Perception Marketing
Perception Marketing is a privately-held US multimedia marketing and business services company founded in 1993 that sells subscription-based digital signage, music, scent, Wi-Fi marketing, VoIP, and payment processing solutions to SMB and enterprise customers across nine verticals including automotive, hospitality, healthcare, and QSR.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1993
- HeadquartersNew York, United States
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingSoftware
What Perception Marketing does
Perception Marketing is a US-based, privately-held multimedia marketing and business services company founded in 1993 (originally as Impressions On Hold) and headquartered in New York, operating with a staff of 51-100. The company sells an integrated suite of eight recurring-revenue products — digital signage, on-hold marketing, overhead music and messaging, guest Wi-Fi marketing, scent marketing, interactive experiences and video production, merchant payment processing (Perception Payments), and VoIP business communications — to businesses across nine primary verticals including automotive, hospitality, quick service restaurants, finance, healthcare, salon and spa, senior living, convenience stores, and veterinary clinics. Marquee customers include LabCorp, U.S. Cellular, Pep Boys, and Bridgestone, with deployments ranging from a single location to 1,000 locations per account.
The underlying technology combines a proprietary digital signage CMS, the industry-first VideoCast platform for distributing licensed music and video, the Atmospheres overhead music system, a PCI DSS compliant payments stack with developer APIs, and a turn-key VoIP platform with integrated on-hold messaging. Revenue is generated primarily through monthly subscriptions across the multimedia products, supplemented by transaction fees on payment processing and professional services for interactive experiences and video production. Pricing is quote-based and not publicly disclosed, with free trials and product demos used as conversion mechanisms.
The company reaches the market through enterprise field sales with a consultative, turn-key installation and ongoing support model. It is WBENC-certified as a Women's Business Enterprise, a positioning that allows enterprise customers to apply diversity spend and tax benefits through procurement. The company is led by co-founders Sheri David (CEO) and Marissa Allen (COO), and operates without disclosed outside equity investment, M&A activity, or public capital markets exposure.
Perception Marketing firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Perception Marketing
- Legal name
- Perception Marketing
- Website
- https://perceptionmarketing.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1993
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- Perception Marketing is a privately-held US multimedia marketing and business services company founded in 1993 that sells subscription-based digital signage, music, scent, Wi-Fi marketing, VoIP, and payment processing solutions to SMB and enterprise customers across nine verticals including automotive, hospitality, healthcare, and QSR.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Perception Marketing industry classification
Industry- Product category
- In-Store Digital Signage & Multimedia Marketing Software
- NAICS
- Indoor and Outdoor Display Advertising (54185), Advertising, Public Relations, and Related Services (5418)
- SIC
- Services-Advertising Agencies (7311), Services-Mailing, Reproduction, Commercial Art & Photography (7330)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Point-of-Sale (POS) & In-Store Promotion Services (BPAFAMAF)
Keywords
Where Perception Marketing is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- New York
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Markets served
Perception Marketing business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Digital Signage Solutions: Digital signage software, media players, and content creation services for businesses
- Music & Messaging Services: Licensed music playlists and custom messaging services, professionally produced and fully-licensed according to US Copyright Law
- Wi-Fi Marketing: Guest Wi-Fi marketing platform with customer analytics and campaign management capabilities
- Scent Marketing: Scent marketing solutions with diffuser equipment rental and aroma oils for a small monthly fee
- Interactive Experiences & Video Production: Custom interactive applications, kiosks, tablets, and professional video production services
- Payment Processing: Debit and credit card processing services providing best pricing and technology for merchants
- Business Communications: VoIP phone system services with features of advanced phone system without cost and complexity
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Monthly | Custom enterprise pricing |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels3 records
Perception Marketing product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Perception Marketing provides a multimedia marketing and business services platform for commercial locations, selling digital signage software, licensed overhead music, on-hold messaging, guest Wi-Fi marketing, scent marketing diffusers, custom interactive kiosks/tablets, professional video production, VoIP business communications, and PCI DSS compliant payment processing. Offerings are sold as turn-key, multi-location deployable solutions with installation, ongoing support, and recurring subscriptions to businesses across automotive, hospitality, QSR, finance, healthcare, salon & spa, senior living, c-store, and veterinary verticals.
