Marketing Week articles from March 2008

Marketing Week archives from March 2008

Lloyds TSB courts WPP ire over #10m Adam & Eve task.(Brief article)
March 6, 2008... RKCR breakaway scoops bank's sports brief but WPP is expected to raise 'non-compete' clause Lloyds TSB has appointed RKCR/Y&R breakaway Adam & Eve to handle a #10m sports sponsorship brief. The agency will work on projects around the...

Buscombe launches probe into Which? complaints power.(Enterprise Act of 2002)(Brief article)
March 6, 2008... The Advertising Association (AA) is to question the validity of the legal powers of lobby group Which?, in an attempt to probe into any possible link between its commercial and public policy activities. AA chief executive Peta Buscombe will...

Men Behaving Badly star to launch own brand of beer.(Brief article)
March 6, 2008... Actor Neil Morrissey is launching his own brand of beer as part of a new Channel 4 series. The show will see him set-up a microbrewery as he searches for the perfect pint. The actor is working with friend Richard Fox and advertising and...

TalkTalk replaces MD as it seeks to bolster up broadband service.(Wendy Becker appointed at Carphone Warehouse Group PLC)(Brief article)
March 6, 2008... The Carphone Warehouse has appointed Wendy Becker to run its fixed-line business TalkTalk. Becker, who joins from management consultancy McKinsey, replaces David Thatcher, who is leaving the company after two years. Becker has been a...

Energy watchdog lambasts lack of focus on poorer customers.(Brief article)
March 6, 2008... Consumer watchdog Energywatch has attacked energy companies for their reluctance to market to the fuel poor. The energy body has called on the Government to force energy suppliers to market to lower income consumers in the same way that...

'TV soaps should educate consumers on debt issues'.(Brief article)
March 6, 2008... The Government should use popular soap operas such as Coronation Street and EastEnders to educate consumers about financial services, according to a new Treasury-backed report. The Thoresen Review of Generic Financial Advice, written by...

Chevrolet renews Euro sales drive.(Brief article)
March 6, 2008... Chevrolet is aiming to more than treble its sales in Europe and become as big as Opel/Vauxhall within ten years, according to Jonathan Browning, vice-president of sales and marketing at parent company, General Motors. The marque wants to...

Bulmers Pear launches first above-the-line UK campaign.(Brief article)
March 6, 2008... Bulmers Pear, the premium, packaged over-ice cider, is launching its first above-the-line campaign, to start on March 10. Created by Glasgow-based agency Frame, the campaign will include 6,000 six-sheet poster sites across the UK, with 20...

PepsiCo drafts in Euro boss to lead Tropicana and Quaker.(David Johnston appointed as general manager )(Brief article)
March 6, 2008... PepsiCo UK has appointed David Johnston as general manager of its Quaker and Tropicana businesses. He replaces Mary Barnard, who has been promoted to global vice-president of new beverage platforms. Johnston will move from his position as...

Mencap hands top marketing role to education director.(Alison Sargent promoted to marketing role ahead )(Brief article)
March 6, 2008... Mencap, the learning disability charity, has promoted Alison Sargent to its top marketing role ahead of an overhaul of the brand, which will start next month. Sargent replaces Deborah Hamilton-Lewis, who has left the charity, and will...

Boots plots new products for Protect & Perfect line.(Boots America Inc.)(Brief article)
March 6, 2008... Boots is extending its anti-ageing line No7 Protect and Perfect range. The original serum, launched last summer, caused a consumer frenzy after a TV programme claimed it really worked. The product line is to include a day cream, night...

ASA turns down requests to investigate Vauxhall ad.(Advertising Standards Authority )(Brief article)
March 6, 2008... The latest Vauxhall campaign for the Meriva model, starring two "little dads", has been reported to the advertising regulator for being "irresponsible". The ad features the two young boys using a jack to lift up the front of the car. ...

Analysis: Poundland seeks to widen appeal as consumers tighten belts.(Company overview)
March 6, 2008... Poundland is seeking to capitalise on straitened economic conditions by hiring its first advertising agency (MW last week). But it will be no easy task to differentiate the brand from its countless rivals in the discount retail sector. ...

