Business Editors
wfsDirect, Inc., founded in July 1999, has grown into one of the largest and most comprehensive databases of online information in its three years of existence. Started during dot-com fever, the prosperous company has become a recognized industry leader. Its founder and CEO, Stephanie Healy, was recently named Emerging Entrepreneur Of The Year(R) for Iowa/Nebraska from Ernst & Young.
wfsDirect's initial database of 35,000 email records, obtained through its consumer destination WinFreeStuff.com, has grown to 14 million and is projected to reach 18 million by year-end. Approximately 70 percent of WinFreeStuff.com contestants have provided their permission to receive targeted marketing.
With such a sizeable database, wfsDirect is able to offer an assortment of direct marketing services in addition to individual email addresses - from telephone and mailing lists to lead generation campaigns. wfsDirect's impressive corporate customer list includes many Fortune 500 companies, specifically in the financial services, insurance and telecommunications industries.
"In less-than-favorable market conditions, companies are looking to acquire customers less expensively and get greater return on their marketing budget," says Healy. "wfsDirect provides them with the resources to meet their objectives."
"What Stephanie Healy and wfsDirect has achieved in the last three years is remarkable," said Paul Vial, Program Director for Ernst & Young's Iowa/Nebraska awards. "Ernst & Young is pleased to acknowledge her accomplishments through the Entrepreneur of the Year program."
Healy recently received Iowa/Nebraska Emerging Entrepreneur Of The Year honors. One of 42 regional award programs conducted by Ernst & Young, all U.S. award recipients will compete for ten national awards presented in November 2002.
Based in Omaha, Nebraska, wfsDirect, Inc. is a database marketing company that leverages the Internet to deliver marketing prospects and email marketing solutions to its clients. wfsDirect provides permission-based email campaign management tools and services that help its clients cost-effectively acquire new customers and build loyalty while generating revenue. wfsDirect, in combination with its own proprietary Web brand, WinFreeStuff.com, and its expanding list of approximately 30,000 Network Partners, provides online marketers with one source for millions of targeted, permission based email addresses. For more information, go to www.wfsDirect.com.
Ernst & Young, a global leader in professional services, understands the business issues that are important to senior executives. With extensive business knowledge and hands-on industry experience, the global Ernst & Young organization can implement a broad array of solutions to help companies capture growth, improve financial performance and manage risk--anywhere in the world. Its 84,000 people serve as trusted business advisers in more than 130 countries, offering audit, tax, corporate finance and transaction services across all industries to many of today's leading global corporations as well as emerging growth companies. In addition, legal services are available in various parts of the world where permitted. A collection of Ernst & Young's views on a variety of business issues can be found at www.eyi.com/thoughtcenter.
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