Mercent Founder and CEO Named to Puget Sound Business Journal’s Prestigious “40 Under 40″ List of Top Seattle

SEATTLE, WA, Jul 23 (MARKET WIRE) —
Mercent(TM), a leading provider of online performance marketing solutions
for retailers, today announced the company’s founder and CEO Eric Best
has been named to the Puget Sound Business Journal’s (PSBJ) prestigious
“40 Under 40″ list of top entrepreneurs and business leaders in the
Greater Seattle metropolitan area.

The annual PSBJ “40 Under 40″ list is a highly competitive honor awarding
entrepreneurs under the age of 40 who have led and continue to shape the
future of Seattle through their entrepreneurial success, executive
leadership and community involvement. Best was selected from a pool of
over 230 nominees based on his professional business accomplishments,
rich community involvement and outstanding career milestones. As a “40
Under 40″ honoree, Best represents the next generation of leaders making
Seattle one of the best cities in the U.S. to live and work.

“Eric is completely deserving of this award,” says Tom Alberg, Managing
Director at Madrona Venture Group and Mercent Board Director. “I’ve had
the pleasure of working with Eric throughout Mercent’s rapid growth and
success. It has been a ton of work for him, but has paid off. Mercent hit
its stride and Eric deserves a lot of credit for his steadfast
entrepreneurial spirit, unrelenting focus on the success of his
businesses and teams, and commitment to community. This is a great
achievement for a proven Seattle business leader.”

Eric Best is currently Chairman and CEO of Mercent Corporation. In
addition, he serves as chair of Seattle-based Morse Best Innovation, a
technical marketing agency serving clients such as Microsoft, Lexmark,
and WRQ, and as director of Bellevue-based ITEX, a technology company
that provides a business-to-business payment system for non-cash
transactions. In 2009, Best helped launch Impresys Software Corporation,
helping professionals create, share, and present software demos in less
time, at a lower cost — everywhere they go. Best is a graduate of
Seattle Pacific University and a member of the SPU Entrepreneurial
Studies Council and Society of Fellows.

Mr. Best will be recognized at the PSBJ “40 Under 40″ celebration on
Wednesday September 22, 2010 at the Showbox located in the SODO district
of Seattle. Interested attendees can register for the event by clicking
here. For additional information on Mercent and its online performance
marketing solutions for retailers visit the company’s website at
www.mercent.com or contact Mercent Communications at 206-832-3900.

About Mercent
Mercent is a leading provider of online channel marketing
technology and services for retailers. Through its award-winning Mercent
Retail(TM) SAAS technology and Mercent Performance(TM) professional
services, Mercent helps the world’s most successful online merchants
including 1-800-Flowers, Bass Pro Shops, Brookstone, GUESS?, L’Occitane
USA, Redcats Group, and REI optimize online shopping channel marketing
campaigns to drive customer acquisition, revenues, profits, and inventory
velocity. Mercent is the single point of integration with a vast online
advertising network that includes transactional marketplaces such as
Amazon.com and eBay; comparison shopping engines (CSEs) such as
Shopping.com and NextTag; affiliate marketing programs such as LinkShare
and the Google Affiliate Network; and other product advertising channels
including Microsoft Bing Shopping and Google Product Listing Ads (PLA).
The company is a ‘Selling on Amazon.com’ Certified System Integrator,
Buy.com Gold Certified Partner, eBay Certified Provider and certified
Google Product Search Partner. Founded by a seasoned team of Amazon.com
veterans, Mercent is a venture-funded company based in Seattle, WA. For
more information, visit www.mercent.com.

Mercent PR Contact:
Kristine Szarkowitz
Kristines@mercent.com
(Tel: ) 206. 310.5323

Copyright 2010, Market Wire, All rights reserved.

NeboWeb Expands Midtown Headquarters and Adds Studio Space

ATLANTA, GA, Jul 22 (MARKET WIRE) —
NeboWeb, an award-winning interactive marketing agency, is expanding its
office space in Midtown Atlanta’s Westside Arts District. The emerging
firm is taking over the adjacent studio space, and now leases the entire
6,000 sq ft Marietta Street building.

