375:
205:
362:(who later became president of General Motors) helped fuel R. L. Polk & Company's entry into the automotive industry. During the conversation, Sloan asked Polk to impartially tabulate and publish statistical information on cars and trucks in operation. R.L. Polk & Company launched its motor vehicle statistical operations in 1922, when the first car registration reports were published. In 1922, R.L. Polk & Co. published its first Passenger Car Registration Report, covering 58 makes and accounting for 9.2 million passenger automobiles on America's highways.
236:, plus a listing of post offices in nine states. Additional directories followed in the ensuing years. claiming 1000 directories by 1960. Affiliates included the Polk-Husted Directory Co. of Oakland, California. Polk directories contain an alphabetical listing of residents and businesses in a city. They usually also contain a section with properties listed in consecutive order by address. In addition to city directories, the company published bank directories.
29:
365:
From 1951 to 1958, the company pioneered the use of electronic punch card tabulating equipment. In 1956, Polk's reporting services included monthly statistics on boats, business aircraft, motorcycles, commercial trailers, and recreational vehicles. In 1976, the
National Vehicle Population Profile
184:
with operations in several other countries, including Canada, Germany, the United
Kingdom, France, Japan, China and Australia. Its business-to-business marketing services included PolkInsight, the National Vehicle Population Profile (NVPP), Blackburn / Polk Marketing Services Inc. (BPMSI), Polk
386:
to form
Blackburn/Polk Marketing Services Inc. (BPMSI). Polk also acquired a 35% interest in Carfax from Blackburn Marketing Services. In 1995, Polk entered an alliance with Marketing Systems GmBH and acquired a substantial minority interest in The Ultimate Perspective (T.U.P).
419:(VIN), each history provides potential buyers with all available facts about a used car being considered for purchase. This may include original use of the vehicle, odometer records, number of owners, and other items that might affect a purchase decision.
185:
Dealer
Marketing Manager, The Ultimate Perspective (T.U.P), Polk Canada Net, Polk Vehicle Lifecycle System, Polk CrossSell Reports, and Polk Total Market Predictor (Polk TMP). From 1999 it was the owner of the vehicle data service
422:
In 2000, Polk sold its
Consumer Information Solutions (CIS) business units, including Direct Marketing, Data Information Services/Polk Verity, City Directory, and the Compusearch and Prospects Unlimited units of Polk Canada, to
446:
In 2005, R. L. Polk & Company introduced the Polk
Inventory Efficiency Award, which recognizes and rewards outstanding aftermarket companies for process improvements relative to inventory efficiency.
374:
841:
889:
874:
430:
Ralph Lane Polk II was inducted into the
Automotive Hall of Fame in Dearborn, Michigan in 2001, and into The Direct Marketing Association (DMA) Hall of Fame in 2002.
879:
894:
642:
747:
899:
884:
521:
618:
439:
In 2004, R. L. Polk & Company launched Polk Cross Sell Report and RLPTechnologies, a new wholly owned subsidiary, is established. The
864:
415:. Carfax compiles vehicle histories from various sources, with about 75 percent of the information coming from Polk data. Using the
450:
In 2007, R. L. Polk & Co. acquired a majority interest in ROADTODATA, a supplier of automotive price and specifications data.
390:
In 1996, Polk completed acquisition of the
Blackburn/Polk operations and renamed it Polk Canada Marketing Services Inc. (PCMSI).
546:
440:
721:
204:
427:. Polk launched Garage Predictors and Polk Canada, Inc. announced Polk Canada Net. Polk acquired Marketing Systems Group.
416:
562:
505:
474:
799:
904:
646:
479:
394:
671:
643:"Salesforce Gives More Than 250 Sales and Support Reps at R. L. Polk & Co. Rapid Access to Customer Data"
760:
834:
817:
869:
252:
181:
104:
785:
443:
awards R. L. Polk & Company with a Level II Capability
Maturity Model Integrated (CMMI) rating.
233:
177:
165:
328:
225:
602:
578:
436:
In 2003, PolkInsight is launched. Polk Total Market
Predictor (Polk TMP) is also introduced.
404:
248:
186:
566:
509:
412:
359:
217:
82:
403:
The Polk Company announced on August 2, 1999 that it had completed a 100% acquisition of
848:
469:
229:
28:
858:
348:
332:
308:
304:
433:
In 2002, Polk launched the Polk Vehicle Lifecycle System and the Polk Cross Sell.
725:
400:
In 1999, Polk sold Advertising Unlimited, Inc. to Norwood Promotional Products.
457:
264:
193:
93:
502:
R. L. Polk & Company :: Our Company :: Who We Are :: Index
352:
336:
300:
240:
407:. Polk had previously owned 35 percent of Carfax, in partnership with the
316:
296:
292:
276:
272:
260:
244:
71:
559:
501:
424:
312:
280:
221:
67:
324:
320:
288:
256:
623:(1907-1908 ed.). Detroit: R.L. Polk & Co. 1907. p. 2
373:
340:
268:
203:
344:
284:
180:, insurance companies, and related businesses. It was based in
696:
453:
In 2010, R. L. Polk & Company partnered with Citytwist.
