Cobra Group (Marketing)

Infobox Company
name = The Cobra Group

type = PLC
genre =
foundation = 1986
founder = Chris Niarchos
location_city = London
location_country = United Kingdom
location =
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key_people = Chris Niarchos, Founder and Chairman Michael Hogg, CEO Richard Davison, CFO Paul Sanderson,
Chief Operating Officer Mike Blane, Managing Director
industry = Marketing
products =
services =
market c

revenue =
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homepage = [http://www.cobragroup.com www.cobragroup.com]
footnotes = [ [http://investing.businessweek.com/research/stocks/private/snapshot.asp?privcapId=23110234 The Cobra Group plc - Company Overview] . "Business Week". Retrieved on 2008-07-21.]
intl =

The Cobra Group is a sales and marketing company specialising in a variety of direct marketing strategies, including event marketing and face-to-face selling (door to door) in the business-to-consumer and business-to-business channels.

The company is based in London, UK and Sydney, Australia and has an affiliate network of legally independent sales companies in 20 countries throughout Europe and Asia. The Cobra Group represents and has represented many of the world's leading firms in industries such as telecommunications, home security, energy and financial services. Furthermore, it is now also a leader in donor acquisitions on behalf of numerous charitable organisations globally.

Some of the companies within the Cobra Group are Appco Direct, Appco Energy Direct, Credico, Allsports and Support Direct.

The Cobra Group has in recent times received much negative press, including an investigation by the "Daily Mirror". [Andrew Penman. " [http://blogs.mirror.co.uk/investigations/2005/08/just-6-for-eight-days-work-for.html Just 6 for for eight days work for utilities] ", "Daily Mirror", 4 August 2005. Retrieved on 2008-07-21.] Working conditions of companies operating under the guise of the Cobra Group have been heavily criticised "by workers" [ [http://www.ripoffreport.com/searchResults.asp?q1=ALL&q2=&q3=&q4=&q5=cobra%20group&q6=&q7=&searchtype=0&submit2=Search!&r=1 Workers complaints] ] for the commission-only pay conditions, long and unsociable hours and status for workers not as employees of the company, but in fact as self-employed and as such without guaranteed wages. The style of business has been likened to a Pyramid scheme.

References

External links

* [http://www.moblog.com.sg/blogger/blog.asp?uid=6163F49D-DE7D-4F85-A03C-033CB3481EAD&bid=494EFDDB-9DB4-4375-ACFF-4651775697FA Detailed Report on the Cobra Group affiliates in Singapore and Asia]
* [http://www.scam.com/showthread.php?p=558336#post558336/ Insight into the company's system]
* [http://www.pool.org.au/text/surrealist1983/behind_front_doors A feature article on the business and its strategies]