Marketing Week articles from December 2006

Marketing Week archives from December 2006

Coke faces sales setback as retail chain axes brands.(Somerfield PLC discontinues Coca-Cola Co. brands)(Brief article)
December 7, 2006... Somerfield has delivered a blow to Coca-Cola ahead of the "vital Christmas sales" period by axing a fifth of the company's products from shelves and delisting two brands altogether. The supermarket chain is delisting Coke's tropical...

Britvic unveils juice launch to corner schools market.(Britvic Soft Drinks Ltd.)(Brief article)
December 7, 2006... Britvic Soft Drinks is launching a range of natural juices that aims to get around the ban on soft drinks in schools. It claims it has launched a product specifically for that market. The Really Wild Drinks Co., which will be launched at...

Bacardi-Martini looks to India for global brand chief.(Jeff McDonald joins Bacardi Martini Services)(Brief article)
December 7, 2006... Bacardi-Martini is understood to have appointed Jeff McDonald as global brand director for its Bacardi brand. McDonald was previously with the spirits giant's Indian operations. McDonald replaces John Burke, who was appointed as UK...

Ford marketing chief and chairman of Volvo retires.(Hans-Olov Olsson retires)(Brief article)
December 7, 2006... Ford Motor Company's chief marketing officer Hans-Olov Olsson is retiring at the end of this month. It is understood that the company is looking for someone to replace him. Olsson is responsible for developing the corporate marketing...

Booking and holiday trends may force travel brands to change.(Brief article)
December 7, 2006... Travel agency and tour operator brands will have to keep up with the changing demands of holidaymakers or go out of businesses, travel industry analysts have warned. The comments have been prompted by statistics that show more consumers...

Vodafone opens high end store at Harrods.(Vodafone Group PLC)(Brief article)
December 7, 2006... Vodafone is opening a store in Harrods to showcase its top-of-the-range products. The store, Vodafone's 348th in the UK, will stock a full range of handsets and accessories but it is thought the emphasis will be on premium products. ...

Sony unveils major shift in ad strategy.
December 7, 2006... Sony Computer Entertainment Europe (SCEE) is undergoing a major shift in advertising strategy and is seeking brand partnerships as it gears up for the launch of its next-generation console PlayStation 3 (PS3). SCE UK will launch an ad...

Coke loses UK Ipsei battle.(cases of Coca-Cola Co. and Pepsi Cola Co.)(Brief article)
December 7, 2006... Coca-Cola has lost the latest round in a long-running battle with Pepsi over Coke-owned brand Ipsei, a range of fruit flavoured still drinks. The ruling is unlikely to spell the end of the battle. Coke has been trying to register the...

IN BRIEF: CAA proposes ending caps at Stansted.(Civil Aviation Authority)(Brief article)
December 7, 2006... The Civil Aviation Authority has proposed ending caps on airline charges at Stansted airport but wants to keep controls at Heathrow and Gatwick. Copyright: Centaur Communications Ltd. and licensors

IN BRIEF: Energy bills likely to rise.(Brief article)
December 7, 2006... Ofgem has warned that energy bills are likely to rise to cover the cost of a #950m investment in wind power. It predicts that #3 a year will be added to electricity bills, while annual gas bills are likely to rise by #10. Copyright:...

IN BRIEF: Strategic options for Trinity.(Trinity Mirror Newspapers)(Brief article)
December 7, 2006... Trinity Mirror's board is considering strategic options for the company's future put forward by investment bank NM Rothschild, which has been reviewing the business in recent months. The board will deliver its conclusions - which could...

IN BRIEF: Kangol has been bought.(ivestments of Mike Ashley)(Brief article)
December 7, 2006... Kangol has been bought for about #12m by Mike Ashley, owner of Sports World. It is thought he is also preparing to bid for Blacks Leisure, in which he holds a 29.4% stake. Copyright: Centaur Communications Ltd. and licensors

IN BRIEF: 118 118 launching free enquiries service.(Brief article)
December 7, 2006... The Number 118 118 is launching a free directory enquiries service. The offering uses automated voice recognition technology rather than operators to trace numbers. Copyright: Centaur Communications Ltd. and licensors

IN BRIEF: Woolworths need good Christmas sales.(Woolworths Group PLC)(Brief article)
December 7, 2006... Woolworths has admitted that it needs a good Christmas to meet the 'lower end' of its full-year targets. The retailer made the comments as it said sales in stores open for more than a year were down 6.5% in the 18 weeks to December 2 compared...

