Precision Marketing articles from March 2002

Precision Marketing archives from March 2002

Asda expands delivery range to digital TV.(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... Asda is expanding its home delivery service to run on digital TV, to take on the might of Tesco Direct. Asda, which this week successfully defended a complaint to the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) about the service, claims it will...

Consignia under pressure over delivery review plans.(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... Consignia's radical plans for a shake-up of postal deliveries are putting it on a collision course with sections of the direct marketing industry. The mail order sector has hit out at suggestions that Parcelforce may attempt to prevent...

Industry figures join for service 'monitor'.(Direct Excellence to launch services)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... Four industry figures are backing a new company that has been set up to monitor customer service teams in more than 500 organisations across a range of industry sectors. Direct Excellence, which launches this week, is being backed by DMA...

English National Ballet raises curtain an revamped direct marketing strategy.(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... The English National Ballet (ENB) is set to extend its direct marketing activity as part of a long-term strategy to gain a greater share of the entertainment market. The move follows last week's appointment of the company's first marketing...

Hallmark to use WAP service to boost database. (News).(alliance with T-Mobile Online)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... Greetings card manufacturer Hallmark is set to add WAP messaging to its new Hallmark Hiya service in a bid to boost its fledgling user database. The company has joined forces with T-Mobile Online (TMO) to enable mobile phone users with WAP...

Cat charity seeks donor dialogue. (News).(Cats Protection League to launch customer relationship management initiative)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... The Cats Protection League is launching its first customer relationship management (CRM) initiative in an attempt to create a better dialogue with donors. Both existing donors and new supporters will be asked to specify the kind of...

Virgin plans blitz to 'born-again' bikers. (News).(Virgin Bikes to launch marketing campaign)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... Virgin Bikes, which launches its online motorbike business on March 11, is aiming to lure new and 'born-again' bikers with a raft of time-driven e-mail campaigns designed to capture market share from traditional retail dealerships. The...

Everton FC embarks on debut marketing drive. (News).(Everton Football Club)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... Everton Football Club is launching its first marketing campaign in a bid to boost its supporter base and revitalise the club's fortunes. The move follows the appointment of Everton's first direct marketing agency, Huet & Company, last year...

RAF embraces direct action to lure top staff. (News).(launches recruitment marketing campaign)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... The Royal Air Force is mounting a direct assault in an effort to recruit support staff - including medical and catering professionals - who are vital to its operation. The recruitment strategy has been devised by Tullo Marshall Warren,...

Empiredirect takes on high street chains. (News).(by targeting tabloid readers)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... Online retailer Empiredirect is to challenge electrical retail chains by expanding its marketing activity to target tabloid readers. The company, which achieves sales of up to [pounds sterling]1m per week from www.empiredirect.co.uk, has...

Budget ploughs [pounds sterling]10m into major acquisition campaign. (News).(Budget Insurance responsive marketing campaign)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... Budget insurance is launching a [pounds sterling]10m responsive marketing campaign, in an effort to capture market share from the likes of AA Insurance and Direct Line, in the highly competitive car and motorcycle insurance sector. The...

WWF shifts cash-raising focus to supporter base. (News).(World Wildlife Fund )(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... The World Wildlife Fund (WWF) is to tap into its supporter base in an effort to boost funds, after finding that recruitment techniques, such as face-to-face and mailings, are becoming less effective. The move paves the way for the charity's...

Manchester Utd TV adopts responsive tack. (News).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... Manchester United TV (MUTV) is to use direct marketing to spearhead an aggressive subscription drive, in which it hopes to woo fans to its pay-TV channel. The channel of the Premiership club, which has an estimated 7 million UK fans, is...

Marbles banks on 'rich' media Freeserve tie-in. (News).(HFC Bank)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... HFC Bank is hoping to see a significant rise in online applications for its Marbles credit card through its first 'rich' media campaign. The effort to attract Web users marks Marbles first foray into the use of rich media technology. Until...

Record firm to promote debut direct club album. (News).(Distinctive Records)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... Distinctive Records is set to roll out a highly targeted campaign promoting the first club compilation album created through direct marketing techniques. Developed by youth marketing agency B'lowfish 24, over 30,000 digital audio postcards...

