Precision Marketing articles from January 2004

Precision Marketing archives from January 2004

Vodafone eyes Man Utd fans in loyalty offensive.(Brief Article)
January 9, 2004... Vodafone, Europe's largest mobile phone operator, is launching a relationship marketing strategy targeting fans of the world's biggest football club, Manchester United. The mobile giant, which has appointed Billington Cartmell to the brief...

EHS Brann poaches Saatchi boss Atkinson to boost team.(Brief Article)
January 9, 2004... EHS Brann has hired Saatchi & Saatchi head of integration Matt Atkinson as managing director to strengthen its focus on creativity. Atkinson replaces Mike Horne, who quit the agency in October to start a business consultancy. He will report...

Lib Dems in viral assault for mayoral election.(Brief Article)
January 9, 2004... The Liberal Democrat Party is preparing to roll out an aggressive viral campaign following the appointment of 20:20 London to handle the Mayor of London election campaign for candidate Simon Hughes MP. The party is launching an integrated...

Macmillan lures young donors with DRTV first.(Macmillan Cancer Relief)(Brief Article)
January 9, 2004... Macmillan Cancer Relief is poised to unveil a DRTV strategy to strengthen direct fundraising and widen its media reach. The charity has handed its DRTV account to Clark McKay and Walpole following a three-way pitch against incumbent agency...

Center Parcs to relaunch site in bookings drive.(news)(Brief Article)
January 9, 2004... Short breaks specialist Center Parcs is enhancing its Internet offering as part of plans to increase revenue. The holiday company is launching www.center-parcs.co.uk, created by European enterprise content management software company...

Prospect lures Zed chief Arnold.(news)(Brief Article)
January 9, 2004... Prospect Swetenhams has poached Zed Media head of data broking Mark Arnold to be director of its UK list broking operations. Arnold previously joined Swetenhams in 1996, but left to launch Zed's broking arm in 1999. He has since been...

Fedma fights critics to push CRM ethos.(news)(Brief Article)
January 9, 2004... Fedma is launching a customer relationship management (CRM) advisory board to promote the concept as a 'fundamental pillar of direct marketing' and encourage best practice. The industry body, based in Brussels, claims CRM systems tend to be...

Alliance & Leicester eyes bin four's business.(news)(Brief Article)
January 9, 2004... Alliance & Leicester (A&L) Commercial Bank is launching an an aggressive integrated campaign to promote services and products to business customers. The push, devised by TDA, will present the bank as an alternative financial services...

Experian in Txt4 deal to sell SMS responsive lists.(news)(Brief Article)
January 9, 2004... Dale specialist Experian is teaming up with mobile response firm Txt4 to offer consumer profiling of respondents to SMS advertising. Txt4 claims to be the first company to provide this type of lifestyle information, and says the partnership...

Toyota pushes entertainment in mailing blitz.(news)(Brief Article)
January 9, 2004... Toyota is launching a direct marketing campaign to promote its range of accessories in an attempt to add value to initial car sales and encourage buyers to return to dealerships. Toyota Motor Marketing Europe is developing a range of...

Compensation case to test direct marketing liability.(news)(Brief Article)
January 9, 2004... Retail giant Safeway is being sued by a couple who claim their dog was injured by door-drops, in a case that may pave the way for future compensation cases for injury or loss caused by direct mail. Gordon and Susan Mussel-white of...

Freeserve ads to bolster AnyTime access package.(news)(Brief Article)
January 9, 2004... Freeserve is launching its first direct response TV campaign to attract new customers and raise its profile in an increasingly competitive market. The Internet service provider is rolling out the test ad through WWAV Rapp Collins. The...

Comic Relief set to boost mobile fundraising.(news)(Brief Article)
January 9, 2004... Comic Relief is planning to boost its use of wireless technology with the reappointment of mobile agency Flytxt to handle its activity in the run-up to Red Nose day in March. Flytxt worked on the charity's 2003 appeal and prevailed...

Lloyds rolls out MasterCard Premium plan.(news)(Brief Article)
January 9, 2004... Lloyds TSB is rolling out MasterCard's Premium Collection loyalty scheme in a move which is designed to increase acquisition rates and improve customer retention. The bank has been piloting the scheme among 300,000 of its premium...

