Costco reports surge in monthly sales.

Coty wants Avon in part to build in Brazil.

Current TV struggles to meet audience targets.

Dairy Queen rolls out new national campaign.

Del Monte and Fresh Del Monte engage in food fight.

Delta considers entering fuel-refining business to cut costs.

Facebook said to pick Nasdaq for IPO.Continue reading...

With The Help holding on to the top spot again, there is little to be said about Hollywood product placement at the US box office (click here to read our product placement overview of The Help). So let's look to Bollywood, where the film Bodyguard just set domestic records for opening day.

The Indian film also happens to be packed with loads of non-Indian product placement.Continue reading...

Amazon expands into the romance publishing business.

Avon widens internal probe into possible bribery of foreign officials.

Bank of America triples number of mortgage-help centers.

Chevron expands oil-shale play in Pennsylvania.

Denny’s expands presence on college campuses.

Duane Reade launches Facebook contest.

Electronic Arts profit soars as business model shifts.Continue reading...

There's a different kind of house party these days – think Tupperware for the digital era, direct in your living room. 

House Party, which helps brands connect with consumers in festive settings, bills itself as “a consumer activation and experiential marketing company that engages thousands of qualified consumer advocates to host in-home parties featuring a brand, product or element of entertainment programming.”

The parties take place on the same day across the U.S., and are coordinated via dedicated, proprietary online communities designed to engage consumers in home and build word of mouth buzz at the local and online level.

There's no cost to the host: House Party identifies consumers who are passionate about a particular brand, and helps them host parties for a hands-on experience with that brand. In return, the hosts blog, share their events' photos and videos, and interact with other hosts via branded microsites.Continue reading...

Wendy's encourages parties for the NCAA tournament with its new media campaign. [Adweek]

Twitter is working on a Chinese version of its status update-based website. [WSJ]

Louis Vuitton CEO Yves Carcelle thinks that social-networking can bolster a brand. [WWD]

Beauty brand Shiseido is using digital mirrors to help consumers choose cosmetics. [Springwise]

Kotex recent television ads are changing the way tampon are promoted. [NY Times]

Rapper Akon has created a perfume line that hints at his prison past. [Honey]Continue reading...