Compas, Inc.

FAQ

Why is Compas able to save its clients hundreds of thousands of dollars each year on their print promotion compared to other agencies purchasing media?
Compas, Inc. is a media buying cooperative. In 2001, we will have purchased over $150,000,000.00 in media on behalf of our clients. Compas, Inc. buys in greater volume than any of our clients on their own. Compas is also the only company recognized by both publishers and suppliers as a corporate account where aggregating volume across companies is accepted. As our client roster grows so does our buying volume, producing larger savings to pass on to you.

Do all publishers recognize Compas as a single corporate account?
Every year that Compas has been in business, the number of publications anxious to work with our clients has grown.

Does Compas make you buy journals you don't want?
We will never alter your promotional instructions. What your product manager, agency or media planners require, we execute. And we are able to execute those instructions more efficiently and cost effectively than a traditional agency. After all, that is our only business. We will make you aware of innovative and cost-effective opportunities. As the largest buyer of media in healthcare, we are often aware of programs and initiatives before most other providers of placement services. These are communicated directly to you and your planners to ensure that your advertising dollars are most effectively utilized. We encourage our clients to consider those that are appropriate and disregard those that are not. It's your money. We want to make it work for you as efficiently as possible.

Does Compas cost more than an agency would bill for placement?
Compas, Inc. services are intended to cost you nothing. It is our goal to generate incremental savings in excess a minimum based on spend; if we are unable to achieve this goal, we will place your advertising for free. That has never happened—not even close. Our clients have realized significant savings—usually double or triple compared to what they could have generated on their own at a cost less than the billable time required at an agency. As much as 70% of the cost of media planning and service in an agency is for the back office tasks of placement the other 30% for planning. When using Compas our clients also could realize a reduction in agency costs as well.

When will I receive reports?
There are many types of reports that a client can receive from Compas, Inc on an on-going basis. Below is a list of each type of report and the dates in which you can expect to receive them.

Product schedules are issued on the 20th of each month.
Product Monthly Summary Reports (MSR) are sent on the 15th of the month, approximately 45 days preceding the month of issue.
Compas Savings Reports are issued on a quarterly basis, 45 days after the close of the quarter (1st Qtr = May 15th, 2nd Qtr = Aug. 15th, 3rd Qtr = Nov. 15th, 4th Qtr = Feb. 15th of the following year) o Maximum Leveraged Space is recommended on a quarterly basis 45 days preceding the quarter (1st Qtr = Oct 15th, 2nd Qtr = Jan. 15th, 3rd Qtr April 15th, 4th Qtr = July 15th) o Reprint Status Reports are issued via email on a weekly basis.

How are discounts entered into the media schedules?
Compas adds discounts supplied by the planner directly to the product schedule. We then go one step further and aggressively search out all other discounts for which the product qualifies, and enter those discounts as well.

When are the insertion orders issued to the publishers?
Compas operates on a 24 hour turn-around time. Once the signed approvals are received from the media planner, Compas faxes and mails the insertion orders to the journals within 24 hours.

What assurances do I have that I get what I pay for?
One of the conditions that must be met in order for a payment to be released to a publisher is that our library verifies the ad ran as ordered. Your ads are your message, and we won't pay if the message wasn't delivered. If the library finds that the ad did not run properly, it is the financial coordinator's responsibility to follow up with agencies and publishers to obtain resolution within 3 to 5 days. Invoices will not be paid until the discrepancy is resolved. Resolving ad discrepancies allows the financial department to contribute to our company's mission to verify proper ad placement and ensure that you get what you pay for. In addition to library verification, your payment must have been received and the publisher's invoice amount must match what was billed to you. The financial coordinators work closely with our accounting and collections department to monitor payments and often help expedite the collection efforts. When the publisher's invoice amount differs from what was billed to you, we will utilize all available resources to investigate and resolve the discrepancy.