“The additional space gives us a little more breathing room, and allows
us the flexibility to stay in our current location for the next few
years,” says Adam Harrell, President and co-founder of NeboWeb. “We’re
looking forward to having an extra conference room, a true studio space
for video and photography, as well as a flexible space that will allow us
to host more local events and spur involvement in the local community.”

NeboWeb hopes the expansion will lead to additional video and photography
projects. The studio will also enable the creative and social media
marketing teams to better incorporate rich, immersive experiences into
future work. Having won over 40 awards in 2009 and 2010, the firm is very
motivated to build and improve upon its creative services.

“We’re very excited about the expansion,” remarks Brian Easter, CEO of
NeboWeb. “We’ve been fortunate to have grown over 25% in each of the past
two years, and we believe this step will propel our momentum for years to
come.”

To learn more about NeboWeb or its award-winning projects, visit
NeboWeb’s interactive portfolio.

About NeboWeb
NeboWeb is an award-winning interactive marketing agency
that helps companies make the most of the web. NeboWeb works with clients
of all sizes — from Fortune 500 brands to emerging firms — to create
interactive strategies that bring results. With expertise in interactive
marketing strategy, creative direction and web design, user experience,
social media marketing, search engine optimization (SEO), pay per click
management (PPC) and content management systems, NeboWeb has helped its
clients achieve their online goals. Visit www.neboweb.com for more
information.

Contact NeboWeb:
Kimm Lincoln
NeboWeb
1.404.885.1201
media@neboweb.com

http://www.neboweb.com

Copyright 2010, Market Wire, All rights reserved.

First Comprehensive Book on Shopper Marketing Launches in United States

dunnhumbyUSA Contributes Shopper Marketing Expertise; Provides Insights on
Data-Driven Shopper Marketing Tactics
CINCINNATI–(Business Wire)–
Shopper Marketing: How to Increase Purchase Decisions at the Point of Sale, the
first comprehensive book on the subject of shopper marketing, has been released
in the United States by Kogan Page Publishers. Edited by Markus StÄhlberg and
Ville Maila of Phenomena Group, a global shopper marketing agency, the book
incorporates insights from thirty-five internationally-recognized shopper
marketing experts, from marketing agencies and multi-nationals including
dunnhumbyUSA, Tesco, Nestlé, TNS, Millward Brown and Envirosell. Shopper
Marketing provides practical advice regarding shopper behavior and trends,
retail environments, shopper marketing strategy and case studies of successful
shopper marketing activities.

Shopper marketing, a fast-growing discipline, emphasizes the shopper before and
during the shopping experience. According to study by Deloitte from the Grocery
Manufacturers Association, CPG investment in shopper marketing is growing faster
than Internet advertising, doubling since 2004 and on track for an annual growth
rate of 21% by 2010. For perspective, Procter & Gamble, the world`s largest
consumer packaged goods company, invests $500 million on shopper marketing
annually, and the Coca-Cola Company is demonstrating and extending its industry
leadership through its sponsorship of the Retail Commission on Shopper Marketing
as well as applying “Shelf Savvy” marketing principles to accelerate shopper
marketing excellence across its global business.

“Shopper marketing offers great potential for retailers and manufacturers to
target and engage their most valuable shopper more completely and more
profitably,” says Matt Nitzberg, Executive Vice President of dunnhumbyUSA who
contributed the chapter on `Putting the Shopper in Your Shopper Marketing
Strategy`. “Shopper marketing is fundamentally shifting how companies are
thinking and acting toward their best shoppers. Effective programs – which are
based on an intimate, household-level understanding of shopper behavior and its
influences – offer superior opportunities to earn and grow shoppers` lifetime
loyalty. The range of articles in this book will allow both beginners and
experts to catch up with the latest thinking and best practices.”

“Shopper Marketing: How to Increase Purchase Decisions at the Point of Sale is a
fantastic read – no matter who you are in the organization,” notes Darren
Marshall, Vice President, Global Customer & Shopper Marketing at The Coca-Cola
Company. “The range of articles will help beginners and experts catch up with
the latest thinking and best practices. I particularly liked Matt Nitzberg`s
chapter on Strategy. dunnhumby`s practical experience and global success
supplies compelling facts and figures to back up Matt`s arguments, inspiring our
company to make a significant investment to build capabilities in this area.”

