Precision Marketing articles from June 2003

Precision Marketing archives from June 2003

Data protection scam crackdown snares directors.(Francis Boyd and Christopher Williams)(Brief Article)
June 6, 2003... The crackdown on rogue data protection enforcers this week claimed two high-profile victims, with the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) securing undertakings from Cheshire companies that they will stop issuing misleading ads. The action,...

Leighton threat scuppers Deutsche Post UK launch.(Brief Article)
June 6, 2003... Deutsche Post Mail Services UK has stalled plans to challenge Royal Mail's monopoly in the lucrative business market in the wake of chairman Allan Leighton's threat to launch a legal challenge to Postcomm's final access price. The company,...

Last-ditch bid to halt business TPS.(Telephone Preference Service )(Brief Article)
June 6, 2003... The DMA (UK) is making an 11th-hour attempt to block the launch of the Telephone Preference Service (TPS) for business users, saying it will be a disaster for the industry. With just two weeks before the end of the Government's...

O2 seeks three bosses to spearhead offensive.(Brief Article)
June 6, 2003... 02 is planning to beef up its marketing department with the appointment of three chiefs to spearhead a direct assault on the mobile phone market. The move comes as the company is reported to have appointed Archibald Ingall Stretton (AIS)...

Citroen to roll out integrated Pluriel initiative. (News).(Brief Article)
June 6, 2003... Citroen is rolling out an integrated campaign for its new Citroen C3 Pluriel to raise awareness of the launch and pave the way for future marketing activity. The push comprises TV, direct mail and sponsorship activity. The TV ads,...

Air France global brief up for grabs. (News).(Brief Article)
June 6, 2003... Air France is understood to be reviewing its international direct marketing account, with four agency networks lining up to pitch for the business. Incumbent Euro RSCG Worldwide is thought to have been included, although in recent years...

Casio UK poised for consumer offensive. (News).(Brief Article)
June 6, 2003... Electronics giant Casio is creating its first UK consumer marketing database in an attempt to boost sales of digital cameras, as it gears up to launch the digital division's first direct marketing campaign. Casio, which has already set up a...

Virgin Holidays targets families in mail blitz. (News).(Brief Article)
June 6, 2003... Virgin Holidays is launching a raft of direct marketing activity to promote summer flights to Florida and the Caribbean, as the travel trade acts to combat a long-haul slump. The campaign, devised by Claydon Heeley Jones Mason, backs...

Charities ahead of firms in call handling stakes. (News).(Brief Article)
June 6, 2003... The charity sector is racing ahead of its commercial counterparts, achieving far greater call-handling quality, according to a new study. The survey, which has been carried out across eight UK sectors by Ion Group, focuses on the quality of...

Volkswagen in integrated push for luxury saloon. (News).(Brief Article)
June 6, 2003... Volkswagen (UK) is embarking on an integrated campaign for the launch of its first luxury saloon, the Phaeton, which challenges Mercedes S class and the BMW 7 series. The German car manufacturer is preparing to launch an assault on both...

FSA under fire for 'errors' in distance marketing guide. (News).(Financial Services Authority)(Brief Article)
June 6, 2003... The Financial Services Authority (FSA) has been accused of paving the way for a catalogue of 'errors' in its guidelines for the EU distance marketing directive, amid claims that consumers will not be fully protected. The directive--now...

RSPCA changes tack with 'upbeat' DRTV donor drive. (News).(Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals)(Brief Article)
June 6, 2003... The RSPCA is testing a new DRTV campaign to encourage consumers to pledge regular monthly donations. The move follows a number of complaints from donors that its "Dead kitten" ad was too shocking. The commercial, created by WWAV Rapp...

Xbox targets older gamers in viral e-mail push. (News).(Brief Article)
June 6, 2003... Microsoft Xbox is targeting 'thirtysomethings' with a pan-European viral e-mail campaign which plays on the classic Eighties Space Invaders game. The move is a major departure for the brand, which has previously targeted 16- to...

Ex-FFwd chiefs open their own direct agency. (News).(Brief Article)
June 6, 2003... Three former directors of Hawkeye-owned FFwd Precision Marketing have launched their own direct marketing agency, Snowball. The Notting Hill-based agency launches with two clients already on board: business-to-business client All Group and...

