Real media becomes more realistic
Switzerland is also being affected by the wave of restructuring at Real Media worldwide
Switzerland is also affected by the wave of restructuring at Real Media worldwideThe fact that Urs Wolfensberger had to resign from Real Media (Switzerland) shows one thing above all: Publigroupe also has to realign its online unit in this country - in an even more concentrated form than abroad: in future, the focus will only be on the sale of online advertising.According to Pascal Zähner, CEO of Real Media (Europe), "differing views on the future strategy of Real Media (Switzerland)" were the reason why he showed Urs Wolfensberger, Managing Director of Real Media (Switzerland), the door (WW 2/01). He did not reveal any more details, but the new direction does give some indication.
"Real Media is concentrating on its strengths: the development and sale of technology from the USA and the sale of Internet advertising in Europe," said a Publigroupe press release at the end of 2000.
The statement, which applies to Real Media worldwide, hits Real Media (Switzerland) much harder: in future, the company intends to concentrate on just one of its strengths. "In Switzerland, we will focus massively on the sale of online advertising," says Robert Schmidli, CEO of Publidirect, who has taken over the management of Real Media (Switzerland) on an interim basis until around the middle of the year.
But why is Real Media (Switzerland) not selling Open AdStream, a technology developed in the USA that can be used to manage websites and their online advertising? Schmidli explains: "We will continue to offer Open AdStream, but our own Salesforce would be too expensive. We will pass on orders to Real Media (Europe)."
Real Media aims for quality
good turnover
A reference to the small size of the local market? Schmidli is evasive. Apparently, however, Wolfensberger had been more generous in his assessment of the potential in this country.
The reduction in the technical area has consequences in terms of personnel. While Real Media International is cutting a good ten percent of its jobs worldwide, Real Media (Switzerland) is cutting as many as 25 percent of its approximately 40 jobs. However, Schmidli wants to expand sales and double the current five jobs: "It depends on how the market develops. But the more people, the better," he says. The aim this year is to increase sales at Real Media (Switzerland) by 20 to 30 percent compared to 2000.
Just this much: Real Media (Switzerland) also made a big miscalculation in this respect. The company is now satisfied with less than a quarter of its previous expectations. Schmidli adds: "We want to generate good quality sales. That means: secure customers and no price wars." Which could probably be interpreted as a side blow against Wolfensberger...
Markus Knöpfli
"Real Media is concentrating on its strengths: the development and sale of technology from the USA and the sale of Internet advertising in Europe," said a Publigroupe press release at the end of 2000.
The statement, which applies to Real Media worldwide, hits Real Media (Switzerland) much harder: in future, the company intends to concentrate on just one of its strengths. "In Switzerland, we will focus massively on the sale of online advertising," says Robert Schmidli, CEO of Publidirect, who has taken over the management of Real Media (Switzerland) on an interim basis until around the middle of the year.
But why is Real Media (Switzerland) not selling Open AdStream, a technology developed in the USA that can be used to manage websites and their online advertising? Schmidli explains: "We will continue to offer Open AdStream, but our own Salesforce would be too expensive. We will pass on orders to Real Media (Europe)."
Real Media aims for quality
good turnover
A reference to the small size of the local market? Schmidli is evasive. Apparently, however, Wolfensberger had been more generous in his assessment of the potential in this country.
The reduction in the technical area has consequences in terms of personnel. While Real Media International is cutting a good ten percent of its jobs worldwide, Real Media (Switzerland) is cutting as many as 25 percent of its approximately 40 jobs. However, Schmidli wants to expand sales and double the current five jobs: "It depends on how the market develops. But the more people, the better," he says. The aim this year is to increase sales at Real Media (Switzerland) by 20 to 30 percent compared to 2000.
Just this much: Real Media (Switzerland) also made a big miscalculation in this respect. The company is now satisfied with less than a quarter of its previous expectations. Schmidli adds: "We want to generate good quality sales. That means: secure customers and no price wars." Which could probably be interpreted as a side blow against Wolfensberger...
Markus Knöpfli
