- Mark Levin Signs Multi-year Deal with ABC, Expands Show to 3 Hours
- Consumerist.com Adopted by Old-School Consumers Union, Stops Selling Ads
- For Auto Industry, 2009 Holds Even Tighter Ad Budgets
- User-Generated Magazine Publisher 8020 Media Shuts Doors
- Out-of-Home, Fueled by Digital, to Weather Recession Well
- Clear Channel Swaps Cincy Stations for Five in Green Bay
- Consumers Swarm to Discounters for Grocery Items, Don’t Switch Back
- Wikimedia Raises $6.2M to Keep Wikipedia Afloat
- Conde Nast’s Jan. Ad Pages Slip More than Most
- Aegis Faces Possible Sale or Spin-off of Non-core Businesses
- Top US Cities for Charitable Givers, by Category
- Online Fitness, Video Game Spending Outperforms Brick-And-Mortar
- RIM Must Fix Glitches, Boost Satisfaction To Hold Off iPhone
- LCD TV Revenue to Fall YoY for First Time Ever
- Top 10 Broadcast Media Websites - November 2008
- Top 10 Entertainment Online Advertisers by Image-Based Impressions - November 2008
- Top 10 Sports Websites - November 2008
- Eight in 10 Online Holiday Shoppers Read Web Reviews
- Top 40 Online Retail Satisfaction Index: Merry Outlook for Some, but Not Others
- Firefox Share Tops 20% in November
Legal & Regulatory
E-Tailer The Parent Company Files for Bankruptcy Protection
What has been described as one of the worst retail holiday season in decades has claimed its first post-Christmas major retail victim, as online retailer the Parent Company (formerly Baby Universe), filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, the company said.
“This action is an unfortunate but necessary and responsible step to preserve the company’s value for our stakeholders in light of the...
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Steve and Barry Sued for Fraud
The cofounders of Steve & Barry’s are being sued by New York landlord Jeff Sutton, who accuses them of fraud—specifically, misappropriating $1 million intended for construction at a Brooklyn mall—writes the New York Post.
Steven Shore and Barry Prevor, along with their CFO and director of real estate, are accused of taking the money from Sutton in May for installing escalators and elevators at...
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FDA Warns of Diet Coke Plus Misbranding
The Food and Drug Administration has warned Coca-Cola that its Diet Coke Plus is “misbranded”—i.e., does not meet FDA’s nutritional standards to be termed “plus,” reports WebMD Health News.
The FDA’s letter to the company, dated Dec. 10, is posted on the FDA’s website.
FDA also said it “does not consider it appropriate to fortify snack foods such as carbonated beverages.”
Diet Coke Plus...
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Wal-Mart to Pay at Least $352 Million to Settle 63 Wage-Related Suits
Wal-Mart Stores will pay at least $352 million, but not more than $640 million, to settle 63 class-action lawsuits over claims of wage violations, the world’s largest retailer and attorneys for the plaintiffs announced Tuesday.
As a result of the settlement, Wal-Mart will record an after-tax charge of approximately $250 million to continuing operations in its fiscal fourth quarter—or...
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NRF Asks Obama for National Sales Tax Holidays, Retail Stimulus Effort
The National Retail Federation today (Tues.) asked President-elect Barack Obama to incorporate a series of national sales tax holidays into upcoming economic stimulus legislation as a step toward rebuilding consumer confidence.
“The situation is critical,” NRF said. “In October, consumer confidence was at its lowest level in the 41 years that records have been kept…. With consumer spending...
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KB Toys Going-Out-of-Business Sale Going on Now
With just days left in the holiday buying season, KB Toys Inc. will be closing its doors for good and has lowered prices on its entire stock, with savings starting at 40% off regular prices, the company announced today.
All KB Toys, KB Toy Outlet, KB Toy Works, and KB Toys Holiday Stores nationwide are participating in the going-out-of-business sale.
On December 18, 2008, a Delaware bankruptcy...
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X-Ray ‘Guns’ Detect Lead in Toys
“Guerrilla” toy testers have used technology like X-ray guns to take to stores looking for toys containing unsafe levels of lead and other chemicals, the Wall Street Journal reports.
The Center for Environmental Health (CEH), a consumer advocacy group in Oakland, CA, for instance, zapped frog-charm jewelry sold at Wal-Mart and found that it contained levels of lead higher than allowed by...
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NY Governor Proposes ‘iPod Tax,’ Targets Sugary Drinks
Hoping to both eliminate the state’s $15 billion budget gap and add $1.3 billion in revenue to create a $121.1 billion budget, New York Governor David Paterson is proposing a tax on music and other online downloads as well as beverages, writes the Associated Press.
Among the 88 products/services targeted for increased fees or taxes are movie tickets, taxi rides, soda, beer, wine, cigars,...
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Mattel to Pay $12 Million to States for Lead-Tainted Toy Sales
Mattel will pay $12 million to 39 states to settle an investigation into last year’s sale of toys with high levels of lead, reports the Associated Press.
MattelMattel also agreed to more stringent acceptable levels of lead: 90 parts per million, as opposed to the current 600 ppm federal standard, which is due to be lowered to 90 ppm next year.
The toymaker and its Fisher Price unit recalled...
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NY Requires Large Retail Stores to Recycle Plastic Bags
New York Governor David Paterson signed legislation over the weekend that will require larger retail stores to recycle plastic carry-out bags or face fines from the state Department of Environmental Conservation, Business Review reports (via Environmental Leader).
The new law will take effect on Jan. 1, 2009 and applies to stores that have more than 10,000 square feet of space, or are chains...
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