GREY GLOBAL GROUP AND CROSSMARK COMBINE PROMOTIONAL SERVICES WITH IN-STORE EXECUTION THROUGH JOINT VENTURE

CONTACTS:
Jonathan M. Kramer, CEO, J.Brown/LMC Group
203-352-0602
Joe Crafton, VP Strategic Alliances, CROSSMARK
469-814-1201
Jim Norred, President J.Brown/Dallas
469-814-1438

NEW YORK, January 1, 2004—New York—Edward H. Meyer, Chairman and CEO of Grey Global Group today announced a joint venture designed to combine marketing and promotion solutions with in-store sales and merchandising execution to build sales for FMCG (fast-moving consumer goods) clients. This new entity, the first of it’s kind in the nation, recognizes the growing importance of retail insights by leveraging the sales and in-store marketing expertise of Crossmark®, one of the consumer goods industry’s leading providers of sales and retail services.

The newly formed entity – combines Crossmark’s marketing unit, Crosscut, with Grey’s advertising and promotion specialist, J.Brown/LMC Group. The new unit will be called the J.Brown Agency. This best-of-class model optimizes and integrates the disciplines of marketing and advertising with sales effectiveness. It blends Crossmark’s retailer intelligence and 6,000 retail representatives, with the creative services of J.Brown, to form the industry’s first “end-to-end marketing solution.

“Our packaged goods clients demand more than just good promotional ideas today,” said Meyer. “They want in-store solutions that deliver what their key retail customers require, while simultaneously moving merchandise at the point of sale. Crossmark’s deep expertise working with the nation’s leading supermarket, mass merchandiser and drug chains extends J.Brown’s promotion ideas through unprecedented retail knowledge and in-store expertise.
The result is actionable sales solutions through unprecedented retailer knowledge and store-level insights – a significant value to its clients, which include Procter & Gamble, Hewlett Packard, Bic, Danone, Hershey, Kraft, Sara Lee, and many others.”

“Marketers finally have a solution that unites marketing and sales,” said Jonathan M. Kramer, CEO of The J.Brown Agency. “Our new company delivers this by combining the operational strengths of two leading organizations to create fully integrated solutions – solutions that drive sales; solutions that are anchored in the realities of today’s complex marketing communication environment. Because we understand these complexities and the interrelationships between channels, retailers, brands, and consumers, we are best equipped to help marketers win at the point of decision which is increasingly in-store.”

Jim Norred, president of Crosscut Marketing said, “The rules of engagement for consumer goods manufacturers and retailers have changed. Securing market share and driving ROI now requires marketers and brand managers to work collaboratively with suppliers that can make things happen at the shelf. The Grey Global Group/Crossmark joint venture accomplishes that – from concept
to consumer

About Crossmark
Crossmark, with roots dating back to 1905, is a professional business services company providing integrated solutions in the areas of sales, marketing, merchandising, technology, and supply chain optimization. With over 10,000 associates throughout the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand, Crossmark provides headquarter, retail services for companies operating in the supermarket, mass/club, drug, convenience, and specialty trade channels.

About J.Brown
Founded in 1984, J.Brown is a full-service agency whose services include creative, direct response, event marketing, in-store promotions, media planning and buying, interactive marketing, and in-store sampling. The agency unites marketers and retailers by creating programming that drives both equity and next day volume.