Proximity scoops Royal Mail with Omnicom deal. (News).(Brief Article)
June 6, 2003... Royal Mail has finally appointed the Omnicom consortium, comprising Abbott Mead Vickers BBDO, Proximity London and Wolff-Guns, to run its [pounds sterling]40m integrated marketing business. The appointment is a major boost for Proximity...

Healthcare firm extends targets to consumers. (News).(Brief Article)
June 6, 2003... Essential Well Being (EWB), a new London-based natural healthcare company, is planning to expand beyond the business market by launching a major integrated marketing push targeting consumers. The company has appointed Leonardo, which will...

Lloyd joins REaD board to spearhead growth. (News).(Brief Article)
June 6, 2003... Former DMA (UK) president Cohn Lloyd has joined the REaD Group board as an independent director to spearhead its domestic and international expansion plans. Lloyd believes there is a major gap in the global market for suppression services,...

BA in mailing offensive to push online service. (News).(Brief Article)
June 6, 2003... British Airways is boosting loyalty amongst its frequent travellers by launching its biggest direct mail campaign to encourage Executive Club members to manage their accounts online. The airline is mailing all 1.5 million members of its...

Wales Tourist Board bids to boost visitors. (News).(Brief Article)
June 6, 2003... Wales Tourist Board is embarking on a direct marketing campaign to encourage spend in the region. The campaign, created by HHCL/Red Cell, will target UK residents with photographs of the country and a radio campaign featuring jazz recordings...

Cats Protection tests telemarketing for donor drive. (News).(Brief Article)
June 6, 2003... Cats Protection is testing telemarketing as a fundraising tool for the first time in its latest donor recruitment drive. The campaign, created by TDA, will target 10,000 supporters and aims to both upgrade cash donors to committed givers and...

Survey reveals fax spam is proving costly. (News).(Brief Article)
June 6, 2003... Some 91 per cent of respondents of fax spam throw it away, according to a survey from business specialist Equisys. It also revealed that the UK spends around [pounds sterling]30bn annually on fax calls and toners, and that fax spam costs UK...

Barraclough unveils new agency set up. (News).(Brief Article)
June 6, 2003... Former Proximity London chairman Chris Barraclough has revealed the line-up of his new agency, which opens in July (PM March 21). His co-founders are ex-Proximity creative partner Steve Edwards and EELS Brann account director Nic Chamberlain....

Inchbrook plans relaunch under Orchestra name. (News).(Brief Article)
June 6, 2003... Direct print group Inchbrook is relaunching as part of an initiative which will see its parent company merge all operations--from direct mail to response management--under the umbrella name Orchestra. Inchbrook, which was bought by TeCmail...

Orient-Express steps up analysis in pursuit of insightful campaigns. (News).(Brief Article)
June 6, 2003... Luxury holiday company Orient-Express is enhancing tailored communications by embarking on its biggest customer analysis project, to create an in-depth picture of its high-value customers. The company, which owns 41 luxury hotels, tourist...

Drambuie blitz pushes 'on ice' summer drink. (News).(Brief Article)
June 6, 2003... Drambuie Liqueur is launching a two-pronged direct mail assault on its customer base to encourage them to drink 'Drambuie on ice' this summer as part of its strategy to raise year-round sales. The initiative, devised by WWAV Rapp Collins...

Benenden secures deal to drive teacher membership expansion. (News).(Brief Article)
June 6, 2003... Public sector specialist Benenden Healthcare, formerly the Post Office & Civil Service Sanatorium Society, is bolstering its direct marketing to attract new members, specifically from the teaching profession. The not-for-profit...

Californians rush to sign up to Do Not Call register. (International).(Brief Article)
June 6, 2003... San Francisco: More than 1 million Californians have registered their telephone numbers on the controversial US Do Not Call register, less than eight weeks since the state unveiled a pre-launch registration scheme. The Do Not Call...

Dun & Bradstreet in e-portfolio bid. (International).(Brief Article)
June 6, 2003... Europe: Dun & Bradstreet is launching a pan-European direct mail offensive to promote its online credit risk management service--the e-portfolio--in an aggressive drive to recruit companies. The service allows companies to establish a...

