Marketing Week articles from February 2005

Marketing Week archives from February 2005

More power for P&G's innovator.(Procter & Gamble Co.)(Editorial)
February 3, 2005... Coca-Cola and Pepsi, Vodafone and Orange, General Motors and Toyota... mostly we have no trouble in identifying the key competition of the world's biggest brand owners. But what of Procter & Gamble, now unquestionably the world's largest...

Walkers to launch crisp and nut brand.(Brief Article)
February 3, 2005... Nobbys range will carry no Walkers branding and aims to rival McCoy's and KP pub snacks PepsiCo-owned Walkers Snacks is planning to launch a new sub-brand without the Walkers branding for the first time. The new brand, called Nobbys, is a...

Government-backed Connexions loyalty card for teens facing axe.(Brief Article)
February 3, 2005... The Government's tie-up with brands such as Carphone Warehouse, Cosmo Girl!, Top Shop and UCI Cinema as part of its Connexions Card loyalty scheme to encourage teenagers to stay on in education, is facing the axe. This follows research...

IPG chief flies in to hold key client talks.(Interpublic Group of Companies Inc.)(Brief Article)
February 3, 2005... Interpublic Group's (IPG) newly appointed chief executive David Roth is reported to be flying to the UK today (Wednesday) to try to stem any further client losses. Insiders suggest that Roth will be meeting key Lowe clients including Tesco...

Doubts cast over David's Bacardi role.(confusion regarding Stella David's role in Bacardi Martini Services' American operations)(Brief Article)
February 3, 2005... Mystery engulfs Bacardi-Martini's newly promoted US president Stella David's role, as reports suggest that she does not have a "confirmed" position to go to. Her promotion was announced in October last year, as exclusively reported in...

New Balance boosts ad spend for European drive.(Brief Article)
February 3, 2005... New Balance has boosted its advertising spend to #6m as part of a major push to boost sales in Europe in 2005. The decision is being supported by the creation of a new product development team that will focus on the European market. The...

Troubled Rover unveils ad offensive.(MG Rover Group Ltd.)(Brief Article)
February 3, 2005... Struggling British car manufacturer MG Rover is launching a back-to- basics advertising campaign as it awaits news on the takeover deal that could make or break the company. The campaign, which is the first work from agency St Luke's...

Boots plans own-branded children's range.(Brief Article)
February 3, 2005... Boots is launching an own-branded range of products called Children's Health. It will include more than 50 products including cough mixture, vitamins, insect repellent spray and thermometers. The products will be supported in store by a...

Restructure sparks exit of Britannia boss.(Britannia Building Society)(Brief Article)
February 3, 2005... Alan Long, head of marketing at the Britannia Building Society - the UK's second largest - has left the company following a restructure of the marketing department. Long's deputy Dominic Facci is acting as head of marketing until the...

Vodafone boss puts emphasis on brand experience, not advertising.(Vodafone Group PLC)(Brief Article)
February 3, 2005... Brand advertising and sponsorship are not "sufficient" to build a brand, according to Vodafone chief executive Arun Sarin. Vodafone spends an estimated #250m globally on advertising and over #100m on sponsorship deals including Manchester...

Sainsbury's launches school sport scheme.(J Sainsbury PLC)(Brief Article)
February 3, 2005... Sainsbury's is to launch a voucher-collection scheme for school sports equipment and activities as part of a wider programme encouraging children to take more exercise and to eat more healthily. The initiative is part of chief executive...

Nestle Rowntree to extend its low-carbohydrate range.(Brief Article)
February 3, 2005... Nestle Rowntree is understood to be planning low-carbohydrate versions of its Double Chocolate and Aero brands, following the success of its first foray into the market last year with Kit Kat and Rolo. Industry insiders say Nestle is...

Gerber takes over Sunny D marketing.(Gerber Foods Soft Drinks)(Brief Article)
February 3, 2005... Gerber Foods Soft Drinks has taken on the marketing of former Procter & Gamble juice brand Sunny D. Gerber previously manufactured and distributed the drink, formerly called Sunny Delight, but has now been assigned marketing duties by new...

