Precision Marketing articles from May 2003

Precision Marketing archives from May 2003

DMA slams plan to prevent kids from giving data.(Brief Article)
May 2, 2003... The DMA (UK) is calling on the Government to scrap new regulations which will prevent brand owners from collecting data from children, claiming existing self-regulatory codes are working. The new sales promotion regulation, drawn up by the...

Publishing giants unite for major subscriptions push.
May 2, 2003... The UK's leading publishers are pooling their subscription databases for the first time in order to launch a major direct campaign to cross-sell their titles. The move is designed to cut mailing costs and generate more life-time subscribers....

IPA hands top direct role to Payne.(Institute of Practitioners in Advertising)(Brief Article)
May 2, 2003... The Institute of Practitioners in Advertising (IPA) has appointed IDM co-founder David Payne to spearhead the organisation's drive to attract direct marketing agencies and boost its credentials within the industry. The high-profile...

Internet identity scheme to drive credit card-free purchases.(Brief Article)
May 2, 2003... A groundbreaking scheme to verify the age of people carrying out transactions on the Internet will allow companies to trade with adults who do not own credit cards, opening up an untapped chunk of the online market. Interactive AgeCheck...

Ladbrokes bolsters online assault. (News).(Brief Article)
May 2, 2003... Ladbrokes' online division is exploiting its links with Premiership football giants as part of plans to attract new gamblers and boost its customer database with the launch of its most integrated campaign to date. The first stage of the...

Granada drives voting for celebreality TV show. (News).(Granada Media)(Brief Article)
May 2, 2003... Granada Media is using interactive TV and beefing up SMS and telephone voting services for the latest round of charity show I'm a Celebrity--Get Me Out of Here! The company has sidestepped Independent Television Commission guidelines by...

Mail complaints fall back as SMS rocket. (News).
May 2, 2003... The number of complaints against direct mail has dropped by 13 per cent, while complaints about SMS marketing have increased tenfold, according to the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) 2002 Annual Report. This follows an effort by the...

Ogilvy duo take on top Agency Republic post. (News).(Ogilvy Interactive)(Brief Article)
May 2, 2003... Agency Republic has poached two leading players from competitor Ogilvy Interactive in a bid to reinforce its digital creative credentials. James Cooper and Pierre Odendaal move to Agency Republic after four years at Ogilvy, where they...

BACS targets firms to promote direct debit. (News).(Brief Article)
May 2, 2003... BACS, the UK's automated clearing house, is launching a direct mail campaign to mail order, insurance and utility companies highlighting the benefits of collecting payments from customers through direct debit. The campaign encourages...

Christian charity lures Whitehead to be direct boss. (News).(John Grooms chooses John Whitehead to be head of direct marketing)(Brief Article)
May 2, 2003... John Grooms, a Christian-oriented organisation working with disabled people, has appointed John Whitehead to oversee its direct marketing. Whitehead, who has spent six years in a similar position at the National Trust, will be responsible...

Nestle starts offensive for felix 'healthy teeth' brand. (News).(Purina Petcare's Felix Denta Paw )(Brief Article)
May 2, 2003... Nestle petfood brand Purina PetCare is hoping to boost sales of its new Felix Denta Paw product, and develop its customer relationship management (CRM) programme, by sponsoring national 'Pet Smile' month. The company aims to repeat last...

Faberge revamps mailings for new-look Persil push. (News).(Brief Article)
May 2, 2003... Lever Faberge is embarking on an interactive direct mailing campaign for the launch of Persil's new liquid bottles. The initiative, which has been devised by Proximity London, marks a move away from Persil's traditional foldout mailings. It...

HBOS launches first web customer analysis. (News).(Brief Article)
May 2, 2003... HBOS is launching its first customer behaviour analysis project to profile Internet buyers, as part of plans to drive more customers to the Web. The move follows the discovery that many of its online forms were too complex and, as a...

VW eyes luxury car buyers with 4x4 Touareg blitz. (News).(Volkswagen )(Brief Article)
May 2, 2003... Volkswagen is taking on the likes of BMW and Mercedes by launching a targeted campaign to promote new luxury car the 4x4 Touareg. The initiative, which has been devised by Proximity London, aims to position the vehicle alongside competitors...

