Digital G+J i|MS Sales Conference 2021
Influential Voices, Travel and Trends: If it was business as usual, clients, sales teams and sales representatives from all over the world would have met again this year for the biennial G+J i|MS Sales Conference at Hamburg. Due to Corona, the G+J i|MS Sales Conference took place digitally. Hosted by the i|MS Sales Office Worldwide, the participants were foremost global sales representatives this time, who enjoyed a full day of news and discussions on Europe’s finest media.
In addition to eight sales offices in Europe, various sales representatives work for G+J i|MS worldwide: from Australia to China and numerous European countries, they represent Gruner + Jahr media as well as the portfolio of other partner publishers such as THE GUARDIAN or NRC Media.
This year's conference focused on exchange – regarding marketing, editorial news, decision-making media and (travel) trends. Several editors-in-chiefs – from Gruner + Jahr’s STERN, CAPITAL, GEO Germany, NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC and NG TRAVELER, Prisma’s GEO France to THE GUARDIAN – explained their USPs, offered insights on concepts and readerships, presented best cases and discussed trends like overtourism and sustainability.
After talks with Lufthansa Ambient Media, the Data Alliance and NTV, Madelon Fortuin (Commercial Director NRC Media) presented an exciting study on the transfer of credibility of a media brand onto brands advertising in it. Frank Vogel (Chief Sales Marketing Officer of the Ad Alliance) shared German Market Insights and discussed challenges but even more so the opportunities of the strong German publisher alliance with the participants.
A highlight of the conference was the presentation of THE GUARDIAN team. Together with Executive Editor Imogen Fox, Advertising Director Adam Foley took the attendees on a journey through history and the impact of THE GUARDIAN had as it took a stand from very early on – for example regarding women's rights and homophobia, and currently the climate crisis.
Attendees were eager to have all their questions answered and very pleased to hear that this format will continue to take place in the future to offer quick updates and further opportunity for exchange.