Precision Marketing articles from April 2004

Precision Marketing archives from April 2004

Dunnhumby's data head quits for ClarityBlue.(Brief Article)
April 2, 2004... Dunnhumby's data offshoot has been hit by the departure of managing director James Hanscomb, who has quit to head ClarityBlue's customer acquisition solutions arm. Crucible, launched 18 months ago, was set up to focus solely on customer...

Bosses slam home recycling fines.(Brief Article)
April 2, 2004... Industry chiefs have lashed out at local authority plans to fine residents who fail to recycle waste, branding the scheme 'a step too far'. Under an initiative introduced by Barnet Council in London this week, individuals who fail to...

List chiefs 'outrage' over EU email chaos.(Brief Article)
April 2, 2004... European plans to prevent list owners from selling non-opt-in email data have been branded 'outrageous' for contradicting the Information Commissioner's advice. The List Council, a pan-European network of more then 50 list brokers,...

Newspaper group hands brief to TBWA\GGT.(Brief Article)
April 2, 2004... The Newspaper Marketing Agency (NMA) is extolling the virtues of print advertising in a campaign to encourage clients to use it as an integral part of their marketing. The NMA has appointed TBWA\GGT to the brief following a three-way...

Postcomm set to probe Royal Mail price plan.(Brief Article)
April 2, 2004... Postcomm is to finally launch a consultation on Royal Mail's controversial size based pricing scheme, nearly two years after the postal operator revealed its plans. But even if the proposals are approved, the scheme will not be introduced...

Bookies to bet on major Grand National drives.(news)(Brief Article)
April 2, 2004... Bookmakers are aiming to get a head-start on rivals before the 2004 Grand National by launching a raft of direct activity. Ladbrokes.com is lifting the tape on a viral campaign for the world-famous race. Mystic Nag, created by 23red,...

Penny Plain seeks marketing chief.(news)(Brief Article)
April 2, 2004... Womenswear mail order specialist Penny Plain is seeking a head of marketing to develop e-marketing strategies and broaden the company's reach. The firm, which specialises in providing stylish, quality clothing with a practical edge, aims...

DMA backs axing of Royal Mail tax break.(news)(Brief Article)
April 2, 2004... The DMA (UK) has welcomed Postcomm's bid to axe Royal Mail's VAT exemption, calling the privilege out of date and distorting to competition. However, the trade body admits it can only continue to support the proposals if charities and...

Lloyds TSB shifts tack in integrated loan blitz.(news)(Brief Article)
April 2, 2004... Lloyds TSB is embarking on its first integrated blitz to promote a new loan. The campaign signifies a shift in focus for the high-street bank, which has traditionally used direct mail to push loan services to consumers. WWAV Rapp...

Bupa offensive to exploit staff absenteeism.(news)(TDA)(Brief Article)
April 2, 2004... Bupa is embarking on a direct campaign targeting medium-to-large businesses to encourage employees to take out private healthcare. The initiative, devised by Cheltenham-based TDA, marks the agency's first work for the firm. It aims to...

Cats Protection takes on first marketing head.(news)(Brief Article)
April 2, 2004... Cats Protection, the UK's oldest and largest feline welfare organisation, has appointed Paul Alexander head of marketing. In the new role, he will oversee an in-house team, helping devise strategies to cover all of the charity's marketing...

Orange targets 13m with cinema voucher offensive.(news)(Brief Article)
April 2, 2004... Orange is launching what it claims is the largest loyalty promotion using mobile phone coupons, targeting over 13 million customers. The network is teaming up with the Cinema Marketing Agency (CMA) to offer Orange customers virtual...

Alliance & Leicester bids to bolster Web presence.(news)(Brief Article)
April 2, 2004... Alliance & Leicester (A&L) is shaking up the high-street banking sector by ramping up its e-commerce functions. The company is seeking a head of e-commerce marketing to oversee an initiative developing online sales, media and partnership...

Cancer Research lures Race for Life recruits.(news)(Brief Article)
April 2, 2004... Cancer Research UK is rolling out a recruitment campaign for its flagship fundraising event Race for Life in an attempt to secure participants. The marketing initiatives for the series of runs, which aim to recruit 325,000 women to take...