Lego UK general manager defects to rival toy group.(Brief Article)
February 3, 2005... Lego UK general manager Anders Kloster has left the struggling toy company after 14 years to join rival LeapFrog Toys as UK managing director. Kloster, who has been UK general manager since April last year, has been replaced by...

Retailers axe Optio nutrient drinks.(Optio Health Products)(Brief Article)
February 3, 2005... Optio Health Products' range of nutrient juice drinks, launched to ride the wave of interest in healthier lifestyles just over two years ago, has been de-listed from major multiples and is believed to have been axed. The Optio range was...

Wm Hill picks retail marketing chief.(William Hill group)(Brief Article)
February 3, 2005... William Hill group director for trading David Lowrey has been given additional responsibility as head of retail marketing, ending the gambling giant's hunt for a new marketing chief for that side of the business. The move follows the...

Cancer charity appoints head of marketing.(Cancer Research UK)(Brief Article)
February 3, 2005... Cancer Research UK, the country's biggest charity, has appointed Eli Lilly board director Maxine Taylor as the charity's executive director of policy and communications, to head its marketing and advertising. Taylor takes up the post in...

Coke plans Fanta Summer variant.(Coca-Cola Co. launches Fanta Summer Fruits flavour)(Brief Article)
February 3, 2005... Coca-Cola is launching a Fanta Summer Fruits flavour in an effort to revive the flagging "fruit fizz" soft drinks category. The fruit fizz category covers fruit-flavoured carbonates, with the biggest brands being Fanta and Britvic Soft...

Powergen splits B2B and consumer arms.(PowerGen PLC separate its consumer and business-to-business divisions)(Brief Article)
February 3, 2005... Energy company Powergen is restructuring its retail marketing operation to separate its consumer and business-to-business divisions. Sales and marketing director Paul Parmenter will move to the new position of director of consumer...

Pennine Spring relaunch.(Britvic Soft Drinks Ltd. relaunch water brand Pennine Spring in 500ml bottles)(Brief Article)
February 3, 2005... Britvic Soft Drinks is to relaunch newly acquired water brand Pennine Spring in 500ml bottles, with the still version available with a sports cap. Clemmow Hornby Inge will handle advertising, as revealed in Marketing Week last week. ...

Richard Ames appointed.(Ladbroke Group PLC)(Brief Article)
February 3, 2005... Ladbrokes has appointed Richard Ames as its retail commercial director. Ames joins the bookmaker from Dixons and will be responsible for the company's in-store fixed-odds betting terminals and contracts with football clubs. Copyright:...

Ryanair news.(Brief Article)
February 3, 2005... Ryanair is considering ditching the portable in-flight entertainment system it began introducing last September, subject to a final trial of the idea at a lower price (MW September 23, 2004). Copyright: Centaur Communications Ltd. and...

Labour Party criticised as anti-Semitic.(Brief Article)
February 3, 2005... The Labour Party has withdrawn two election posters shown on its website that have been criticised as anti-Semitic. The posters, created by TBWA/London, depicted Opposition leader Michael Howard as a 'Fagin' figure and as a flying pig. ...

Cafedirect turnover.(Brief Article)
February 3, 2005... Cafedirect, the fair-trade hot beverage company, has reported a 27 per cent increase in turnover to #17.3m in its first annual report. The company's AGM is on March 5. Copyright: Centaur Communications Ltd. and licensors

Archers Schnapps promotion.(bottles to be promoted with music compact disks)(Brief Article)
February 3, 2005... Archers Schnapps bottles are to be packaged with a mini-CD created by Warner Music UK. The promotion is branded Hairbrush Divas Mix and has been developed from the Diageo brand's sponsorship of Century FM's Hairbursh Divas show. ...

O2 launch 3G hand-sets.(O2 Ltd.)(Brief Article)
February 3, 2005... O2 has launched its first range of third-generation handsets. The mobile operator had maintained that it would not rush its 3G launch and it follows rivals 3, Vodafone and Orange to market. Copyright: Centaur Communications Ltd. and...

Steve Settle appointed by Lexus GB.(Brief Article)
February 3, 2005... Lexus GB has appointed Steve Settle as director with responsibility for marketing. He joins from Toyota Motor Marketing Europe. Settle replaces Karl Schlicht, who has been promoted to vice-president of Lexus corporate planning at TMME. ...

