Acura and Pinehurst Golf Resort partnered to offer consumers a special three-hour use of an Acurathe "Preferred Vehicle of Pinehurst"-and a special package price for their vacation getaway. The two companies believe that they share a common target market profile and similar business philosophies of offering only the highest quality product. It is important for marketers to understand the steps involved in this process to maximize the benefits for both parties. The direct marketer usually seeks a direct response. The objectives of the program are normally behaviors-for example, test drives, votes, contributions, and/or sales. A typical objective is defined through a set response, perhaps a 2 to 3 percent response rate. Not all direct marketing seeks a behavioral response, however. Many organizations use direct marketing to build an image, maintain customer satisfaction, and inform and/or educate customers in an attempt to lead to future actions. Place the seven steps involved in the Acura - Pinehurst direct marketing partnership in the correct order. Using the Knowledge Sharing Data with Retailers Into the Database Refining the Database Identifying an Ideal Consumer Digesting the Data The Product Reset 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 - Steps in the Acura - Pinehurst Partnership Essentially, all marketing was originally direct marketing between the buyer and the seller. Ben Franklin was a very early direct marketer in Colonial America. As additional intermediaries were added to the channels of distribution, the process of marketing lengthened. For most of the last century, direct marketing was merely catalog sales and a few other forms of direct-to-the-seller response purchases. In this century, technology and social changes have greatly enhanced the methods, measurements, and effectiveness of direct marketing. Today, the Industry generates in excess of $2.5 trillion dollars in annual sales with substantial growth globally. This activity is important because it shows the strength and perseverance of direct marketing. The goal of this activity is to demonstrate the effectives of direct marketing as a communication tool. Match the correct features of direct marketing and sources of growth of direct marketing activities with the descriptions below. Being "money-rich and time-poor" 2 Technological advances 3 Direct-response media Availability of credit cards and electronic payment programs such as PayPal and Venmo 5 Delivery and shipping advances Match each of the options above to the items below. Increasingly with either two working parents or single-parent families, the possibility to shop in person is reduced. Having the option to purchase 24/7 has contributed to a rapid increase in direct marketing activities. In the tool kit are some old forms and some innovative ones, including direct mail, Interactive TV, the Internet, telemarketing, and print; they are all integral to successful direct market sales. Without the need for cash in order to pay, exchanges between buyers and sellers are greatly facilitated nationally and globally. The advent of the Internet has facilitated the ability to connect buyers and sellers everywhere and make products and services available, trackable, and able to be paid for in ways that previously were restricted to brick-and-mortar exchanges. Beginning with the USPS and expanded by firms such as FedEx, UPS, and even Amazon's direct deliveries, goods can reach consumers almost anywhere in the United States and increasingly in the world market fairly quickly.