Marketing articles from April 2006

Marketing archives from April 2006

More Th>n boss Scaife departs after 18 months.(Neil Scaife resigns)(Brief article)
April 5, 2006... More Th>n head of marketing communications Neil Scaife has left the insurer without a job to go to, just months after he axed its Lucky the Dog brand icon. His departure from the Royal & SunAlliance-owned company follows February's arrival...

Yell hunts pounds 20m agency following split from AMV.(advertising contracts)(Brief article)
April 5, 2006... Yell is launching a review of its pounds 20m advertising account after parting company with Abbott Mead Vickers BBDO. The agency claimed that fellow client BT, whose business it has held for 23 years, is now 'an important competitor' in the...

Coke adds Zero no-calorie drink.(Coca-Cola introduces new drink)(Brief article)
April 5, 2006... Coca-Cola is poised to introduce the first variant to its iconic Coke range for 22 years, with the launch of Coke Zero later this year. Coke Zero, which is a calorie-free drink, will become only the third variant in the Coke range; the last...

Adecco puts TBWA on alert with strategy review.(Adecco Inc contracted with TBWA Advertising Inc)(Brief article)
April 5, 2006... Adecco, the international recruitment agency, is reviewing its pounds 20m European advertising account with TBWA\London less than four months after appointing the agency. TBWA has not yet produced any advertising for the company, which has...

Weight Watchers set for review of pounds 1.5m account.(advertising spending)(Brief article)
April 5, 2006... Heinz is reviewing its pounds 1.5m creative business for the Weight Watchers brand following disappointing sales. The diet brand has been hit by a declining market for frozen foods, due to a shift in buying trends toward fresh and chilled...

Arla Foods hit by Muslim backlash.(muslims influenced in dairy products business)(Brief article)
April 5, 2006... Danish-Swedish dairy producer Arla Foods is suffering following a two-month boycott of its products in the Middle East. Many retailers have not yet lifted a ban imposed after the publication of controversial cartoons of the Prophet Mohammed...

Swiftcover.com backs F1 on ITV.(broadcast advertising)(Brief article)
April 5, 2006... Swiftcover.com, the online insurance provider, is to sponsor ITV's Formula One coverage. The multimillion-pound deal, swiftcover.com's first sponsorship venture, includes broadcast sponsorship of races and qualifying stages on ITV1, as...

Coca-Cola GB in 'Side of life' drive.(Coca-Cola Great Britain)(Brief article)
April 5, 2006... Coca-Cola Great Britain is poised to launch its global 'Coke side of life' campaign in the UK, to reinvigorate its iconic Coca-Cola brand. The integrated activity, which kicked off in the US last week, will comprise significant online...

New campaign: Flymo.(advertising campaigns)(Brief article)
April 5, 2006... Flymo is introducing a new brand character to front its spring advertising campaign. Flymo Man will feature in ads as part of a pounds 2m campaign for the lawn-mower brand. The activity, which breaks on 12 April, shows Flymo Man travelling...

Pernod Ricard to ditch Tia Lusso.(product recalls)(Brief article)
April 5, 2006... Tia Lusso, the Pernod Ricard cream liqueur brand, is to be axed following disappointing sales, despite its 2002 launch being backed by a pounds 30m marketing campaign. The drink, a blend of Jamaican coffee, rum and fresh cream, was...

Yakult appoints ex-Unilever chief.(appointments)(Brief article)
April 5, 2006... Health drink Yakult has named Alan Jelly, a former Unilever interactive marketing director, as its first marketing director. The hiring follows a period of significant growth at the company, which has increased its marketing spend to...

Advertising bodies unite for food and drink talks.(regulations)(Brief article)
April 5, 2006... The Incorporated Society of British Advertisers (ISBA) and the Advertising Association's Food Advertising Unit are working to broker an agreement between broadcasters, advertisers and agencies on advertising food and drink to children. The...

McDonald's customers to appear on packaging.(sales promotions)(Brief article)
April 5, 2006... McDonald's is launching its first global online promotion, offering consumers the opportunity to appear on more than 50m pieces of food packaging, in an attempt to bring its 'I'm lovin' it' campaign to life. Consumers will be invited to...

Budweiser name in World Cup veto.(marketing )(Brief article)
April 5, 2006... Budweiser's grip on exclusive beer branding in Germany during the FIFA World Cup is in tatters because the Anheuser-Busch brand does not hold the rights to use its name at matches. The Budweiser name cannot be used anywhere in Germany,...

Thinkbox picks Tess Alps as first chief executive.(appointments)(Brief article)
April 5, 2006... Thinkbox, the commercial TV industry's marketing body, has hired PHD chairman Tess Alps as its first chief executive. She will be responsible for establishing Thinkbox as a fully resourced organisation; her appointment marks the end of a...

