Precision Marketing articles from June 2004

Precision Marketing archives from June 2004

OFT campaign to stress dangers of storecards.(Office of Fair Trading)(Brief Article)
June 4, 2004... The Office of Fair Trading (OFT) is launching a campaign to alert consumers to the dangers of storecards, amid increasing concerns over the UK's spiralling debt mountain. It aims to inform shoppers of the serious credit commitment a...

Chuggers face major clampdown.(Public Fundraising Regulatory Association (PFRA))(Brief Article)
June 4, 2004... Face-to-face fundraising bodies are warning that the 'devil is in the detail' of the Government's draft Charities Bill. This is despite them giving a cautious welcome to tough new rules to clamp down on 'chuggers' (charity muggers). The...

HJ Heinz kick-starts hunt for direct shop.(Brief Article)
June 4, 2004... HJ Heinz is understood to be hunting a direct agency for a brand portfolio that includes condiments, babyfoods and worldwide delivery service Heinz Direct. The food giant, which netted sales worth over 5bn [pounds sterling] last year, is...

Flourish Direct Marketing picks up 1&1 Internet.(Brief Article)
June 4, 2004... Start-up agency Flourish Direct Marketing has won the direct business for one of the UK's largest Web-hosting companies, 1&1 Internet, after a four-way pitch. The Bristol-based agency was set up by founding partners Richard Hartson, Neil...

Sports Loyalty Card targets 90m football fans in Euro assault.(Brief Article)
June 4, 2004... Sports Loyalty Card (SLC) plans to attract 90 million European football fans to its retail reward-points scheme. The company--run by Gavin Dein, son of Arsenal Football Club vice-chairman David Dein--is in talks with G14, which includes...

Dunlop Tyres in online push to top-end drivers.(news)(Brief Article)
June 4, 2004... Dunlop Tyres is seeking to broaden its customer base in an online initiative designed to appeal to high-end vehicle drivers. The push, which features a competition offering the chance to live like a star during a weekend in Monaco, also...

Royal Mail to face new sanctions.(news)(Brief Article)
June 4, 2004... Postcomm has launched an investigation into the reasons behind a collapse in Royal Mail's quality of service, after the postal operator failed to meet any of its 15 service targets. The postal giant, which last week announced it had...

Fedma plans to head off email legislation.(news)(Federation of European Direct Marketing)(Brief Article)
June 4, 2004... Fedma is launching the Email Marketing Council to combat spare, tighten up self-regulation and head off stricter laws. The pan-European industry body says email marketing has enormous potential, but the growing number of unsolicited...

Land Rover to launch off-road test offensive.(news)(Brief Article)
June 4, 2004... Land Rover is rolling out an experiential marketing programme for the flagship Range Rover brand. The UK's leading four-wheel drive manufacturer is to promote off-road driving adventures following a test programme last year. Land Rover...

Carlsberg in T-Mobile SMS link for Euro 2004.(news)(Brief Article)
June 4, 2004... Carlsberg and T-Mobile, sponsors of the Euro 2004 football championships, are launching a joint SMS campaign to boost their customer databases. The push centres on an Instant Win Football Quiz scratchcard which consumers will be able to...

Rethink to roll out awareness initiative online.(news)(Brief Article)
June 4, 2004... Rethink, the charity supporting people with severe mental illness and their carers, is embarking on a targeted digital drive as it seeks to optimise fundraising techniques. The organisation has appointed digital agency Inbox to handle the...

Bluefrog broadens scope away from charity sector.(news)(Brief Article)
June 4, 2004... Bluefrog, one of the UK's largest charity specialist agencies, is steering away from its third-sector only stance as it seeks commercial clients. The agency currently works for major organisations such as Oxfam, Cancer Research UK and...

Experian refines Mosaic file with closer detailing.(news)(Experian Information Solutions Inc.)(Brief Article)
June 4, 2004... Experian has updated its widely-used Mosaic UK consumer classification system with new data sources, including the 2001 Census, to reveal several more identifiable social groups. New classifications include the 'rural isolationists' group,...

Tennis group urges coaches to seek licence.(news)(Lawn Tennis Association )(Brief Article)
June 4, 2004... The Lawn Tennis Association (LTA) is serving a volley of direct marketing at clubs, players and coaches to raise awareness of its licensing scheme. It has appointed 23red to develop the integrated campaign, which will include direct mail,...

