Industry-Leading Growth, Standout Campaigns Earn AMP Industry Recognition
as Top Promotions Agency
NEW YORK, NY, June 7, 2004 -AMP Agency, the
promotions business of media and marketing services leader Alloy, Inc. (Nasdaq:ALOY),
won Agency of the Year honors from PROMO Magazine's PROMO 100 list of the BEST
PROMOTIONAL AGENCIES. The win underscored a remarkable period for AMP, as it grew
dramatically over two years, during adverse economic conditions for the industry.
The agency managed expansion through strategic acquisition and strong organic
growth, while eliciting high honors from PROMO for innovative campaigns, and praise
for its creativity, execution, and overall service from leading brands in diverse
segments.
For the past 11 years, PROMO Magazine has ranked the top 100 marketing
promotional agencies, and is considered the Gold Standard of recognition among
promotion professionals. Agencies were ranked in the PROMO 100 using three criteria:
2003 net revenue, net-revenue growth from 2001 to 2003, and campaign work.
To
set the Top 25 ranking, PROMO's editors also considered recent account wins and
losses; industry awards; management stability; average length of service with
clients and agency-of-record status; and breadth of marketing services. PROMO
senior editor Betsy Spethman simplifies it: "In all, we look for results
including sales figures and other quantifiable campaign metrics, for bright ideas,
for a distinctive fit to the brand. AMP stood out in all those areas."
Expanded
Horizons
Spun-off from sister agency 360 Youth in 2001, AMP broadened its horizons
and in relatively short time has achieved success and increased visibility among
full-service agencies. "We greatly appreciate PROMO's recognition, and are
moved by the acknowledgements from our clients," said AMP's CEO, Gary Colen.
"This award marks an important transition for AMP, as we strive to reach
new audiences with outstanding creative work and exemplary execution. Our mission
has always been to grow, not just in the number and quality of our clients, but
in our overall competencies, capabilities, and service, so we deliver the best
product, the best experience, and the most accurate measurable results in the
industry. The PROMO award is another indicator that we're on the right track,
but this is only the beginning of the journey - the best is yet to come."
Managing
Growth
Of the top 25 firms that submitted verifiable revenue data, AMP's revenue
growth and increase in 2-year billings ranked first. However, key to AMP winning
top honors was delivery of consistently effective campaigns, managed with strict
attention to detail. PROMO praised AMP's handling of DTour Live as an example
of fine execution. Simon Malls signed AMP last year to handle DTour, a major market
mall tour with music, fashion and games for teens. Of AMP's performance, Simon
Brand Ventures assistant VP Laurel Sibert said, "They're one of the finest
execution agencies I've worked with - very buttoned up." Heidi Korte, Volkswagen's
leader of promotions and product placement, also acknowledged AMP's dedication
to service, commenting, "We have a deep appreciation for their knowledge
of the college target, and great respect for their capabilities." AMP has
handled Volkswagen of America's Major Motion Picture Show campus tour since 2000
and also managed their Music Education Tour.
The Trickle-Up Effect
Success
comes on the heels of consistent recognition for Alloy companies, including AMP
and sister agency 360 YOUTH, specializing in proprietary media and marketing services
geared to the youth market. Ad Age recently ranked Alloy as among the WORLD'S
TOP 25 MARKETING AGENCIES, and number five on their list of TOP 100 MARKETING
SERVICES AGENCIES. Ad Age rankings for the Top 50 Marketing Services Companies
by discipline recognized 360 Youth as the #12 Direct Marketing Agency and #33
Interactive Agency, and AMP the #4 Sales Promotion Agency, marking a jump across
all three categories from the 2003 rankings and solidifying Alloy's premier position
in the media and marketing services arena. "The company is making strides
across the board", noted Derek White, Alloy EVP and General Manager of Media
& Marketing Businesses, who oversees both AMP and 360 Youth, along with Alloy's
American Multicultural Marketing unit. "This award reflects on the high goals
we've set for Alloy companies, and the diverse resources we bring to bear on all
of our client engagements. We have truly synthesized the marketing process, making
it more efficient, effective, and valuable for the wide array of companies we
service."
Additionally, AMP received recognition for stellar campaign
work for the success of the yearlong "Bringing It Home" tour, which
earned them PROMO's PRO Award for 2003's Best Mobile Marketing Program. The "Bringing
it Home" tour for Hewlett-Packard showcased at nearly 600 events in more
than 300 cities across North America including the Indianapolis 500, Boston Marathon,
and Kentucky Derby. "AMP created an award winning campaign that generated
significant return on investment for HP - with impressive incremental consumer
sales and a huge reach with more than 100 million impressions," Bob Major,
event marketing manager, HP Imaging and Printing Group, said at the time.
It
is a trend that Alloy CEO Matt Diamond welcomes, and expects. "It is a testament
to AMP management that they have sustained exceptional growth while simultaneously
putting the best products out there and innovating on the highest level."
"This is what we're going for at Alloy - out-of-the-box thinking, detailed
planning, and flawless execution in all of our businesses. I'm proud to say that
the AMP folks don't just say it; they live it and deliver it, every day for their
clients. They continue to raise the bar for the company and the industry, and
that's exactly what we expect from them."
About AMP
Alloy Marketing
& Promotion (AMP), is the promotional marketing business of Alloy, Inc. (Nasdaq:ALOY
- News). As part of Alloy's Media & Marketing Division, AMP integrates the
assets and experience of established promotion agencies and marketing services
companies including the College Promotion and Marketing assets purchased from
MarketSource Corporation, Triple Dot Communications, Y-Access, and Target Marketing
& Promotions (TMP) to deliver effective, customized promotions. AMP's proprietary
four-step Brand AMPLification process identifies a brand's essence and leverages
key identifiers through a host of proven, high-impact tactics such as mobile marketing,
buzz squads, integrated media promotions, co-branding, sampling, events, research,
interactive design, and customer acquisition. Headquartered in Boston with offices
in New York, Chicago, New Jersey, and Los Angeles, AMP clients include Diageo,
Hasbro, AT&T Wireless, New Balance and Proctor & Gamble, among others.
For more information on AMP, an Alloy Inc. company, please visit www.ampagency.com.
.
About Alloy
Alloy, Inc. is a media, direct marketing and marketing
services company targeting Generation Y, a key demographic segment comprising
the more than 60 million boys and girls in the United States between the ages
of 10 and 24. Alloy's convergent media model uses a wide range of media assets
to reach more than 25 million Generation Y consumers each month. Through Alloy's
360 Youth media and marketing services unit, marketers can connect with the Generation
Y audience through a host of advertising and marketing programs incorporating
Alloy's media and marketing assets such as direct mail catalogs, magazines, college
and high school newspapers, Web sites, school-based media boards, college guides,
and sponsored on- and off-campus events. Alloy generates revenue from its broad
reach in the Generation Y community by providing marketers advertising and marketing
services through 360 Youth and by selling apparel, accessories, footwear, room
furnishings and action sports equipment directly to the youth market through catalogs,
Web sites and magazines. For further information regarding Alloy, please visit
our Web site at www.alloyinc.com .
Press Contacts:
Jodi Smith
Alloy, Inc. .
212-329-8359
jodis@alloy.com