Mon, 13 Mar 2006 07:00:00 GMT http://www.ipressroom.com News and press releases http://media.carmax.com/pr/carmax/info/breakgroundFredericksburg.asp RICHMOND, Va. (March 13, 2006)—CarMax, Inc. (NYSE: KMX), the nation's largest retailer of used cars, has begun building a new CarMax superstore in Fredericksburg, Virginia. The new Fredericksburg store will open late this year. Approximately 100 jobs will be brought to the Fredericksburg area with the store opening. The new 50,000 square foot superstore will be built on 15 acres in Spotsylvania County just off Interstate 95 at the 126 exit. CarMax will also open a store in Charlottesville, Virginia later this year. Construction on the Charlottesville store is expected to begin within the next few months. "CarMax’s no-haggle, no-hassle, fun and easy way of buying a car, has always been popular among Virginians," said Austin Ligon, president and chief executive officer of CarMax, Inc. "This is why we are excited about our expansion with two new stores in our home state where our concept was founded." CarMax was created more than 12 years ago when the company surveyed thousands of consumers to find out what they liked and disliked about car shopping. The CarMax no-haggle, no-hassle, fun shopping experience was the result of those survey responses. CarMax offers consumers a broad selection of high-quality used vehicles. CarMax guarantees the quality of the cars sold, does not sell flood- or frame-damaged vehicles, and guarantees a clean title and accurate odometer readings on its cars. All vehicles are thoroughly inspected and reconditioned, and CarMax offers a five-day, money-back guarantee and a limited 30-day warranty. About CarMax CarMax, a FORTUNE 500 company, and one of the FORTUNE 2006 "100 Best Companies to Work For," and the FORTUNE 2006 Most Admired Company in automotive retailing, is the nation's largest retailer of used cars. Headquartered in Richmond, Va., CarMax currently operates 67 used car superstores in 31 markets. CarMax also operates seven new car franchises, all of which are integrated or co-located with its used car superstores. During the twelve month period ended November 30, 2005, the company sold 285,950 used cars, which is 93 percent of the total 306,820 vehicles the company retailed during that period. For more information, access the CarMax website at www.carmax.com. # # # Media Contacts: Lisa Van Riper, Assistant Vice President, Public Affairs, (804) 935-4594 Trina H. Lee, Public Relations Manager, (804) 747-0422 ext.4197Mon, 13 Mar 2006 07:00:00 GMT http://media.carmax.com/pr/carmax/info/newjobstocolumbus.asp RICHMOND, Va. (February 28, 2006)-CarMax, Inc. (NYSE: KMX), the nation's largest retailer of used cars, is currently recruiting for more than 200 job positions in Columbus, Ohio. Applications are now being accepted for the new positions on the retailer’s website at www.carmax.com. CarMax will open the two new Columbus area superstores on May 5, 2006. The Sawmill store, located at 2700 Farmers Drive, will employ approximately 130 associates. And the Easton store, located at 3800 Morse Road, will employ approximately 75 associates. Who is CarMax Hiring? CarMax is seeking applicants for full and part-time positions. Positions are for sales, business office, inventory and service technicians. Automotive experience is not necessary or required for most positions. Many CarMax associates have worked for other major retailers, such as Target, Lowe’s, Home Depot, Wal-Mart, Macy’s, The Gap and The Limited. Many CarMax associates have previous experience working in the restaurant industry, selling insurance or teaching school. How Can Job Seekers Apply? Job seekers can apply online at www.carmax.com If a job seeker does not have Internet access, call the CarMax Employment Center at (614) 985-4903 to schedule an appointment to fill out an application in person. CarMax will contact applicants and set up interviews after an initial review of applications. What is CarMax? CarMax, a FORTUNE 500 company, and one of the FORTUNE 2006 "100 Best Companies to Work For," is the nation's largest retailer of used cars. Headquartered in Richmond, Va., CarMax currently operates 67 used car superstores in 31 markets. CarMax also operates seven new car franchises, all of which are integrated or co-located with its used car superstores. During the twelve month period ended November 30, 2005, the company sold 285,950 used cars, which is 93 percent of the total 306,820 vehicles the company retailed during that period. For more information, access the CarMax website at www.carmax.com. ### Media Contacts: Lisa Van Riper, Assistant Vice President, Public Affairs, (804) 935-4594 Trina Lee, Public Relations Manager, (804) 747-0422 ext.4197Tue, 28 Feb 2006 07:00:00 GMT http://www.ipressroom.com/pr/apm/info/video-game-music-for-film-and-TV.asp Associated Production Music, the largest supplier of music exclusively for use in film, television, radio and new media production, is set to unveil ENDGAME, a brand new collection of original music cues created by many of the most successful video game music composers in the electronic gaming industry. The Endgame Music Library will also feature a series of CDs with actual music cues from some of the most popular video games titles. “Some of the best music being written today is coming from the video game industry. The quality of the music is unbelievable, and the composers who write for games not only understand how to write music for today’s marketplace, but they have a tremendous ability to compose music that works for media. This music is a natural fit with the Hollywood production community and Madison Avenue, and we’re pleased to offer music from the artists behind the some of the best-selling video games,” said APM president Adam Taylor, who brokered the initial releases through an arrangement with Bob Rice of Four Bars Intertainment, who manages leading composer in the video game industry. “With A List games being played for an average of 110 hours, great music is essential,” said Rice, whose clients include Activision, Bethesda Entertainment, Bioware, Disney Interactive, Electronic Arts, Microsoft Games, Sony Computer Entertainment, Ubisoft, and Zombie Entertainment. “Gamers send our composers literally thousands of fan emails every month.” Endgame bows with 6 CDs total, featuring contributions from Tommy Tallarico (Advent Rising, Tony Hawk Pro Skater), Chance Thomas (King Kong, Lord of the Rings, X-Men), Jack Wall (Myst III & IV, Jade Empire, Splinter Cell: Pandora Tomorrow), Inon Zur (Prince of Persia: The Two Thrones, Men of Valor, Champions of Norrath: Realms of EverQuest), Jesper Kyd (Gears of War, Hitman Series, Splinter Cell), Richard Jacques (Headhunter Series, Starship Troopers, Outrun 2), Cris Velasco (Splinter Cell: Double Agent, Hellgate: London, God of War), Rod Abernethy (Zathura, Blazing Angels, The Hobbit), Chris Rickwood (Law and Order: Criminal Intent, Civil War: Bull Run, BloodRayne), Tom Salta (Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter, Need for Speed Underground 2, Cold Fear), Winifred Phillips (God of War, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory), Garry Schyman (Destroy All Humans!, Full Spectrum Warrior – Ten Hammers, Bioshock), Paul Lipson (The Name of the Game, The Running Man Game, Legends: Coming of a New Age), Billy Martin (Chicken Little, Memorick the Apprentice Knight, Prince of Persia), Lennie Moore (Dragonshard, War of the Ring, Outcast), Will Loconto (X3: The Game, Bad Day LA, Aliens vs. Predator 2: Primal Hunt), Tom Zehnder (50cent Bullet Proof, Van Helsing, Barbie Princess & Pauper) David Arkenstone (Earth & Beyond, World of Warcraft, Shadowbane, Emperor: Dune, Blade Runner), and Sascha Dikiciyan (Splinter Cell 4: Double Agent, Battlezone, Quake Series). With total video game sales outperforming gross box office ticket sales, video game soundtracks outpacing motion picture soundtracks, and the Los Angeles Philharmonic’s recent Video Game Live performance of video game music at the Hollywood Bowl outselling average engagements by the Philharmonic at the same venue by more than three-to-one, APM expects the new Endgame Music Library to be extremely useful to film and television music supervisors, television promo producers, movie trailer editors, radio spot producers, and advertisers. Associated Production Music, a joint venture of EMI Music Publishing (the world’s largest music publisher) and BMG Music Publishing (a division of Bertelsmann AG) provides the United States and Canada with music selection services and exclusive licensing rights to 20 different music libraries specifically for use in film, television, radio, recording, and new media. With more than 175,000 different musical tracks to choose from, APM’s catalog comprises one of the largest and most diverse collections of original music available to entertainment and media producers. For more information about APM, please visit: http://www.ipressroom.com/pr/apm/info/news.asp MEDIA CONTACT: Eric Schwartzman/Schwartzman & Associates, Inc./Tel: 310-446-8310 ext. 111Mon, 27 Feb 2006 12:14:29 GMT http://ipressroom.com/pr/corporate/info/deliver-message.asp LOS ANGELES, Feb. 27 /PRNewswire/ -- Blogs, podcasts and other web-related technologies are big news, but how do we as PR practitioners use them? What kind of audiences do they reach? What do bloggers and podcasters want from us, and what can they do for our clients and how should we be making use of these media channels to get our message out? ADVERTISEMENT To find out, join us at the March 14 evening meeting of PRSA's Independent Practitioners Group. To guide us through the exciting but sometimes confusing world of new media and emerging technologies will be Eric Schwartzman, Managing Director of Schwartzman & Associates, a Los Angeles firm that helps organizations and agencies reach audiences online. The former Director of Promotions at Rogers & Cowan, Eric established his agency in 1999 to offer technology, media and entertainment clients a full range of public relations services with an emphasis on integrating the Web into every aspect of media, community, analyst and industry relations. Schwartzman is also the founder and president the iPressroom, which helps organizations extend the impact of their public relations, corporate communications and marketing programs through easy-to-use, interactive marketing communications software tools and services. In addition, he edits the blog, Spinfluencer, about how public relations, the news media and emerging technologies influence perception and shape popular opinion and hosts the popular On the Record... Online podcast, which explores how new media is changing -- and threatening to disrupt -- the mainstream media business. The meeting will begin with "Speed Networking," during which each participant will have one minute to tell us: 1. Your name 2. Company 3. Practice area (e.g. media relations, writing) 4. What a good referral looks like MEETING GUIDELINES: The purpose of the IPG is to enable independent practitioners to meet, exchange ideas and information, share resources and form collaborations. Our meetings are open to all PR practitioners; please see below for details. When: Tuesday, March 14, 2006 6:30 - 8:30 p.m. Where: PR Newswire TCW Building 865 S. Figueroa St., Suite 2500 Downtown Los Angeles Check in at the information desk to be given access by elevator to the 25th floor. Parking: If you're driving, park in Joe's parking lot at the corner of Figueroa and 9th. Parking is usually $5 (sometimes higher if there is an event at the Staples Center). For directions, go to www.mapquest.com. If you are taking the MTA Rail, go to www.mta.net to find your nearest downtown stop. Meeting NO CHARGE for current PRSA-LA members Cost: $15 for non-members; pay by cash (exact change appreciated) or check at the door. RSVP: Please RSVP to Alex Auerbach at alex@aapr.com or 818-501-4221 so we will know how many will be attending. Mon, 27 Feb 2006 09:51:55 GMT http://ipressroom.com/pr/corporate/info/internet-pressrooms.asp LOS ANGELES – Feb. 25, 2006 – iPressroom, which offers public relations professionals tools and services for integrating the web into their publicity campaigns, reports a sharp rise in the number of inquiries for “Internet Pressroom Solutions” over the last three months, outpacing the number of incoming requests for “News Wire Distribution” for the first time in the company’s history. An internet pressroom is the section of an organization’s web site where press materials, publicity photos, corporate facts sheets, video news releases, audio news releases and other corporate communications can be accessed. News distribution refers to the electronic delivery of press releases and other corporate communications. Between Nov. 15, 2005 and Feb. 15, 2006, 48 percent of all incoming requests for consultations listed “Internet Pressroom Solutions” tools and services as most the in-demand, versus just 22 percent during the same period a year earlier, when “News Wire Distribution” was the most requested service offering. “The web is now the first place journalists, investors and stakeholders turn for information and PR people know it. The press release actually has more value today from an archival stand point, than as a news breaking tool, as long as people can find them when they want them online,” said iPressroom founder and president Eric Schwartzman. “And beyond just making sure people can find your news on the Web, the real opportunity of online PR is using your news to introduce constituents to your online presence, by participating in relevant digital conversations, which contrary to popular opinion, you don’t need a blog to do. Much as the news of the day presents an opportunity to get a company, brand or product in front of the media, that same information online presents an opportunity to attract and build a digital constituency, by providing people with information when they want it, rather than when you decide to push it over the news wire, or when the wire decides they’re not going to keep it online any longer.” Incoming queries also drove requests for “Online PR,” “Search Engine Optimized Press Releases,” “RSS Feed Enablement” up to the second, third and fourth most in-demand services, consecutively. Forty-four percent of all requests came from individuals at public relations agencies, 42 percent were from people at organizations on the client side and 14 percent came from communications professionals at non-profits. The results are tabulated from several hundred incoming “Request a Consultation” survey forms, which iPressroom receives daily from its corporate website. The survey engine is powered by iPressroom’s internet pressroom management service. About iPressroom Los Angeles-based iPressroom (http://www.ipressroom.com) provides marketers and PR professionals with tools and services to reach online audiences. Using iPressroom, clients can log in from any computer and manage online public relations and interactive marketing programs, which may include online news distribution, internet pressroom management, online media relations, online photo distribution, news syndication/RSS news feed enablement, video and audio on-demand, blogs, web casts, password protection and more. iPressroom provides a reliable, cost predictable solution to organizations looking to effectively manage their reputations online while increasing productivity by leveraging the one-to-many capabilities of the Web. iPressroom was conceived by web-based applications experts and marketing communications professionals with over two decades of practical experience promoting name brand companies and world class media events. The company also sponsors On the Record…Online (http://www.ontherecordpodcast.com), a popular podcast that explores the impact of technology on the business of media through discussions with some of most influential journalists in the world. Past guests include Walt Mossberg of the Wall Street Journal, Ken Auletta of The New Yorker Magazine, David Pogue of The New York Times, Jeffrey O’Brien of Wired Magazine, Nick Wingfield of the Wall Street Journal, Heather Green of BusinessWeek and many others. # # #Sat, 25 Feb 2006 09:51:55 GMT http://media.carmax.com/pr/carmax/info/Mostadmiredcompany.asp RICHMOND, Va. (February 21, 2006)—CarMax, Inc. (NYSE: KMX), the nation's largest retailer of used cars, has been named by FORTUNE magazine as America’s most admired company in automotive retailing, services. This is the first time CarMax has ranked No. 1 on the list. The list and related stories appear in the March 6 issue on newsstands February 27 and at www.fortune.com in February. "CarMax is honored to be recognized as a ‘most admired’ company in automotive retailing, services," said Austin Ligon, president and chief executive officer of CarMax. "We believe that this recognition is an acknowledgement of how we’re revolutionizing our industry. We’re giving customers what they want in a car buying experience by creating a company culture that is focused on being ethical, trustworthy, and respectful of our customers." CarMax offers consumers a no-hassle, no-haggle car-buying experience and a broad selection of high-quality used vehicles. CarMax guarantees the quality of its cars, does not sell flood- or frame-damaged vehicles, and guarantees a clean title and accurate odometer readings on its cars. All vehicles are thoroughly inspected and reconditioned, and CarMax offers a five-day, money-back guarantee and a limited 30-day warranty. To compile the most admired list, FORTUNE enlisted the assistance of Hay Group. Hay Group surveyed industry executives and directors, as well as security analysts, asking them to rate companies in industry categories according to eight criteria: innovation; employee talent; use of corporate assets; social responsibility; quality of management; financial soundness; long-term investment; and quality of products/services. In addition to being named one of FORTUNE’s most admired companies, CarMax has been named to FORTUNE’s annual list of "100 Best Companies to Work For" for the past two years. About CarMax CarMax, a FORTUNE 500 company, and one of the FORTUNE 2006 "100 Best Companies to Work For," is the nation's largest retailer of used cars. Headquartered in Richmond, Va., CarMax currently operates 67 used car superstores in 31 markets. CarMax also operates seven new car franchises, all of which are integrated or co-located with its used car superstores. During the twelve month period ended November 30, 2005, the company sold 285,950 used cars, which is 93 percent of the total 306,820 vehicles the company retailed during that period. For more information, access the CarMax website at www.carmax.com. Media Contacts: Lisa Van Riper, Assistant Vice President, Public Affairs, (804) 935-4594 Trina H. Lee, Public Relations Manager, (804) 747-0422 ext.4197 Investor Contacts: Dandy Barrett, Assistant Vice President, Investor Relations, (804) 935-4591 Celeste Gunter, Manager, Investor Relations, (804) 935-4597 # # #Tue, 21 Feb 2006 07:00:00 GMT http://media.carmax.com/pr/carmax/info/HurricaneWilmaAward.asp RICHMOND, Va. (December 13, 2005)—CarMax, Inc., the nation’s largest retailer of used vehicles, is pleased to announce that Matt Pietrowski and Matt Williamson, CarMax Automotive Technicians in Richmond, Virginia, were honored with the CarMax "Above and Beyond" award for helping a Florida CarMax store following Hurricane Wilma. Mr. Pietrowski and Mr. Williamson volunteered to drive 900 miles non-stop to Boynton Beach, Florida to deliver six large batteries that were needed to restore power to the South Florida store. The store had been closed for five days and residents were in need of replacement vehicles for damaged hurricane vehicles. Power was restored within an hour of receiving the batteries and the store was able to open to customers the following morning. The CarMax "Above and Beyond" award consists of a bonus check of $1,000, a pizza party for the winner’s store, and a trophy. Store and regional management nominate associates for delivering exceptional customer service. About CarMax CarMax, a FORTUNE 500 company, and one of the FORTUNE 2005 "100 Best Companies to Work For," is the nation’s largest retailer of used cars. Headquartered in Richmond, Va., CarMax currently operates 65 used car superstores in 29 markets. CarMax also operates seven new car franchises, all of which are integrated or co-located with its used car superstores. During the twelve month period ended August 31, 2005, the company sold 278,178 used cars, which is 93 percent of the total 299,138 vehicles the company retailed during that period. For more information, access the CarMax website at www.carmax.com. ### Media Contacts: Trina H. Lee, Public Relations Manager, (804) 747-0422 ext.4197 Elia C. Imler, Specialist, Public Affairs, (804) 747-0422, ext. 4029Tue, 21 Feb 2006 07:00:00 GMT http://bncpr.com/pr/bnc/info/Ripe-Digital-Entertainment-NASCAR-Images-and-NASCAR-Digital-Entertainment-Launch-First-Independent-On-Demand-Broadcast-Channel.asp LOS ANGELES (February 20, 2006) – In a first of its kind agreement, NASCAR Digital Entertainment (NDE) and NASCAR Images has partnered with Ripe Digital Entertainment (RDE) to launch “NASCAR on Ripe,” NASCAR’s first independent on-demand cable programming. New shows will be featured throughout the season – which kicks off February 19 – through RDE’s national distribution via Comcast Free On Demand digital cable systems, available in over 10 million homes. Geared toward young adults, “NASCAR on Ripe” benefits from unprecedented access to the latest and greatest NASCAR footage courtesy of NASCAR Images, known for bringing the sights, sounds and emotions of NASCAR to life. The four-to-eight minute high-energy weekly shows feature hard-charging music and dramatic, metal-bending graphics, which include: “NASCAR Turning Points” – The best highlights from the season’s key races, including the seven or eight critical turning points of each race. “Rush Hour” – Viewers hop in as “NASCAR on Ripe” takes them through some of the most dramatic racing moments ever caught on tape, including 4-wides, bumper-to-bumpers and crashes. “Fast Company” – Each week, one NASCAR driver gets the sped-up royal treatment, an in-depth profile that will look at the beginning of a career or the latest highlight. “Flash Forward” – Each week, “NASCAR on Ripe” previews the upcoming NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series race and which drivers have had the most success at that track. “NASCAR Rocks” – “NASCAR Rocks” offers great NASCAR action integrated within independent rock acts’ videos. “NASCAR Top 10” – Viewers are offered a quick look at the current Top 10 in the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series points standings on “NASCAR Top 10.” “Virtual Driver” – Utilizing in-car audio and in-car video “Virtual Driver” gives viewers a unique look at past races from the perspective of the driver, reviewing the race strictly from in-car camera angles. “We’re thrilled to expand our on demand network offerings with NASCAR,” said Ryan Magnussen, chief executive officer of RDE. “NASCAR is one of the greatest sports brands in the world, and young guys across the country love it and are devoted to it. Fortunately, we have millions of them watching Ripe, and they demand nothing less than great action – which NASCAR always delivers. “ NASCAR on Ripe will be available in all Comcast systems in the Free On Demand section of the On Demand onscreen users guide under the “Sports & Fitness” category beginning February 27. “We’re excited by the possibilities of ‘NASCAR on Ripe’,” said Jay Abraham, president and CEO of NASCAR Images. “There really are only two kinds of NASCAR fans – those who love it… and those who have yet to experience it. It’s obvious that RDE has come up with a new and unexpected way to showcase NASCAR not only to its legions of hardcore fans, but to the uninitiated as well.” Dodge, an official partner of NASCAR, will serve as the title sponsor of “NASCAR on Ripe” and is promoting its new Caliber vehicle with embedded ads throughout the shows featured on the channel. Utilizing a measurable, performance-based ad model, “NASCAR on Ripe” features immersive advertising, which promises branding and advertising opportunities that viewers take notice of while resisting the need to fast forward. Dodge is the first brand to activate its sponsorship through “NASCAR on Ripe.” RDE’s first network, RipeTV, made its official, multi-platform debut on October 28, 2005 with 8-10 show categories and additional advertiser-support from recently signed Dodge, Electronic Arts, Procter & Gamble’s Old Spice, Boost Mobile and Midway Games. In a test launch on Comcast VOD enabled systems, RipeTV eclipsed ten million views without marketing support. The network's irreverent, diverse programming varies in length from three to fifteen minutes with over forty percent of its entertainment content original programming. About NASCAR Digital Entertainment Based in Los Angeles, NASCAR Digital Entertainment (NDE) manages, directs and creates new business opportunities for NASCAR’s broadcasting, new media, and entertainment programming ventures. NDE creates new and enhanced entertainment experiences for NASCAR fans, drivers, teams, tracks, and sponsors through television, the Internet, satellite radio, digital cable, new media, and original motion picture programming. About NASCAR Images NASCAR Images is a marketing and entertainment company in business to leverage The Sight, Sound and Emotion of NASCAR(r) through TV and Film production, home video, licensed consumer products and premiums for the sports' sponsors, tracks, teams and fans. A joint venture of Fox Cable Networks and NASCAR Digital Entertainment, NASCAR Images is the exclusive rights holder of NASCAR event footage. www.nascarimages.com About Ripe Digital Entertainment Based in Hollywood, RipeTV is part of Ripe Digital Entertainment (RDE), a company dedicated to pioneering the production, licensing and delivery of digital entertainment and services to redefine On Demand programming. RDE's founders include CEO Ryan Magnussen, President Patrick Bradley and Vice President of Sales Steven Voci - all three of whom were founding partners for leading interactive agency Zentropy - as well as Jonathon Barbato, who launched Starz On Demand nationally. One of Hollywood's first interactive services agencies, in 1999 Zentropy was acquired by what was at the time the world's largest advertising agency conglomerate, Interpublic Group. Zentropy remains one of the top 10 interactive agencies, with billings in excess of $70 million. Back to Pressroom HomeMon, 20 Feb 2006 10:39:47 GMT http://media.carmax.com/pr/carmax/info/newjobstohartford.asp RICHMOND, Va. (February 20, 2006)—CarMax, Inc. (NYSE: KMX), the nation's largest retailer of used cars, is currently recruiting for approximately 150 job positions for the company’s new store in Hartford, Connecticut. Applications are now being accepted for the new positions on the retailer’s website at www.carmax.com. Who is CarMax Hiring? CarMax is seeking applicants for full and part-time positions. Positions are for sales, business office, inventory and service technicians. Automotive experience is not necessary or required for most positions. Many CarMax associates have worked for other major retailers, such as Target, Lowe’s, Home Depot, Wal-Mart, Macy’s, The Gap and The Limited. Many CarMax associates have previous experience working in the restaurant industry, selling insurance or teaching school. How Can Job Seekers Apply? Job seekers should apply online at www.carmax.com. If a job seeker does not have Internet access, call the CarMax Employment Center at 860-289-3509 to schedule an appointment to fill out an application in person. CarMax will contact applicants and set up interviews after an initial review of applications. What is CarMax? CarMax, a FORTUNE 500 company, and one of the FORTUNE 2006 "100 Best Companies to Work For," is the nation's largest retailer of used cars. Headquartered in Richmond, Va., CarMax currently operates 67 used car superstores in 31 markets. CarMax also operates seven new car franchises, all of which are integrated or co-located with its used car superstores. During the twelve month period ended November 30, 2005, the company sold 285,950 used cars, which is 93 percent of the total 306,820 vehicles the company retailed during that period. For more information, access the CarMax website at www.carmax.com. ### Media Contacts: Lisa Van Riper, Assistant Vice President, Public Affairs, (804) 935-4594 Trina Lee, Public Relations Manager, (804) 747-0422 ext.4197Mon, 20 Feb 2006 07:00:00 GMT http://media.carmax.com/pr/carmax/info/GreenvilleCarmaxAward.asp RICHMOND, Va. (February 20, 2006)—CarMax, Inc., the nation’s largest retailer of used vehicles, is pleased to announce that Thomas Cash, a Sales Consultant from the company's store in Greenville, South Carolina, was honored with the CarMax "Above and Beyond" award. Cash provided roadside assistance to a woman stranded on the side of I85, just south of Greenville on December 23, 2005. One of the woman’s tires blew out while she was traveling. She lost control of her vehicle, but made it to the side of the highway. Cash observed the situation while passing by and quickly rushed over to assist. "He got to work immediately changing out my busted tire," said the motorist. Due to Thomas’ quick efforts, the motorist was able to get back on the road safely. Only a few select associates throughout the entire company nation wide are selected for the "Above and Beyond" award each month. The award consists of a bonus check of $1,000, a pizza party for the winner’s store, and a trophy. Store and region management nominates the winners for delivering exceptional customer service. About CarMax CarMax, a FORTUNE 500 company, and one of the FORTUNE 2006 "100 Best Companies to Work For," is the nation's largest retailer of used cars. Headquartered in Richmond, Va., CarMax currently operates 67 used car superstores in 31 markets. CarMax also operates seven new car franchises, all of which are integrated or co-located with its used car superstores. During the twelve month period ended November 30, 2005, the company sold 285,950 used cars, which is 93 percent of the total 306,820 vehicles the company retailed during that period. For more information, access the CarMax website at www.carmax.com. ### Media Contacts: Lisa Van Riper, Assistant Vice President, Public Affairs, (804) 935-4594 Trina H. Lee, Public Relations Manager, (804) 747-0422 ext.4197Mon, 20 Feb 2006 07:00:00 GMT http://media.carmax.com/pr/carmax/info/maintainingcarbattery.asp RICHMOND, Va., (February 16, 2006)—Having to replace a car battery can be a hassle. That’s why CarMax, Inc. (NYSE: KMX), the nation’s largest retailer of used cars, wants you to know how to keep your car battery in top-notch condition. "Unfortunately, the automotive battery is one of many highly abused, seldom maintained, but very important parts on the modern automobile," said Lane Fleming, ASE Master Technician for CarMax. "Usually no attention is paid to the battery unless it is suspected of causing a problem. The most common problem encountered with batteries is low voltage or low charge." CarMax technicians offer a few do’s and don’ts to help your auto battery maintain its peak performance and to avoid having a low charged battery: Do’s Make sure the battery is firmly secured to its mounting bracket. An unsecured battery that shifts around can damage itself, and possibly cause short circuits. Visually check the condition of the terminals where the cables connect to the battery. They should be tight and free of corrosion. If corrosion is present, it is safest to get a qualified technician to clean the terminals. In batteries other than those that are "maintenance free," check the fluid level, periodically. If the fluid is low, add only distilled water to top it off. If no fluid is detectable, you may want to replace the battery rather than fill it. Batteries in this condition will usually fail very soon. When working around batteries, always be careful to wear the proper protective gear. Full-face protection and heavy-duty, rubber gloves are recommended. Batteries come in many different sizes. When replacing a car battery, make sure you choose the right size battery for your vehicle. When it comes to car batteries, bigger is not always better. Don'ts If you suspect that a battery is frozen, do not charge it, as it may explode! One visual sign that a battery has frozen is that the sides are bowed out. This condition is not repairable, and the battery will need to be replaced by a professional as soon as possible. If you need to charge your battery yourself, don’t use a high setting on the charger. Charging a battery can produce noxious, flammable gases, and the risk of a spark causing the battery to explode is greater when the battery is fast charged. Instead, switch the charger to a low charge setting. Most chargers have this feature but if not, have a professional charge the battery. Don’t charge a dead battery with a car’s alternator. An alternator is not designed to function as a charger, and it may be damaged or have a shortened life as a result. About CarMax CarMax, a FORTUNE 500 company, and one of the FORTUNE 2006 "100 Best Companies to Work For," is the nation's largest retailer of used cars. Headquartered in Richmond, Va., CarMax currently operates 67 used car superstores in 31 markets. CarMax also operates seven new car franchises, all of which are integrated or co-located with its used car superstores. During the twelve month period ended November 30, 2005, the company sold 285,950 used cars, which is 93 percent of the total 306,820 vehicles the company retailed during that period. For more information, access the CarMax website at www.carmax.com. # # # Media Contacts: Lisa Van Riper, Assistant Vice President, Public Affairs, (804) 935-4594 Trina H. Lee, Public Relations Manager, (804) 747-0422 ext.4197 Investor Contacts: Dandy Barrett, Assistant Vice President, Investor Relations, (804) 935-4591 Celeste Gunter, Manager, Investor Relations, (804) 935-4597Thu, 16 Feb 2006 07:00:00 GMT http://bncpr.com/pr/bnc/info/Premium-and-Contemporary-at-Magic-Grows-as-Nearly-70-New-Brands-Debut-in-February.asp Beth Frank, Parajumpers, Soviet Jeans, Among Many Join Platform, MAGIC’s Juried Showcase for Premium Contemporary Resources WOODLAND HILLS, CA (February 10, 2006) – MAGIC continues to expand its resources, with 165 exhibitors showing in the Premium & Contemporary category anchored by Platform. The much-anticipated MAGIC Marketplace, running February 21 – 24, will feature collections from emerging and established contemporary designers, offering attendees directional assortment of the new designs for fall 2006. Platform’s premium contemporary designers are often recognized for establishing and confirming trends and setting high standards for the industry. Key influences this year include: Mixed media that uses fabric, print and pattern to create a rich collage of diverse textures Washes, pigment dyes, and treated surfaces as new areas of interest Flocking, crewel embroidery and grommet embellishments Double knits and double faced variations that take on a modern edge Modernity that touches on the undercurrent of the 60’s, but is redefined as minimal and relevant Some of the new Platform exhibitors reflecting above-mentioned trends include Blue Cult Knits, CBGB Denim, Hell is for Heros, REPACK, Imunity Corp, Machu Picchu, Jean-Charles De Castelbajac, Lacey J., Stone Crown, Threads for Thought, Vintage China, Sleeves and Yoshie’s Collection. New exhibitor Tracy Matthews Designs will unveil her collection of signature metal, leaf and hoop collections as well as an 18K gold collection. The stunning leaf collection has a variety of shapes and sizes merged with her signature combination of uniquely named stone colorways. Matthews’ gold jewelry builds on the success of last season’s “Sticks and Stones” collection uniting the elegance of 18K gold with faceted black and raw cut white diamonds. Brightly colored topaz combined with her signature hammered marquise shape creates a minimalist aesthetic addition to the collection. “I’ve chosen Platform because it gives my collection an environment to be recognized for its attention to detail and quality. It is an area that ensures I’ll be connected to the right attendees that have a demand for the craftsmanship and individuality my designs offer,” explains Matthews. NYLON Magazine, also known for its focus on independent and trendsetting fashion, will participate in the Premium & Contemporary Marketplace at Platform this year by adding its own touch to the funky atmosphere. With a cutting-edge décor, an indie vibe and a live soundtrack provided by well-known DJ Dim Mak, a true premium vibe will rock this influential area of the MAGIC Marketplace. ABOUT MAGIC Every August and February, the fashion industry converges on Las Vegas for the most influential four days in the business – the MAGIC Marketplace. The next event takes place February 21 – February 24, 2006 in Las Vegas, NV. For information, call 818.593.5000 or log onto www.MAGIConline.com. MAGIC International is a subsidiary of Advanstar Communications, the world’s largest and most widely recognized organizer of trade shows for the apparel industry producing the MAGIC Marketplace in Las Vegas featuring MAGIC, WWDMAGIC, MAGIC kids, and Sourcing at MAGIC. Back to Pressroom HomeFri, 10 Feb 2006 10:39:47 GMT http://bncpr.com/pr/bnc/info/Hollywood-Rolls-Out-the-Red-Carpet-For-Wizard-World-Los-Angeles.asp Celebrities, Comic Books, Collectibles, Toys and Anime Converge on the Los Angeles Convention Center What: Wizard World Los Angeles comes to the Los Angeles Convention Center with its family-friendly pop culture extravaganza – a three-day event that explores the worlds of comic books, toys, anime, movies, manga and video games and features some of the biggest stars in comics, film and television. Who: Wizard World Los Angeles will give fans the chance to interact with entertainment industry luminaries, including special guests Kevin Smith & Jason Mewes (Clerks 2, Jay & Silent Bob Strike Back), Shawn Wayans & Marlon Wayans (NAME of COMIC), Efran Ramirez (Napolean Dynamite), Kane (WWE, See No Evil), Charisma Carpenter (BTVS; Veronica Mars), Clare Kramer (Buffy the Vampire Slayer), Andy Hallet (Angel), Ray Park (Star Wars: Episode 1), Daniel Logan (Star Wars: Episode 2), Sala Baker (Chronicles of Narnia) and Golden Globe winner for "Best Television Series Drama", Damon Lindelof (Creator of Lost). Comic industry notables Jeph Leob (Ultimates Vol. 3), Joe Quesada (Daredevil: Father), Jim Lee (All-Star: Batman & Robin), Marc Silverstri (Hunter-Killer), Mike Turner (Soulfire), Mark Waid (Legion of Super Heroes), Tim Sale (CW: When in Rome) and many more will also be on hand throughout the weekend. When: March 17 – 19, 2006 Friday, March 17 (1:00 pm – 7:00 pm) Saturday, March 18 (10:00 am – 6:00 pm) Sunday, March 19 (11:00 am – 5:00 pm One day pass: $25.00 ** Weekend pass (3 day): $45.00 ** Children 10 and under get in for free with a paid adult Where: Los Angeles Convention Center 1201 South Figueroa Street Los Angeles, CA 90015 Tickets: Available at www.wizardworld.com or your favorite local comic shop. Back to Pressroom HomeWed, 08 Feb 2006 10:39:47 GMT http://media.carmax.com/pr/carmax/info/burbankgroundbreak.asp RICHMOND, Va. (February 8, 2006)—CarMax, Inc. (NYSE: KMX), the nation's largest retailer of used cars, has begun building a new CarMax superstore in Burbank, California this week. The new store will be the sixth CarMax location in the Los Angeles area. The new Burbank CarMax superstore is expected to open in the fall of 2006 and will provide approximately 75 jobs. The new 20,000 square foot superstore will be built at the intersection of Flower Street and Alameda Avenue on six acres of land. "California, and in particular, Los Angeles, is the world’s greatest auto market," said Austin Ligon, president and chief executive officer of CarMax, Inc. "Burbank is the perfect place for the nation’s largest retailer of used cars to add a new store. Our new store will give L.A. area car shoppers more locations and more inventory to choose from." CarMax has also announced plans to open a new store in Torrance, California. CarMax was created more than 12 years ago when the company surveyed thousands of consumers to find out what they liked and disliked about car shopping. The CarMax no-haggle, no-hassle, fun shopping experience was the result of those survey responses. CarMax offers consumers a broad selection of high-quality used vehicles. CarMax guarantees the quality of the cars sold, does not sell flood- or frame-damaged vehicles, and guarantees a clean title and accurate odometer readings on its cars. All vehicles are thoroughly inspected and reconditioned, and CarMax offers a five-day, money-back guarantee and a limited 30-day warranty. About CarMax CarMax, a FORTUNE 500 company, and one of the FORTUNE 2006 "100 Best Companies to Work For," is the nation's largest retailer of used cars. Headquartered in Richmond, Va., CarMax currently operates 67 used car superstores in 31 markets. CarMax also operates seven new car franchises, all of which are integrated or co-located with its used car superstores. During the twelve month period ended November 30, 2005, the company sold 285,950 used cars, which is 93 percent of the total 306,820 vehicles the company retailed during that period. For more information, access the CarMax website at www.carmax.com. # # # Media Contacts: Lisa Van Riper, Assistant Vice President, Public Affairs, (804) 935-4594 Trina H. Lee, Public Relations Manager, (804) 747-0422 ext.4197Wed, 08 Feb 2006 07:00:00 GMT http://media.carmax.com/pr/carmax/info/MADDCollegeProgram.asp RICHMOND, Va. (February 6, 2006)—CarMax, Inc. and Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) announced today that the CarMax Foundation has granted $150,000 to MADD to establish new student-driven University Mothers Against Drunk Driving (UMADD) chapters and support nine existing UMADD chapters on college campuses across the country. The CarMax Foundation is the founding sponsor of the UMADD program and provided $250,000 in grant funding during 2004 and 2005. "All too often, underage alcohol use and binge drinking is accepted as a rite of passage, especially in college," said Glynn Birch, MADD national president. "Through UMADD chapters, students can help change that culture by directly influencing their peers, campuses, and communities through education and enforcement. We share CarMax’s commitment to protecting the lives of college students, and together we will continue to do this by expanding the UMADD program." The goal of the campus-based UMADD program is to engage students in prevention strategies against underage drinking, binge drinking, and impaired driving; limit youth access to alcohol; increase enforcement of underage drinking and impaired driving laws; and work with campus leaders to minimize alcohol problems. Research shows that drinking by college students (ages 18-24) contributes to an estimated 1,700 student deaths, 500,000 injuries, 600,000 assaults, and 70,000 sexual assaults each year. In addition, it is estimated that as a result of college drinking, 400,000 students engage in unprotected sex, and 150,000 develop an alcohol-related health problem each year. About 25 percent of college students report academic consequences of drinking alcohol. Through the CarMax Foundation funding, the UMADD program was launched on five campuses in 2005, including Arizona State University in Tempe, Ariz.; Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo, Mich.; the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis, Minn.; Slippery Rock University in Slippery Rock, Pa.; and Tarleton State University in Stephenville, Texas. In 2004, CarMax funded four UMADD chapters: at the University of Central Florida in Orlando, Fla.; Bellarmine University in Louisville, Ky.; Towson University in Baltimore, Md.; and East Tennessee State University in Johnson City, Tenn. This most recent grant will provide each UMADD chapter with funds to recruit and training student leaders, conduct prevention projects on campus, and work with the surrounding community to ensure underage students do not have access to alcohol. "We are proud to support the UMADD program that is empowering students to spread the message about safe driving on college campuses," said Joe Kunkel, president of the CarMax Foundation. "Similar to the CarMax business, the CarMax Foundation is dedicated to supporting programs that are using unique and innovative solutions to tackle big challenges." About MADD MADD’s mission is to stop drunk driving, support the victims of this violent