Sainsbury's range of own-label goods.(J Sainsbury PLC)(Brief Article)
February 3, 2005... Sainsbury's has launched a range of own-label goods under the name Basics. The range replaces the Low Price value offering and initial products include packs of fresh fruit and vegetables, baby wipes and refuse sacks. Copyright: Centaur...

Laurie Morgan promoted by McDonald's.(McDonald's U.K.)(Brief Article)
February 3, 2005... McDonald's has promoted Laurie Morgan to vice-president of marketing for the UK, ending a three-month search. Formerly head of marketing, Morgan replaces John Hawkes, who retired last month. Copyright: Centaur Communications Ltd. and...

France Telecom to review European media business.(France Telecom S.A.)(Brief Article)
February 3, 2005... France Telecom is set to review the advertising arrangements for all its European brands, including Orange and Wanadoo, with a view to consolidating the business. The account is estimated to be worth #500m in Europe. A France Telecom...

RPM3 wins Habitat advertising task.(Habitat International Ltd. hire RPM3 advertising agency)(Brief Article)
February 3, 2005... Furniture retailer Habitat has hired RPM3 to create an advertising campaign promoting the chain's spring/summer collection. It is believed that the agency, which has previously worked for collapsed chains Allders and Courts, has been hired...

Retailer Heal's in agency hunt for brand modernisation push.(DDB London)(Brief Article)
February 3, 2005... Heal's the contemporary furniture and home accessories retailer is to hold a pitch for its advertising account. DDB London has held the account for the past nine years and has been invited to repitch for the business, but it is not known...

Advertising for Cadbury's Dairy Milk centenary year.(Brief Article)
February 3, 2005... Elvis, the direct agency, has created the first burst of advertising for Cadbury's Dairy Milk's centenary year. The campaign includes television, radio, press and online advertising and will support the brand's '2 Seats' promotion, which...

Lowe boss quits - and is set to sue.(Mark Cadman to leave Lowe Lintas and Partners Europe)(Brief Article)
February 3, 2005... Mark Cadman, managing director of beleaguered ad agency Lowe, is thought to be leaving the agency just weeks after the appointment of new chief executive Garry Lace (MW January 13). It is understood that Cadman, who was promised the role of...

Schwartz reviews ad brief out of Quiet Storm.(Brief Article)
February 3, 2005... Herb and spice brand Schwartz is reviewing its advertising account out of Quiet Storm. It is understood that the brand is in the early stages of the review. The incumbent agency is not repitching. Schwartz, which is owned by UK-based...

Campaign for Firstplus Financial Group.(Brief Article)
February 3, 2005... EHS Brann has created an integrated campaign, including a direct- response TV ad, for Firstplus Financial Group. The TV ad will be supported by press and direct marketing. Copyright: Centaur Communications Ltd. and licensors

WARL appointed.(Warl groups)(Brief Article)
February 3, 2005... WARL has been appointed to a #1m through-the-line campaign for the relaunch of sweet brand Chewits. The campaign will include the brand's first TV work for two years. Copyright: Centaur Communications Ltd. and licensors

Campaign for the Electoral Commission.(Brief Article)
February 3, 2005... St Luke's has created a TV campaign for the Electoral Commission, to air from February 7. The campaign encourages people to register to vote ahead of council elections on May 5, also widely tipped as the date for a General Election. ...

International campaign for Qantas.(Brief Article)
February 3, 2005... M&C Saatchi Sydney has created an international TV branding campaign for Qantas, featuring a Qantas plane flying over global tourist attractions that subsequently 'relax'. Zenith Optimedia handled media planning and buying. Copyright:...

Huet win place on agency roster.(Huet & Company Advertising)(Brief Article)
February 3, 2005... Huet & Company Advertising, the Manchester-based agency, has won a place on Wembley Stadium's agency roster ahead of its opening next year. The agency, which has worked with Everton Football Club and Puma, will work on sales of Club Wembley...