Cliff Richard perfume launches via direct push.(news)(StarScents)(Brief Article)
June 4, 2004... Sir Cliff Richard's debut perfume Miss You Nights is set to launch with a raft of direct marketing activity. Specialist perfume company StarScents is embarking on the blitz for the pop star's much-typed scent. The push, which has been...

TUI appoints Bright to shake up activity.(news)(Brief Article)
June 4, 2004... TUI UK is overhauling its direct arrangements in a bid to increase bookings and maintain customer loyalty. The travel giant has handed its multi-million pound business, including Thomson and Lunn Poly, to Bright. The agency, which...

Direct mailings carry 'lowest risk' for B2B.(news)(business-to-business communications)(Brief Article)
June 4, 2004... Well-targeted direct mail is the least harmful medium for business-to-business (B2B) communications, according to a survey. The research of 1,000 marketing professionals by business data specialist Marketscan found mailings are considered...

EASA issues industry best practice charter.(news)(European Advertising Standards Alliance )(Brief Article)
June 4, 2004... The European Advertising Standards Alliance (EASA) is calling on the direct marketing industry to ensure best practice in self-regulation is adopted across the enlarged single market. The industry's commitment to self regulation best...

Draft picks up joint Vauxhall and Saab account.(news)(Draft Worldwide)(Brief Article)
June 4, 2004... General Motors has handed the combined direct accounts for its Vauxhall and Saab brands to Draft Worldwide. The business has been consolidated into Draft after a pitch involving DLKW Dialogue, McCann Relationship Marketing and Vauxhall...

Data Locator creates database of 'all' UK homes.(news)(Brief Article)
June 4, 2004... Data Locator, the integrated data and sales solutions provider, is launching a nationwide consumer database called Everyone. The company claims the file features every UK household, using latest Census information and wealth indicators.

3G mobile use surging among under-35s.(news)(Brief Article)
June 4, 2004... The number of mobile phone owners using 3G services has increased by 250 per cent in the past six months, according to Enpocket's latest mobile media survey. Chief executive Jonathon Linner says: "This shows that mobile owners are getting to...

TPS set to launch corporate service.(news)(Telephone Preference Service )(Brief Article)
June 4, 2004... DMA (UK) subsidiary Telephone Preference Service (TPS) is to provide the new Corporate Telephone Preference Service as part of its contract with Ofcom. TPS is updating its website to provide information about the corporate scheme. From June 25,...

Stella Artois in e-activity to enhance film link.(news)(Brief Article)
June 4, 2004... Stella Artois is embarking on an online campaign as part of its sponsorship of the 2004 Screen Tour film festival. The activity, which drives recipients to www.stellascreen.co.uk, aims to boost registrations on the site and ticket sales for...

Bonne Maman spreads word in first UK drive.(news)(Brief Article)
June 4, 2004... French jam maker Bonne Maman is launching its first UK direct marketing campaign. The food brand, which uses the strapline 'Simply perfect', is unveiling its full range of products--including Light & Fruity conserves, biscuits and chilled...

Avis boosts analysis with online marketing overhaul.(news)(Avis Europe PLC)(Brief Article)
June 4, 2004... Avis Europe is overhauling its online customer management to boost marketing effectiveness. The car rental firm is centralising the tracking and measurement of customer behaviour with the appointment of online performance-based marketing...

Peugeot embarks on iTV drive for 407 model.(news)(Brief Article)
June 4, 2004... Peugeot is boosting its direct offering with an interactive TV campaign to support the launch of its 407 model. The ads are being devised by OMDtvi in collaboration with Sky. The drive breaks this mouth and will be shown on Sky Active, ITV2...

Children's Society eyes 25,000 donors with rough sleeper mailing.(news)(Brief Article)
June 4, 2004... The Children's Society is launching its first campaign-specific direct mail drive to raise awareness of kids living rough. The TW Cat-designed mailshot, targeting 25,000 supporters, is being sent out this week. It is the first time the...

Asia-Pacific boss predicts Thailand next regional hub.(international)(Brief Article)
June 4, 2004... Bangkok: Thailand's political and business environment is poised to make it a regional centre for the direct industry. The announcement was made by Shanmuga Retnam, head of the Asia-Pacific Direct Marketing Council, at the Direct Marketing...

