Tech telemarketing agency SCi liquidated

Decreasing returns from traditional marketing techniques cited as factor in Hammersmith-based firm's downfall

Telemarketing fatigue has been cited as a contributing factor behind the demise of a tech marketing agency whose clients included Trend Micro and Oracle.

SCi Sales Group was liquidated by GIA Insolvency Practitioners on 17 November after cashflow issues it encountered in September forced it to restructure its operations and lay off most of its staff.

Liquidator Neil Gibson told CRN that buyers are still being sought for the Hammersmith-based firm's customer database.

The decreasing returns yielded from traditional marketing techniques flagged up at various points this year, including by Microsoft in March, were a factor in SCi's downfall, Gibson said.

"Everything is social media-driven now and people are more resistant to telemarketing," he said.

SCi had also fallen out with a large customer who walked away from a big contract because it was dissatisfied with the service, costing it "tens of thousands a month", Gibson added.

"By the time it came to me, there was very little of the firm left," he said. "The staff had all gone and likewise there were no live customer contracts that could be salvaged. There are some parties that are vaguely interested in the database and customer list but I can't see that leading to a resurrection of the old business."