WEDNESDAY APRIL 5, 2006
PRIVACY AND LOYALTY CARDS
Federal privacy commissioner, Jennifer Stoddart, is warning that
Canadians don’t know enough about reward programs and how the
personal information they surrender on enrolment feed “privacy
invasive marketing” tactics. According to Stoddart, “The
development of privacy-invasive marketing has momentarily
outstripped the ability of the public to follow it, and even
consumer groups, so we don’t have a lot of information about how
the marketplace is working in terms of its privacy invasiveness
right now.”
The reward cards are
offered to consumers by major retailers as a way to earn rewards
for purchases. An AC Nielsen poll conducted in September reports
97 per cent of Canadians take part in at least one loyalty
program. The privacy commissioner is concerned that companies
aren’t doing enough to inform consumers on enrolment that they
are also granting permission to retailers who want to send
promotional offers and other marketing materials. Stoddart
favors the “opt-in” approach in which consumers proactively
agree to receive such offers. Many large programs use “opt-out”
in which consumers must proactively decline to receive
promotional offers. Marketers maintain loyalty programs are not
an invasion of privacy and are an effective way of helping
retailers better understand their customers and their needs.
According to one large reward program, people who sign up for
loyalty programs do so because they want to be marketed to, and
an “opt-in” option would be redundant.
Read more - CanWest News
Service:
http://www.canada.com/montrealgazette/news/story.html?id=47289865-363c-4fd8-a301-ac165aa0fb5a&rfp=dta
Learn more- Federal Privacy
Commissioner:
http://www.privcom.gc.ca/fs-fi/index_e.asp
http://www.privcom.gc.ca/fs-fi/02_05_d_16_e.asp
DATAMARK AND HSBC SIGN THREE YEAR CONTRACT
HSBC Bank Canada and Datamark Systems Group have signed a three
year agreement in which Datamark will provide print and document
management services, a warehousing and distribution management
system and print materials. HSBC document users will now have a
new Internet portal and the capability of accessing a web based
catalogue profiled to contain multi-type documents in hard copy,
digital or electronic versions. This portal is interactively
linked to HSBC’s main Canadian distribution facility located in
Vancouver. Along with establishing a situation conducive to
important savings, the synergies resulting from single source
procurement reportedly support HSBC’s short and long term
document rationalization program. www.datamark.ca
JUNE 17 DEADLINE: TEN DIGIT DIALING FOR ONTARIO, QUEBEC
According to Telecommunications Alliance, an alliance of major
phone companies, it is important for businesses and residents to
start reprogramming their communications systems such as phone,
FAX, and security numbers now to be ready for the introduction
of an additional three digits for over eight million Canadians.
The changes, effective June 17, will affect residents and
businesses in Ontario and Quebec. Anyone using only seven digits
after that won’t be able to get through. A recording will come
on and reportedly actually will stop the call from going through
for pre-programmed dialing. The new dialing system will affect
an estimated 2.5 million Ontario residents, and about 6 million
in Quebec. People dialing from the 450, 514 and 819 regions of
Quebec, as well as the 519 and 613 regions of Ontario, will have
to start using ten digits. The new system also applies to local
calls from the 418 to the 819 region, as well as from the 705
region to the 519, 613 and 819 regions. In October, two new area
codes will also be introduced. A new 236 area code will be added
to the current 519 area code of Southwestern Ontario, while the
438 area code will be added to the current 514 area of Quebec.
Learn more:
www.dial10.ca
NAMMU RENEWALS STRONGEST ON RECORD
Membership renewals for 2006-07 are the strongest to date and
over 80 per cent of members took advantage of the “early pay”
incentive. Membership drives will continue through Council and
Chapter activities in 2006, as well as trade shows and member
“word of mouth”. Know someone who needs to be a NAMMU member:
membership@nammu.org The strength of NAMMU lies in active
membership involvement with activities that support the mission
and objectives of the Association.
Do you want to be considered for a Board position, get involved
with a Council portfolio or the NAMMU Awards Event Committee?
Let us know:
executive@nammu.org
VAM COUNCIL MEETING
The NAMMU Value Add Mailer (VAM) Council will meet briefly on
April 27 at the Metropolitan Hotel, Vancouver room, immediately
following the Toronto Chapter meeting. Agenda items include: The
“mailed on behalf of” issue; client preference for use of VAM
permit. The meeting announcement will be circulated shortly as
well as a request for additional items for the business agenda.
IT PAYS TO BE A NAMMU SPONSOR
Support mailing industry initiatives, create goodwill, raise the
profile of your brand with existing and new customers. Contact
sponsorship@nammu.org for 2006 opportunities in corporate
and event sponsorship.
IT PAYS TO BE A NAMMU MEMBER
NAMMU delivers leadership, education and a platform for industry
discussion, networking and influence. Know someone who needs to
be a NAMMU member? Contact
membership@nammu.org