Abacus extends reach to Australia.(international)(Abacus Direct Corp.)(Brief Article)
June 4, 2004... Sydney: Abacus, the data and research provider owned by DoubleClick, is setting up shop in Australia. The division adds to existing operations in the US, UK, Germany and Japan. Abacus Australia will be based in Sydney, but is also to open...

SR Teleperformance launches US Hispanic centre.(international)(Brief Article)
June 4, 2004... Paris: SR Teleperformance is expanding its operations by opening a contact centre in El Salvador to cater for the US Hispanic market. The operation will create about 160 new jobs and provide bilingual customer support and contact centre...

Reading French browser habits.(international)(Boulogne Billancourt)
June 4, 2004... Boulogne Billancourt: The publishing sector in France is facing significant challenges to its traditional approach to subscription marketing. As in the UK, it is a highly competitive arena and relies upon readers who are increasingly difficult...

Are Royal Mail profits at expense of service? Two years after the launch of Royal Mail's ambitious three-year improvement plan, the postal operator has turned in a profit. But its failure to meet 15 public service tests suggest a heavy price has been.(news analysis)
June 4, 2004... After Royal Mail delivered a 220m [pounds sterling] profit last week, chairman Allan Leighton said the result was "not good enough". He and millions of customers were let down by colossal failures in the first two years of a three-year...

Putting football loyalty to the test: football loyalty schemes are springing up all over the country, providing a means to reward fans for their support. But with clubs already commanding fierce loyalty, is there scope to further develop relationships?(news analysis)(Manchester United)
June 4, 2004... There are some 20 million registered football fans in the UK, so it should come as no surprise that clubs are increasingly looking to tap into this market with unique loyally schemes. The programmes have been dubbed the 'Air Miles of the...

Why size-based pricing critics miss the point.(Brief Article)
June 4, 2004... Those industry stalwarts opposing size-based pricing are displaying a traditional knee-jerk reaction to any sort of change. They have somewhat missed the point. Some form of size-based pricing is almost universal throughout Europe. At the...

Only data vigilance will cast off industry stigma.(letters)(Letter to the Editor)
June 4, 2004... I was one of the 6 million people who moved last year. That was now eight months ago. The former owner strangely decided against having her post redirected, and as a consequence, I am still inundated with her correspondence. Being the head of...

DMA's defence has failed us all.(letters)(Letter to the Editor)
June 4, 2004... So, it's all the fault of the BBC, then (PM May 14)? There go those cynical and irresponsible journalists, yet again laying into the direct marketing business, it's all so unfair; the cry of foul play goes up and the knives are sharpened for...

Combat Indian call centre threat by training staff for quality service: rather than concentrating on the outsourcing threat, UK call centres should build on their growing reputation for a high-quality and more efficient service.(comment)
June 4, 2004... The whole debate surrounding offshoring to India has left me wondering why we are all on the defensive. The recent exodus from these shores has come despite research showing that UK call centres deliver better service than their Indian...

List Survey not true reflection.(letters)(Letter to the Editor)
June 4, 2004... Your Top List Operators Survey (PM April 23) made interesting reading, as usual. However, if you are going to generate a fair and accurate analysis of the top list owners, brokers and managers, surely you must identify to which part of the...

Lifestyle file misrepresented.(letters)(Letter to the Editor)
June 4, 2004... Readers of the survey report (PM April 23) maybe left with the impression Lifestyle Advance has just 400 names on it. You refer to our exercise that used Equifax's huge data resources to identify gone-away lifestyle survey respondents at...

Royal Mail still has it all to do.(leader)
June 4, 2004... It's fair to say the past couple of years have been pretty turbulent, if you happen to have been working for Allan Leighton--and not just if you play in the all-white strip of Leeds United Football Club. As sad as Leeds' decline may be, at...

Creative critique.
June 4, 2004... Shape (youth crime)--Government initiative New agency Lean promises direct marketing--but without the fat of big agencies. The work is for 'Shape', a Government initiative to canvas Lords, MPs and selected media people to provide a debating...

