Q&As

Market research firm Harris Interactive, Inc. has hired Howard Lax, Ph.D., as VP-senior consultant in its Customer Loyalty Management Research Practice.

Jones Group Apparel Inc. is exploring the possible sale of the company. The Bristol, PA-based firm has retained Goldman, Sachs & Co. as its financial advisor.

Michael Grant has joined Winterberry Group, a direct marketing consulting firm. Grant will serve as the New York-based firm

The OfficeMax Inc. board will have six vacancies – half of its total membership — come April 20, according to the Associated Press.

TrueBlue Blueberry Juice Cocktails are sticking to its true colors via major sampling events next month at Bloomingdale’s.

Caribou Coffee is out with a new instant-win game dangling more than 30,000 prizes including iTunes music downloads and Apple iPods.

Diet Pepsi is out with an under-the-cap promotion that offers players “Movie Bucks”
good toward admission to a movie.

USA Network is expanding its Characters Welcome branding effort launching a multi-tiered campaign and a contest that offers viewers a chance to win their own Web series.

Dairy Management, Inc. is already prepping for swimsuit season with a slate of 3-A-Day dairy promotions.

Starbucks Coffee Co. is testing consumers’ love of puzzles and knowledge of the company with an on-going crossword contest that promises coffee for life.