Marketing Week articles from July 2004

Marketing Week archives from July 2004

Grey area for a tabloid Torygraph.(Daily Telegraph PLC.)
July 1, 2004... Whatever plans may have been shaping in the Barclay brothers' minds as they assess the flaws of their tarnished 665m [pounds sterling] prize, are likely to have undergone a change of priority, thanks to the disclosure of some interesting...

Sponsors fare badly in Euro 2004 survey: Marketing Week survey shows most top Euro 2004 sponsors are barely recognised in UK.(News)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... Nearly 60 per cent of UK adults are unaware of any of the eight official sponsors of the Euro 2004 football tournament in Portugal, according to an exclusive TNS survey commissioned by Marketing Week. The news will come as a shock to the...

Woolworths names former B&Q supremo as marketing director.(News)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... Woolworths has appointed former B&Q marketer Stephen Robertson as marketing director with a place on the retailer's operating board. Robertson has been working at WH Smith as an interim marketing director for the past four months, helping...

Publicis and WPP battle it out for Grey.(Publicis Groupe, WPP Group)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... The $1.3bn (700m [pounds sterling]) bid battle for Grey Global is believed to have narrowed to two players, Publicis Groupe and WPP Group, although Japanese marketing services conglomerate Dentsu has shown an interest. Publicis--through...

Philip Morris to launch new brand in UK.(News)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... Cigarette giant Philip Morris is to launch its first brand in the UK for two decades with a low-priced cigarette called Basic. The brand goes on sale next month. But Philip Morris will not sell the brand as part of the...

Diadora pulls campaign after Bradford fire outcry.(News)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... Sportswear brand Diadora has been forced to pull its latest European ad campaign because it uses horrific pictures of the 1985 fire at Bradford City football stadium. The Italian sportswear company has already withdrawn the ad and has...

Salmon farmers in quality drive.(News)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... Scottish Quality Salmon, the quality assurance mark for farmed salmon, is launching a campaign to win back consumer confidence following months of bad press about the effects of eating farmed salmon. The campaign, which launches on July 9,...

The Government is launching a 1.4m [pounds sterling] anti-drink-driving campaign to warn that it takes less than people may think for their driving ability to be impaired by alcohol.(News)(Illustration)
July 1, 2004... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Caption: The Government is launching a 1.4m [pounds sterling] anti-drink-driving campaign to warn that it takes less than people may think for their driving ability to be Impaired by alcohol. The Department for...

National Express tries TV approach.(News)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... National Express Coaches is set to advertise on television for the first time and will launch a new brand strapline in the face of renewed competition from low-cost operators. The strapline is "Everyone, everywhere, everyday", and the ads...

Reebok appoints former Adidas man as Rbk head.(Reebok International Ltd. appointed Roy Gardn)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... Reebok has appointed former Helly Hansen and Adidas marketer Roy Gardner as European marketing director for its Rbk range, in a move that reinforces the company's commitment to the sub-brand. Gardner, who will take on the role imminently,...

BT marketer heads for Ronson to lead revival.(News)(John O'Sullivan appointed)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... Cigarette lighter and papers maker Ronson has appointed ex-BT marketer John O'Sullivan as its general manager in a bid to revive the fortunes of the troubled company. O'Sullivan will control all of the company's sales and marketing...

DfT to use Legoland for road safety push.(News)(Department for Transport)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... The Department for Transport (DfT) is planning to team up with Legoland Windsor in an attempt to broaden the reach of its road safety messages. The partnership will aim to reduce child fatalities as a result of road accidents. The...

Distiller loses director of marketing.(News)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... Scottish whisky company Whyte & Mackay marketing director Glen Gribbon has left the company. It is not known whether he has a job to go to, but the company is claiming it will continue to work with Gribbon on a consultancy basis. His...

Budgens marketing chief takes on the Londis chain.(News)(Londis Holdings Ltd)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... Budgens marketing director Stephanie Rice is likely to take over responsibility for marketing at convenience store chain Londis now that the two brands are under the ownership of Musgrave Group. The move comes as Budgens embarks on its...

Highland Spring prepares to target parents with 'children's water' brand.(News)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... Highland Spring is to promote mineral water as a safe and healthy children's drink to parents with the launch of Highland Spring Natural Mineral Water for Kids. The Scottish mineral water company will launch 330ml bottles with sports caps...

EasyJet and Cussons face ASA probe over offensive ads.(News)(Advertising Standards Authority)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... An EasyJet advertising campaign showing a man sunbathing on a beach and the tagline: "Tell the boss to stick it... where the sun don't shine" has triggered complaints for being offensive. The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) is...

