Eva-Tone Inc., a provider of print and fulfillment services, has acquired Eagle Marketing Services, a direct marketing agency with clients in the broadcasting business.
A decision by Paul Meacham, founder of Eagle, led to the 20-year-old agency's sale. As a result, Eagle has moved from Fort Collins, CO, to Eva-Tone's base in Clearwater, FL. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.
“Essentially what it does is bring the entire operation under one roof — from conception to production, start to finish, offering a turnkey solution,” said RJ Meacham, newly named manager of Eva-Tone's Eagle division.
The son of the founder, Meacham chose to stay with Eagle when it moved. He was president of the agency before it surrendered its independent status.
A full-service direct marketing shop, Eagle has worked on campaigns for television and radio stations. It offers direct mail, online marketing and telemarketing. Other services include list acquisition, database development and management, analysis, targeting and research.
Eagle clients include radio stations owned by Viacom's Infinity Broadcasting, Tribune Co., Jones International University and Keymarket Communications. Billings in 2000 were $10 million.
Eva-Tone boasts an older heritage. Founded in 1925, the firm remains family owned, with Richard Evans as chairman. It offers print and mailing services, fulfillment, CD/DVD replication and online business and multimedia development.
Clients include McGraw-Hill Cos., Reader's Digest, Integrity Music and Walt Disney Co. Billings in 2000 were $45 million.
Eagle's sale to Eva-Tone was not sudden. Eva-Tone has printed and mailed pieces for Eagle customers for more than a decade.
“I think Eva-Tone is always trying to move up the food chain,” said Pat Augustine, vice president of sales and marketing at Eva-Tone. “It's just a matter of trying to control your destiny a little more.”
With Eagle under its wings, Eva-Tone now gets rid of unnecessary layers in the direct marketing process.
“It's eliminated the need to broker out the production side of the campaign,” Augustine said. “It gives us complete control of the campaign.”