Keevill Barton Kershaw appointed.(Keevill Barton Kershaw )(Brief Article)
February 3, 2005... Keevill Barton Kershaw has been appointed by Alpha Telecom to handle its #2m advertising business after a pitch against Red Cell Response and incumbent Velocity. Copyright: Centaur Communications Ltd. and licensors

TV campaign for Lynx.(Brief Article)
February 3, 2005... Bartle Bogle Hegarty has created a TV campaign for Lynx that parodies Asian martial arts films such as Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, to promote the new Lynx Unlimited variant. The 30-second ad breaks on February 7. Copyright: Centaur...

Club 18-30 promotion.(Brief Article)
February 3, 2005... Saatchi & Saatchi has devised a strategy to promote Club 18-30 based on the idea of 'being on the list' and involving exclusive nightclub parties across the UK. The promotion will be backed by radio, outdoor, press and online advertising....

Campaign for Pepsi Max.(Brief Article)
February 3, 2005... Abbott Mead Vickers.BDDO has created a television, outdoor and radio advertising campaign for Pepsi Max and its new variant, Pepsi Max Twist. The ads feature a chimpanzee-driven taxi and an office worker descending the outside of a skyscraper....

J Walter Thompson pick up Nestle Rowntree business.(J. Walter Thompson U.K. Holdings Ltd.)(Brief Article)
February 3, 2005... J Walter Thompson is understood to have picked up #6m-worth of Nestle Rowntree business from Lowe as part of a consolidation of the account. Lowe has handled the business since 2000. Copyright: Centaur Communications Ltd. and licensors

Wieden & Kennedy wins #4m Sky One business.(Brief Article)
February 3, 2005... BSkyB has appointed Wieden & Kennedy to handle the estimated #4m advertising account for its Sky One channel. The agency pitched against Rainey Kelly Campbell Roalfe/Y&R, Clemmow Hornby Inge and DDB London for the business. Incumbent...

Herbal Essences seals #2m C4 deal.(Channel 4 Television Co.)(Brief Article)
February 3, 2005... Procter & Gamble's Herbal Essences is to sponsor Channel 4's Desperate Housewives in a deal thought to be worth up to #2m. It is the first time that P&G has taken its relationship with Channel 4 beyond traditional spot advertising....

Campaign to support breakfast show.(95.8 Capital FM)(Brief Article)
February 3, 2005... 95.8 Capital FM is launching a television campaign to support the Johnny Vaughan breakfast show. The campaign, which has been created by Delaney Lund Knox Warren, shows Vaughan singing and dancing his way around London to the tune of Motown...

In-store radio provider picks sales house.(Immedia, Unique Media Sales )(Brief Article)
February 3, 2005... Immedia, the in-store radio station provider, has appointed Unique Media Sales to handle its advertising as part of the company's expansion. The deal coincides with an announcement that Nestle Rowntree has signed up as the exclusive...

Carat recruits Gillette marketer.(Carat International, Michael Winkler)(Brief Article)
February 3, 2005... Gillette marketer Michael Winkler has returned to the UK to join Carat International. He will lead the media agency's global Philips account as a vice-president. The former Gillette European media director was promoted to European...

King of Shaves to sponsor Winter Olympic medal hope.(Brief Article)
February 3, 2005... King Of Shaves, the male grooming brand, is to sponsor British Winter Olympic gold medal hopeful Kristan Bromley in a deal believed to be worth #1m. Bromley is the current World Cup and European bob skeleton champion and will be...

Pearl and Dean sign deal.(Brief Article)
February 3, 2005... Pearl & Dean has signed a deal to handle the ad sales contract for new Irish cinema exhibitor Edward's, which has opened its first cinema in Galway. Copyright: Centaur Communications Ltd. and licensors

Simon Worthington leaves Initiative Media.(Brief Article)
February 3, 2005... Initiative Media head of communications planning for Unilever Simon Worthington has left the company. His departure follows the move of Unilever business to MindShare. Copyright: Centaur Communications Ltd. and licensors

Independent promotion with WH Smith.(Independent News and Media PLC, WH Smith Group PLC)(Brief Article)
February 3, 2005... The Independent is running a promotion with WH Smith airport and station outlets, giving purchasers of The Independent #1 off any newsstand magazine. Copyright: Centaur Communications Ltd. and licensors

Theakston will take over from Coleman.(Theakston, Jamie, Jono Coleman)(Brief Article)
February 3, 2005... Heart 106.2, the Chrysalis-owned station, has announced that former Radio 1 DJ Jamie Theakston will take over from Jono Coleman on the station's breakfast show from Easter. Copyright: Centaur Communications Ltd. and licensors

Breakfast show gains 83,000 listeners.(Brief Article)
February 3, 2005... 95.8 Capital FM's breakfast show, hosted by Johnny Vaughan, gained 83,000 listeners in the last quarter of 2004 according to the latest Rajar figures. It is the first quarter in which Vaughan has gained rather than lost listeners since he...

