Q&As

Personnel costs are the largest single cost for firms

AOL is launching a one-of a kind online treasure hunt this fall that will send puzzle-solving enthusiasts on a hunt for real-life treasure.

Dell is opening its first retail store this summer as the kick off to a pilot program that will bring more stores by yearend, according to news reports.

Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A. has chosen Velocity Sports & Entertainment to drive activation of its sponsorship of the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series and the Busch Series, which begins next year.

Corona Extra is aiming its sights at the urban market in a partnership with Playboy for a summer-long promotion.

Kellogg Co. is gearing up to go on the road again with American Idol again as presenting sponsor of The American Idols Live! Tour.

Eastman Kodak Co. and Frito-Lay have teamed for an early- summer promo that puts chits for free photos on bags of Lay’s potato chips.

News item: The nation’s largest class-action law firm, Milberg Weiss Bershad Hynes & Lerach, was recently charged with kicking back more than $11 million to individuals who served as lead plaintiffs in class-action lawsuits, despite a New York law that prohibits attorneys from promising anything of value to induce a person to bring a lawsuit. Milberg Weiss itself realized hundreds of millions of dollars in fees, according to court documents….

One will rarely lose friends by picking on a law firm in trouble, but here I must tread carefully. You see, dear readers, my hands are not entirely clean in this matter: During the past two decades I have served as a lead plaintiff in a number of direct marketing-related actions launched by Milberg Weiss. The details of three such suits follow.

Embassy Suites Hotels will appear on The Apprentice next week for its first-ever task sponsorship by giving competing teams a chance to create a new look for hotel employees.

AT&T is rolling out a new campaign to promote the upcoming release of the Disney/Pixar animated feature Cars via a direct-mail campaign and interactive Web site touting its lightning-fast products and services.