Published in the UK in March by Kogan Page, Shopper Marketing: How to Increase
Purchase Decisions at the Point of Sale is now released in the U.S. and has
already been selected as on of the 30 outstanding business books of 2010 by
Soundview Executive Book Summaries. Shopper Marketing can be purchased at
bookstores both online and main street. Practitioners and students in the
marketing, sales and retail fields are encouraged to peruse the book. For more
information about the book, please visit www.koganpageusa.com.

About Kogan Page

Kogan Page has been a major presence in international business publishing since
1967 producing books ranging from technical business subject such as logistics,
risk analysis, marketing and finance, to books to help business leaders,
entrepreneurs, executives, managers and students develop their personal and
business skills. Kogan Page brings an international perspective to its
publishing with authors based throughout the world. Kogan Page has offices in
the USA, UK and India and distributors in Australia and the Far East. Most Kogan
Page books are also available as ebooks from ebook sellers.

About dunnhumbyUSA

dunnhumbyUSA combines proven natural abilities with big ideas to find clues and
patterns as to what customers are buying and why. dunnhumbyUSA turns insights
from over 200 million households worldwide into actionable strategies that
create dramatic growth and sustainable loyalty, ultimately improving brand value
and the customer experience.

dunnhumbyUSA is a joint venture of The Kroger Co. and London-based dunnhumby.
Employing more than 1,200 people in 26 offices in 16 countries in Europe, Asia
and the Americas, dunnhumby serves a prestigious list of companies including The
Kroger Co., Tesco, Coca-Cola, General Mills, Kimberly-Clark, Macy`s, Panera
Bread Company, PepsiCo, The Home Depot and Procter & Gamble. For more
information, visit www.dunnhumby.com.

For Kogan Page USA
Melissa Weiner, 505-920-4006
straydogmedia@gmail.com
or
For dunnhumbyUSA
Ann Keeling or Suzanne Blackburn, 513-381-3248
ann@cristofolikeeling.com
suzanne@cristofolikeeling.com

Copyright Business Wire 2010

Encounter Technologies, Inc. (ENTI) Signs New Promotional Campaign and Purchases New Domain Names for MusicMatrix.com

NEW YORK, NY, Apr 14 (MARKET WIRE) —
Encounter Technologies, Inc. (PINKSHEETS: ENTI) announced today the
company purchased the MusicMatrix.com domain name from a private source
which will replace their current MusicMatrx.com web address. In addition,
the company also purchased MusicMatrix.biz, MusicMatrix.tv,
MusicMatrix.us and MusicMatrix.mobi which will expand its offering to
internet television and mobile as well.

The company also replaced its marketing contract with Spire Investment
Group in favor of a more direct campaign which will focus on their target
audience for MusicMatrix.com. This move is part of a revamped marketing
strategy implemented by upper management. The company will retain Mpower
Entertainment as their new advertising/marketing agency will deliver a
more effective and targeted media campaign.

The campaign will include:

1) 30 and 60 second Television commercials to allow for the complete
information that will be necessary to have a lasting effect on all
prospective clients and allow for direct response. This production will
be a combination of both custom animation (animation type to be
determined) of the MusicMatrix logo and a spokes person using the site to
demonstrate the features with engaging graphics and music as well as
dynamic presentations of the website to emphasize the message. These
commercials will be both informational commercials asking for people to
act now and branding commercials to promote your service for future
needs.

2) 2 minute web instructional promotional video of the many different
features of the site for placement on the site.

3) 30 and 60 second versions of the television commercial for
distribution within in-stream video networks, YouTube, Facebook, and
other social media platforms.

The commercials will be shot in High-Definition with film like quality
for output into the immediately needed formats as well as for future
promotions.

The campaign will target consumers by giving them information on the site
as well as details of current promotions including participating record
labels, recording artists, prizes, and deadlines.

Mpower will be placing spots on networks that are currently delivering
popular music and pop culture to the 18-25 demographic. These networks
carry programming that is specific to the demographic that is being
targeted and inventory is cost-effective.