176:
was a provider of business and marketing information to the
697:"The Driving Spirit - Automotive Hall of Fame E-Newsletter"
580:
Polk's Abilene (Taylor County, Texas) City Directory, 1960
522:"All News Releases and Press Releases from PR Newswire"
358:
In 1921, a conversation between Ralph Lane Polk II and
382:
In 1993, Polk combined their Canadian activities with
761:"Polk Automotive Has Been Acquired | IHS Markit"
604:
Polk's San Jose City and Santa Clara County Directory
666:
664:
378:
A 1878 R. L. Polk & Company map of Toledo, Ohio
230:
directory with names and addresses of all residents
161:
122:
112:
99:
88:
78:
51:
43:
35:
460:announced a $ 1.4 billion purchase of R.L. Polk.
800:"Information company IHS to purchase R.L. Polk"
620:Michigan State Gazetteer and Business Directory
497:
495:
239:In 1907, R.L. Polk & Co. was publishing a
155:Senior Vice President/Chief Financial Officer
8:
547:"Overview | IHS Markit Online Newsroom"
21:
890:Publishing companies disestablished in 2013
393:In 1997, Polk acquired the MSS division of
27:
20:
228:. In 1872, the company first published a
875:Publishing companies established in 1870
216:R. L. Polk & Company was founded by
491:
880:American companies established in 1870
835:Works published by R.L. Polk & Co.
583:. R. L. Polk & Co. 1960. p. 7
672:"Polk Acquires 100 Percent of Carfax"
243:Business directory for the states of
7:
849:Works related to R.L. Polk & Co.
842:Works related to R.L. Polk & Co.
441:Software Engineering Institute (SEI)
370:Turn of the century growth and sale
895:2013 disestablishments in Michigan
14:
900:1870 establishments in Michigan
822:. NY: R.L. Polk & Co. 1916.
1:
885:2013 mergers and acquisitions
786:"CityTwist | IHS Markit"
417:vehicle identification number
738:Retrieved on 4 November 2008
384:Blackburn Marketing Services
57:; 154 years ago
504:Retrieved 31 October 2008
131:Chairman, President and CEO
921:
865:Companies based in Detroit
750:Retrieved 14 November 2008
565:December 29, 2009, at the
475:St. Louis City Directories
560:R.L. Polk : Heritage
480:New York City Directories
395:Automatic Data Processing
26:
819:Directory of Directories
397:'s European operations.
210:Illinois State Gazetteer
174:R. L. Polk & Company
366:(NVPP) was introduced.
22:R.L. Polk & Company
18:Data publishing company
722:"The DMA Hall of Fame"
676:www.theautochannel.com
379:
213:
508:July 2, 2008, at the
409:Blackburn Group, Inc.
377:
207:
192:Polk was acquired by
728:on November 14, 2008
649:on November 16, 2007
253:Walkerville, Ontario
226:business directories
182:Southfield, Michigan
105:Southfield, Michigan
234:Evansville, Indiana
178:automotive industry
23:
833:Internet Archive.
526:www.prnewswire.com
380:
224:as a publisher of
214:
171:
170:
147:President, CARFAX
912:
905:City directories
823:
804:
803:
802:. June 10, 2013.
796:
790:
789:
782:
776:
775:
773:
771:
757:
751:
745:
739:
737:
735:
733:
724:. Archived from
718:
712:
711:
709:
707:
693:
687:
686:
684:
682:
668:
659:
658:
656:
654:
645:. Archived from
639:
633:
632:
630:
628:
615:
609:
608:
599:
593:
592:
590:
588:
575:
569:
557:
551:
550:
543:
537:
536:
534:
532:
518:
512:
499:
128:Stephen R. Polk
65:
63:
58:
31:
24:
920:
919:
915:
914:
913:
911:
910:
909:
855:
854:
851:, various dates
847:OCLC WorldCat.
