A strong foundation for exceptional direct mail marketing.
Our unique direct mail marketing strategies are derived from our equally distinctive history. Founded by Edith Roman over 50 years ago, Edith Roman Associates had its humble beginnings as a simple typing service.
In 1956, Edith began the company while taking care of her four children. Back then, very few mailing lists owners were making their lists available. Those that owned direct mail lists took a very dim view of the concept of renting them to direct marketers. So, Edith decided to compile her own business mailing lists. A partial list of Edith's first customers included such major mail order and publishing companies as Montgomery Ward, Publishers Clearing House, Readers Digest, McGraw-Hill, Grolier, Highlights for Children, and My Weekly Reader.
A typical day in 1956 would begin with a call from a client, who would request a mailing list of 250,000 names. Edith used phone directories to compile the list—without a computer. "These were historic and exciting times,” she recalls. “The industry was in its infancy and many of the great companies of today were just getting started. We needed to develop the tools that would allow the industry to grow."
Once computers became available, she harnessed them to improve the functionality of her business—and the usability of direct mail lists. As more publishers began to realize the potential of direct mail, many more response lists became available, and Edith began to catalog them all. Edith Roman pioneered the process of "seeding" her name on every direct mail list, thereby keeping track of its usage. If they mailed that list again, it was obvious that the list was a success for that offer, which was duly noted. Her knowledge of the list marketplace gained her the respect of suppliers and clients alike.
A pioneer in the direct mail marketing field, Edith continued to slowly and steadily build her business, adding new technologies as they became available. She grew the business into the areas of list management, direct response marketing and mailing list brokerage. By 1977, she organized various businesses into Edith Roman Associates.
Today, ERA consists of three distinct organizations operating under one roof: Edith Roman Associates List Management and Brokerage, ePostDirect Email Marketing Services and Database Direct. Together, these companies offer the seamless integration of direct mail services, all designed to offer clients “one-stop-shopping” for their business to business direct marketing needs.
Experience the ERA difference. Call us at 800-223-2194 or click here.