Television:

Programs Targeted and schedule:

The schedule would be an 18 hr rotator. This would cover programming
between the hours of 6am to 12am M-Sun. Programming during this time
would include popular programs (The Hills, The Real World, Attack of The
Show, Top 20 Countdown, Hip Hop Shop, Robot Chicken, etc.) with ratings
averaging from 1.0 to 2.0 and above.

This would result in a Televised nationwide spread of 842 :30 and :60 sec
commercials. The strategy being to focus 50-65% during the months of May
to August when the demographic is not in school and home or on
interactive media devices. The latter part of the year, September through
December, will be maintenance, holding the final push near Christmas for
the release of Christmas music as well as driving traffic through a New
Year’s Eve event.

Television Networks that will air MusicMatrix’s spots will include MTV,
MTV2, BET, Comedy Central, G4, fuse, VH1, family, A&E, Animal Planet, BBC
America, Bio, Bravo, Cartoon Network, FX, TNT, Fox News, TLC, Spike,
CNBC, CNN, Discovery, E, ESPN, Food Network, SPEED, Lifetime, HGTV, and
Hallmark.

Internet Video:

The ad format that has been so incredibly impactful on television –
sight, sound, and motion — Marketers call it everything from pre-roll to
in-stream to online TV ads but what they really mean is a sight, sound,
and motion ad that lets you tell a story, in a similar way to television.
What’s different online is that the ads become clickable and you can
continue your interaction with your customer. Mpower will also utilize a
nationwide spread of the televised :30 and :60 sec commercials across the
internet on In-stream video networks. This network has sites that
aggregate content like a Hulu — sites like crackle.com and sling.com. It
also has TV network sites like AMC, Oprah.com, WB, and the Ellen
DeGeneres Show. You can also access how-to content, sports content, news
content, and even online games targeting Fuse, Fandango, Billboard, etc.
All websites with ad sponsored videos, previews, music.

The strategy here is also to focus 50-65% during the months of May to
August when the demographic is not in school and home or on interactive
media devices. The latter part of the year, September through December,
will be maintenance, holding the final push near Christmas for the
release of Christmas music as well as driving internet traffic through a
New Year’s Eve event, and doing a podcast from Times Square for members,
etc. Utilizing Mpower’s Video Network of 100+ sites that reach millions
and millions of viewers every day.

Internet Networks Include:

Networks for internet video include YouTube, next new networks,
MovieLine, Dance Dance Revolution, MarvelKids.com, eHow, Crackle.com,
Track&Field online, The Huffington Post, MetaCafe.com, Sling, AMC,
PerezHilton.com, Universal Music Group, VideoJug, NewsMax.com, Marvel,
imeem, World Challenge, Thisis50.com, myplay.com, Petsociety.com, TV
Guide, Clevver.com, BUZZNET, Fandango, and G4. To name a few.

Between these two online platforms, we have access to over 15M views per
day.

Social Media:

Mpower will also submit the video to all of the free social networking
sites and work with MusicMatrix.com developers to ensure optimum back
link connection of greater intrinsic SEO. This includes Twitter,
LinkedIn, YouTube (non-paid), Facebook, etc.

About Mpower Media
Mpower Enterteainment is a full service advertising
agency that has been empowering local businesses since 1999. Throughout
their 10 year history they have specialized in assisting over 3000
companies, both local and national, in creating, developing, and
establishing a lasting brand through their comprehensive portfolio of
advertising services. All of their services are designed around the
ideals of making advertising and marketing cost-effective, engaging, and
consistent.

About MusicMatrix.com
On MusicMatrix.com, users are able to participate
in music video editing competitions in order to win both prizes and
recognition. Encounter Technologies, Inc. (ENTI) has developed a cutting
edge, innovative, and simple to use platform for MusicMatrix.com which
facilitates the video uploading, editing, sharing, and viewing
experiences. By creating an environment which rewards both innovation and
creativity, users are given the incentive to implement their own unique
online marketing campaigns in order to expose a particular artist or song
to populations and demographics not typically reached through standard
mass campaigns.

