Gillette Co. reported 1stQ earnings of $196.1M, up 20% from
$164M a year ago. Gillette credits higher earnings with new
product development, geographic expansion and an "improved
product mix" (WALL STREET JOURNAL, 4/21)....Puma USA has awarded
its ad account to Partners & Simons of Boston. With billings
estimated between $4-8M, the account was previously handled by
Berlin Cameron Doyle in New York (N.Y. TIMES, 4/21)....Sprite has
filmed its second ad featuring NBA rookie Grant Hill. In the ad,
Hill is challenged in one-on-one by "Little Tommy" who just drank
a Sprite (USA TODAY, 4/21)....The City of Pittsburgh and the U.S.
Cycling Federation announced that the '96 Thrift Drug Classic and
the '96 Thrift Drug Women's Invitational have been named as
events that count toward qualifying for the '96 U.S. Olympic Team
(Thrift Drug)....The CFL Argonauts and two other CFL teams will
feature new-look jersey fronts with four-inch numerals over the
left chest (TORONTO STAR, 4/21)....Video-game maker Interplay
Productions has announced the formation of VR Sports, a division
dedicated to sports software for game consoles and PCs
(Interplay).... Cobra Golf has filed suit in San Diego charging
McLaren Golf Corp. with importing over-sized knock-offs (Cobra
Golf).
