Chief Marketer Staff

• DMA Council Announcement a Head Scratcher

  The Direct Marketing Association apparently has big plans for its councils. However, it’s anyone’s guess what they are.

• Digital

  Amazon’s Fortunes Rise in Second Quarter

  Amazon.com generated $2.89 billion in sales during the second quarter, up from $2.14 billion in second quarter 2006. The Seattle-based online retailer’s net income more than tripled during this period, from $22 million to $78 million. The quarter ended June 30.

• Digital

  AOL Springs for Behavioral Targeter Tacoda

  AOL announced yesterday that it will purchase behavioral ad targeting company Tacoda Networks and run it as an independent subsidiary.

• Agencies

  Cenveo To Acquire Commercial Envelope

  Cenveo Inc. will purchase Commercial Envelope Manufacturing Inc. Terms of the acquisition were not disclosed. The transaction is expected to close during the third quarter.

• Agencies

  Vertis to Acquire American Color Graphics

  Vertis Communications and American Color Graphics (ACG) have signed an agreement to merge ACG’s printing and premedia offerings into Vertis’s marketing and printing operations.

• Agencies

  New USPS 13-Ounce Package Rule to Take Effect

  The U.S. Postal Service is tightening rules for the mailing of certain types of packages. This rule change could possibly affect some types of direct mail fulfillment.

• Agencies

  Harte-Hanks Roughed Up in Second Quarter

  Harte-Hanks Inc. generated $290.1 million during its second quarter, down from the $298.4 million it realized in second quarter 2006. The company’s net income plummeted from $30.2 million a year ago to $22.9 million during the quarter ended June 30.

• Digital

  Yellow Book USA Names Marshall Chief Media Officer

  Yellow Book USA, a national yellow pages and online local search company based in Uniondale, NY, has named Patrick Marshall chief new media officer.

• Data University Establishes Individual Subscriptions

  Data University, an online source of marketing training and Webinars, has established individual-level memberships for its products. Previously, only corporate memberships were available.

• Steve Cone Re-Joins Epsilon

  Steve Cone has joined Epsilon as executive vice president of Strategic Marketing Services. His new position marks his second tour of duty with Epsilon: He started with the Dallas-based company in the 1970s.