Millionaire households prefer John McCain in the November election by a wide margin over the Democratic alternatives of Hillary Clinton or Barack Obama. This is the results of the most recent nationwide survey of affluent households conducted by Phoenix Marketing International.

Read Full Article

Read Full Article

Read Full Article

Consumer Payments Preferences Study
Consumer Payments Preferences Study Executive Summary

Salisbury, MD – April 29, 2008 – Phoenix Payments, a Phoenix Marketing International practice, today announced the results of its 2007 Consumer Payments Preferences and Usage Study: Debit Card Opportunities and Challenges. The study findings include a detailed report on debit card issues, covering consumer preferences, attitudes, and usage of debit cards as well as debit’s relationship to other payment methods.

Roughly three-fourths of U.S. consumers have one card association-branded debit card that is tied to their primary bank account. The debit card is therefore at “top of wallet” for these consumers, making them unlikely to switch debit cards for a “better offer” as they more readily do with credit cards. Debit activity gives the primary bank opportunities to increase loyalty and wallet share.

“To some extent, debit card usage has replaced check writing,” states Leon Majors, President of Phoenix Payments. “But debit is also replacing cash and credit cards. Increased debit card transactional activity is requiring cardholders to maintain larger bank account balances to draw upon for their payments.”

The preference for debit cards over credit cards to pay bills is strongest among middle-aged and lower-income consumers. Older consumers and those with incomes above $100,000 are evenly divided in their preferences for the two card types.

“As the customer’s debit card use increases, transactional activity with the primary bank increases as well,”, continues Majors. “Debit card usage at point-of-sale will continue to grow. PIN debit has particularly strong growth potential at walkup centers and for recurring bill payments.”

Phoenix’s annual consumer payments study was conducted online in late 2007, surveying slightly more than 2000 consumers with a national representation of the online U.S. population. Phoenix Payments will present its detailed findings at the NACHA Conference in Las Vegas May 18-21/ For more information, go to http://www.phoenixmi.com/financial/esp/.

About Phoenix Payments Practice
Phoenix Payments Practice is one of the most comprehensive financial consulting and research firms in the US; having the only integrated payments program that tracks the entire 200 billion plus financial transaction market through large-scale quantitative research, specializing in issues that are of strategic importance to retail and corporate financial services and technology vendors.

About Phoenix Marketing International
Founded in 1999, Phoenix Marketing International is one of the fastest growing marketing services firms in the United States and partner to many of the largest companies in the financial services, consumer package goods, automotive, healthcare, and travel and leisure industries worldwide. With national offices, Phoenix offers advanced advertising, brand measurement, and direct marketing expertise.

Phoenix Marketing Contact:
Leon Majors, President
Phoenix Payments Practice
410-860-2005
Leon.Majors@Phoenix.com

Press Contact:
Ray Graber
Graber Associates LLC
781-221-0018
Ray@GraberAssociates.net

View Full Article

Download Cholesterol Study Findings
Download Study Description

Rhinebeck, NY – March 26, 2008 – A burst of unfavorable or confusing publicity often prompts users of prescription medications to take swift actions that can hurt those medications’ brand perception and market share, according to researchers at Phoenix Healthcare, a Phoenix Marketing International practice.

A recently released Phoenix study titled “Impact of Publicity on Consumer Perceptions and Actions in the Cholesterol Medication Category” also showed that doctors who treat such users are often hard pressed to respond with the latest information to a flurry of questions and requests for assistance. Such events create opportunities for competitors to convey positive reinforcement for their brands and take advantage of market turmoil.

Phoenix conducts a monthly brand audit that tracks consumers diagnosed with cholesterol problems; the audit records the consumers’ perceptions and documents their behaviors with regard to all brands of cholesterol medication. In January 2008, pharmaceutical firms experienced a critical need for such an audit to gauge consumer reaction to news about medications. The ENHANCE clinical trial for Vytorin and Zetia resulted in unfavorable press coverage, and Dr. Robert Jarvik came under fire as media reports questioned his qualifications to act as spokesman for Lipitor.

