Marketing Week articles from November 2004

Marketing Week archives from November 2004

Promising signs for the tiny Times.(This Week)
November 4, 2004... By common consent, Robert Thomson, editor of The Times these past two-and-a-half years, is an enigmatic fellow. Decided, cerebral, yes; but not one to let his intentions see the light of day too early. Sometimes, this can have unfortunate...

Runnacles bows out at troubled Jaguar; Beleaguered car marque loses global marketing chief as he opts for voluntary redundancy.(News)(Martin Runnacles )(Brief Article)
November 4, 2004... Jaguar global marketing director Martin Runnacles has stepped down from the embattled luxury car company to take early retirement. He is being replaced by long-term Jaguar marketer Stephen Perrin, who moves from director of strategy. ...

Gillette scraps Complete launch ...(News)(Brief Article)
November 4, 2004... Gillette has dramatically shelved plans for the launch of its male skincare range Complete next year. The multi million pound UK launch was planned for early next year but has been postponed indefinitely The company is understood to have had...

... As it prepares to challenge rival Lynx.(News)(Brief Article)
November 4, 2004... Gillette is planning the European launch of a new men's body spray range called Tag, in an attempt to challenge the dominance of Lever Faberge's Lynx. The launch is not expected to affect Gillette's Right Guard and Extreme Sport deodorant...

TUI rebrands Lunn Poly as Thomson.(News)(Brief Article)
November 4, 2004... Holiday company TUI is axing the 116-yea-old Lunn Poly brand, and rebranding its shops as Thomson. The company says the rebrand of all the 785 Lunn Poly shops will be completed by Boxing Day. TUI UK sales and marketing director Miles...

Silentnight Group axes furniture brands operation.(News)(Brief Article)
November 4, 2004... Silentnight Group is planning to close its furniture brands operation, which includes the upholstery brand Parker Knoll, and is in talks with potential buyers over the future of the division. The move does not affect group marketing...

Tesco launches first own-branded mortgage.(News)(Brief Article)
November 4, 2004... Tesco Personal Finance is launching its first own-branded mortgage in its stores and over the internet. Tesco says its mortgage is likely to be supported by advertising next year. It is being promoted with a tagline "start low... stay...

Domino's Pizza has launched its first celebrity-led television campaign to support the launch of its double-decker pizza, the Double Decadence.(News)
November 4, 2004... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Caption: Domino's Pizza has launched its first celebrity-led television campaign to support the launch of its double-decker pizza, the Double Decadence. The ad, which breaks nationwide tomorrow (Thursday), shows a...

Spar consults members over positioning.(News)(Brief Article)
November 4, 2004... Spar is to reappraise what its brand stands for in a bid to differentiate itself from other convenience retailers. The chain is facing increasing pressure from consolidation in its market, and the recent arrival of the multiples such as Tesco...

ISBA warns of EC text-to-win ban.(News)(Incorporated Society of British Advertisers)(European Commission)(Brief Article)
November 4, 2004... The Incorporated Society of British Advertisers (ISBA) is warning that "text-to-win" competitions in the UK are threatened by the European Commission's proposals on sales promotion. Under the proposed regulations, the European Commission...

Avon appoints Kraft marketer to top role.(News)(Brief Article)
November 4, 2004... Beauty giant Avon has appointed Kraft Foods president of beverages and grocery Elizabeth Smith to its newly created senior marketing position, that of executive vice-president and brand president. Reporting to chairman and chief executive...

Npower talks to RFU over Premiership.(News)(Rugby Football Union)(Brief Article)
November 4, 2004... Energy company npower is in talks to take over the 5m [pounds sterling]-a-year sponsorship of the rugby Premiership from Zurich, in a move that throws further doubt on the utilities provider's longstanding association with cricket. ...

Carling to abandon tongue-in-cheek advertising for 2005.(News)(Coors Brewers Ltd.)(Brief Article)
November 4, 2004... Coors Brewers is planning a strategic shift in the advertising for its Carling lager brand, following the launch of new Ofcom rules this week to tighten alcohol advertising on television. Carling, which is associated with cheeky and...