Peugeot changes gear on digital marketing outlook.(news)(Brief Article)
January 9, 2004... Car manufacturer Peugeot is overhauling its direct marketing in a bid to broaden its customer base by introducing interactive TV ads and email to its strategy. Peugeot, which is launching the new 407 saloon model in May, is embarking on...

Isuzu taps into new business.(news)(Brief Article)
January 9, 2004... Isuzu Truck (UK), distributor for the Japanese automotive truck company, is launching a customer acquisition campaign to boost sales and make commercial inroads into previously untapped industry sectors. Rocket Science has been appointed to...

Bolton kicks off with 'virtual' programmes.(news)(Bolton Wanderers )(Brief Article)
January 9, 2004... Premiership football club Bolton Wanderers has launched the world's first digital match day programme as it attempts to broaden its global fanbase. The club, based at the Reebok Stadium in Bolton, digitised a version of the programme for...

Cancer Research website drive to raise funds.(news)(Brief Article)
January 9, 2004... Cancer Research UK is launching a new campaign to encourage people to create personal websites in memory of people who have died of the disease. The 'Donate in Memory' push allows friends and family of the deceased to give directly to the...

Data Locator opens interactive voucher offer.(news)(Brief Article)
January 9, 2004... Data Locater Interactive, the online division of data provider Data Locator, is launching a new interactive website, Vouch4me.com. The site, which goes live next month, will capture data on consumers who are not typically prevalent on...

Web-based marketing push for Lotto Online.(news)(The National Lottery )(Brief Article)
January 9, 2004... The National Lottery is planning a major online marketing push to support its Lotto Online service that launched at the end of December. The campaign will run over the next few months and will feature banners and buttons on some of the UK's...

Direct Line boss moves to Churchill Insurance.(news)(Brief Article)
January 9, 2004... Churchill Insurance has appointed former Direct Line marketer Peter Corfield as marketing director. He replaces Nigel Bruce who left the firm last year (PM October 31). Corfield previously worked as marketing director for a joint venture...

Debenhams to boost card in Nectar rethink.(news)(Brief Article)
January 9, 2004... Debenhams is considering pulling out of the Nectar loyalty scheme, and could instead boost its own store-card. The department store chain, recently taken over by a consortium led by CVC Capital Partners and the Texas Pacific Group, is...

Hyundai in major Getz push to support Euro 2004 deal.(news)(Brief Article)
January 9, 2004... Korean car manufacturer Hyundai is gearing up tot its official sponsorship of the Euro 2004 football championships with its biggest integrated UK push for two years. A raft of campaigns, led by responsive TV ads on terrestrial and...

Zingo plans national roll-out with Kent trial.(news)(Brief Article)
January 9, 2004... Mobile phone-activated taxi service Zingo is embarking on the first stage of its national roll-out with a test campaign in Kent, following its successful London launch. The company is branching out into Dartford as part of plans to...

Tourism Ireland changes tack in direct offensive.(news)(Brief Article)
January 9, 2004... Tourism Ireland is stepping up its marketing to spar warm prospects to visit the country. The tourist board, which produces a free annual holiday planner containing information on travelling to Ireland, will for the first time directly...

US DMA chief executive Robert Wientzen to quit.(international)(demographic marketing area )(Brief Article)
January 9, 2004... New York: US DMA president and chief executive Robert Wientzen is to step down in July after almost eight years at the helm. Wientzen, who turns 65 in August, is retiring to spend more time with his family. He has agreed to continue to...

Microsoft closes in on 'spam ring'.(international)(Brief Article)
January 9, 2004... New York: Microsoft is attempting to curb a suspected 'spam ring' that is reputedly responsible for billions of unsolicited emails. It has launched a raft of lawsuits, through New York's attorney general, against Scott Richter--alleged to...

Hong Kong strikes out against 'junk' calls and faxes.(international)(Brief Article)
January 9, 2004... Hong Kong: Distributors of unsolicited foxes could face a 'three strikes and you're out' rule and have phones cut off if they bombard people with market leg. Hong Kong's telecoms watchdog is tightening up its guidelines and urging phone...

Gift cards bend shopping rules.(international)
January 9, 2004... Scottsdale, Arizona: Stretching yet compressing anything defies logic, but we are doing it with our seasonal shopping. This is a critical period for retail and other key sectors of the economy, so understanding this new phenomenon is important...