Domino's Pizza targets movers. (News).(alliance with ihavemoved.com)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... Domino's Pizza is teaming up with online change of address service ihavemoved.com to launch an acquisition strategy aimed at home movers. Users of ihavemoved.com can opt-in for the offer of a free pizza. A voucher will then be sent to the...

Clark McKay appoints WWAV creative chief. (News).(Bob Nash appointed at Clark McKay and Walpole)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... Clark McKay and Walpole is continuing to expand its senior team with the appointment of former WWAV Rapp Collins creative director Bob Nash. The appointment dovetails with the promotion of Steve Walpole to executive creative director. Nash...

Intelligent finance looks set to break even. (News).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... Intelligent Finance, the Internet bank offering from Halifax, has contributed [pounds sterling]5bn to the group's net mortgage lending and 70,000 new current accounts, according to preliminary results. The report says Intelligent Finance...

Fedma welcomes EC's proposed data legislation. (News).(Federation of European Direct Marketing, European Commission)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... Fedma has welcomed the European Commission's call for improved access to data on the public sector within the European Union. Fedma claims new legislation on public access will guarantee that international corporations will hold data that is...

Direct line launches motor insurance promotion. (News).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... Direct Line is launching a major door-drop campaign for its motor insurance business this week. It will target 2 million homes in the UK. Postcodes have been selected by profiling against customer databases. The campaign will test new creative...

BT drops broadband charges to lure customers. (News).(British Telecom)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... BT is launching a responsive campaign to promote its latest broadband charges and kick-start take-up. The telecoms giant is also providing financial support for the marketing campaigns of 40 service providers to drive the market forward....

Xerox joins forces with formic to create data tool. (News).(software)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... Xerox has teamed up with data software provider Formic to launch a product the companies claim will increase the speed and efficiency with which direct marketers can process data. Using this software, Xerox has produced a 'Multifunction...

PowerGen uses monsters route to family tie-in. (News).(Monsters Inc. movie)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... PowerGen is extending its tie-up with recently-released movie Monsters Inc as part of the company's strategy to shift from its power generator image to a more customer-focused organisation. The tie-up, which launched with TV advertising in...

Jersey tourism launches first Net campaign to lure holidaymakers. (News).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... Jersey Tourism is aiming to boost the number of consumers booking holidays online this year, by launching its first Internet marketing programme. The online activity is part of the tourist board's downsized [pounds sterling]1.5m...

New entrant unveils student welcome pack. (News).(Messenger Media)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... A marketing company aiming to capture a share of the lucrative student sector is linking with UK universities and colleges to launch a 'welcome pack' scheme at freshers' fairs in September. The new company, Messenger Media, will be in...

City index revamps marketing strategy following brand overhaul. (News).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... Spread-betting specialist City Index is launching its largest acquisition campaign to date, following a rebranding and addition of a 'Privilege Club,' for regular players. The campaign will involve 1 million inserts in the Financial Times...

Australia toughens stance with anti-spam measures. (International).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... Canberra: The federal government's IT police are planning a major crackdown on junk e-mail, after research revealed that 'spam' has rocketed by 600 per cent in the last 12 months. Figures published by the Coalition Against Unsolicited Bulk...

Exxon mobile plots euro growth. (International).(Exxon Mobil )
March 1, 2002... Dallas: Petrol company Exxon Mobil is set to extend its global reach by examining consumer profiles through Europe, to pinpoint the best locations for new forecourts and target nearby consumers. Using a new system from Leeds-based...

Corona overhauls direct strategy in expansion drive. (International).(insurance)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... Brussels: Insurance company Corona Direct is hoping to boost its market position with a major overhaul of its direct mail strategy. Spearheaded by analytical software developers Data-Distilleries, Corona Direct hopes to mail fewer...

Taking the lead with regulation. (International).(New Zealand e-commerce)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... Wellington: As the European Union struggles to gain some ground on the issue of a pan-European Internet privacy strategy, New Zealand's e-commerce industry is finding itself in the midst of the same wrangles. However, unlike the EU, the country...

Will credit ruling hit consumer interest? The credit card mailings sector faces a major test following last weeks decision by the Office of Fair Trading to enforce a directive on false advertising of interest rates. (News Analysis).
March 1, 2002... Ever since the big US finance companies, such as Morgan Stanley and MBNA, first entered the UK market, credit card issuers have been aggressively marketing single-digit introductory rates, with Prudential's Egg among the first to follow the...