Simply Energy drafts in three to boost team.(news)(Brief Article)
April 2, 2004... Simply Energy, the consumer advice service for the power industry, is ramping up its marketing activity by making a trio of appointments. Ben Wooltorton joins from utility giant Npower to become sales and marketing director. He will be...

Carphone to rival BT with TalkTalk launch.(news)(Brief Article)
April 2, 2004... Carphone Warehouse is gearing up for an aggressive direct marketing push to go head-to-head with BT on domestic voice calls. The company is launching TalkTalk as a standalone brand this week. Set up last year, the service allows customers...

PDSA seeking direct chief to drive support.(news)(Brief Article)
April 2, 2004... PDSA, the veterinary charity, is looking for a head of direct marketing to support its ongoing UK activity. The new post replaces the role of direct marketing manager. The individual will be tasked with developing direct marketing drives...

Twinings taps health tack for Infusions tea.(news)(Brief Article)
April 2, 2004... Tea giant Twinings is brewing an integrated campaign to highlight the health benefits of its Infusions range. Draft London will deliver an on- and offline direct drive to an audience of health-conscious women. A microsite dedicated to the...

Next to reduce direct mail use.(news)(Brief Article)
April 2, 2004... Next has revealed it will slash some ineffective direct mail operations as part of a shake-up of its Directory service. The retail giant says annual results show that response rates to several forms of recruitment had declined, but that it is...

IDM appeals for work experience openings.(news)(Institute of Direct Marketing)(Brief Article)
April 2, 2004... The Institute of Direct Marketing is asking the industry to assist its education programme by offering work experience to students. The IDM wants clients and agencies to offer 12-month placements, starting this summer, to undergraduates of...

MoonRiver acquires Direct Excellence.(news)(MoonRiver Group)(Brief Article)
April 2, 2004... The MoonRiver Group, the customer management solutions provider, has acquired Bristol-based Direct Excellence, which specialises in customer service performance benchmarking, with a focus on the financial services sector. MoonRiver recently...

John Lewis in direct assault for credit card.(news)(Brief Article)
April 2, 2004... John Lewis Partnership is boosting the launch of its credit card with a direct marketing blitz through Clark McKay and Walpole. The agency plans to target storecard holders from John Lewis and Waitrose, urging them to sign up to receive the...

Business Post bids to undercut Royal Mail.(news)(Brief Article)
April 2, 2004... Business Post is introducing Letter Express, a premium mail product offering a 'by 9am' Monday to Saturday UK service, in direct competition with Royal Mail. Customers can obtain proof of delivery via free SMS and automated email, or at...

Initial Style in email offensive to drive take-up.(news)(Brief Article)
April 2, 2004... Initial Style, one of the UK's leading conference and meeting venue operators, is launching an e-marketing campaign to boost bookings. The company has appointed start-up agency Spinnaker to the brief, which includes email strategy and...

Sainsbury's Bank overhauls website for 'fresh' offering.(news)(Brief Article)
April 2, 2004... Sainsbury's Bank is relaunching its website following a 600 per cent rise in its online customer numbers over the past three years. The move will involve a complete redesign of the site. allowing for more effective data-capture and...

Direct blitz backs FCUK digital radio launch.(news)(Brief Article)
April 2, 2004... The French Connection Group is rolling out a major mobile marketing campaign to back the launch of the UK's first fashion branded digital radio station, FCUK FM. An aggressive direct marketing campaign, including mailings and online work...

Bullrun to build awareness for international rallies.(news)(Paul Poole)(Brief Article)
April 2, 2004... Car rally Bullrun is embarking on a direct marketing blitz to promote its first supercar events across the US and Europe. The glamorous event will feature two races this summer. The first kicks off in Los Angeles and ends in Miami, while...

US email marketing to hit $6bn but overload looms.(international)(Brief Article)
April 2, 2004... Darien, Connecticut: Spending on email marketing in the US is set to rocket to $6.1bn (3.4bn [pounds sterling]) in the next four years, according to a report. The figure will inure than triple from last year's $2.1bn (1.2bn [pounds...

