1983-1985
Copywriter
Lillian Vernon Corporation
Mount Vernon, New York
- wrote copy for nationally known mail order catalog
- wrote space advertising for various household and novelty items, and ads to promote the catalog itself
1981-1982
Copywriter/Marketing Manager
Advantage Associates Inc.
New York, New York
- wrote sales letters, brochures and collateral for the B2B market
- developed new concepts and terminology to promote the media bartering business
- assisted in the development of marketing strategies
- participated in client contact and sales presentations
1986 to 1990
Assistant Director of Promotion (promoted from Copy Manager)
Time Incorporated
New York, New York
- managed workflow for direct mail testing on 8 major magazines
- supervised a regular staff of 4 copywriters
- developed and maintained a flexible staff of freelance copywriters to handle peak creative testing and production cycles
- managed relations and communications with various other circulation departments, including marketing, law, art and production
- wrote copy for all phases of circulation promotion
1982-1983
Copywriter
Muir Cornelius Moore
New York, New York
- wrote space ads and collateral for high-tech B2B clients
- participated in advertising stretegy sessions, client meetings and creative presentations
1984-1985
Copy Supervisor
(promoted from copywriter)
Leavitt Advertising, Division of Horn & Hardart
New York, New York
- supervised a staff of 8 copywriters on 10 different mail order catalogs
- tracked schedules and work progress to help meet deadlines
- wrote and edited catalog copy for a wide range of consumer merchandise -- novelties, gifts, housewares, gardening and fashion
After a career as a staff copywriter [click the "travel" stickers at right for details], I incorporated as Marketpoint in 1990 to engage in freelance copywriting and advertising consulting. In all, I have a broad range of experience in direct response advertising, and in direct mail advertising in particular. I am best known for the highly successful sweepstakes mailings I have created over the years.
I have had dozens of control packages, many of which were never beaten by any other creative resource. On Time Magazine, for instance, I had 5 consecutive control packages over a 10 year period. On Family Circle Magazine, I had an even longer series of unbeaten controls. I have had multiple controls on a number of other titles as well, including Sports Illustrated, Playboy, People, Bottom Line Personal, McCall’s, Southern Living, Automobile, Cooking Light, and others. Over a period of years, I was one of the most widely mailed independent copywriters in the United States, with mail quantities totalling in the hundreds of millions.
I am expert in all aspects of circulation promotion – whether sweeps driven, edit driven, or offer driven, whether in new business, renewals, or billing. I have also created successful promotions for book clubs, continuities, consumer products, and have considerable experience as a catalog/merchandise copywriter and in the business-to-business environment. In addition, I have worked with numerous editors to show how direct response advertising concepts can be applied to magazine covers to achieve significant increases in newsstand sales.
-- Don Aurrichio