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Chief Marketer Staff

  • Brookstone Reports $91 Million in DM Sales

    Merrimack, NH-based Brookstone Inc. reported its direct marketing profits increased more than 73% to $11 million, based on sales that rose nearly 21% to $91 million for the fiscal year that ended Jan. 29.

  • Fourth Quarter Record Revenues at ValueVision

    ValueVision Media Inc. reported a record $184.4 million in revenues for the fourth quarter ending Jan. 31. That’s 3% higher compared to the same period last year and the best quarter in the company’s history. However, the Minneapolis-based company still reported a net loss of $57.6 million for the fiscal year ending Jan. 31.

  • People in the News

    Bruce H. Besanko has joined South Deerfield, MA-based Yankee Candle Co. as senior vice president of finance and chief financial officer. Besanko was formerly vice president of finance at Best Buy Co. Inc.

  • Short Cuts

    Alpine Lending, a Phoenix-based mortgage company has acquired a new predictive dialing system and software from TeleDirect International Inc. of Scottsdale, AZ, to automate its regional telemarketing centers; so it can increase outbound call volume. Consumers apply for loans online and receive e-mail materials and follow-up calls from customer service reps. Alpine is licensed to make loans in 15 states.

  • Primedia Business Magazines

    Primedia Business Magazines & Media Inc. has appointed Walter Karl Inc. as manager of its magazine postal, telemarketing and e-mail subscription lists, effective April 4.

  • Penton’s Technology Group Files

    Penton Media Inc. has named MeritDirect manager of its technology subscription files effective April 1. Some of the individual files include Windows IT Pro, SQL Server Magazine, iSeries News and ePro Magazine. The files in Penton’s enterprise IT files contain more than 400,000 postal names and nearly 120,000 e-mail addresses.

  • List and Database News

    M. Lee Smith Business Executive Newsletter
    Statlistics has assumed management of the M. Lee Smith Business Executive Newsletter master file. More than 200,000 records are offered. Those listed are subscribers to titles such as Employment Law Letter, Federal Employment Law Insider, HR Insight, Benefits and Compensation, Overtime Revisited, Environmental Insider and Workers Comp Reporter.

  • Listline e-Newsletter

    Penton Media Inc. has appointed MeritDirect to manage its technology
    group files effective April 1. The technology group includes business
    technology and enterprise information technology publications.

  • Wal-Mart Vice Chair Resigns After Investigation

    Thomas M. Coughlin, a former vice chairman and No. 2 executive, has resigned from Wal-Mart in the wake of an internal probe into alleged financial improprieties and the misuse of company-owned gift cards, Wal-Mart said yesterday. Two other unidentified …

  • Starwood Hires Former Coke Exec as CMO

    Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. has hired former Coca-Cola North America CMO Javier Benito as its executive VP and CMO. In his new role, Benito, 42, will be in charge of all aspects of worldwide marketing. He will work with Steven J. Heyer, …