Industry gears up for a challenging 2004: the twin prospects of new legislation and more savvy, less tolerant consumers mean the industry will have to lift its game in 2004. Industry pundits give Ian McCawley their predictions for the year ahead.(news analysis)
January 9, 2004... Now the dust has settled on the testing year that was 2003, it is time to take a peek at industry predictions for the next 12 months. Precision Marketing ventured into various crowded, hazy bars to collar insiders to see what their crystal...

Mobile lotteries an odds-on favourite: despite the fact that mobile gambling is still in its infancy, the arrival of SMS lotteries and strong consumer interest bodes well for the future. Sarah Balmond investigates whether the stagnant lottery industry is about to get a new lease of life.(news analysis)
January 9, 2004... Another gambling revolution is under way. The first-ever national mobile lottery, mLotto, launched at the end of 2003, swiftly followed by children's charity NSPCC rolling out its first SMS lottery through mobile gaming specialist agency...

Self-cleaning data could ease decay concerns.
January 9, 2004... According to David Lethbridge, joint managing director of Confetti.com, his online wedding planning service allows his company to know who is planning to get married up to two years before the happy couple even start thinking about a venue. By...

Working Time Directive to make us work smarter.(Letter to the Editor)
January 9, 2004... The professional services industry has traditionally fostered a culture of working long hours and driving staff hard, with projects often completed at the convenience of the customer, and to tight deadlines. But times are changing. The...

Why mailers do not analyse lists.(Letter to the Editor)
January 9, 2004... I've just seen yet more research condemning poor practice in ant industry. This time the claim, according to Altwood Systems, is that 85 per cent of direct mailers, including some of the country's largest, fail to analyse the performance of...

You can't depend on technology to develop relationships for you; it is all very well using modern technology to get to know your customers better, but you still have to apply common courtesy to establish a lasting relationship.(comment)
January 9, 2004... It seems a great pity that, with such sophisticated communication systems available to us and the power to know so much about each other, we are wasting opportunities to do just this. If relationship marketing is to mean more than just cost...

Watson wrong on outsourcing.(Letter to the Editor)
January 9, 2004... It seems that former WWAV Rapp Collins boss John Watson is becoming the 'prophet of doom' for UK outsourcing. Following the furore of 2002, sparked by his predictions that UK telemarketing could vanish within five years, he switched his...

B2B campaigns can be exciting.(Letter to the Editor)
January 9, 2004... I am encouraged that B2B direct mail is receiving some attention (PM December 5). But while David Reed highlighted its many pitfalls, I disagree that 'Business direct mail does not have the glamour of consumer mailings'. Having worked as a...

Royal Mail will defy the critics.(leader)(Editorial)
January 9, 2004... This is traditionally the time of year when most pundits polish their crystal balls and attempt to predict what on earth will happen during the next 12 months. Of course, for direct marketers there are many recurring themes--intrusiveness,...

Creative critique.
January 9, 2004... [ILLUSTRATIONS OMITTED] Caption:... is a weekly look at direct marketing initiatives by a panel of agency creatives. This week, Wayne Attwood, creative director at KLM, finds Abbey's new 'bored with banking' approach far from dull, but...

Invisible markets: as fashionable as political correctness has become, this industry is still not embracing ethnically diverse communities--neither in terms targeting or its very make-up. Emma Rubach asks how direct marketing can become more inclusive.(Special report: list developments)
January 9, 2004... DIVERSITY IS ALL THE RAGE in the UK these days. Even Tory leader Michael Howard recently announced that he is ma ethnic minority, though some of his views on asylum seekers may not quite accord with his new stance. Ford--which only a decade ago...

Ring of danger: niche databases and new amalgamated products have added such depth and breadth to marketing channels that no single fixed data set can be assumed to rule the roost.(Special report: list developments)
January 9, 2004... ONE RING TO RULE THEM ALL. As the nation's official favourite read, Lord of the Rings has exerted a tremendous influence on generations of readers. Part of that impact has been the idea that one object can have sufficient power to dominate...

Spectator provides list of affluent individuals.(list file)(Brief Article)
January 9, 2004... The Spectator, the weekly international magazine covering politics, current affairs, overseas news, literature and the arts, is releasing its reader list through Marketing & Media Solutions (MMS). MMS claims the file performs well for a...

