Q&As

Most loyalty-marketing gurus agree that the only reason to run a loyalty program is to generate incremental profit. After all, if you’re not in marketing to make money, then you’re in the wrong business.

Neiman Marcus Inc. posted net earnings of $27.3 million for the first quarter, a 50% drop from $55 million the prior year, which management attributed these results primarily to losses surrounding discontinued operations.

Cutter & Buck Inc. posted net income of $2.5 million for the second quarter, a jump over $900,000 the prior year.

360JMG, a Washington, DC direct mail and public relations firm, has launched its alternative energy/clean tech practice

Learn why Michael Guyer, vice president and director of marketing at International Direct Response Inc., believes e-mail and postal list pricing parity is inevitable.

Bud Light is set to launch its second series of matches to find the USA Rock Paper Scissors League champion.

Pontiac is joining forces with Virgin Megastores in a new campaign that boosts the automotive brand’s musical ties.

Scarebaby Design is an online marketer of products like coffee mugs, t-shirts, stickers, tote bags in 40 different designs, including a line aimed at children.

Every marketer, it seems, has a loyalty program for something frivolous. But very few think of life’s basic necessities. So thinks one West Coast entrepreneur who has come up with just that: a program that will reward married couples up to $1 million for purchasing over the long term — provided they stay married.

Direct mail can provide so much benefit to small businesses that I’m surprised how many continue to misuse the medium. Too often, mail is sent out with no offer, no inspection of the message, and no real attempt to sell or get a prospect to buy.