PAYMENT [ processing ] IN FULL

| MCM staff

Online jewelry merchant Ice.com’s wares include $1,300 diamond pendants, $3,000 engagement rings, and $4,000 pearl necklaces. Not surprisingly the company

Orion Telescopes acquired by Imaginova

| Margery Weinstein

New York-based Imaginova Corp., which sells products for amateur astronomers, hopes that, more than stars, it will be seeing increased sales following

Hardly a gangbuster quarter

| Mark Del Franco

Half of the 14 publicly traded business-to-business and computer merchants tracked by Catalog Age ended 2004 with a stronger fourth-quarter bottom line

When worlds collide

| Sherry Chiger

John Higgins is one of the top reporters covering the television industry. He’s also funny, smart, and a great schmoozer. What he’s not is a fashion plate.

Paragon Gifts Sold

| Mark Del Franco

Private equity firm Reliant Equity Investors has acquired Westerly, RI-based The Paragon Gifts Holdings, parent of gifts titles The Paragon and Bits and Pieces,

Quick Hits

| MCM staff

* Last week, Richardson, TX-based KnowledgeBase Marketing acquired Boston-based analytics firm Fortelligent, Terms of the acquisition were not disclosed.

The acquisition will provide KnowledgeBase customers with automated analytic functions. It will also allow KnowledgeBase to link Fortelligent’s technology with KnowledgeBase’s AmeriLink national compiled database, enabling clients to run models and select prospect names.

Airgas to Acquire Kanox

| MCM staff

Radnor, PA-based medical and industrial welding metals conglomerate Airgas signed a letter of intent to acquire Hutchinson, KS-based Kanox, a distributor of packaged gases and welding hard goods.

Integrate for Improved Prospecting

| MCM staff

So many media, so little time (and money): That seems to be the mantra of multichannel marketers. In deciding which media will provide the greatest return on investment,

1-800-Flowers.com Acquires Cheryl & Co.

| Mark Del Franco

Looking to bolster its presence in the food, wine, and gift baskets category, Garden City, NY-based 1-800-Flowers.com purchased Westerville, OH-based Cheryl & Co., a manufacturer/marketer of baked goods