DMX Sponsors Interfaith Homelessness Prevention
DMX Direct is pleased to announce our sponsorship of Inter-Faith Community Services’ Nibbles & Sips, An Evening of Raising the Roof to Prevent Homelessness and Hunger on February 11, 2012 at the Hyatt Regency Denver Tech Center. There will be more than 150 wines and beers to sample (non-alcoholic drinks will also be available) and participating food providers are: Garcia’s Mexican Restaurant, Dove Chocolates, Embassy Suites Denver Tech Center, Hyatt Regency Denver Tech Center, Piccolo’s Italian Restaurant, Lora’s Donuts, the RAV house, Purple Ginger 2, Famous Daves Barbeque, Simply Sloppy Joes, and Azucar Bakery. Tickets are $50.00 and can be purchased at www.ifcs.org or by calling Maria Pearson at (303) 789-0501.
“Money raised from this event will go toward keeping individuals, families and seniors from becoming homeless and hungry this year,” said Sandra Blythe-Perry, Inter-Faith Executive Director. “The demand for our assistance has increased significantly this year, and we really need the community to help us bring our motto of ‘Neighbors Helping Neighbors’ to life more than ever right now.”
“DMX Direct has enjoyed a long-standing relationship supporting Inter-Faith, participating in many programs throughout the years, and it was just a natural fit for us to support this event as well to show our support of those who are struggling in our community,” said Jim Kennel, president of DMX Direct.
Inter-Faith is the largest non-governmental human services agency helping those in western and unincorporated Arapahoe and northern Douglas counties as they work to get back to self-sufficiency. Probably best-known for its food and clothing banks, homelessness prevention is one of Inter-Faith’s main programs. Inter-Faith spends more than $250,000 a year to keep people from becoming homeless, and feeds more than 9,000 individuals per year – preventing many problems further down the road.
House Oversight and Government Reform Committee Approves USPS Bill
On October 12, the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee approved an amended version of HR 2309 intended to restore financial solvency to the USPS and other matters. The bill passed primarily on party lines with one Republican and all Democrats on the committee voting against final approval in the committee.
The key features of the bill include:
- Creation of a control board to manage the USPS in event of a default on its obligations
- Allowing the USPS to eliminate Saturday delivery
- Creation of a commission to make decisions on post office closings
- Increase of certain postage rates
- Extension of USPS borrowing authority, and
- Transfer of excess payment to one of the federal retirement accounts (FERS) to provide incentives to reduce postal employment by early retirement.
While the normal course of legislation would have the bill go next to the full House of Representatives for consideration, it seems that this is not a normal year. Next up is the Senate Homeland Security Committee which will consider its version of postal reform in the next month. The bills likely will be very different.
Significantly, the House bill as well and the proposal from the Obama Administration call for rate increases above the consumer price index to address postal solvency. Industry representatives have repeatedly told elected officials that rate increases will decrease volume.
In HR 2309, particular aim was focused on periodicals, catalogs, non-profit and political mail. These types of mail are considered “underwater” (cost more to deliver than they generate in postage). Industry experts have long disagreed with the concept of underwater both from a pure cost standpoint and that they tend to generate significantly more business for the USPS. Periodicals and non-profits were treated somewhat better in that a delay of two years was approved before rates can go up and the amount of increase is limited.
USPS Adjusts Mailing Services Prices for 2012
PENNY INCREASE IN PRICE OF FOREVER STAMPS
Beginning early next year, customers will spend a penny more to mail letters to any location in the United States, the first price change for First-Class Mail stamps (Forever stamps) since May 2009. The new 45-cent price for Forever stamps is among price changes filed with the Postal Regulatory Commission (PRC) yesterday.
Highlights of the new single-piece First-Class Mail pricing, effective Jan. 22, 2012, include:
- Letters (1 oz.) – 1-cent increase to 45 cents
- Letters additional ounces – unchanged at 20 cents
- Postcards – 3-cent increase to 32 cents
- Letters to Canada or Mexico (1 oz.) – 5-cent increase to 85 cents.
- Letters to other international destinations – 7-cent increase to $1.05
Prices also will change for other mailing services, including Standard Mail, Periodicals, Package Services and Extra Services. Express Mail and Priority Mail prices will remain the same.
