Merkle Inc.

Merkle Group Inc. (also called “Merkle”) is a privately held customer relationship marketing (CRM) agency specializing in data-based marketing solutions.

• In 2009, Advertising Age listed Merkle as one of the largest and fastest growing agencies.
• In 2012, Ad Age ranked Merkle #6 of Top 10 CRM / Direct Agencies in the US and also named Merkle in the 10 Agencies to Watch in 2012
• Clients include Fortune 1000 companies in industries such as financial services, insurance, healthcare, catalog/retail, consumer packaged goods, high technology, media, travel and entertainment, and not-for-profit fundraising.
• Services and solutions include strategic consulting, business intelligence, database and analytical services, creative services, campaign execution and production management.
• Merkle also provides digital marketing services that include strategy, execution and measurement in major online marketing channels and media, such as, search, social, display, mobile and email. Merkle works with clients to develop and implement marketing strategies designed to facilitate customer relationships and increase profitability.

Merkle History

The current Chairman and CEO, David Williams, purchased Merkle for $5.2 million in 1988, at the age of 25, becoming the Company’s twenty-fourth employee. Merkle has grown revenue from $3.0 million in 1988 to over $250.0 million in 2010, and has evolved from a database marketing firm into a full-service marketing agency. In 2009, Advertising Age ranked Merkle as one of the largest worldwide marketing service company and the 6th largest marketing services agency in the U.S. Merkle was recognized as a database marketing leader by Forrester Research Inc. in its “Buyer’s Guide to Database Marketing Service Providers,” and is a member of Forrester’s “top 10.” Merkle was recognized as a market leader by Forrester in 2003, 2006 and 2007.

• 1971: Merkle Computer Systems, Inc. founded as part of Merkle Press
• 1988: David Williams buys Merkle Computer Systems, Inc. at the age of 25, becoming the 24th employee
• 1995: Purchased Real Good Software Inc. (Merkle’s Nonprofit Database Marketing business
• 1996: Purchased Phoenix Systems Associates Inc.
• 1997:

Acquired Electronic Banking Systems (renamed Merkle Response Services)

Name change to Merkle Direct Marketing, Inc.

Launched Analytics business

• 1998: Acquired Worldwide Direct (renamed Merkle Mailing)
• 1999: Launched DataSource, Merkle’s compiled database

Merkle & Conrad Direct Launch HealthSource List

• 2000: Won Dell and DIRECTV business

Launched Data Solutions business

• 2001: Won GEICO business
• 2002: Received ISO certification
• 2003: Merkle named a market leader by Forrester
• 2004:

Won P&G and Capital One business

Acquired Sigma Analytics

Merkle received a new contract from GEICO

NCDM awards Merkle the Silver Database Excellence Award in the Modeling Applications category for its work with GEICO

First annual client “thought leadership” summit

• 2005:

Opened offices in Boston, MA and Denver, CO

Merkle divests Merkle Mailing Services and formed strategic alliance with Direct Group

October, acquired Domain

December, acquired Quris

Internet Advertising Competition (IAC) Awards Merkle|Quris Best Email Message for work with Blockbuster Inc.

Ad:tech Awards Merkle|Quris Best Email Marketing Campaign with Vail Resorts

NCDM awards the Platinum Award for Overall Excellence and a Gold Award for Analytics & Modeling with Dell, Inc.

• 2006:

Named a market leader by Forrester

Advertising Age 2006 Special Report Ranks Merkle 38 in World’s Top 50 Marketing Organizations moving up 9 positions from the year prior

NCDM awards Merkle the Silver Award for Analytics & Modeling with 21st Century Insurance and the Bronze Award for Technological Applications with Dell, Inc.

Marks the third straight year in which Merkle has won an NCDM Excellence Award

Rated a Market Leader for Email Marketing by Jupiter Research

Wins first annual DMA Analytics Challenge at DMA06

President & CEO David Williams named a Best Boss by Winning Workplaces and Fortune Small Business magazine

Fundraising Success awards Merkle|Domain and Food for the Hungry the Gold Award for Package of the Year

• 2007:

Named a market leader by Forrester

Advertising Age 2007 Special Report Ranks Merkle 31 for World’s Top 50 Marketing Organizations moving up 7 positions from the year prior

Acquired CFM Direct LLC, the Response Processing Division of AB&C Group, and CognitiveDATA

Merkle President & CEO David Williams named Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year award winner in Maryland for 2007

• 2008:

Named a finalist for an OMMA award in Online Advertising Creativity

Awarded a Gold Award from Fundraising Success Magazine for its work with CARE USA on its successful “A Million Thanks from a Million Places” renewal campaign

Awarded a Bronze Award from Fundraising Success Magazine for the package of the year CARE November/December World Report campaign

Awarded a Bronze Award from Fundraising Success Magazine for its E-Philanthropy America’s Second Harvest “Fill the Fridge” campaign

Ranked 31 in Deloitte's Technology Fast 50 Programs for Maryland

Advertising Age magazine ranked Merkle among the Top 10 Direct Marketing Agencies, in the Top 15 U.S. Marketing Services Agencies and among the Top 30 Agency Companies in the world

• 2009:

David Williams named "CEO of the Year" by SmartCEO Magazine

Acquired CMS Direct

Ranked 27th, Merkle was named the largest worldwide marketing services company and the 6th largest direct marketing agency in America

• 2010:

Acquired Metzner Schneider Associates

Technology Crossover Ventures purchases a minority equity stake in Merkle

On September 14th Merkle opened its first international office in Shanghai, China

• 2011:

March 25th, acquired IMPAQT LLC

April 1st, acquired Lenser

Merkle Selected by the U.S. Olympic Committee as Agency of Record

Named a market leader by Forrester

Received ISO 9001 Recertification

Merkle, Inc. and Loews Hotels, Inc. Sign Marketing Agreement

Debuts the Merkle Monitor, a Primary Market Research Solution

• 2012:

Acquired Social Amp

Ad Age ranked Merkle #6 of Top 10 CRM / Direct Agencies in the US

Ad Age named Merkle in the 10 Agencies to Watch in 2012