Battle of the blockbusters: Cinemas -- buoyed by a boom in audience figures and a run of popular films -- are enjoying a new 'golden era'. So why do they feel the need to target their customers directly? (News Analysis).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... The British cinema industry is dominated by the large multiplex chains that between them share over two-thirds of the market. Yet with the past year witnessing record cinema admissions, the battle to build and defend market share is taking on...

Payback time for loyalty scheme revolutionaries?(loyalty card Payback popular in Germany)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... There is a new European retail phenomenon, still little heard of in the UK, that could yet sweep across this country. From a standing start two years ago, a new loyalty card has emerged in Germany -- called Payback -- with over 13 million...

Letters.
March 1, 2002... DMA's business plans will alienate members I have been reading about the DMA (UK)'s pursuit of joint commercial ventures in an attempt to raise funds, with much interest (PM February 8). While the details and the positioning of such...

Marketing budgets should not be spent on marketing alone Organisations are spending too much money executing campaigns and not enough time optimising them through planning and results analysis. (Comment: Bryan Black).(Brief Article)(Column)
March 1, 2002... Chief executives of large organisations could make more money if they looked at their entire marketing process, from start to end. Yet, most organisations simply argue about execution and how to spend their budget on which campaigns. The...

First aid for the Net community. (Leader).(cost of broadband to decrease)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
March 1, 2002... BT's long-awaited decision to slash the cost of broadband should go some way to resuscitating the online community, although how long it will take for significant numbers of consumers to sign up to the service remains to be seen. Most...

Get it together: Good use of data is vital to direct marketing, yet many companies continue to underestimate its importance. This is having a knock-on effect in CRM programmes, with millions of pounds being wasted. (Data 02).(customer relationship management)(Polling Data)(Statistical Data Included)
March 1, 2002... AS DIRECT MARKETERS know, data is central to the success of their work. Customer managers, as a result of customer relationship management (CRM) projects, are now beginning to realise the same thing. But just as in direct marketing the creative...

On the run from CPA? The demise of web advertising has fuelled the debate over how ISPs should charge for online ads. But, as David Benady reports, can they afford to ignore the cost-per-action argument? (Special Report: Online).
March 1, 2002... A ROW OVER the best way to use the Internet as an advertising medium has been bubbling under the surface for some months now, but with the downturn in online advertising revenues hitting crisis point, the dispute has boiled to the surface. ...

Dawson & Son releases list of organic mothers. (List File).(mailing lists)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... Children's toys and games specialist Dawson & Son is making the e-mail addresses from its mailing list available through Isis Direct. The majority of customers are affluent 25- to 35-year-old mothers, with children aged up to six years...

Moving people.(multiple company appointments)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... All change: the week's appointments and promotions making the news in the direct marketing industry British Film Institute promotes Temple The British Film Institute (bfi) has appointed Ian Temple to a new position of director of...

Nice work.(Mat Kiddie of Grasshopper)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... ... is a monthly column dedicated to those people who are happy at work. Don't think it's possible? Read on Name: Mat Kiddie Company: Grasshopper Department: Account management Job title: Account director Responsibilities:...

Ice and lemon with your fcuk madam? (Diary).(Paul Woolf)(Brief Article)(Column)
March 1, 2002... If George W Bush has taught the world anything, it is that no matter how rich and powerful you are, it still pays to watch what you say. This is as true for direct marketing agency chiefs as it is for US presidents. Take Paul Woolf, head...

Free of charge. (Soundoff: Hunter's Tale).
March 1, 2002... Thank you for your kind words of congratulation following the launch of KillerShark. Despite all the backs I've inadvertently rubbed up the wrong way, the weight of your support brought a tear to my eye. Our lifestyle energy drink campaign...

How many more Barrys are there? (Diary).(EHS Brann opens bar in office)(Column)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... Speaking of booze, it's becoming increasingly apparent that this industry is divided into those who have and those who have not. One agency that can consider itself firmly in the former category is newly-formed colossus EHS Brann, which has...

