Q&As

The Federal Trade Commission rejected a proposal which would have allowed telemarketers that have established business relationships (EBRs) with consumers to use prerecorded messages. Separately, the FTC requested feedback regarding an amendment to the Telemarketing Sales Rule. The change would reconfigure how call abandonment rates are calculated.

Cenveo Inc. made a late-Tuesday offer of $50 per share for all of the stock of printer Banta Corp. The offer came after Banta rejected an unsolicited bid from Cenveo, under which Cenveo would acquire Banta for $47 per share, early Tuesday morning.

Free tunes are the incentive Moet Hennessy is adding to a new digital music promotion that targets both English- and Spanish-speaking consumers.

Nestlé Waters North America is rolling out a new loyalty program that rewards schools nationwide with sports equipment and field trips in exchange for labels from its Pure Life brand.

For the takers, The Motivation Show, held last week in Chicago, had plenty to offer and lots of incentives to lure people into exhibit booths including baby kangaroos, back massages, women with water spouting from the tops of their heads and fingertips and 1988 NFL Hall of Famer Mike Ditka, who was on hand to sign autographs on mini footballs. In addition to all the come ons, exhibitors had plenty of new offerings. Here’s a sampling from the show floor.

To stand out among the cluttered retail environment, KB Toys is rolling out a new rewards program, just for grandparents. Timed in advance of the holiday shopping season, the program dangles a weekly discount for age-specific shoppers.

ESPN is venturing in to the loyalty marketing arena with the launch of its first rewards card that lets consumers earn points to redeem for a slew of sporting events, experiences and merchandise.

A GM sweepstakes that has garnered 45,000 entries so far has come under fire for its ties to syndicated radio talk show host Sean Hannity.

Chase Bank is freeing up the way consumers handle their rewards through a new credit card offering which lets consumers choose points or cash for their loyalty.

Coors Brewing Co. has once again expanded its involvement with the National Football League by signing a two-year sponsorship deal with The New Orleans Saints as the team returns to the The Big Easy for its first football season since Hurricane Katrina.