Appletiser woos drinks market with fresh range.(Brief article)
March 6, 2008... Appletiser, the soft drinks company, is understood to be planning an assault on the mainstream drinks market with the launch of three new flavours next month. It is thought that the new flavours will be a mix of several fruits and are...

Neal's Yard seeks marketing director to lead expansion.(Jonathan Hook appointed at Neal's Yard Remedies)(Brief article)
March 6, 2008... Neal's Yard Remedies, the organic and ethical beauty retailer, is seeking a marketing director to join the company at board level. The company has created the role ahead of plans to expand in the UK and overseas. The successful candidate...

Analysis: Will allowing NHS providers to advertise prove a distraction?(National Health Service )
March 6, 2008... New rules are being introduced this spring allowing National Health Service providers to advertise their services. From April, hospitals, NHS Trusts and clinics will be permitted to target the public with marketing campaigns as they compete...

MCCA appoints Gyro chief Gary Byrne as chairman.(Gary Byrne appointed at Marketing Communications Consultants Association)(Brief article)
March 6, 2008... Gary Byrne, chief executive of Gyro International, will be the next chairman of the Marketing Communications Consultants Association (MCCA). He takes over from Graham Kemp, founder of the Marketing Store. The announcement coincides with the...

Anti-binge drinking ads play on teen girls' vanity.(Brief article)
March 6, 2008... The Government is planning to tap into female vanity with its latest anti-binge drinking campaign by highlighting that it can ruins looks. The hard-hitting campaign, led by the Department of Health and the Home Office, will specifically...

EU 'free' directive definition splits ad bodies.
March 6, 2008... The Incorporated Society for British Advertisers (ISBA) and the Institute of Sales Promotions (ISP) have clashed over whether a new European Union directive will allow advertisers to use the word "free". The Directive, which will be...

The Together Agency wins below-the-line Artois business.(Brief article)
March 6, 2008... The Together Agency has been appointed to the below-the-line business of InBev's Artois range of beers. It won the account after a competitive pitch against undisclosed agencies. It is working on developing an on-trade campaign that will...

Iris chief slams direct marketing industry for being 'stuck in a rut'.
March 6, 2008... Iris chief executive Ian Millner has launched a scathing attack on the direct marketing industry (DM), saying its "conservatism" is causing it to lag way behind digital as a discipline. His comments come as figures from Royal Mail show...

Clear Marketing wins #1m McArthurGlen ad business.
March 6, 2008... McArthurGlen Group, the owner and operator of designer outlet shopping centres, has appointed Manchester-based Clear Marketing to its #1m advertising business. It follows a pitch against undisclosed agencies, which is understood to have...

New campaign: Joss Stone unveiled as Flake Girl.(Cadbury Schweppes PLC)(Brief article)
March 6, 2008... Publicis has created the first campaign starring soul singer Joss Stone as the Cadbury Flake Girl. It breaks tonight (Wednesday) during the premier of ITV primetime drama, Rock Rivals. The ad also revives the "crumbliest, flakiest...

ITV ad revenue set to 'break even' for first time since CRR introduced.(Brief article)
March 6, 2008... ITV is set to "break even" on advertising revenue for the first time since Contracts Rights Renewal (CRR) was introduced, according to calculations by rival sales houses and media agencies. A number of sources have suggested that although...

Audi Channel to launch on-demand IPTV player.(Audi AG)(Brief article)
March 6, 2008... The Audi Channel is launching an on-demand media player that will make all of its content available online. The Volkswagen-owned marque's dedicated television channel is also getting a new on-air identity as part of a wider revamp. ...

MeasurementCamp group to set social media benchmarks.(Dare Digital and BauerConsumer Media )(Brief article)
March 6, 2008... Dare Digital and BauerConsumer Media are among the founding members of a new digital industry group which aims to establish a set of standards for measuring the effectiveness of social media campaigns. The initiative, which is called...