Ex-WWAV chief Mair exits top US role at Rapp Collins. (News).(former WWAV Rapp Collins Group executive Lesley Mair leaves post at Rapp Collins New York)(Brief Article)
March 8, 2002... Former WWAV Rapp Collins Group chairman Lesley Mair has left her role as president and chief executive of Rapp Collins New York, after less than nine months in the post. It is believed that Mair, who does not have a job to go to, will...

Fedma hopes to drive Euro selling debate. (News).(Federation of European Direct Marketing, British Banking Association lobby European Commission)(Brief Article)
March 8, 2002... The Federation of European Direct Marketing (Fedma) has joined forces with the British Banking Association in a bid to reignite the debate on distance-selling. Fedma claims the decision reached by the Council of Ministers in December 2001...

Tobacco companies face renewed threat to direct marketing plans. (News).(Brief Article)
March 8, 2002... Tobacco companies face a new threat from a parliamentary Private Members' Bill that seeks to stifle direct communication for their products. If the Bill, which has Government backing, is passed, all communications on tobacco products will...

Barclaycard in direct assault for expansion. (News).(direct mail campaign for car, health insurance expansion)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
March 8, 2002... Barclaycard is embarking on the first phase of an aggressive expansion drive, with new campaigns for its health and motor insurance products. The company, which will enter the mortgage, life insurance and investment fund markets before...

Postal liberalisation descends into farce as row escalates. (News).(United Kingdom)(Brief Article)
March 8, 2002... Postcomm's plans for postal liberalisation have descended into farce this week, after chairman Graham Corbett said he would consider amending the original proposals for competition if Consignia can produce good reasons. The move, which has...

Marie Curie to explore new direct routes. (News).(direct marketing campaign for Marie Curie Cancer Care)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
March 8, 2002... Marie Curie Cancer Care is reviewing its marketing strategy in an attempt to attract a wider audience by steering away from traditional direct techniques, such as mailings. DRTV and face-to-face marketing are both being tested in a bid to...

VW drive targets 'white van man.' (News).(Volkswagen (UK) plans brand awareness campaign)(Brief Article)
March 8, 2002... Volkswagen (UK) is taking on the traditional 'white van' giants, such as Ford and Mercedes, by testing new routes to market in an effort to boost its share. The company, which holds 6 per cent of the market, is launching an integrated...

Greenpeace builds base for youth blitz. (News).(electronic marketing initiative targets youth)(Brief Article)
March 8, 2002... Greenpeace is aiming to turn children as a young as ten into environmental activists, with the creation of its first youth marketing database to give credibility to their views. The initiative will bridge the gap between lobbying Parliament...

Yorkshire Tourism poised to hunt direct agency. (News).(Brief Article)
March 8, 2002... Yorkshire Tourism is considering appointing a direct marketing agency to promote its Bronte Country brand in an effort to attract more visitors to the county. The sub-division, which is spending [pounds]2m on developing below-the-line...

Miller Homes paves way for national drive. (News).(direct marketing campaign)(Brief Article)
March 8, 2002... Miller Homes is launching a test campaign which could result in a major nationwide push, driving prospects to its relaunched website and building its database of e-mail prospects. The company is part of The Miller Group, the UK's largest...

Welsh National Opera to text student market. (News).(text-messaging campaign planned)(Brief Article)
March 8, 2002... The Welsh National Opera (WNO) to make its first foray into SMS marketing, in a bid to attract the student market. The touring company has previously concentrated the majority of its direct marketing efforts on direct mail, sending 1.5...

Nikon set to bolster direct spend for product launches. (News).(Nikon UK)(Brief Article)
March 8, 2002... Nikon UK is poised to boost its use of direct marketing for product launches, following the roll out of its flagship digital camera, the Coolpix 5000. The initiative is the company's first below-the-line led-product launch and, if...

Guinness shifts focus for St Patrick's celebrations. (News).(Guinness GB marketing plans for St. Patrick's Day)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
March 8, 2002... Guinness GB has halved its St Patrick's Day ad spend and plans to shift marketing efforts from specialised TV work to direct marketing, Net activity and on-trade promotions. A [pounds sterling]2.2m programme, which has been slashed by more...