844:, various dates
837:, various dates
830:
816:
813:
811:Further reading
808:
807:
798:
797:
793:
784:
783:
779:
769:
767:
759:
758:
754:
746:
742:
731:
729:
720:
719:
715:
705:
703:
695:
694:
690:
680:
678:
670:
669:
662:
652:
650:
641:
640:
636:
626:
624:
617:
616:
612:
601:
600:
596:
586:
584:
577:
576:
572:
567:Wayback Machine
558:
554:
545:
544:
540:
530:
528:
520:
519:
515:
510:Wayback Machine
500:
493:
488:
466:
413:London, Ontario
372:
360:Alfred P. Sloan
218:Ralph Lane Polk
202:
200:Company history
143:Richard Raines
139:President, Polk
125:
115:
108:
83:Ralph Lane Polk
66:
61:
59:
56:
39:Data publishing
19:
12:
11:
5:
918:
916:
908:
907:
902:
897:
892:
887:
882:
877:
872:
867:
857:
856:
853:
852:
845:
838:
829:
828:External links
826:
825:
824:
812:
809:
806:
805:
791:
777:
765:japan.polk.com
752:
740:
713:
688:
660:
634:
610:
594:
570:
552:
538:
513:
490:
489:
487:
484:
483:
482:
477:
472:
470:City directory
465:
462:
371:
368:
201:
198:
169:
168:
163:
159:
158:
157:
156:
151:Michelle Goff
149:
148:
141:
140:
133:
132:
126:
123:
120:
119:
116:
113:
110:
109:
103:
101:
97:
96:
90:
86:
85:
80:
76:
75:
53:
49:
48:
45:
41:
40:
37:
33:
32:
17:
13:
10:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
917:
906:
903:
901:
898:
896:
893:
891:
888:
886:
883:
881:
878:
876:
873:
871:
868:
866:
863:
862:
860:
850:
846:
843:
840:Hathi Trust.
839:
836:
832:
831:
827:
821:
820:
815:
814:
810:
801:
795:
792:
787:
781:
778:
766:
762:
756:
753:
749:
744:
741:
727:
723:
717:
714:
702:
698:
692:
689:
677:
673:
667:
665:
661:
648:
644:
638:
635:
622:
621:
614:
611:
606:
605:
598:
595:
587:September 27,
582:
581:
574:
571:
568:
564:
561:
556:
553:
548:
542:
539:
527:
523:
517:
514:
511:
507:
503:
498:
496:
492:
485:
481:
478:
476:
473:
471:
468:
467:
463:
461:
459:
454:
451:
448:
444:
442:
437:
434:
431:
428:
426:
420:
418:
414:
410:
406:
401:
398:
396:
391:
388:
385:
376:
369:
367:
363:
361:
356:
354:
350:
349:West Virginia
346:
342:
338:
334:
330:
326:
322:
318:
314:
310:
306:
302:
298:
294:
290:
286:
282:
278:
274:
270:
266:
262:
258:
254:
250:
246:
242:
237:
235:
231:
227:
223:
219:
211:
206:
199:
197:
195:
190:
188:
183:
179:
175:
167:
164:
160:
154:
153:
152:
146:
145:
144:
138:
137:
136:
130:
129:
127:
121:
117:
111:
106:
102:
98:
95:
91:
87:
84:
81:
77:
73:
69:
54:
50:
46:
42:
38:
34:
30:
25:
16:
818:
794:
780:
770:December 26,
768:. Retrieved
764:
755:
743:
730:. Retrieved
726:the original
716:
704:. Retrieved
700:
691:
679:. Retrieved
675:
651:. Retrieved
647:the original
637:
625:. Retrieved
619:
613:
603:
597:
585:. Retrieved
579:
573:
555:
541:
529:. Retrieved
525:
516:
455:
452:
449:
445:
438:
435:
432:
429:
421:
408:
402:
399:
392:
389:
383:
381:
364:
357:
333:Pennsylvania
309:South Dakota
305:North Dakota
238:
215:
209:
191:
173:
172:
166:www.polk.com
150:
142:
134:
100:Headquarters
92:Acquired by
36:Company type
15:
870:Directories
732:November 4,
706:November 5,
681:November 7,
531:November 4,
220:in 1870 in
135:Tim Rogers
114:Area served
859:Categories
653:August 10,
486:References
458:IHS Markit
329:Washington
265:California
194:IHS Markit
124:Key people
94:IHS Markit
47:Automotive
456:In 2013,
353:Wisconsin
337:Tennessee
301:Minnesota
241:Gazetteer
196:in 2013.
118:Worldwide
563:Archived
506:Archived
464:See also
317:Missouri
297:Maryland
293:Kentucky
277:Oklahoma
273:Illinois
261:Arkansas
245:Michigan
72:Michigan
44:Industry
748:Reuters
701:ias.net
627:June 7,
607:. 1907.
425:Equifax
313:Montana
281:Indiana
249:Windsor
222:Detroit
208:Polk's
162:Website
79:Founder
68:Detroit
60: (
52:Founded
405:Carfax
325:Oregon
321:Nevada
289:Kansas
257:Alaska
247:(plus
212:, 1880
187:Carfax
107:, U.S.
74:, U.S.
341:Texas
269:Idaho
772:2008
734:2008
708:2008
683:2008
655:2023
629:2016
589:2014
533:2008
351:and
345:Utah
285:Iowa
251:and
89:Fate
62:1870
55:1870
411:of
255:),
232:of
861::
763:.
699:.
674:.
663:^
524:.
494:^
355:.
347:,
343:,
339:,
335:,
331:,
327:,
323:,
319:,
315:,
311:,
307:,
303:,
299:,
295:,
291:,
287:,
283:,
279:,
275:,
271:,
267:,
263:,
259:,
189:.
70:,
788:.
774:.
736:.
710:.
685:.
657:.
631:.
591:.
549:.
535:.
64:)
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