Card tricks: while credit card firms rely on high-street retailers to curb fraud at the till, the online world will need to employ ever more sophisticated verification and checking tools for the foreseeable future.(Special report: customer management)
June 4, 2004... WE HAVE ALL HAD the experience. You hand a very expensive item to the checkout parson, together with your credit card. Then their phone rings. It is the card issuer, and they want to speak to you. That sinking feeling is the fear that your...

Tough call to make: as the implementation of Corporate TPS looms, businesses' knowledge of what compliance entails seems to be lagging.(Special report: suppression)
June 4, 2004... UNSOLICITED SALES AND MARKETING CALLS to businesses have until now been exempt from the cold call restrictions relating to consumers. As of this month, however, companies can register with the Corporate Telephone Preference Service to block...

Animal welfare list on market.(list file)(EDM Media )(Brief Article)
June 4, 2004... The International Fund for Animal Welfare is making almost 90,000 entrants to its sweepstake promotions available through EDM Media. The charity campaigns to protect animals from cruelty and preserve their habitats. The file consists...

Health firm to release names.(list file)(Health & Home Shopping International Merchandise)(Brief Article)
June 4, 2004... The Health & Home Shopping International Merchandise Offers file of more than 60,000 mail order buyers and prize draw entrants is being made available through Cheryl Nathan List Broking. It comprises 43,300 0- to 12-month, and 16,915 13- to...

Touch One puts data up for sale.(list file)(Touch One Advertising)(Brief Article)
June 4, 2004... Touch One Advertising is publishing data on 29,027 women through Marketing & Media Solutions (MMS). The firm sells discounted vouchers for some of the UK's most exclusive hair and beauty salons. The salons appeal mainly to young,...

[pounds sterling]IST$ provides investor file.(list file)(Brief Article)
June 4, 2004... A file of 682,914 high-risk investors is being put on the market by [pounds sterling]IST$. It contains details of active investors who have recently put money into new, and often high-risk, companies. These people tend to be experienced...

Catalink offers updated list.(list file)(Brief Article)
June 4, 2004... Catalink, the mail order catalogue portal, is releasing its updated file of 62,000 names through Go Direct Marketing. Predominantly women, the names are required to become members of the website before requesting catalogues, and are...

Taylor to take helm at List Experts London shop.(moving people)(Brief Article)
June 4, 2004... List Experts, the Oxfordshire-based independent list broker, has recruited James Taylor as director of its new London office. He was previously UK head of list braking at Prospect Swetenhams, where he worked for over eight years. He will work...

Ebiquita appoints Holt account manager.(moving people)(Zoe Holt)(Brief Article)
June 4, 2004... Marketing data specialist Ebiquita has handed the role of key account manager to Zoe Holt. She will oversee a number of accounts in a variety of sectors, manage Ebiquita's telephone lifestyle survey and contribute to the firm's marketing...

Weaver lands broadcast role at Response Advertising.(moving people)(Response Advertising Media)(Brief Article)
June 4, 2004... Response Advertising Media (RAM) has appointed Mark Weaver broadcast director. He will oversee planning and buying across all broadcast media, with an emphasis on TV. He has 13 years' experience in the industry with companies such as Carat and...

Nice work: ... is a monthly column dedicated to those people who are happy at work. Don't think it's possible? Read on.(Biography)
June 4, 2004... Name: Sophie Masters Company: ESP Job title: Account manager Responsibilities: Co-ordinating all campaigns; working alongside clients to ensure they get the best results Job perks: Free hypnosis sessions: I gave up smoking...

Liberal minded to always be feeble.(diary)(Ms Diary PR)
June 4, 2004... We have to say, politics is something we've always seen as rather boring. In fact, we'd rather read a copy of Terry Hunt and Clive Humby's adrenaline-fuelled, bodice-ripper Scoring Points: How Tesco is Winning Customer Loyalty than go anywhere...

Forthcoming events.(diary)(Calendar)
June 4, 2004... Multi Resource Marketing (MRM) is hosting three one-day marketing seminars in London, Manchester and at its headquarters in Market Harborough, Leicestershire, on June 8, 9 and 10. The informal itinerary includes talks on mobile and online...

Not so sharp.(Soundoff: hunter's tale)(Precision Marketing's Agency)(Brief Article)
June 4, 2004... I'm getting it in the neck from our joint managing directors, Sarah Smith and Naomi Marvelle, because somehow we didn't feature in Precision Marketing's Agency Reputation survey last week. As KillerShark is London's top Aggressive Marketing...