Asserta Home plots twin property initiative. (News).(online, direct mail advertising campaign)(Brief Article)
March 8, 2002... Asserta Home, the CGU-owned online property shop, is aiming to boost its customer database on the back of a new marketing offensive that targets consumers and estate agents. The campaign includes ads in property sections of key national and...

Boots Opticians steps up laser surgery drive. (News).(print advertising campaign)(Brief Article)
March 8, 2002... Boots Opticians is launching the first responsive campaign to promote its laser eye surgery, since being rapped by the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) for making misleading claims in a direct mailshot (PM February 8). The initiative...

Premier Lodge uses Web to target business sector. (News).(internet advertising among efforts for hotel chain)(Brief Article)
March 8, 2002... Hotel chain Premier Lodge is incorporating online and outdoor advertising into its direct marketing mix for the first time, in a bid to attract business travellers. As part of its 'spend the night, not a fortune' campaign, the Scottish &...

Presky Maves hires creative. (News).(Stuart Woodington)(Brief Article)
March 8, 2002... Presky Maves, the agency founded by two former Aspen directors, has recruited ex-Gold Eye partner Stuart Woodington to boost its creative credentials. The agency was launched three years ago by Robin Presky and George Maves. Maves has...

Eurotunnel tries joint drive to raise traffic. (News).(radio and direct mail campaign)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
March 8, 2002... Eurotunnel is aiming to increase its customer database with the launch of its latest acquisition campaign, designed to boost its share of the cross-Channel market. France remains the number one destination for UK travellers, with around 12...

Sportech and ITV to offer interactive betting. (News).(Brief Article)
March 8, 2002... Sportech has announced a five-year deal with ITV which will enable it to provide interactive betting and gaming services. The gaming group, which owns Littlewoods Pools and Bet Direct, is reported to have described the deal, which will see the...

Partners Andrews Aldridge boosts creative team. (News).(hires Sarah Richards, Ross Newton)(Brief Article)
March 8, 2002... Partners Andrews Aldridge has strengthened its creative department with the appointment of Sarah Richards and Ross Newton as art director and copywriter respectively. They previously won the D&AD student award and were finalists in the Leonardo...

Digital sports company develops e-mail database. (News).(Rivals Digital Media partners with Electronic Arts for registration drive)(Brief Article)
March 8, 2002... Digital sports company Rivals Digital Media is boosting its e-mail database of cricket fans via in-game branding of Electronic Arts' Sports Cricket 2002. Branding in the new video game is aimed at driving players to the Rivals Cricket365.com...

Henderson launches campaign to promote ISAs. (News).(Henderson Global Investors)(Brief Article)
March 8, 2002... Henderson Global Investors is launching a responsive advertising and direct mail campaign for its UK Growth Fund ISA. The promotion, created by CCHM, is aimed at independent financial advisors and their clients. The press ads will appear in...

Calgon embarks on door-drop initiative. (News).(Reckitt Benckiser to launch leaflet campaign for Calgon)(Brief Article)
March 8, 2002... Reckitt Benckiser, manufacturer of household cleaning and personal care products, is launching a door-drop promotion for its Calgon brand. Some 2 million leaflets will be distributed by Circular Distributors in the Anglia and Meridian TV...

23red appoints senior team to boost creative. (News).(hires Kathy Kielty, Mike Guegan)(Brief Article)
March 8, 2002... Full service marketing agency 23red is looking to boost its client offering with the appointment of a senior level creative team. Kathy Kielty and Mike Guegan join from the Edge Agency, where they have worked for five years creating...

UK direct agencies scoop record number of awards at John Caples. (News).(24th John Caples International Awards Showcase)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
March 8, 2002... UK direct marketing agencies broke all records at the 24th John Caples International Awards Showcase, ending the evening with an unprecedented 28 awards -- 13 more than last year -- including the coveted Best of Show. A total of 13 UK...

Learndirect to push 'Skills for Life' initiative. (News).(literacy and numeracy skills program)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
March 8, 2002... University for Industry brand Learndirect is embarking on a major marketing push for its 'Skills for Life' initiative with the aim of getting one million people a year to sign up to the Government-funded programme. Over 9 million homes...

Software firm in drive to warn businesses of Microsoft clampdown. (News).(Centennial to launch electronic mail campaign)(Brief Article)
March 8, 2002... Software publisher Centennial is launching an online campaign designed to stop companies falling foul of Microsoft's aggressive new stance on the unauthorised use of its software. The initiative will see a test run of 1,000 personalised...

