JACK SCHMID

Job: Staying out of the staff’s way. contributing when asked.
Preferred title: Founder of J. Schmid
Favorite thing about your job: Working when people need me. Having more free time.
When not working: 
Two avocations: sponsoring an International Officer at Ft. Leavenworth, Kansas’ Command & General Staff College and mentoring in the Helzberg Entrepreneurial Mentoring Program
On my ipod: What’s an iPod?
Words of wisdom: Accountability is a word I try to live with in both one’s professional and personal life.
Favorite movie: Avatar, Julie & Julia and UP
Dream dinner guests: A table of writers such as Tom Friedman, Dan Brown, Ken Follett and Vince Flynn
Favorite vacation destination: Egypt
My passion is: “Giving back” to direct marketing, our community (KC) and to friends

We have always striven for 'differentiation,' both for J. Schmid and for our clients. If you can set your company apart from others and build a strong brand, success will follow.

Jack started J. Schmid in 1983, and it quickly became one of the leading catalog consulting companies in the country. It was soon recognized for its expertise ranging from strategic feasibility and business planning to creative execution and circulation planning. He has worked with such notable firms as Bath & Body Works, Marks & Spencer (UK), Hershey Foods, Radio Shack, New Pig Corporation, Sears Canada and a host of other smaller catalogs.

Jack received his Bachelor’s Degree from Hamline University in St. Paul, MN, and completed his graduate education at the University of Minnesota. He began his direct marketing career as publisher of My Weekly Reader Book Division, part of the Xerox Education division. He then joined the Fingerhut Corporation before being lured away by Hallmark Cards to launch the Hall’s Catalog, which was named the Best Upscale Catalog in the early ’80s by Catalog Age magazine.

Jack has everything he needs to retire except the will: He has earned several of the most prestigious awards in the industry, including a Gold Echo award from the National Direct Marketing Association and many AMBIT Awards as well as a Lifetime Achievement award from the Kansas City Direct Marketing Association. He has served as an adjunct professor at the University of Missouri-Kansas City and the University of Kansas School of journalism and has served as a guest lecturer both here and abroad. He has penned two books — Desktop Database Marketing, and Creating a Profitable Catalog — as well as over 150 articles for the industries leading trade journals.

He’s a living legend, but don’t tell him where you heard that.