Some of the catalog industry's major players stood last week in support of mail preference service Catalog Choice, including Wil­liams-Sonoma, Orchard Brands, LL Bean and Crate & Barrel. The kudos come barely a year after the service launched with a less-than-friendly reception from the industry.

Social networking giant MySpace is taking on Apple's iTunes with a new music downloading business. The new effort moves the site from a place to learn about bands by making friends and listening to tracks to offering a full-fledged e-commerce business.

Catalog Choice and the Direct Marketing Association both announced enhancements to their mail preference services this week. Catalog Choice recently signed up some of the catalog industry's biggest players, including Williams-Sonoma, Orchard Brands, Crate & Barrel and LL Bean in addition to over 1 million consumers.

Ebay has said that, as of November, checks and money orders will no longer be allowed as payment methods on its site. US customers will have to pay for purchases with eBay's subsidiary PayPal; use a credit or debit card; use credit card processing service ProPay; or pay upon pickup.

During a conference call this week with reporters, the National Retail Federation and Bigresearch said that many of the same factors that have hurt retail sales much of this year will continue to have a negative impact during the upcoming holiday season.

Electronic retailers must embrace online video or risk being left behind in the industry, according to study conducted by Harris Interactive presented at the ERA's conference in Las Vegas.

Gap Inc. has agreed to acquire catalog and Internet retailer Athleta Inc. for approximately $150 million in cash. The move will likely bolster its online business and presence in the growing women's active apparel sector.

Chevron Corporation launched a public education campaign last week to promote energy efficiency. The "I will" campaign features print and television ads, as well as an updated microsite, www.willyoujoinus.com, which provides energy conservation tips and information.

While some economists fear that the US economy borders on recession, especially in the wake of the Federal Reserve's bailout of AIG last week, there is little doubt that the marketing and media industry is already suffering.

The outlook for retailers' 2009 direct marketing spend is uncertain, particularly in light of recent high-profile Wall Street woes such as the bankruptcy of financial services firm Lehman Brothers and the government bailout of insurer American International Group, which sent tremors throughout the economy last week.