Independent Singapore-based direct marketing agency Go Direct! yesterday announced an unprecedented tripling of its offices in the ASEAN region, in a move that demonstrates the growth of direct marketing as a key tool in growing business in Asia.

The expansion into Bangkok and Kuala Lumpur represents the agency’s growing client list throughout the region and will allow it to work locally to better serve client needs.

The company’s new Bangkok office comes out of its merger with long time partner Information Partners Thailand (IPT), based in Bangkok. The agency took a controlling interest from 30th September of this year. The new office, to be rebranded as Go Direct! from 1st November, focuses on telemarketing, database management and data analytics for existing and new clients around the region.

The relationship between the two agencies goes back to 2002 and the merger reflects significant growth on client campaign work for clients such as Toyota, Juniper Networks, Oracle Corporation and others in Asia.

Go Direct! Founder and Managing Partner, Paul Hourihane said “This makes perfect sense for our clients and for both companies. We know each other very well, have had a great relationship and delivered some tremendous campaign results in the last 4 years. The time is right now for us to formally join the strengths and experiences of both companies. Year by year, data and technology is becoming a more important part of the direct marketing equation. We know that Go Direct! Bangkok brings tremendous data expertise to the party. Rory Stoddart’s leadership of IPT is an example of this. His background at SAS brings fantastic analytical input. We have also been able to execute multi-language telemarketing across South East Asia from Bangkok. Our clients are increasingly looking for more of this package of pan-Asian execution and one-stop direct marketing expertise.”

Paralleling the Bangkok move, the agency will also launch Go Direct! Kuala Lumpur on 1st December this year.

Added Hourihane, “Our entry to the Malaysian market will be from December with some familiar multi national clients and a country manager known to many, as we are finalising the contracts right now I cannot say too much except ‘Watch this space.’”

These developments were announced at the agency’s 5th anniversary party on Thursday, 26th October 2006 at the Townhouse bar at Boat Quay. Clients, partners and friends were invited to commemorate the milestone occasion with the agency.

Launched at the beginning of the most recent recession in October 2001, Go Direct! has grown to become one of Singapore’s most admired independent direct marketing agencies. In just five years, the agency has made its presence felt in eight Asian markets– with a list of blue chip clients and projects.