In what it claims is a first for the toy industry, KB Toys next week rolls out a Grandparents Rewards Club to its 600 stores nationwide. The program increased sales by up to five times in cities where it was tested, the company says. ...Read the whole story

Contrary to popular myth, boomers and their parents are not stuck in their ways. They're worth courting, says AARP, in a new study, because they're just as likely to switch brands and experiment with new products as Generation Y. ...Read the whole story

Another common theme at the Focalyst Executive Forum: Far too many depictions of over-50 boomers are not only misguided, but actually offensive to their intended audience. ...Read the whole story

Starbucks doesn't actively engage in blogs, but it learns plenty about its brand by monitoring blogs set up by its baristas and consumers who talk about their experiences. ...Read the whole story

A $4 million sponsorship package supports the launch of AOL's new online game "Flushed Away," based on an upcoming film of the same name. Kohl's, Sara Lee, and AMD sponsor the game, which is slated to launch next week. ...Read the whole story

Wendy's is rolling out new packaging that promotes its products as trans-fat-free. Other restaurant chains are still evaluating the implications of a plan by the New York City Board of Health to ban trans fats from all restaurant menus. ...Read the whole story

The companies are not talking, but Cingular Wireless is rumored to have a six-month exclusive window to provide Apple's long-awaited iPhone cell phone handset at its anticipated release in early 2007 at the Macworld conference. ...Read the whole story