Novartis uses SMS alerts to push hayfever products. (News).(Novartis Consumer Health )(Brief Article)
May 2, 2003... Novartis Consumer Health is launching an SMS pollen count alert service for hayfever sufferers to support the launch of Aller-eze nasal spray and eye drops. The service, which is timed to coincide with Allergy Week (May 12-18), enables...

Jamies boss in holiday venture. (News).(Brief Article)
May 2, 2003... The founder of London wine bar chain Jamies is launching an online service, www. auctionweekendbreaks.co.uk, with a responsive campaign to attract affluent bargain hunters. The company, which will auction luxury short breaks and activities,...

Lloyds TSB to bolster telebanking service. (News).(Brief Article)
May 2, 2003... Lloyds TSB is embarking on a test campaign for its PhoneBank Express service to boost take-up of the facility. The service will be targeted at existing Lloyds TSB customers who are not yet registered for the service. PhoneBank Express is a...

Loyalty Management takes on top chiefs. (News).(Brief Article)
May 2, 2003... Nectar operator Loyalty Management UK (LMIJK) is strengthening its board by appointing several key figures, including WPP chief executive Sir Martin Sorrell (right). Sorrell will be joined by Harvard Business School professor of business...

Warner drive to promote X-Men 2. (News).(Warner Village Cinemas)(Brief Article)
May 2, 2003... Warner Village Cinemas is launching an integrated campaign to promote the release of X-Men 2, as part of plans to boost cinema-goer spending. The drive, devised by Alcone, will comprise point-of-sale material, cinema ads and online activity at...

Britvic uses DRTV to push kids' drink. (News).(Britvic Soft Drinks promotes Fruit Shoots)(Brief Article)
May 2, 2003... Britvic Soft Drinks is launching a [pounds sterling]6m responsive TV campaign to promote Fruit Shoots, its drink for youngsters. The address www.fruitshoot.com will appear on ads, inviting people to enter competitions. The campaign will carry...

Pet title joins Pets at Home to boost readers. (News).(Scamp's Diary)(Brief Article)
May 2, 2003... The magazine Scamp's Diary, published by Lifecycle Marketing, is launching a nationwide sampling campaign to boost subscriptions. The pack, which contains [pounds sterling]5-worth of freebies for pets, is being distributed through Pets at...

Anti-virus firm in global activity to combat rivals. (News).(Brief Article)
May 2, 2003... Sophos Anti-Virus, the world's largest specialist developer of anti-virus software, is rolling out its first global through-the-line campaign. It aims to outdo competitors and boost its international database. In the past, Sophos has run...

Red Cross taps global terrorism fears to push emergency teams. (News).(Brief Article)
May 2, 2003... The British Red Cross is focusing on fears of a terrorist attack to raise awareness during Red Gross Week of its position as the world's leading emergency response force. The charity's annual fundraising and awareness week will be...

Kiss 100 tries SMS to boost young listeners. (News).(Brief Article)
May 2, 2003... Kiss 100, the London youth radio station, is embarking on an SMS campaign in a bid to build brand loyalty and boost listener numbers. The activity forms part of its annual Heysexy! drive, devised by youth marketing agency Angel. The...

Computer Quote in debut DRTV campaign to drive customers online. (News).(hires Ten Alps RMA)(Brief Article)
May 2, 2003... Computer Quote Car Insurance (CQCI) is venturing into DRTV for the first time to beef up its Internet presence and combat the economic squeeze. The company has hired Bob Geldof's media company, Ten Alps RMA, to create the responsive ads...

Death threats fuel security fears over US spam event. (International).(Brief Article)
May 2, 2003... Washington DC: Attempts by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to resolve the US' spam epidemic by holding a Spain Forum have made extra security measures around the event necessary, following death threats to delegates. A number of worried...

California to tackle tobacco taxes. (International).(Brief Article)
May 2, 2003... Sacramento: California is threatening to penalise online and mail order cigarette retailers who refuse to comply with state tax collectors, after losing an estimated $54m ([pounds sterling]34m) in unpaid cigarette taxes between 2001 and 2002....