crime and prevent underage drinking. Since its founding in 1980, MADD has helped save more than 300,000 lives. A 501 (c) 3 non-profit grassroots organization, MADD is working to save lives and prevent injuries in hundreds of communities and has approximately 2 million members and supporters nationwide. Web site: www.madd.org. About the CarMax Foundation The CarMax Foundation’s National Funding Program assists nonprofit organizations that address or improve automobile safety for families and children. CarMax, Inc. supports the foundation. Headquartered in Richmond, Va., CarMax currently operates 67 used car superstores in 31 markets. Web site: www.carmaxcares.com. ### MADD Media Contact: Amy George, Communications Manager, (469) 420-4493 CarMax Media Contacts: Lisa Van Riper, Assistant Vice President, Public Affairs, (804) 935-4594 Trina H. Lee, Public Relations Manager, (804) 747-0422 ext. 4197 CarMax Investor Relations Contacts: Dandy Barrett, Assistant Vice President, Investor Relations, (804) 935-4591 Celeste Gunter, Manager, Investor Relations, (804) 935-4597Mon, 06 Feb 2006 07:00:00 GMT http://bncpr.com/pr/bnc/info/W-Las-Vegas-Residences-Lounge-Takes-Film-Festival-By-Storm.asp Parties, Poker and Premieres Turn the Exclusive Lounge into the Hottest Spot in the Snow LAS VEGAS (January 30, 2006) – The W Las Vegas Hotel, Casino and Residences captured the attention of celebrities and tastemakers as the W Las Vegas Residences Lounge became the place to see and be seen at the 2006 film festival in Park City, Utah. Those in the know clamored to gain access to the exclusive gathering spot perched at the top of the Village at the Lift. Throughout the festival celebrities were given a sneak peek of the highly anticipated W Las Vegas Hotel, Casino and Residences, even before residences go on sale to the public in Spring 2006. Poker Invitational Draws Pros and Personalities The lounge played host to the first-ever W Las Vegas Poker Invitational, where 50 celebrities and professional poker players battled until the wee hours of the morning all in an effort to snag the top prize, a fully furnished condo worth $700,000. The coveted spots were filled by Dave Navarro (who was cheered on by wife Carmen Electra), Anne Heche, Gina Gershon, Shannon Elizabeth, Danny and Chris Masterson, Laura Prepon, Lance Bass, DJ AM, Joe Reitman, Gregory Smith, Justin Baldoni, Kevin Smith, Emile Hirsch, Joel and Benji Madden and more as they competed against poker pros including Phil Hellmuth, Antonio Esfandiari, Annie Duke, Phil Gordon and Phil Laak. World Poker Champion Phil Hellmuth won the tournament in dramatic fashion, ultimately beating out the host of the event, Reagan Silber, at a final table that included Annie Duke (finishing 4th), Shannon Elizabeth (5th), Gina Gershon (6th), Julie Yorn (7th) and Chris Masterson, who placed 3rd. Hellmuth celebrated his victory by immediately applying his studio condo grand prize as a down payment on a $2 million penthouse at the W Las Vegas. Parties and Premieres The W Las Vegas Residences Lounge was the location for the hottest parties in Park City while also providing an important location for some of the most talked about films of the fest to conduct press interviews and host after-premiere celebrations. Amanda Scheer Demme, who has signed on to create a nightclub lounge at the W Las Vegas, played host along with Scott Sartiano and Richie Akiva for the festival’s most exclusive bash. DJ AM and DJ Frankie whipped the celeb-filled crowd that included Paris Hilton, Eve, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Shannon Elizabeth, Jack and Kelly Osbourne and other notables into a frenzy until 5 am. The next day, football fans gathered to watch NFL players and mingle with friends. Spotted in the crowd: Robert Downey Jr., Susan Levin, Paris Hilton, DJ AM, Chazz Palminteri, Guy Pearce and more. Other celebs visiting the lounge during the days and nights of the festival included Josh Harnett, Scarlett Johansson, Lucy Liu and Matt Sorum, for the after-premiere party of the picture “Lucky Number Slevin.” At a press event for “Friends With Money,” Jennifer Aniston promoted her new movie with co-stars Scott Caan and Catherine Keener. Winona Ryder, Wilmer Valderrama and Joseph Fiennes were on hand at a dinner celebrating the film, “Darwin Awards.” About the W Las Vegas Hotel, Casino and Residences The W Las Vegas will embrace the stylish, signature comforts W is renowned for, including striking architecture, innovative restaurants and nightlife and a destination spa. The project will include a significant component of condo-hotel and residential units, offering owners poolside cabanas, studios, or one- and two-bedroom condominiums with the world-class amenity of an attached W Hotel and Casino. Owners will have full use of the property’s facilities and amenities, as well as access to maid service, 24-hour room service and concierge services. Units will go on sale to the public in early 2006. About W Hotels The first W Hotel opened in New York in December 1998. There are now five hotels in New York City and 20 hotels in the U.S. and abroad. Recent openings include W’s first property in Latin America, W Mexico City, which opened in December of 2003, W’s first property in Asia, W Seoul – Walkerhill, which opened n August of 2004 and its first property in Canada, W Montreal, in October of 2004. Residence properties have been announced for Dallas, Fort Lauderdale, Scottsdale and Hoboken. In addition, there are several more W Hotels in development in the city and resort destinations around the world. Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. owns the W Hotels Worldwide brand, and is one of the leading hotel and leisure companies in the world. About Edge Group Edge Group, LLC is a development and investment company formed in 2004 by principals Trevor Pearlman, Reagan Silber and Adam Frank to focus on real estate and gaming primarily in the Las Vegas market. Edge Group is the parent company of Edge Resorts LLC, which has formed a partnership with Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. to build The W Las Vegas Hotel, Casino and Residences. Edge Resorts owns 75% of the venture; Starwood owns the remainder and will manage the hotel. Back to Pressroom HomeMon, 30 Jan 2006 10:39:47 GMT http://www.ipressroom.com/pr/SchwartzmanPR/info/podcast-wrkshp.asp By Marketing Professionals, for Marketing Professionals No Technical Experience Required WHEN: Thursday, Feb. 23, 2006 -- 10am to 5pm WHERE: 10801 National Blvd., Suite 410 Los Angeles, California 90064-4139 (310) 446-8310 ph Course Overview Forward thinking marketing and public relations executives are leveraging the power of podcasting to communicate directly with their key audiences via the Net. Find out what podcasts are and how you can put them to work for your organization. This hands-on workshop, led by the producer and host of the popular On the Record...Online podcast will take you through the process in six easy steps to arm you with the knowledge you need to evaluate and decide how to integrate this effective, effecient communications channel into your marketing program. Step One - Learn the Basics of Podcasting Blogs, RSS Syndication and Podcasting - What are they and why do they matter? Popular Podcasting Formats – Frame work and length. Podcatcher Software – Learn how to use iPodder, iTunes and other popular podcatchers Podcast Backgrounder - How did they come into existence? Finding and Subscribing to Podcasts – Live demo of how people locate and download podcasts online via the most popular search engines and directories. Measurement and Monitoring – Learn how to use Bloglines, Feedburner, FeedDemon, MyYahoo, Intelliseek, Technorati, PubSub and Newsgator Step Two - Hear Real Life Podcasting Case Studies Review of Business Podcasts – Hear excerpts from leading business podcasts. Disneyland Podcast – Promoting live events through sound-seeing podcasts. Cisco Podcast – Promoting broadband through thought leadership podcasts. Purina Podcast – Repackaging existing content as podcasts. Step Three - Participate in Podcast Development & Planning Exercises Selecting the Subject Matter – How to design an audience that appeals to your key audiences. Finding Your Voice – Podcasting as the informal voice of the organization. Intros and Outros – Recording a signature audio clip to introduce and end your podcast. Podsafe Music – Avoid using copyright protected material with this podsafe music sources. Search Engine Optimization – Using desirable search phrases to strategize content selection. Show Notes – Describing with text your podcast for listeners. Step Four - Learn How to Assemble a Podcasting Rig Recording Hardware Requirements – Checklist of equipment necessities to build basic and more sophisticated podcasting rigs. Software Requirements – Checklist of available freeware and commercial podcasting software. PC Troubleshooting – Control panel settings, sound card settings, setting levels and back-up recording options Step Five - Learn about Podcasting Production Recording Live Interviews – Conducting and recording live interviews for podcasts. How to get the interviewee invested in the conversation and dealing with one word answers. Recording Phone Interviews – Conducting and recording interviews over the phone for podcasts. Editing – How to use popular freeware to edit your podcast. ID3 Tagging – Tags are how people find podcasting through directories and search engines. Learn how to select and assign the right categories to your podcast so it can be easily found by others in popular directories and search engines. Podcast Production Demo – See an actual podcast recorded using live and phone interviews. See it edited and ID3 tagged right in front on you. Step Six - Learn How Podcast Syndication Really Works RSS Enabling your Podcast – Primer on available services, selecting one that’s right for you and uploading your podcast. Blogging your Podcast – How to launch a blog to distribute your podcast, and how to use your existing blog to distribute your podcast. Promote your Feed – How to make sure your feed is listed and available through ipodder.org, podcastalley.com, podcast411.com, Podcast.net, podcastdirectory.com, podcastingnews.com, digitalpodcast.com, ipodderx.com, podshow.com, podcastreview.net and odeo.com About the Instructor Eric Schwartzman is managing director of Schwartzman & Associates, a boutique public relations firms based in Los Angeles that specializes in helping organizations integrate the Web into their marketing and public relations programs. He is also chairman and founder of iPressroom, which helps organizations extend the impact of their public relations, corporate communications and marketing programs through easy-to-use, marketing communications software tools and services. As a recognized expert in the field of new media marketing communications, he has presented at numerous conference and seminars including the New Communications Forum, Executive’s Guide to Podcasting, Media Relations 2005, The Software Council, Global PR Blog Week, Entertainment Marketing Conference and numerous colleges and universities, and quoted in articles on podcasting, blogging and new media in publications including Advertising Age [PDF], PR Week [PDF], Podcasting News, Econtent, PR News [PDF] and Media Relations Insider [PDF]. He blogs about how public relations, the news media and emerging technologies influence perception and shape popular opinion at the Spinfluencer. His podcast On the Record… Online features discussions with leading journalists about how they use technology to cover the news. Seminar Hours and Fees Hours: 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. $500 Due to the hands on nature on this workshop, class size is capped at 5 attendees. Registrations are accommodated on a first come, first serve basis. No exceptions. Tags: podcasting / new+media / advertising / PR / marketing / workshops Wed, 25 Jan 2006 15:39:00 GMT http://www.ipressroom.com/pr/ecast/info/taylor-CEO.asp San Francisco, Calif. – Feb. 14, 2006 – Ecast, Inc., the leading provider of digital-downloading, broadband-enabled jukeboxes, has named John Taylor to the position of Chief Executive Officer. Taylor joined Ecast in 2003 as the senior v.p. of sales and business development and has served as the company’s interim C.E.O. since April 2005. Prior to joining Ecast as executive vice president of sales, he was senior director of new business development at Macromedia, where he led the company’s effort to enter the enterprise communications market. He has also held executive management positions at Dimension X, which was acquired by Microsoft and Illustra Technologies, which was acquired by Sun Microsystems. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Cornell University. "The Board is excited about the progress that Ecast has made this past year and fully supports the strategy that John has articulated for the company going forward," said Heidi Roizen, Ecast board member and managing director of Mobius Venture Capital. "I am proud of the break out year that we had in 2005 and am excited about the future of Ecast. We are committed to delivering innovative new products, programs and value-add services to the operator community that will transform the marketplace,” said Taylor. Ecast’s leading investors, whom in the aggregate manage capital in excess of $4 billion, include Mobius Venture Capital, Crosslink Capital, Doll Capital Management, El Dorado Ventures and Escalate Capital Partners. ABOUT ECAST, INC.: Ecast runs the premier network of digital touchscreen jukeboxes in the US, serving music and advertising to over 10 million consumers per month. Each broadband-enabled jukebox provides the freshest music catalog in the industry, allowing patrons to choose from a massive selection from independent and major record labels. The Ecast platform powers jukeboxes made by manufacturers NSM, Rock-Ola and View. Visit them online at www.ecastinc.com. ABOUT MOBIUS VENTURE CAPITAL: With our unparalleled management team and broad financial assets, Mobius Venture Capital has helped great entrepreneurs build world-class companies -- ones that have changed the way individuals and enterprises alike use technology to achieve their goals. Mobius Venture Capital (http://www.mobiusvc.com) exists to help build the leading technology companies of tomorrow. ABOUT CROSSLINK CAPITAL: Crosslink Capital, LLC is a leading multi-stage technology venture capital and growth equity investment firm with over $1 billion in capital under management. Crosslink began as a venture capital fund at Robertson Stephens in 1989 and has been independent since January 1999. Its venture investing activities are focused in core technology/ semiconductors, software and services. Crosslink invests in very early, seed stage financings all the way through later-stage private opportunities and into the public market. This strategy allows Crosslink to remain a long-term partner to its portfolio companies. Crosslink Capital was the first venture capital firm in the U.S. to integrate public and private technology investing. To learn more about Crosslink Capital visit www.crosslinkcapital.com. ABOUT DCM-DOLL CAPITAL MANAGEMENT: DCM (http://www.dcmvc.com) is a top-performing venture capital firm supporting entrepreneurs building early stage technology companies. DCM funds leading technology companies and manages over $1 billion in capital. DCM offers hands-on operational guidance and access to an extensive network of resources, including close relationships with many of the Pacific Rim’s leading companies and investors. ABOUT EL DORADO VENTURES: Founded in 1986, El Dorado Ventures (http://www.eldorado.com) is a leading early-stage venture capital firm that invests across the technology sector and focuses primarily on semiconductors and systems, communications, software and services. ABOUT ESCALATE CAPITAL PARTNERS: Escalate Capital Partners (http://www.escalatecapital.com) is a private structured finance firm focused exclusively on providing capital to venture-backed expansion and late-stage companies within technology, life sciences and service based industries. The ECP team combines over 80 years of experience in venture capital and commercial finance to deliver a broad array of senior, subordinated and mezzanine debt solutions that are less dilutive than equity and provide more flexibility than conventional debt from banks or asset-based lenders. MEDIA CONTACT (ONLY): Eric Schwartzman Schwartzman & Associates, Inc. Tel: 310-463-4026Tue, 24 Jan 2006 02:27:50 GMT http://www.ipressroom.com/pr/ecast/info/Heineken-Grammy.asp WHITE PLAINS, N.Y.—Jan. 24, 2006—Heineken, the official beer sponsor of The 48th Annual GRAMMY® Awards, kicks-off their second nationwide advertising campaign on Internet jukeboxes throughout the United States via Ecast’s on-premise, interactive jukebox network. The campaign will run on over 4400 broadband-enabled jukeboxes in bars and taverns throughout the country. The “Go Totally Live” interactive campaign will highlight The 48th Annual GRAMMY Awards and will run until February 15th, 2006. The campaign features a Heineken micro-site, downloadable collections of music on Ecast-jukeboxes by Grammy-winning artists, and a Heineken-branded trivia game. Consumers can win an additional song credit that can be used to purchase a digital song performance on the Ecast jukebox network, courtesy of Heineken. The Heineken ads will only be featured in locations that require patrons to be twenty-one or older. “Advertising on the Ecast network allows us to reach an engaged audience at point-of-sale and strengthens Heineken’s identity with music enthusiasts,” said Mike McCann, Director Integrated Marketing, Promotions and Sponsorships at Heineken USA. “We have already had success—the beta launch in select markets already secured response rates in excess of 14 percent, which is quite high.” “We expect over 9 million consumers to view the Heineken ads while visiting our locations and browsing for music on our jukeboxes, with hundreds of thousands of these consumers actively engaging in a Heineken and Grammy sponsored interactive activity,” said Chris Scott, Senior Director of Advertising at Ecast. “Heineken is definitely ahead of the curve when it comes to on-premise, new media applications.” About Heineken USA Heineken USA Inc., the nation’s largest beer importer, is a subsidiary of Heineken International (Netherlands), which is the world’s most international brewer. Brands imported into the U.S. include: Heineken Lager, the world’s most international beer brand; Heineken Dark; Amstel Light, the largest-selling imported light beer brand; and Buckler non-alcoholic brew. Heineken USA is also the exclusive USA importer for the Tecate, Dos Equis, Sol, Carta Blanca and Bohemia brands from FEMSA Cerveza of Mexico. Please visit EnjoyHeinekenResponsibly.com. About Ecast Inc. Ecast operates the premier network of digital touch-screen jukeboxes in the United States, delivering music and advertising to over 10 million consumers per month. Each broadband-enabled jukebox is networked to a massive catalog of songs from independent and major record labels. Ecast reached 100M paid-plays in 2005 and is poised to sell over 250M by 2006. With 5,000 locations, growing at a rate of over 250 per month, Ecast serves as a unique advertising medium to both online and out-of-home advertisers by providing interactive data-capture and significant branding opportunities in every major market across the nation. Ecast is privately owned with offices in San Francisco. Visit the Ecast internet pressroom. MEDIA CONTACT (for Heineken USA): Tamara Moore Heineken USA Tel: 914-681-4153 MEDIA CONTACT (for Ecast): Eric Schwartzman Schwartzman & Associates, Inc. Tel: 310-446-4310 ext. 111Tue, 24 Jan 2006 02:27:50 GMT http://media.carmax.com/pr/carmax/info/Bestfinanceoffer.asp RICHMOND, Va. (January 19, 2006)—According to a recent online survey conducted by CarMax, Inc. (NYSE: KMX), the nation’s largest retailer of used vehicles, car shoppers don’t always know how to get the best financing rate for their vehicle purchase. With the start of the new year, CarMax’s auto finance experts are offering consumers tips on how to get the best finance offer. The following are the results of the survey of 5,900 carmax.com visitors: When buying your last car, how sure were you that you got the best finance rate? Percent I know I didn’t get the best rate 20% I don’t know if I got the best rate 18% I knew my credit score before I went in, 18% so I felt confident that I did I didn’t finance my last car 18% I brought in my own financing 16% I "shopped around" to find the best financing 10% "We are proud to provide our customers with what we believe is the most user-friendly car financing service in the industry," said Angie Chattin, vice president of CarMax Auto Finance. "CarMax sales consultants do not receive a commission on the financing process and do not hand-off customers to a commission-paid finance manager or sales manager. The CarMax sales consultant helps the customer through the entire sales process." At CarMax, customers see the finance offer directly on the computer screen from the finance company, and where multiple offers exist, customers may choose the offer that best suits their needs. CarMax also provides a three-day payoff option, which gives customers up to three business days to replace the financing with cash or an alternative-lending source, free of penalty or interest. Chattin provides the following tips for getting the best finance offer: Maintain Good Credit Maintain a good credit rating by paying your bills on time and not over extending your debt. Know your credit history by getting a copy of your credit report. Check your credit report annually to see if any information on the report needs correcting. You can get a free copy of your credit report at www.annualcreditreport.com, You may also contact any of the three nationwide consumer credit reporting companies: -Equifax: 800-685-1111, www.equifax.com -Experian: 888-397-3742, www.experian.com -TransUnion: 800-916-8800, www.transunion.com Know How Much You Can Afford Determine how much you can afford for your vehicle purchase and monthly payments. Include insurance and maintenance expenses in your evaluation of which car best fits your budget. Maximize your down payment to lower your finance rate and monthly payments. Calculate how much your current car is worth