US DMA backs push to recycle 55% of paper.(Brief Article)
June 11, 2004... The US DMA has confirmed its commitment to raising recycling levels by throwing its weight behind a national campaign. The trade body is backing a scheme introduced by the American Forests and Paper Association to encourage US citizens and...

MPS misuse blocking opted in mail.(Mailing Preference Service)(Brief Article)
June 11, 2004... Widespread confusion over the Mailing Preference Service (MPS) means many consumers are not receiving communications they have opted in to. An investigation by financial services forum Tank's Opt-In Action Group has revealed that many...

Industry chiefs slam BBC 'gameshow' poll.(Brief Article)
June 11, 2004... Industry chiefs remain "unapologetic" after direct mail was voted UK consumers' biggest pet hate on the BBC's Brassed Off Britain show. Rather than licking its wounds, the DMA (UK) has branded the series a "gameshow" and criticised it for...

UIA plans agency overhaul to attract partners.(Brief Article)
June 11, 2004... UIA, the specialist affinity insurer for the not-for-profit sector, is planning a direct agency review, amid a major expansion programme. The company is to overhaul its roster in October. The move will pave the way for a new e-commerce...

TNT Mail signs Express Dairies delivery deal.(Brief Article)
June 11, 2004... TNT Mail is to partner Express Dairies in the second stage of its assault on the UK postal market. The deal will see Express Dairies deliver addressed. heavier letters and packages for TNT customers to more than 6 million UK households....

Acxiom to roll out online data bank to SMEs.(news)(Brief Article)
June 11, 2004... Acxiom is targeting SMEs with its first product launch since the acquisitions of Claritas (PM December 12) and Consodata (PM March 5). The company is rolling out Customers Connect, an Internet-based service initially offering some 11.8...

John Lewis in credit card offensiue.(news)(Brief Article)
June 11, 2004... John Lewis Partnership is rolling out a direct marketing assault to promote the retailer's recently launched credit card and build its customer database. The campaign is the first to target the general public, following initial direct mail...

Charities sign up to recruitment portal.(news)(Brief Article)
June 11, 2004... A host of leading charities is teaming up with email marketing strategist Interactive Prospect Targeting (IPT) to launch a recruitment portal aiming to bolster donor numbers. British Red Cross, Amnesty International, Cancer Research,...

Renault devises 'animated' Megane initiative.(news)(Brief Article)
June 11, 2004... Renault is rolling out an integrated campaign to drive awareness of its new Megane Coupe Cabriolet model. The push will see posters and postcards distributed by Boomerang Media in cinemas and bars across major UK cities. The postcards...

Millennium to boost grey data via pooled lists.(news)(Brief Article)
June 11, 2004... Millennium, the grey market specialist agency', is creating a portfolio of over-50s lists in a bid to offer direct marketers a comprehensive source of data on the sector. The agency says the initiative will establish a data resource of the...

Guinness eyes database with Extra Cold push.(news)(Brief Article)
June 11, 2004... Guinness is targeting its database with a summer promotion for the Extra Cold brand. The drive, targeted at 540,000 people, entices them to switch to the cooler version of the stout as temperatures rise. Central to the campaign is a...

BA to bolster direct plans after major budget uplift.(news)(British Airways PLC)(Brief Article)
June 11, 2004... British Airways is poised to launch a raft of direct marketing after announcing its annual advertising and promotions budget will grow to more than 50m [pounds sterling] this year. The airline says its budget, which has increased 18 per...

Nescafe rolls out on-pack rewards loyalty scheme.(news)(Brief Article)
June 11, 2004... Nescafe Original is launching a loyalty scheme to reward regular drinkers with gifts. The 'Pick-me-ups' promotion features on-pack tokens, and is due to launch this month on jars of Nescafe Original at outlets across the UK. The gifts...

Great Little Trading Company hires Dataforce.(news)(Brief Article)
June 11, 2004... Great Little Trading Company, the family-oriented mail order and e-commerce specialist, is overhauling its multichannel communications to develop long term relationships. The company, which operates via phone, email and post, has appointed...