O2 reviews its high-profile music sponsorship account.(Brief article)
March 6, 2008... O2 is reviewing its music sponsorship account, which is held by Drum PHD. The incumbent will repitch for the business. Shadi Halliwell, the head of brand and marketing communications at O2, will oversee the review. Drum, PHD's branded...

New campaign: Naked launches Kickers campaign.(Brief article)
March 6, 2008... Naked has developed a print, online and experiential campaign to support the launch of a range of new products from Kickers. It will launch a new strapline, Meet the Kickers, and aims to shift the company away from branding campaigns to...

Alton Towers targets short-break audience.(Brief article)
March 6, 2008... Alton Towers is launching a TV campaign to support a major repositioning away from a theme park to a short-break destination. The campaign is the first TV work from the attraction for five years. It aims to target a family audience and...

South Africa starts phase two of #10.5m tourism ads.(Brief article)
March 6, 2008... South African Tourism, the country's official visitor organisation, is preparing to roll out the second phase of a #10.5m global advertising push. The body has launched a microsite in conjunction with the Daily Telegraph, based around...

Slicethepie releases first album by a fan-funded band through its site.(Brief article)
March 6, 2008... Slicethepie, the fan-funded music site, is launching the debut album of indie band The Alps. It is the first launch from the site, which offers fans the chance to fund releases from small bands. Slicethepie claims to turn music fans into...

Analysis: Sport newspapers' strategic boobs lead to major overhaul.
March 6, 2008... "Salacious" and "grubby" are not how publishing chiefs usually describe their leading titles, but for the Daily Sport and Sunday Sport the words are a given. However, more than 20 years after the titles launched, pictures of naked women...

Because of 'influencers', early adopters could already be over.
March 6, 2008... Everyone can be an influencer, they don't need to be a celebrity or even considered cool. If the brand is interesting enough, people will take note Everyone knows that if you're marketing a funky new pair of trainers, the best thing to...

LETTER: Marketers must get to grips with their sums.(Letter to the editor)
March 6, 2008... As an accountant I read with interest Alan Mitchell's article "Why it's time to move on from all these narcissistic metrics" (MW February 21). I've had a number of debates about the efficacy of marketing with colleagues over the years and...

LETTER: It is consumers - not channels - that are key.(Letter to the editor)
March 6, 2008... I suggest that rather than arguing about the definition of communications planning (MW February 14) we start focusing on how attribution modelling can be the key to effectively informing brands' communications strategies. The buying...

LETTER: Hi-tech promotions rely on good suppliers.(Letter to the editor)
March 6, 2008... I was recently quoted in your report into hi-tech verses low-tech incentives (MW February 21) and feel that my comments were interpreted in a way that could easily be misconstrued. The opening statement on hi-tech promotional items that...

VIEWPOINT: Could it soon be last post for direct mail?
March 6, 2008... Direct mail is in full retreat and direct marketing agency pitches have all but dried up. Is this a dreadful portent for a once-thriving sector, or simply a blip while it reorganises itself? It has to be said the outlook does not look...

ITV: Buying time for a revolution.
March 6, 2008... Michael Grade is criticised for being stuck in the past and for failing to achieve the content revolution that ITV needs. Yet the success of the broadcaster's online and digital channels, and a top-level reshuffle, mean Grade could still...

SURVIVING DIGITAL: Is direct mail dead?(Industry overview)
March 6, 2008... The explosive effect of digital has led to doubts over the direct marketing sector's ability to survive - but innovators believe it can do so if it learns to adapt. Robert Lester reveals how the sector's wisest heads are repositioning direct...

The only number you need to know does not add up to much.(net promoter score)
March 6, 2008... Fred Reichheld's 2003 article on the Net Promoter Score may have been adopted by large companies, but it really is not much use to marketers As storms in tea-cups go, this one has been a right humdinger. Back in 2003, the great loyalty...

The wait is over: that dreaded 'r' word is already among us.
March 6, 2008... It's unofficial, but financial pundits and research confirm that recession has hit home, and credit card firms can't keep up their carefree ways Over the past few years, from soon after the beginning of the Iraq war, the US government...

