Online merchandising opens new chapter for Borders; Online auction crosses finish line for Wrangler charity; and unique mailer drives response for AutoTrader.com.

With bricks-and-mortar stores delivering poor sales performances this October, a new crop of shopping search engines are hoping to reverse the numbers with enhanced customer experiences.

Even in a down economy, Eastman Kodak's Jeffrey Hayzlett is upbeat about today's marketing challenges.

The Talbots Inc. is pursuing a sale of the J. Jill brand in order to focus on its core Talbots business - a move that comes just two years after it acquired the J. Jill business for $517 million. "We have made great strides in re-energizing the Talbots brand and are encouraged by both our existing and lapsed customers' response to our product and marketing efforts," said Trudy F. Sullivan, president and CEO at Talbots, in a statement.

Social networks are playing an increasingly important role in driving the popularity of television shows and should be factored into the weekly TV rankings, a new report by Networked Insights concludes.

GE Commercial Finance this week loaned $250 million to Vertis Communications Inc., which has emerged from Chapter 11 bankruptcy.

Amid the uncertainty of today's economic turmoil, one thing is clear: Consumers aren't spending the way they used to. But, while retailers expect this holiday season to be the most difficult in years, there are ways to make sure they are getting the most impact from their marketing investments.

Printing and marketing services com­pany VistaPrint has launched a campaign with Marine Toys for Tots, creating six custom-designed cards for the upcoming holiday season. Half of the proceeds from card sales will benefit the charity.

E-mail has always been an effective hook, but recently, use of e-mail first hand got me both hooked and sold. I am reminded and humbled of the tangible benefits of leveraging what we know as we decide how to implement and execute our marketing strategies.

Taking advantage of the passions people have for their favorite sports teams can work wonders — but only if you take a multiplatform approach.