7-ELEVEN: has signed on as the latest retailer to offer America West Gift Cards at participating stores. The chain joins Valero/Diamond-Shamrock, Rite-Aid, Staples and Winn-Dixie as current sellers of the first airline gift card. America West is the first airline to offer customers the convenience and flexibility of buying future air travel through a gift card.
THE PROMOTIONAL PRODUCTS EDUCATION FOUNDATION: has hired Sara Keller as foundation manager, effective Dec. 27. She will be responsible for managing all operating areas of the foundation and will work directly with the PPEF board of trustees to develop strategies and programs to increase donations and build awareness. Her past experience includes director of giving for Stuhr Museum Foundation and foundation director for Howard County Hospital Foundation.
TELENATIONS: has launched a new division, MediaTree, which will develop, manufacture, market and distribute a new line of promotional stored value products to include music download and ringtone cards.
MUSIC MAGAZINE PASTE: put a DVD sampler in its December/January issue, with sponsored content including music videos, live-performance footage, theatrical trailers and short films. The independent magazine has put a CD sampler in every issue since it began publishing in July 2002. Paste will include a DVD and CD in each issue going forward. The magazine sells in book and music stores; PasteMusic.com sells CDs online.
THE INCENTIVE MARKETING ASSOCIATION: Naperville, IL, issued the first certification in its fledgling Certified Professional of Incentive Management program. Mark Sullivan, VP of SalesDriver, earned his certification in mid-December with a presentation titled "Online Incentive Programs: Mapping Your Journey for Better Results and a Positive ROI." SalesDriver is the online sales incentive arm of Carlson Marketing Group, Minneapolis.
