St Ives has launched a joint venture between data business Occam and digital agency Amaze as part of plans to boost its digital CRM operation within the burgeoning marketing services division.
Although exact details are thin on the ground, the company revealed the partnership in its latest trading update which showed underlying operating profit and margin are both ahead of the equivalent period for the prior year. Group revenue is running about 9% ahead of the prior year due to a combination of acquisition and organic growth.
The company, now led by Matt Armitage (pictured) said: “Our marketing services segment continues to grow and is performing well, in line with expectations. Revenues were significantly ahead of the same period last year, driven primarily by acquisitions, and the operating margin has increased.
“We are very pleased with the performance and strategic contribution of Realise and Hive, our most recent acquisitions, following their successful integration into the group.
“Across the segment we have invested in additional headcount for organic growth, including a digital/CRM joint venture between Amaze and Occam and building out our ecommerce practice within Amaze.
“In addition, we continue to seek opportunities for growth through acquisition to build upon and extend our capabilities, around the four established pillars of data marketing, digital marketing, consultancy services and field marketing.”
The company claimed its print services businesses continue to perform well, despite trading conditions remaining “challenging”.
“Overall print services revenues were broadly flat, reflecting the exit from the direct mail printing market in the prior year. We will continue to invest in the print services businesses in order to maintain their market leading positions in book printing and associated services, and in marketing print.”
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Occam and Amaze in joint venture http://t.co/ZvyvBsVAIC @occamdm @amazeltd #digitalmarketing #directmarketing #CRM #data @StIvesGroup
Occam and Amaze in joint venture – DecisionMarketing https://t.co/MubsQpXvzP
Occam and Amaze in joint venture – DecisionMarketing https://t.co/bdBTEwu5wI