Beauty aid firm offers names of wealthy women.(list file)(Cleo Collection to offer its buyer database)(Brief Article)
January 9, 2004... Cleo Collection is unveiling its updated list of 64,991 buyers and enquirers through Isis Direct. Cleo specialises in a wide range of electronic beauty aids, such as body and facial toning systems. Isis Direct claims the file works...

Express Gifts updates buyers via Tri-Direct.(list file)(Brief Article)
January 9, 2004... Express Gifts, the mail order division of Findel--a UK supplier of greetings cards, wrapping paper and personalised goods--has made its updated file of 1.9 million buyers and enquirers available through Tri-Direct. The division trades...

Best Western appoints director of marketing.(moving people)(Best Western Hotels)(Brief Article)
January 9, 2004... Best Western Hotels, the UK's largest group of independently owned hotels, has named Sharon McBroom director of marketing. She has been with the company for three years as head of marketing, and played a key role in award-winning campaigns....

Black Sun names Cooke Pilot director.(moving people)(Brief Article)
January 9, 2004... Loyalty specialist Black Sun has appointed Sallie Cooke Pilot director of loyalty communications. Cooke Pilot, who will join the board, is to have responsibility for evolving the agency's investor and customer loyalty communications programmes....

One World Interactive chooses chief executive.(moving people)(Brief Article)
January 9, 2004... Interactive access and billing services specialist One World Interactive has made Nigel Tatlock chief executive. The former UK and Ireland managing director will head development and management, reporting Io chairman Jean-Michel Alfieri....

Nice work.(Brief Article)
January 9, 2004... ... is a monthly column dedicated to those people who are happy at work. Don't think it's possible? Read on Name: Harry Lang Company: Angel Department: Account management Job title: Account director Responsibilities:...

Note to readers: must try harder.(diary)
January 9, 2004... So that was the season of goodwill, was it? Well, you could have fooled us. Here at Diary Towers, you may not be too surprised to hear that we are and drank our way through enough food and booze to put those lardy bastards in America's Fattest...

Forthcoming events.(diary)(Calendar)
January 9, 2004... The DMA (UK) is hosting Direct Marketing for Tomorrow's Financial Services Industry on January 29. The event will aim to discover what the future holds for direct marketing, whether multichannel direct marketing really works, and how to...

Roast of the town.(Soundoff: hunter's tale)(Brief Article)
January 9, 2004... Well, innit good to be back at work? Funnily enough I'm not actually joking, either. I just couldn't wait to get back to the agency to rekindle my fire with that fit Danny from the creative department he really is a bit of a wizard with his...

Electoral Roll opt-outs set to rise by 2.75m.(Brief Article)
January 16, 2004... Opt-out rates for the 2004 Electoral Roll have risen to 26 per cent--2.75 million more than 2003--according interim analysis by database marketing firm EuroDirect. The figures follow growing concern about local authorities pre-ticking...

Consumer group slams phone watchdog for 5 [pounds sterling] a minute charge.(Brief Article)
January 16, 2004... Premium-rate Phone services watchdog ICSTIS has been slammed by the Consumers' Association (CA) over its intention to charge up to 5 [pounds sterling] per minute for calls. Reacting to a decision by ICSTIS to launch a year-long trial of...

Daewoo selects GGT for Euro drive.(Brief Article)
January 16, 2004... Daewoo is launching a major relationship marketing drive to open a dialogue with panEuropean customers. The General Motors (GM)-owned car manufacturer will start the push in the UK, and across the continent, in the second half of the year....

Charities face VAT postage bombshell.(Brief Article)
January 16, 2004... The UK charity sector laces a major hike in direct mail costs if plans to axe Royal Mail's VAT breaks come into force. Postal watchdog Postcomm is recommending that current 'special privileges' held by Royal Mail should be overturned...

Family appoints ex-Draft staff to direct start-up.(Brief Article)
January 16, 2004... Edinburgh-based advertising agency Family is creating a direct arm to offer clients a fully integrated service. Family, with 28 staff, is bolstering its operations by making several appointments to head up new division Family Direct. The...

