SANTA ANA, Calif., Jan 18, 2005 /PRNewswire-FirstCall via COMTEX/ -- Ingram Micro Inc. (NYSE: IM) today announced Agency Express -- a comprehensive suite of online professional marketing services and resources targeted exclusively at solution provider partners.
The new offering, designed in alliance with Advertising Audit Services (AAS), a leader in integrated marketing for global and Fortune 500 companies such as DaimlerChrysler, Mitsubishi Motors, Volkswagen and Xerox, is another example of how Ingram Micro is 'Doing Marketing Differently' and bringing more value-added services and marketing and sales resources to its customers.
Agency Express empowers Ingram Micro solution providers to quickly develop customized marketing campaigns that include print ad, direct mail and HTML templates. The new offering also gives solution providers access to media placement and mailing services and IMageLink, an online image bank filled with a variety of product images ideal for use in company catalogs and websites.
"In the last few years, marketing your business has moved from a nice-to-have to a must-have," said Lynne Fistori of Deva Sytems Group. "Ingram Micro's Agency Express gives us an easy and affordable way to develop real marketing collateral that help promote our services and our company to new and existing clients. Combine that with Agency Express' targeted prospects lists and outcall campaigns and we've got a full-service marketing agency at our fingertips."
Solution providers looking to increase the effectiveness of their target marketing campaigns can purchase prospect lists based on company size, location and specific vertical market through Agency Express' direct marketing database service. In addition, Agency Express also provides customers with the capability to outsource outcall campaigns and use popular direct-marketing tactics such as direct mail pieces, brochures, and postcards to generate end-user sales leads.
To further aid its solution providers, Ingram Micro's Agency Express features valuable how-to guides and other informative facts regarding laws and regulations that may impact their marketing efforts such as the federal CAN-SPAM law.
"Solution providers are hungry for marketing tools and resources that will help professionally market their businesses and build awareness for their company and brands, but many don't have the time or money to get it done effectively," said Brian Wiser, senior vice president of marketing, Ingram Micro U.S. "Agency Express makes marketing easy and affordable. With just a click of the mouse our customers can build marketing campaigns that are proven to drive business in the areas they need most."
Agency Express Services at a Glance
Ready to order online at www.ingrammicro.com/agencyexpress, Agency Express offers solution providers a wide variety of fee-for-service products and offerings including:
* Customization Tool -- Customize select mailers, ads or HTML templates
* HTML Service -- After customizing an HTML template, upload the page
onto any Website; it can also be sent as an HTML newsletter to
customers
* Ad Placement -- Schedule insertion dates with multiple newspapers for
the entire year
* Direct-Mailer Fulfillment -- Create, schedule and distribute
customized mailers
* Database Purchase -- Target customers through various databases that
fit specific marketing criteria
* Outcall Campaign -- Service representatives will personally call
prospects identified on customized databases and provide a
comprehensive report of potential sales leads
* IMageLink Service -- Direct access to images for marketing materials
In addition, the following features are included at no additional charge:
* Fund Requester -- Allows resellers to apply for Customer Advantage
Program (CAP) funds from participating manufacturers to help offset a
portion of the costs associated with creating and delivering these
marketing materials
* Account Management -- Track Agency Express activities
* Resources -- Informative "how-to" guides and facts on advertising,
marketing, e-marketing, event planning, lead generation and
public relations
Pricing and Availability
Agency Express is available to all Ingram Micro solution providers in the U.S. Pricing for services rendered is contingent on the type of marketing collateral and customization requested and solution providers may pay by credit card. Special offerings are available to members of Ingram Micro's communities including the VentureTech Network, Ingram Micro Service Network, SMB Alliance and GovEd Alliance.
Solution providers who are interested in hearing how Ingram Micro can help positively impact their marketing needs should contact the Agency Express team between 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. PST at (800) 944-5001 or visit www.ingrammicro.com/agencyexpress.
About Ingram Micro Inc.
As a vital link in the technology value chain, Ingram Micro creates sales and profitability opportunities for vendors and resellers through unique marketing programs, outsourced logistics services, technical support, financial services, and product aggregation and distribution. The company serves 100 countries and is the only global IT distributor with operations in Asia. Visit www.ingrammicro.com/corp.
(C) 2005 Ingram Micro Inc. All rights reserved. Ingram Micro and the registered Ingram Micro logo are trademarks used under license by Ingram Micro Inc. The names of actual companies and products mentioned herein may be the trademarks of their respective owners.
SOURCE Ingram Micro Inc.
Media, Marie Meoli, +1-714-382-2190, marie.meoli@ingrammicro.com, or Chris Kelly, +1-714-382-3355, chris.kelly@ingrammicro.com, both of Ingram Micro Inc.
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