IT Budgets to Grow Over Security Concerns
Marketers are expected to show IT budget and capital expenditure growth in 2006, according to the third annual Retail IT Budgeting Study conducted by the National Retail Federation and AMR Research.
News
M&A: Contact Center Deal Tops Teleservices
Quadrangle Group and Thomas H. Lee Partners’ $3.3 billion joint buyout of West Corp. (at nine times earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization) was the largest teleservices transaction during the second quarter of 2006 and accounted for 68% of the sector’s transaction value during the period, according to New York-based investment bank Petsky Prunier, which tracks merger and acquisition activity for marketers as well as market service firms.
Ecometry, GERS Merge
Delray Beach, FL-based software solutions provider Ecometry on Aug. 21 merged with San Diego-based GERS Retail Systems to form Escalate Retail, a $100 million company with about 400 employees and 650 clients.
Golfsmith Launches Tennis Catalog
Cataloger/retailer Golfsmith Golf & Tennis has launched its first-ever tennis catalog, Center Court, and plans to have it hit homes this week, just prior to the start of the U.S. Open.
Amazon, L.L. Bean Top Survey in Online Satisfaction
San Mateo, CA-based Keynote Systems
Live from List Vision: E-Cards, Guarantees, and Other Quick Tips
Think e-cards are stupid? Then you weren’t sitting in the audience at the “50 DM Ideas in 50 Minutes” panel discussion at the List Vision conference at the New York Marriott
Financial Reports: Talbots, Charming Shoppes, Bauer, and Golfsmith
Mixed second-quarter reports for cataloger/retailers Talbots, Charming Shoppes, and Golfsmith, while the news was disappointing across the board for Eddie Bauer
Financial Reports: Staples, School Specialty
Both office supplies cataloger/retailer Staples and educational supplies mailer School Specialty had good news to report for the fiscal quarter ended July 29
Talbots Closing Hingham Contact Center
As part of its organizational restructuring process resulting from its acquisition of the J. Jill Group, apparel cataloger/retailer Talbots said Monday that it would close its Hingham, MA, contact center.
Mallory Alexander Opens Illinois Facility
Mallory Alexander International Logistics has opened an office and warehouse facility in Bensenville, IL,