Merger triggers Canadian print giant restructure. (International).(Brief Article)
June 6, 2003... Toronto: Moore Wallace, the third largest commercial print company in Canada, is revamping its entire business structure following the merger with Wallace Computer Services last month. The company, which specialises in providing forms and...

Firms must earn trust hard way. (International).(Australia)
June 6, 2003... Melbourne: Another week, another massive pay-out for an ex-chief executive who has been fired or whose firm has failed. HIH, AMP, BHP--the list goes on. These highly publicised cases of executive incompetence, self-interest, and even...

Will mail order giants be cut down to size? (News Analysis).
June 6, 2003... With the Barclays buying out the giant GUS emaire the mail order sector is poised for a major shake-out Emma Ruhach asks what it will take to turn the tables. The Barclay brothers' audacious buyout of ARG Equation's GUS Home Shopping arm...

Getting public to inspect a gadget. (News Analysis).(marketing of consumer electronics)
June 6, 2003... Selling hi-tech gadgets to thirtysomething men is child's play. But what happens when you want to shift away from boys-with-toys to create a more mainstream appeal? Early adopters are every gadget marketer's dream. You could almost build...

Industry needs comradery for further growth.(Direct Marketing Association's activities)(Column)
June 6, 2003... As reported in Precision Marketing (PM May 23), Brian Robertson has been unsuccessful in his legal attempt to prevent the Electoral Roll (ER) from being used for credit referencing purposes. This failure is a positive result, allowing this...

Letters.(Letter to the Editor)
June 6, 2003... India no substitute site for UK contact centres Admittedly, the relocation of call centres to India does have many advantages, and the UK outsourcing contact centre market should not remain complacent to its emergence on the world stage,...

Business transformation paves way for valuable segmentation. (Comment).
June 6, 2003... Continuing the series of articles previewing next month's IDM/PM Symposium, Merlin Stone presents the case for transforming direct marketing practices In the last few years, direct marketing has advanced steadily, but with no real...

Top service need not be exhausting. (Leader).(Kwik-Fit does it right)
June 6, 2003... Marketing boffins have been tearing their hair out for decades devising the best ways to attract and retain customers--from Abraham Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs to Michael Ray's Three Order Model. But don't you sometimes get the feeling that...

Door-step challenge.(evaluating direct mail marketing campaigns)
June 6, 2003... The door-to-door market has witnessed huge growth over the past few years, with expenditure now exceeding outdoor and radio. As part of a regular series, Louis Hart of the Reef and Omaid Hiwaizi of HHM give their expert opinion on four recent...

Subdued suppression. (Special Report: Suppression).(maintaining mailing lists, contolling returned mail)
June 6, 2003... Since list purchasers rather than list owners receive returned mail, gone-away suppression is often far from cost-effective and does little to make data more rentable. Greater regulation could be the key. THE HOUSING MARKET may help keep...

A beautiful partnership. (Special Report: Research Index).
June 6, 2003... Rather than heralding the death of direct marketing, e-commerce has embraced the industry and furthered itself. But, as David Reed explains in our quarterly series on direct mail users, this partnership is far from reaching its full potential...

Dawson offers inserts to target affluent parents. (List File).
June 6, 2003... Dawson & Son is offering advertisers an opportunity to target affluent parents by placing inserts in its catalogue mailings. The company sends out 175,000 catalogues three times a year. It specialises in high-quality, eco-friendly wooden...

Trivia quiz site to sell male Web enthusiasts data. (List File).(soyouthink.com )(Brief Article)
June 6, 2003... Trivia website soyouthink.com is releasing its list of members through HLB. The site, which offers visitors a range of quizzes covering topics ranging from films, to music, to football, challenges contestants to five questions of...

Caribbean cruise group provides new 'female' list. (List File).(Brief Article)
June 6, 2003... Caribbean Cruise is releasing a new-to-market file of over 220,000 frequent travellers through RFM Data. The file, which is predominantly female, comprises names who have paid up to [pounds sterling]1,200 for a Caribbean holiday package....