PEOPLE: 3 UK.(appointment of Ian Parpworth at PC World UK)(Brief article)
December 7, 2006... 3 UK has poached PC World development director Ian Parpworth to head its retail network. As director of retail strategy, Parpworth will oversee about 150 stores. Copyright: Centaur Communications Ltd. and licensors

PEOPLE: isporty.com.(appointment of David Maher-Roberts)(Brief article)
December 7, 2006... Future head of online David Maher-Roberts is to leave the publisher after 13 years to become director of new media at isporty.com, a social net-working site for amateur sports players, set to launch in the New Year. Copyright: Centaur...

PEOPLE: Telegraph Media Group.(appontment of Carley Ayres )(Brief article)
December 7, 2006... The Telegraph Media Group has promoted Carley Ayres to advertising manager from group head for the magazine and insert sales team. Ayres joined the firm in 2005 from Associated Newspapers. Copyright: Centaur Communications Ltd. and...

PEOPLE: MySpace.com.(appointment of Nick Reid)(Brief article)
December 7, 2006... EMAP's head of online sales, Nick Reid, is leaving after only four months to join social networking site MySpace.com as its first UK head of sales. Copyright: Centaur Communications Ltd. and licensors

PEOPLE: Hit Entertainment.(appointment of Antonio Huab)(Brief article)
December 7, 2006... Hit Entertainment, the children's entertainment rights owner, has appointed Antonio Huab to the position of vice-president, Asia. He will run the Asia-Pacific consumer products and TV distribution business out of Hit's recently opened Hong...

PEOPLE: Havas.(appointment of Romain Dessal)(Brief article)
December 7, 2006... Havas has appointed Romain Dessal to the newly created role of chief commercial officer for Havas Media, a month after uniting its MPG media agencies under the new umbrella. Copyright: Centaur Communications Ltd. and licensors

PEOPLE: Brunswick.(appointment of Stephen Carter)(Brief article)
December 7, 2006... Former Ofcom chief executive Stephen Carter is joining city PR firm Brunswick as group chief executive. Carter, who had been linked with the ITV chief executive's job, reports to chairman and founder Alan Parker. Copyright: Centaur...

Flybe attacks Brown over 'hypocritical' stealth tax.(Flybe British European)(Brief article)
December 7, 2006... Low-cost airline Flybe has attacked the Government over a stealth tax that it believes Gordon Brown will try to raise under the guise of combating climate change. The Chancellor of the Exchequer is likely to use the recent Stern review on...

Castrol looks to Euro 08 for boost.(Castrol International)(Brief article)
December 7, 2006... Castrol marketing director Vijay Solanki says the brand's sponsorship of UEFA Euro 2008 is the first major step in a strategy to reposition the product as a lifestyle brand. The BP-owned brand announced the deal to become global sponsor...

New campaign: Refuge.(Brief article)
December 7, 2006... Refuge, the domestic violence charity, is to launch a print and outdoor campaign to celebrate its 35th anniversary. The campaign shows a photograph that has been torn up and then pieced back together with the strapline "Domestic Violence...

Mega Brands strikes deal with Nickelodeon.(Nickelodeon Consumer Products)(Brief article)
December 7, 2006... Mega Brands, the US toy manufacturer, has signed an international licensing partnership with Nickelodeon & Viacom Consumer Products (NVCP) to develop a range of construction toys based on its Nick Jr pre- school character brands. Under the...

Five in clear over 'Nothing good out of America' ad.(contracts of Broadcaster Five)(Brief article)
December 7, 2006... Broadcaster Five has been cleared by the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) for its Nothing Good Ever Came out of America campaign. The poster supported the launch of Five US channel. The ASA received 99 complaints that the posters were...

Analysis: Honda sticks it to Livingstone in battle for 4x4 survival.(Ken Livingstone-London's mayor)
December 7, 2006... If Ken Livingstone's punch-up with the car industry was a boxing match, it would have been stopped long ago. London's mayor delivered a low blow when he introduced the congestion charge in 2003, but he has not let up and is continuing his...