and how much you owe on it. Go to any CarMax superstore for a free appraisal to determine the current value of your vehicle. Find a Car Retailer that Offers Competitive Finance Rates Look for a car retailer that offers a competitive finance rate without the hassles of negotiation. Compare multiple finance offers, if possible. CarMax makes it quick, easy, and convenient for most customers to apply for financing from multiple finance companies and consider different options. Only buy a car from a retailer that offers at least a three-day payoff option. If you find a better rate after you take the car home, this gives you the option to pay off the financing with no fees or penalties. Be Prepared at the Car Retailer When shopping for a vehicle, take essential paperwork items with you, including the title and the registration for your current vehicle, your driver's license, and your insurance card. Before signing any paperwork, check the figures in the contract and understand all the charges. Do not hesitate to ask lots of questions. Be prepared to walk away if you are unhappy with your car buying experience. About CarMax CarMax, a FORTUNE 500 company, and one of the FORTUNE 2006 "100 Best Companies to Work For," is the nation's largest retailer of used cars. Headquartered in Richmond, Va., CarMax currently operates 67 used car superstores in 31 markets. CarMax also operates seven new car franchises, all of which are integrated or co-located with its used car superstores. During the twelve month period ended November 30, 2005, the company sold 285,950 used cars, which is 93 percent of the total 306,820 vehicles the company retailed during that period. For more information, access the CarMax website at www.carmax.com. # # # Media Contacts: Lisa Van Riper, Assistant Vice President, Public Affairs, (804) 935-4594 Trina H. Lee, Public Relations Manager, (804) 747-0422 ext.4197 Investor Contacts: Dandy Barrett, Assistant Vice President, Investor Relations, (804) 935-4591 Celeste Gunter, Manager, Investor Relations, (804) 935-4597Thu, 19 Jan 2006 07:00:00 GMT http://www.ipressroom.com/pr/ecast/info/CES-2006-Microsoft.asp SAN FRANCISCO – Jan. 18, 2006—Ecast Inc., which operates the largest network of broadband-enabled, pay-per-play jukeboxes in the United States, was featured in the Microsoft booth at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. This is the third year in a row that Microsoft has spotlighted Ecast at CES. The Ecast software platform runs on the Microsoft Windows Embedded XP operating system, and was used to demonstrate to the industry’s leading electronic manufacturers the strength and stability of Microsoft’s technology. “CES has become the largest, most important trade show of the year, and we were honored that Microsoft selected us to appear in the booth,” said Marlin Gilbert, senior vice president of marketing at Ecast. NSM, Rock-Ola and View Interactive manufacture the actual digital, broadband jukeboxes. Ecast licenses the underlying technology to these jukebox manufacturers and provides the jukeboxes with access to a constantly updated library of the latest songs over a broadband internet connection. Ecast maintains the music library and handles the legal clearances with the record labels, making sure patrons can play the latest new music releases, significantly increasing jukebox earnings. Because of the unit’s size and clean, retro design style, Ecast displayed the Wallette Jukebox System by Rock-Ola Manufacturing Corporation. This fully self-contained jukebox is small enough to fit on any counter, and is currently being used by numerous amusement operators to expand their routes beyond nightclubs and taverns to coffee shops and restaurants. On hand to help celebrate the event was Dixon Doll (right of Marlin Gilbert), co-founder and managing general partner of Doll Capital Management, a key investor in Ecast. Mr. Dixon was named by Forbes Magazine as one of the top 50 venture investors. Specializing in companies that will form the foundation of the future, his firm actively manages over $1 billion dollars in investments. Ecast recently launched the "Get One Free" sales promotion, which helps operators expand their routes quickly and affordably by receiving a free jukebox when they participate in the campaign. Under the terms of the promotion, jukebox operators who purchase NSM, Rock-Ola and View units between January 1, 2006, and March 31, 2006, will receive a free jukebox or conversion kit. For additional details on the "Get One Free" program, please contact Ecast at (866) HI-ECAST (866-443-2278), option 5 for Sales. ABOUT ECAST Ecast runs the premier network of digital touchscreen jukeboxes in the US, serving music and advertising to over 10 million consumers per month. Each broadband-enabled jukebox provides the freshest music catalog in the industry, allowing patrons to choose from a massive selection from independent and major record labels. The Ecast platform powers jukeboxes made by manufacturers NSM, Rock-Ola and View. Visit them online. ***DOWNLOAD HIGH-RESOLUTION PHOTO*** MEDIA CONTACT Eric Schwartzman Schwartzman & Associates, Inc. 310-446-8310 ext. 111 Wed, 18 Jan 2006 11:27:50 GMT http://media.carmax.com/pr/carmax/info/fortune100best.asp RICHMOND, Va. (January 9, 2006)—CarMax, Inc. (NYSE: KMX), the nation's largest retailer of used cars, has been named by FORTUNE magazine as one of its 2006 "100 Best Companies to Work For." CarMax earned its place on this prestigious list for the second consecutive year. The list and related stories appears in the January 23 issue of FORTUNE, available on newsstands January 16 and at www.fortune.com on January 9. "CarMax’s associates are to thank for this honor," said Austin Ligon, president and chief executive officer of CarMax. "They have gone above and beyond to create a culture focused on being ethical, trustworthy, and respectful of our customers. Their high level of personal honesty and professional integrity make it possible for us to sell cars in a way that is transforming auto retailing. "One of the reasons we are a great place to work is because we continuously listen to our associates to determine how to improve our work place," Ligon said. New benefits the company added in 2005 include health insurance for domestic partners and their children, a stock purchase plan for part-time associates, and an increase in the tuition assistance program. "CarMax associates care deeply about the communities where they live and work," Ligon said. "This is why we have added more ways for our associates to support their communities through the CarMax Foundation." For every hour an associate volunteers at a charitable organization, the foundation donates $10 to the charity. The foundation also makes a $500 donation when a team of associates volunteers for eligible charities. In addition, the foundation matches an associate’s cash donations of up to $1,000 per year. Additional associate benefits offered by the retailer include a $4,000 adoption assistance program, a store-wide steak dinner award program for record sales, and discounts on cars, parts, service, accessories and extended service plans. The company focuses on providing a healthy work-life balance, encouraging professional and leadership development, hiring a diverse group of associates, and supporting community involvement. CarMax offers consumers a no-hassle, no-haggle car-buying experience and a broad selection of high-quality used vehicles. CarMax guarantees the quality of the cars sold, does not sell flood- or frame-damaged vehicles, and guarantees a clean title and accurate odometer readings on its cars. All vehicles are thoroughly inspected and reconditioned, and CarMax offers a five-day, money-back guarantee and a limited 30-day warranty. FORTUNE's annual ranking of companies is based primarily upon a confidential, random survey of associates, as well as an evaluation of a company's culture, compensation, training, and turnover. CarMax ranked No. 93 on the list for 2006. About CarMax CarMax, a Fortune 500 company, and one of the Fortune 2006 "100 Best Companies to Work For," is the nation's largest retailer of used cars. Headquartered in Richmond, Va., CarMax currently operates 67 used car superstores in 31 markets. CarMax also operates seven new car franchises, all of which are integrated or co-located with its used car superstores. During the twelve month period ended November 30, 2005, the company sold 285,950 used cars, which is 93 percent of the total 306,820 vehicles the company retailed during that period. For more information, access the CarMax website at www.carmax.com. # # # Media Contacts: Lisa Van Riper, Assistant Vice President, Public Affairs, (804) 935-4594 Trina H. Lee, Public Relations Manager, (804) 747-0422 ext.4197 Investor Contacts: Dandy Barrett, Assistant Vice President, Investor Relations, (804) 935-4591 Celeste Gunter, Manager, Investor Relations, (804) 935-4597 Mon, 09 Jan 2006 07:00:00 GMT http://media.carmax.com/pr/carmax/info/Foundationawards.asp RICHMOND, Va. (January 6, 2006)—CarMax, Inc. (NYSE: KMX), the nation's largest retailer of used cars, announced today that the CarMax Foundation has awarded $35,000 in grants to Richmond area nonprofit organizations. The Foundation awards local grants each quarter; these grants were awarded in December 2005. Today's announcement reinforces CarMax's commitment to funding programs that provide measurable results and benefits to the community. The three grant awardees include: Central Virginia Food Bank- $15,000 for Kid's Cafe, a program designed to provide nutritional food to underserved children during times when free or reduced meals at school are not available, mostly dinner and weekend meals. Stop Child Abuse Now (SCAN) - $10,000 for Family Support Program, which provides free support and education groups for children who have experienced or are at risk for abuse and neglect. Partnership for the Future -$10,000 for Level III Program, which works to ensure that every motivated student has the opportunity to succeed through partnerships with local businesses to provide high school internships to students with limited resources. "The CarMax Foundation is committed to supporting nonprofit organizations that are tackling big challenges through positive new approaches," said Joe Kunkel, president of the CarMax Foundation and senior vice president of marketing and strategy for CarMax. "We are proud to be a part of these outstanding Richmond area programs which serve as a vehicle towards education and a brighter future for our area youth." About the CarMax Foundation The CarMax Foundation's local Funding Program benefits educational and youth leadership causes in our hometown of Richmond, Virginia. The CarMax Foundation’s National Funding Program assists nonprofit organizations that address or improve automobile safety for families and children. The Foundation is supported by CarMax. CarMax, a FORTUNE 500 company and one of the FORTUNE 2005 "100 Best Companies to Work For," is the nation’s largest retailer of used cars. Headquartered in Richmond, Va., CarMax currently operates 67 used car superstores in 31 markets. CarMax also operates seven new car franchises, all of which are integrated or co-located with its used car superstores. For more information on the CarMax Foundation, go to www.carmaxcares.com. CarMax Media Contacts: Lisa Van Riper, Assistant Vice President, Public Affairs, (804) 935-4594 Trina H. Lee, Public Relations Manager, (804) 747-0422 ext. 4197 ###Fri, 06 Jan 2006 07:00:00 GMT http://www.ipressroom.com/pr/SchwartzmanPR/info/Weaknees.asp Weaknees ‘TiVo Addicts’ Michael Adberg and Jeff Shapiro on call at CES to answer your burning DVR questions Los Angeles, Calif—Dec. 20, 2005—Love your TiVo? Hate the fact that it only records a limited amount of hours? Maybe you don’t understand why your TiVo cuts off the last five minutes of your favorite show. Or what if you want to transfer a great sports game onto video or DVD and can't quite figure it out? Or perhaps your TiVo is simply misbehaving? You need help beyond what’s printed in your DVR instruction booklet. And while they’re not officially exhibiting, the DVR Doctors from Weaknees will be in Las Vegas at the Consumer Electronic Show and available to answer your questions, by appointment only. Jeff Shapiro and Michael Adberg are the co-founders of WeaKnees, a company that sells DVR upgrade kits as well as complete DVRs and home theater installation accessories. Because of their “addiction to TiVo” Shapiro and Adberg were asked to be the Technical Editors for the book, “Leo Laporte’s Guide to TiVo” and were also contributors to the book “TiVo Hacks” by Raffi Krikorian. “We're TiVo addicts. We probably spend far too much time keeping up with all things TiVo,” Adberg said. “So our customers and even the TiVo community at large are always looking to us when they have DVR emergencies.” The self-confessed TiVo junkies can do much more than give your DVR tons of hours of programming. These DVR Doctors can answer any and all questions related to TiVo DVRs, DIRECTV DVRS, HD DVRs and DVRs in general. The duo and WeaKnees have also been featured by David Pogue of The New York Times, along with The Wall Street Journal, Time, Wired and PC magazines. They are also constant fixtures in TiVo community chat boards, forums and discussions. WeaKnees started out offering upgrade kits that can breathe new life into your DVR with hard drive replacements that you install yourself. “The beauty of TiVo and other DVRs is the ability to watch whatever you want, whenever you want,” says WeaKnees co-founder and DVR Doctor Michael Adberg. “But you are going to need a lot of storage space to do that.” To accommodate the storage-hungry customers, WeaKnees sells upgrade kits for both TiVo and DIRECTV DVRS that can give you as much as 80 times more storage space to record and store programming. The DVR Doctors’ innovative kits can even resuscitate fried DVRs from extinction and save your precious recordings in the process. “When your TiVo is constantly working 24/7, it can wear out if you don’t take care of it,” says DVR Doctor Jeff Shapiro, WeaKnees co-founder. “Instead of buying a new machine, , our hard drive replacements will extend the life of your DVR.” The upgrade kits are available at www.WeaKnees.com, where customers can use the “Upgrade Wizard” which walks them through the process of ordering the right hard drive upgrade kit for a particular TiVo model. Plus the site offers the installation instructions online in case the originals are accidentally misplaced. These instructions come with color pictures that demonstrate the opening of each TiVo to install the hard drive, which is the one step to handle with the most care. And the DVR Doctors are always on call should you need help. # # # ABOUT WEAKNEES: WeaKnees is a Los Angeles-based company founded in 2001 by Michael Adberg and Jeff Shapiro that specializes in TiVo and DVR capacity upgrade kits. The company also sells complete TiVo and DVR units and is the only authorized reseller of DIRECTV offering upgraded units. WeaKnees is committed to providing customers with 100 percent satisfaction. Please visit www.WeaKnees.com for further information about products and ordering. CONTACT: Jason Kaplan/WeaKnees 310-842-4700Tue, 03 Jan 2006 13:25:00 GMT http://www.ipressroom.com/pr/ecast/info/Ecast-Buy-One-Get-One.asp SAN FRANCISCO, CA -- (MARKET WIRE) -- 01/03/2006 -- Ecast, Inc., the leading provider of digital-downloading, broadband-enabled jukeboxes unveiled the "Get One Free" promotion -- a sales initiative that helps operators expand their routes quickly and affordably by receiving a free jukebox when they participate in the campaign. Under the terms of the promotion, jukebox operators who purchase NSM, Rock-Ola and View units between January 1, 2006, and March 31, 2006, will receive a free jukebox or conversion kit. -- Operators who purchase an NSM jukebox or kit will receive a free NSM Evolution™ kit -- Operators who purchase two Rock-Ola jukeboxes will receive a free Rock- Ola RockStar™ jukebox -- Operators who purchase a View JukeBoost™ kit will receive a free View JukeBoost™ kit "The 'Get One Free' promotion gives operators the chance to expand their route quickly and affordably," said Ecast President and interim CEO John Taylor. "With our wide selection, operators can select their favorite manufacturer and grow their routes at an incredible savings." There is no limit to the number of times an operator can take advantage of the "Get One Free" offer as long as the units are purchased by March 31, 2006. The "Get One Free" program may not be combined with other Ecast-specific promotions. For additional details on the "Get One Free" program, please contact Ecast at (866) HI-ECAST (866-443-2278), option 5 for Sales. ABOUT ECAST: Ecast delivers music and advertising to patrons in bars and restaurants through a national network of broadband-enabled digital jukeboxes. All Ecast-powered jukeboxes allow patrons to choose among a massive catalog of song selections from the major record labels and popular independent labels. Ecast is privately owned with offices in San Francisco (www.ecastinc.com). Tue, 03 Jan 2006 07:35:05 GMT http://media.carmax.com/pr/carmax/info/IndependenceCarmaxAward.asp RICHMOND, Va. (December 13, 2005)—CarMax, Inc., the nation’s largest retailer of used vehicles, is pleased to announce that Jared Kelly, Inventory Associate and Jennifer Spencer, Customer Assistance Representative, of Independence, Missouri, were honored with the CarMax "Above and Beyond" award for delivering exceptional customer service to help a stranded motorist. Jared and Jennifer were delivering a vehicle to a customer when they noticed a stranded motorist along the road, whose vehicle was not entirely in the emergency lane. Jared quickly determined the problem and traveled on foot, in freezing temperatures, back to CarMax to get a battery charger for the car. Noticing the car was out of gas, Jennifer went to retrieve enough gas to get the motorist back on the road. The CarMax "Above and Beyond" award consists of a bonus check of $1,000, a pizza party for the winner’s store, and a trophy. Store and regional management nominate associates for delivering exceptional customer service. About CarMax CarMax, a FORTUNE 500 company, and one of the FORTUNE 2005 "100 Best Companies to Work For," is the nation’s largest retailer of used cars. Headquartered in Richmond, Va., CarMax currently operates 67 used car superstores in 31 markets. CarMax also operates seven new car franchises, all of which are integrated or co-located with its used car superstores. During the twelve month period ended August 31, 2005, the company sold 278,178 used cars, which is 93 percent of the total 299,138 vehicles the company retailed during that period. For more information, access the CarMax website at www.carmax.com. ### Media Contacts: Trina H. Lee, Public Relations Manager, (804) 747-0422 ext.4197 Elia C. Imler, Specialist, Public Affairs, (804) 747-0422, ext. 4029Tue, 13 Dec 2005 07:00:00 GMT http://media.carmax.com/pr/carmax/info/LargerCars.asp RICHMOND, Va. (December 13, 2005)—With the decrease in gas prices and arrival of colder weather, CarMax, Inc. (NYSE: KMX), the nation's largest retailer of used cars, says online searches for sport utility vehicles and pickup trucks are on the rise. Examples include the Toyota 4Runner, Ford F150, Jeep Grand Cherokee, and Chevrolet Tahoe, all of which climbed in popularity based on searches on the carmax.com website in November compared with searches in October. The Ford Expedition rose to 16th in November from a 21st ranking in October. "One of the ways we gauge consumers’ interest in sport utility vehicles and pickup trucks is by monitoring the search activity on our website," said Austin Ligon, president and chief executive officer of CarMax. "However, many searches still include smaller cars, such as the Accord and Camry." The following is a listing of the 20 most popular vehicle searches conducted on carmax.com: Make/Model November Ranking October Ranking Honda Accord 1 1 Honda Civic 2 2 Toyota Camry 3 3 Ford Mustang 4 4 Nissan Maxima 5 5 Toyota 4Runner 6 8 Nissan Altima 7 6 Ford F150 8 9 Jeep Grand Cherokee 9 11 Toyota Corolla 10 7 Chevrolet Tahoe 11 14 Toyota Tacoma 12 12 Jeep Wrangler 13 13 Ford Explorer 14 15 Volkswagen Jetta 15 10 Ford Expedition 16 21 Nissan 350Z 17 16 Infiniti G35 18 17 Nissan Pathfinder 19 22 Chevrolet Corvette 20 20 More than 20 percent of CarMax retail sales are initiated through carmax.com. Online shoppers can browse CarMax’s nationwide inventory of approximately 20,000 vehicles and see a car’s photo, no-haggle price, and specifications, all from the comfort of home. Vehicles can be transferred at customer request to their local CarMax superstore. About CarMax CarMax, a FORTUNE 500 company, and one of the FORTUNE 2005 "100 Best Companies to Work For," is the nation's largest retailer of used cars. Headquartered in Richmond, Va., CarMax currently operates 67 used car superstores in 31 markets. CarMax also operates seven new car franchises, all of which are integrated or co-located with its used car superstores. During the twelve month period ended August 31, 2005, the company sold 278,178 used cars, which is 93 percent of the total 299,138 vehicles the company retailed during that period. For more information, access the CarMax website at www.carmax.com. # # # Media Contacts: Lisa Van Riper, Assistant Vice President, Public Affairs, (804) 935-4594 Trina H. Lee, Public Relations Manager, (804) 747-0422 ext.4197 Investor Contacts: Dandy Barrett, Assistant Vice President, Investor Relations, (804) 935-4591 Celeste Gunter, Manager, Investor Relations, (804) 935-4597Tue, 13 Dec 2005 07:00:00 GMT http://bncpr.com/pr/bnc/info/Cadillac-Reviews-Highly-Anticipated-2007-Escalade-at-Chrome-Couture.asp Melania Trump Hosts Exclusive Preview of 2007 Cadillac Escalade NEW YORK (November 18, 2005) – Cadillac, the American icon of luxury, design, and performance, unveiled the 2007 Escalade, the next-generation of the luxury SUV, at an exclusive event at Milk Studios in New York yesterday evening. Hosted by Melania Trump, guests including Fat Joe, Tyson Beckford, Marc Bouwer, Alice Roi, Tara Subkoff, Julie Haus and Kwame Jackson gathered for an intimate look at Cadillac’s latest design marvel. The 2007 Cadillac Escalade made its worldwide premiere in Beverly Hills last week at the grand opening of “Escalade on Rodeo.” The red carpet rolled out for the week-long celebration where Oscar-winner Adrien Brody hosted the opening night event and guests including Allison Janney, Paris Hilton, Stavros Niarchos, Wilmer Valderrama, DJ AM, Regina King, Chris Kattan, Wolfgang Puck, Virginia Madsen, Jadakiss, Frankie Muniz, Eduardo Verastegui, Anthony Anderson, Billy Morrison, Eddie Griffin, John Salley, Rachel Hunter, Rodney Peete, Styles P and Vida Guerra had a first look at the luxury SUV. “ Since its inception, Escalade has been a design icon – a luxurious vehicle that discerning customers aspire to own,” said Jim Taylor, Cadillac general manager. “The all-new Cadillac Escalade establishes a new level of refinement and style, delivered with an instantly recognizable form that introduces the next step in Cadillac’s design renaissance.” Since its inception in 1903, Cadillac has had a long association in both entertainment and fashion that spans across music, television and film. Hollywood stars and style icons have been driving Cadillac’s since the days of Jean Harlow and Elvis Presley and the vehicles have been featured in over 25,000 songs, 154 television shows and over 90 feature films. Based on General Motors’ all-new full-size SUV platform, the ’07 Escalade features new powertrain, chassis, safety and interior systems. These integrated systems deliver the most powerful and most efficient luxury SUV in the segment, led by a new 6.2L all-aluminum V-8 engine with variable valve timing technology delivering 403 horsepower (301 kw) and 417 lb-ft of torque. Cadillac Escalade will be available in the first quarter of 2006, with extended-wheelbase Escalade ESV and Escalade EXT models to be introduced later in the year. The Escalade family is one of the most aspirational nameplates in the industry and attracts the youngest customers in Cadillac’s portfolio of automobiles. 