Q&As

Time Warner Cable and sister company Warner Bros. Pictures have partnered to launch an integrated campaign to support the new holiday comedy “Fred Claus,” opening in theatres nationwide on Nov. 9.

Under the heading “couldn’t-make-this-up-if-we-tried” comes news of a proposed settlement between lawyers conducting a class-action lawsuit on behalf of one Jeffery Horton and anyone else who bought penis-enlargement dietary supplement VigRx, and Leading Edge Marketing, the company accused of hawking the product through spam.

A 14% increase in premiums is projected this year from insurance policies sold via direct marketing, according JCG Group Ltd., an insurance and financial services consulting group.

Duracell is out with a cause marketing campaign that uses a contest to find young brand ambassadors to visit sick children in hospitals nationwide.

Digital agency EVB knows who the winner of the 2008 NBA finals will be—and they’re using that prediction, and other controversial opinions, to set off a viral marketing campaign for NBA 2K8, the new basketball game from 2K Sports for PCs, the Xbox 360 and Playstation.

JCPenney has named Ruby Anik as senior vice president and director of brand marketing.
Anik will oversee the development and execution of the company’s brand marketing strategy. The post takes effect Nov. 26. She will report to Mike Boylson, JCPenney’s executive vice president and chief marketing officer.

The L.L. Bean Christmas catalog lead the holiday rush this year, touting exceptional service, the company’s Web site, and a variety of merchandise. A pitch from the Shalom Center, which offers a Jewish perspective to a variety of global issues, asks for a “chai” (the Hebrew letter that signifies a) life and b) the number 18) in the form of a donation, whether $72 (four 18s) or $1800. And Provo Craft and Novelty has mailed the first issue of its Provo Craft Style crafting and scrapbooking supplies catalog.

Add to the list of services claiming to help consumers opt out of unwanted direct mail Catalog Choice, a not-for-profit that launched earlier this month.

MetroGroup Marketing Services Inc., a direct mail services company, will add about 80 jobs to its Mount Pleasant, IA facility after shuttering its Rutland, VT plant, which cost 200 workers their jobs, according to wire service reports.

InfoUSA posted net income of $17 million for the third quarter, an increase over $11.1 million in the prior year.