UPS launched a new insert marketing service in early October in five US metropolitan areas with Bed Bath and Beyond, Men's Wearhouse and Zappos. DMNews chats with Lisa Lynn, director of marketing and communications at UPS, about ways the program differs from traditional insert media, the overall challenges marketers face and how to make a statement in white.

CDW and Ikea demonstrate shift in traditional marketers toward digital

IT products and services direct seller CDW has named Ogilvy & Mather its advertising agency of record. The agency is responsible for traditional advertising, direct marketing and digital. Ogilvy & Mather, Chicago, is the lead agency on the account.

Sears Holdings is bolstering the layaway programs of its Sears and Kmart stores with an online service. The program will launch October 9. Sears told 'DMNews' in August that it was seeing more use of layaway service during the back-to-school season. Therefore, it will make the service available to more consumers.

Multichannel retailer HSNi has promoted Mark Ethier to CEO of its Cornerstone business, with responsibility for maximizing the catalog division's performance. The company announced the move on October 5. Ethier was previously HSNi's EVP and COO, overseeing all aspects of operations across the HSN, HSN.com and Cornerstone divisions.

Nonprofit group HopeMongers launched an online community on October 5 to connect donors with community projects around the world. The portal enables consumers to donate as little as $10 and allows them to track the progress of their gifts using social media tools.

The Austin Business Journal reported yesterday that WPP agency Enfatico has dismissed five senior level creative staff in its New York and Austin offices.

In data released October 6, the National Retail Federation predicted a less-than-merry 1% decline in this year's holiday retail sales. The country was already months into an economic crisis when the holiday season hit last year, and the retail industry experienced a dramatic 3.4% drop in overall sales.

Multichannel outdoor gear and apparel merchant Eastern Mountain Sports has relaunched its e-commerce Web site as part of an ongoing rebranding that includes larger new stores in key markets. GSI Commerce developed the site with a focus on enhancing the customer experience to make it similar to a store visit.

Google and the Wharton School's Future of Advertising Project have launched a YouTube channel designed to be an online destination for marketing and advertising know-how.