Data Locator to offer Snapshot buyer profiles.(news)(Brief Article)
June 11, 2004... Data Locator, the integrated data and sales solutions provider, is launching a customer-profiling tool to enable marketers to tailor campaigns more efficiently. Snapshot identifies key characteristics in a customer database. Matched...

HMV rethinks online ploy to bolster sales.(news)(Brief Article)
June 11, 2004... HMV is putting its online marketing under scrutiny in a bid to boost e-commerce. The retailer is implementing WebTrends' On Demand package to measure and analyse online sales and marketing initiatives. It then aims to increase the...

SLD Pumps in profiling activity to boost take-up.(news)(Brief Article)
June 11, 2004... Industrial pump rental specialist SLD Pumps is producing a customer relationship strategy to expand its UK, German, French and US markets. Data-engineering consultancy Rocket Science has been appointed to head the project, providing the...

Scottish Rugby draws crowd for Under-21s.(news)(Brief Article)
June 11, 2004... Scottish Rugby is kicking off a marketing blitz to promote the Under-21 World Championship beginning this week. The drive will see the tournament host use a range of direct media to target 2 million people, while injecting cash into...

Oxfam transfers direct account to EHS Brann.(news)(Brief Article)
June 11, 2004... Oxfam has handed its 10m [pounds sterling] integrated direct marketing account to EHS Brann. The move represents the charity's first agency shake-up for a decade, as it parts company with WWAV Rapp Collins. Oxfam is expected to increase its...

Consumers' Association calls credit rules 'weak'.(news)(Brief Article)
June 11, 2004... The Consumers' Association has voiced concerns about plans to tighten up rules on consumer credit marketing being insufficient. The association is worried that proposals to improve consumer welfare by clarifying product comparisons and other...

Richard Thomas voices identity card fears.(news)(Information Commissioner of United Kingdom)(Brief Article)
June 11, 2004... Information Commissioner Richard Thomas has warned MPs that the blueprint for UK identity cards could change the relationship between the state and the public. He says current outlines "do not properly convey" the nature of the scheme, which...

Intelligent Finance seeks marketing chief.(news)(Brief Article)
June 11, 2004... Intelligent Finance (IF), the telephone and Internet banking division of HBOS, is searching for a director of products and marketing after the resignation of Duncan Movassaghi, who is understood to now be working as a freelance consultant....

Wyvern Direct Response releases reader list.(news)(Brief Article)
June 11, 2004... Wyvern Direct Response, the list manager, is launching consumer database Highbury ConsumerBase. The service contains over 4 million records, pooled from Highbury Group's magazine and newsletter portfolios, which includes titles Real Homes and...

Bed firm turns to cold lists for integrated push.(news)(Iron Bed Company )(Brief Article)
June 11, 2004... The Iron Bed Company is making its first attempt to target prospects through cold lists, as it builds a picture of customer buying habits. Direct response agency WDMP is managing the campaign, with the first mailshots to be sent this...

Blood Service builds insight with caller feedback system.(news)(National Blood Service )(Brief Article)
June 11, 2004... The National Blood Service (NBS) is overhauling its call centre operations to boost its donor base. Its national call centre, which handles more than 70,000 blood donation queries each month, is to he equipped with an automated customer...

NTL seeks advertisers for piggyback inserts.(news)(Brief Article)
June 11, 2004... NTL is offering companies access to its residential customer base for the first time with promotional inserts in monthly statements. The cable and broadband services firm sends about 3 million UK mailings each month to a broad demographic...

ICI Paints in joint in-store initiative with Wilkinson to bolster sales.(news)(Brief Article)
June 11, 2004... ICI Paints is teaming up with high-street retailer Wilkinson for an initiative designed to increase sales of Dulux and Polycell products. The push, created by SMP, has been devised to coincide with the Euro 2004 football championships. ...

US DMA reveals step up in industry performance.(international)(Brief Article)
June 11, 2004... New York: The industry has seen an encouraging upswing in business, according to the US DMA's latest indicators. In its quarterly business review, the association found the industry had a 'revenue performance' rating of 64 out of 100,...

Liquorice wins Asia-Pacific client.(international)(Brief Article)
June 11, 2004... Sydney: Liquorice, the London-based marketing agency, has won its first Australian account two months after launching an Asia Pacific office (PM March 26). High-quality clothing company Colorado has appointed Liquorice Asia-Pacific...