Classic FM taxi and outdoor campaign.(Brief Article)
February 3, 2005... Classic FM, the GWR-owned national radio station, is extending the taxi and outdoor campaign it launched last summer, adding 50 branded taxis as well as 96-sheet posters. Copyright: Centaur Communications Ltd. and licensors

First Drinks Brands sponsorship deal.(Brief Article)
February 3, 2005... First Drinks Brands liqueur Disaronno will sponsor the British version of Sky One programme Entertainment Tonight. The sponsorship was negotiated and produced by Sponsorvision. Copyright: Centaur Communications Ltd. and licensors

MediaCom appointed.(Brief Article)
February 3, 2005... MediaCom has been appointed to Volkswagen's $430m (#230m) US media planning and buying account, as tipped in Marketing Week (January 6). The business moves to WPP Group from Havas-owned Media Planning Group. Copyright: Centaur...

Yahoo!-Kelkoo automotive comparison website opens.(Yahoo! UK & Ireland)(Brief Article)
February 3, 2005... Yahoo! UK & Ireland and shopping comparison company Kelkoo have launched the Yahoo! Cars website, their first major joint project since Yahoo! bought Kelkoo last April. Yahoo! has also made Kelkoo UK managing director Glen Drury vice-...

Thos. Cook launches website ads.(Thomas Cook Group Ltd.)(Brief Article)
February 3, 2005... Tour operator and travel agent Thomas Cook is backing the relaunch of its website with its biggest online ad campaign to date. Banners will appear on sites including Yahoo!, Wanadoo, Lycos and Teletext Holidays. Created by Oyster...

Yahoo! deal with British Airways.(Yahoo! UK and Ireland)(Brief Article)
February 3, 2005... Yahoo! UK & Ireland has signed an exclusive deal with British Airways for the airline to sponsor Yahoo!'s coverage of the RBS Six Nations rugby tournament and the 2005 Lions tour. The deal was set up by Agency.com. Copyright: Centaur...

Greenlight expanding into the US.(Brief Article)
February 3, 2005... Greenlight, the London-based search marketing agency, is expanding into the US with the opening of a New York office. Greenlight founder and chief executive Warren Cowan will head the US operation until a full- time US managing director is...

MSN new search service launch.(Brief Article)
February 3, 2005... MSN has finally launched its new search service, in competition with Google. It is understood the launch will be backed by a multi-million pound television advertising campaign through McCann Erickson, MSN's first in the UK for four years....

E-tailers fail on flexibility of deliveries.(Brief Article)
February 3, 2005... UK online retailers are shooting themselves in the foot by failing to offer customers flexible delivery options, says new research. According to delivery management company MetaPack, only 12 per cent of retailers allow customers to...

Magic conjures up a way to bypass Heart.
February 3, 2005... The battle between 95.8 Capital FM and Heart 106.2 to be the most listened to radio station in London has been upstaged by Magic's emergence in the latest Rajar figures. By Caroline Parry The battle for the number one spot in the...

Mainstream advertisers should benefit from the direct approach.
February 3, 2005... The success of brands that sell directly to consumers, combining advertising with database analysis, will revolutionise media planning, says Simon Foster Despite over 40 years of research, we still don't fully understand how advertising...

Neuromarketing: brain scam or valuable tool?
February 3, 2005... Marketers are turning to neuroscience to better understand consumers' reactions to brands and advertising, but how much can such techniques really tell us? Amanda Wilkinson reports If only marketers could realise their dream of being able...

Struggling to keep the viral bug under control.
February 3, 2005... The viral ad, once for 'edgy' brands, is set for the mainstream, but while there are signs that virals are discarding their smutty origins, they are still a high-risk strategy, says Martin Croft Suicide bombers, decapitated cats, Janet...