GOSSARD: The boost it's been waiting for.(Company overview)
March 6, 2008... The loss of Wonderbra, a string of different owners in quick succession and a changed market has stripped Gossard of any personality, but plans are afoot for a major comeback. By Caroline Parry Gossard, the brand made famous by the...

ETHICAL PARTNERSHIPS: All in a good cause.
March 6, 2008... If marketing is able to ally itself with worthy causes it will have a better chance of fending off politicians eager to use it as a scapegoat, says Raoul Pinnell When I was a child in Africa someone once said to me: "Be careful. Too much...

ETHICAL PACKAGING: The dash to bag a green image.
March 6, 2008... If the level of public interest in reducing plastic bag usage is anything to go by, brands are going to have to get used to demonstrating their environmentally responsible credentials to consumers With Prime Minister Gordon Brown pledging...

MARKET RESEARCH: Putting faces to the figures.
March 6, 2008... To turn insight into real success by motivating staff, more than bullet points are needed. The key is to be people focused, and to understand both consumers and clients, says Alicia Clegg If finance directors are the bean counters of the...

RADIO: Look and listen.
March 6, 2008... Radio is regarded as at the forefront of online integration, and now that research shows a strong link between radio listening and search, that relationship is surely set to grow, says Caroline Parry The complementary nature of radio and...

Pass the plastic bag - the Daily Mail green bandwagon nauseates.
March 6, 2008... The authentic voice of Middle England has become a bore, with a relentless eco campaign that seems more likely to repulse than attract public support As I tore the single-use, plastic shrink-wrapping from my copy of Saturday's Daily Mail,...

Major airlines form alliance to fight 'monopoly' of BAA.
March 13, 2008... Airlines to work together for first time as high charges spark revolt over how airports are regulated An "unprecedented" alliance of airline brands has been formed to force an overhaul of the way the UK's biggest airports are regulated....

Advertisers reject Grade's call for a relaxation of CRR rules.(Brief article)
March 13, 2008... Advertisers have lobbied the Government to keep the Contracts Rights Renewal status quo in a series of "fact finding" meetings this week. Some say stronger measures are needed, rather than the relaxation of rules that ITV executive...

Unilever personal care chief role to expand after reshuffle.(Brief article)
March 13, 2008... Unilever group vice-president of personal care Simon Clift is expected to see his role expand to include home care and foods, following the structural changes announced at the end of last month. Homecare, personal care and foods have been...

ASA bans GHD ads for being offensive.(Brief article)
March 13, 2008... A campaign for hair-styling brand GHD featuring women in lingerie praying in their bedrooms, using the tagline "A new religion for hair", has been banned for eroticising the Christian religion. The campaign, created by TBWA/London, has...

New campaign: JellyBeats dance to Bebo's tune.(Brief article)
March 13, 2008... Aardman Studios is to launch a new range of characters, called the JellyBeats, on social networking site Bebo. The characters are a collection of music-loving jellyfish, each one representing a different genre, targeted at 14 to 28 year...

Foxy Bingo e-magazine to build on web success.(Brief article)
March 13, 2008... Foxy Bingo, the online bingo operator, is launching an e-magazine, as it seeks to strengthen its relationship with its customers. The online magazine is intended to offer consumers greater opportunities to interact with the Cashcade-owned...

FOE puts Chancellor under pressure over green taxes.(Brief article)
March 13, 2008... Friends of the Earth (FOE) has called on Chancellor Alistair Darling to stick to his pledge to put "sustainability at the heart of the Budget". The environmental group is urging Darling to stick to his plans to increase fuel duty amid...

Enjoy England set to launch a comedy tourist campaign.(Brief article)
March 13, 2008... Enjoy England is to launch a campaign to promote locations and attractions associated with British comedy this summer. It is the latest in a series of drives raising awareness of destinations with links to different aspects of English...

Global marketing director to increase Easynet presence.(Brief article)
March 13, 2008... Internet service provider Easynet has appointed Mark Madden as its first global marketing director. Madden has been tasked with leading the BSkyB-owned company's global product management and marketing teams. He will also focus on pushing...