Ladbrokes searches for online marketing director.(News)(Ladbroke Group PLC)(Brief Article)
November 4, 2004... Ladbrokes is searching for a marketing director for its online gaming division following the departure of gaming marketing veteran Keith Oliver. Oliver's departure has sparked a review of the company's digital media account, which is...

Baxters launches fat-controlled soup range for premium market.(News)(Brief Article)
November 4, 2004... Baxters Foods is launching a range of calorie-and fat-controlled soup under a new sub-brand called Healthy Helpings. It is aimed at the premium end of the healthy eating market. The soups, which will be launched in Waitrose and Somerfield...

Sega to rival Championship Manager series with launch of football management game.(News)(Sega Enterprises Ltd.)(Brief Article)
November 4, 2004... Sega is to launch a football management game to rival Eidos' cult classic Championship Manager. It goes on sale this week, supported by the company's biggest marketing campaign to date. Football Manager 2005, produced by the developers of...

EU ruling on allergens hits food labelling.(News)(Brief Article)
November 4, 2004... Food and drink manufacturers will be forced to include crucial on pack information for allergy sufferers when a new European Union regulation comes into force on November 25. The rules state that labels on pre-packaged food and beverages...

P&G axes mag in favour of website.(News)(Procter and Gamble Co.)(Brief Article)
November 4, 2004... Procter & Gamble (P&G) has ditched its customer magazine, Mustard, after a six-month trial. Tim company is planning to target mothers of young children with the launch of a lifestyle website and newsletter called Fresh Living. A P&G source...

Mothercare reveals plans to sell baby bonds in stores.(News)(Child Trust Funds)(Brief Article)
November 4, 2004... Mothercare is to sell Child Trust Funds (CTFs)--or so-called "baby bonds"--in its stores after joining forces with The Children's Mutual. a specialist provider of children's savings. The retailer will also promote the forthcoming savings...

Powergen.(Digests)(Brief Article)
November 4, 2004... Powergen, the utilities giant, has increased its gas prices by 9.6 per cent and its electricity rates by 8.9 per cent. It is the third increase this year for its gas customers, and the second for its electricity users.

Estee Lander Companies.(Digests)(Brief Article)
November 4, 2004... Estee Lander Companies, the US beauty giant, has promoted John Demsey, president of its Make-Up Art Cosmetics subsidiary, to president of the Estee Lauder brand. He replaces Patrick Bousquet-Chavanne, who is focusing on global brand...

Weight Watchers.(Digests)
November 4, 2004... Weight Watchers from Heinz has launched a range of low-calorie soups in a cup. The range is available in three flavours and will be supported by a press campaign.

The Carphone Warehouse.(Digests)(Brief Article)
November 4, 2004... The Carphone Warehouse has launched a broadband service under its Talk Talk brand. It will be available from Monday November 8.

Somerfield.(Digests)(Brief Article)
November 4, 2004... Somerfield group buying and marketing director Robin Whitbread, who is also managing director of sister brand Kwik Save, has resigned from his role. Katie Bickerstaff, the director of Somerfield Stores and retail services, will take over at...

Oddbins.(Digests)(Brief Article)
November 4, 2004... Oddbins is understood to be poised to buy high street rival Unwins for up to 50m[pounds sterling]. It would end 75 years of family ownership at Unwins.

The Post Office.(Digests)(Brief Article)
November 4, 2004... The Post Office is taking on interflora with the hunch of a flower delivery service today (Wednesday). Post Office Flowers can be ordered in store, online or over the telephone...

... Royal Mail.(Digests)(Brief Article)
November 4, 2004... ... Royal Mail is preparing to close up to half its high street Post Offices in an attempt to turn the ailing company around.

HSBC.(Digests)(Brief Article)
November 4, 2004... HSBC head of UK advertising Kelvin Collins has left the bank. It is not known if he has a job to go to. HSBC is seeking a replacement.

Project Scotland.(Digests)(Brief Article)
November 4, 2004... Project Scotland, the youth volunteer scheme due to launch in spring 2005, has appointed ScotRail head of marketing Don Roberts as its first marketing director.