Specsavers launches first designer range in Ireland. (International).(Brief Article)
May 2, 2003... Dublin: Specsavers opticians is supporting the launch of its first range of designer spectacles in Ireland with a direct mail campaign backed by TV, radio, and in-store promotions. The three-month push will support the launch of the new...

Hotels must use personal touch. (International).
May 2, 2003... Scottsdale, Arizona: Modern travel marketers have their hands full. Between soft economies, terror threats, war and disease, hoteliers are struggling to put heads in beds. Their plight is worsened by the dramatic shift in power towards the Web...

Bank customers still crying out for service. (News Analysis).
May 2, 2003... Despite spending huge sums of money, UK banks' CRM programmes are at best still in their infancy. In fact, inertia is holding many of them back -- to the extent that major opportunities are being overlooked. Ask most bank customers what...

NHS puts trust in charity techniques. (News Analysis).
May 2, 2003... With no tangible sign of adequate government NHS spending hospitals are turning to marketers to explore alternative means of generating funds. Since the Seventies, NHS funding has been at the top of the political agenda. Yet despite...

Why suppression is not as simple as many believe. (Mark Roy).(Brief Article)
May 2, 2003... There continues to be a lot of talk about suppression. The DMA (UK) has just introduced new guidelines for it and data cleansing, representing a useful starting point for the uninitiated. Yet much of the inevitable influx of new players that...

Letters.
May 2, 2003... Charities' direct drives achieve a lot on a little For anyone who has worked alongside charities as long as I have -- 20 years and counting -- David Benady's article 'Emergency calls' (PM April 18) wouldn't have told them anything new...

Marketers are wasting their time out-pitching each other. (Comment).
May 2, 2003... With budgets at an all-time low, and pitches rising to ridiculous levels as agencies compete, perhaps it is time for them to consider joining forces While many of us are keeping busy, there is undoubtedly a squeeze on marketing budgets,...

NHS sells itself as a good cause. (Leader).
May 2, 2003... When Aneurin Bevin hatched his radical plan for the National Health Service in the late Forties, he couldn't have predicted that, six decades later, his 'cra-dle-to-grave' philosophy would be in need of a lot of work for 'charidy'. But that's...

Door-step challenge: BT Broadband & Lexus.(evaluation of direct mail)
May 2, 2003... I am not sure what the objective of this door drop is. If it is to promote the fact that BT Broadband has a stand at the Ideal Home Show, then it does a great job. The use of the characters from the advertising campaign also helps to build...

Door-step challenge: Flying Flowers & Thomson.(direct advertisement evaluation)
May 2, 2003... Another promotion, another strapline from BT. This one promises to bring you and the Broadband experience together. Apparently, I can connect to Broadband for free, but that is not really true, is it? I need a modem to connect and that costs...

Death of the salesman. (Special Report: E-Commerce).(Column)
May 2, 2003... Presented with the birth of e-commerce, business-to business operators were at first wary of altering their practices. Richard Simpson evaluates the net impact of the digital market E-COMMERCE HAS TURNED OUT to be something of a killing...

Mail bonding. (Special Report: Response Handling/Fulfilment).
May 2, 2003... Third-party mailshots are a highly cost-effective marketing tool. But marketers need to be fully aware of a number of pitfalls, such as conflicts of interest and escalating costs. ASK ANY DIRECT MARKETER what their biggest concern is and...

Mail order clothes firm offers updated buyer list. (List File).(Pedlars)
May 2, 2003... Pedlars, a mail order company which sells clothes and merchandise for the whole family, has released its updated list, with 31,589 names, through Isis Direct. The clothes range from hand-made jumpers from Scotland to patterned skirts and...

Emap provides readers of 'grey' interest titles. (List File).(Brief Article)
May 2, 2003... Swetenhams has released Emap's Grey Market Consumer Magazine list with over 250,000 individuals. Emap provides access to over 90 well-known titles, with 'grey' magazines including Yours, Bird watching, Country Walking, Trail, Rail, Model...

Travellers Club releases larger file of members. (List File).(Brief Article)
May 2, 2003... Integral Marketing has made the enlarged Travellers Club file available, with 120,000 members who joined the one-stop online travel shop for free. The file, which is available for postal and e-mail campaigns, has been sourced primarily...