2007 CADILLAC ESCALADE: VEHICLE HIGHLIGHTS All-new distinctive exterior design All-new spacious interior with superior refinement Powerful 6.2L all-aluminum small-block V-8 with VVT rated at 403 hp (301 kw) Efficient six-speed automatic transmission with Drive Shift Control Stronger frame chassis with responsive coil-over-shock front suspension and rack-and-pinion steering for the best ride and handling in the segment Standard roof-mounted head curtain side air bags and StabiliTrak stability control system with new rollover mitigation technology New radio family, including available navigation radio with touch-screen control A myriad of luxury features including factory installed 22” chrome wheels, climate controlled front seats, power fold and tumble 2nd row seats, remote start, power articulating running boards, power liftgate and IntelliBeam headlamps Enhanced four-wheel disc brake system Cadillac is a division of General Motors (NYSE: GM). General Motors, the world's largest vehicle manufacturer, designs, builds and markets cars and trucks worldwide, and has been the global automotive sales leader since 1931. Cadillac products include the CTS sport sedan, SRX luxury utility, STS performance luxury sedan, DTS large luxury sedan, XLR luxury roadster, Escalade full-size SUVs (Escalade, Escalade ESV and Escalade EXT) and the high-performance V-Series (CTS-V, STS-V, XLR-V) three cars that go 0-60 in under 5 seconds. Editors Note: Additional information and photos are available on media.gm.com/cadillac. Back to Pressroom HomeFri, 18 Nov 2005 10:39:47 GMT http://media.carmax.com/pr/carmax/info/WichitaGO.asp RICHMOND, Va. (November 11, 2005)—CarMax, Inc., (NYSE: KMX), the nation’s largest retailer of used cars, officially opened its first store in the Wichita, Kansas today. The new CarMax superstore is located at 10221 E. Kellogg Avenue in Wichita. The more than 43,000 square-foot superstore stocks 300 to 450 vehicles of nearly every make and model. There are about 100 associates at the store, with most recently hired from the Wichita area. This is the second CarMax store in Kansas. "We have revolutionized the way consumers buy cars," said Austin Ligon, president and chief executive officer of CarMax. "Wichita area residents now can choose to have a no-hassle, no-haggle, fun car shopping experience at CarMax, the pioneer of the used car superstore." More than 200 local dignitaries and CarMax associates attended a grand opening preview event at the superstore today. The event included a "Road Rally" for charity featuring local television personalities competing in a driving challenge, which included parallel-parking and pack-the-trunk events. CarMax donates $1,000 to each participant’s charity, and the winner’s charity receives an additional $1,000. The Road Rally participants included KAKE TV Weeknight Sportscaster Alan Shope, KSN TV Sports Director Jim Kobbe, and KWCH TV Sports Anchor Bruce Haertl. CarMax opened its first store in Richmond, Virginia more than 12 years ago after the company surveyed thousands of consumers to find out what they liked and disliked about car shopping. CarMax was designed according to the survey responses, giving consumers what they asked for: Low Prices No-hassle, no-haggle car-buying experience Broad Selection Nearly every make and model on one lot Used vehicles that are generally one to six years old with less than 60,000 miles Great Quality Guaranteed quality cars and no flood or frame-damaged vehicles Thoroughly inspected and reconditioned vehicles Five-day money back guarantee and a limited 30-day warranty Customer Friendly A For Kids Only supervised play area CarMax will buy any car, whether or not the seller purchases a CarMax vehicle Wichita area residents can also preview CarMax vehicles by logging onto www.carmax.com. The website features actual prices and photos of more than 20,000 CarMax vehicles available nationwide. Prospective car buyers can have a vehicle transferred from another CarMax store location to the Wichita store for a fee. About CarMax CarMax, a FORTUNE 500 company and one of the FORTUNE 2005 "100 Best Companies to Work For," is the nation’s largest retailer of used cars. Headquartered in Richmond, Va., CarMax currently operates 67 used car superstores in 31 markets. CarMax also operates seven new car franchises, all of which are integrated or co-located with its used car superstores. During the twelve month period ended August 31, 2005, the company sold 278,178 used cars, which is 93 percent of the total 299,138 vehicles the company retailed during that period. For more information, access the CarMax website at www.carmax.com. ### Media Contacts: Lisa Van Riper, Assistant Vice President, Public Affairs, Office (804) 935-4594, Cell (804) 337-1568 Trina Lee, Public Relations Manager, Office (804) 747-0422 ext. 4197, Cell (804) 380-2442 Investor Contacts: Dandy Barrett, Assistant Vice President, Investor Relations, (804) 935-4591 Celeste Gunter, Manager, Investor Relations, (804) 935-4597Fri, 11 Nov 2005 07:00:00 GMT http://bncpr.com/pr/bnc/info/Cadillac-Reveals-Highly-Anticipated-2007-Escalade-at-Escalade-on-Rodeo.asp Hollywood’s A-List Welcome New 2007 Cadillac Escalade Amongst the Worlds Most Luxurious Brands LOS ANGELES (November 10, 2005) – The 2007 Cadillac Escalade made its worldwide premiere in Beverly Hills last night at the grand opening of “Escalade on Rodeo.” The red carpet rolled out for the week-long celebration where Oscar-winner Adrien Brody hosted the opening night preview party, “Chrome Couture.” Guests including Allison Janney, Paris Hilton, Stavros Niarchos, Wilmer Valderrama, DJ AM, Regina King, Chris Kattan, Wolfgang Puck, Virginia Madsen, Jadakiss, Frankie Muniz, Eduardo Verastegui, Anthony Anderson, Billy Morrison, Eddie Griffin, John Salley, Rachel Hunter, Rodney Peete, Styles P and Vida Guerra had an exclusive first look at the 2007 Escalade, the next-generation of the iconic luxury SUV. “Since its inception, Escalade has been an icon – a luxurious vehicle that discerning customers aspire to own,” said Jim Taylor, Cadillac general manager. “It makes perfect sense to debut the 2007 Escalade in Beverly Hills where style, luxury and design all come together on Rodeo Drive.” Nestled amongst the world’s most well-known designers, the all-new Cadillac Escalade establishes a new level of refinement and style, delivered with an instantly recognizable form that introduces the next step in Cadillac’s design renaissance. “Escalade on Rodeo” will be open for a limited engagement in Beverly Hills for private previews and exclusive test drives. Consumers will have chance to get a sneak peek at the vehicle when the doors open to the public for one day only on Saturday, November 12. Cadillac has had a long association with Hollywood that spans across music, television, films and celebrities since its inception in 1903. Hollywood stars have been driving Cadillac’s since the days of Jean Harlow and Elvis Presley and the vehicles have been featured in over 25,000 songs, 154 television shows and over 90 feature films. Based on General Motors’ all-new full-size SUV platform, the ’07 Escalade features new powertrain, chassis, safety and interior systems. These integrated systems deliver the most powerful and most efficient luxury SUV in the segment, led by a new 6.2L all-aluminum V-8 engine with variable valve timing technology delivering 403 horsepower (301 kw) and 417 lb-ft of torque. Cadillac Escalade will be available in the first quarter of 2006, with extended-wheelbase Escalade ESV and Escalade EXT models to be introduced later in the year. The Escalade family is one of the most aspirational nameplates in the industry and attracts the youngest customers in Cadillac’s portfolio of automobiles. 2007 CADILLAC ESCALADE: VEHICLE HIGHLIGHTS All-new distinctive exterior design All-new spacious interior with superior refinement Powerful 6.2L all-aluminum small-block V-8 with VVT rated at 403 hp (301 kw) Efficient six-speed automatic transmission with Drive Shift Control Stronger frame chassis with responsive coil-over-shock front suspension and rack-and-pinion steering for the best ride and handling in the segment Standard roof-mounted head curtain side air bags and StabiliTrak stability control system with new rollover mitigation technology New radio family, including available navigation radio with touch-screen control A myriad of luxury features including factory installed 22” chrome wheels, climate controlled front seats, power fold and tumble 2nd row seats, remote start, power articulating running boards, power liftgate and IntelliBeam headlamps Enhanced four-wheel disc brake system Cadillac is a division of General Motors (NYSE: GM). General Motors, the world's largest vehicle manufacturer, designs, builds and markets cars and trucks worldwide, and has been the global automotive sales leader since 1931. Cadillac products include the CTS sport sedan, SRX luxury utility, STS performance luxury sedan, DTS large luxury sedan, XLR luxury roadster, Escalade full-size SUVs (Escalade, Escalade ESV and Escalade EXT) and the high-performance V-Series (CTS-V, STS-V, XLR-V) three cars that go 0-60 in under 5 seconds. Editors Note: Additional information and photos are available on media.gm.com/cadillac. Back to Pressroom HomeThu, 10 Nov 2005 10:39:47 GMT http://www.ipressroom.com/pr/SchwartzmanPR/info/Marantz-Podcast.asp ITASCA, IL, November 10, 2005 — As part of its ongoing expansion and commitment to addressing new markets, Marantz Professional (Booth #310), a division of D&M Professional, is exhibiting at this year’s Portable Media Expo & Podcasting Conference with its full line of digital recording solutions. The company’s decision to exhibit is a direct result of the explosive sales growth Marantz Professional has witnessed in their solid state digital recorders product line. “Over the last two years, sales of our digital recorders have increased nearly 300 percent,” said Peter Papageorge, Director of Sales and Marketing for D&M Professional. “And while we can’t attribute that rise entirely to growth of podcasting and other forms of consumer-generated media, we definitely see this as an important new market that deserves our attention.” Already a leading choice for podcasters, Marantz Professional is highlighting five key products on display: the portable PMD670 Solid State Recorder with one-touch digital recording to Compact Flash cards; “hand-held” PMD660 Compact Digital Recorder; PMD671 High-Resolution Compact Flash Recorder; CDR420 CD/MP3 Recorder; and PMD570 Professional Solid State Recorder. “The Marantz 670 is the state of the art in direct to compact flash recording. I highly recommend it,” Dan Klass, host of the Bitterest Pill podcast, and co-author of the book Podcast Solutions. The PMD670 Solid State Recorder features a tabletop/portable recorder design with the ability to record in MP3, MP2, WAV and BWF formats. The PMD670's high sonic quality makes it ideal as a primary studio recorder, while its portability and dependable construction mean it's also well suited for fieldwork. Other features include: easy one-touch digital recording up to 8 hours on a inexpensive Compact Flash card; over 40 Assignable Quality Settings; 16-48 kHz Sample Rate Selections; 32-348 Bit Rate Selections; no moving parts so the unit is completely shock proof; an intuitive EDL marking system for creating new files on-the-fly during the recording process and easy file selection during playback; and a built-in speaker. Additionally the PMD670 features a computer I/O connection, so files can be transferred to a PC in one prompt movement without any real time delays. “The sound quality of the PMD670 is incomparable. The fact that you can to connect two mics and that it is easy to use and great in the field, make it the best option for my podcast,” said Michael Butler, host of the Rock and Roll Geek Show and Director of Artist Relations at the Podsafe Music Network. The PMD660 Compact Digital Recorder is a rugged, “handheld” unit with easy one-touch digital recording using cost-effective Compact Flash media cards. Featuring solid-state design, the PMD660 can record uncompressed WAV files can at 44.1 or 48 kHz, and high quality MP3 files can be recorded in mono (at 64 kbps) or in stereo (at 128 kbps). Using a standard 1 GB Compact Flash card, the PMD660 can record over 1 hour stereo and 3 hours mono of uncompressed audio, over 17 hours of stereo MP3 and almost 36 hours of monaural MP3 audio. The PMD660 has 2 built-in stereo condenser microphones with Automatic Level Control, 2 XLR microphone connections with 48 volt phantom power, stereo line I/O and can operate for up to 4 hours on 4 standard AA batteries. A revolutionary optional RC600 wired remote control (also available for the PMD570 and PMD671) that attaches to any microphone is available to supply Record/Pause control, track marking and peak metering from the microphone position, allowing a field reporter to concentrate on their work rather than the operation of the PMD660. In addition, the PMD660 is Marantz Professional’s most portable, fully functional, affordable professional solid-state PMD field recorder to date. The PMD671 High Resolution Compact Flash Recorder has no moving parts, and offers multiple recording modes, long record times (up to 36 hours of stereo recording on a 1 GB Compact Flash card), and up to six hours of battery time with standard AA alkaline batteries. The unit is capable of 24-bit, 96 kHz PCM high-resolution recording for unrivaled audio quality; a 1 GB Compact Flash card can provide up to 30 minutes of record time at high resolutions. The PMD671 also offers a long list of professional features such as Virtual Third Head (VTH) confidence monitoring, Time-Shift Playback, which allows the user to back up and listen to passages while continuing to record an event, XLR microphone inputs with phantom power, built-in condenser microphone, RCA line inputs, USB 2.0 connectivity for ultra-fast audio transfer to a PC, and an optional wired remote. The CDR420 CD/MP3 Recorder is a complete tabletop digital recording solution suitable for virtually any application. The CDR420 features easy one-touch digital recording in MP3 or WAV formats, and eliminates the need for a computer, CD recording or post-production. With an internal storage capacity to archive up to 1,400 hours of recordings, the CDR420 can burn up to 45 hours of audio on a single MP3-CD or on multiple traditional CDs. Its portability makes the CDR420 perfect for recording meetings, professional sessions and other events where a traditional recording device will not suffice. In addition, the CDR420 is USB 2.0 capable. The single-rackspace PMD570 Solid State Recorder unit records in mono or stereo directly to Compact Flash cards in MP3, MP2, WAV and Broadcast WAV formats. With over 40 quality settings, the PMD570 supports sample rates from 16 to 48 kHz, and bit rates from 32 to 384 kbps, as well as full-quality 16-bit PCM resolution. The PMD570 has the ability to create a new file (track increment) while recording and files can be created in intervals of 1, 5, 10, 15 and 30 minutes as well as 1-, 2-, 6-, 8-, 12- and 24-hour intervals for long-term, unattended audio recording. A comprehensive input and output complement on the PMD570 includes balanced XLR line inputs with trim, unbalanced RCA line in and out, and stereo S/PDIF input and output on coaxial RCA jacks. Remote control is provided via full two-way RS-232C interfacing; users can set up, change and replace all preset settings using a PC. In addition the PMD570 also features USB computer connectivity for easy linking and file transfer to a PC or Mac®. Audio files can be instantly dragged and dropped to the computer, eliminating wasted time doing transfers. The complete line of Marantz Professional digital recording solutions is on display during the 2005 Portable Media Expo & Podcasting Conference, November 11-12, 2005, at the Ontario Convention Center, Ontario, California. About Marantz Professional A division of D&M Professional, which is also the parent company of Denon Professional and Denon DJ, Marantz Professional manufactures and distributes a reliable line of professional audio and video equipment for the broadcast, commercial, corporate, education, government, audio/visual, education, houses of worship, security and related industries. Visit Marantz Professional at www.d-mpro.com. About D&M Holdings Inc. D&M Holdings Inc. (TSE II: 6735) is based in Tokyo and owns the Denon, Marantz, McIntosh Laboratory, Boston Acoustics, Snell, D&M Professional, ReplayTV®, Rio® and Escient® brands. Denon, Marantz, McIntosh and D&M Professional are global industry leaders in the specialist home theater, audio/video consumer electronics or professional audio markets, with a strong and long-standing heritage of manufacturing and marketing high-performance audio and video components. Boston Acoustics, with its signature Boston Sound™, is a leader in premium loudspeakers for home and audio markets. Snell is a super premium speaker brand. The ReplayTV, Rio and Escient brands represent award-winning technologies in digital home entertainment. Additional information is available at www.dm-holdings.com. # # # media contact: Neilson/Clyne, Inc. Tel: (615) 662-1616 Fax: (615) 662-1636 info@neilsonclyne.com Wed, 09 Nov 2005 13:25:00 GMT http://media.carmax.com/pr/carmax/info/FloodDamage.asp RICHMOND, Va. (November 7, 2005)—In the wake of recent hurricanes and flooding, CarMax, Inc., (NYSE: KMX), the nation’s largest retailer of used cars, is advising consumers on how to avoid purchasing flood-damaged vehicles. "Consumers should be aware that some businesses and individuals may try and sell salvaged and flood-damaged cars without revealing the vehicle’s history," said David Claeys, purchasing manager for CarMax in Richmond, Virginia. "Flood-damaged cars that are not structurally or mechanically sound could be repaired, re-titled, and sold to unsuspecting buyers." CarMax’s car-buying experts offer these ten tips for identifying a vehicle with possible flood damage: -Check for a moldy smell inside the car. -Check for rust under the brake or gas pedals. -Look for dirt or rust under the dashboard and floormats. -Look for corrosion, water marks, or a thin brown line on the exterior of the vehicle. -Ask questions about an older car with a brand new interior or carpeting. -Check to see if the electrical system works. -Feel the carpet for dampness. -Inspect the bolts and screws under the seats for evidence of rust. -Check the undercarriage for excessive rust. -Check the VIN number with AutoCheck or Carfax to see whether a flood claim has been filed or a salvage title has been issued on the vehicle. CarMax’s nationwide team of approximately 700 car-buying experts has appraised more than 5 million cars. These buyers are trained to detect whether a car has flood damage or has been in a major accident. CarMax will not retail any car that has flood or frame damage or an odometer discrepancy. About CarMax CarMax, a FORTUNE 500 company, and one of the FORTUNE 2005 "100 Best Companies to Work For," is the nation's largest retailer of used cars. Headquartered in Richmond, Va., CarMax currently operates 66 used car superstores in 30 markets. CarMax also operates seven new car franchises, all of which are integrated or co-located with its used car superstores. During the twelve month period ended August 31, 2005, the company sold 278,178 used cars, which is 93 percent of the total 299,138 vehicles the company retailed during that period. For more information, access the CarMax website at www.carmax.com. ### Media Contacts: Lisa Van Riper, Assistant Vice President, Public Affairs, Office (804) 935-4594 Trina Lee, Public Relations Manager, Office (804) 747-0422 ext. 4197 Investor Contacts: Dandy Barrett, Assistant Vice President, Investor Relations, (804) 935-4591 Celeste Gunter, Manager, Investor Relations, (804) 935-4597 NOTE TO MEDIA: CarMax’s car buying experts at the carmax store in your market can provide a visually compelling demonstration of how to look out for possible flood damage indicators. Contact us to arrange interviews.Mon, 07 Nov 2005 07:00:00 GMT http://media.carmax.com/pr/carmax/info/VABeach.asp RICHMOND, Va. (November 2, 2005)—CarMax, Inc., (NYSE: KMX), the nation’s largest retailer of used cars, officially opened its first store in the Hampton Roads area, in Virginia Beach today. The new CarMax superstore is located at 3801 Bonney Road in Virginia Beach. The store is more than 50,000 square-feet, employs more than 100 people and stocks 350 to 500 vehicles of