Nutrinnovator races rivals to cola launch.(News)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... Nutrinnovator, the company behind the Altu savoury cereal bar, will test-market a low-sugar cola called Altu Black this August. The drink will contain no artificial sweeteners and looks set to reach the UK market before the mid-calorie,...

Nestle extends Ski out of dairy.(News)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... Nestle is extending its Ski brand beyond the dairy sector with the launch of Ski-branded cereal bars, as part of a push to reinvigorate the brand. The product, which is due to be launched in July, will be promoted as an all-day snack...

Radox revamped with premium bath range.(News)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... Consumer goods giant Sara Lee Household & Body Care is to overhaul its Radox brand and launch a range of premium bath products under the name. The company will revamp the packaging and raise the prices of its bath foam products in an...

BT.(Digests)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... BT director of marketing services Amanda Mackenzie is to become Hewlett-Packard vice-president of marketing for the Europe, Middle East and Africa region. The role includes overseeing new product development and chairing H-P's marketing...

Boots.(Digests)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... Boots is launching an area in its stores dedicated to products for men called The Men's Zone. It has also signed a two-year deal with rugby star Jonny Wilkinson to appear in its advertising. The first campaign will be to promote free...

The Food and Drink Federation.(Digests)(British Medical journal makes claims towards the marketing of food and tobacco industry)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... The Food and Drink Federation (FDF) has hit out at claims made by the British Medical Journal that the food industry employs underhand marketing tactics similar to those used by the tobacco industry. FDF deputy director general Martin Paterson...

Travelodge.(Digests)(Travelodge Hotels)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... Travelodge, the low-cost hotel chain, has appointed TGI Friday's managing director Guy Parsons as sales and marketing director. Parsons, a former marketing director for Travel Inn, replaces Simon Gregory who left earlier this month (MW June...

The Chartered Institute of Marketing.(Digests)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... The Chartered Institute of Marketing is launching a new programme of company membership on July 1 to enable senior marketers to become 'more professional, more informed and more connected'.

Butchers.(Digests)(Butcher's Pet Care)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... Butchers, the pet care brand, is launching a new dry cat food brand called Olli. The product will be launched this week, exclusively in Tesco.

Cadbury Schweppes.(Digests)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... Cadbury Schweppes is reviewing its production of super-size chocolate bars and is developing a chocolate bar made with skimmed milk. The news comes after Marketing Week revealed that it plans to launch wafer-thin chocolates called Snaps this...

Carpetright.(Digests)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... Carpetright has unveiled plans to open 100 new, smaller stores over the next five years, expanding the chain to 450 outlets. The company has also announced a 33 per cent jump in profits to 67.1m [pounds sterling].

Diageo.(Digests)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... Diageo is test launching single-serve pouches of its bestselling brands, including Smirnoff, Gordon's and Archers, at Sainsbury's stores.

The Hong Kong Tourist Board.(Digests)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... The Hong Kong Tourist Board has appointed Luton airport head of sales and marketing Mandy Round to northern Europe director.

The Official Chart Company.(Digests)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... The Official Chart Company is to launch a download music chart in September with the help of download sites such as MyCokeMusic.com, Napster and iTunes.

Euro 2004's sponsorship own goal: a Marketing Week survey reveals that more than half of UK adults failed to recognise any of the eight official sponsors of Euro 2004, with only Coca-Cola and McDonald's getting anywhere near value for money.(Euro 2004)
July 1, 2004... Euro 2004 sponsors will now be counting television ratings and product sales as they try to ascertain whether have they have achieved value for money from the football tournament. It will prove to be a worrying time for many of them given...

Edge Ideas lands Travelsphere job.(News)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... Direct-sell holiday company Travelsphere has appointed Edge Ideas to handle its 2.2m [pounds sterling] advertising business. This is the first time Travelsphere has used an agency, as ads have previously been created in house. Edge Ideas...

Malaysia Airlines sets UK review in motion.(News)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... Malaysia Airlines is on the hunt for an advertising agency to handle its 1m [pounds sterling] UK advertising account. The review, which will find a replacement for the incumbent, DDA, will be overseen by the airline's marketing manager,...

COI Communications.(Digests)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... COI Communications is creating a new marketing roster to develop consumer insight and marketing and brand strategy for all government communications. It is also reported to be seeking up to 30 agencies to form a roster of design and creative...