Quiksilver enters perfume market.(licensing agreements)(Brief article)
April 5, 2006... Surf and snowboard fashion brand Quiksilver is expanding into sun lotion and fragrances after striking a global licensing agreement with Inter Parfums. Inter Parfums' Paris subsidiary will introduce a Roxy perfume late next year, followed...

French cheese in 'tapas' image bid.(stastisitcs)(Brief article)
April 5, 2006... The French dairy sector is aiming a campaign to reposition the country's cheese as a tapas-style snack at over-45s. Fine Cheeses from France, a body set up by the sector, is seeking to capitalise on the UK's growing consumption of French...

Co-op defers rebranding after 'mixed' trial results.(Co-Op services)(Brief article)
April 5, 2006... The Co-op has postponed the roll-out of a new brand identity that would unite its businesses under one name. Results of a trial have been 'mixed', according to insiders, and the group has decided to do more research. A decision on how to...

118 118 to accuse Yell of misleading consumers.(advertising disputes )(Brief article)
April 5, 2006... The Number, owner of the 118 118 directory enquiries service, is to complain to the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) about rival Yell's advertising for its 118 247 service. Yell's current ad campaign refers to 118 247 as the winner of...

Kellogg in pounds 3m swimming link.(investments )(Brief article)
April 5, 2006... Kellogg is investing pounds 3m over the next three years to encourage more people to take up swimming. The breakfast cereal firm is expanding its 10-year relationship with the Amateur Swimming Association with a 'grass roots to medals'...

Strongbow backs county cricket's Twenty20 Cup.(sports advertising)(Brief article)
April 5, 2006... Strongbow is to sponsor county cricket's Twenty20 Cup this summer as it seeks to expand its presence at sporting events. The Scottish & Newcastle-owned cider has signed a sponsorship and stadia advertising deal that will make the drink the...

Best Western to boost web work.(Best Western International Inc's advertising contracts)(Brief article)
April 5, 2006... Best Western Hotels has appointed Swamp to handle its UK online business. The account, which was previously held by Designate, will include the hotel group's UK online display advertising. The appointment comes ahead of a major online...

Diageo develops line of pre-mixed spirits.(alcoholic beverages)(Brief article)
April 5, 2006... Diageo is introducing a range of pre-mixed spirit-based drinks, called Classic Mix, for consumption at home. The line, which will be sold in 70cl glass bottles, will launch later this month. It will use Diageo's well-known spirit...

McArthurGlen to build upmarket positioning.(advertising campaigns)(Brief article)
April 5, 2006... McArthurGlen, the designer and discount fashion outlet group, is launching a promotional campaign to raise awareness of its positioning. The activity, which will break during Easter, is intended to create an upmarket image for its centres...

News brief: Ferrero UK runs Eastern ad campaign.(advertising campaigns)(Brief article)
April 5, 2006... Ferrero UK is running an Easter advertising campaign, created by WCRS, to promote its flagship Ferrero Rocher brand. The press executions, which are intended to debunk the brand's formal heritage, will appear in the mainstream women's press.

News brief: Jacob's Creek relaunches.(Brief article)
April 5, 2006... Jacob's Creek, Pernod Ricard's Australian wine brand, has relaunched to coincide with its 30th anniversary. The brand is to move away from its New World positioning with a focus on its provenance and personality.

News brief: British Beer & Pub Association to launch awards scheme.(Brief article)
April 5, 2006... The British Beer & Pub Association is to launch an awards scheme in an attempt to change the image of the nation's pubs and beers. The initiative is intended to offer consumers a badge-of-quality assurance, as the Michelin guide scheme does for...

News brief: Biore teams up with Boots.(Brief article)
April 5, 2006... Biore, the skincare brand, is teaming up with Boots as part of a pounds 1.2m drive. The activity includes print ads, in-store promotions and poster and escalator panels on the London Underground.

News brief: Skipton Building Society hikes media spend.(Prego)(Brief article)
April 5, 2006... Skipton Building Society is hiking its media spend six-fold this year and running its first TV ads in 15 years. Created by Leeds agency Prego, the ad focuses on the society's mutual status and uses the strapline 'Mutual matters'. The TV...

News brief: Npower offers to pay cancellation fee.(Brief article)
April 5, 2006... Npower is offering to pay the pounds 50 cancellation fee charged by British Gas for customers who switch from its rival's 2009 price-freeze tariff to its own.

News brief: VisitBritain seeks agencies.
April 5, 2006... VisitBritain is seeking marketing agencies and technology suppliers to overhaul its customer relationship management strategy and implementation across 36 international markets.

News brief: Grass Roots launches pre-paid debit card.(Brief article)
April 5, 2006... Grass Roots, the employee incentives company, is launching a Maestro-branded pre-paid debit card. The card can be used in the UK and any overseas country where Maestro is accepted.

People moves: Campbell's UK.(Tim Perman, Annie Neil, Mark Alexander promoted)(Brief article)
April 5, 2006... Tim Perman has been promoted to managing director, UK and Ireland, at Campbell's UK. Annie Neil has moved up to his former role as marketing director, UK. Perman takes over from Mark Alexander, who has been promoted to president, Campbell's...