About Encounter Technologies, Inc. (ENTI)
Encounter Technologies, Inc.
provides end-to-end technology and online marketing services, including
design, build, hosting, and online marketing support. We specialize in
social media, video technology, and online entertainment web solutions.
Encounter Technologies, Inc. utilizes their pre-built applications to
provide the platforms in which to base solutions for businesses looking
to utilize video technology to increase online collaboration and
interaction. Our goal is to provide our clients with the best methods to
increase user value and achieve desired business results. Simply put,
Encounter Technologies, Inc. transforms ideas into revenues. For more
information about Encounter Technologies, Inc., visit
www.encountertech.com.

This press release contains “forward-looking statements” within the
meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and
Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended and such
forward-looking statements are made pursuant to the safe harbor
provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. You
are cautioned that such statements are subject to a multitude of risks
and uncertainties that could cause future circumstances, events, or
results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking
statements as a result of various factors, and other risks. You should
consider these factors in evaluating the forward-looking statements
included herein, and not place undue reliance on such statements. The
forward-looking statements in this release are made as of the date hereof
and Encounter Technologies, Inc. under take no obligation to update such
statements.

Contact:
Sheri Cook
Marketing Representative
Encounter Technologies, Inc.
press@encountertech.com

Copyright 2010, Market Wire, All rights reserved.

Today’s Oz youngsters feel it’s ‘cool’ to stay fit

Melbourne, July 15 (ANI): A new study has revealed that youngsters these days think that it is “cool” to stay fit, instead of “getting wasted last night”.

Marketing agency Lifelounge Group studied the lifestyles and attitudes of Australia’s 16 to 30-year-olds, and found that the mindset was increasingly towards health and fitness.

The researchers behind the study say that a rise in informal sporting “mash-ups”-such as bike polo, frisbee soccer and scooter hockey-support their observation.

They further pointed out that yoga, swimming, and bush hikes were also becoming popular among youngters, while bicycles had become a symbol of those wanting to show that they cared for their health and the environment.

The researchers revealed that among the 1662 subjects, 83 per cent of young men and 79 per cent of young women regularly played some sort of sport.

Almost all surveyed 96 per cent of men and 94 per cent of women had an “active interest” in sport, they said.

“Health is now … an important source of urban capital. ‘Clubbing, drinking and drug taking from an early age has fuelled their new desire for a healthier lifestyle. ‘I went for a run this morning’ is a source of urban capital instead of getting wasted,” the Courier Mail quoted the researchers as reporting.

They revealed that a subject hailing from Brisbane, named Adrian Mezzina, reported playing soccer thrice a week.

“It’s a release for me. ‘If I have a full-on, busy day at work I can head out to soccer training and feel a million dollars,” the 27-year-old told the researchers.

Mezzina said that other friends were into group boxing, cycling or going to the gym.

“I think it’s definitely in at the moment to be fit,” he said. (ANI)

Nostalgic, internet-weary young adults heading back to old times

Melbourne, July 14 (ANI): Young adults in Australia are increasingly getting nostalgic and pining for simpler times, as they have got sick of the internet and partying.

A study of young adult culture has revealed that the 16-30 year olds have had enough of chatting with friends since a year ago, and now they want to spend more face-to-face time with loved ones.

And they increasingly prefer to do that at home rather than going out to noisy, potentially dangerous pubs and nightclubs.

The annual Urban Market Research survey compiled by youth marketing agency Lifelounge, was conducted on 1600 young adults.

It was found that those still living with their parents (about half) had noticed the global financial crisis’s impact on the family, and pared back their lifestyle in response.

The survey also showed that the youngsters were no longer intrigued by technology, as the time spent online had gone down 30 minutes a week from last year, while their consumption of newspapers increased by the same amount.

Facebook and Twitter are also still on the rise, but losing some of their cachet.

“Nostalgia and simplicity … (are) influencing the styles they’re adopting, the products they’re purchasing and their entertainment choices,” The Australian quoted Lifelounge chief executive Dion Appel as saying.

“Parents’ vinyl records are suddenly interesting and vintage clothes are de rigueur.

“And they want more connections with their friends that aren’t digital, that are tangible. They’re starting to question the authenticity of social networks such as Facebook and Twitter.

“They want technology to assist rather than dominate the way they communicate,” added Appel.

