized for its sound campaign management strategies that result in increased profitability for its diverse client base within the catalog, continuity, publishing, consumer service, retailing and e-commerce markets. Both organizations have comprehensive offerings across the full spectrum of traditional list management, brokerage and compilation services, as well as alternative media, database marketing, analytics, and interactive/digital/e-services.
The joining of the two companies will not result in any major change to the 21st Century Marketing’s staff. Mr. Schwartz stated “All of our account service teams and senior management will remain with the merged organization.” He will assume the position of Executive Director and 21st’s former Executive Vice President Janine Vosseler will become a Vice President.
Specialists Marketing Services, Inc. of Weehawken, N.J. is a full service direct marketing firm, specializing in areas including traditional List Management, List Brokerage, Insert Media, E-Services, B2B, Analytical Services, Campaign Management, Database Marketing, Fulfillment, Multichannel Solutions and List Compilation services. SMS works with top brands such as ad:tech, Belvoir, BMG Columbia House Inc, Boardroom, Children’s Wear Digest, Crate and Barrel, Doubleday Entertainment, Earthlink, Frontgate, Godiva, Harvard Health Publishing, HCI Direct, Inc., Herrington, Intuit, ITEC, J.Crew, MBI, Meredith Corporation, Oracle, Oxmoor House, Playboy Magazine, Primedia, Reader's Digest, Rodale, Venus Swimwear, Victoria’s Secret Direct, and Williams-Sonoma, Inc.