Perceptions and Attitudes Can Change Rapidly in Response to News Reports

In its most recent study, Phoenix evaluates and compares how the mix of publicity and public advertising helped some brands of cholesterol medication but not others. Phoenix researchers also determined that approximately four in ten patients who are on any type of cholesterol medication - not just those taking Zetia, Vytorin, or Lipitor – subsequently came to believe that medications for lowering cholesterol levels may not be as beneficial as they had once thought.

The news on the clinical trial was partially countered by a full page public service advertisement from Merck Schering Plough, the makers of Vytorin and Zetia. But consumer-stated intentions indicate that as long as negative publicity continues, the market share of some products will continue to erode. The overall market for cholesterol medications will likely experience shrinkage as well.

“The impact of negative publicity surrounding those two items – the ENHANCE clinical trial and Dr. Jarvik as a spokesperson - has broad implications for every brand of cholesterol medication,” stated Doug Zabor, executive vice president of Phoenix Healthcare.

“This new monthly Cholesterol Audit provides us with a great way to continuously monitor what’s happening in this category, allowing us to provide clients with fast feedback on changes to their brand and what’s driving those changes,” said Mike Rosenberg, Phoenix Healthcare president.

The syndicated Phoenix Cholesterol Advertising and Communication Audit draws from a large projectable sample of consumers every month and covers all advertisements in television, print, radio, and digital formats. Reports are available to subscribers monthly, quarterly, and semiannually. Phoenix will launch similar audits in Women’s Health, Sleep, and Chronic Pain in 2008.

A summary of the report focusing on cholesterol drug patients, as well as information on the Phoenix Healthcare Performance Index (AdPi) Audit methodology, is available by emailing Kathy.Lee@phoenixmi.com or by calling 215-392-0266.

About Phoenix Healthcare
Phoenix Healthcare Practice provides business solutions through research for the healthcare industry. We deliver value through the strategic application of marketing, relationships, and communications research. Phoenix Healthcare combines a high level of industry-based expertise with sophisticated research competencies and projective modeling by applying a "consultant" approach to business problem resolution.

About Phoenix Marketing International
Founded in 1999, Phoenix Marketing International is one of the fastest growing marketing services firms in the United States and partner to many of the largest companies in the financial services, consumer package goods, automotive, healthcare, and travel and leisure industries worldwide. With offices across the United States, Phoenix also offers advanced advertising and brand measurement along with direct marketing expertise

Phoenix Contact:
Kathy Lee
SVP, Business Development
Phoenix Healthcare
215-392-0266
Kathy.Lee@phoenixmi.com

Press Contact:
Ray Graber, Graber Associates LLC
781-221-0018
Ray@GraberAssociates.net

More About Consumer Convergence 360

Horsham, PA – March 19, 2008 – Phoenix Marketing International today announced the launch of Consumer Convergence 360, a syndicated research program that brings Phoenix clients a rich understanding of the impact of converging technologies – electronics, connectivity, applications, and media – on the lives of consumers.

Consumer Convergence 360 draws a complete picture of the converging technology experience by assembling a high quality, fully matrixed data set that answers questions on topics such as: what aspects of convergence the consumers are experiencing; what content are they accessing; the technologies they are using to access it; and how their work and personal lives are converging.

“Our clients were asking for a deeper understanding of how technology products and services are impacting their customers’ lives. Especially in today’s world, marketers and advertisers need to understand technology convergence in order to reach their target audiences,” states John Schiela, president of Phoenix Converged Technology.

“We know that as little as five years ago most consumers only accessed the Internet via computer while sitting at work or home. Now, more than 44 % of mobile phone users browse the web or send e-mail on cell phones and PDAs,” continued Schiela.

“Mobile devices are erasing the line between business and personal lives. Nearly two-thirds of individuals are using their business phones for personal calls. Over a third use the same device for personal e-mails, and nearly one in six watch videos and listen to music on it.”

Schiela went on to point out the program’s findings on the potential impact of convergence on the 2008 presidential election. Ninety-three percent of mobile smart phone users report that they are likely to vote. In contrast to those who do not use smart phones, they are 2.5 times more likely to use on-line blogs and twice as likely to listen to talk radio when gathering information on candidates.

