Universe Trends Releases DM-500 Index

NEW YORK, Aug. 1, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Belardi/Ostroy, a leading full-service direct-marketing and creative agency, announced its purchase of the marketing, data and website assets of Universe Trends, LLC, a data research firm whose Direct Marketing 500 Index (DM-500), a quarterly benchmark comprised of 500 leading cataloguers, publishers and non-profit organizations, publishes contextual market trends and consumer purchasing statistics. The company has re-launched the UniverseTrends website at www.universetrends.com.

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The DM-500 provides online and offline direct-marketers, researchers, fund managers and the financial community with a quarterly performance benchmark for new customer acquisition and retention against the average for their respective market categories. Benchmarked variables include volume stats for gender, average unit of sale, average gift spend, age of buyer and income.

"Today's successful marketer relies more than ever on aggregated consumer purchasing data and patterns—the who, what, when, where, why and how—which are critical in the acquisition planning process," said Andy Ostroy, Belardi/Ostroy CEO.  "Universe Trends keeps them informed of the marketplace, the competition and customer buying behavior." 

"Belardi/Ostroy is a best-in-class direct marketing agency with a terrific reputation and unique cache of marketing support services," said Chris DeMartine, Universe Trends founder and president. "The DM-500 is a natural complement to the unique insights they provide clients."

About Belardi/Ostroy
Belardi/Ostroy is a leading full-service direct marketing and creative agency founded in 1997 which provides multi-channel solutions for catalog, ecommerce, retail, business and non-profit clients who've included Williams-Sonoma, Pottery Barn, J. Crew, One Stop Plus, American Girl, Restoration Hardware, Home Depot/Home Decorator's Collection, Wolverine Worldwide, Crate and Barrel, Hanesbrands, Hanna Andersson, Coldwater Creek, J. Jill, Harriet Carter, Harry & David, Lillian Vernon, Vermont Country Store, U.S. Toy, Sundance, Orchard Brands, Chadwick's, Ross-Simons, Hammacher Schlemmer, Ballard Designs, One Kings Lane, Zappo's, Shutterfly.com, , Art.com, ProFlowers.com, Vacation Publications, Staples, Hewlett-Packard, Harvard University, OfficeScapes, American Kidney Fund, NAACP, Human Rights Campaign, Democratic National Committee, EMILY's List, Food and Water Watch, National Center for Missing & Exploited Children,  Zoo Consortium, Wildlife Conservation Society,  People for the American Way, Jane Goodall Institute, Vietnam Vets of America, Human Rights Watch and WNYC Public Radio. For more information, visit www.belardiostroy.com.

About Universe Trends
UniverseTrends was launched in March 2012 by founder Christ DeMartine to provide businesses and marketing professionals with contextual market information, relevant reporting, analysis and insights.

Media Contact:

Kuan Gethers
+212-381-1717
[email protected]

SOURCE Belardi/Ostroy