While actual percentage price changes for various products and services vary, the overall average increase across all mailing services is capped by law at 2.1 percent, the rate of inflation calculated based on the Consumer Price Index.
“The overall average price change is small and is needed to help address our current financial crisis,” said PMG Pat Donahoe. “We continue to take actions within our control to increase revenue in other ways and aggressively cut costs. To return to sound financial footing, we urgently need enactment of comprehensive, long-term legislation to provide the Postal Service with a more flexible business model.”
There is good news for First-Class Mail Presort mailers. When the new prices take effect Jan. 22, the second ounce for presorted letters will be free. “This gives companies expanded opportunities to advertise new services and products to their customers as part of bill and statement mailings,” said Paul Vogel, president and chief marketing/sales officer.
Another new offering is a three-month pricing option to rent PO Boxes — a potential option for people on the move and those who need a PO Box for a short time.
Changes in store for the US Post Office
The United States Post Office (or USPS) is proposing comprehensive changes to its nationwide infrastructure that are designed to save up to $3,000,000,000 per year, according to a press release issued by the organization on September 15.
“I feel there is a serious case to be made for the ongoing importance of the USPS,” said Jim Kennel, president of DMX-Direct. “In fact with less in the mail box; advertisers have an increasing advantage to get attention, to say nothing of the importance of the paper communication medium.”
In the past 5 years, mail volume has declined by more than 43 billion pieces and the trend continues downward. Under the new system, First-Class Mail’s delivery window would increase from 1-3 days to 2-3; on average, customers would no longer receive mail the day after it was mailed. Additionally, 250 processing facilities across the nation are being investigated for possible consolidation or closure, the press release stated.
“While DMX is of course embracing the new communication technologies, to dismantle the USPS or dismiss it as irrelevant is a disservice to our citizens, certainly!” Kennel stated.
Keating Capital Closes $86.8 Million Public Offering
GREENWOOD VILLAGE, July 12, 2011 – Keating Capital, Inc. a dedicated pre-IPO fund formed in 2008, announced today that it concluded its public offering on June 30, 2011, raising aggregate gross proceeds of $86,800,000. The final closing of escrowed funds from subscribing investors occurred on July 11, 2011. A total of 8,713,659 shares of common stock were sold in the public offering at an average price of $9.96 per share, before dealer manager fees and commissions.
The public offering was a continuous public offering which was initially declared effective by the SEC on June 11, 2009, with the first closing held on January 11, 2010. Andrews Securities, LLC, a Denver-based broker-dealer, served as the managing dealer of the public offering, with a selling group of over 50 independent broker-dealers.
“Working with Keating Capital and their extraordinary staff to support the formation of this very unique mutual fund was an exciting experience for DMX.” stated Jim Kennel, president of DMX Direct. “Producing the highly detailed legal documents and marketing materials to complement Keating’s time critical fund introduction was a wonderful opportunity for us to show our mettle!”
Prior to the public offering, Keating Capital had been seeded with $5,699,000 in a private placement of common stock. Following the public offering, Keating Capital now has a total of 9,283,559 shares of common stock issued and outstanding and over 3,900 individual shareholders. The fund’s capital structure consists entirely of common stock, with no options, warrants or other types of dilutive securities issued or outstanding. Moreover, Keating Capital does not use leverage or borrowed money to fund its portfolio company investments.
The next important milestone for Keating Capital is the planned listing of its common stock on the Nasdaq Capital Market under the reserved proposed ticker symbol KIPO. The Nasdaq listing is anticipated to occur by the end of 2011. No additional shares will be offered to the public as part of the listing process.
Timothy J. Keating, Keating Capital’s CEO stated: “The completion of our $86,800,000 public offering is a great success for the fund. To the best of our knowledge, Keating Capital is the only fund of its kind exclusively dedicated to pre-IPO investing in the United States. With our transparency as a publicly reporting fund and with the liquidity we intend to provide through our planned Nasdaq listing, Keating Capital is a unique access vehicle for individual investors to participate in the growth of later-stage private companies before they go public.”
Keating Capital is a business development company that specializes in making pre-IPO investments in innovative, high growth private companies that are committed to and capable of becoming public. Keating Capital provides individual investors with the ability to participate in a unique fund that invests in a private company’s late stage, pre-IPO financing round — an opportunity that has historically been reserved for institutional investors.