Hong Kong gears up for first TV shopping channel. (International).(Gold Television)(Brief Article)
March 8, 2002... Hong Kong: Home shopping via the TV will be available to residents of Hong Kong for the first time as GTM Holdings subsidiary American Overseas Investments (AOI) introduces its Gold Television home shopping channel into China. The move...

Pakistan plans mobile growth. (International).(Ufone contracts Nortel Networks for infrastructure)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
March 8, 2002... Islamahad: The expansion of Pakistan's nationally-owned mobile phone network, Ufone, is set to benefit advertisers and e-commerce players with the provision of additional wireless Internet services. Ufone will contract infrastructure...

Korea braces for launch of 'test bed' broadcasts. (International).(Korea Digital Satellite Broadcasting to launch SkyLife service)(Brief Article)
March 8, 2002... Seoul: Korea Digital Satellite Broadcasting (KDB] is poised to launch the country's first multichannel broadcasting service, SkyLife, this week. The launch is being closely watched as SkyLife is seen as a test bed for expanded broadcasting...

'Pink' market needs respect. (International).(gay and lesbian demographic marketing, US)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
March 8, 2002... Chicago: According to an Advertising Age study, up to ten per cent of the US population in urban markets are identified as gay/lesbian. This translates into a large market share of consumer spending: $350m-$540m annually. A study...

Arts marketing raises curtain on next stage: Promotion of the arts is about to begin its second act to embrace modern marketing methods and attract a new generation of patrons. (News Analysis).(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
March 8, 2002... Not that long ago, the prospect of 'the arts' jumping into bed with marketers would probably have been enough to make most patrons set fire to their velvet dinner jackets in protest. But big changes going on behind the scenes in theatres...

Direct insurers gear up for war: Following the advent of direct motor insurance, the market has become highly competitive and price-driven. Insurers are now fighting a tough battle to attract and retain customers. (News Analysis).(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
March 8, 2002... The battle for dominance in the highly competitive motor insurance industry looks set to intensify this month with the launch of a [pounds sterling] 10m direct campaign by Budget insurance (PM last week) signalling the start of another assault...

Why we need Chapter 11 for UK businesses.(Brief Article)
March 8, 2002... As someone with a travel industry background, I am familiar with the US system of protecting vulnerable companies by allowing them to enter Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection - TWA and Continental being some of the best-known airline names to...

Letters.(Letter to the Editor)
March 8, 2002... Agencies should strive to achieve good results I roared with laughter when reading the letters regarding tank!'s efforts to improve the standard of financial services creative work. Frankly, any agency with a sincere interest in...

New business opportunities are not always quite what they seem: Marketing departments are frivolously wasting resources by inviting companies to speculatively pitch for business before funding is secured. (Comment).(Brief Article)
March 8, 2002... Am I the only one to notice that something strange is going on with agency pitches? There are a surprising number around at the moment, despite the gloomy economic outlook. While there is many a serious opportunity from professional...

Where are all of the young guns? (Leader).(in direct marketing)(Editorial)(Brief Article)
March 8, 2002... Ask anyone working in direct marketing to name the 'big guns' of the industry and you can almost guarantee that somewhere on that list, you'll find Drayton Bird, Judith Donovan, Colin Lloyd, and John Watson. But ask them who the 'young guns'...

Persil. (Creative Critique).(Brief Article)
March 8, 2002... Try don't buy How do you get people to open a mailing that is yet another Persil product sample? Having just moved house, the mailing was clearly sent to people who had recently acquired a new Creda tumble dryer. The intriguing line the...

East Sussex Press. (Creative Critique).(Brief Article)
March 8, 2002... Message in a bottle Now I know it's an idea that has been around the block a bit, but I thought it was an idea that had legs. Being easily pleased, the simple fact of sending a plastic bottle through the post was enough to entice me. In a...

Oxo. (Creative Critique).
March 8, 2002... More than a restaurant This piece fell out of the latest Harvey Nichols magazine and caught my eye. Despite the fact it was hidden among some extremely dull inserts, it stood out by virtue of its considered design and format. I've never...