Dairy Crest.(Digests)(Brief Article)
November 4, 2004... Dairy Crest has teamed up with Leukaemia Research to launch a series of sponsorship bike rides at schools across the country. The Big Bikeathon 2005 will be supported by Match of the Day presenter Gary Lineker.

Salomon GB.(Digests)(Brief Article)
November 4, 2004... Salomon GB, the ski and surf brand, has appointed Soma Prior as managing director. Prior, who is currently marketing manager, replaces George Culeigh. Culeigh is leaving to join outdoor brand Arc'Teryx in Canada.

Diesel.(Digests)(Brief Article)
November 4, 2004... Diesel has asked us to point out it is not closing its flagship Covent Garden store but its DieselStyleLab store. Alice Clary has been appointed as presence marketing manager for the brand and not marketing manager (MW last week).

AMV chief Cilla Snowball linked to chairman's post.(Agencies)(Abbott Mead Vickers)(Brief Article)
November 4, 2004... Abbott Mead Vickers.BBDO London chief executive Cilia Snowball is understood to be in line for the post of chairman at the UK agency. An informed source claims that AMV managing director Parch Ramzan-Golant will be made chief executive in...

Clemmow Hornby Inge has developed a television advertising campaign for British Gas that aims to demonstrate how the utility provider is always available to help its customers.(Agencies)
November 4, 2004... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Caption: Clemmow Hornby Inge has developed a television advertising campaign for British Gas that aims to demonstrate how the utility provider is always available to help its customers. The campaign will focus on how...

Andy Law starts global network plan in Paris.(Agencies)(Brief Article)
November 4, 2004... Andy Law, the founder of Boy meetsgirl, is trying to develop a global network of partner agencies and has already signed up his first overseas office in Paris. Law hat been working on establishing the French office with former DDB Paris...

Tommy Hilfiger awards 15m [pounds sterling] Euro brief.(Agencies)(Brief Article)
November 4, 2004... Initiative and BrandConnection have won the 15m [pounds sterling] pan-European media planning and buying account for Tommy Hilfiger. The account moves from Zenith Optimedia in the UK. The review was overseen by Tommy Hilfiger director of...

Samsung close to a global decision.(Agencies)
November 4, 2004... Samsung is expected to announce the outcome of the prolonged review of its 395m[pounds sterling] global advertising account within a matter of days, according to sources in Seoul. "The decision has been made, the announcement is expected...

Organic milk group hunts agency for branding task.(Agencies)(Brief Article)
November 4, 2004... The Organic Milk Suppliers Cooperative (OMSCO) is seeking an advertising agency for the first time to help build awareness of its brand and its work in raising standards across the organic dairy market. The review, which is being handled by...

Age Concern.(Digests)(Brief Article)
November 4, 2004... Age Concern is launching its first national billboard campaign to raise awareness of ageism in the UK. The ads have been created in house,

McCann Erickson.(Digests)(Brief Article)
November 4, 2004... McCann Erickson has developed a campaign to support the launch of Nurofen's new Heat Patches for back pain. It breaks this week.

M&C Saatchi.(Digests)(Brief Article)
November 4, 2004... M&C Saatchi is launching a campaign for Foster's beer emphasising its 'superior taste'. The ad features two Australians gazing out to sea across a deserted beach as they enjoy a glass of the lager. Media planning and buying is through Starcom...

Publicis.(Digests)(Brief Article)
November 4, 2004... Publicis' Christmas ads for Asda will again feature actress Julie Walters. This year she will play a mobile phone-using elf in the ads, which break on Friday.

WWAV Rapp Collins.(Digests)(Brief Article)
November 4, 2004... WWAV Rapp Collins has created a firework safety campaign for the Department of Trade and Industry ahead of bonfire night on Friday.

The Union.(Digests)(Brief Article)
November 4, 2004... The Union has developed an integrated campaign including television, field marketing and point-of-purchase adverting for Scottish Courage's 2005 Miller Music Tour. The campaign launches this weekend.