M&C Saatchi.(Digests)(M&C Saatchi London)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... M&C Saatchi has confirmed that it is to seek a stock market floatation in July. The company is expected to be valued at about 70m [pounds sterling]. The move comes nine years after the company was founded following a shareholder uprising that...

Bartle Bogle Hegarty.(Digests)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... Bartle Bogle Hegarty has created an ad campaign for Barclays to launch the latest phase of its 'Fluent in Finance' advertising campaign on Friday (July 2). The ad will feature Donald Sutherland and Gary Oldman taking over from Samuel L Jackson...

... BBH New York.(Digests)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... ... BBH New York has been appointed to a new 'brand activation' assignment by Unilever on its Dove brand.

Iris.(Digests)(Department for Transport)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... Iris has been appointed by the Department for Transport as its brand partnership agency.

Rainey Kelly Campbell Roalfe/Y&R.(Digests)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... Rainey Kelly Campbell Roalfe/Y&R is developing a 3m [pounds sterling] TV and outdoor campaign for Virgin Money. Previously the brand put the bulk of its investment into online marketing. Manning Gottlieb OMD is handling media planning and...

VisitLondon.(Digests)(VisitLondon.com)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... VisitLondon is looking for a marketing agency to help develop a campaign in Japan designed to attract visitors to London. VisitLondon regards the country as a 'long haul key market' this year.

Circus.(Digests)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... Circus, the branding consultancy, has been appointed by London First Centre, the inward investment agency for London, to undertake a strategic brand review to help promote the capital as the leading destination for foreign investment in Europe....

Nation1.(Digests)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... Nation1, the Glasgow-based agency, will develop a 30-second ad to be aired during this year's MTV Awards for QSoft. the company behind European digital radio station Gaydar Radio. The agency will also create the TV advertising for a 3.5m...

Cuba Advertising.(Digests)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... Cuba Advertising has won the launch campaign for a range of beauty care products endorsed by US star Jessica Simpson, which will be imported to the UK by Henry's Brown Boxes.

McCann Erickson New York.(Digests)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... McCann Erickson New York has been appointed to the $100m (55m [pounds sterling]) Viagra ad account following a pitch.

BBC to axe some digital services.(Media)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... The BBC is to close a number of its online services that do not meet a new "public value test" being introduced as part of the broadcaster's plans for charter renewal. The test, which includes quantitative and qualitative measures, will be...

MGN poaches IPC sales staff as advertising team is restructured.(Media)(Mirror Group Newspapers)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... Mirror Group Newspapers (MGN) has raided magazine publisher IPC's staff to help restructure its advertising team in the face of tumbling circulation. MGN, which includes the Daffy Mirror, the Sunday Mirror and Sunday People, has created...

Channel 4 signs Big Brother licensing deal with Walkabout for 'eviction night' promos.(Media)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... Channel 4 has forged its first programme licensing agreement with a high street brand by striking a deal for screenings of Big Brother with the Walkabout bar chain. The deal was brokered by brand consultancy Keanebrands with Channel 4 and...

Capital Radio marketing team rejigged.(Media)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... Capital Radio Group has created two senior positions to handle the marketing for its regional FM network and develop its brands division. The move will allow the group to focus its marketing on three key areas, which also includes 95.8 Capital...

Mega Profile in takeover talks.(Media)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... Outdoor advertising giant Clear Channel is understood to be in talks with banner advertising company Mega Profile about a possible takeover. Mega Profile, which was the pioneer of large-format banner advertising sites, has been under...

Sci-Fi trawls agencies for autumn campaign.(Media)(Sci-Fi Channel )(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... The Sci-Fi Channel is talking to ad agencies about a campaign brief to push its autumn schedule. In the past, the channel has used a range of agencies, including The Depot and Farm, and Rocket for media planning and buying. The channel...

The Department for Work and Pensions.(Digests)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... The Department for Work and Pensions has put its 15.7m [pounds sterling] media planning account up for tender. The statuary review is not through COI Communications.

Ofcom.(Digests)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... Ofcom has begun a consultation on the proposed method of valuation of ITV licences. The move could end up saving the broadcaster millions of pounds.

Guardian Media Group.(Digests)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... Guardian Media Group has confirmed a 50m [pounds sterling] investment in new presses to allow it to launch its titles in a compact format. The group plans to switch its newspapers entirely to a 'Berliner' format in 2006.

The BBC.(Digests)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... The BBC is understood to be lining up pop star Will Young to appear in its new branding campaign. Creative agencies Abbott Mead Vickers.BBDO, DFGW and Fallon are all pitching to create the campaign which has been described as 'the new Perfect...