For a complete description of the Phoenix Consumer Convergence 360 program, please visit http://www.phoenixmi.com/pdf/PMI_Consumer_Convergence_360.pdf.

About The Phoenix Converged Technology Practice
The Phoenix Converged Technology Practice is a division of Phoenix Marketing International. This Practice is comprised of seasoned professionals focusing on the issues that impact the IT, Software, Applications, Network, and Communications markets.
http://www.phoenixmi.com/convergedtech.phtml

About Phoenix Marketing International
Founded in 1999, Phoenix Marketing International is one of the fastest growing marketing services firms in the United States. With offices across the country and partnerships with many of the largest companies in the financial services, consumer package goods, automotive, healthcare, and travel and leisure industries worldwide, Phoenix also offers advanced advertising and brand measurement along with direct marketing expertise.

Phoenix Marketing Contact:
John Schiela
President
Converged Technology Practice
215-392-0264
John.Schiela@phoenixmi.com

Press Contact:
Ray Graber, Graber Associates LLC
781-221-0018
ray@graberassociates.net

In a survey of 1,100 households with annual income in excess of $150,000 or investable assets in excess of $250,000, Phoenix researchers cited nine issues and asked respondents to pinpoint the issue that will have the most influence on their vote in the election. Job creation and economic growth was most likely to be cited as the most important concern.

View Full Article

CHICAGO (February 6, 2008)—TravelCLICK, Inc. the leading provider of emarketing solutions for the hotel industry, today released results from a survey that demonstrates travel agents continue to increase their reliance on Global Distribution Systems (GDS) promotions for hotel bookings. Conducted for TravelCLICK by Phoenix Marketing International, the online, biannual survey included 500 travel agents from 30 countries, representing the four major GDS systems—Amadeus, Galileo, Sabre, and Worldspan.

The study finds that 41 percent of travel agents worldwide are using their GDS platform more often than in the past, while 30 percent are using the GDS shopping displays more often. When asked about their awareness of GDS promotional messages, 55 percent of travel agents recalled seeing promotional messages in the past three months. Of this group, 52 percent made a booking at a hotel shown in the promotional message they saw, while 68 percent requested more information by looking at the click-through screen attached to the promotional message, and more than 70 percent looked inside the GDS systems for more information.

“Compared to the earlier study, the likelihood that an agent will book a hotel as a result of a promotional message has increased significantly from 40 percent in 2005 to 52 percent in 2007,” said David Pluchino, Senior Research Manager at Phoenix Marketing International. “This increase indicates the agents’ growing awareness and reliance on GDS promotions to find relevant, high-value choices for their clients.”

Among those agents who recalled seeing promotional messages, 80 percent felt that showing the best available rate offered by the hotel—even if it is not a negotiated rate—is the best way to get them to book a hotel while they are researching a hotel for negotiated rates.

The survey also sheds light on the effectiveness of display ad content. Those surveyed ranked the details in promotional messages that are most likely to lead them to book a particular hotel. In order of importance, travel agents are most likely to book when the promotion:

1. Shows a rate that they can actually book for the dates they are searching for (43 percent)
2. Shows only the destination they are searching for (16 percent)
3. Shows the hotel’s GDS property ID (14 percent)
4. Is competitive, offering a value greater than the hotel’s standard available rates (14 percent)
5. Includes information on amenities, travel agent incentives, and other add-ons in addition to price (13 percent)

“Driving over 30 percent of overall hotel bookings, GDS purchase decisions are beginning to mirror the behaviors of shoppers on the Internet—relevant, targeted promotions help shoppers make informed decisions faster and with confidence,” said John Hach, vice president of eMarketing solutions at TravelCLICK. “As a result, we are seeing higher performance from hotel GDS promotional messages as agent adoption increases.”

Survey results also reveal that most travel agents worldwide believe GDS systems should offer rate parity: 89 percent of US travel agents and 76 percent of international travel agents said it was very important to see the same rates available on all platforms.

A copy of the study presentation is available at www.travelclick.net. Click on 2007 Global Travel Agent GDS Study.