TK Maxx.(Digests)(Brief Article)
November 4, 2004... TK Maxx's in-house creative team has produced a Christmas ad for the retailer, featuring a modern-day Santa using a 4x4 muscle car as her sleigh. It breaks today (Wednesday), with the strapline 'There is a new Santa in town and she's not paying...

Walsh Trott Chick Smith.(Digests)(Brief Article)
November 4, 2004... Walsh Trott Chick Smith has created a 2m [pounds sterling] television campaign for WBD Brands-owned Marston's Pedigree ale.

The Metropolitan Police.(Digests)(Brief Article)
November 4, 2004... The Metropolitan Police is a launching a London-wide advertising campaign to support its fight against drug dealers. A series of 48-sheet poster and press ads will encourage people to contact Crimestoppers with information about drug dealers in...

Rainey Kelly Campbell Roalfe/Y&R.(Digests)(Brief Article)
November 4, 2004... Rainey Kelly Campbell Roalfe/Y&R has created an ad campaign for Danone, promoting the launch of Shape Pleasures low-fat yoghurt.

Baber Smith.(Digests)(Brief Article)
November 4, 2004... Baber Smith has been appointed to create an outdoor campaign for Battersea Dogs Home's Lost Dogs and Cats line. Maiden Outdoor has provided subsidised media.

FCBi London.(Digests)(Brief Article)
November 4, 2004... FCBi London, formerly DP&A, has been appointed by security provider Group 4 Securicor to create a direct marketing campaign to target prospective clients.

ITV Sales to probe how TV can boost brand 'fame'.(Media)(Brief Article)
November 4, 2004... ITV Sales is to commission research to help advertisers understand how television can help them build the "fame" of their brands. When completed, the research will be used to support ITV Sales' "Values of Fame" campaign--a marketing...

NatMags publisher to head Hachette sales.(Media)(Hachette Filipacchi U.K.)(Brief Article)
November 4, 2004... Hachette Filipacchi UK has appointed Tony Long as its sales director. Long joins from rival company The National Magazine Company, where he was publisher of Good Housekeeping. He replaces Tim Kirkman, who left after less than a year in the job....

Pedigree to sponsor ITV1's This Morning.(Media)(Brief Article)
November 4, 2004... Pedigree is to sponsor ITV1's daily lifestyle magazine show This Morning, which is presented by Philip Schofield and Fern Britton. The Masterfoods pet food brand will sponsor the show and its interactive service, which can be accessed...

Xfm goes on tour to widen its audience.(Media)(Brief Article)
November 4, 2004... Xfm, Capital Radio Group's London based alternative music station, is embarking on a six-month tour of the country, starting with a month-long stint in Glasgow. The aim is to attract listeners to DAB digital radio but also comes ahead of the...

Heineken in bid to modify UEFA deal.(Media)(Union of European Football Associations)(Brief Article)
November 4, 2004... Dutch brewer Heineken is in talks with UEFA to swap its 45m [pounds sterling] Champions League sponsorship from its Amstel brand to the Heineken brand. The 15m-a-year [pounds sterling] deal runs out at the end of next season and the...

Scottish Rugby Union appoints top marketer.(Media)(Brief Article)
November 4, 2004... The Scottish Rugby Union (SRU) has appointed Celtic League tournament director Keith Grainger as its commercial and marketing director. Grainger will start his job at the SRU in January. Previously, he has worked in the commercial...

ITV.(Digests)(Brief Article)
November 4, 2004... ITV's new digital channel, ITV3, was the second-most watched multi-channel service on its launch night on Monday Following a last-minute deal whereby ITV bought out Sky Venture's interest in Granada Sky Broadcasting, the channel is now being...

Wireless Group.(Digests)(Brief Article)
November 4, 2004... Wireless Group chairman and chief executive Kelvin Mackenzie's court case against Rajar began yesterday (Tuesday) in the High Court. If the judge decides to allow the case to go to trial, it is likely to be heard early next summer. Rajar will...

Clear Channel Billboards.(Digests)(Brief Article)
November 4, 2004... Clear Channel Billboards has won an exclusive contract with the City of Edinburgh Council to manage and develop billboards on council-owned land. The award of the nine-year contract followed a five-way competitive pitch.