BARB.(Digests)(Service introduction)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... BARB is launching a new service providing ratings data for sponsored programmes.

TUI UK.(Digests)(sponsors Sky News Weather)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... TUI UK's Thomson Holidays brand is to sponsor Sky News Weather in a 12-month deal beginning on August 1. The deal includes sponsorship of the weather sections on Sky News Active, Sky Text, Sky News Online and Sky Broadband.

Heart 106.2 FM.(Digests)(rankings )(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... Heart 106.2 FM is home to London's biggest breakfast show, according to the latest data from the GfK Broadcast Survey. It reports that the show, presented by Jono Coleman and Harriet Scott, has 2.6 million listeners and is ahead of Capital 95.8...

Sir Anthony O'Reilly.(Digests)(succeeded as chairman)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... Sir Anthony O'Reilly is to relinquish the chairmanship of independent News & Media, although he will remain chief executive. He will be succeeded as chairman by Dr Brian Hillery.

Celador International.(Digests)(struck two promotional deals)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... Celador International has struck two promotional deals for the new Channel 4 series You are What You Eat. They are a Competition with nutrition specialists Total Being offering winners a personal nutritional package and a tie-up with Champneys...

Dennis Publishing.(Digests)(contracts)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... Dennis Publishing has appointed BLM Media to its 4.5m [pounds sterling] media planning and buying account for the launch of its new motoring title 'Project Squirrel'.

The Barclay brothers.(Digests)(won case over Conrad Black)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... The Barclay brothers have won the battle for the Telegraph Group, subject to regulatory approval or any legal challenge from Conrad Black, former chief executive of Hollinger International. The brothers have paid 665m [pounds sterling] for the...

EMI to sign content deal with Samsung.(Online)(Contracts)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... EMI Music is to supply exclusive content to the Samsung UK Fun Club website, www.uk.samsungmobile.com. The deal will result in the music giant delivering news, features, competitions and access to events and festivals involving all its labels...

Agency Republic beats five to Friends of the Earth brief.(Online)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... Agency Republic, the new media arm of Claydon Heeley Jones Mason, has won the digital account for environmental charity Friends of the Earth after a six-way pitch. A campaign developed by Social Republic, Agency Republic's social marketing...

Fish4 launches 'biggest ever' press campaign.(Online)(marketing )(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... Fish4, the online classified site, is launching its biggest advertising campaign to date. More than 40 different ads will appear in over 600 regional newspapers, and the campaign, which will run in July and August, is expected to reach more...

Lastminute.com supports family website.(Online)(Real holidays introduces a online website for parents to know about the holiday travels for children)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... Lastminute.com and specialist travel agency Real Holidays are supporting a new online travel website, takethefamily.com, targeting parents looking to go on holiday with their children. According to Andy Cook, one of the tour founders of...

From tomorrow.(rules on television broadcasting)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... From tomorrow (Thursday), US law requires that at least 50 per cent of all televisions with screen sizes of 36 inches or more must be able to accept cable cards smart cards that can take the place of digital set-top boxes. But the US TV...

Madeyoulook.(contracts)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... Madeyoulook, the brand consultancy, has designed a website for Wood's Navy Rum, owned by William Grant & Sons. The site--woodsrum.co.uk--is aimed at people working in pubs and clubs and those interested in 'mixology'.

Virgin.net.(contracts)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... Virgin.net's registration CDs are to be stocked by supermarket chains Somerfield and Kwik Save.

Watson's Mirror task far from elementary: Ellis Watson has been given the unenviable task of reviving the Mirror Group's fortunes. Few doubt his marketing abilities, but will these cross over into the boardroom?(Media Analysis)
July 1, 2004... Media-savvy executives are well aware that comments appearing in print can come back and bite you on the behind. But that has not been the case for Ellis Watson, who in 1998, when he was marketing director of The Sun and News of the World,...

Further steady growth points to healthy future for great outdoors; influential sectors are throwing their considerable advertising weight behind the rising profile of outdoor media and aiding growth.(Media Comment)(growth in the outdoor marketing of united kingdom due to investments)
July 1, 2004... Outdoor turned in ten per cent growth again for 2003 and is enjoying a steadily increasing share of the UK advertising market. So why is it growing and what's in it for advertisers? The answer to the first question is: more investment, better...

Mark Thompson: public face of the corporation: the BBC's new director-general, Mark Thompson, faces many hurdles--not least, the corporation's role as a public service.(Media)(British Broadcasting Corp.)
July 1, 2004... If BBC staff thought they were in for a quieter time in the wake of Greg Dyke and John Birt, it didn't take long for them to be put straight. New director-general Mark Thompson hit the ground running when he took up his post last week. ...

