• 1973 Continuity Programs Inc. was started in 1973 as a small division of Epps Advertising, a small agency owned by Mike and David Epps. A “blueprint” for Continuity Programs was formed when a real estate customer of Epps Advertising mentioned a problem they had in keeping their sales associates in contact with their past customers.
Originally, the idea was to provide a service for this one real estate office, but a funny thing happened, the program worked. It created more repeat and referral business. As basic and simple as the program was, the results Continuity Programs received from this real estate office indicated there was a need for this type of service.
Continuity Programs began to grow when sales associates from the original real estate company transferred to another agency and still wanted to use the program.
• 1973 Continuity Programs was started with an investment of $2,000, which was split up by 6 owners. There were not any computers; everything was done by hand in one owner’s basement.
• Throughout the 70s Continuity Programs grew in Michigan with companies such as Lee Real Estate and Key Real Estate. The customer follow-up program is named DataLead. Continuity Programs rented office space in Southfield, MI.
• 1978 Continuity Programs bought a 6,000 square foot building in Bloomfield Twp., MI.
• 1978 Awarded Real Estate One business (still a client today).
• 1979 Awarded business from 10+ large real estate companies including Shannon & Luchs Realtors, Latter & Blum Realtors, and Fox & Lazo (now Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Fox & Roach Realtors, still a client today).
• In 1980, an owner of a local car dealership purchased a home through one of the real estate agencies that used the program. The dealer liked the mailings that he received so much that he contacted Continuity Programs about putting a program together for his car dealership. The automotive industry was booming during this era and we supplied customer retention programs to over 650 dealers nationwide. This expansion soon led to boat and motorcycle dealerships.
• 1981 Epps Advertising dissolved – David and Mike came to CPI full time.
• 1981 Continuity Programs partnered with HMS home warranty company.
• 1987 Expanded to Canada, adding the ability to facilitate our programs internationally.
• 1989 Continuity Programs purchased property in Walled Lake, MI, built a building and moved offices and operations. Every employee was promised an office with a window.
• 1990 Continuity Programs partnered with American Home Shield.
• 1993 Celebrated 20th Anniversary!
• 1993 Naturally we started helping mortgage companies with their marketing needs after getting our start in the real estate and automotive industries. Industry professionals such as Bill Early promoted our original approach to customer retention.
• 1994 Expanded to the financial planning industry.
• 1995 Expanded to the moving industry.
• 1997 Introduced SurroundMail neighborhood prospecting postcards.
• 1997 Started partnering with Title Companies.
• 1998 Continuity Programs partnered with MGIC (mortgage insurance company).
• 1999 Awarded National City Mortgage business, later bought out by PNC Bank.
• 1999 Developed Spanish versions of our mortgage and realty programs.
• 2000 Awarded business from one of the top 10 largest banks in the United States.
• 2001 Awarded business from one of the top 10 mortgage brokerages in the United States.
• 2001 Continuity Programs added 5,000 square footage of warehouse space to the building.
• 2001 The DataLead Program is renamed Building Customer Loyalty for the mortgage industry and Connections for real estate and all other industries.
• 2002 Rolled out new and improved monthly Report of Mailing/Customer of Interest Report that is sent to our clients, and added the ability to e-mail this report.
• 2002 Introduced the LINC (Locking In New Customers) Program quarterly newsletter customer retention and lead generating program.
• 2002 Expanded to the HVAC industry, designed a fully custom program for Flame Furnace, the largest heating and cooling company in Michigan (still a client today).
• 2002 Introduced SurroundMail Plus neighborhood prospecting self-mailers with postage-paid response cards.
• 2003 Expanded to the bank and credit union industries.
• 2003 Expanded to the home improvement industry. Introduced our marketing solutions to remodeling, window, and other types of home improvement companies/contractors. Designed a program to fit their needs.
• 2003 Introduced the FSBO Program for companies to market to homeowners selling their home without the assistance of a Realtor.
• 2003 Introduced KipKards (Keeping It Personal Cards) as a new mailing option with an attached postage-paid response card and detachable business card.
• 2005 Migrated UNIX-based database system to new proprietary relational database structure. The new system is named MIKE, for Michael Mould, who was Continuity Programs’ original IT and Operations Director.
• 2005 Designed a program for IT Service (B2B) companies.
• 2005 Developed the CrossWise Program specifically for mortgage divisions of banks and credit unions.
• 2006 Added ability to capture and include license numbers and disclaimers on mailings for our clients.
• 2006 Introduced the ClientTracker lead generating program.
• 2007 Introduced the EMPOWER online private web portal and marketing dashboard for our clients.
• 2007 Expanded to the insurance industry.
• 2007 Developed a commercial lending B2B program.
• 2007 Expanded to offer marketing solutions to attorneys.
• 2007 Started developing customer follow-up and prospecting programs for reverse mortgage companies.
• 2007 Introduced the ARM Tracker Program for lenders.
• 2008 Nationwide economic meltdown, retraction phase, over 600 companies continued to order during this time due to the value they received from our programs.
• 2008 Added technology to allow our clients to automatically renew or extend their clients’ program upon completion of their 5-year follow-up program.
• 2008 Added technology to allow our clients to add birthday cards to their marketing program.
