Rich Couples

Suzy da Silva and Nicole Licata met in 1998 while working at a direct-response advertising agency, and the lack of ethics they sometimes witnessed inspired the pair to branch out on their own in 2001. “We wanted to do something that would treat the clients better,” says Licata, “because direct response in general is a not-so-upfront industry. A lot of people take your money and don’t tell you why they’re taking it.”After the partners started their business in July 2001, the 9/11 terrorist attacks nearly put a quick stop to their venture because nobody was watching or buying from infomercials-it was all news all the time. To get through it, the pair went to TV stations directly to look for compromises and ad rate reduction deals that would help everybody-their clients, the stations and themselves-to survive. “Everyone had to be a team at that point,” says da Silva.

During the lean times after 9/11, da Silva and Licata vowed they wouldn’t lay off a single employee. Though they had to forgo their own paychecks for a time, and each gained 25 pounds from the stress of it all, they kept their promise. Says da Silva, “We didn’t want people out in that kind of environment. It’s like a family here.” The result: incredibly loyal employees and a knowledge that the duo can get through anything-including successfully losing their stress-related pounds.

source Entrepreneur

Website CCM Marketing, Inc.

Company description: Media buying advertising agency specializing in the direct-response market
Founders: Suzy da Silva, 33, and Nicole Licata, 35
Projected 2004 sales: $30 million

Million Dollar Mailings

Strategic Marketing (Mcgraw Hill/Irwin Series in Marketing)