IFCS community safety net benefits from Centennial Rotary Club matching grant award of DMX Direct contribution
Inter Faith Community Services (IFCS) was pleased to receive the generous contributions of the Centennial Chapter of the Rotary Club in support of its annual Ready, Set, School! program.
“Recently at a South Metro Chamber event I had the very fortunate opportunity to meet Dan Ruperal (Colorado Financial Partners), presiding president of the Centennial Rotary Club. We discussed my company’s and the Rotary’s support of IFCS and their important community service programs. Dan provided me with the opportunity to present information about the IFCS Ready, Set, School! program at their next Rotary meeting. Not only did the Rotarians respond as individual contributors; the Club Foundation also offered matching a DMX donation as part of their matching grant program!” stated Jim Kennel, president of DMX.
Maria Pearson, IFCS Community Relations Director stated; “Oh my Jim! The Centennial Rotary did a FABULOUS job! The kids have already picked up their goodies! And the club helped us unload and sort food on Saturday, too. Thanks Roxy!” (Roxy Hahn is CFO Centennial Airport and Club Board Member.)
The timing could not have been better as struggling families in our community need help. Please read the letter from IFCS below explaining why support is so critical.
Dear Neighbor,
Three weeks ago we contacted you about the Ready, Set, School! campaign, which last year helped over 700 needy children prepare for school. Many of you have donated generously to this cause, we and thank you for that. Unfortunately today we find ourselves short of many school supplies. Backpacks, pencils, pens, notebook paper, glue, and highlighters are among the most critical items needed for the first days of class.
http://www.helpinterfaith.com/2
Won’t you please help? Visit the URL (above) to find an updated list of these most urgently needed supplies, as well a location near you where you can drop off your donation.
WHY YOU SHOULD CONSIDER PROVIDING SUPPLIES:
We established the goal of helping 700 children again this year; in recent weeks we have received requests from more children in families whose parents have recently lost their jobs. So the need to help has increased. We also know this is an indication of what will happen when school starts. School teachers and administrators can easily recognize children whose families are in financial trouble, so the schools refer these children and their families to IFCS. Educators know that kids who have shoddy clothes and no supplies have less chance at mastering their studies; they are much less likely to feel good about their situation. When these kids receive our help in that regard, their opportunity to learn and eventually support themselves is greatly enhanced. Please do help build our own community by supporting these kids. It benefits us all as many of these children will grow up to become contributing members of our society.
Sincerely Yours,
Maria Pearson
Community Relations Coordinator
Inter-Faith Community Services
303.789.0501
Liz Wendling: “Start Sweating the Small Stuff”
Liz Wendling’s article in Colorado Biz Magazine says that sweating the small stuff provides better quality work and higher value. DMX agrees… it is critical to sweat the small stuff!!
Many of us have heard that we shouldn’t sweat the small stuff. But how do you know what is small and what is not? How do you know if you are sweating the right stuff or the wrong stuff?
That flawed philosophy is breeding poor customer service, underperforming employees, wasted opportunities, big mistakes and many oversights. In business, sweating the small stuff is often exactly the right thing to do because paying attention to the small stuff helps you understand the big stuff.
In this economy everything matters. Everything you do, think and say either moves your business forward or drags your business backwards. As a business owner, you simply cannot afford to overlook this issue. Who takes care of the small stuff in your business? Do you even know?
We often overestimate the likelihood of success, viral hits
The chances that any given message will actually go viral and reach a wide audience are much lower than one might initially anticipate. So says an article on the Financial Times website (Why Social Marketing Doesn’t Work – Tim Harford); “Economists, computer scientists and sociologists are now digging through these social networks for the answers to long-standing questions – and few answers are as eagerly awaited as the secret of producing a sure-fire hit,” Harford says.
A piece of content – video, blog post, or even a tweet on twitter – “goes viral” when it is passed from one person to his or her friends, who then pass it on to their friends, and so on. After a relatively short period of time, a huge number of people may have seen it – and that number is usually much higher than the original poster expected.
Unfortunately for professionals in the marketing arena, the doesn’t seem to be any method to producing a guaranteed hit. Everything seems to suggest that the process is entirely organic, not planned. But there is one universally agreed upon idea from those in the know: attempting to force a viral hit will almost certainly result in the complete opposite effect.