Bonnier secures D&B businesses.(international)(Brief Article)
April 2, 2004... Stockholm: Bonnier, the Swedish media group and parent company of Prospect Swetenhams, has purchased six Dun & Bradstreet (D&B) businesses for $24m (13.2m [pounds sterling]). The acquisitions cover Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Poland,...

Australia to clamp down on phone number access.(international)(Brief Article)
April 2, 2004... Canberra: Direct marketing companies could find it harder to access confidential personal details of phone company customers under new regulations proposed by the Australian Communications Authority (ACA). The regulator wants to tighten the...

Chinese direct sales taking off.(international)
April 2, 2004... Shanghai, China: With media in China becoming increasingly expensive and fragmented, a growing number of companies--especially in the banking, mobile communications and automotive markets--are being drawn to direct marketing's...

Concerted effort key to lock out ID fraud: to curtail the spiralling problem of identity theft, not only must firms step up efforts to offer sophisticated systems to address the problem, the public also needs educating to play a lead role in cutting crime at source.(Identity fraud)
April 2, 2004... As the fastest growing crime in the UK, identity fraud constantly hits the headlines. And given this week's revelation that a leading al Qaeda recruiting officer stole the identity of Brighton man David Burgess to travel the world and...

Genre-driven ads to steal the show: with Nissan venturing into new TV territory--tailoring its ads to complement the genre of the programmes they appear around--the rest of the industry could soon follow its lead.(Nissan Motor Company Ltd. to use interactive television for marketing)
April 2, 2004... Nissan is spearheading an iTV revolution by launching what it claims to be a world first: interactive ads that reflect the content of the programme around which they appear (PM March 12). The innovative campaign, devised by interactive...

There's more to DRTV than low airtime charges.(Direct Response Television (media))
April 2, 2004... I read about an alleged DRTV crisis in this august journal some weeks ago (PM February 20). Somewhat alarmingly, DRTV is "facing' calamity", and rising airtime prices could be the "death knell" for the medium. As head of the agency...

List managers can ward off mail saturation point.(letters)(Letter to the Editor)
April 2, 2004... Should the latest DMIS research showing the heaviest receivers of direct mail as the lowest openers (PM March 12) sound a warning bell for list managers? While it's widely understood that the way to achieve higher response rates is to use list...

Is time up for response rates?(letters)(Letter to the Editor)
April 2, 2004... As David Reed pointed out in 'Saturated mats' (PM March 12), consumers are reaching direct marketing saturation point, with the heaviest receivers of mail the lowest openers. Despite this, response levels are still holding their own--but for...

List brokers now indispensable as data becomes more complex; the sophistication level of lists on the market is now so immense that buyers may find themselves lost without a broker to steer them in the right direction.(comment)
April 2, 2004... List brokers have had their fair share of bad press over the years. But despite often being accused of adding dubious value, they have defended their corner as a unique source of expertise, unmatched elsewhere in the industry. While some...

Mature market needs expertise.(letters)(Letter to the Editor)
April 2, 2004... Every now and then another self-appointed expert on the over-50s market puts their head above the parapet to let us know of their new-found wisdom. The latest to give us the benefit of their knowledge is Charles Glover (Letters, PM March...

Take long-term view with data.(letters)(Letter to the Editor)
April 2, 2004... Your news article 'Clients place data at heart of marketing' (PM March 19) is welcome news to the industry, but should not be heralded with any great surprise or triumph. It would be almost frightening if such a high percentage of senior...

We can combat ID fraud rings.(Identity frauds )
April 2, 2004... What do Home Secretary David Blunkett and Brighton factory worker David Burgess have in common? Other than sharing the same christian name, both have been the victim of one of country's fastest growing crimes: identity fraud. Whether it's...

Synaxis Data Services Ltd: for the complete picture of your customers.(Advertisement Feature)
April 2, 2004... --Need a clear, standardised approach to your data-processing work? --Having problems with loading data into your marketing database system? --Trying to join data from different systems, and finding you are banging your head against a...

Creative critique.(critics view of the marketing initiatives)
April 2, 2004... ... is a weekly look at direct marketing initiatives by a panel of agency creatives. This week, Tommy Adkins, creative director at WARL, thinks all a recycling mailing missed was the placky bag, while Channel 4's piece repeated everything but...