MoreThan goes carbon neutral.(Brief article)
December 7, 2006... MoreThan has become the first UK insurer to become carbon neutral. The Royal & SunAlliance-owned brand says it took the decision after research suggested 75% of consumers think insurers should take climate change into account in their...

Analysis: Direct marketers angry at loss of Postwatch voice.
December 7, 2006... Direct marketers are furious at proposals in the Queen's Speech which will lead to the demise of Postwatch, the consumer watchdog that monitors the postal industry. The consumer champion's success in defending postal users' interests...

Sustainability becomes key to success.(Brief article)
December 7, 2006... Companies are increasingly judging their performance on the "triple bottom line" which includes their social and environmental impact, according to research by the Chartered Institute of Marketing. The latest Marketing Trends Survey...

Krow snatches #14m Fiat Grande Punto pan-European ad business.(Brief article)
December 7, 2006... Krow has made further inroads into Fiat's advertising business by winning a brief to create a pan-European campaign for the company's Grande Punto model. It is thought that the project is worth up to #14m. The agency has created a TV...

VisitBritain Americas searches for an agency.(Brief article)
December 7, 2006... VisitBritain Americas, the US arm of the UK tourism body, is searching for an agency to create a #3m campaign in a bid to encourage tourists from the US, Canada and Latin America to holiday in Britain. The body is looking for an agency to...

WhizzGo appoints Poulters to move the brand to household name status.(contracts of Poulter Partners)(Brief article)
December 7, 2006... Poulters, the Leeds-based agency, has been appointed to handle brand development, advertising and media buying for short-term car hire firm, WhizzGo. It is not clear if the agency pitched for the business, or if there is an incumbent...

Scots tourist body hunts agency for ad business.(Brief article)
December 7, 2006... Historic Scotland has called a statutory review of its advertising business, which is held by The Union. The account is worth about #1m. The tourism body has yet to announce a shortlist but The Union has been invited to repitch and it is...

Sony seeks digital roster to back PS3.(Sony Computer Entertainment UK)(PlayStation 3)(Brief article)
December 7, 2006... Sony Computer Entertainment (SCE) UK is talking to digital agencies to help support the marketing around the launch of its next-generation console, PlayStation 3. It is talking to agencies about developing a variety of online concepts...

Midland Mainline chooses Isobel for awareness task.(Brief article)
December 7, 2006... Midland Mainline has appointed Isobel to handle its #1.5m advertising account following a competitive pitch against a number of undisclosed agencies. Incumbent Poulters, the Leeds-based agency, did not repitch. The pitch, overseen by the...

IN BRIEF: V-phone integrated campaign.(advertising campaigns for Vonage Inc. by Threesixty Communications )(Brief article)
December 7, 2006... Threesixty Communications has created an integrated campaign to launch Vonage's new V-phone in the UK. The 'phone', which takes the form of a USB key, allows users to take their landlines around the world. Copyright: Centaur...

IN BRIEF: Direct Know How appoints Clarion Events.(Brief article)
December 7, 2006... Direct Know How has been appointed by Clarion Events, the UK's largest events company, to handle direct marketing and develop its database strategy. Copyright: Centaur Communications Ltd. and licensors

IN BRIEF: Golley Slater data division.(Brief article)
December 7, 2006... Golley Slater is opening a data division called Halo. The agency has spent almost #1m setting up Halo, which will be run by analyst Helen Purslow. Copyright: Centaur Communications Ltd. and licensors

IN BRIEF: Yorkshire Tourist Board integrated advertising.(contracts of Yorkshire Tourist Board and Smarter Communications)(Brief article)
December 7, 2006... Yorkshire Tourist Board has hired Smarter Communications to handle its integrated advertising account. It will oversee direct mail, press, online and TV activity. Copyright: Centaur Communications Ltd. and licensors

IN BRIEF: Ignition music and entertainment division.(Ignition Marketing Group)(Brief article)
December 7, 2006... Ignition, the global experiential agency which counts Coca-Cola, Vodafone and Nike among its clients, is establishing a music and entertainment division after merging with Harvey Goldsmith Production. Copyright: Centaur Communications Ltd....

