Business and Marketing

A force in direct mail, the company looks to expand its digital data services with a footprint in Silicon Valley.

Chris Blohm

MeritDirect today opened a new satellite office in San Jose, its first presence on the West Coast. Long a key fixture in direct mail databases, MeritDirect now describes itself as a provider of multichannel marketing services.

In July the company released a set of predictive marketing tools that combine its OmiChannelBASE customer files with the analytical services of its Strategic Services Group to help B2B marketers determine what products prospects are likely to purchase.

The San Jose office will be managed by 14-year MeritDirect veteran Chris Blohm, SVP of Data & Media Services. He will be joined by his wife Dee Blohm, Merit's VP of Customer Acquisition & Retention .

“It's important for MeritDirect to set up a base of operations where the action is,” said Chris Blohm. “We continue to develop data, marketing, and analytic solutions to adapt to the challenges of our clients, many of which are in the tech space here in Northern California."

Business Breaking News: Apple Pay vs. Google Wallet: Which Is Better for Mobile Payments?

Apple Pay is finally here. After months of rumors, Apple confirmed this week that the iPhone will have near-field communication (NFC) functionality. Now, you and your customers can pay for in-store purchases using an iPhone, thus eliminating the need to carry around cash and credit cards.

NFC is nothing new, but with Apple finally catching up to its competitors, many speculate that it could mean big things for the future of mobile payments. But how does Apple Pay compare to its closest mobile payments rival, Google Wallet? Read on to find out.

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Apple Pay. Apple Pay combines NFC technology and the iPhone's Touch ID fingerprint reader to speed up checkout. Simply hold your iPhone near the contactless reader with your finger on the Touch ID, and the phone will vibrate and beep when checkout is complete. There's no need to open any apps or even turn on your screen. [Apple Pay: Top 3 Features for Small Business Owners]

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