Impulsive actions: with email putting consumers in reach at the click of a button, it is easy to overwhelm your database with marketing messages. But not all relationships can be rushed. Ben Massey asks what marketers can do to find the right pace.(Special report: email marketing)
April 2, 2004... REGULAR CUSTOMER CONTACT has always significantly improved response rates, but frequent, affordable dialogue between marketers and consumers was, until fairly recently, little more than a pipe dream. However, the arrival of email heralded a new...

Integrate to accumulate: with 100,000 changes of address a month and 26,000 changes of phone number a day, how do firms ensure they keep their files up to date?(Special report: address management)
April 2, 2004... If you have recently bought a new home, the chances are you will have dealt with both a solicitor and an electricity company. For the first, you may have been asked for proof of your identify, such as a passport. For the second, you will have...

Baby goods group lists customers.(list file)(Perfectly Happy People)(Brief Article)
April 2, 2004... Baby catalogue Perfectly Happy People is releasing details of its 78,166-strong customer list and insert opportunities through Isis Direct. The catalogue sells a range of products for babies and toddlers, including clothing, health and safety...

IPC refreshes raft of profiles.(list file)(Brief Article)
April 2, 2004... Consumer publishing giant IPC Media has updated its portfolio, available through Lloyd James List & Media Management. The enhanced lists feature a photography file, motoring enthusiast names, caravanning fans, a hobbies and special...

Callcredit to reveal movers.(list filfbrf )(Brief Article)
April 2, 2004... Callcredit is releasing its credit-ready New Movers list, which contains 3.5 million individuals and households responsive to home improvement and financial services offers. Built on the latest 2004 Electoral Roll data, the file is...

BMG publisher releases data.(list file)(Brief Article)
April 2, 2004... Music publishing giant BMG UK and Ireland is releasing its file of over 2.7 million names through Holistic List Management. The permission-based file contains individuals with interests including fashion, mobile phones and the Internet....

Global retailer unveils buyers.(list file)(Thane International)(Brief Article)
April 2, 2004... Thane International, a leading world retailer of health and beauty and homeware products, is releasing its list of 210,000 DRTV mail order buyers through ListLab. Thane, provider of fitness, weight loss, kitchenware, entertainment,...

Browne Jacobson names two marketing chiefs.(moving people)(Brief Article)
April 2, 2004... Law firm Browne Jacobson has appointed Sarah Warnsby (left) director of marketing and Robin Stevens marketing communications manager. The duo are to play leading roles in planning and implementing long-term marketing strategies. Warnsby will...

Clements to lead business at TBG.(moving people)(Brief Article)
April 2, 2004... London-based digital marketing communications agency TBG has appointed Sue Clements business development director. Clements has a background in broadcasting, having worked at Capital Radio as sales and marketing director for Bloomberg...

Airport Express fills two senior roles.(moving people)(Brief Article)
April 2, 2004... Airport Express, the sales and marketing alliance for Gatwick, Heathrow and Stansted Express trains, has promoted two members of its communications team. Mark Mann becomes head of PR and communications with overall responsibility for reactive...

Synergy picks senior marketing specialist.(moving people)(Synergy Associates)(Brief Article)
April 2, 2004... Marketing solutions provider Synergy Associates (UK) has made Richard Long senior marketing specialist. The Lancashire-based firm has added to its team to sustain client demand. Long has more than ten years experience in the hospitality and...

Nice work ... is a monthly column dedicated to those people who are happy at work. Don't think it's possible? Read on.(Communique360)(Column)
April 2, 2004... Name: Fiona Quinn Company: Communique360 Department: Account management Job title: Senior account manager Responsibilities: Making it happen Job perks: Lexus driving day and living round the corner. Why I love my job:...

From young guns to old has-beens in ten glorious years.(diary)(Brief Article)
April 2, 2004... Here at Diary Towers our heart--what do you mean you didn't think we had one?--went out to Tony Blair last week during his summit in the desert with the new-look, very friendly Colonel Gadafy. "You look young," declared the leader of the Great...

Forthcoming events.(diary)
April 2, 2004... The Emetrics Summit, which claims to be the foremost event for professionals looking to measure the success of their websites, will this year stage an additional event in London, due to popular demand. The event is usually staged in Santa...