About Phoenix Marketing International
Phoenix Marketing International was founded in 1999 by Allen DeCotiis, Ph.D. and Martha Rea, MA. Phoenix is a privately held company. Phoenix has offices in Rhinebeck, (NY), Somerset (NJ), Detroit, Boston, Salisbury (MD), Chicago, Los Angeles, Tampa, Connecticut, and Miami. Phoenix was founded to integrate industry expertise, research, direct marketing, modeling, and multicultural expertise to help clients address their marketing needs. Through a combination of industry experience, research, marketing, analytic modeling and multicultural expertise, Phoenix partners with its clients to solve complex business issues and achieve a significant return on marketing investment.

About TravelCLICK, Inc.
TravelCLICK (www.travelclick.net) is the leading provider of emarketing solutions that help hotels sell rooms smarter and drive long-term profitability. TravelCLICK helps hotels maximize asset ROI by combining innovative market analysis and proven industry best practices with advanced technology to develop and implement high-return strategies. The company offers a full set of solutions including reservations and distribution management, market intelligence-based decision support, and marketing services. Serving the hospitality industry since 1999 and headquartered in the Chicago area, TravelCLICK has more than 12,000 customers in 140 countries.

Top 10 QSR TV Ads
Top 3 and Bottom 3 QSR TV Spots

Boston, MA – January 30, 2008 – Communications & Brand Analytics (CBA), a Phoenix Marketing International practice, today announced that Subway received the highest marks in Phoenix’s recent syndicated category audit of 20 top Quick Service Restaurant (QSR) brands. The study measures both brand leading indicators and advertising performance and reports on consumer perceptions and visitation behavior.

The Phoenix survey platform, the AdPi Audit, provides consumer-based evaluations of clients' ad and brand performances by focusing on key advertisers and ads running in the market in a given timeframe. The QSR study is the latest to take advantage of the company’s proprietary approach, which combines syndicated online data collection with customized reporting.

“Our AdPi Audits enable clients to make informed tactical decisions and get the most from their marketing dollars,” states Jeniefer Lessard, Vice President of CBA. “We found that nine of the top ten QSR ads focus on healthier meals and value meals, and that humor is a key driver of QSR ad response.”

“Our data show an interesting juxtaposition of Subway and Wendy’s. Both are top brands that get good marks from customers for quality and value, but only Subway’s advertising is currently connecting with customers and driving business. Wendy’s recent “Red Wig Campaign” failed to reinforce brand strengths and confused consumers; all those spots scored in the bottom third.”

Ads from CiCi’s, Dairy Queen, and Papa John’s, delivering a variety of value messages, also scored well in the QSR Audit. Among the poorest performing spots were Domino’s “Oreo Moustache” and Burger King’s “Italian Chicken Sandwich.”

Phoenix Marketing’s AdPi Score is based on a statistical model that predicts the potential of an ad to drive response in the QSR category. At least 60 ads, chosen based on top share-of-voice, are evaluated by thousands of consumers each quarter. Representative data can be viewed by visiting http://www.phoenixmi.com/cba.

About The Phoenix Communications and Brand Analytics Practice
The Communications and Brand Analytics Practice of Phoenix Marketing International specializes in evaluating advertising effectiveness and measuring brand performance. Large category audits with thousands of responses are fielded every month and predictive models are developed and used to score category advertising. In addition to the QSR Audit, CBA conducts category audits for Automotive, Investment Services, Auto & Homeowners Insurance, Consumer Credit Card, Retail Banking and others.

About Phoenix Marketing International
Founded in 1999, Phoenix Marketing International is one of the fastest growing marketing services firms in the United States. With offices across the country and partnerships with many of the largest companies in the financial services, consumer package goods, automotive, healthcare, and travel and leisure industries worldwide, Phoenix offers advanced advertising and brand measurement along with direct marketing expertise.

# # # #

Phoenix Marketing Contact:
Jeniefer Lessard
Vice President
Communications & Brand Analytics Division
508-647-0151
Jeniefer.Lessard@phoenixmi.com

Press Contact:
Ray Graber, Graber Associates LLC
781-221-0018
ray@graberassociates.net

You must have the Flash Player installed to watch this video!

