Chief Marketer Staff

• Acxiom Acquires SmartDM

  Acxiom Corp. has purchased SmartDM, an agency that specializes in marketing and information management services for mid-sized companies, for $22 million in cash and stock.

• DM Legend Rocket Ray Jutkins Dies at 69

  Direct marketing guru Rocket Ray Jutkins died on Thursday at age 69 after a three-year bout with leukemia.

• Agencies

  EU Approves Digital Data Transfer Conditions

  In April, companies will legally be able to send business data outside Europe now that the European Commission has approved standard contractual clauses for digital data transfers.

• Redi-Mail Acquires PPS Medical Marketing

  Redi-Mail Direct Marketing has acquired PPS Medical Marketing Group Inc. for an undisclosed sum.

• Tiffany Reports 12% Holiday Sales Gain

  Tiffany & Co. reported net sales of $673.8 million for the holiday period from Nov. 1 to Dec.31, up 12% from about $602 million last year.

• Illinois Governor Urges Canada Not to Ban Online Drugs

  Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich on Friday urged the Canadian government to adopt stronger rules for online and mail-order pharmacies rather than ban prescription drug exports altogether.

• List and Database News

  Mailing lists for rent

• Los Angeles Sues Online Travel Brokers Over Unpaid City Taxes

  The city of Los Angeles has sued more than a dozen online travel organizations and their parent companies for failing to hand over taxes collected for online hotel rooms.

• Direct Sales Gains Lead Urban Outfitters’ Fortunes

  Direct-to-consumer sales at Urban Outfitters jumped by 74% over November/December 2003

• Catalog, Internet Sales Well-Suited for Jos. A. Bank

  Catalog and Internet sales rose 34.4 % during December, compared with same-store sales, which were up 16.2%. Total sales rose to $68 million from $50.3 million. The Hampstead, MD-based men