Product overview
Perception Marketing is a multimedia marketing and business service company operating since 1993. The company offers an integrated suite of eight core products: Digital Signage (with menu boards, video walls, and wait area entertainment), On-Hold Marketing and Auto Attendant Greetings, Overhead Music & Messaging, Wi-Fi Marketing (customer data collection and targeted campaigns), Scent Marketing (custom aromas), Interactive Experiences & Video Production (kiosks and tablets), Merchant Services/Payment Processing, and Business Communications (VoIP). These products work together to provide comprehensive customer engagement solutions across multiple touchpoints—enhancing the in-store experience from initial Wi-Fi connection and phone calls through visual displays, ambient scent, and overhead messaging, while also supporting operational needs like payment processing and business communications.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Digital Signage Digital signage software platform for businesses offering dynamic custom content, digital menu boards, wait area infotainment, and video walls, managed through a custom-built CMS for playlist and content management. Target users are multi-location commercial operators across automotive, hospitality, QSR, finance, healthcare, salon & spa, senior living, c-store, and veterinary verticals.
- On-Hold Marketing Custom on-hold messaging and auto attendant greetings combining professionally produced messages and fully licensed music to increase caller retention, share FAQs, and upsell products and services for businesses. Target users are any business with a phone system that places callers on hold, including automotive, healthcare, veterinary, finance, and C-Store operators.
- Overhead Music & Messaging Fully licensed music playlists from top artists across genres, paired with custom overhead messaging to influence customer buying decisions and promote services and products. Target users are commercial venues such as hotels, salons & spas, retail stores, restaurants, automotive showrooms, and senior living facilities that want to shape in-store atmosphere.
- Wi-Fi Marketing Guest Wi-Fi marketing platform that collects customer contact and demographic data, then enables targeted campaigns via SMS, email, and social media with analytics to boost revenue and engagement. Target users are businesses offering free Wi-Fi to guests, such as hotels, retail, QSR, healthcare, and salon & spa operators.
- Scent Marketing Custom aroma solutions featuring hypo-allergenic, oil-based scents delivered through monthly diffuser rental, designed to enhance mood, increase sales, and create branded atmospheres. Target users are commercial venues such as hotels, salons & spas, senior living, retail, and QSR businesses seeking sensory branding.
- Interactive Experiences & Video Production Custom interactive applications for kiosks and tablets including two-way communication signage and upselling tools, plus professional video production services for branding and marketing. Target users are businesses seeking bespoke in-venue interactive content and professionally produced video assets at a fraction of traditional agency cost.
- Merchant Services (Perception Payments) Payment processing services through Perception Payments offering debit and credit card processing, PCI DSS compliant terminals, virtual terminals, POS systems, ATMs, and developer APIs with ISV integration support. Target users are U.S. merchants across automotive, hospitality, QSR, healthcare, salon & spa, c-store, and other retail-oriented verticals.
- Business Communications (VoIP) Turn-key VoIP business communication platform providing automated attendants, custom greetings, call flows, on-hold messaging, and an integrated soft phone interface, bundled with professional auto attendant greetings and on-hold messaging. Target users are small and mid-sized businesses seeking an advanced phone system without the cost and complexity of a traditional PBX.
Quantifiable outcome
- Customers willing to pay 10-15% more for same product in scented stores
- +9 more outcomes
Companies that use Perception Marketing
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments9 records
Ideal customer profiles6 records
Perception Marketing technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- Yes
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature6 records
Perception Marketing partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators3 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Perception Marketing competitors and assessment
Company assessmentEmerging players
- ScreenCloud: ScreenCloud is a cloud-native digital signage CMS competing in the same user-friendly content management category Perception claims for its signage platform. Targets SMB and mid-market with a more modern, app-driven stack.