nearly every make and model. This is the fourth CarMax store in Virginia, which is the state in which the company was first founded. "We have revolutionized the way consumers buy cars," said Austin Ligon, president and chief executive officer of CarMax. "Virginia Beach area residents now can choose to have a no-hassle, no-haggle, fun car shopping experience at CarMax, the pioneer of the used car superstore." More than 200 local dignitaries and CarMax associates attended a grand opening preview event at the superstore today. The event included a "Road Rally" for charity featuring local television personalities competing in a driving challenge, which included parallel-parking and pack-the-trunk events. CarMax donates $1,000 to each participant’s charity, and the winner’s charity receives an additional $1,000. The Road Rally participants included WTKR Sports Director Troy Brettson, WVBT News Anchor Nicole Livas, and WVEC News Anchor Joe Flanagan. CarMax opened its first store in Richmond, Virginia more than 12 years ago after the company surveyed thousands of consumers to find out what they liked and disliked about car shopping. CarMax was designed according to the survey responses, giving consumers what they asked for: Low Prices No-hassle, no-haggle car-buying experience Broad Selection Nearly every make and model on one lot Used vehicles that are generally one to six years old with less than 60,000 miles Great Quality Guaranteed quality cars and no flood or frame-damaged vehicles Thoroughly inspected and reconditioned vehicles Five-day money back guarantee and a limited 30-day warranty Customer Friendly A For Kids Only supervised play area CarMax will buy any car, whether or not the seller purchases a CarMax vehicle Virginia Beach area residents can also preview CarMax vehicles by logging onto www.carmax.com. The website features actual prices and photos of more than 20,000 CarMax vehicles available nationwide. Prospective car buyers can have a vehicle transferred from another CarMax store location to the Virginia Beach store for a fee. About CarMax CarMax, a FORTUNE 500 company and one of the FORTUNE 2005 "100 Best Companies to Work For," is the nation’s largest retailer of used cars. Headquartered in Richmond, Va., CarMax currently operates 66 used car superstores in 30 markets. CarMax also operates seven new car franchises, all of which are integrated or co-located with its used car superstores. During the twelve month period ended August 31, 2005, the company sold 278,178 used cars, which is 93 percent of the total 299,138 vehicles the company retailed during that period. For more information, access the CarMax website at www.carmax.com. ### Media Contacts: Lisa Van Riper, Assistant Vice President, Public Affairs, Office (804) 935-4594, Cell (804) 337-1568 Trina Lee, Public Relations Manager, Office (804) 747-0422 ext. 4197, Cell (804) 380-2442 Investor Contacts: Dandy Barrett, Assistant Vice President, Investor Relations, (804) 935-4591 Celeste Gunter, Manager, Investor Relations, (804) 935-4597Wed, 02 Nov 2005 07:00:00 GMT http://media.carmax.com/pr/carmax/info/wintertips.asp RICHMOND, Va. (October 25, 2005)— As winter approaches, CarMax, Inc. (NYSE: KMX), the nation's largest retailer of used cars, offers advice on how to make sure your vehicle is ready for cold weather. "Harsh winter weather can create real challenges for autos," said Lane Fleming, CarMax ASE Master Technician. "That is why it is so important to take the necessary steps to ready your car for the cold weather season." CarMax’s automotive service technicians offer these ten winterizing tips: Check your anti-freeze. The best ratio of anti-freeze to water is 50/50. Flush the cooling system every two years. Replace your windshield wiper blades annually. Fill the windshield washer reservoir with washer fluid (plain water will freeze), and keep an extra gallon in the trunk. Check your battery. If the battery is more than three years old, have a professional test its ability to hold a charge through the winter. Make sure the battery terminal ends are corrosion-free. Check the water level in the battery and top it off with distilled water, if necessary. Check your tire pressure. Check the pressure when the tires are cold, and set the pressure to manufacturer recommendations for your specific tires. When the weather is cold, the air inside the tire will contract and the pressure will drop. Look at the tread depth on your tires. Put a penny headfirst between the treads. If you can still see the top of Lincoln’s hair, it’s time to replace the tire. Check your spare tire. Make sure it has the proper air pressure and tread depth and that all the proper tire-changing equipment is in the trunk. Check that your lights, heater, and defroster are working properly. Check all rubber hoses and belts to ensure they are not damaged or loose. When the engine is cool, run your hands along the hoses and squeeze each inch to make sure the hoses are not crunchy or wet. Alternatively, have a professional inspect the hoses and belts. Get a brake check if you haven't had one in the last six months. Assemble a winter emergency kit for the trunk of your car. It should include a blanket, extra boots and gloves, an ice scraper, jumper cables, a first-aid kit, flares, a small snow shovel, a flashlight, kitty litter (for traction when stuck in the snow), and bottled water. "In addition, slower is always better when driving in winter weather," Fleming said. "Driving slower gives both you and your car more time to react during inclement weather." About CarMax CarMax, a FORTUNE 500 company, and one of the FORTUNE 2005 "100 Best Companies to Work For," is the nation's largest retailer of used cars. Headquartered in Richmond, Va., CarMax currently operates 65 used car superstores in 29 markets. CarMax also operates seven new car franchises, all of which are integrated or co-located with its used car superstores. During the twelve month period ended August 31, 2005, the company sold 278,178 used cars, which is 93 percent of the total 299,138 vehicles the company retailed during that period. For more information, access the CarMax website at www.carmax.com. # # # Media Contacts: Lisa Van Riper, Assistant Vice President, Public Affairs, (804) 935-4594 Trina H. Lee, Public Relations Manager, (804) 747-0422 ext.4197 Investor Contacts: Dandy Barrett, Assistant Vice President, Investor Relations, (804) 935-4591 Celeste Gunter, Manager, Investor Relations, (804) 935-4597 Tue, 25 Oct 2005 07:00:00 GMT http://www.ipressroom.com/pr/SchwartzmanPR/info/david-pogue-podcast.asp Los Angeles, Calif. – Nov. 8, 2005 – On Friday, Nov. 11th, entertainment, media and technology PR professional by day, podcaster by night, Eric Schwartzman releases a new episode of “On the Record…Online” -- the podcast that takes listeners beyond the sound bite to showcase the story behind what makes news -- featuring an exclusive, 34 minute, one-on-one interview with New York Times personal technology columnist and blogger David Pogue, who discusses the recent Sony copyright protection software fiasco, Apple’s new video iPod, how he decides what to cover in print and on his blog, Pogue’s Posts. On the Record…Online is a podcast featuring uncut interviews with manistream media journalists, bloggers and podcasters about how technology is changing, and threatening to disrupt, the business of media and, in turn, popular culture. David Pogue also talks candidly about the public’s response to the streaming video items he has been creating for NYTimes.com, the Grey Lady’s plans to implement flash streaming through a soon to be announced celationship with The Feed Room, and what makes good personal technology news. On the subject of podcasting, here’s an excerpt from the interview. “It gives you all the value of radio and television, but without any of the drawbacks. There’s no schedule. There’s no channels. There’s no, ‘Do you get HBO.’ There’s no paying. There’s no commercials,” says Pogue. “I just think that with audio and video podcasts, the sky is the limit. Everyday that goes by, I’m just hoping they don’t mess it up. I’m just hoping that someday somebody doesn’t come along and want to monetize it.” Previous episodes of “On the Record…Online,” which are also available for download on-demand, feature one-on-ones with Ron Bloom, CEO of Podshow.com, Alex Ben Block, former editor of Television Week and the Hollywood Reporter, John Markoff of The New York Times, Nick Wingfield of the Wall Street Journal, two-time Pulitzer prize winner David Satterfield of the San Jose Mercury News, Leo Laporte of This Week in Tech, Steve Rubel of Micropersuasion, Michael Butler of The Rock and Roll Geek Show, Jeffrey O’Brien of Wired Magazine and many more. ABOUT THE HOST Eric Schwartzman is managing director at Schwartzman & Associates, a public relations and intetractive marketing agency representing entertainment, media and technology companies. He is also founder and president of iPressroom, an application service provider that helps organizations integrate the web into all aspects of their marketing communications and public relations programs. His Spinfluencer blog examines how marketing, advertising, public relations, the news media and merging technologies influence perceptions, and his "On the Record…Online" podcast features newsmakers, journalists, bloggers and podcasters discussing how technology is changing the business of media, and, in turn, popular culture. # # # media contact (only): Juliana Shallcross Schwartzman & Associates, Inc. 10801 National Blvd., Suite 410 Los Angeles, CA 90064 (310) 721-7356 Wed, 19 Oct 2005 07:56:37 GMT http://www.ipressroom.com/pr/SchwartzmanPR/info/podcast-freeway-series.asp (LOS ANGELES – Oct. 19, 2005) The LA Podcasters, a network of Los Angeles-based podcast producers whose shows are as spread out in subject-matter as the region’s freeway infrastructre, will host their first annual Podcast Freeway Series featuring an eclectic line-up of popular podcasts produced and distributed by the group’s members. The Freeway Series will be recorded live at Podcast Expo in Ontario, Calif. on Nov. 11 and 12. “Used to be you had to travel a lot of road to experience L.A.’s rich cultural diversity. The goal of our Podcast Freeway Series is to showcase everything Los Angeles has to offer -- beyond the freeway off ramp – by focusing the spotlight on these outspoken LA podcasters,” said Lance Anderson, founder of LA Podcasters, and host of the Verge of the Fringe podcast. “Through the diversity of our membership and the podcasts they produce, our Podcast Freeway Series will be a reflection of the many faces and cultures of this sprawlopolis we call home.” Members of the news media are invited to go behind the scenes and watch the making of the Podcast Freeway Series, which will be produced at the LA Podcasters exhibit (booth number 313) in the Ontario Convention Center. Podcasts are audio programs that listeners can subscribe to at no cost via the internet. Friday, November 11th 10AM - 11AM - Hear Me Now Brother – Live Podcast Brothers and aspiring filmmakers Seth and Nathan Anderson’s bi-weekly podcast about what it really takes to live the Hollywood dream, one day at a time. Blog: http://hearmenowbrother.blogspot.com RSS newsfeed URL: http://www.learnoutloud.com/podcasts/hmnb.xml 11AM - 12PM - The Radio Adventures of Dr. Floyd – Live Podcast If Jay Ward, creator of Rocky & Bullwinkle, had created Mystery Science Theater 3000, mixed in a little Time Bandits and gave it an educational spin, the result would have been...The Radio Adventures of Dr. Floyd, hosted by Grant Baciocco and Doug Price. Listeners are invited to join into the show and ask Dr. Floyd (or any of their favorite characters) questions that will be heard in future Podcasts. Blog: http://www.DoctorFloyd.com RSS Newsfeed URL: http://www.DoctorFloyd.com/blog/rss.xml 12PM - 1PM - Verge of the Fringe -- Live Podcast Los Angeles native, storyteller and LA Podcasters founder Lance Anderson, who lives somewhere between the Verge of success and the bohemian Fringe of Hollywood, shares the mic with Scottish Podcast sensation Mark Hunter of The Tartan Podcast and Emmy award-winning television writer and playwright Joseph Dougherty. Blog: http://vergeofthefringe.com/ RSS Newsfeed URL: http://feeds.feedburner.com/Verge 3PM - 4PM - The Bitterest Pill – Live Podcast Stay-at-home dad/shut in Dan Klass (co-author of Podcast Solutions) takes a break from raising his kids under the flight path at LAX to bring his mix of comedy and commentary to the Freeway Series for a meet and greet live podcast. Blog: http://www.thebitterestpill.com RSS Newsfeed URL: http://www.danklass.com/pill/pill.xml 4PM - 5PM - On the Record...Online – Live Podcast Entertainment, media and technology PR guy Eric Schwartzman -- who gives listeners the story behind the story, through in-depth one-on-ones with journalists, bloggers, podcasters and newsmakers on the subject of how technology is changing and threatening to disrupt the business of media, and, in turn, popular culture -- interviews experts for a special episode on how religion is portrayed by the media. Blog: http://www.ontherecordpodcast.com RSS Newsfeed URL: http://feeds.feedburner.com/ipressroom/oPbJ Saturday, November 12th 10AM - 11AM - Nerd Blurb – Live Podcast Nerd Blurb is hosted by Edgar Furse and Steve Dupui, who have been disappointing parents since 1979. On the podcast, they discuss the latest games, gadgets, and technology news not to make you smarter, but to make you laugh. Nerd Blurb hosts a co-production with TresJefes. Blog: http://www.nerdblurb.com RSS Newsfeed URL: http://www.nerdblurb.com/Portals/0/podcasts/rss_feed.xml 11AM - 12PM – TresJefes – Live Podcast Direct from East Los Angeles, high school buddies Erik, Fonz and Walt host this podcast dedicated to drinking, interviews, bands, and all out belligerence. TresJefes hosts a co-production with Nerd Blurb. Blog: http://tresjefes.com/ RSS Newsfeed URL: http://tresjefes.com/rss.xml 12PM - 1PM - Sundown Lounge – Live Podcast Los Angeles Unified School District computer technician Larry Winfield, who hosts the Sundown Lounge, a music and poetry variety show, will be on hand to meet and greet listeners Blog: http://www.larrywinfield.com/sundownlounge.htm RSS Newsfeed URL: http://www.larrywinfield.com/sundown.xml 1PM - 2PM – Game Tech Talk – Live Podcast Hosted by game industry veteran Jeff Landers, who has worked on many multi-million selling game titles including True Crime: Streets of Los Angeles and Shrek 2, hosts a one-hour meet and greet. Game Tech Talk is a from the trenches view of the technology and people behind the billion dollar Los Angeles-based videogame industry. Blog: http://www.game-tech.com/GameTechTalk/ RSS Newsfeed URL: http://www.game-tech.com/GameTechTalk/gtt.xml 3PM - 4PM - Cush: Things I Say – Live Podcast Musician and sound designer Cush -- who’s original goal was to use podcasting to help nail down the coffin of the record industry, but now uses it to teach the world how to live, since it's apparent so many are having trouble figuring it all out – who tells tall tales, comments on life lessons and performs his music from the hills of Hollywood – sings his entire show live from Podcast Expo. Blog: http://www.cushrocks.com RSS Newsfeed URL: http://feeds.feedburner.com/CushthingsISay # # # useful links: LA Podcasters: http://lapodcasters.blogspot.com/ Podcast Expo: http://www.podcastexpo.com Wikipedia Podcasting Definition: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Podcasting Driving Directions: http://www.ontariocc.com/occ/contact_us/regional_map_occ.html media contact (only): Eric Schwartzman (310) 463-4026 eric*at*ipressroom[dot]comWed, 19 Oct 2005 07:56:37 GMT http://www.ipressroom.com/pr/SchwartzmanPR/info/marantz-freeway-series-podcasts.asp Los Angeles, Calif.—Nov. 8, 2005—In support of L.A. Podcasters first annual Podcast Freeway Series, Denon & Marantz Professional will provide the non-profit organization with their all-in-one workstation, CDR420 to be used by participating podcasters to digitally record their audio programs live from booth number 313 at the Portable Media Expo in Ontario, California. “It is with appreciation and gratitude that we recognize this generous contribution,” said Lance Anderson, founder of L.A. Podcasters. “In order for us to give as many L.A. Podcasters as possible the chance to produce live podcasts from the expo as part of Podcast Freeway Series, the CDR420 has all the right features, since it will allow us to host different podcasters every hour, who can walk away with a copy of their podcast on CD, and upload it immediately to the web.” With a manufacturer suggested retail price of under $1500, the Marantz CDR420, which just hit the market this fall, is one of the newest digital recording and editing devices from Marantz, which also offers the PMD670, regarded by many podcasters as the leading portable digital audio recording device, and the PMD671 which is capable of capturing 24bit/96k high-end recordings. The CDR420 has it all from live recording direct to hard drive to CD-R/RW burning right on-board. The CDR420 offers, extensive audio quality settings for both recording and playback; seamless transfer of audio files to PCs; and adjustable “Marantz Minute Track Mode” recording for fast, precise navigation during playback. The Marantz CDR420 can record and store up to 1800 hours of MP3 quality recordings or 24 hours of uncompressed 44.1/48kHz quality recordings. “By supporting the podcasting community, we are excited to provide L.A. Podcasters with the CDR420. For podcasters looking to record multiple programs that can be burned to disc, handed off and uploaded to the web immediately, the CDR420 is the premiere portable workstation for digital recording and editing outside of the studio,” said Peter Papageorge, Director of Sales and Marketing for D&M Professional, which manufactures the CDR420. “The Freeway Series” will take place starting on Nov. 10 at the Podcast Expo in Ontario, Calif. The series was designed to unite the area’s spread-out members and will feature an eclectic line-up of popular podcasts, produced and distributed by the group’s members. For more information about the show, please visit: www.lapodcasters.com. For more information about the Marantz CDR420 please visit: www.dmpro.com/users/folder.asp?FolderID=1823 Media Contact: Eric Schwartzman 310-443-8310 Wed, 19 Oct 2005 07:56:37 GMT http://www.ipressroom.com/pr/SchwartzmanPR/info/marantz-fwy.asp Los Angeles, Calif.—Nov. 8, 2005—In support of L.A. Podcasters first annual Podcast Freeway Series, Denon & Marantz Professional will provide the non-profit organization with their all-in-one workstation, CDR420 to be used by participating podcasters to digitally record their audio programs live from booth number 313 at the Portable Media Expo in Ontario, California. “It is with appreciation and gratitude that we recognize this generous contribution,” said Lance Anderson, founder of L.A. Podcasters. “In order for us to give as many L.A. Podcasters as possible the chance to produce live podcasts from the expo as part of Podcast Freeway Series, the CDR420 has all the right features, since it will allow us to host different podcasters every hour, who can walk away with a copy of their podcast on CD, and upload it immediately to the web.” With a manufacturer suggested retail price of under $1500, the Marantz CDR420, which just hit the market this fall, is one of the newest digital recording and editing devices from Marantz, which also offers the PMD670, regarded by many podcasters as the leading portable digital audio recording device, and the PMD671 which is capable of capturing 24bit/96k high-end recordings. The CDR420 has it all from live recording direct to hard drive to CD-R/RW burning right on-board. The CDR420 offers, extensive audio quality settings for both recording and playback; seamless transfer of audio files to PCs; and adjustable “Marantz Minute Track Mode” recording for fast, precise navigation during playback. The Marantz CDR420 can record and store up to 1800 hours of MP3 quality recordings or 24 hours of uncompressed 44.1/48kHz quality recordings. “By supporting the podcasting community, we are excited to provide L.A. Podcasters with the CDR420. For podcasters looking to record multiple programs that can be burned to disc, handed off and uploaded to the web immediately, the CDR420 is the premiere portable workstation for digital recording and editing outside of the studio,” said Peter Papageorge, Director of Sales and Marketing for D&M Professional, which manufactures the CDR420. “The Freeway Series” will take place starting on Nov. 10 at the Podcast Expo in Ontario, Calif. The series was designed to unite the area’s spread-out members and will feature an eclectic line-up of popular podcasts, produced and distributed by the group’s members. For more information about the show, please visit: www.lapodcasters.com. For more information about the Marantz CDR420 please visit: www.dmpro.com/users/folder.asp?FolderID=1823 Media Contact: Eric Schwartzman 310-443-8310 Wed, 19 Oct 2005 07:56:37 GMT http://media.carmax.com/pr/carmax/info/smallercars.asp RICHMOND, Va. (October 13, 2005)—At a time when gas prices continue to increase, CarMax, Inc. (NYSE: KMX), the nation's largest retailer of used cars, says online searches for smaller cars are on the rise. Examples include the Toyota Corolla, Volkswagen Jetta, and Toyota Prius, all of which are climbing in popularity based on searches on the carmax.com website in September when compared with searches in June. The Toyota Prius rose to 16th in September from a 123rd ranking in June. "One of the ways we know that people are looking more for mid-size and compact cars is by monitoring the search activity on our website," said Austin Ligon, president and chief executive officer for CarMax. "However, even as smaller cars are gaining in popularity, the continuing decline in SUV prices means SUVs will remain attractive to many buyers." The following is a listing of popular searches for small vehicles on carmax.com in September: Make/Model Rank for September Rank for June Honda Accord 1 1 Honda Civic 2 2 Toyota Camry 3 3 Toyota Corolla 4 12 Volkswagen Jetta 8 13 Volkswagen Beetle 14 26 Toyota Prius 16 123 Volkswagen Passat 17 40 MINI Cooper 18 30 More than 20 percent of CarMax retail sales are initiated through carmax.com. Online shoppers can browse CarMax’s nationwide inventory of approximately 20,000 vehicles and see a car’s photo, price and specifications, all from the comfort of home. Vehicles can be transferred at customer request to their local CarMax superstore. About CarMax CarMax, a FORTUNE 500 company, and one of the FORTUNE 2005 "100 Best Companies to Work For," is the nation's largest retailer of used cars. Headquartered in Richmond, Va., CarMax currently operates 65 used car superstores in 29 markets. CarMax also operates seven new car franchises, all of which are integrated or co-located with its used car superstores. During the twelve month period ended August 31, 2005, the company sold 278,178 used cars, which is 93 percent of the total 299,138 vehicles the company retailed during that period. For more information, access the CarMax website at www.carmax.com. # # # Media Contacts: Lisa Van Riper, Assistant Vice President, Public Affairs, (804) 935-4594 Trina H. Lee, Public Relations Manager, (804) 747-0422 ext.4197 Investor Contacts: Dandy Barrett, Assistant Vice President, Investor Relations, (804) 935-4591 Celeste Gunter, Manager, Investor Relations, (804) 935-4597 Thu, 13 Oct 2005 07:00:00 GMT http://www.ipressroom.com/pr/SchwartzmanPR/info/Blogging-as-a-Marketing-and-Corporate-Communications-Tool.asp Santa Monica, Calif.