Culture secretary Tessa Jowell.(Digests)
November 4, 2004... Culture secretary Tessa Jowell singled out BBC Worldwide's magazine division as one area in which the corporation could be forced to cut back as a condition of the renewal of its Royal Charter in 2006. She appeared before the Culture, Media and...

British Airways.(Digests)(Brief Article)
November 4, 2004... British Airways has signed up as the official airline of the England rugby team in a four-year deal with the Rugby Football Union. British Airways will fly the team to all international matches, including the Rugby World Cup in 2007. This is...

BlowUp Media.(Digests)(Mega poster)(Brief Article)
November 4, 2004... BlowUp Media, the poster company, has acquired Mega-poster. The merged company will account for over two-thirds of the large-format poster market.

Time Out.(Digests)(Brief Article)
November 4, 2004... Time Out has appointed Coca-Cola marketer John Luck as marketing director of its London edition and promoted marketing manger Mandy Martinez to marketing director of Time Out Guides.

Viacom Brand Solutions.(Digests)(Brief Article)
November 4, 2004... Viacom Brand Solutions has struck a deal with Mattel for Scrabble to sponsor Frasier on the Paramount Comedy and Paramout Comedy 2 channels.

ITV Sales.(Digests)(Brief Article)
November 4, 2004... ITV Sales has signed a deal with Northern Rock to sponsor Newcastle United's UEFA Cup games on ITV2.

National Geographic Channels International.(Digests)(Brief Article)
November 4, 2004... National Geographic Channels International is launching a new on-air look and branding campaign that challenges viewers to 'Think Again'.

Gala Group.(Digests)(Brief Article)
November 4, 2004... Gala Group is to launch a customer magazine, called Player, with a print-run of 100,000. The magazine will be distributed to Gala's 29 casinos twice a year.

Web 'first stop' when hunting local services.(Online)(Brief Article)
November 4, 2004... Three in four UK consumers looking for a pizza or a plumber think the best place to start is the internet, according to a new survey. Research commissioned by Web hosting and domain name company Easily.co.uk (part of NetBenefit) found that...

Recruitment tops online ads as spend overtakes 500m [pounds sterling].(Online)(Recruitment advertising)
November 4, 2004... Recruitment advertising is now the biggest sector of the online advertising industry, with a total spend of 53.4m [pounds sterling] in the first half of 2004. That accounts for almost one-third 29.9 per cent--of the 279.4m [pounds sterling]...

Austravel picks Tribal for on- and off-line push.(Online)(Brief Article)
November 4, 2004... Austravel, the specialist provider of flights and holidays to Australia, New Zealand, Asia and the South Pacific, has appointed Tribal DDB to handle an integrated marketing campaign. The digital agency will take control of off-line branding and...

It's hard work to fill a prior sponsor's shoes; HSBC's decision to stop sponsoring ITV Drama Premieres leaves a tempting gap. But while the slot could be lucrative, replacing an established partner will not be easy.(Media Analysis)(HSBC Holdings PLC)
November 4, 2004... The challenge facing many brands contemplating taking over a sponsorship property that has a long association with another product is: "How do we make it our own?" When HSBC comes to the end of its long-running sponsorship of ITV Drama...

Outdoor is in fashion, so why try to fix something that isn't broken? Posters have been used in advertising for centuries because they are simple and effective. Moving images only serve to complicate matters.(Media Comment)
November 4, 2004... Outdoor advertising has virtually doubled its share of display revenue over the past ten years, so why are people constantly looking for new and more complicated versions of the medium? There has recently been a surge of initiatives to...

How the small Times has shown up big differences; to some, the tiny Times is fresh-looking, and handy on the trains. To others, it represents a triumph of vulgarity and corporate arrogance.(Media)(Column)
November 4, 2004... Remember when the News of the World was a broadsheet? I don't think we used the phrase "tabloid values" in those days. Not when the biggest tabloid of the lot was a broadsheet. And remember the broadsheet Daily Mail, Daily Express, Sun,...