Frith joins JJ as account manager. (Moving People).(Paul Frith)(Brief Article)
May 2, 2003... Paul Frith has been appointed account manager at JJ to work in the Volvo Car UK Delivery Team. Frith, who joins from Palmer Hargreaves Wallis Tomlinson, has over five years' marketing experience in the motor industry, handling below and...

Schmidt heads OgilvyInteractive London Nestle team. (Moving People).(Stefanie Schmidt )(Brief Article)
May 2, 2003... Stefanie Schmidt has landed the role of group director at OgilvyInteractive London on the Nestle Purina business. Purina includes pet food brands Felix, Winalot, Gourmet, Vital Balance and Go-Cat. Schmidt, who joined the agency in 2000, has...

Generator takes on Dell, Anderson and Smith. (Moving People).(Chris Dell, Brigit Anderson, and Frazer Smith)(Brief Article)
May 2, 2003... Generator has appointed Chris Dell group account director, Brigit Anderson as account manager and Frazer Smith (left) as a designer. Both Anderson and Smith were previously with The Pulse.

Laading lands creative role at Fullsix. (Moving People).(Sebastien Laading becomes UK creative director)
May 2, 2003... Integrated digital marketing agency Fullsix has recruited Sebastien Laading as its UK creative director. Laading was creative director and co-founder for both Grey Interactive Italy and Grey Interactive France. He also held the positions of...

The Sales House recruits Greenwood. (Moving People).(Sally Greenwood to handle training and development at telesales company)(Brief Article)
May 2, 2003... Telesales company The Sales House has appointed Sally Greenwood (left) to training and development. Greenwood, who was previously a client services account director at Broadsystem, will enhance the company's offering to clients like OneTel,...

Quennell to head business at DP&A. (Moving People).(William Quennell)(Brief Article)
May 2, 2003... DP&A has made William Quennell its new business director to spearhead domestic accounts. Quennell, who will lead a pan-European business drive for DP&A's European below-the-line-network FCBi, was the co-founder of Data HQ. DP&A client services...

Spinner promotes Old to creative director. (Moving People).(Jonny Old )(Brief Article)
May 2, 2003... Islington-based agency Spinner has promoted Jonny Old to creative director. The former senior designer has developed and created concepts for many clients over the last seven years. He says: "It is an exciting time for Spinner, we have a...

Offer praise that doors may close on evil salesman. (Diary).(musings of columnist)(Column)
May 2, 2003... Sitting in your nice little warm office, you would never realise the trouble we go to to bring you this august journal, even on a normal week. But last week we literally had to move heaven and earth to ensure your magazine went out on time,...

Agency old problem. (Sounoff: Hunter's Tale).(Brief Article)(Column)
May 2, 2003... Back on the shrink's couch this week (she's called Dr Andrea Milbourne, by the way)... 'So Mike, tell me more about your job. You say it's very pressurised and you've literally fought your way to the top.' 'Yeah, I started straight after...

Home shopping giants join forces for major data blitz.(Brief Article)
May 9, 2003... The UK direct marketing industry is to receive a major data injection with the launch of a company offering the largest pool of mail order transactional information on the market, which will also be offered to top brand owners. Transactis,...

US mailer takes ASA to Euro Court.(Jewelry Vault challenges Advertising Standards Authority in court)(Brief Article)
May 9, 2003... A US company is to become the first advertiser to challenge the Advertising Standards Authority in the EUROPEAN COURT, after the watchdog censured its prize draw mailings for misleading consumers. The Jewelry Vault has already sought a...

Institute of Sales Promotion appoints Colin Lloyd president.(Brief Article)
May 9, 2003... Former DMA (UK) president Colin Lloyd has been handed the presidency of the INSTITUTE OF SALES PROMOTION (ISP), as the trade body seeks to rejuvenate the industry's flagging image. Lloyd, who was a founder of sales promotion agency KLP,...

Rogue director faces two years after OFT action.(Office of Fair Trading)(Brief Article)
May 9, 2003... A direct-sell company director is facing up to two years in prison for breaching a Stop Now Order, in a landmark first -- and possibly last -- legal action over a stop order by the Office of Fair Trading. Vance Miller and his company,...