Preference Service hires data and sales managers. (Moving People).(Kully Chhita and Gary Sanders)(Brief Article)
June 6, 2003... The Preference Service has recruited Kully Chhita (left) as data manager and Gary Sanders as sales manager. Chhita joins from Ops Room, where she held the same position. She will manage the company's 3.5 million-strong database and oversee...

Salesforce picks distribution strategy boss. (Moving People).(Craig Ramsey)(Brief Article)
June 6, 2003... Salesforce.com, the customer relationship management (CRM) specialist, has appointed Craig Ramsey chairman of distribution strategy. Ramsey joins the board of directors from Siebel Systems, where he was vice-president of worldwide sales. His...

Tequila\London names H-P EMEA account chief. (Moving People).(Stephanie Hamilton)(Brief Article)
June 6, 2003... Stephanie Hamilton has accepted the post of Tequila\London account director for Hewlett-Packard EMEA. For the past two years, she has been in China setting up consumer loyalty programmes for Motorola mobile phones and Kent cigarettes. Before...

Information Arts picks business development head. (Moving People).(Geoff Downer)(Brief Article)
June 6, 2003... Information Arts, the marketing information specialist, has recruited Geoff Downer as business development director. He joins from Identex, where he was marketing and partnerships director, to develop business opportunities with agencies and...

Nice work: is a monthly column dedicated to those people who are happy at work. Don't think it's possible? Read on.(Robert Irons, Central Office of Information)(Brief Article)(Column)
June 6, 2003... Name: Robert Irons Company: Central Office of Information Department: Marketing and communications Job title: Senior campaign manager Responsibilities: Managing direct marketing campaigns for government departments including...

Byland workers offer swell ideas for the ample lady. (Diary).
June 6, 2003... Mention call centres and, to many, images of huge, mind-numbing monoliths spring to mind. Well, a certain Sally Robinson has put a spring into many a step and turned 'large' into big business with her mail order firm AmpleBosom.com. Judging by...

On the coach tours. (Soundoff: Hunter's Tale).
June 6, 2003... Time for my fortnightly leather coach-creaking session... "So, Mike, shall we talk more about this persecution complex you appear to have?" "Well, just this week, for example, KillerShark yet again wasn't even mentioned in the league...

RNID hands account to Whitewater.(Royal National Institute for the Deaf)(Brief Article)
June 13, 2003... The Royal National Institute for the Deaf (RNID) has appointed Whitewater to build its donor base by acquiring higher value and more committed givers, in a shift from relying on one-off donations. The charity previously employed an in-house...

Army charity in donor assault to boost coffers.(Army Benevolent Fund)(Brief Article)
June 13, 2003... The Army Benevolent Fund (ABF) is developing its first central database in a bid to boost legacy, gifts and corporate donations for the 100,000 servicemen it helps each year. The move comes as the charity, which spends [pounds sterling]10m...

Royal Mail demands ACAS disputes body.(Brief Article)
June 13, 2003... Royal Mail chairman Allan Leighton is calling for an ACAS-style arbitration service to settle disputes between the postal operator and watchdog Postcomm. At the moment they can only be settled through a Judicial Review. Leighton, who was...

The REaD Group launches Canadian operation.(Bereavement Register)(Brief Article)
June 13, 2003... The REaD Group has kick-started its international expansion strategy by launching the Bereavement Register in Canada. The register, which it is claimed will be the only service of its kind in the country, replicates the UK business model....

Radisson poised to launch global loyalty scheme.(Radisson SAS Hotels & Resorts)(Brief Article)
June 13, 2003... Radisson SAS Hotels & Resorts is launching its first global loyalty scheme as part of plans to secure a stronghold in the frequent traveller market. The Gold Points programme, devised by International Customer Loyalty Programmes (ICLP), is...

LSC to appetise Londoners with course tasters. (News).(Learning & Skills Councils)(Brief Article)
June 13, 2003... London's five regional Learning & Skills Councils (LSC) are embarking on their most comprehensive campaign to date to promote 'bite size' courses and encourage Londoners to get back into learning. The Bite Size programme comprises over...

Boots eyes toddlers in P&G tie-up. (News).(Boots the Chemist, Procter & Gamble)(Brief Article)
June 13, 2003... Boots the Chemist is teaming up with Procter & Gamble to promote its toddler products offering. It is understood to be the first joint venture between the two companies. The initiative, which has been devised by Black Cat, comprises...