• 2008 Expanded to the decorative hardware industry.
• 2008 Added technology to allow for variable printing of company logos and agent photos on the program media.
• 2009 Introduced the Moving Announcements closing gift program for Realtors.
• 2010 Continuity Programs is sold to new owners, Kirk and Jamie King.
• 2010 Continuity Programs rebrands itself adopting a new logo, colors and tagline.
• 2010 Converted traditional mail-only programs to cross-media. Added e-mail components to our standard customer retention and lead generating programs changing them to the ideal mix of both direct mail and e-mail customer communications.
• 2010 Redesigned standard program items including KipKards, Surveys and Letters, giving everything a fresh, modern look.
• 2011 Continuity Programs redesigns program greeting card themes and adds new choices.
• 2011 Launched eConnections turnkey e-mail marketing program, including online customer response forms.
• 2011 Added technology to generate and print QR Codes.
• 2011 Continuity Programs launches new website.
• 2012 Expanded to the Home Performance industry.
• 2012 Designed a prospecting program for Preschools/Child Care.
• 2012 Converted all pre-printed stock to variable printing on-demand to allow limitless customization and design capability.
• 2012 Addition of two new Greeting Card series.
• 2013 Celebrate 40th Anniversary!
• 2013 Developed Annual Database Marketing Program for Contractors.
• 2013 Continuity Programs awarded as 2012 Best Small Business of Southeast Michigan by the Michigan Small Business Technology & Development Center.
• 2013 Kirk King named to L. Brooks Patterson’s Elite 40 Under 40 for Oakland County.
• 2013 Kirk King presented with his alma mater, Wayne State University’s new Emerging Leader Award.
• 2013 Continuity Programs awarded as Economic Bright Spot by Corp! Magazine.
• 2013 Ribbon Cutting Ceremony at Continuity Programs’ new location!
• 2013 Moved corporate headquarters to a newly renovated building, tripling our office and production space! New address effective 7-15-13: 8451 Boulder Court, Walled Lake, MI 48390.
• 2013 Added call center capabilities with all new phone systems and software.
• 2013 Invested in all new production and office equipment.
• 2013 Addition of three new Greeting Card series and new real estate and mortgage postcard designs.
• 2013 Hosted big Open House and 40th Anniversary Celebration at new headquarters for clients, colleagues and members of the community.
• 2013 Launched online sign up for real estate agents and the ability to order programs online, and an all new EMPOWER Marketing Dashboard.
• 2014 Launched online surveys for the real estate and mortgage industries.
• 2014 Designed hundreds of new print media pieces for clients and the new online storefront.
• 2014 Launched new online real estate storefront.
• 2014 Launched new ContinuityPrograms.com website!
• 2014 Added technology to generate and print/email PURLs (personalized URLs) and landing pages.
• 2015 Launched new online mortgage & financial storefront.
• 2015 Launched online surveys for banks.
• 2015 Launched new online contractor storefront.
• 2015 Launched online surveys for HVAC contractors.
• 2015 Launched new online small business storefront.
• 2015 Launched new online web to print storefront.
• 2015 Continuity Programs re-established partnership with MGIC (mortgage insurance company).
• 2015 Developed Intelligent Database Marketing Program for Contractors.
• 2016 Added to our team of Customer Service Specialists and added online chat to our website and stores.
• 2016 Launched MGIC Elements.
• 2016 Partnered with Service Roundtable in the contractor industry.
• 2016 Launched MyCRMDashboard.com for lenders.
• 2017 Honored with the prestigious Michigan 50 Companies to Watch award!
• 2017 Added personalized videos and dynamic imaging to the automated marketing campaigns for our clients.
• 2017 Added improved executive reporting, electronic birthday cards, interest rate module, and social media sharing features to the mortgage CRM.
• 2017 Developed Continuity Connect, our secure data connection software allowing automated data feeds.
• 2018 Launched MyLeadDashboard.com for real estate.
• 2018 Developed automated Just Listed and Just Sold system for real estate.
• 2018 Developed Every Door Direct Mail system for real estate.
• 2018 Invested in all new production equipment.
• 2018 Developed reputation management module inside our CRMs.
• 2018 Launched Maintenance Plan Retention Program for HVAC contractors in partnership with Ruth King.
• 2018 Earned Great User Experience and Rising Star awards from FinancesOnline for MyCRMDashboard.
• 2019 Completed integration with Testimonial Tree’s online reputation management system.
• 2019 Launched MyCustomerDashboard.com for contractors.
• 2019 Integrated with OpenClose’s LenderAssistTM LOS.
• 2019 Developed email blast module inside our CRMs.
• 2019 Created more automated marketing campaigns within MyCRMDashboard.
• 2019 MyCRMDashboard was featured in the Fintech Product Showcase by HousingWire Magazine.
• 2019 Integrated with Facebook for automatic posting of testimonials.
• 2019 Integrated with MooveGuru’s Mover Platform.
• 2019 Added SMS texting functionality to our CRMs.
• Coming in 2020… more integrations, new and exciting features, a major upgrade to user experience, and much more!
In 2023 Continuity Programs has rebranded to Halo Programs, with new and exciting features to make your marketing automation a breeze!