- Oct. 17, 2005 -- Is there a place for blogs in the world of corporate communications and marketing? That’s the question members of the Software Council of Southern California sought out to answer at a meeting last month in Santa Monica at the Doubletree Hotel. Blogs were for the most part, unknown five years ago, but today with an estimated ten million blogs on the internet, everyone seems to have at least tried it once. Now, companies are beginning to evaluate how blogs could be used in their communication strategies to create an intimate, immediate, two-way relationship between them and the rest of the world. Which is why the SCSC hosted “The Executive’s Guide to Blogging,” designed to teach the basics of emerging communication technologies such as blogs and podcasts and how these can be incorporated into corporate communications strategies as well as sales and marketing campaigns. Phil Becker, managing partner of The Venture Group served as the moderator for the discussion, which featured three panelists—Eric Schwartzman (pictured above), Jason Ciesliak, and Chris Barnes—and their individual takes on what blogs are, who are using them and how can they help a company increase their profile. Schwartzman, the Managing Director of Los Angeles-based PR firm Schwartzman & Associates, Inc., as well as Founder and President of iPressroom Corporation, began the discussion with an in-depth look at how blogs are being used and by whom. Using his real-world experience of these technologies as the blogger behind Spinfluencer, and the host of the podcast, “On the Record…Online,” Schwartzman walked through the basics such as how to start a blog, what to post, and how to get a blog read by other people. He also advocated using blogs and podcasts as alternatives to traditional PR strategies since they directly reach target audiences with unfiltered content. Additionally, blogs and podcasts are easy technologies to understand and implement, he added. “Essentially, all you need to do is add water and stir,” Schwartzman said. Cieslak, the executive director of Interactive Media at Siegel & Gale, offered up his first-hand experience from the marketing and branding perspective about how his company has used blogs for such clients as Sony PlayStation and what degrees of success these new campaigns brought to his clients and their products. Cieslak also discussed how other companies, such as Microsoft and IBM, are using blogs to promote themselves and at the same time, to widen the lanes of communication with investors, partners and consumers. As the director of business development for ExactTarget Email Solutions, Barnes showed the audience how to “get the word out” about a blog since an important part of having a blog is making sure people see it. Barnes advocated doing this by utilizing syndicating technologies such as XML and RSS feeds and by contributing to other relevant blogs. Although the audience was filled with both blogger novices and experts, a common question arose: how can a company control negative comments on their blog, especially if it could hurt a product or the company’s reputation. The panelists were in agreement that being transparent on the blog and using an authentic voice are the keys to having a successful dialogue with the public, otherwise it is not worth it to even create a blog. If and when negative posts and comments arise, Cieslak said, they should be addressed immediately, citing one’s company’s slow-moving reaction to a nasty report circulating in the blogosphere. Schwartzman went one step further, and advocated using the blogs themselves to address any of these negative situations. “The blog actually gives you another forum to address a person’s issue with the company or product,” Schwartzman said. “And by doing that on a blog, whether it be the company’s or someone else’s, you can address the problem and offer your official statement directly.” ADDITIONAL MATERIAL FOR SIDEBAR: Do’s and Don’ts of Blogging By Eric Schwartzman Do’s Do monitor what others are saying on the blogosphere. Your blog is part of a larger conversation and nobody wants to talk to someone who doesn’t listen. Do title your blog posts in no uncertain terms, if you want to use your blog as a marketing tool. Most people will find them through search engines, so let the key words and phrases that you want sending people your way be your guide for what to write about. Do think beyond the press release. Rather than assembling the facts in hopes of inspiring journalists to tell your story, tell it yourself in an interesting compelling way. Figure out how to tell it in a way that will appeal to your key audience. Don’ts Don’t post press releases or slick, over-written marketing copy to your blog. Nobody will care. Wear your bias on your sleeve, serve up a healthy dose of opinion and use your personality as a differentiator. Don’t be afraid to make mistakes. A blog is not a marketing brochure. Just because you don’t have a full-time copy editor on your staff, doesn’t mean you can’t post interesting ideas to your blog. What you have to say is just as important as your writing style, grammar and usage. Don’t lie. If you do, you’ll learn quickly that the blogosphere is self-correcting. Dishonesty is wiped out by social anti-bodies in the form of contradictory blogs with posts linked to yours. You’ll be hung out to dry. If it’s too late for you, hire a good PR firm and do a mea culpa. media contact: Juliana Shallcross Schwartzman & Associates, Inc. (310) 721-7356 Wed, 12 Oct 2005 16:41:29 GMT http://media.carmax.com/pr/carmax/info/foundationgrants.asp RICHMOND, Va. (October 7, 2005)—CarMax, Inc. (NYSE: KMX), the nation's largest retailer of used cars, announced today that the CarMax Foundation has awarded $100,000 in grants to Richmond area nonprofit organizations. Today's announcement reinforces CarMax's commitment to funding programs that provide measurable results and benefits to the community. The five grant awardees include: Greater Richmond Chamber Foundation- $5,000 for Youth Matters, a book bank program that provides books to children who are at risk for not reading at grade level, trips to parents and childcare givers on nurturing love for books, and helps to build a home library for children in need. Home Again -$12,000 for Early Intervention Services for Children, a program established to give children residing in a Home Again shelter access to educational, cultural, and recreational opportunities. Science Museum of Virginia- $33,000 for Science by Van, a hand-on approach to science education using a mobile van that travels to schools, fairs, and special events throughout Virginia. Voices for Virginia's Children- $25,000 for TEACH, a program to improve the quality of childcare in Virginia by offering participating child care teachers the chance to earn college credit and a bonus and an increase in compensation. Richmond YWCA- $25,000 for the Child Development Center, which provides childcare for low-income families, as well as being Richmond's only provider of free care to the homeless. "The CarMax Foundation is committed to supporting nonprofit organizations that are tackling big challenges through positive new approaches," said Joe Kunkel, president of the CarMax Foundation and senior vice president of marketing and strategy for CarMax. "We are proud to be a part of these outstanding Richmond area programs that are working to make a difference for families and youth education." About the CarMax Foundation The CarMax Foundation’s National Funding Program assists nonprofit organizations that address or improve automobile safety for families and children. The Foundation is supported by CarMax. CarMax, a FORTUNE 500 company and one of the FORTUNE 2005 "100 Best Companies to Work For," is the nation’s largest retailer of used cars. Headquartered in Richmond, Va., CarMax currently operates 65 used car superstores in 29 markets. CarMax also operates seven new car franchises, all of which are integrated or co-located with its used car superstores. For more information on the CarMax Foundation, go to www.carmaxcares.com. CarMax Media Contacts: Lisa Van Riper, Assistant Vice President, Public Affairs, (804) 935-4594 Trina H. Lee, Public Relations Manager, (804) 747-0422 ext. 4197 Fri, 07 Oct 2005 07:00:00 GMT http://media.carmax.com/pr/carmax/info/DriversEdge.asp RICHMOND, Va. (September 27, 2005)—CarMax, Inc. (NYSE: KMX), the nation's largest retailer of used cars, announced today that the CarMax Foundation has awarded Driver’s Edge a $100,000 grant for its national young driver education program. Driver’s Edge is a nonprofit organization developed to help address the growing number of youth-related automobile collisions and fatalities in the United States. "The grant from the CarMax Foundation will help our organization continue to provide young drivers with potentially life-saving information," said Jeff Payne, president, chief executive officer, and founder of Driver’s Edge. "Our program is designed to teach young drivers better skills and driving behavior. We believe it is essential to provide young drivers with a hands-on approach to safety and collision avoidance techniques in order to better prepare them for the real-life driving conditions they will face every day." In 2003, more than 7,800 young drivers aged 15 to 20 were involved in fatal motor vehicle collisions. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, fatal motor vehicle collisions are the leading cause of death for this age group, outnumbering the combined deaths resulting from drug use, guns, and other violence. "The CarMax Foundation is committed to supporting nonprofit organizations that are tackling big challenges through positive new approaches," said Joe Kunkel, president of the CarMax Foundation and senior vice president of marketing and strategy for CarMax. "We are proud to be a part of this outstanding program that is working to make a difference in youth driving safety." To date, more than 16,000 people have attended a Driver’s Edge program. In 2005, Driver’s Edge is visiting 12 cities nationally with continuing programs in Las Vegas, Nevada. Cities and dates for the 2006 National Tour will be announced by the end of the year. Please visit www.driversedge.com for details. About the CarMax Foundation The CarMax Foundation’s National Funding Program assists nonprofit organizations that address or improve automobile safety for families and children. The Foundation is supported by CarMax. CarMax, a FORTUNE 500 company and one of the FORTUNE 2005 "100 Best Companies to Work For," is the nation’s largest retailer of used cars. Headquartered in Richmond, Va., CarMax currently operates 65 used car superstores in 29 markets. CarMax also operates seven new car franchises, all of which are integrated or co-located with its used car superstores. For more information, on the CarMax Foundation, go to www.carmax.com/inc/companyinfo/foundation.pdf. About Driver’s Edge Las Vegas-based Driver’s Edge is a Nevada 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation that offers a free educational program for young drivers aged 15 to 21. The program teaches real life emergency avoidance and response techniques and overall driver safety. This innovative program is taught on an ongoing basis in Las Vegas, Nev., with annual national tours visiting multiple U.S. cities each year. The program is funded entirely by corporate sponsorship, public grants, and charitable donations. Please visit www.driversedge.com for more information. ### Driver’s Edge Media Contacts: Jeff Payne, Chief Executive Officer, (702) 896-6482 Steve Tepper, Chief Operating Officer, (310) 850-7750 CarMax Media Contacts: Lisa Van Riper, Assistant Vice President, Public Affairs, (804) 935-4594 Trina H. Lee, Public Relations Manager, (804) 747-0422 ext. 4197 CarMax Investor Relations Contacts: Dandy Barrett, Assistant Vice President, Investor Relations, (804) 935-4591 Celeste Gunter, Manager, Investor Relations, (804) 935-4597Tue, 27 Sep 2005 07:00:00 GMT http://media.carmax.com/pr/carmax/info/DonnaWassel.asp RICHMOND, Va. (September 26, 2005)—CarMax, Inc. (NYSE: KMX), the nation's largest retailer of used cars, is pleased to announce that Donna Wassel, regional vice president for the company’s Atlanta Region, has been selected as one of the "100 Leading Women in the North American Auto Industry" by AUTOMOTIVE NEWS magazine, the leading publication for the auto industry. "We would like to congratulate Donna for this very deserving honor," said Austin Ligon, president and chief executive officer of CarMax. "CarMax is proud to have Donna and many other talented women working at all levels of the CarMax business." Ms. Wassel joined CarMax in 1996 as a manager-in-training at the CarMax used car superstore in Norcross, Georgia. Following her training, Ms. Wassel opened the CarMax superstore in Orlando as location general manager. She then returned to the Norcross superstore in the same position. In 1998, Ms. Wassel was promoted to general manager of the CarMax locations in Texas, and in 1999, to regional vice president and general manager of CarMax’s Southwest Region. In 2004, Ms. Wassel was named to her current position. She currently oversees 13 CarMax superstores in Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee, which employ approximately 1,800 associates. "I’m very honored to receive this distinguished recognition," said Ms. Wassel. "I’m proud to work for a company whose culture encourages all employees, including women, to achieve their goals and ambitions." Prior to joining CarMax, Ms. Wassel was employed by PepsiCo and Frito-Lay in various management positions. At PepsiCo, she received numerous awards, including Market Manager of the Year for Taco Bell and Sales Manager of the Year for Frito-Lay. Ms. Wassel received her B.S. in Food Science from the University of Florida and her M.S. in Management and Technology from the University of Alabama-Huntsville. CarMax is leading the way in opening up auto retailing to a diverse workforce and the company is proud to create an environment that recognizes the value of diversity. Approximately 30 percent of the executives and senior managers at CarMax are women, and nearly 20 percent of CarMax managers and supervisors are women. About CarMax CarMax, a FORTUNE 500 company, and one of the FORTUNE 2005 "100 Best Companies to Work For," is the nation’s largest retailer of used cars. Headquartered in Richmond, Va., CarMax currently operates 65 used car superstores in 29 markets. CarMax also operates seven new car franchises, all of which are integrated or co-located with its used car superstores. During the twelve month period ended August 31, 2005, the company sold 278,178 used cars, which is 93 percent of the total 299,138 vehicles the company retailed during that period. For more information, access the CarMax website at www.carmax.com. # # # Media Contacts: Lisa Van Riper, Assistant Vice President, Public Affairs, (804) 935-4594 Trina Lee, Public Relations Manager, (804) 747-0422 ext.4197 Investor Contacts: Dandy Barrett, Assistant Vice President, Investor Relations, (804) 935-4591 Celeste Gunter, Manager, Investor Relations, (804) 935-4597 Mon, 26 Sep 2005 07:00:00 GMT http://www.ipressroom.com/pr/SchwartzmanPR/info/podcasters-coach-pr-marketing-pros.asp (LOS ANGELES - Sept. 26, 2005) Top podcasters Michael Butler of the Rock and Roll Geek Show, Chris McIntyre of Podcast Alley (recently acquired by Podshow), Eric Rice of Audioblog.com and Eric Schwartzman of On the Record...Online spoke with public relations and marketing executives at a Bulldog Reporter PR University seminar in San Francisco earlier this month about why podcasting has become the fastest growing new media communications channel. An audio transcript of the one-hour panel session is now available as a podcast, or MP3 download, as a special edition of On the Record...Online, a podcast that brings listeners the story behind the story through in depth one-on-one interviews with journalists from the mainstream media, influential bloggers and newsmakers discussing how technology is changing the news media business. Past guests include technology reporter John Markoff of The New York Times, Leo Laporte of This Week in Tech and Jeffrey O'Brien of Wired Magazine. The program explains what podcasts are, why they matter to organizations, podcast client software, popular podcasts, podcast show development, companies currently podcasting, how podshow uses podcasts for corporate communications, audio comments and video blogging. Interested listeners can download the MP3 or subscribe the RSS feed. To listen to the podcast on your computer, stream the MP3 live and listen online. Detailed show notes are also available. Photo Caption: (left to right) Podcasters Eric Schwartzman, Michael Butler, Eric Rice, Aaron Burcell of Podshow and Steve Gillmor of The Gillmor Gang. About the podcaster Eric Schwartzman is the managing director of Schwartzman & Associates, a boutique public relations firms based in Los Angeles. He is also chairman and founder of iPressroom, which helps organizations extend the impact of their public relations, corporate communications and marketing programs through easy-to-use, marketing communications software tools and services. He blogs about how public relations, the news media and emerging technologies influence perception and shape popular opinion at the Spinfluencer. His podcast On the Record…Online features discussions with leading journalists about how they use technology to cover the news. -30-Fri, 23 Sep 2005 14:05:52 GMT http://www.ipressroom.com/pr/SchwartzmanPR/info/podshow-CEO-ron-bloom.asp In-Depth Interview Reveals Venture Funded, New Media Company’s Disruptive Strategy Los Angeles, Calif. –Oct. 11, 2005 – Entertainment, media and technology PR professional by day, podcaster by night, Eric Schwartzman has released his latest episode of On the Record…Online, featuring a rare, one-on-one interview with Podshow.com CEO and co-founder Ron Bloom (pictured left), less than 60 days after his company secured $9 million in funding from Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers, Sherpalo Ventures and Sequoia Capital. Bloom is partnered with MTV and broadcast veteran, new media entrepreneur and longtime associate Adam Curry who is widely acknowledged as the creator of podcasting, or PodFather. On the Record…Online, the podcast that strives to bring listeners the story behind the story, consists of raw, uncut interviews with newsmakers, journalists, bloggers and podcasters about how technology is changing the mainstream media business, and popular culture. Previous guests include John Markoff of The New York Times, Nick Wingfield of the Wall Street Journal, two-time Pulitzer prize winner David Satterfield of the San Jose Mercury News, Leo Laporte of This Week in Tech, Steve Rubel of Micropersuasion, Michael Butler of The Rock and Roll Geek Show, Jeffrey O’Brien of Wired Magazine and many more. In the most recent episode of On the Record…Online, Ron Bloom, a seasoned executive with decades of experience managing venture funded and public companies, speaks candidly about the advertising trade’s initial reaction to his company’s podcasting proposition, fresh on the heels of their first national road show subsequent to funding. “Madison Avenue is not advertising. Companies who wish to conduct business with their audiences, they’re advertising. Madison Avenue is facilitating. And if Madison Avenue fails to facilitate, those companies will go and find their audiences directly, because they’re the ones responsible for their success or failure,” says Bloom. He also summarizes succinctly why he thinks podcasting represents a significant opportunity to marketers and public relations professionals. “In every category of business, that velvet rope exists, and talking about tomorrow’s content delivery infrastructure, there’s a hundred people talking about that at the highest level and everybody else is hoping to get tidbits from those conversations…in talking about medical research, in talking about law…podcasting is a great tool to enable communicators to pull out unique content from behind these velvet ropes and corporate firewalls, and package it in a way that interests listeners. There is your great role for PR and communications companies,” continues Bloom. On the subject of why the radio business comes up short for listeners, Bloom cuts to the chase. “They shouldn’t even call it the media business,” he says. “They should call it the frequency and infrastructure business. We have a channel. We own it. We have a chokehold on the content that goes through that channel. Our barrier to entry is that no one else has this frequency. That’s the logic of radio.” The entire interview is around 40 minutes. It is available for download, or subscribe and download past episodes and receive upcoming interviews with Heather Green of BusinessWeek, David Pogue of The New York Times and Rob Barrett of Los Angeles Times Interactive as soon as they become available. ABOUT THE HOST Eric Schwartzman is managing director at Schwartzman & Associates, a public relations firm representing the interests of entertainment, media and technology