MTV Networks, a unit of Viacom, is reorganizing its advertising sales division. The company plans to capitalize on the strengths of its brands in order to sell them more effectively. With this new approach, MTV will form three separate sales divisions. The first is the digital advertising sales division, which will focus on generating marketing solutions and opportunities for MTVN's websites and digital properties. The second division, brand solutions, will strike marketing deals with advertisers across multiple MTVN brands. The third and final division will be the generator division, which will look for new business opportunities and advertisers. These changes will provide clients with better service and opportunities to develop partnerships with members of MTVN's three programming categories: Kids and Family, Music and Logo, and Entertainment.
Sales up, growth slowing down for hybrid cars
254,545 hybrid cars were sold in the U.S. in 2006, compared with 199,148 in 2005. This data marks an increase in sales of 28%. Approximately 1.5% of vehicles sold in the U.S. last year were hybrids. This surge is being linked to rising gasoline prices. Hybrids are fuel-efficient, as they can shift from using conventional internal combustion engines to running on electric motors with batteries that are recharged during braking. However, percentage growth in retail sales in this category has started to decrease. This is being attributed to both the availability of other environmentally friendly options and a reduction in incentives, such as tax credits, provided to those who buy hybrids.
Gap to close all Forth & Towne stores
Gap, Inc., has announced the closure of its Forth & Towne stores. The move, which involves 19 stores in 10 markets, will put 550 employees out of work. The company plans to try to find suitable alternatives for them in its other stores. Forth & Towne was introduced in August 2005 with the aim of marketing Gap merchandise to women over 35 and to compete with chains like Macy's and Chico's. The closures reflect the unsuccessful launch of Forth & Towne; existing Gap, Inc., businesses Gap and Old Navy have also been underperforming recently. The company will now focus on strengthening its existing businesses.
Carter's, Inc., posts sales increase
Children's apparel company Carter's, Inc., has reported an increase of nearly 20% in sales for 2006. This figure includes a full year's results from OshKosh B'Gosh, Inc., which Carter's acquired in 2005. Net sales for Carter's increased by 10.5% to around $1 billion with the exclusion of OshKosh sales, which totaled $325.5 million in 2006 and $199.8 million in 2005. The Atlanta-based company opened 15 Carter's retail stores and closed one during the fourth quarter.
Tim Sawyer named VP of Marketing, Graphics for xpedx
Ohio-based distributor xpedx has named Tim Sawyer Vice President of Marketing, Graphics. The company provides graphics software and hardware, advanced digital prepress equipment, and other finishing and binding products. It also offers recycled-paper and post-consumer-waste content in parts of North America. Sawyer joins the company's Ohio office and will focus on increasing value for the company's printing customers. He has been associated with the printing industry throughout his career and most recently was with Eastman Kodak, where he served as the company's director for prepress consumables business.
Plexus Systems hires new VP, opens sales office
Plexus Systems, Inc., a provider of on-demand manufacturing performance systems, has hired Patrick Fetterman to serve as its vice president of marketing. Prior to this move, Fetterman was Mi8 Corporation's president and, later, president of marketing and products. Earlier, the company also hired Thomas Mackey as its executive vice president of sales. Mackey was formerly with QAD, Inc., where he oversaw sales for North and South America. Additionally, Plexus has announced the opening of a regional sales office in the Northeast, which will look after the needs of manufacturers in the region. It has appointed Lisa Heroux sales representative for the region. Heroux has more than 15 years of experience in the manufacturing-technology sales industry and was the Midwestern account manager for AMR Research prior to joining Plexus.