How much time does it take before cost discrepancies are reconciled on my account?
Most invoice discrepancies are reconciled within thirty days of invoice. Our promise to you is that we will leave no stone unturned until every penny is accounted for—no matter how long it takes. Compas has a proven record of dedication to this pursuit. Check us out. We have been audited by numerous clients—at our request. We invite you to audit us at any time. You'll find what every single auditor has found before you, the most sophisticated, yet transparent systems in the industry.

When can I expect rate change short rate invoices and credits?
Once mid-year and final rates have been established, coordinators will generate all short rate and credit adjustments and issue statements to the publishers. Once a publisher acknowledges the statement, the rate change is immediately processed and billed on your next adjustment invoice. We guarantee that all rate change credits will be passed along to you no more than sixty days from the date of the statement's issuance.

Is Compas a minority certified organization?
YES. Compas is a minority owned and operated business and is certified with the National Minority Suppliers Development Council (NMSDC).

Frequently Asked Questions—Strategic Promotional Purchasing Department

In addition to catalogs, what other types of marketing communications and promotional activities do you use to support client programs?
Compas would develop outgoing, ongoing marketing efforts and communications that pique interest and generate participation at all levels by using the following venues:

Link from current web site / intranet
Banner on intranet / web site
Editorial in company newsletter, bulletin board, (posters, fliers)
Company wide e-mail announcement from Senior Management
"Market Fair" with rep and live samples
Direct mailing of catalogs and order forms to all locations

We also provide follow information to all management and mangers with vehicles that will allow them to effectively market our client's products/services and achieve their short and long term sales goals

Provide the Managers with the sales materials to market our client's products/services at multiple venues
Provide Managers with awareness programs surrounding the promotional items
Offer full-service capabilities and programs to effectively implement service awareness campaigns at both the Manager and corporate level
Maintain and mine a data repository of reports, employees and customers, along with demographic and user profiles
Develop follow-up retention programs
Maintain a database of events (dates/places/etc.) both marketing and at the Managers level, to encourage pre- and post-marketing of promotional items
Explore and offer NEW promotional items that will encourage additional participation

Describe what other special services you may have to benefit our employees.
Compas is fully capable and prepared to offer consultation services regarding promotions, special events, database construction, reporting formats, etc. Below is a list of special services that we are equipped to provide as added value and benefit to Our clients' employees:

Custom Quote Manager—we have developed our own customized, proprietary, web-enabled software to manage custom orders with technology that has enabled our clients to cut quote request turn-around time by 70%. Our quote management system allows the website user the ability to receive sourcing information (price and shipping information) from one of the customer service representatives for items that are not offered on the corporate website.
800 #—a hotline for employees to call if ever they are experiencing problems or need further assistance with the website or other custom projects. Our 800 # is made available during the hours of 8 AM–6 PM EST.
Customized Reports—customized, online reporting features to help brand managers better manage their inventories as well as control budgets.
Direct Mail—we can serve as a consultant to the brands and aid them in determining premiums to accompany their direct mail programs.
Sales Driven Programs—we work with the brand teams to help them develop custom promotional programs that build brand awareness, increase sales, etc.
Award Winning Creative Capabilities—by utilizing our in-house creative resources, Compas can provide client's employees access to utilize our creative services to help develop creative artwork to accompany their promotional programs.
Web-Design/Hosting—Compas also has the capability to manage and host client specific websites.

Describe your account management philosophy.
Compas' account management philosophy, simply stated, is one that creates great listeners and proactive partners focused on meeting agreed upon commitments. Our philosophy embraces total planning for clients at an unusual depth of involvement—cross a wide range of company personnel. We believe there is absolutely no substitute for getting to know our clients' business, industry, problems and opportunities, to the extent our client allows, for their success as well as ours. We make it our business to understand our client's total needs as it relates to their internal needs/customers.

Compas encourages its account team to develop tools to maximize the efficiencies and effectiveness of the services we provide to our clients.

With respect to support, we encourage our clients to allow our account team to train with our clients, at our client's facility, if possible. It's the best way to understand the policies and philosophies of the people we serve.