IN BRIEF: Fiat campaign.(contracts of Fiat S.p.A. with Arc Worldwide)(Brief article)
December 7, 2006... Arc Worldwide has created a campaign for Fiat for the launch of its Ducato van. A press and outdoor campaign will be supported by direct marketing and online activity. Copyright: Centaur Communications Ltd. and licensors

IN BRIEF: Green Flag reviewing account.(contracts of Green Flag Ltd. and MRM Partners Worldwide)(Brief article)
December 7, 2006... Green Flag is reviewing its #5m promotional account. The Royal Bank of Scotland-owned breakdown service has approached a number of agencies about the account, currently with MRM Partners. The pitch is being overseen by Creative Brief. ...

Carat picks up #8m cheese task from President owner Lactalis.(Brief article)
December 7, 2006... Lactalis Group, the French cheese and dairy company, is understood to have appointed Carat to handle the #8m UK media planning and buying account for its cheese business and its joint venture operation with Nestle Chilled Dairy. It is...

Codemasters calls review of #5m business.(Brief article)
December 7, 2006... Codemasters, the video games publisher, is reviewing its media planning and buying account, believed to be worth up to #5m. The account is held by MJ Media, which has had a long relationship with Codemasters. It is not known whether MJ...

First ScotRail signs 'train wrap' ad deal with Viacom.
December 7, 2006... First ScotRail is to wrap entire trains in advertising for the first time, following a deal with Viacom Outdoor. Viacom is hoping to sign up advertisers for a year at a time. Advertisers will be able to choose to brand individual trains or...

English RFU unveils push to attract junior fans.(Rugby Football Union)(Brief article)
December 7, 2006... The Rugby Football Union (RFU) has overhauled its junior membership scheme as part of its first major push to extend the national team's official youth fan base. The RFU has unveiled a new logo and animated website for its Junior...

Aegis fails to shore up German position.(Aegis Media's attempt to poach on MediaCom executives - Jurgen Blomenkamp, Christian Schmalzl )(Brief article)
December 7, 2006... Aegis Media has made an abortive attempt to poach two top MediaCom executives to shore up its position in Germany. The move follows a financial scandal which has left three of Aegis's German team in prison and a management vacuum in one of the...

Networking site Piczo signs four online partnership deals.(partnerships of YouTube, Video Egg, PhotoBucket and Flock)(Brief article)
December 7, 2006... Piczo, the social networking site aimed at teenagers, has signed deals with four major online partners. The deals are designed to add new functions to the site and to make the user experience more enjoyable. It has joined forces with...

IN BRIEF: Guardian to sponsor Film Festival.(Brief article)
December 7, 2006... The Guardian newspaper is to sponsor the Avalon Film Festival in virtual reality world, Second Life. The festival is the first sponsorship in a longer-term collaboration with Second Life and London based virtual world design agency Rivers Run...

IN BRIEF: Series of podcasts to be created.(radio braodcasting industry contracts)(Brief article)
December 7, 2006... BBC Audiobooks has signed a deal with Perfectly Normal Productions to create a series of podcasts. It is promising more sophisticated content than most podcasts, with strong scripts, professional sound effects and full music scores. ...

IN BRIEF: BT Vision to show live matches.(BT Group PLC contracts)(Brief article)
December 7, 2006... BT's new television service BT Vision will show live football matches after the company signed a deal with Irish broadcaster Setanta Sports. Abbott Mead Vickers.BBDO has created a campaign featuring the strapline 'Passing you the control' to...

IN BRIEF: ESPN extends reach in Europe.(North American Sports Network acquisitions)(Brief article)
December 7, 2006... Disney-owned US broadcaster ESPN has extended its reach in Europe with the acquisition of sports network NASN, whose coverage is dedicated solely to North American sports. Former joint-owners Setanta Sport Holdings and Benchmark Capital...

IN BRIEF: Four agencies shortlisted.(Brief article)
December 7, 2006... National Express Group has shortlisted four agencies to pitch for its #5.5m media planning and buying account. Media Planning Group, Initiative and MediaCom are due to pitch against incumbent The Piper Agency next month. Copyright:...

Analysis: Chelsea aims for worldwide brand success.(Chelsea Football Club-Peter Kenyon)
December 7, 2006... Chelsea chief executive Peter Kenyon's declaration last week that he plans to build the club into the world's foremost commercial football property by 2014 has met with considerable scepticism among many observers. They doubt he will be...