companies. He is also founder and president of iPressroom, an application service provider that helps organizations integrate the web into all aspects of their marketing communications and public relations programs. His Spinfluencer blog examines how marketing, advertising, public relations, the news media and merging technologies influence perceptions, and his On the Record…Online podcast features newsmakers, journalists, bloggers and podcasters discussing how technology is changing the business of media, and, in turn, popular culture. # # # media contact (only): Juliana Shallcross Schwartzman & Associates, Inc. 10801 National Blvd., Suite 410 Los Angeles, CA 90064 (310) 721-7356 Source: On the Record…Online PodcastFri, 23 Sep 2005 14:05:52 GMT http://media.carmax.com/pr/carmax/info/nashvilleGO.asp RICHMOND, Va. (September 23, 2005)—CarMax, Inc., (NYSE: KMX), the nation’s largest retailer of used cars, officially opened its second store in Nashville, Tennessee today. The new CarMax superstore is located at 2353 Gallatin Pike in Rivergate. The store is more than 24,000 square-feet, employs about 70 people and stocks 350 to 400 vehicles of nearly every make and model. "We have revolutionized the way consumers buy cars," said Austin Ligon, president and chief executive officer of CarMax. "Rivergate area residents now can choose to have a no-hassle, no-haggle, fun car shopping experience." More than 200 local dignitaries and CarMax associates attended a grand opening preview event at the superstore today. The event included a "Road Rally" for charity featuring local television personalities competing in a driving challenge, which included parallel-parking and pack-the-trunk events. CarMax donates $1,000 to each participant’s charity, and the winner’s charity receives an additional $1,000. The Road Rally participants included Debbie Alan, WTVF TV features reporter, Aaron Solomon, WSMV-TV sports anchor, and Joe Dubin, WKRN-TV morning show reporter. CarMax opened its first store more than 11 years ago after the company surveyed thousands of consumers to find out what they liked and disliked about car shopping. CarMax was designed according to the survey responses, giving consumers what they asked for: Low Prices No-hassle, no-haggle car-buying experience Broad Selection Nearly every make and model on one lot Used vehicles that are generally one to six years old with less than 60,000 miles Great Quality Guaranteed quality cars and no flood or frame-damaged vehicles Thoroughly inspected and reconditioned vehicles Five-day money back guarantee and a limited 30-day warranty Customer Friendly A For Kids Only supervised play area CarMax will buy any car, whether or not the seller purchases a CarMax vehicle Nashville area residents can also preview CarMax vehicles by logging onto www.carmax.com. The website features actual prices and photos of more than 20,000 CarMax vehicles available nationwide. Prospective car buyers can have a vehicle transferred from another CarMax store location to either Nashville store location. About CarMax CarMax, a FORTUNE 500 company, and one of the FORTUNE 2005 "100 Best Companies to Work For," is the nation’s largest retailer of used cars. Headquartered in Richmond, Va., CarMax currently operates 65 used car superstores in 29 markets. CarMax also operates seven new car franchises, all of which are integrated or co-located with its used car superstores. During the twelve month period ended August 31, 2005, the company sold 278,178 used cars, which is 93 percent of the total 299,138 vehicles the company retailed during that period. For more information, access the CarMax website at www.carmax.com. ### Media Contacts: Lisa Van Riper, Assistant Vice President, Public Affairs, Office (804) 935-4594, Cell (804) 337-1568 Trina Lee, Public Relations Manager, Office (804) 747-0422 ext. 4197, Cell (804) 380-2442 Investor Contacts: Dandy Barrett, Assistant Vice President, Investor Relations, (804) 935-4591 Celeste Gunter, Manager, Investor Relations, (804) 935-4597Fri, 23 Sep 2005 07:00:00 GMT http://www.ipressroom.com/pr/SchwartzmanPR/info/global-pr-blog-week-podcast-released.asp (LOS ANGELES - Sept. 20, 2005) Entertainment, marketing and public relations executives can learn how forward thinking companies are integrating podcasting into their communications programs by downloading or subscribing to a new podcast by Eric Schwartzman. The podcast, created exclusively for Global PR Blog Week 2.0, an online symposium happening this week, includes interviews with Dave Joseph, VP Corporate Communications & Strategy, Audible Inc., Ethan McCarty, Writer, Editor and Technologist, IBM and Aaron Burcell, Director, Marketing and Communications, Podshow Inc. In recent years, public relations has become largely synonymous with media relations, but a spate of emerging technologies -- which give business communicators a cost-effective and efficient way to make information available on demand – are empowering individuals and organizations to build their own audiences, circumventing mainstream media filtration. Podcasting presents us with the opportunity to refocus our efforts on relating directly with the public. But just as we choose the right media format through which to communicate based on our message, we must also be aware that unleashing the power of Podcasting requires an understanding and acknowledgement of the fact that oral renditions of press releases, media advisories and executive biographies are not necessarily appropriate content for podcasting. In the exercise of media relations, we accept that we ultimately must relinquish control to the editorial staff of the news outlet through which we are seeking to have our clients story told. This awareness impacts the choice of words we use in our press materials, in an effort to highlight whatever it is about the news that we feel: 1. Accurately represents the newsworthy occurrence. 2. Reflects positively on our client’s contributions. 3. Would make a good story for the outlets audience. The rise of the blog, which has given non-technical personnel the ability to experiment with rudimentary, inexpensive content management software that can be easily syndicated, was the first step toward empowering public relations professionals to start communicating directly with the public, by participating in ongoing conversations already underway on the blogosphere about their brands, products and services. The introduction of RSS 2.0, which makes it easy for anyone to distribute an enclosure over an XML news feed, made it possible for the first time, for public relations professionals to distribute electronic media without relying on more cost prohibitive, conventional electronic media distribution channels. Furthermore, the emergence of this new distribution channel brings with it a number of benefits over satellite and terrestrial broadcast. These are: 1. Ability to talk directly to a disparate audience motivated enough to opt-in and defined largely by its area of interest. 2. Ability of the communicator to gather an audience over time, since the content is available on demand. 3. No geographical boundaries limiting reach, since anyone with internet access can subscribe. 4. Ability of the audience to listen to programs any place, like during commutes or exercise. While the mainstream media appears to be taking advantage of podcasting as an alternate means of distribution, original programs being created by public relations professionals on the client and agency side that appear to be gathering the largest audiences go well beyond the format of traditional press materials. Communicators are developing compelling, informative and entertaining programs designed to appeal to their key audiences, and reinforce their organization’s key messages. In this podcast, online PR expert Eric Schwartzman talks to three public relations executives currently podcasting original programs, or publicizing themselves through other podcasts, about how they are applying the benefits of this new technology to communicate beyond the press release, with interviews on the three different categories: Act One – Beyond the press release; how companies can protect reputations through podcasting Dave Joseph, VP Communications and Strategy, Audible, Inc. Prior to joining Audible, David was Director of Investor Relations and New Business Ventures at eBay. From 1998 to 2003, David was at Morgan Stanley, where he was an equity research analyst, covering the Internet and PC software sectors, and a member of the top-ranked technology research team on Wall Street. David also worked in the advertising industry, culminating with his last position as Account Supervisor on the International business-to-business launch of LIPITOR for the healthcare arm of Young & Rubicam. Other experience includes work for the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) in Jakarta, Indonesia, where he completed a study on the impact of foreign direct investment on the development of the automotive industry in Thailand. David holds a B.A. from New York University and a Master of International Affairs from the School of International and Public Affairs at Columbia University. Act Two – Beyond the earnings release; how IBM is driving trading volume through podcasting Ethan McCarty, IBM Strategic Communications Writer, editor and technologist, Ethan McCarty, is part of the IBM Strategic Communications team which produces IBM's award winning annual report to shareholders as well as IBM's Investor Relations podcast series, "IBM and the future of…" Ethan contributed to the development of IBM's blogging guidelines and is doing similar work on wikis and podcasts. Act Three – Bringing down the walls between the media and marketer; podcast promos as content Aaron Burcell, Director of Marketing and Communications, PodShow Inc. Aaron is responsible for the marketing and communications at PodShow, including the company’s associated family of directories, communities, content and software. Most recently the Director of Marketing at Stata Labs (acquired by Yahoo!), Aaron launched Bloomba (now Corel’s WordPerfect Mail), the critically acclaimed search-based email client in 2002. Aaron’s prior experience includes Alterlayer Venture Services, Microsoft, WebTV (acquired by Microsoft), and Nabisco. About the podcaster Eric Schwartzman, Managing Director, Schwartzman & Associates Public Relations, Los Angeles, CA Eric Schwartzman is the managing director of Schwartzman & Associates, a boutique public relations firms based in Los Angeles. He is also chairman and founder of iPressroom, which helps organizations extend the impact of their public relations, corporate communications and marketing programs through easy-to-use, marketing communications software tools and services. He blogs about how public relations, the news media and emerging technologies influence perception and shape popular opinion at the Spinfluencer. His podcast On the Record…Online features discussions with leading journalists about how they use technology to cover the news. Tue, 20 Sep 2005 12:11:34 GMT http://www.ipressroom.com/pr/SchwartzmanPR/info/eric-schwartzman-speaking-credentials.asp Public Relations Society of America – June 27, 2006 New Media Revolution: Applying Blogs, Podcasts, RSS and Tagging to PR Mr. Schwartzman will moderate this panel featuring top public relations bloggers Steve Rubel, BL Ochman and David Parmet. Syndicate New York – May 16 and 17, 2006 Building a Business Case for Podcasting Mr. Schwartzman moderates this session focusing on best practices for build a business case for podcasting and vidcasting. Podcasts and Vidcasts for Marketing & Public Relations – April 27, 2006 Ad Tech San Francisco – Next & Now Learning Track Mr. Schwartzman moderates this session about how the distribution of electronic media has emerged as a cost-effective and efficient channel for awareness with a highly-motivated and influential audience. The session included presentations from Katie Kempner, Sam Pederson and Steve Gillmor. Media Relations 2006 – April 9 – 12, 2006 Bulldog Reporter’s Annual Public Relations Conference Mr. Schwartzman will produce a series of podcasts featuring interviews with conference keynote speakers and session panelists, extending the reach of the conference to the podosphere. Pepperdine University – March 16, 2006 Introduction to New Media for Marketing & Public Relations Mr. Schwartzman returns to Pepperdine’s Public Relations course as a guest speaker to outline developments in new media impacting the practices of marketing and PR. Delivering Messages to the Public – March 14, 2006 Public Relations Society of America Independent Practitioners Group Mr. Schwartzman presented his PR Pro’s Guide to New Media lecture to the Los Angeles chapter. The session focused on social media, blogs and podcasts. A recording of the seminar, copy of the PowerPoint presentation and associated web links are available here. New Communications Forum – March 3 -5, 2006 Beyond Text: Podcasts and Video Blogging (aka Vidcasting) Mr. Schwartzman served as Moderator on this panel, examining the practical opportunities that podcasting and vidcasting afford marketers, business communicators and public relations professionals. The session included presentations from Nicole Simon, Zadi Diaz, Eric Rice and Marcus Chan. Israel Hasbara Media Workshop—December 16, 2005 PR Panel for the Government of Israel Mr. Schwartzman spearheaded the discussion of new media technologies at this public relations seminar attended by members of the Israeli government. Entertainment Marketing Conference – November 7-8, 2005 On-Demand Advertising and Marketing: The Impact of Digital Delivery on Entertainment, Media and Brands. Mr. Schwartzman hosted the Breakfast Roundtable segment on Podcasting. Bulldog Reporter, PR University, September 9 and 16, 2005 Revolution in PR Technology: How Blogs, Wikis and Podcasts are Transforming Corporate Communications Mr. Schwartzman served as the Moderator for both the New York and San Franciso workshops, which were each one full day and featured such prominent speakers as Craig Newmark of Craigslist.org, Brooke Gladstone of NPR, and the PR and Marketing blogger Steve Rubel of CooperKatz. Software Council of Southern California – September 15, 2005 An Executive’s Guide to Blogging Your Way to the Top Mr. Schwartzman spoke about blogging as a corporate communications tool alongside fellow panelists, Jason Cieslak of Siegel & Gale and Chris Barnes of ExactTarget. Public Relations Society of America, Los Angeles Chapter – July 28, 2005 Blogs, RSS and Public Relations Mr. Schwartzman exchanged ideas with fellow panelists Jason Calacanis of Engadget and Sally Falkow, APR, of Falkow Inc. Bulldog Reporter, Media Relations 2005 – April 10-12, 2005 The Art of Powerful Messaging Mr. Schwartzman moderated a segment on new media, entitled How PR can Exploit Blogs, Ezines, RSS and Consumer-Generated Media, which featured panelist Pete Blackshaw, co-founder and Chief Marketing office of Intelliseek. News Mentions Mr. Schwartzman has also been quoted in industry trade publications including PR Week, Ad Age, Media Relations Report [PDF], Media Relations Insider [PDF] and PR News [PDF]. Tue, 20 Sep 2005 12:11:34 GMT http://media.carmax.com/pr/carmax/info/wichitahiring.asp RICHMOND, Va. (September 19, 2005)—CarMax, Inc. (NYSE: KMX), the nation's largest retailer of used cars, is currently recruiting for approximately 60 job positions at the Wichita store. Applications are now being accepted for the new positions on the retailer’s website at www.carmax.com. Who is CarMax Looking to Hire? CarMax is seeking applicants for full and part-time positions. Positions are for sales, business office, inventory and service technicians. Automotive experience is not necessary or required for most positions. Many CarMax associates have worked for other major retailers, such as Target, Lowe’s, Home Depot, Wal-Mart, Macy’s, The Gap and The Limited. Many CarMax associates have previous experience working in the restaurant industry, selling insurance or teaching school. How Can Job Seekers Apply? Job seekers can apply online at www.carmax.com. CarMax will contact applicants and set up interviews after an initial review of applications. What is CarMax? CarMax, a FORTUNE 500 company and one of FORTUNE’s "100 Best Companies to Work For," is the nation’s largest retailer of used cars. Headquartered in Richmond, Va. CarMax currently operates 64 used car superstores in 28 markets. CarMax operates seven new car franchises, all of which are integrated or co-located with its used car superstores. During the twelve month period ended May 31, 2005, the company sold 264,958 used cars, which is 93 percent of the total 285,354 vehicles the company retailed during that period. For more information, access the CarMax website at www.carmax.com. Media Contacts: Lisa Van Riper, Assistant Vice President, Public Affairs, (804) 935-4594 Trina Lee, Public Relations Manager, (804) 747-0422 ext.4197 # # # Mon, 19 Sep 2005 07:00:00 GMT http://www.ipressroom.com/pr/ecast/info/download-lounge-returns-to-AMOA.asp VIP Lounge Serving Complimentary Food and Drink San Francisco, Calif. – Aug. 23, 2005 – Ecast, Inc., the leading provider of digital-downloading, broadband-enabled jukeboxes to amusement machine operators will once again host their popular “Download Lounge” at the Amusement and Music Operator Association’s (AMOA) International Expo from Wed., Sept. 14 through Friday, Sept. 16 at booth number 2717 in the Las Vegas Convention Center’s North Hall. The Ecast “Download Lounge” has been so successful since its debut in 2003, that Ecast will host the private VIP lounge again, making it a tradition and operator must-see. Ecast will showcase 14 Ecast-powered jukebox models throughout the expo—the largest selection in the industry – thanks to its partnerships with NSM, Rockola and View Interactive Corporation,. Ecast representatives will be on hand to discuss installation, purchase-finance options and Ecast’s expanding features. Ecast will also showcase their sophisticated broadband network that allows bonus revenue streams from third-party advertising. These advertising campaigns provide operators more money for no extra work—a great Ecast feature that the competition does not currently have the capability to provide. This special VIP area will be open at booth number 2717 from 10:00 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Wed., Sept. 14 and Thurs., Sept. 15 and from 10:00 a.m. to 4 p.m. on the show’s final day, Fri., Sept. 16. The lounge will offer free espresso, food and beer to show-goers with invites. Trade show attendees interested in admittance are requested to call the “Download Lounge” RSVP hotline at 1-866-Hi-Ecast, ext. 8 to have their names added to the guest list. The AMOA Expo is one of the most-highly anticipated trade shows in the industry, drawing in nearly 6,000 route operators, equipment distributors and manufacturers of coin-operated amusement, music and vending machines plus allied suppliers, trade and consumer media. ABOUT ECAST Ecast delivers music to consumers in bars and restaurants through a network of over 4,200 broadband-enabled digital jukeboxes. All Ecast-powered jukeboxes allow patrons to choose among a massive catalog of song selections from the major record labels and many popular independent labels. Ecast is privately owned with offices in San Francisco. Visit Ecast’s pressroom: http://www.ipressroom.com/pr/ecast/info/. MEDIA CONTACT (ONLY): Eric Schwartzman / Juliana Shallcross Schwartzman & Associates, Inc. Tel: 310-446-8310 Wed, 07 Sep 2005 14:05:45 GMT http://www.ipressroom.com/pr/ecast/info/Ecast-Shatters-Expectations.asp Amusement Machine Operators Capitalize on Low Price Jukes; Limited Units Remain San Francisco, Calif.--September 26, 2005-- Manufacturers of Ecast digital jukeboxes reported a surge in jukebox order commitments, totaling nearly 800 units, at the Amusement Machine Operators Association convention last week. In the three days of the trade show, Ecast received 600 signed order commitments, shattering expectations. An additional 200 verbal orders are still being processed. "In my six years at Ecast this has been, by far, the most enthusiasm generated for any single program," said Steven Kellam, Ecast Director of Sales. "The demand is finally catching up with the technology." The surge was in response to Ecast's "Dash to 1000" fund, an innovative sales promotion introduced at the AMOA, which provides a $1,500 subsidy per jukebox to operators who deploy 25 or more Ecast-powered jukeboxes between Sept. 14 and Dec. 31, 2005. Operators deploying ten or more jukeboxes qualify for a $1,000 per jukebox subsidy. "This incentive provides a great way for operators to really push hard for the last remaining months of the year and get attractive credits in return," said John Taylor, Interim CEO of Ecast. "I am glad we can provide a product and program that the industry clearly needs." Distributors also saw a boost in response to the new sales promotions during AMOA. "It was truly an incredible experience to see the industry so excited about the future of coin-op. I am glad to see that Ecast is leading the charge," said Steven Toranto at Birmingham Vending. "In my 34 years in the business I have never walked into or out of a show with as much confidence and optimism as this one. Ecast has really hit the mark with a set of programs that really address operators' needs," said Jim Woodland of WK Amusements. "I have been planning on expanding my business and upgrading my current boxes -- this program couldn't have come at a better time." The Ecast "Dash to 1000" Fund applies to all Ecast manufacturers including NSM, Rock-Ola and View. The incentive program will only be extended long enough to cover an additional 200 jukeboxes, or until Dec 31, 2005, whichever comes first. ABOUT ECAST: Ecast delivers music and advertising to consumers in bars and restaurants through a network of over 4,200 broadband-enabled digital jukeboxes. All Ecast-powered jukeboxes allow patrons to choose among a massive catalog of song selections from the major record labels and many popular independent labels. Ecast (http://www.ecastinc.com) is privately owned with offices in San Francisco. Visit Ecast's pressroom: http://www.ipressroom.com/pr/ecast/info/. MEDIA CONTACT (ONLY): Eric Schwartzman / Juliana Shallcross Schwartzman & Associates, Inc. Tel: 310-446-8310 Wed, 07 Sep 2005 11:35:05 GMT