Chief Marketer Staff

• School Specialty Reports 6.6% Income Increase

  School Specialty Inc. posted net income of $36.9 million for the first quarter, a 6.6% increase over $34.6 million last year.

• Digital

  Google Maps Adds Coupons for Local Businesses

  In a move that underscores the link between online research and offline shopping, Google will offer printable coupons for selected searches on its Google Maps feature.

• Direct Response Media Taps Teletrax

  Direct Response Media, a direct response agency, has hired Teletrax, the television intelligence service, to electronically monitor and track airings of its direct response commercials.

• Short Cuts

  The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office has awarded Aspect Software Inc. a new patent for technology that enables an organization to determine when someone browsing a Web site should be switched over to a live agent. The technology can also judge if an agent is available.

• Agencies

  Chrysler Adds Sweeps to Ask Dr. Z Campaign

  More than a month after the Chrysler Group kicked into gear its Ask Dr. Z ad campaign to tout the automaker’s American and German engineering roots, Chrysler is out with a sweepstakes dangling nine vehicles as grand prizes to drive dealership visits.

• Agencies

  CMT: Mother of First Birth During New Show Gets $50,000

  Country Music Television is seeking a new venue to promote its latest Jeff Foxworthy comedy show—a hospital delivery room.

• Agencies

  Google Maps Dangle 20,000 Coupons for U.S. Businesses

  Google Inc. has launched a new service that lets businesses offer printable coupons to shoppers under a new deal between its Google Maps service and direct marketing company Valpak.

• Agencies

  Meredith Forms Event-Marketing Arm

  Meredith Corp. has formed an experiential marketing group and named sales veteran Dave Randell to run it.

• Lippin Group Forms ‘Hollywood’ Division

  The Lippin Group, a public relations and marketing firm, has created a new unit designed to link corporate brands with entertainment industry events and celebrities.

• Consumer Electronics Sales to Grow to $15.5 Billion in 2007

  Growth in consumer electronic sales is projected to soar 16% to $15.5 billion in 2007, according to the Consumer Electronics Association’s (CEA) semi-annual U.S. Consumer Electronics Sales and Forecasts Report.