Fashion labels mixing with the wrong crowd; its association with the UK's 'chav' culture has been a marketing nightmare for Burberry. But how can a fashion brand stop such undesirable elements from buying its clothes?(News Analysis)
November 4, 2004... The marketing department at fashion brand Burberry must feel they are being unfairly targeted. First, there was the decision by two pubs in Leicester to ban people wearing its infamous check pattern due to the brand's unwanted association...

Football paupers seek a level playing field: Aston Villa's foray into the world of reality TV demonstrates the lengths such teams are going to as they attempt to compete with the likes of Manchester United and Arsenal.(News Analysis)
November 4, 2004... It is not just on the pitch that Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester United have surged ahead of their rivals. The rest of the football world Liverpool and Newcastle apart--can only look on and envy their financial clout. It is no surprise...

Back to branding: when brand portfolios were culled, marketing budgets were cut too. But the rise in own label and the effects of discounting have taken their toll and last week Kellogg became the latest packaged goods giant to announce a renewed commitment to advertising.(Cover Story)
November 4, 2004... The upbeat soundbites "brand building" and "brand investment" have long been absent from the financial statements issued by many traditional packaged goods giants set on a course of cost cutting. But that appears to be changing. Last week...

Party piece: with the National Lottery's tenth birthday celebration in sight, Marketing Week looks at its past successes and troubles, and whether changes to the UK's gambling scene will affect its appeal. David Benady starts by examining the early years of Camelot.(National Lottery)
November 4, 2004... Ten years ago this week, Saatchi & Saatchi's ad campaign proclaiming "It could be you" burst onto television screens, firing the starting gun for the launch of the UK National Lottery. Back in 1994, hitting the jackpot on the Saturday night...

Brand owners' role in curing Sainsbury's ills.(Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
November 4, 2004... The challenges Sainsbury's faces as outlined by Alan Mitchell (MW October 28) misses a crucial problem that both multiples and packaged goods brand owners must tackle. Sainsbury's itself has identified that a major contributing factor to...

Kelvin tries to conceal his greys.(Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
November 4, 2004... TalkSport's offensively ageist advertising in the marketing press continues with its "Chairway to Heaven" campaign. But the insulting content designed to attack the listeners of rivals is questionable for reasons other than taste. According to...

Segmentation can still work for TV.(Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
November 4, 2004... Torin Douglas is right to question the conclusions of the Barwise report about the BBC's digital TV services (MW October 22). The report concludes: "Television is a mass medium, with only weak segmentation, not a niche medium." Since the...

Even casinos will lose in New Labour's New Vegas; objections to the Gambling Bill have focused on the social issues. No one has pointed out that super-casinos make no commercial sense.(Business)
November 4, 2004... How long it seems since Chris Smith, culture secretary at the time, summoned the senior directors of Camelot to his Westminster office to tell them in no uncertain terms that they were profiteering from the National Lottery. That was in 1997....

They mind their own businesses: the UK SME sector is varied, with a notable divide between those who work at home and those who don't. And marketers who can save them time are likely to make money.(Factfile)(small to medium enterprise)
November 4, 2004... The small to medium enterprise (SME) market is one of the fastest-growing commercial sectors in the UK. And it looks set to grow even further: according to new research from the Small Business Service (SBS), a Department of Trade and Industry...

Thinking big? Look small: smaller exhibitors are the lifeblood of consumer shows, but many of them claim exhibition organizers ignore their needs to concentrate on the big spenders.(Special report: conferences & exhibitions)
November 4, 2004... No industry is made up exclusively of large corporations. The handful of giants will be surrounded by myriad smaller enterprises and support services. And these small businesses are the bread and butter of trade and consumer shows. If an...

Leaping Salmon and the ladies who launched her; the BBC's interview tactics reveal a uniquely feminine insight--TV is about entertainment. Iain Murray is captivated by Blue Peter's bouncing bombshell.
November 4, 2004... The journalist and constitutional historian Walter Bagehot famously said of the monarchy that "We must not let daylight in upon the magic." The same is true of other great British institutions, including the BBC, which, alas, has now allowed...