HOLSTED enters CANADA

New York-based syndicated direct mail continuity program specialist Holsted Marketing has entered the Canadian market with campaigns for Sears Canada and Hudson Bay. The company is planning to expand its prospecting here to include banks, catalogues and other credit card companies. Holsted sells unique merchandise programs.

TEXT MESSAGING union

Canada’s four wireless communications providers are teaming up to deliver inter-carrier short-text messaging. The providers are Bell Mobility, Microcell Connexions, Rogers AT&T and Telus Mobility. Netherlands-basedCMG Wireless Data Solutions will provide the technology for the service.

Cornerstone AND MSN.CA team up

E-mail marketing broker/manager Cornerstone Web Media (CWM) has teamed with MSN.CA to deliver new e-mail marketing possibilities in Canada. CWM will now manage distribution of MSN’s Web Courier opt-in service that lets companies communicate directly with interested MSN Hotmail members through three new e-mail vehicles: ‘You’re Getting Married,’ ‘Current Trends’ and ‘Health and Well Being.’

24/7 REAL MEDIA formed

Interactive marketer 24/7 Media and Real Media, provider of digital advertising marketing solutions, has formed 24/7 Real Media. Headquartered in New York, the new company will offer interactive marketing solutions for advertisers and publishers.

STARCOM ROLLS OUT DR

SUBSIDIARY

New York-based Starcom MediaVest Group (SMG) has announced the launch of Halogen, a new subsidiary designed to provide its client partners with integrated media planning, execution and analysis within the direct response discipline. The Toronto office will be led by Lorena Chiarotto under the direction of SMG chairman Terry Sheehy.

AMEX REWARDS GROW

Amex Bank of Canada has added Roots and WestJet Airlines to its Membership Rewards loyalty program. Amex also launched Offer Zone, its first all-Canadian online merchant marketplace that gives card members access to exclusive promotions.

In other Amex news, the company introduced the first no-fee, cash rebate credit card for small business in the Canadian marketplace. It is the fourth of Amex’s small business products and services and reflects the fact that Amex’s small business base has grown by more than 40% over the past few years.

SAVE.CA SEEKS REDEMPTION

Launched in Canada last month, Save.ca offers Canadian packaged goods marketers the opportunity to provide coupons online. At time of launch, eight brands had signed on, including three Procter & Gamble brands.

B2B E-COM SALES TO QUADRUPLE

How Business Sells, a study of B2B selling by Market Probe for Visa Canada, shows 72% of sellers prefer traditional channels because they enable them to build relationships with customers. However, the amount of in-person and phone selling will decline from 70% to 52% of total B2B sales by 2005, driven largely by pressure from the buying side which prefers to deal online. The study indicates e-com sales channels will almost quadruple from 8% to 30% by 2005.