Guardian tries 'maggot' tactic for food series. (News).(Brief Article)
May 9, 2003... The Guardian is launching a shock tactic campaign featuring maggot encrusted sweets, supported by an integrated campaign, to promote its forthcoming three-part food supplement in its Saturday issue. The push, which targets broadsheet...

Kotex boosts site in rebranding bid. (News).(Brief Article)
May 9, 2003... Kimberly-Clark is revamping its online presence for feminine care brand Kotex as part of plans to reposition the brand as one that 'celebrates being a woman'. The website aims to both introduce people to the product and offer information...

Niche titles hit mail order giants' profits. (News).(Brief Article)
May 9, 2003... Top mail order companies are feeling the squeeze as soaring competition from specialist firms such as House of Bath and Red Rock Media has an adverse effect on the profitability of the big players. The shift, revealed in the Business Ration...

Nationwide acts to rein back mailing costs. (News).(Nationwide Building Society )(Brief Article)
May 9, 2003... Nationwide Building Society is revamping its direct marketing strategy in an effort to slash mailing costs. The company, which sends over 50 million pieces of mail each year, has bought new software from marketing and business intelligence...

Lycos to drive subscribers to pay for services. (News).(Brief Article)
May 9, 2003... Internet network provider Terra Lycos is aiming to encourage its free-service subscribers to sign up for paid-for services by setting up an automated marketing scheme which will target consumers in realtime when they visit the website. The...

Associated New Media to poach paper readers. (News).(Brief Article)
May 9, 2003... Associated Newspapers digital arm Associated New Media (ANM) is planning a major responsive campaign to drive newspaper readers online as part of plans to broaden is customer database. The first part of the initiative will see a raft of...

AOL seeks direct chief for customer retention push. (News).(Brief Article)
May 9, 2003... AOL is aiming to stop customers from defecting to rival operators by ploughing resources into retention in a bid to convert them to broadband, as the online market reaches saturation point. The company, which already boasts over 2 million...

Legion targets young with fresh Poppy Appeal drive. (News).(Royal British Legion is developing its signature 'Poppy Appeal' campaign to appeal to younger donors)(Brief Article)
May 9, 2003... The Royal British Legion is developing its signature 'Poppy Appeal' campaign to appeal to younger donors. It follows an extensive review of its marketing activities and agencies (PM January 17) The charity is also gearing up for a...

AWA boss to head full-service agency launch. (News).(Brief Article)
May 9, 2003... AWA Media (AWA) is expanding with the launch of a standalone full-service direct marketing agency. It will be headed by AWA chief executive Richard Anderson, with a ten-strong staff. The line up of the new outfit, AWA 3D (3D), includes...

Young Ridgway eyes retired in 'do or die' bid. (News).(Young Ridgway and Associates)(Brief Article)
May 9, 2003... Independent financial advisor Young Ridgway & Associates is launching its most targeted campaign to date, in a customer recruitment drive designed to combat continuing financial pressure and boost its internal prospect database. The...

WaterAid drive to scrap reliance on third-parties. (News).(Brief Article)
May 9, 2003... WaterAid, the charity dedicated to providing access to clean water and sanitation for the world's poorest countries, is extending its recruitment strategy to meet increasingly ambitious funding targets. Cold recruitment will be tested for...

12snap takes on Burnett director. (News).(Martin Copus)(Brief Article)
May 9, 2003... Interactive mobile marketing agency l2snap has appointed Martin Copus UK managing director, in a bid to reinforce its integrated offline advertising credentials. Copus brings 25 years of offline international advertising experience to...

House of Fraser builds data with loyalty card. (News).(Brief Article)
May 9, 2003... House OF FRASER is to embark on a raft of personalised campaigns based on customer buying habits, on the back of its latest loyalty scheme, Recognition. The retail group includes chains House of Fraser, Army & Navy, David Evans, Dickins &...

Ex-Carlton chief to head ITV Interactive. (News).(Brief Article)
May 9, 2003... Carlton arid Granada have pre-empted the merger of their interactive TV production outfits, currently being scrutinised by the Office of Fair Trading, by appointing former Carlton active chief executive Jane Marshall to head the new company,...

Experian reports major surge in data cleansing. (News).(Brief Article)
May 9, 2003... Consumers' growing concerns about 'junk mail' and telemarketing calls have led to a sixfold increase in the volume of customer records being cleansed by organisations in the UK. In general, businesses are paying increasing attention to the Data...

