Mark Kolier

A member of Vistage for more than five years Mark is a partner in a new agency micro-network concept called www.moddern.com. With a particular expertise in direct and digital marketing, Mark has served both business-to-business and business-to-consumer clients by offering strategic consulting, creative services, digital marketing, direct response television and radio production, printing and mailing, and media buying services. 

 

Marketing agencies are beginning to consider owning their own products and servicing them as an agency-client relationship.  Always ahead of the trend, in 2000 Mark founded ecommerce application www.yourcover.com  which has evolved into a leading provider of online user generated personalized magazine covers as well as ancillary products for a host of life stage events.   

 

Having traveled extensively in China, in 2011 Mark launched a business unit focused on helping Chinese companies enter and succeed in the United States market as well as advising U.S. based companies on entering the marketplace in China.    A dedicated student of Mandarin Mark has built a substantial network in China. 

 

Mark writes regularly and has been published in a number of business and professional journals and has a blog that can be found at http://markkolier.wordpress.com

Recent Posts by Mark

Leadership in Business – The Fish Stinks From The Head Down

Leadership in Business – The Fish Stinks From The Head Down

Hubris is one of the great renewable resources.

-          P. J. O’Rourke

It’s widely held that the best leaders do more than make things work Read More

The three most important things I’ve already learned while not running a company

The three most important things I’ve already learned while not running a company

It’s been four and one half months since my former company began the process of dissolution.   While the fallout will have an impact on my Read More

When You Think You Are A Leader Above the Law- Think Again

When You Think You Are A Leader Above the Law- Think Again

Dominique Strauss-Khan, Elliot Spitzer, Mark Sanford, and more recently Anthony Weiner.   My guess is those four names conjure up a pretty clear idea in your Read More

The Golden Days of Online Group Coupons are Almost Over

The Golden Days of Online Group Coupons are Almost Over

Groupon and Living Social are red hot as the two of the most successful online social couponing sites with IPO’s in the offing for both Read More

Is Facebook the new telephone?

Is Facebook the new telephone?

Since I am of a certain age (I was born when Ike was President of the U.S.), I have friends that refuse to engage on Read More

Direct Mail Grows In Defiance Of “Print Is Dead”

Direct Mail Grows In Defiance Of “Print Is Dead”

Despite all the talk about marketing via social networks, mobile marketing and digital display, the ‘traditional’ consistently performing channel – good old direct mail – Read More

Commuting in the United States by train – why does it have to be like 1961?

Commuting in the United States by train – why does it have to be like 1961?

Having opened an office in lower Manhattan in November, I have joined the ranks of commuters from the New York City suburbs- even it if Read More

Technology Freeze- When did we become so reliant on the Internet?

Technology Freeze- When did we become so reliant on the Internet?

I’m writing this on a mid-Monday afternoon just after the end of the Christmas Day Blizzard here in the Connecticut. We’ve had more than 18 Read More

Does your Marketing Intersect Brand and Direct?

Does your Marketing Intersect Brand and Direct?

For years, advertising agencies have worked to help their clients get a compelling message out to prospective customers in the hope that these prospects will Read More

What will be the hot tech gift this holiday season?

What will be the hot tech gift this holiday season?

After a somewhat encouraging Black Friday and ensuing holiday shopping weekend (up 6% over 2009) today is Cyber Monday and many feel this may be Read More

As a CEO, sometimes in order to gain control you have to give up control

As a CEO, sometimes in order to gain control you have to give up control

Running a company has many rewards.   CEO’s and company Presidents are rewarded with impossibly long hours, dizzying responsibilities in many areas and the lives of Read More

LinkedIn should be your first resource for learning about business people

LinkedIn should be your first resource for learning about business people

Many people I talk to remark that they see me all over LinkedIn.  I am always posting blogs, recommending people, making comments, asking and Read More

Foursquare – is it on the road to nowhere?

Foursquare – is it on the road to nowhere?

I’ve been ‘using’ Foursquare’s location based application for about 9 months now.   People ask me all the time WHY do I use Foursquare to let Read More

This is Not Your Grandfathers China

This is Not Your Grandfathers China

It isn’t even the China I grew up learning about.   China is a country with a more than 5,000 year old history.    Americans (and Westerners Read More

Will the Chilean miners now face an even greater challenge?

Will the Chilean miners now face an even greater challenge?

Now that the 33 men trapped in a mine in San Jose, Chile for 69 days have been rescued the world has breathed a collective Read More

Heading to China to See What I Can See

Heading to China to See What I Can See

Some time ago I posted that I wanted our company to be more global in scope – http://wp.me/pJX7l-Q. This afternoon I leave on an Read More

Do you run your business like it’s 1999?

Do you run your business like it’s 1999?

In thinking about today’s post I was determined to not post about what’s dominating my thoughts lately – China.   I was having a little trouble Read More

Can Attitude Shape an Economic Climate?

Can Attitude Shape an Economic Climate?

Note: Since I am in no way any kind of economist my perspective is that of a layman.

It seems to me that economists and Read More

Tequila Avion – Product Placement at its Very Best

Tequila Avion – Product Placement at its Very Best

I’ve been a fan of the HBO show ‘Entourage’ since it debuted more than 5 years ago. It’s a half hour fun respite which offers Read More

Internet Access at 35,000 feet – GoGo is Just So So

Internet Access at 35,000 feet – GoGo is Just So So

I’ve been on a flight or maybe two that offered internet access this year but they were short flights – under 3 hours so it Read More

How often do you have a thinking day at work?

How often do you have a thinking day at work?

Like many of us I find that there hardly is enough time in a ten (ok 13 sometimes) hour work day to get all the Read More

Why haven’t you ditched your home telephone line yet?

Why haven’t you ditched your home telephone line yet?

The better question might be why haven’t I? The cable company that delivers our cable TV and internet service has been advertising a triple option Read More

Restaurant Reservation Systems: Why Aren’t They Better?

Restaurant Reservation Systems: Why Aren’t They Better?

If you live in a major city, (or even smaller town with a really hot restaurant) the process of making a reservation can be onerous, Read More

7 Ways to Make Sure You and Your Marketing Agency Are On the Same Page

7 Ways to Make Sure You and Your Marketing Agency Are On the Same Page

Are you getting what you pay for when it comes to marketing?

As U.S. and world economies bump along the bottom, customers repeatedly ask their Read More

Why Does Activision/Blizzard Want to Pull its Members Pants Down?

Why Does Activision/Blizzard Want to Pull its Members Pants Down?

Activision/Blizzard’s online role playing game World of Warcraft (WOW) continues to amaze me.  With more than 11.5 million monthly subscribers it is one of the Read More