Ferrero launches white chocolate Kinder Bueno bar aimed at women.
March 13, 2008... Ferrero is introducing a white chocolate version of its Kinder Bueno bar in the UK. The launch, aimed at women looking for a light chocolate treat, will be backed with a #1.5m marketing push. It is thought Ferrero is looking to retain...

Barbie signs promotion deal with Butlins.(Brief article)
March 13, 2008... Girls entertainment brand Barbie has signed a deal with holiday company Butlins to promote its new film and product range featuring the doll. The agreement will see the toy given a presence at Butlins resorts from the Easter weekend, and...

Macmillan appoints top marketer following charity merger.(Brief article)
March 13, 2008... Macmillan Cancer Support has appointed Kate Shanley as its top marketer following a merger with fellow charity Cancerbackup. Shanley, who starts the newly created role with immediate effect, will be tasked with formulating a fresh...

Codemasters sets up viral campaign on Facebook.(Brief article)
March 13, 2008... Codemasters is promotingits latest computer game by setting up a Facebook site in the name of a man who almost killed Winston Churchill in 1931. The viral campaign offers to enter anyone who chooses to become a friend of New York cab...

Analysis: What can Muir do to transform Brown's election strategy?(WPP )
March 13, 2008... It would be quite unfair to write off WPP stalwart David Muir as just another member of the growing "Scottish mafia" surrounding Gordon Brown. It was announced last week that he was leaving WPP subsidiary The Channel to join Gordon Brown's...

Marketers face axe at games publisher.(SCi Entertainment Group)(Brief article)
March 13, 2008... SCi Entertainment Group's marketing department faces an uncertain future after the Tomb Raider publisher announced it was slashing a quarter of its staff in a restructure. The troubled computer gaming company's central marketing team...

Sony to switch focus towards entertainment.(Brief article)
March 13, 2008... Sony is looking to reposition itself as an "entertainment company" as it begins to roll out packaged goods such as DVD sets when consumers buy a television. In an exclusive interview with Marketing Week, Mikah Martin-Cruz, Sony general...

Hard Rock Hotels to invest #1bn on European expansion.(Brief article)
March 13, 2008... Hard Rock Hotels has Europe in its sights as it embarks on a $2bn (#1bn) expansion plan. The luxury brand, which operates a chain of nine hotels and casinos in North America and South-east Asia says it has identified Europe as a "core...

Analysis: Bulldog aims to see off men's skincare competition.
March 13, 2008... It may be small, but the men's skincare market is fast becoming a brand battleground, with established players fighting it out with a raft of new entrants. Among them is Bulldog, a brand launched in July 2007 by two young entrepreneurs...

Kraft Foods prepares to consolidate its $100m global ad agency roster.(French dairy )(Danone's )(Brief article)
March 13, 2008... Kraft Foods is understood to be looking at consolidating its estimated $100m (#50.3m) global agency roster, following its acquisition of French dairy and bottled water company Danone's biscuit division last year. Kraft's creative...

New campaign: E.on makes energy visible.(Brief article)
March 13, 2008... Energy giant e.on is launching a fully integrated national campaign to make energy more "visible" to consumers. The through-the-line campaign, which was created by TBWA/London, will launch this Sunday (March 16) with a TV ad. The media...

Home Office seeks agency for ID card marketing work.(Brief article)
March 13, 2008... The Home Office is seeking an agency to create an advertising and marketing campaign to promote its controversial ID cards under its new National Identity scheme. While still in its early stages, the pitch is expected to be for a...

Fruitus health bar appoints agency ahead of relaunch.(Principles Agency)(Brief article)
March 13, 2008... Principles Agency, the Leeds-based advertising, marketing and media agency, has been appointed to run snack food group Glisten's media and creative campaign for the relaunch of its Fruitus range. The win, which took place following a...

Match.com drops M2M for Initiative in #10m review.(Brief article)
March 13, 2008... Online dating site Match.com has appointed Initiative to its #10m planning and buying brief following a four-way pitch. It is not clear whether the incumbent M2M re-pitched for the business alongside three other undisclosed agencies. ...

