NAME YOUR PRICE

| Curt Barry

It’s been less than a decade since the word came into use to describe selling through more than one medium. But the complex new world of multichannel

Waiting for the activity to heat up

| Jim Tierney

Anemic is one word to describe industry mergers and acquisitions activity during the first quarter, says Craig Battle, managing director of Princeton,

Animal magnetism

| Mark Del Franco

Alex Tabibi, chairman/CEO of Pets United, has a lofty goal: He wants his company to be the Wal-Mart of the Web. Unfortunately for him, Walmart.com is

Unlikely bedfellows

| MCM staff

New York-based multititle cataloger Redcats USA is turning its attention to the outdoors. On May 5 it announced a definitive agreement to acquire South

Lillian Vernon Corp. Sold

| MCM staff

For the second time in three years, Lillian Vernon Corp. has changed hands. Direct Holdings Worldwide, which bought the gifts and housewares cataloger in July 2003,

InfoUSA Shareholders Retain Board of Directors

| Tim Parry

Shareholders of Omaha-based database conglomerate InfoUSA voted to retain its current board of directors, including founder/chairman Vin Gupta, the company announced on Friday. If the independent inspectors of election confirm the preliminary results, then Gupta, George Haddix, and Vasant Raval will remain on the board until the next shareholder election, in 2009.

Northern Safety Acquires Safeco

| Mark Del Franco

Frankfort, NY-based Northern Safety, a business-to-business marketer of industrial tools and safety supplies, has purchased Kingsport, TN-based industrial supplier Safeco.

InfoUSA to Acquire Mokrynskidirect

| Mark Del Franco

The consolidation in the list industry continues. Six months after buying Peterborough, NH-based list firm Millard Group, Omaha, NE-based InfoUSA is at it again

Montgomery Ward Catalog Lives

| Jim Tierney

The legend of Montgomery Ward lives on: Although the venerable mailer had closed its big book general merchandise catalog in 1985, filed for bankruptcy in 1997, and went out of business in 2000, a Montgomery Ward catalog has been back in the mail for nearly two years.