Direct peers
- ScentAir: ScentAir is the leading dedicated scent marketing provider with diffuser rentals and custom aroma programs. Direct competitor specifically within Perception's scent marketing revenue stream and the same hospitality, retail, and QSR buyer.
- Telephone Magic / On Hold Marketing providers: Telephone Magic and similar on-hold messaging agencies compete directly with Perception's On-Hold Marketing and Auto Attendant Greetings product, including licensed music, custom messaging, and upsell messaging for the same healthcare, finance, and auto service buyers.
- Mood Media: Mood Media is the largest direct competitor, offering in-store music, scent marketing, digital signage, and on-hold messaging to multi-location retailers and hospitality brands globally. Overlaps almost completely with Perception's core multimedia marketing suite.
- PlayNetwork: PlayNetwork delivers branded music, video, and scent experiences to global retail and hospitality chains. Closely comparable in-store multimedia positioning and multi-location deployment model.
- Spectrio: Spectrio provides in-store digital signage, overhead music, on-hold messaging, and customer engagement technology to similar automotive, healthcare, retail, and QSR verticals. Direct overlap in product set, verticals, and consultative enterprise sales motion.
- Soundtrack Your Brand: Soundtrack Your Brand provides licensed streaming background music for businesses with scheduling and multi-location controls. Directly competes with Perception's Atmospheres overhead music offering.
Broad incumbents
- Zoom: Zoom Phone and Zoom One extend Zoom's video brand into VoIP and business communications. A broad incumbent alternative for the same business communications and on-hold messaging use case Perception targets.
- RingCentral: RingCentral is a leading cloud VoIP and UCaaS platform with auto attendant, call flows, and on-hold messaging. A broad incumbent competitor to Perception's Business Communications product for mid-market and enterprise buyers.
- Block (Square): Square (Block) is a dominant SMB and mid-market payment processing and POS provider with hardware, software, and APIs. Broad incumbent competitor to Perception Payments across the same merchant verticals.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Perception Marketing social profiles
Digital presencePerception Marketing compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
Perception Marketing financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Perception Marketing leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Perception Marketing funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Perception Marketing M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Perception Marketing
What does Perception Marketing do?
Perception Marketing provides a multimedia marketing and business services platform for commercial locations, selling digital signage software, licensed overhead music, on-hold messaging, guest Wi-Fi marketing, scent marketing diffusers, custom interactive kiosks/tablets, professional video production, VoIP business communications, and PCI DSS compliant payment processing. Offerings are sold as turn-key, multi-location deployable solutions with installation, ongoing support, and recurring subscriptions to businesses across automotive, hospitality, QSR, finance, healthcare, salon & spa, senior living, c-store, and veterinary verticals.
Is Perception Marketing a public or private company?
Perception Marketing is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Perception Marketing founded?
Perception Marketing was founded in 1993. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is Perception Marketing based?
Perception Marketing is headquartered in New York, United States, in the North America region.
How does Perception Marketing make money?
Seven revenue lines are on record. Digital Signage Solutions are the primary driver. The others are music & Messaging Services, wi-Fi Marketing, scent Marketing, interactive Experiences & Video Production, payment Processing and business Communications.
Who are Perception Marketing's main competitors?
ScreenCloud is listed as an emerging player. Direct peers are ScentAir, Telephone Magic / On Hold Marketing providers, Mood Media, PlayNetwork, Spectrio and Soundtrack Your Brand. Broad incumbents are Zoom, RingCentral and Block (Square).
Does Perception Marketing have an API?
Yes. Easy to implement APIs for developers, split payment solutions and ISV integration support. The API enables alternative technologies such as ATMs and Dual Code Authentication services for merchants and agents.
What industry is Perception Marketing in?
Perception Marketing's product category is In-Store Digital Signage & Multimedia Marketing Software. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAFAMAF, Point-of-Sale (POS) & In-Store Promotion Services. Its NAICS code is 54185 and its SIC code is 7311.