Ayling appoints EquiMedia to boost its e-offer.(John Ayling & Associates contracts)(Brief article)
December 7, 2006... John Ayling & Associates (JAA) has signed a deal with digital media specialist EquiMedia to boost the agency's online offering. The partnership follows a 12-month trial during which EquiMedia planned and bought online campaigns for...

LBC set to launch upgraded premium podcasting service.(Brief article)
December 7, 2006... LBC, the Chrysalis Radio owned London speech station, is relaunching its subscription podcasting service early next year with new super premium content and an improved advertising offer. The second generation service, which...

LETTER: Grade must face up to the new world order.(Letter to the editor)
December 7, 2006... It is interesting that in one week the top news stories have focused on issues in the traditional media landscape with the undercurrent theme being related to problems with advertising revenues. Take the appointment of Michael Grade as...

LETTER: Ambush marketers undermining sponsors.(Letter to the editor)
December 7, 2006... It is disappointing when sponsors need to resort to claiming victories over other sponsors in order to justify their own activities, as in your article "Npower ambushes rivals with stadium sponsorship" (MW November 23). It has been a long...

LETTER: The jury is still out on brand building online.(Letter to the editor)
December 7, 2006... I was intrigued by the comments in your feature "The best tool for the job" (MW November 16), and found myself in broad agreement with John Hegarty's comments about the jury still being out on the role of online in brand building. ...

LETTER: Benefits of stepping into the blogosphere.(Letter to the editor)
December 7, 2006... Bloggers within the industry need to consider what they want to achieve before starting a blog. It is clear that there are potential benefits from using blogs but does that mean that employers/ees should rush out and start one? There...

LETTER: Online coupons could help the high street.(Letter to the editor)
December 7, 2006... Rather than anxiously watching the till-roll figures in the build up to Christmas and investing in gimmicks in a bid to win consumers back from the internet as discussed in your article "Tis the season to go shopping" (MW November 16), major...

LETTER: Working against online currency monopoly.(Letter to the editor)
December 7, 2006... I agree that there has never been a stronger need for a standardised means of looking at a website's audience (MW November 30), however these efforts must be re-doubled if we are to prevent the realistic threat of an online currency...

LETTER: Survey sheds light on need for transparency.(Letter to the editor)
December 7, 2006... The findings of the recent Loudhouse report into client/agency relationships outlined in your trends piece "stand up and be counted" (MW October 26) came as no surprise to us at Results International. In 2005 we analysed 70 independent...

VIEWPOINT: Premier's future lies in updating heritage.(Premier Foods's marketing strategy)(Viewpoint essay)
December 7, 2006... Theoretically, the bee is an aerodynamic absurdity that shouldn't be able to fly. Theoretically, Premier Foods, in the throes of paying #1.2bn for RHM, is a company with a basket-case strategy that couldn't succeed; but it has,...

ENGINE: Driver at the engine.(WCRS Group PLC)(Company overview)
December 7, 2006... WCRS, under the auspices of Engine, is going from strength to strength, last week scooping #75m BSkyB. But there are fears it is too dominant for a group promising the first truly integrated service, and that fellow agencies will struggle to...

ONLINE BOOKING: Holidays in cyberspace.(Industry overview)
December 7, 2006... The UK travel industry is having to face up to change as package deals fall out of favour and independently minded holidaymakers turn to the internet to plan and book their breaks. But even major brands are unsure of how best to utilise the...

Functional factionalism is fun, but working together is better.
December 7, 2006... Marketers could be more influential and make it to the top more often if they defined their role and avoided rivalry with other specialisms So James Dyson thinks marketers are too powerful. While marketers agonise about their lack of...

SCOTTISH POWER: Utility users lose power.(Iberdrola's acquisition of Scottish Power PLC and their customer satisfaction levels)
December 7, 2006... Iberdrola's move to acquire ScottishPower has highlighted the poor customer service reputation of overseas companies - a concern for users and employees. By Nathalie Kilby Spanish utility company Iberdrola's bid to buy ScottishPower for...

CLIMATE CHANGE: Green and pleasant brands.(adoption of Environmentalism in marketing campaign )
December 7, 2006... Concern about carbon emissions is set to become the next big driver of consumer behaviour, and the smart brands should act now, says Ashley Goodall There can be little doubt that the next major challenge facing brands is consumers'...