Analysis: Antidote nurses perfect pint while holding talks with Shell.
March 13, 2008... Antidote is helping actor Neil Morrissey launch his own branded beer as part of a Channel 4 series (MW last week). The project is par for the course for an agency also involved in such headline-grabbing initiatives as the Anya...

Initiative appoints Hill to strategic role as part of restructure.
March 13, 2008... Initiative UK and Ireland chief executive and joint European chief operating officer Jerry Hill has taken the newly-created role of global strategic development director for Initiative. The move follows the retirement of Initiative...

Vision Media plots network of interactive ad-info pods.(Vision Media Group)(Brief article)
March 13, 2008... Outdoor media contractor Vision Media Group (VMG) is launching an interactive information and advertising pod in shopping centres across the UK. Claimed to be a media first, the product - called the "iconic pod" will provide interactive...

Vision Media signs theme park TV deal to entertain the queues.(Merlin Entertainment )(Brief article)
March 13, 2008... Madam Tussauds, Alton Towers and Chessington World of Adventures are to launch outdoor television screens for visitors queuing at the attraction centres next month. The deal is part of a five-year multi-million pound contract that outdoor...

Olympic medallist launches sports marketing consultancy company.(James Cracknell)(Brief article)
March 13, 2008... Double Olympic rowing gold medallist James Cracknell is to set up his own sports marketing consultancy and events company. Cracknell is launching Threshold Sports with Julian Mack, former Sony Ericsson head of sponsorship, and Charlie...

News International aims for young readers with quick response codes.(Brief article)
March 13, 2008... News International is looking to drive younger readers onto its mobile internet site, with the company's mobile strategy chief revealing that its newspapers could be using quick response codes (QR codes) in its news stories within 18 months....

Sky starts major push for Terry Pratchett dramatisation.(Brief article)
March 13, 2008... BSkyB is launching a multimillion pound campaign to support its flagship Sky One Easter holiday drama Terry Pratchett's The Colour of Magic. The campaign, which breaks later this week, includes TV, press, online and outdoor executions as...

Strongbow signs deal to sponsor TalkSport show.(Scottish & Newcastle sponsorship deal with TalkSport )(Brief article)
March 13, 2008... Scottish & Newcastle flagship cider brand Strongbow has signed a six- month sponsorship deal with TalkSport radio as the key sponsor for its drivetime programme. Strongbow will be sponsoring the UTV-owned national speech station's...

Analysis: Uncertain times for cinema after ITV sales house disposal.
March 13, 2008... ITV's agreement to sell loss-making advertising sales house Carlton Screen Advertising (CSA) releases the broadcaster from onerous and unaffordable contract obligations. The deal, which sees the UK's two largest cinema chains take on...

Samsung checks in at Heathrow Terminal 5.(Brief article)
March 13, 2008... Samsung is launching a campaign at Heathrow's Terminal 5 to promote its new "personal training phone" miCoach. The outdoor campaign by the handset manufacturer, which is one of the first brands to book one of JC Decaux's Terminal 5 sites,...

Online tracking of individual user data faces privacy roadblock.
March 13, 2008... The collection of data about an individual's journey leading to an online purchase is invaluable to marketers, but could make users very uneasy Looked at like that, it was no surprise that Microsoft announced a couple of weeks ago that...

LETTER: Digital and direct are formidable weapons.(Letter to the editor)
March 13, 2008... Marketing Week ('Has digital killed off direct mail?, March 6) quotes Jon Ingall as saying that "in most cases a combination of direct and digital is the right strategy". Whilst I couldn't agree more, I'd add that direct marketing per se is...

LETTER: Although 'cheap' does not mean better.(Letter to the editor)
March 13, 2008... Robert Lester's article "Has digital killed off direct mail?" rang a few alarm bells. The rapid growth in digital marketing is indeed overshadowing the direct mail industry as it is "cheaper" and can be perceived as more creative. ...

LETTER: Relationships, not ads, will bring NHS results.(Letter to the editor)
March 13, 2008... I read with interest Sonoo Singh's article on marketing within the NHS (MW February 28). It should be noted that the "new" payment by results system of money following patients started in April 2003 on a phased basis. In 2004, Countess...