Win-win scenario.(Soundoff: hunter's tale)(Brief Article)
April 2, 2004... An incredible thing happened over the weekend--and it involved a woman. But then I spent the early part of the week making mischief. Dickie Long is still 'sympathising' with his cousin Nigel, and for some reason, both Sarah Smith and Naomi seem...

Sense appoints Catalyst in new donor offensive.(Brief Article)
April 9, 2004... Sense, the UK's leading charity dedicated to the blind and deal has handed its integrated direct marketing business to specialist agency Catalyst. London-based agency Bluefrog held the account for four years, but declined to repitch (PM...

TPG signs postal access price deal.(TPG Post UK )(Brief Article)
April 9, 2004... Dutch-owned postal operator TPG Post UK has agreed a deal to access Royal Mail's sorting and delivery network. The price for TPG, which will trade as TNT Mail, is 13p or 13.375p per letter under 60g, depending on the delivery stage. This is...

Orr lands top role in Acxiom Euro assault.(Dawn Orr )(Brief Article)
April 9, 2004... Consodata managing director Dawn Orr will spearhead Acxiom's aggressive assault on the European data market, following the US giant's 70m [euro] (43m [pounds sterling]) double swoop on Consodata and Claritas. Orr, who joined the company...

Tank links with DMA to turn opt-out rate tide.(Brief Article)
April 9, 2004... Financial services forum Tank and the DMA (UK) are joining forces to launch the Opt-In Action Group to reduce the number of consumers opting out of marketing schemes. According to Tank, the opt-out rate for some firms is almost half their...

Million-2-1 to revamp brand with Iris North.(Brief Article)
April 9, 2004... Mobile phone gaming specialist Million-2-1 is overhauling its brand communications to position itself as the leading operator. It has hired Iris North as its sole agency to develop a creative platform for all future marketing. The agency is...

BT Click&Buy offers handset bill payments.(news)(Brief Article)
April 9, 2004... BT Click&Buy is expanding its interactive offering, allowing customers to pay for mobile-based content and services via handsets for the first time. Account holders previously paid for items either online using a credit or debit card, or...

OFT sues Belgian mail order firm.(news)(Office of Fair Trading)(D Duchesne )(Brief Article)
April 9, 2004... The Office of Fair Trading is for the first time taking court action against a mail order company in another EU member state. The landmark suit has been brought to prevent Belgian mail order company D Duchesne from sending misleading and...

Corporate TPS to be imposed on June 25.(Telephone Preference Service REGULATIONS)(Brief Article)
April 9, 2004... The controversial corporate Telephone Preference Service (TPS) regulations will finally come into force this summer. The amended regulations, which allow businesses to join a register to block sales calls, will take effect on June 25. The...

Public distrust of loyalty schemes on the rise.(news)(Brief Article)
April 9, 2004... Consumers are becoming increasingly disillusioned with retail loyalty schemes, according to a survey which claims they cannot inspire the same relationship as a football club or town. The Scotcomms Technology Group, parent of the TeamCard...

Blue-chip firms failing the email privacy law test.(EU Directive on Privacy & Electronic Communications Act)(Brief Article)
April 9, 2004... Almost half the UK's blue-chip companies have fallen short of implementing email privacy laws, according to a study. Research into compliance with the 2003 EU Directive on Privacy & Electronic Communications Act, by communications...

Kwik-Fit rejigs Web activity for financial brand.(news)(Kwik-Fit Financial Services )(Brief Article)
April 9, 2004... Kwik-Fit Financial Services (KFFS) is aiming to double its market share by overhauling its e-commerce strategy. The company has appointed search marketer Ambergreen on a two-year contract to boost its Web presence, revenue and customer...

Tussauds Parks shake-up to boost direct campaigns.(news)(Brief Article)
April 9, 2004... Tussauds Parks is building its first centralised customer database for Thorpe Park and Chessington World of Adventures to boost targeting and marketing communications. The move follows a major overhaul of the Thorpe Park website, which...

