Q&As

During next month’s NBA All Star weekend, Volkswagen of America, Inc. will unveil a lounge to provide daytime entertainment for guests and residents of the city. The Volkswagen Important People (VWIP) Lounge, which opens Feb. 17 in Houston, will take …

The Hallmark Channel is out with a new holiday sweepstakes that dangles a trip for two to Los Angeles and a VIP visit to the set of a Hallmark Channel Original movie. Starting Jan. 27, consumers can register at Hallmark Channel’s Web site or make an …

BellSouth Corp. is rewarding its residential subscribers who sign up for some of its services with up to $200 in Visa Gift cards. To qualify for the promotion, customers must sign up DSL, DirecTV, long distance or Cingular wireless services by May 4. …

Marketers are eyeing environmentally friendly alternatives to plastic for their gift and loyalty cards. Last week, card maker Arthur Blank & Co. launched a corn-based card that has the same appearance and durability of plastic cards. Blank’s CornCard …

Eos Airlines is out with a new rewards program that lets consumers redeem travel rewards on any airline without restrictions. Under the program, Eos Club 48 gives business executives and high-end leisure travelers the chance to redeem rewards for travel …

MCDONALD’S USA: has distributed coupons for free packages of Apple Dippers to more than 1,500 Texas fourth-grade classrooms in support of the Texas Department of Agriculture’s Square Meal program and the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s revised food …

Marketers will doubtless breathe sighs of relief when, later this year, California state senators Kevin Murray and Jackie Speier leave the California Senate due to term limits. These two legislators have sponsored some of the most marketing-restricitive bills any state has considered, and California has traditionally played the role of a bellweather state for this type of legislation.

Even as upscale gift marketer RedEnvelope

Marketing data provider InfoUSA generated net income of $31.5 million and $383.2 million in net sales during its fiscal 2005, up from $17.8 million in net income and $344.9 million in 2004.

At the recent Consumer Electronics Show, Yamaha Electronics Corp. showed attendees that it is serious about entering the premiums and incentives market with its home-theater products. During the event, the company showcased its YSP-1 surround sound …