In the December measurement, given high levels of economic turmoil, leading 3-month indicators show that affluent investors, both Wealth Market and Mass Affluent, overall prefer to remain on the sidelines and make few changes to their portfolios. Additionally and significantly, millionaire investors have become more bearish.

Mass Affluent Market ($250K - $999K Investable Assets)

In the December, 2007 AMS tracking period, the “make no change” trend line established a 3-period upward trend, indicating that more Mass Affluent investors are heading to the sidelines in their investment approach.

After bottoming out in June at 31%, the net increase trend line had steadily risen to 38% in October, but remained at 37% in December. Mass Affluent investors who are likely to make no changes now stands at 58%, a small but steady increase from 55% in August.

The “Investment Sentiment Trend Line”, depicted in the charts below, shows the percentage of Mass Affluent consumers that anticipate making increases to various asset class categories, including stocks, mutual funds, fixed income, real estate, business investments, deposit accounts, alternative investments, and retirement accounts. (The base is those 37% of Mass Affluent investors who say they plan to make net increases to their portfolios in the next three months.)

Among the 37% of Mass Affluent households likely to make net increases to their investments: apparently many continue to feel that this is a good time to add to their retirement accounts, as the trend line for this product group continued to increase significantly. Since August, the proportion of Mass Affluent investors planning to make increases in their retirement account investments has risen from 53% to 74%. Despite, or perhaps because of, the decline in real estate values, plans to increase real estate investments reversed a 3-period downward trend, and increased significantly from 10% to 17%.

• Stocks: 45% likely to increase positions; up 9 points from October
• Mutual Funds: 59% likely; unchanged from October
• Fixed Income: 16% likely; down 1 point from October
• Alternative Investments: 6% likely; unchanged from October
• Retirement Accounts: 74% likely; up 8 points from October and establishing a 3 month upward trend
• Deposit Accounts: 62% likely, up 7 points from October and establishing a 3 month upward trend
• Real Estate: 17% likely; up 7 points from October, and reversing a 3 month downward trend
• Business Investments: 13% likely, up 5% from October

Investment Sentiment: Percent Likely To Increase Holdings In Next 3 Months (click image to enlarge)

Base: plan to make net increases to overall investments in the next 3 months

Wealth Market: $1 Million+ Investable Assets

In December, 2007, leading 3-month indicators show that millionaire households are remaining cautious, with the net increase trend line falling by another three percentage points. It has fallen nine percentage points since August. In addition, the net decrease trend line has now risen three periods in a row, increasing from 4% in August to 9% in December.

The No Change trend line remained at 51%.

In the next 3 months, which of the following changes are you and your household likely to make regarding your overall financial investments?

1 million+ Investment Sentiment Trend Lines indicate:

Among the 39% of millionaire investors likely to increase investments, they were the most bullish about retirement accounts. Like the Mass Affluent, Wealth market investors were increasingly likely to say they would be increasing their retirement investments in the next three months, from 55% to 63%. Unlike the Mass Affluent, millionaires’ interest in real estate investments is declining, as only 20% say they will be increasing their positions, compared to 26% in August and 23% in October.

• Stocks: 51% likely to increase positions, down 7 points from October and reversing a 3 month upward trend
• Mutual Funds: 61% likely; down 2 points from October - reversal of a 3 month upward trend
• Fixed Income: 35% likely; up 7 points from October
• Deposit Accounts: 52% likely, down 3 points from October
• Alternative Investments: 14% likely, down 5 points from October
• Retirement Accounts: 63% likely; up 8 points from October
• Business Investments: 18% likely; up 2 points from October
• Real Estate: 20% likely; down 3 points from October

Investment Sentiment: Percent Likely To Increase Holdings In Next 3 Months Tracking Periods: December 2006 - December 2007 $1 Million+ Investable Assets (click image to enlarge)

Base: plan to make net increases to overall investments in the next 3 months

About The Phoenix Affluent Marketing Service (AMS) Program

The Phoenix Affluent Marketing Service (AMS) program is a continuously fielded survey of affluent and high net worth households throughout the U.S., and provides an ongoing summary of affluent and high net worth household investment, financial and affluent lifestyle behaviors and attitudes. Each questionnaire, fielded bi-monthly, contains a minimum of 1,100 completed questionnaires among qualified affluent households.

