Direct Mail

• Agencies

  Marketing Capital Names Prescott Senior Adviser

  Marketing Capital Corp. has named Charles A. Prescott senior international adviser. In this capacity he will advise the company, on direct marketing practices around the world.

• Agencies

  Shared Mail Drop, Impairment Charge Damp Valassis Year

  Valassis generated $626.3 million during fourth-quarter 2008, a drop from the $661.5 million it pulled in during fourth-quarter 2007. But the company took an eye-popping $222 million loss during the quarter, largely due to a $245 million non-cash impairment charge.

• Agencies

  Mail Stream: February 17

  Thompson & Co. offers to send cigars to troops overseas. Earthjustice’s latest mailing features the gray wolf. And Sandra Lee Semi-Homemade magazine’s double postcard offers a free copy of its inaugural issue.

• Agencies

  Meet the Broker: Mike Manning, Manning Media International

  Meet the Broker features Mike Manning discussing data without borders, e-mail growth and the decline of postal and fax lists

• Agencies

  FTC Accuses Allegedly Bogus Mortgage Rescue Firm

  The Federal Trade Commission has charged an alleged mortgage foreclosure

• Agencies

  Batton-Cotton Closes Doors: Sources

  Batton Cotton Inc., which provides direct marketing fundraising services to non-profit organizations, has gone out of business

• Agencies

  Standard Mail Rates to Rise by an Average 3.8%

  Standard Mail and standard nonprofit rates will increase an average of 3.8% in May, in keeping with legal limits established under the Postal Accountability and Enhancement Act of 2006.

  The new rates take effect May 11

• Agencies

  Mail Stream: February 9

  Vermont Teddy Bear offers a variety of companions in its Valentine

• Agencies

  Mailers Ask Obama Officials for USPS Financial Relief

  A consortium of 40 mailers and industry groups has sent a letter to key members of the Obama Administration asking that economic stimulus legislation contain relief for the U.S. Postal Service

• Agencies

  Talbots Laying Off 370 Corporate Employees

  The Talbots, Inc. is laying off 370 corporate employees, 17% of its office headcount, in a move it says will save the company $22 million in fiscal 2009.