VW pins failures on 'problem' marketers; VW's boss recently blamed his own marketers for the company's product failures. Others argue that long lead times and lack of input leave car marketers in a no-win position.(News Analysis)(Volkswagen)
July 1, 2004... According to Bernd Pischetsrieder, the unconventional, cigar-smoking chief executive of Volkswagen AG: "The biggest problem the car industry has, is its marketing departments." In a Car magazine interview likely to have given Volkswagen's...

Multi-service brands take the wrong turn: Centrica's strategy of offering a one-stop shop for all the dull necessities in life hasn't been a hit with the punters. And its AA business looks like being the latest casualty.(News Analysis)
July 1, 2004... Centrica's decision to sell off road rescue group the AA signals a collapse in the utility giant's brand vision. Its corporate strapline, "Taking care of the essentials", may need to be rewritten now the company has opted to focus on selling...

Marketing is about more than money ...(Letters)(Brief Article)(Letter to the Editor)
July 1, 2004... While Keith Weed's timely call to promote the role of marketing in the UK should be applauded (MW June 17), he ignores a fundamental quirk about the way marketers view their own profession. Marketing is one of only a handful of industries...

... But its image needs a rethink.(Letters)(Brief Article)(Letter to the Editor)
July 1, 2004... I welcome the initiative of Marketing Society chairman Keith Weed in his call to promote the marketing role (MW June 17). May I suggest that a review of the psyche of modern client marketing personnel also be undertaken. It seems the...

Asda offers more than cost-cutting.(Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
July 1, 2004... I read Scan Brierley's article on cost-cutting (MW June 17) and confess to being slightly confused. In it he contends that keeping a keen eye on costs and offering great service and meaningful jobs were mutually exclusive. On one hand he's...

The great pretenders? The search for eternal youth will always be a moneyspinner. But in an era of control, regulation, and apparent corporate responsibility, cosmetics companies are treading a fine line with claims of what their products can do, as L'Oreal discovered last week. Is the pseudo-science of the beauty industry the next target for legislation?(Cover Story)
July 1, 2004... The quest for beauty and eternal youth has been a recurring theme in both history and mythology. From Cleopatra's belief that bathing in asses' milk helped preserve youth and beauty, to those who have used monkey glands to restore youth, there...

Why retailers are given an easy ride by the regulator: moves to investigate the share dealings of individual executives have been far swifter than efforts to regulate supermarkets' trading.(Business)
July 1, 2004... Why is it that some people do their jobs as they are meant to and to our satisfaction, while others in the same industry appear not really to understand why they are there? Why, for instance, do the Czech Republic and Greece play football as if...

Mercier Gray stories are very much like buses.(Diary)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Caption: Mercier Gray stories are very much like buses. You wait all year and then two torn up at once. After terrorising Covent Garden with bizarre acrobatic stunts (MW last week), Rob Gray returned to type, turning...

TUC hams it up at the Houses of Parliament.(Diary)(Trades Union Congress)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... The Diary would never suggest that the Houses of Parliament have seen more than their fair share of porkies over the years, but it did raise a titter to see a 10-ft tall, helium-filled inflatable pig camped outside the building last week. ...

Iris poster power is music to the ears.(Diary)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... Tieing up the MCCA Agency of the Year Award by the end of June has seemingly gone to the heads of the management at Iris. In celebration of the award, the agency decided to rub it in the noses of as many people as possible, and what better way...

The Diary seems to be eternally chronicling feats of endurance and courage carried out by the great and good of the marketing world, so expects a good response to the Sport Relief agency challenge.(Diary)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... The Diary seems to be eternally chronicling feats of endurance and courage carried out by the great and good of the marketing world, so expects a good response to the Sport Renof agency challenge. All agencies have to do is find a few fit...

Living life on the Edge.(Corporate Edge, chief executive Chris Wood, car chase)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... Fans of cult (which is usually just a euphemism for naff) Eighties films will no doubt fondly remember the Cannonball Run series that haunted cinemas throughout the decade. One such person who this most certainly refers to is Corporate Edge...

UK alters focus on digital cameras: digital cameras, initially perceived as the preserve of professional photographers, have exploded onto the mass market. Falling prices have been the driver of growth.(Factfile)
July 1, 2004... The explosion of the digital camera market is changing the way the UK takes photos. While in the past many consumers have been disappointed by out-of-focus snaps or heads chopped off, digital cameras have changed everything by allowing users to...