REGION

REGION
Jewelry storeretains agency
BOARDMAN -- Smith & amp; Co. Jewelers has retained Farris Marketing to develop and manage its marketing communications. The store in the Creekside Plaza is revising its selections and emphasizing its staff's knowledge of engagement and wedding rings. Farris is based in Boardman but has offices in Tampa, Fla., and Cleveland.
Survey suggests a needfor auto sales incentives
NEW YORK -- Automakers have been using incentives for years to spur sales. A new consumer survey suggests something the industry may not like to hear -- those incentives may be around for a long time, even if the economy improves.
More than half, 53 percent, of those in a recent survey said they would not buy or lease a new vehicle without some sort of incentive. And 68 percent of those who participated agreed with the statement that companies offering such incentives are overcharging for their vehicles in the first place. The August poll of 1,002 people was done by Maritz Inc., a St. Louis-based market researcher.
More pay billson the Internet
NEW YORK -- Most of us are now paying at least one of our bills online, although security worries still bedevil the electronic transactions field, according to a survey. Of the 57 percent who went online to pay, most said they paid bank and credit card companies.
Three years ago, the same survey found that only 17 percent of 500 people questioned paid one of their bills online. The survey was done by research firm Insight Express.
From Vindicator staff and wire reports