TOYOTA: has formed TMX, a Toyota athlete program designed to help amateur motocross riders get recognized and move forward in the sport. The program will present an opportunity for one rider to race as a Toyota-sponsored Pro on the Motoworld Racing PPG Yamaha Team next year.
HANNAFORD SUPERMARKETS: Scarborough, ME, has joined coalition loyalty program Upromise, which lets members bank rebates in a college-savings account. Hannaford shoppers get a Upromise key tag in-store, then register the tag online. Those who register by April 30 are auto-entered into a sweeps awarding three $5,000 Upromise scholarships (deposited in winners’ accounts).
AMERICAN GREETINGS CORP.: has named Paul J. Conley as VP-digital media. In his new role, Conley oversees AGP’s Web sites— sites for CareBears, Strawberry Shortcake, Holly Hobbie and the new Holly Hobbie and Friends— well as develops sites for new properties and relaunches, including Twisted Whiskers, Madballs, Maryoku Yummy and Sushi Pack. Conley will also manage licensing for interactive categories including mobile, video games and other digital platforms and develop a business-to-business Web site as a sales and marketing tool to support AGP’s outbound licensing efforts. Recently, Conley served as VP-online advertising for AG Interactive, the new media subsidiary of American Greetings.
THE PROMO 100: an annual ranking of the top promotional marketing shops in the U.S., is underway. An online application interface has been designed so that agencies may more easily submit materials for consideration in the ranking, which is published by PROMO Magazine in the June issue. The deadline for entry applications and campaign work is March 31, 2006. Revenue verification (tax forms or auditor’s letter) are due by April 21, 2006.
THE PRO AWARDS: have begun the 2006 call for entries. Honoring the best promotional campaigns of the past year, the submission process for both text and graphic materials has moved to an online site Awardssecure.com/award. The entry deadline is May 12, 2006.
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