Chief Marketer Staff

• VMR Debuts Product Placement Research Services: 4As Conference

  Virtual Media Resources has launched a product placement research service to help advertisers measure the effectiveness of placements in comparison to

• Nautilus Group Chairman and Founder Cook to Retire

  Brian Cook, chairman of The Nautilus Group, Inc., will retire effective March 1. He will also resign from the company’s board of directors. Gregg Hammann,

• McDonald’s Replaces Kobe Bryant with Yao Ming

  McDonald’s Corp. has signed a multi-year global partnership with NBA star Yao Ming. Ming replaces NBA player Kobe Bryant, whose three-year contract with

• Campbell Soup Forms North America Unit

  Campbell Soup Co. last week announced plans to form a $5 billion North America division that includes Campbell, Pepperidge Farm and Godiva brands. The

• eBay Courts Small Business

  eBay targets small-business owners who sell—and buy—goods online with a Dream Big, Save Big sweepstakes and some expert advice. The sweeps runs Feb. 19 through April 15. Weekly drawings award gift certificates redeemable at eBay’s small-business site …

• Mail Stream: A Report on Incoming Direct Mail

  In 2004, the venerable Johnson Smith Company is celebrating its 90th year as a cataloger of all things fun, unusual and clever. To mark this notable achievement, the company has added a celebratory logo, complete with a candle and the principles “Value, Quality, Service, Satisfaction” to each of its catalogs.

• Simon’s Kidgits Club Holds Book Blast

  Eighty-seven Simon malls will feature the first annual Kidgits Club Book Blast event on Feb. 28 to encourage kids to read. The event is part of Simon

• FCC Weighs In on Internet-based Communications: 4As Conference

  The Federal Communications Commission last week began a major effort to promote the development of more Internet-based voice services. The FCC adopted

• Catching up with Echo Boomers: 4As Conference

  Echo boomers have a lot going for them. These 12- to 24-year-olds are a confident group. They think they are smart. They know what they want out of life

• BIC Partners with Rockettes to Launch Soleil Shaver

  Milford, CT-based BIC USA, Inc. is introducing the new Soleil triple-blade shaver next month with the help of the Radio City Rockettes. A Girls Night