SCOTTISH POWER: ScottishPower.(Chronology)(Brief article)
December 7, 2006... 1990 ScottishPower formed mainly from the South of Scotland Electricity Board. The North of Scotland Hydro Board eventually became part of the Scottish & Southern Energy group 1995 Bought Manweb, the electricity supplier to Merseyside and...

CIM MARKETING TRENDS SURVEY: Economy over ecology.(Chartered Institute of Marketing )
December 7, 2006... Social and environmental issues are still less important to most companies than financial results, despite consumer trends, but marketing departments are being seen as an increasingly vital asset The latest Chartered Institute of Marketing...

TRAINING: Keep recruits in the family.
December 7, 2006... Effective induction is key to retaining staff, so companies are ensuring new marketers understand their values and vision and are given the social support they need. Richenda Wilson reports Over two-thirds of employers say they are...

PUBLIC RELATIONS: The medium isn't the message.
December 7, 2006... PR is no longer about stuffing envelopes and organising beanos for journalists. By using blogs and podcasts, it is now a much more effective marketing tool for the brand owner. By Richenda Wilson Back in the days of the first dot-com boom,...

CONFERENCES & EXHIBITIONS: Fair trade trade fairs.
December 7, 2006... Show organisers rely on quality suppliers and, with environmental issues coming to the fore, they are starting to examine their green credentials as 'sustainable eventing' takes off. By Ian Whiteling The buzzword in marketing at the moment...

Old watchdog learns new tricks as Which? becomes attack dog.
December 7, 2006... As the Consumers' Association approaches its 50th birthday, it remains convinced that dastardly brands and marketers are preying on our youth He was undoubtedly ahead of his time. In 1957 there were no consumers: there were humbler, more...

Publicis loses #100m SFR telecom brief to Havas shop.(advertising contracts)(Brief article)
December 14, 2006... SFR, France's second-largest telecoms operator, has appointed Havas- owned Leg to handle its #100m advertising account. The business moves from Publicis Groupe, which held the account for 13 years. Ironically, Publicis pulled out of the...

LMG poised to revamp Nectar loyalty strategy.(Loyalty Management Group Inc.)(Brief article)
December 14, 2006... Nectar, the biggest loyalty scheme in the UK, is understood to be reconsidering its business model amid fears consumers are not fully using their reward points. The company has approached several agencies asking for views on the future of...

Harley-Davidson poaches top marketer from Honda.(appointment of Greg Willis)(Brief article)
December 14, 2006... Harley-Davidson, the motorcycle manufacturer, has appointed Honda marketer Greg Willis as head of marketing for the UK and Ireland. He takes over from Allan Brownridge, who is moving to run the company's parts, accessories and motorclothes...

First Grade trials 'revolutionary' coconut water-based sport drink.(First Grade Drinks)(Brief article)
December 14, 2006... A sports drink is being launched in the UK that the manufacturer claims will "revolutionise the sporting industry". First Grade Drinks (FGI) will launch Elektrolyte in the UK in January. FGI, which is the UK arm of Singaporean company...

Wii launch ad draws series of complaints over violence.
December 14, 2006... The launch advertising campaign for Nintendo's Wii games console has triggered at least seven complaints to the Advertising Standards Authority on the grounds of excessive violence. It is unclear which ads the viewers are complaining...

Wells & Young's lures Carlsberg marketer.(appointment of Chris Lewis)(Brief article)
December 14, 2006... Wells & Young's Brewing Company has poached Chris Lewis, the marketer responsible for launching Carlsberg Edge, to the new role of marketing director. He leaves Carlsberg after less than a year in the post. Lewis, who takes over the...

Exit of European marketing head leaves Midway on the hunt again.(Al King quits Midway Games)
December 14, 2006... Midway Games, the US video games developer and publisher behind Mortal Combat, is on the hunt for a European marketing director following the abrupt departure of Al King after just six months. It is understood that King has already left...

IN BRIEF: Carphone Warehouse wins back business from Vodafone.(Carphone Warehouse Group PLC, Vodafone Group PLC)(Brief article)
December 14, 2006... Carphone Warehouse has won back a chunk of business from Vodafone just weeks after the operator announced an exclusive deal with Phones4U to sell contract phones. Vodafone has agreed that existing customers can still upgrade at Carphone...