For more information, please contact:

Liz Drazen, Maritz, 636-827-4434

 liz.drazen@maritz.com

 

Jennifer Larsen, Maritz, 636-827-1523

jennifer.larsen@maritz.com

 

 

MARITZ ACQUIRES MAJOR REWARDS AND FULFILLMENT PROVIDER CASCADE PROMOTION

 

ST. LOUIS, Mo. (May 12, 2008) – Sales and marketing services company Maritz today announced its acquisition of Cascade Promotion Corporation, a privately-held relationship marketing and rewards fulfillment house.  Currently, Maritz is the top provider in the incentive and loyalty rewards industries, helping companies realize their business strategies through effective incentive, recognition and loyalty solutions, compelling rewards and efficient fulfillment services.  With the acquisition of Cascade, Maritz will be the undisputed industry leader in the incentive and loyalty rewards markets, offering clients expanded solutions, greater flexibility and continued world-class service and delivery.

 

“Cascade has been a strong player in the relationship marketing and rewards fulfillment space, and they’re well known for their service delivery and exceptional execution,” said Maritz Motivation CEO Mike Donnelly.  “This acquisition will allow Maritz to leverage Cascade’s strength in delivery and responsiveness, and combine it with Maritz’ extensive rewards collection, systems and industry expertise, further enhancing our offerings to clients.”

 

Maritz’ acquisition of Cascade will build its presence in growing markets, particularly in the gaming and technology industries.  Cascade has been particularly focused on the gaming industry serving clients such as Harrah’s, Seminole Gaming and Mohegan Sun.  With the addition of Cascade, Maritz will have warehouses in strategic locations across the United States – on the West Coast (Las Vegas), East Coast (Boston) and Midwest (St. Louis).  From a merchandising and procurement perspective, Maritz will continue to offer a broad selection of brands combined with Cascade’s ability to leverage cost savings through greater volume.    

 

“This combination has a lot to offer clients in terms of more choice and flexibility at a better price,” said Donnelly.  “It has the potential to improve the way the industry does business.  Our combined purchasing power will allow Maritz and Cascade to offer more purposefully chosen brands designed to motivate employees and customers at a competitive cost.  By leveraging shared capabilities, we can make incentive and loyalty rewards much easier to buy for the typical business and enhance their value by helping clients measure the impact of their incentive and loyalty programs.” 

 

In order to serve those clients who want access to rewards fulfillment services only, Maritz is rolling out Maritz Rewards, a flexible, low-cost solution that delivers a purposefully chosen collection of motivating rewards delivered flawlessly.  The new solution from Maritz will help rewards-only buyers better drive employee and customer behavior through the following:

• More brands at a better cost

• Efficient and flawless reward fulfillment

• High quality customer service

• Ease of purchase

• Wide range of meaningful awards carefully selected to inspire a diverse workforce

• One-stop shop for leading brand name merchandise and gift cards

• Quick turnaround on “need it now” items and requests 

 

“Maritz traditionally provides end-to-end program solutions including strategy, implementation and measurement as well as customized communications,” Donnelly stated.  “With the new Maritz Rewards offering, we are stepping up our capability to provide targeted solutions to those clients needing rewards fulfillment only.  We look forward to being the full-scale, go-to shop for incentive and loyalty rewards buyers.” 

 

About Maritz

St. Louis-based Maritz  is a sales and marketing services company, which helps companies achieve their full potential through understanding, enabling, and motivating employees, channel partners, and customers. Maritz provides market and customer research, communications, learning solutions, incentive initiatives, meetings and event management, rewards and recognition, travel management services and customer loyalty programs.

 

For more information, visit www.maritz.com or contact us at 1-877-4MARITZ.