Major brands embark on first 'red-button' Net ads.(news)(Brief Article)
April 9, 2004... Tesco, Vauxhall and Samsung are among the blue-chip clients throwing their weight behind what are claimed to be the UK's first online 'red-button' ads. The global companies will roll out online campaigns that copy the format of interactive...

Cramm Francis Woolf co-founder dies at 64.(news)(Brief Article)(Obituary)
April 9, 2004... Brian Francis, a direct marketing stalwart and former cofounder and chairman of Cramm Francis Woolf, has died aged 64. Francis, who retired from the industry in December 2001, died suddenly from a heart attack. Enjoying a long and...

Maxell Europe redesigns site to bolster sales.(news)(Brief Article)
April 9, 2004... Maxell Europe is aiming to engage customers with the brand and drive sales by revamping its online presence. The company, which specialises in creating CD-Roms, DVDs and cassettes that can store millions of records, is also relaunching its...

WWF revises donor recruitment activity.(news)(World Wildlife Fund)(Brief Article)
April 9, 2004... WWF UK, the animal and environmental conservation charity, is overhauling its fundraising department in a bid to double supporter numbers over the next five years. The organisation is launching a new division called Supporter Relationship...

Direct channels 'fail to erode TV ad dominance'.(news)(Brief Article)
April 9, 2004... Direct media is still lagging well behind TV in marketing budgets, latest research has found. The study of Incorporated Society of British Advertisers members by the University of Westminster has revealed that 35 per cent of total outlay...

Crown Paints creates virtual design service.(news)(Brief Article)
April 9, 2004... Crown Paints is revamping its website as part of plans to develop a new look for the brand. The site, which has been developed by Carlson Digital, aims to encourage colour experimentation by enabling consumers to colour-scheme their rooms...

Cancer Research hands direct account to Ogilvy.(news)(Brief Article)
April 9, 2004... Cancer Research UK has handed its direct marketing business to OgilvyOne. The agency will develop a new focus for the charity's direct activity after the account was shifted from WWAV Rapp Collins. WWAV's most recent initiative for Cancer...

Adult Learning Inspectorate seeks direct agency.(news)(Brief Article)
April 9, 2004... The Adult Learning Inspectorate is seeking an agency to handle its direct mail services, including database management, for the next three years. The Government body inspects adult- and work-based learning within commercial and voluntary...

AA updates site with car buyer's guide.(news)(Brief Article)
April 9, 2004... The AA is launching a free online car buyer's guide. The guide includes information to help people make the right choice when purchasing a car. Some 14,000 models of up to five years old are featured, alongside details such as crash-test rating...

Avon launches Outhwaite-fronted TV push.(news)(Brief Article)
April 9, 2004... Avon, the direct sales beauty service, is launching its first TV ad campaign in more than 30 years, featuring the face of the brand, actress Tamzin Outhwaite. The first wave of ads breaks next month and will form part of an estimated 3m [pounds...

Alliance & Leicester drives e-banking option.(news)(Brief Article)
April 9, 2004... Alliance & Leicester is investing around 10m [pounds sterling] in e-commerce in an attempt to attract more customers to its online banking facility (see News Analysis, page 11). The financial services giant is enlisting its 300 high-street...

Government to target doormen in licence push.(news)(Brief Article)
April 9, 2004... Bouncers are being targeted in a responsive campaign to provoke them to sign up to a new licensing scheme and rid their profession of its violent image. More than 95,000 door staff employed by pubs, clubs and bars in England and Wales will...

Nikon selects Alchemetrics for first consumer database.(news)(Brief Article)
April 9, 2004... Nikon is building its first consumer database to create a snapshot of people who use its photographic equipment. The company has appointed Alchemetrics to design and build the database, which will be used for strategic customer retention...

French Connection drive seeks buyer insight.(news)(Brief Article)
April 9, 2004... The French Connection Group is to overhaul its central database and step up direct activity to increase brand awareness and boost sales. The high-street fashion retailer wants to segment its main database, which contains names from...

Encyclopaedia Britannica launches mailpack assault.(news)(Brief Article)
April 9, 2004... Encyclopaedia Britannica is launching a direct blitz to boost overseas sales of the 2004 Book of the Year. The company will test a mailing and marketing strategy following successful UK trials. The activity is being devised by Britannica's...