Q&As

The New York Times last week launched a points program that rewards subscribers for purchases from a wide range of businesses. The TimesPoints program gives its members points for purchases at participating restaurants, hotels and online retailers. …

An investor group will buy sporting goods retailer The Sports Authority for $1.3 billion and take the 398-store chain private. The group, led by Green Equity Investors IV (an affiliate of Los Angeles-based Leonard Green & Partners), is expected to keep …

GoDaddy.com, one of the top online registrars of domain names, is giving new meaning to employee rewards and loyalty. The Scottsdale, AZ-based company has given away $750,000 to employees via rewards, bonuses and prizes above its standard salary and …

During next month’s NBA All Star weekend, Volkswagen of America, Inc. will unveil a lounge to provide daytime entertainment for guests and residents of the city. The Volkswagen Important People (VWIP) Lounge, which opens Feb. 17 in Houston, will take …

BellSouth Corp. is rewarding its residential subscribers who sign up for some of its services with up to $200 in Visa Gift cards. To qualify for the promotion, customers must sign up DSL, DirecTV, long distance or Cingular wireless services by May 4. …

The Hallmark Channel is out with a new holiday sweepstakes that dangles a trip for two to Los Angeles and a VIP visit to the set of a Hallmark Channel Original movie. Starting Jan. 27, consumers can register at Hallmark Channel’s Web site or make an …

Marketers are eyeing environmentally friendly alternatives to plastic for their gift and loyalty cards. Last week, card maker Arthur Blank & Co. launched a corn-based card that has the same appearance and durability of plastic cards. Blank’s CornCard …

Eos Airlines is out with a new rewards program that lets consumers redeem travel rewards on any airline without restrictions. Under the program, Eos Club 48 gives business executives and high-end leisure travelers the chance to redeem rewards for travel …

MCDONALD’S USA: has distributed coupons for free packages of Apple Dippers to more than 1,500 Texas fourth-grade classrooms in support of the Texas Department of Agriculture’s Square Meal program and the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s revised food …

Marketers will doubtless breathe sighs of relief when, later this year, California state senators Kevin Murray and Jackie Speier leave the California Senate due to term limits. These two legislators have sponsored some of the most marketing-restricitive bills any state has considered, and California has traditionally played the role of a bellweather state for this type of legislation.