Bridge Travel to seek loyalty via mailing assault.(news)(Brief Article)
January 16, 2004... Specialist tour operator Bridge Travel is launching a direct marketing drive to improve conversion rates and boost customer loyalty. The travel group is rolling out mailings targeting previous customers as well as prospects. The two...

Greene King plans major mail push.(news)(Brief Article)
January 16, 2004... The Greene King Brewing Company is preparing to toil out an integrated campaign for flagship brand Greene King IPA to raise brand awareness and lure drinkers. The brewer has appointed Miles Calcraft Briginshaw Dully (MCBD) to the brief...

Scottish Widows in direct agency rejig.(news)(Brief Article)
January 16, 2004... Scottish Widows, the Lloyds TSB-owned pensions and life assurance specialist, is shaking up its direct arrangements to improve cross-selling to the group's databases. The company has appointed two agencies--Barraclough Edwards Chamberlain...

First Direct stresses ease of switching banks.(news)(Brief Article)
January 16, 2004... First Direct is kick-starting 2004 with a raft of mailings to boost brand awareness and encourage consumers to change banks. Over 3.7 million packs will be sent to cold prospects during January. The work, through Craik Jones Watson Mitchell...

Eyecare giant launches email marketing blitz.(news)(Brief Article)
January 16, 2004... Postoptics, the UK's largest mail order supplier of contact lenses, is aiming to bolster sales through its biggest email acquisitional campaign to date. The company is developing a robust email strategy through Interactive Prospect...

Sony targets gamers with mask mailpack.(news)(Brief Article)
January 16, 2004... Sony Computer Entertainment Europe is unveiling an unusual direct marketing campaign to step up its customer insight strategy and promote a spectrum of games for PlayStation 2 (PS2). The activity is through Claydon Heeley Jones Mason and...

DMA to set up Europe-wide online complaints scheme.(news)(Brief Article)
January 16, 2004... The DMA (UK) is aiming to launch a pan-European online retail complaints process to encourage best practice in the sector and combat declining consumer confidence. The initiative, referred to as the CCform Project, is being devised to...

Bupa International ramps up insurance marketing.(news)(Brief Article)
January 16, 2004... Bupa International is ramping up its online marketing with a worldwide campaign to promote its range of private medical insurance products across different markets. The initiative will target the UK, foreign expatriates, high net-worth...

Aquascutum fine-tunes Web sales strategy.(news)(Brief Article)
January 16, 2004... Aquascutum Corporate Gifts, the luxury presents specialist, is refining its online strategy to improve sales from data-driven marketing. The company, which was established over 150 years ago, aims to improve online sales through better use...

O2 deal allows SMS voting for BRIT awards.(news)(Brief Article)
January 16, 2004... Music lovers will be able to vote for their favourite 2004 BRIT Award nominees via SMS for the first time as the event teams up with 02 to provide a range of interactive mobile services. The mobile phone giant believes most people...

Lloyd takes top role at motivational firm.(news)(Brief Article)
January 16, 2004... Former DMA (UK) chief executive and president Colin Lloyd is joining staff motivation and performance improvement specialist P&MM as chairman. Lloyd, currently president of the Institute of Sales Promotion, plans to promote the value of...

Sanderson eyes direct agencies.(news)(Thomas Sanderson)(Brief Article)
January 16, 2004... Thomas Sanderson, Europe's largest conservatory blinds company, is hunting for its first dedicated direct agency as part of plans to boost its UK market share. The company, which has grown from a small family business into a 40m [pounds...

Gasp 'stop smoking' activity targets teens.(news)(Brief Article)
January 16, 2004... Gasp, the anti-smoking non-profit organisation, is embarking on a direct marketing campaign designed to encourage teenagers to quit smoking. The initiative, which has been devised by Feel, is being targeted at school children and features...

Rapier to handle AA's Road Services division.(news)(Brief Article)
January 16, 2004... The Automobile Association has hired Rapier to handle the 20m [pounds sterling] below-the-line acquisition and retention campaigns for its Road Services division. The account has been moved from EHS Brann. Rapier already handles the AA's...

Which? to build awareness about mortgages.(news)(Brief Article)
January 16, 2004... Hicklin Slade & Partners has devised a promotional drive to support a Which? 'Switch with Which?' campaign building awareness of the 2.2bn [pounds sterling] wasted annually when consumers fail to switch to a cheaper mortgage. The push features...