Janet Thaler (How To Make A Blog Post Go Viral With Social Media) cautions against being inauthentic, and that the goal should be to contribute, not spam: “Avoid thinking that because there is a crowd gathered it’s a good time to promote yourself.”
The most concrete advice we were able to find comes from Technobabble’s website (How to make a video go viral). Their two-pronged approach consists of making relevant and interesting content first, and then seeking ways to promote it in a way that encourages discussion while not pushing the product down the consumer’s throat. ” I am being repetitive,” says the author, “but don’t spam anyone and be clear who you are.”
DMX Client OnConference expresses gratitude for services
“I just wanted to thank you for all the personal attention that you’ve given to us with our orders. I also wanted to tell you that of all our vendors, DMX Direct is the easiest to deal with, creates the least amount of problems, and is the most helpful. We don’t often say, ‘Thank You’ enough to our vendors who are NOT causing us problems; we tend to focus on the ones who do. So, the fact that you are somewhat underappreciated is nothing but a good thing, and I hope you take this as a complete compliment.”
Want to hear what other clients are saying about DMX Direct? Read other testimonials by clicking here or watch video testimonials at http://www.dmx-direct.com/DMXDirectMarketingVideos_ClientTestimonial.asp.
OnConference was founded in 2002 by Nortel Networks veterans with over a decade of experience building, supporting, and selling telecommunications products to the largest companies in the world. Find out more at www.onconference.com
DMX Launches New Integrated Multi-Media Direct Marketing Platform; IFCS “Swamped with responses”
| DMX Direct helps Inter-Faith Community Services (IFCS) promote fund-raising and manage the schedule of delivery of contributions for its annual Ready, Set, School! campaign.With the economic recession; many more of Colorado families find themselves without resources to provide clothes and school supplies for their children’s return to school in the fall. Governmental safety nets are depleted. IFCS serves as a last resort to provide help to those in the community who are struggling. This fall IFCS has received requests for clothing and school supply assistance for over 700 children. |  |
DMX employs its integration of MindFire technology into its multi-media eReferral Marketing process to enable IFCS supporters to learn all the details about the program; and then automatically generate personalized referral letters / email and post social media messages to their associates with the click of a mouse. IFCS managers enjoy a centralized communication and information dashboard from which to track the progress of contributions; send follow-up communications, schedule clothing and school supply drop-off times and celebrate the addition of new supporters to their mission. This dashboard reports all the important marketing and transaction information showing response from each list and media (email, direct mail, social media, web PURLs and mobile).
The South Metro Chamber of Commerce and regional Rotary members have joined in the promotion leveraging the local business community’s support.
“The response to the new campaign has been very positive, and I am pleased that DMX Direct can employ its advanced marketing and communication systems to support this important local charity,” stated Jim Kennel, president of DMX.
Maria Pearson, at IFCS, said, “I LOVE the new format and system! I have been swamped with responses so far today.”
Ms. Pearson continued “I do believe the word ‘Great’ is appropriate! You need to know that those 20 new sponsors for those 99 children was in a 24-hour period. The previous 296 children sponsored has been taking place for more than a month. I also received back many out-of-office emails because so many people are on vacation this week and will be back next week. I fully anticipate another large response next week when people check their emails and with stories in The Villager, Centennial, Englewood, Highlands Ranch, Littleton and Lone Tree papers.
On behalf of the children (and there were some real cuties coming in!), I really do thank you all so much for your help with this program. This is really my favorite program that we do because it is so important for these children to feel like everyone else when they start the school year. I hear back from the teachers on what a difference it makes to their self-esteem. If we can give them the tools they need to succeed in school, I think our community has done a great job! I have sponsors now that had received this help when they were children and they tell me what a difference it made for them. There is a lady who has owned her own bakery for the past five years that I met last week who told me 11 years ago when she arrived here from Peru with her son what a difference the program made. She couldn’t afford new clothes and school supplies, plus the many extras many sponsors include. She was crying thanking me. That’s why I do this.
I think we’ll all be pleasantly surprised with the outcome in the next couple of weeks!”
The Ready, Set, School! campaign is an annual effort that helps underprivileged southeast area children get off to a great start on their first day of school by supplying them with necessary school supplies, backpacks, clothes, and shoes they otherwise would not be able to afford.
If you would like to participate in this important program and see the campaign firsthand, click the link below to enter the campaign. You can also share the link through your social network on Facebook, LinkedIn, or Twitter: