Chief Marketer Staff

• Agencies

  Stores See a Slight Uptick in September Sales: NRF

  Retail sales perked up slightly in September as consumers shopped for back-to-school sales amid comfortable weather

• News Briefs

  CONAGRA FOOD’S: has unveiled a new, free iPhone application for its Parkay brand that uses voice-to-animation technology to bring the brand’s iconic “Talking Tub” to life

• Pike Survey Shows DMA Dissatisfaction

  The Direct Marketing Association

• Publicis Groupe Finalizes Acquisition Of Razorfish

  Publicis Groupe SA has closed its acquisition of Razorfish, a marketing agency formerly owned by Microsoft.

• Blast Advanced Media Hires Dana Lookadoo

  Blast Advanced Media, a Web site optimization and online marketing agency, has hired Dana Lookadoo to serve as its VP and online marketing director.

• Agencies

  Advantex, Canadian Imperial Bank Extent Loyalty Marketing Agreement

  Advantex Marketing International Inc., a merchant funding and loyalty marketing program provider, has extended an agreement with Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce.

• Email

  What’s your E-mail Marketing Story?

  Want to get better results from your email campaigns? Why not try telling a compelling story?
  Yes, the list and offers you make are important to your success, but so are copy platforms and how you present the information you want to convey. But why test a story?

• DataCo Hires Bernie Silverman As Market Research VP

  Bernie Silverman has joined DataCo LLC as VP of market research. His responsibilities will focus on new business development and qualitative analysis.

• PC Mall Debuts Small Business Social Network

  PC Mall Sales, Inc., has launched a Web-based social network targeting small business owners, senior management and information technology executives.

• Employment Survey Shows Small Gains In Hiring

  Nearly one in three direct marketing companies will add staff during fourth quarter 2009, up from 20% in the third quarter, according to a new employment survey.