One Account starts household offensive. (News).(Brief Article)
June 13, 2003... The One Account is targeting individual households with a 'street sign' campaign to demonstrate how much consumers will save through its all-in-one mortgage. In a closely targeted initiative, each mailpack will carry the individual's...

Hyundai battles with the sexes to push Getz. (News).(Brief Article)
June 13, 2003... Hyundai is launching a series of campaigns this summer as part of its strategy to better understand gender differences within the motor market and track customer interests more efficiently. The mailings, devised by Clark McKay and Walpole,...

Alamo launches UK site to ward off competitors. (News).(Brief Article)
June 13, 2003... Alamo is launching its first UK website with a raft of direct marketing activity to drive consumers online. Previously, UK residents would have to make car rental bookings via the US website, but in an effort to keep up with European...

Volvo to target urban youth in golf-theme push. (News).(Brief Article)
June 13, 2003... Volvo is rolling out its first integrated ambient acquisition campaign, mixing traditional direct marketing with more unusual data-capture methods. It forms part of a strategy to attract younger, male, urban customers. The car company is...

Otto UK signs Experian deal to trigger e-marketing blitz. (News).(Brief Article)
June 13, 2003... Otto UK, part of the world's largest home shopping group, Otto Versand, is planning to ramp up its e-marketing activity on the back of a three-year deal with Experian Marketing Services, owned by rival GUS. Otto will take advantage of...

'Snooping' bosses to risk court for staff monitoring. (News).(Brief Article)
June 13, 2003... Employers who snoop on their staff's telephone calls and e-mails could face legal action under the Employment Practices Data Protection Code published by Information Commissioner Richard Thomas. The code, which provides practical guidance...

Flying Brands seeks 'single customer view'. (News).(Brief Article)
June 13, 2003... Flying Brands, the Internet and mail order specialist, is overhauling its 5 million-strong central database to create a single customer view and boost cross-selling and upselling opportunities. The company hopes to build on sales worth...

UK debt charity set to bolster direct activity. (News).(Consumer Credit Counselling Service)(Brief Article)
June 13, 2003... A charity devoted to helping UK consumers overcome their debt problems is planning a raft of direct marketing activity to tackle the UK's [pounds sterling]800m credit card bill. The Consumer Credit Counselling Service (CCCS), established...

Asian portal plans direct assault to build database. (News).(www.redhotcurry.com )(Brief Article)
June 13, 2003... The UK's leading Asian community portal is creating its first major direct marketing push as part of plans to build what it claims will be the most comprehensive database of Asians in this country. The online service www.redhotcurry.com...

UIA embarks on rebranding push. (News).(Brief Article)
June 13, 2003... Mutual insurance company UIA is developing a new brand identity to boost future acquisition and retention programmes. The firm, which has provided insurance products for not-for-profit organisations for over 100 years, is embarking on a...

Corus Hotels refines targeting techniques. (News).(Brief Article)
June 13, 2003... Corus Hotels, formerly Corus & Regal, is revamping its customer contact strategy by tailoring mailings to individual customer groups. Corus, which operates 75 UK mid-budget hotels, is overhauling its 68,000-strong customer database to...

Teletext Holidays targets Big Brother viewers. (News).(Brief Article)
June 13, 2003... Teletext Holidays is launching a competition offering Big Brother fans the chance to win a villa holiday for five friends, as part of its ongoing e-CRM strategy. Its microsite, developed by Alcone Digital, is accessible via banners on the Big...

Family Planning uses mopeds to boost awareness. (News).(Brief Article)
June 13, 2003... The Family Planning Association is boosting awareness for its London-based helpline with a responsive campaign involving mopeds and free condoms. Created by agency Feel, the campaign will feature responsive four-sheet posters being towed by...

IDM scheme targets local authorities. (News).(Institute of Direct Marketing)(Brief Article)
June 13, 2003... The IDM is developing a sector-specific direct communications training programme for local government authorities. It has been created in response to a research initiative which identified the need for local authorities to build better...