For more information about the AMS program, contact David Thompson at 860.653.1720 or by email at David.Thompson@PhoenixMI.com. Or visit the Phoenix Marketing International web site at www.phoenixmi.com.

About Phoenix Marketing International

Phoenix Marketing International was founded in 1999 by Allen DeCotiis, Ph.D. and Martha Rea, MA. Phoenix is a privately held company. Phoenix has offices in Rhinebeck,(NY), Somerset (NJ), Detroit, Boston, Salisbury (MD), Chicago, Los Angeles, Tampa, Connecticut, and Miami. Phoenix was founded to integrate industry expertise, research, direct marketing, modeling, and multicultural expertise to help clients address their marketing needs. Through a combination of industry experience, research, marketing, analytic modeling and multicultural expertise, Phoenix partners with its clients to solve complex business issues and achieve a significant return on marketing investment.

Broad Economic Concerns

Pocketbook Concerns:

The top two “pocketbook” concerns of affluent households over the past year were wealth protection and healthcare costs.

To view charts of all concerns over the past year, please go to the following document:

AMS_Concerns_Chart.pdf

You must have the Flash Player installed to watch this video!

Rhinebeck NY – January 9, 2008 – The Phoenix Affluent Marketing Service, a Phoenix Marketing International practice, announced today that New Jersey has become the state with the largest percent of millionaires to total households. Ranked second past two years, New Jersey vaulted past Hawaii, which fell to fourth in the 2007 rankings.

Phoenix’s annual market sizing analysis and aggregate wealth rankings shows that New Jersey’s ratio of millionaires to total households rose to 7.12%, up from 6.5% in 2006. Maryland is now in second place at 7.08%, up from 6.2% in 2006. Connecticut is third, with a ratio of 7.0%, up from 6.2% a year ago. Hawaii’s ratio of 6.7% was unchanged from a year ago. Phoenix defines a millionaire household as one with $1 million or more in investable or liquid assets.

“Traditional East Coast concentrations of wealth have continued to outperform most of the rest of the country,” says David Thompson, Managing Director of the Phoenix Affluent Practice. “This is a function of three factors: high levels of education; access to top paying jobs in finance and technology; and a stock market that has advanced over the past four years,” notes Thompson.

Rounding out the top ten for 2007: Massachusetts remains in fifth place; Virginia rose to sixth from seventh past Delaware, which fell one spot; Alaska leaped to eighth from fourteenth a year ago; ninth-place New Hampshire, was up from eleventh in 2006; and California came in tenth, down two spots from 2006.

The complete states’ rankings for 2005 through 2007 are available by visiting the Phoenix site at http://www.phoenixmi.com/prfiles/State_Rankings_Millionaires_2005-2007.xls.

About Phoenix Affluent Marketing

The Phoenix Affluent Market Service (AMS) offers both custom research and syndicated solutions to assist clients in understanding trends and issues that impact the affluent and high net worth markets and in developing strategies for revenue growth.

Our Affluent Marketing research platforms are the foundation of our custom research practice. These rich, syndicated databases give clients a competitive advantage through unprecedented access to mainstream affluent, high net worth, and ultra high net worth households. We can profile markets or determine competitive issues that prepare clients for a custom research engagement.

About Phoenix Marketing International

Founded in 1999, Phoenix Marketing International is one of the fastest growing marketing services firms in the United States. With offices across the country and partnerships with many of the largest companies in the financial services, consumer package goods, automotive, healthcare, and travel and leisure industries worldwide, Phoenix also offers advanced advertising and brand measurement along with direct marketing expertise.

# # # #

Phoenix Marketing Contact:
David Thompson
Managing Director
Phoenix Affluent Market Practice
860-653-1720
david.thompson@phoenixmi.com

Press Contact:
Ray Graber, Graber Associates LLC
781-221-0018
ray@graberassociates.net