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Facts & Figures about International Direct Marketing

International direct marketing (DM) encompasses all marketing activities that are used for single-level or multilevel (direct) communication and/or for direct sales (i.e. mail order retailing).

Basic Information about International Direct Marketing

International direct marketing definition: All transnational marketing measures, launched with the intention to establish an interactive connection to a target person and to trigger an individual measurable reaction. (Deutscher Direktmarketing Verband (DDV))
  • For a campaign to be successful, its design and language must be tailored to the specific needs and preferences of the target group
  • Addressing recipients whose names have been identified with properly personalized core messages and "key visuals" increases the level of awareness and product sales
  • Direct marketing campaigns based on the principle "create globally, think locally, act globally" are an optimal addition to standard marketing activities in companies that are engaged internationally and want to market products simultaneously in multiple countries

Direct Marketing Expenditure

(in millions of US dollars)
Country200220032004200798-03** 03-07**
USA*144,490151,985160,952 191,155 4.40% 5.90%
Japan71,729 75,851 80,140 97,2872.20%6.40%
Germany27,94130,586 33,375 41,3934.70%7.90%
Great Britain18,32219,95521,49326,2755.20%7.10%
France16,98218,425 19,82723,3794.00% 6.10%
Italy14,28815,58516,786 20,4744.40% 7.10%
Canada7,1647,7358,229 9,669 6.90%5.70%
Taiwan 5,819 6,893  8,134 13,86215.30%19.10%
The Netherlands 6,022 6,549 7,074 8,625 5.40%7.10%
South Korea4,9315,7286,5189,68123.70%14.00%
Spain4,9945,4585,953 7,4385.40% 8.10%
Australia4,7885,3235,7977,3718.40%8.50%
Switzerland4,9255,06 5,1885,576 -0.10%2.50%
Belgium4,4074,8145,2106,4024.40%7.40%
Sweden3,9684,3604,7675,9547.00%8.10%
Hong Kong3,2653,821 4,4846,7512.80%15.30%
Austria2,9273,1743,4144,1284.90%6.80%
Norway2,6462,8172,9573,4099.90%4.90%
Finland2,3652,6172,872 3,6177.70%8.40%
Denmark2,2372,4432,6423,2105.80%7.10%
Ireland2,0542,3922,7483,91514.50%13.10%
Mexico1,7821,9412,1512,782 11.90%9.40%
Argentina1,151 1,2561,3641,7070.60%8.00%
Brazil1,0191,1541,2961,753 5.80% 11.00%
Portugal606 673 745 955 6.60% 9.20%
Greece565630 706 910 7.20% 9.60%
New Zealand521551 578 725 4.00% 7.10%
*USA based on DMA (2004a), p. 11 and p. 15
**DMA forecast (2004a)
Source: M. Krafft, J. Hesse and K. Peters (2007), International Direct Marketing - the book (Editors: M. Krafft, J. Hesse, J. Höfling, K. Peters, D. Rinas), p. 12, Springer

Proportion of direct marketing expenditure (as % of traditional advertising)

When comparing direct marketing expenditure with that for traditional advertising media, the differences between countries are exposed even more clearly. It is apparent that, by 1998 direct marketing expenditures in the
Netherlands already exceeded expenditure on traditional advertising. This trend can also be seen in many other northern European countries, e.g. Germany, France, Denmark and Austria, as such outlays approached 80% of the amount spent for traditional advertising. By 2003, investment in direct marketing in Germany exceeded investment in traditional advertisement.
Source: M. Krafft, J. Hesse and K. Peters (2007), International Direct Marketing - the book (Editors: M. Krafft, J. Hesse, J. Höfling, K. Peters, D. Rinas), p. 13, Springer

International Direct Marketing Expenditure

(in millions of US dollars)**
Country2002200320042007
USA*13,00415,19917,70526,762
Japan 6,4567,5858,81513,62
Germany2,5153,0593,6715,795
Great Britain1,6491,9962,3643,679
France1,5281,8432,1813,273
Italy1,2861,5591,8462,866
Canada645774 9051,354
Taiwan5246898951,941
Netherlands5426557781,208
South Korea4445737171,355
Spain4495466551,041
Australia 431 532 638 1,032
Switzerland 443 506 571 781
Belgium 397 481 573 896
Sweden 357 436 524 834
Hong Kong294 382 493 945
Austria 263 317 376 578
Norway 238 282 325 477
Finland 213 262 316 506
Denmark 201 244 291 449
Ireland 185 239 302548
Mexico 160 194 237 389
Argentina 104 126 150 239
Brazil 92 115 143 245
Portugal 556782134
Greece 516378127
New Zealand475564102
Malaysia 415470139
South Africa36414874
Thailand 14172134
Philippines 57916
Total 32,68838,89745,84171,439
 Assumption: 9%, 10%, 11%, 14% proportion of international direct marketing
* USA based on DMA (2004), p. 11 and 15
** Source: own estimate
Source: Krafft, M., J. Hesse and K. Peters (2007), p. 16, in Krafft, M., J. Hesse, J. Höfling, K. Peters, D. Rinas (ed.): International Direct Marketing, Springer.