Bonnet promoted to chief executive at Tequila.(news)(Brief Article)
January 16, 2004... Tequila has promoted Tim Bonnet from managing director to chief executive. Previous chief executive Paul Biggins quit the agency last year (PM September 12). Bonnet will not be directly replaced but Tequila is seeking to hire two managing...

Oxfam breathes new life into Fish campaign.(news)(Brief Article)
January 16, 2004... Oxfam is resurrecting its first ever DRTV campaign, Fish, to attract new long-term donors. Originally aired in 1994, the ad shows how regular donations to the charity can assist people as they work their way out of the poverty trap. WWAV Rapp...

Hutchison takes up APA director position.(news)(Association of Publishing Agencies )(Brief Article)
January 16, 2004... The Association of Publishing Agencies (APA) has appointed Julia Hutchison as director. She replaces Hilary Weaver, who moves to the APA's parent organisation, the Periodical Publishers Association. Hutchison was previously new business...

We have been asked to point out that, contrary to a report in last week's Precision Marketing, holiday company Center Parcs is launching a new UK website designed and built by Nucleus, not Tridion as we stated.(news)(Correction Notice)
January 16, 2004... We have been asked to point out that, contrary to a report in last week's Precision Marketing, holiday company Center Parcs is launching a new UK website designed and built by Nucleus, not Tridion as we stated. Tridion was selected by Center...

Dutch tourist board in 'pearl' SMS campaign.(news)
January 16, 2004... The Netherlands Board of Tourism is embarking on an SMS campaign to ramp up its database for future shortbreak offers. The campaign focuses on Girl with a Pearl Earring--the new film adaptation of the best-selling novel inspired by Johannes...

War on Want cuts reliance on face-to-face fundraisinq.(news)(Brief Article)
January 16, 2004... War on Want, the UK charity dedicated to combating global poverty, is slashing controversial face-to-face fundraising In embrace more targeted direct marketing techniques, such as direct mail and e-marketing. The charity, which specialises...

Wales Tourist Board revamp to drive growth.(news)(Brief Article)
January 16, 2004... Wales Tourist Board is promoting the country's 'magical' atmosphere with an integrated push to lure visitors. The campaign, created by HHCL/Red Cell, goes live next week. It will take the form of DRTV, direct mail, press inserts and digital...

British School of Motoring targets young in debut email campaign.(news)(Brief Article)
January 16, 2004... British School of Motoring (BSM) is making its first foray into digital direct marketing with an email campaign to lure learners. The initiative forms part of BSM's drive to reach new audiences using various digital channels. Rival AA...

Spam law to drive foreign operators 'out of control'.(international)(Brief Article)
January 16, 2004... Dallas: The introduction of major legislation to combat email spam is set to exacerbate the problem in the US, according to critics. The Can-Spam (Controlling the Assault of Non-Solicited Pornography & Marketing) Act was signed into law in...

Abacus launches German alliance.(international)(Brief Article)
January 16, 2004... Dusseldorf: Mail order data and research provider Abacus is opening a German office to add to its operations in the UK, US and Japan. Abacus Deutschland, a division of DoubleClick, has joined forces with Bertelsmann subsidiary AZ Direct to...

ICLP plans China offensive after Visa account win.(international)(International Customer Loyalty Programmes)(Brief Article)
January 16, 2004... Shanghai: International Customer Loyalty Programmes (ICLP) is launching in China. The marketing services agency is setting up shop in the oily after being hired to create a loyalty scheme for Visa Great Breaks, covering the whole of China....

Russian youth behind growth.(international)
January 16, 2004... Moscow: A new generation of young consumers is fuelling the growth of direct marketing in Russia. As the first generation to embrace consumerism, they are more trusting than their parents are and more willing to provide personal details in...

Fitness clubs flex their marketing muscles: the major health chains are raising a sweat in an effort to carve out brand recognition, as record numbers of Britons join gyms. Sarah Balmond examines how a focus on relationship marketing could generate greater customer loyalty.(news analysis)
January 16, 2004... With UK consumers now rivalling Americans in the obesity stakes, it may come as a surprise to learn that gym membership is at an all-time high. But how do the established players maintain this momentum? Fitness club chains such as Holmes...