Bradford & Bingley exposes retirement failings. (News).(Brief Article)
June 13, 2003... Bradford & Bingley, Britain's largest independent financial services broker, is launching a direct mail initiative targeting retired people. The mailing draws attention to the fact that 75 per cent of retirees are failing to make the most of...

Music giants in deal to combat online CD theft. (News).(www. recordstore.co.uk)(Brief Article)
June 13, 2003... Five of the world's largest music companies, Sony, Warner Music, BMG, Universal Music and Sanctuary, are joining forces to sell music through dedicated artists' websites for the first time. The five companies have agreed to the terms of...

Blue Square revamps image with viral blitz to lure young punters. (News).(Brief Article)
June 13, 2003... Blue Square, the UK's largest interactive bookmaker, is planning to develop its online gaming services to recruit more customers and shake off its image as a 'hardcore' betting company. The company is kicking off the strategy with a...

Nissan eyes Fitness First members for Micra. (News).(Brief Article)
June 13, 2003... Nissan is boosting brand awareness for its Micra by striking a partnership with gym chain Fitness First to ramp-up its database of targeted test drivers. Tequila\Manchester has been appointed to promote the small car in local clubs with...

Terrence Higgins Trust launches cold donor drive. (News).(HIV and Aids charity)(Brief Article)
June 13, 2003... The Terrence Higgins Trust, the UK's largest HIV and Aids charity, is rolling out a cold donor recruitment campaign, as part of its strategy to develop a stronger direct capacity. The mailing, devised by Target Direct, which was appointed...

Blacklisted Australians to sue Telstra over damages. (International).(Brief Article)
June 13, 2003... Queensland: Telstra, the telecommunications provider, is being sued for breaching the Privacy Act by blacklisting tens of thousands of customers for unpaid bills. Irate customers are seeking from Aus $120,000 ([poounds sterling]47,506) in...

AOL steps up battle against spam. (International).(Brief Article)
June 13, 2003... Alexandria, Virginia: AOL is upping its battle against spam by introducing new security and privacy features, in a bid to stop record numbers of customers deserting to rival broadband services. The programme AOL 9.0 will offer a new...

Mazda launches mailing offensive to Thai buyers. (International).(Brief Article)
June 13, 2003... Bangkok: Mazda is launching a 3.5 million-strong direct mail campaign to promote the financial package for its Protege sports sedan. The campaign, which will target the nation's Visa cardholders, aims to drive people to its showrooms with...

Own goods vital in low economy. (International).(Uruguay)
June 13, 2003... Uruguay: A growing trend in Uruguayan brand marketing has been evident over the past decade, which has acquired even more urgency in the last few years due to a deep economical recession. The origin of Uruguayan goods is emphasised on...

Postcomm treads the access price tightrope. (News Analysis).(Royal Mail)
June 13, 2003... In trying to liberalise the postal services market. Postcomm faces the prospect of a legal challenge by Royal Mail over the access price. The timetable may slip if it fails to set a mutually acceptable benchmark. Has the starting gun for...

'Blood and guts' loses its appeal. (News Analysis).(charity fundraising)
June 13, 2003... Hard-hitting appeals have been the staple of charity fundraising for years, but the strategy is changing Emily Cubitt asks a group of creative directors where aid organisations should draw the line. Shocking imagery has been one of the...

How to react when client relations sour. (The PM Surgery).(Column)
June 13, 2003... In his monthly column, Jim Surguy tackles two problems facing the agency sector while Alan Timothy (below) explains how to check if a bureau is accident-proof. Q. We have had a client for three months now, but its expectations of what we...

Vetting security of bureau data handling: Alan Timothy advises what steps should be taken to ensure your data is in safe hands with a third-party bureau. (The PM Surgery).(Column)
June 13, 2003... Q. All of my customer data is held by a third-party bureau. What steps should I take to ensure that the safety of this data is guaranteed against any form of disaster? A. Firstly, talk to your own IT department to find out what level of...

Collaboration is way forward for precise pitching.(collaborative customer relationship management)
June 13, 2003... If you can't beat 'em, join 'em. That seems to be the sentiment behind an emerging buzz theme--collaborative customer relationship management (CCRM). The idea behind CCRM is simple: customer relationship management (CRM) can be expensive,...