Leading experts and award-winning case studies will form heart of informative seminar programme
The inaugural Cross Media Production (25-27 March 2014, ExCeL London) - taking place from 25-27 March 2014 alongside Ipex 2014 - will explain how direct marketing campaigns - driven and supported by new cross media strategies, technologies and practices - are enhancing the way brands are engaging with customers to develop long lasting two-way relationships.
Visitors inspired by the 121, Data & Digital Marketing Theatre programme can speak directly to suppliers and associations involved in the sector, including the Adobe, Direct Marketing Association (DMA), Talking Print, and Multi Channel Machine (MCM), a new venture from Marian Stefani (former RedTie CEO) in collaboration with XMPie, a Xerox company.
"A selection of the most successful exponent's operating in the direct marketing sector will provide leading insights into delivering campaigns across print, digital and mobile," says Andrew Thornhill, Marketing Manager, Cross Media Production 2014. "Sessions within the 121 Digital, Data & Direct Marketing Theatre will look at the strategies, the creative processes, the production challenges and of course, the final delivery of eye-catching cross media campaigns. Visitors will learn why direct marketing campaigns that utilise multiple communications channels are making such a tangible difference to the way brands connect and interact with their target markets. Importantly, they will receive the tools and knowledge to mirror and emulate these speakers' successes."
Presentations, case studies and panel discussions will cover such issues and topics as 'How forward thinking marketing service provides (MPS) are developing solutions that deliver targeted marketing communications, data management and significant ROI for brands', 'Making print digital in a mobile world', 'Direct mail is dead, long live direct mail', 'Ten years on: are engagement agencies the new breed of market service providers?' and 'Discover how combining DM with other cross-channel campaigns increases frequency of purchase and average transactional values'. Speakers include Gary Howard from Tangent Snowball, Gavin Wheeler from WDMP, Andy Barber from UK Mail, Peter Lancaster from documobi, Tony Hodgson from PODi and Marian Stefani from Flyte Associates / Multi Channel Machine.
Lucy Edwards, the Deputy Managing Director at Howard Hunt, will share insights into the company's journey from a print and direct mail supplier through to a true MPS; producing award winning, multi-channel campaigns for blue chip brands and leading charities including Superdrug, Boden and Help for Heroes.
Meanwhile Marc Shelkin, Founding Director of innovative social media company The Social Shop, will be interviewing heavyweight direct marketing agencies at 14:00 across the three days of the event. Shelkin's video interviews on YouTube via Twist & Stick Recruitment have received over 90,000 hits, and he will be bringing this successful dynamic to the 121, Data & Direct Marketing Theatre, speaking to Ian Bates, Creative Director from DMA Agencies Council, Jason Cromack, CEO at DST, Gavin Wheeler, CEO at WDMP, Jo Coombs, Managing Director of Ogilvy One London and Ian Millner, Joint Global Chief Executive at Iris-Worldwide.
"The daily 'Big Interview' sessions will be a great experience for both the people being interviewed and the audience," explains Marc Shelkin. "I have my own style of interviewing - which is relaxed and fun - that has proved very successful in past in getting inside the heads of top marketing experts and unearthing what makes them tick. I will be asking questions about the guests' careers, their thoughts on cross media production and the trends and patterns driving the market, as well as incorporating a Q&A with the audience. It promises to be an exciting and insightful component of the Cross Media Production's content programme."
"PODi is delighted with the focus on applications and implementation that Cross Media Production offers," says Tony Hodgson, Director of PODi Europe. "It's a great opportunity for PODi members and the wider community of digital printers and marketing services providers to learn how to design and build effective cross media marketing programmes for their clients. Our session will give the audience practical insights from a panel of experts who have evolved over the last ten years to become leading marketing service providers and their vision of the future for cross media."
