Q&As

Consider the diversity of terms widely espoused over the past couple of years to describe a set of technology solutions now offered by upwards of 40 marketing vendors and deployed by a rapidly-growing number of major companies within the realm of consumer-generated content. These terms include brand monitoring, buzz monitoring, social media monitoring, market influence analytics, and online consumer intelligence.

Shirt maker Joseph Turner debuted at U.S. version of its British catalog with a book that included a half-off offer on shirts, cufflinks and ties. Covenant House’s Christmas fundraising effort featured a box loaded with freemiums, including greeting cards, wrapping paper, bows and pens – and a $15/$20/$25/$50/$100/other ask ladder. And Especially Yours, a catalog and online retailer of wigs, hairpieces, and apparel for African American women, offered a six-month subscription to Time Inc.’s Essence magazine as a premium on payment for customers who spent more than $75 with the company.

Just in time for the holidays, HarperCollins has teamed up with Leaves-N-Beans Roasting Co. in a packaging deal to promote paperback books with bags of coffee.

The U.S. Postal Service has issued a new ruling for mailings containing coins or tokens that are visible through a window envelope.

Red and white outfitted carolers are hitting the streets of Manhattan singing popular Christmas tunes, revised to hype HBO programming and to promote items sold at the 6th Avenue-based store.

Office Depot is out with an interactive holiday promotion that offers the chance to win daily prizes, including computers, digital cameras and gift cards.

Gillette is running a sweepstakes offering a private lesson with golf coach Hank Haney as the grand prize.

Today we meet Cathy Wheelock, a list brokerage account executive in the Impulse Media division of RMI Direct Marketing Inc.

Jelly Belly has named a computer expert as the top winner in its Recipe Game

The Wm Wrigley Co. is pumping up its NBA sponsorship through contests on a newly launched Web site.