Grand Prix in drive to sell Schumacher cap. (News).(Brief Article)
May 9, 2003... Grand Prix Legends is embarking on a nationwide campaign promoting Michael Schumacher's 2003 F1 cap. The mailings, which have been devised by NOVA Direct Mail, comprise an A5 postcard featuring the legendary F1 driver with this season's new '5...

Novotel hotels owner embarks on new offensive. (News).(Accor Business & Leisure Hotels)(Brief Article)
May 9, 2003... Accor Business & Leisure Hotels is developing its conference and corporate marketing following a four-way pitch. Direct marketing agency FFwd has retained the account -- after five years -- and will produce direct mail campaigns, plus design...

Gardening tool specialist taps into 'Dimmock'. (News).(Stihl Group direct marketing consumer campaigns)(Brief Article)
May 9, 2003... Trade gardening tools specialist the Stihl Group is aiming to exploit the 'Charlie Dimmock factor' by launching a raft of direct marketing campaigns devised to lure consumers. Traditionally Stihl has targeted the trade, but with the...

Channel 4 launches campaign to boost interactive gaming service. (News).(Four Active)(Brief Article)
May 9, 2003... Channel 4 is exploiting its interactive digital services and encouraging more viewers to take part in its paid-for gaming, as part of plans to bolster revenues. The Four Active gaming platform, which is accessed via the remote control red...

AA in debut SMS activity for Driving School. (News).(Brief Article)
May 9, 2003... The AA is embarking on its first SMS campaign to promote its DRIVING SCHOOL in a bid to recruit more learners to the service. The initiative, through wireless marketing specialist Flytxt, offers learner drivers a free lesson when they text...

Mobile phone insurer starts profiling drive to exploit [pounds sterling]1bn market. (News).(Policy Administration Services)(Brief Article)
May 9, 2003... Mobile phone insurer Policy Administration Services (PAS), part of mobile telecoms giant the Caudwell Group, is planning to maximise the profitability of its multi-million strong customer base with a data segmentation drive. The company...

LL Bean eyes Eddie Bauer for high-street presence. (International).(Brief Article)
May 9, 2003... Freeport, Maine: Mail order company LL Bean is poised to buy rival retailer Eddie Bauer, in a move which would double the company's sales and make retail stores a greater part of its business. Eddie Bauer is caught up in parent company...

US state poised to jail spammers. (International).(Virginia)(Brief Article)
May 9, 2003... Richmond, Virginia: E-mail spammers in Virginia face jail, and risk losing their assets, under the state's tough new anti-spam laws. The laws, which come into effect on July 1, will allow the state to bring charges against anyone who sends...

German mail order giant predicts earnings shortfall. (International).(Karstadt Quelle)(Brief Article)
May 9, 2003... Berlin: German mail order and retail group Karstadt Quelle is planning to cut costs and increase its advertising budget. The company expects underlying earnings to fall this year, as a result of slow consumer demand due to high unemployment...

Aussie fottball is untapped sector. (International).
May 9, 2003... Melbourne: It's been an interesting few months for Australian football: the Oceania region's direct entry into the World Cup, beating England at home, the release of a damning report on the running of the game, and the players' union announcing...

Payne poised to carve new industry landscape. (News Analysis).
May 9, 2003... The IPA's appointment of its first direct marketing chief reflects agencies need to after a far more integrated approach = and the body's search for further funding. But will firms soon have to choose between it and the DMA? The marketing...

Will united front boost UK subs? (News Analysis).
May 9, 2003... With UK magazine subscription sales still not reaching their full potential publishers are putting their heads together to come up a with collective marketing strategy. Dennis Publishing founder Felix Dennis has a long history of shaking...

Companies not following up on brand promises.(Column)
May 9, 2003... If there is one thing I have learnt in my agency career, it is never to over-promise, as most people working in marketing would agree. Like marrying a mail order bride, there is nothing worse than buying into something that looks great, only to...

Letter.
May 9, 2003... Agencies are obsessed with customer insight Jonathan Clark writes (PM April 25) about the importance of insight -- it's the vital ingredient in producing creative work which 'blows people away'. I think these days that's a given -- our...