Chief Marketer Staff

• Agencies

  Acxiom Acquires Equitec to Expand in Retail Sector

  Data services firm Acxiom Corp. has acquired Equitec, a Cleveland-OH based retail merchandising firm. Terms for this transaction have not been disclosed.

• David Abney Promoted to CEO at UPS

  United Parcel Service has announced the promotions of David Abney to CEO and Alan Gershenhorn to president of UPS International.

• Short Cuts

  The Direct Marketing Association has selected ARGI to design, build and manage a revamped direct mail and e-mail marketing database.

• Agencies

  Mail Stream: A Report on Incoming Direct Mail

  Spiritual-based offerings marketer Sounds True has sent out a solo mailer touting Delores Ashcroft-Nowicki’s home training course in Western Magick.

• Agencies

  Babies “R” Us Makes Amends over New Year’s Contest

  Babies “R” Us will give away $120,000 in savings bonds and cash to make peace with consumers after a disqualification in its First Baby of the Year contest set off a storm of criticism from Chinese-Americans and immigration advocates.

• P&G Debuts Site for Women

  Procter & Gamble yesterday made its entrance into the world of consumer-generated digital content with the debut of a new Web site for women.

• Agencies

  State Farm Targets Parents Via Nickelodeon Deal

  State Farm is teaming up with Nickelodeon in a new sponsorship deal that links the insurance carrier to one of the network’s best-loved characters.

• Agencies

  Travelocity and MasterCard Incent Travel with Big Bucks

  Travelocity has partnered with MasterCard Worldwide in an exclusive promotion that gives away thousands of dollars to cardholders.

• Digital Music Spending To Hit $2.5 Billion in 2011: Study

  Despite a continued decline in compact discs sales, digital music is red-hot and is projected to rise to about $2.5 billion by 2011, according to an industry forecast by JupiterResearch.

• News Brief

  POLO RALPH LAUREN: has formed a new group called global brand concepts.