P&G scales up global ambitions.
February 3, 2005... The P&G-Gillette merger creates a behemoth with global reach and unlocks brand synergies. How it copes with the tensions between acquisition and innovation will be the rue test of the 'Lafley doctrine'. By Alan Mitchell Read the weekend...

INNOVATION AND TRADING UP.(Procter & Gamble Co.)
February 3, 2005... Any merger can deliver cost savings by eliminating overlap. The real challenge facing P&G-Gillette is whether it can use the tie-up to create genuine incremental growth. This will involve some fundamental rethinking, such as 'What,...

TSUNAMI APPEAL: Fighting for your charity.
February 3, 2005... As many charities wind down their fundraising activities for the tsunami appeal, other causes are left counting the cost of the overwhelming pull of efforts on behalf of the disaster-stricken in Asia. By David Benady As the funds raised...

Letter: Don't leave your e-customers to search blindly.(Letter to the Editor)
February 3, 2005... I was intrigued to read the feature on search marketing (MW January 20) and the lack of understanding shown by most marketers towards online branding. Unlike traditional advertising, where the brand is king, online searches are usually...

Letter: When play wasn't a hard thing to do.(Letter to the Editor)
February 3, 2005... After reading the article "Too much information" (MW January 20) I received this amusing piece. According to today's regulators and bureaucrats, those of us who were children in the Sixties, Seventies and early Eighties probably...

Letter: Incentives aren't a spent force.(Letter to the Editor)
February 3, 2005... Although I agree with Alicia Clegg (MW January 20) when she says financial services communications need to be simplified, it's also important for marketers to recognise the value of incentives to attract and retain customers, and that the...

Can a young Bill succeed where Uncle Sam failed?
February 3, 2005... Bill Gates heads one of the world's most powerful companies yet appears to have a better grasp of accountability than his president. By George Pitcher There are now two people running American foreign policy: George W. Bush and Bill...

AMERICA: Advertisers look forward to a boob-free super bowl.
February 3, 2005... Ads shown during the Super Bowl are as eagerly anticipated as the action on the pitch with corporate giants vying to outshine one another, says Polly Devaney From the FA Cup final and Wimbledon to the Boat Race and cricket at Lord's, the...

FACTFILE: Plenty of off-roaders on the street.
February 3, 2005... Despite being an overwhelmingly urban nation, the British public is enamoured of four-wheel drives. They are particularly popular among families and the style-conscious The 4x4 market is up against it as drivers face a barrage of criticism...

SPECIAL REPORT - MAREKT RESEARCH: Blinded by science.
February 3, 2005... Many brand owners see market research as an unnecessary expense, as they believe there is little to learn from any focus group. But if they were to take the time to interpret results properly and give feedback to brand development teams, they...

Putting the 'culture' into Essex is no joking matter.
February 3, 2005... Essex wants to change its image - from white stillettos to 'high culture'. But the county should be proud of its influence on modern Britain, asserts Iain Murray Among all the whimsical public service appointments for which The...

Lace moves on from Lowe point.(appointments)(Editorial)
February 10, 2005... The quality Napoleon Bonaparte most sought in his generals was luck. I have no idea whether Garry Lace, controversially installed chief executive of Lowe London, is familiar with the wit and wisdom of Bonaparte, but he has unquestionably been...

Unilever cuts prices to avert sales crisis.(Brief Article)
February 10, 2005... Flagging sales force the household goods giant to slash prices and boost marketing spend Unilever is expected to slash the price of its product range, which includes Dove, Flora and Persil, as it seeks to boost flagging sales and escape...

Philip Gould accused of inspiring 'anti-Semitic' Labour campaign.(Brief Article)
February 10, 2005... The controversy over The Labour Party's "anti-Semitic" ads has taken a new turn after an advertising agency source claimed that focus group pollster Philip Gould worked alongside Alastair Campbell to create the posters showing Conservative...

B&Q ads star MacArthur for first time.(Ellen MacArthur)(Brief Article)
February 10, 2005... DIY chain B&Q is featuring yachtswoman Ellen MacArthur in an ad campaign to promote its Performance Pro power tools brand after the she sailed around the world single-handedly in a record-breaking 71 days and 14 hours. It is the first time...