The study found that overall spending on music, entertainment, travel, fashion, and sport was down more than 5 billion dollars in the year to March, from 47.5bn dollars to 42.4bn dollars.

It also found declines in time spent on the Internet (down almost half an hour from last year to 8.6 hours a week) and free-to-air television viewing, down 1.3hours to 4.4hours a week.

However, young adults average another five hours a week watching DVDs and four hours on pay-TV. (ANI)

Chik Satin partners with Jagran Solutions

New Delhi, May 18 (ANI/Business Wire India): In its endeavour to outreach young girls, Cavin Kare with its superior range of shampoos, Chik Satin partnered with Jagran Solutions, India’s leading new age marketing agency that provides solutions for brand activation via consumer connect strategies.

A marketing program was designed to reach out to more than 800 schools across Delhi and NCR, UP and Maharashtra to make young girls realize their dreams and the importance of Confidence in achieving the same.

That was how the Power of Confidence was brought alive among four lacs young girls of today.

Jagran Solutions conceptualised and designed the experiential marketing program: Chik Satin “Chhoo Loo Sitaaron Ko” with an objective of building positive self-belief in one-self in order to face the world confidently through personal grooming and hair care with Chik Satin. The program was supported by an inspirational audio-visual film on top Indian Women Achievers. The program received an overwhelming response making young girls express their dreams and how Confidence will empower them to achieve the same.

Ambika Sharma-National Head Jagran Solutions said, “As we began the initiative we were clear to outreach young aspirant girls. With the evolving trends they are the key influencers, secondly; have an Intangible Want that needs to be fulfilled i.e. looking good for psychological security and self confidence is on top of their mind. As the brand Chik Satin aims at giving its users a feeling of confidence with gorgeous hair, with this program we were able to create a strategy that amalgamates brand values with customers’ psychographics quite effectively and thereby creating a right connect.”

According to Vineet Thakroo, Vice President, Marketing-Chik Satin, “Brands are supposed to deliver positive values and enrich consumer’s life. This activation successfully brought the brand essence: “Khule Baal Khuli Duniya’s” true manifestation to real life and hence created an emotional connected with the consumer by becoming a part of their lives. Also, it created an intimate brand experience, touch and feel and brand interaction with its core target audience, over-all delivering a high return on investment in today’s extremely dynamic marketing environment.”

The program began in mid week of November 2008 and has reached its distribution phase. It will culminate in by the end of May 2009 by rewarding Scholarships to top three Confident Girls in each city.

It can be looked as a marketing tool delivering brand propositions in an intact, novel and controlled manner. (ANI)

Ex-Black Caps captain Fleming starts digitised software business

Wellington (New Zealand), Apr.6 (ANI): Former Black Caps captain Stephen Fleming and former Black Cap bowler Richard Petrie have set up Digital Publications, a company with the New Zealand licence for SmartBook software, which lets companies distribute large, media-rich documents electronically without losing image quality.

Neil Hucksteppe, a Kiwi based in Singapore, has developed the software – to distribute travel brochures, and is used by Premier League football club Manchester United to create electronic match programmes for overseas fans before games, reports the Dominion Post.

Fleming became aware of the software through Australian licensee Insite Interactive, a marketing agency.

“Insite used to manage me when I played international cricket and they came across to New Zealand about 18 months ago to talk about it. I was ‘talent’ for them, I suppose, and I was looking for life after cricket,” Fleming was quoted, as saying.

Australian businesses using the software include Commonwealth Bank, Telstra, Westpac and HSBC. Heat pump and air conditioning supplier Fujitsu is one of 20 companies in New Zealand to have expressed interest in the software.

Petrie says government departments and large city councils could benefit.

“There are a lot of organisations who want to save money and know that digitising things is the way to go but still think the technology is not up to standard.”

Fleming says customers pay about 130 dollars a page to have “hard copy” documents converted into a SmartBook format.

Pages with embedded videos and other features such as audio and e-commerce facilities cost 200 to 300 dollars, but pricing varies depending on volume.

Businesses can then email a link to the electronic document to staff and clients who can download it to their desktops to read online or offline. Video clips and interactive features such as website links are available only online. Downloading documents will save businesses millions of dollars in printing and storage costs, Fleming said. (ANI)