Chief Marketer Staff

• Brieley Sells One-Fifth of Firm to WPP Group

  Brierley & Partners, Dallas, has sold a 20% stake in itself to London-based advertising and communications company WPP Group. The value of the all-cash

• No Sale at Specialty Catalog

  Specialty Catalog Corp., a South Easton, MA-based direct marketer of women’s wigs and related accessories, has decided not to find a buyer, but to focus

• Valassis to Launch Internet Coupon System

  Sales promotion company Valassis Communications Inc., (VCI), Livonia, MI, signed an agreement to purchase up to 50% of Merge, LLC, to launch an Internet

• Multiple Zones, Wireless Dimension in Private Label Pact

  Computer direct marketer Multiple Zones International Inc., based in Redmond, WA, and Wireless Dimension (http://www.wirelessdimension.com) have signed

• Aggressive Telemarketing Leads PC Connection Sales Boom

  Fourth-quarter sales for PC Connection, Inc., Merrimack, NH, a direct marketer of personal computers and related accessories, increased by 32% for the

• Prosper NRG, Beldenergy Bow Utilities Marketing System

  Prosper NRG Marketing and Beldenergy have introduced Direct To Market, an interactive service to help pitch energy services to business prospects in deregulated

• Netscape Picks Annuncio For Data Automation Services

  Annuncio Software, Los Altos, CA, has been selected by Netscape Communications Corp., Mountain View, CA, to facilitate its marketing automation and one-to-one

• Observers Fear End Of USPS Profit Trend, Sooner Rate Case

  The days of windfall U.S. Postal Service profits and low rate increases may be ending and the next rate case may come sooner than expected, fear mailing

• Live Feed Of Jordan Speech Boosts HSN’s Memorabilia Sales

  The Home Shopping Network, St. Petersburg, FL, broke into its regularly scheduled programming to carry Michael Jordan’s retirement as a professional basketball

• Short Cuts

  In what is seen as the first such effort in the country, Meiji Life Insurance Co. has tied up with Cecile Co., Japan’s largest mail order service firm,