Chief Marketer Staff

• Agencies

  British Postal Strike Set for Thursday

  The Communication Workers Union, the U.K. postal workers organization, said it would strike Royal Mail for 24 hours beginning at 7:00 p.m. on July 12 after negotiations with Royal Mail broke down.

• Agencies

  EP Votes to Break Postal Monopolies by 2011

  The European Parliament has voted to dismantle national monopolies for mail delivery by 2011, according to wire service reports.

• Agencies

  Gander Mountain Wins Right to Use Logo, Name in DM

  Eleven years after mailing its last catalog, Gander Mountain can get back into direct marketing again. A federal judge has reversed an Aug. 2005 ruling in favor of the sporting goods retailer, giving it the legal right to use its logo and name in all direct marketing channels, including catalogs and e-commerce.

• Digital

  MediaBank Acquires BlackFoot

  MediaBank LLC, an online advertising services company, has acquired BlackFoot, a digital campaign analysis provider.

• Agencies

  Avista Capital to Acquire Controlling Interest in Iwco Direct

  Avista Capital Partners, parent of the Minneapolis Star Tribune, will acquire a controlling interest in direct mail services company Iwco Direct from Court Square Capital Partners for an undisclosed sum.

• Wilde Direct Names Campbell Executive Creative Director

  Wilde Direct has named George Campbell executive creative director.

• Agencies

  Discover, Nike, Ocean Spray and Others Plan for All-Star Promos

  Discover Card, Nike, Toyota, adidas and Ocean Spray are all players in promotional events scheduled around the WNBA All-Star game next month.

• Agencies

  High School Couple Wins Scholarships for Wearing Duct Tape to Prom

  Duck Tape continues to come up with novel ways of promoting its brand, even to younger generations.

• Agencies

  ‘Sesame Street’ Pushes DVD with Contest

  Sesame Workshop is launching an instant-win game around an upcoming DVD release starring Elmo and friends, which offers the chance at a walk-on role on “Sesame Street.”

• Civic Entertainment Hires Research and Marketing Director

  Civic Entertainment Group has hired Betsy Spethmann as director of research and marketing strategy.