People moves: Adams Kidswear.(Ronnie Helvey appointed)(Brief article)
April 5, 2006... Ronnie Helvey, Principles' marketing director, has been hired by Adams Kidswear in the same role. Helvey has also held marketing director positions at Harrods and The Body Shop.

People moves: Colt Telecom.(COLT Telecom Group PLC appoints Billy O'Riordan)(Brief article)
April 5, 2006... Billy O'Riordan has been appointed head of marketing at business communications provider Colt Telecom. O'Riordan joins from Sun Microsystems, where he was responsible for services field marketing in EMEA, Asia Pacific and the Americas.

People moves: Carlsberg.
April 5, 2006... Chris Lewis has been appointed marketing controller at Carlsberg, responsible for Carlsberg and innovation. He joins from Weetabix, where he was marketing manager.

People moves: Kao Brands Europe.(Erik Brockhus appointed)(Brief article)
April 5, 2006... Erik Brockhus has been named general manager for Kao Brands Europe. He was previously general manager in the Netherlands and has held senior marketing positions at Beiersdorf and United Biscuits.

People moves: VisitCambridge.
April 5, 2006... Ben Durstone has joined VisitCambridge as its first marketing manager. He will work on the creation and implementation of a marketing strategy for the city.

Drench creates art prize in pounds 2.4m push.(Brief article)
April 5, 2006... Britvic water brand Drench is to launch its own annual art award as part of a pounds 2.4m promotional drive. The Drench Art Award, which launches on 11 April, is intended to give a platform to aspiring artists aged 16-30. A dedicated...

Halewood plans Cafe Kiss debut.(Halewood International)(Brief article)
April 5, 2006... Halewood International, the owner of alcoholic drinks brands including Sidekick and Red Square, is preparing to unveil a coffee-based alcoholic drink. The company intends to take advantage of the fashion for coffee-based drinks with Cafe...

Cheestrings to focus on health in pounds 5m ads.(Brief article)
April 5, 2006... Kerry Foods is launching its second multimillion-pound campaign of the year for the Cheestrings brand in an attempt to shake off its unhealthy image. The pounds 5m push, which marks a significant increase in investment and is Cheestrings'...

New campaign: The London Dungeon.(Brief article)
April 5, 2006... The London Dungeon, which recently opened an attraction in Amsterdam, is to run its first TV campaign for more than two years. The 20-second ad will debut in the UK and Holland this month before rolling out across Europe. The ad shows a...

This week: Marketing news from the national press.(Brief article)
April 5, 2006... Asda is asking its biggest suppliers for upfront cash payments running into tens of millions of pounds as it seeks to cut prices for customers and improve its profits - Financial Times Ottakar's, the bookseller, is boosting its online...

Media News: Dating Direct to back Heart slot.(Brief article)
April 5, 2006... Dating Direct is to sponsor Chrysalis Radio's Heart network's evening show for 12 months. The seven-figure deal will run across Heart 106.2FM in London, 100.7 Heart FM in the West Midlands and Heart 106 in the East Midlands. The...

Media News: Carlton Screen in European effort.(Carlton Screen Advertising, Screen-vision Europe)(Brief article)
April 5, 2006... Cinema media specialist Carlton Screen Advertising (CSA) is setting up a unit in partnership with Screen-vision Europe, the company's joint venture with media services provider Thomson, in an attempt to drive pan-European sales. Nathalie...

Media News: Clear Channel chief in rebate data gaffe.(Brief article)
April 5, 2006... Julie France, the recently appointed managing director of Clear Channel UK, has been absent from the company since accidentally emailing confidential volume-rebate deals to competing agencies. According to insiders, last week France sent...

Media choice: You.(Brief article)
April 5, 2006... You magazine has always been the jewel in The Mail on Sunday's crown, so its move onto the newsstand as a separate, paid-for title does have some logic to it. But it's a strange logic. Why would I buy a magazine that comes free with The...

Media News brief: Hachette Filipacchi suspends publication of B.(Brief article)
April 5, 2006... Hachette Filipacchi has suspended the publication of its monthly women's lifestyle title B, pending an internal review. The 20 staff working on the magazine, which will publish a May edition, are taking part in a 30-day consultation period.

Media News brief: Cancer Research launches table-top campaign.(Tabletalkmedia)(Brief article)
April 5, 2006... Cancer Research UK is launching a table-top campaign advertising the benefits of giving up smoking, following the smoking ban in Scotland. Tabletalkmedia has created 'Smoke free and proud' coasters, which will be placed on motorway service...

Media News brief: British Eurosport recruits marketing manager.(Kieren Moran )(Brief article)
April 5, 2006... British Eurosport has recruited Kieren Moran as its marketing manager. Moran, who previously worked at Open TV, will take responsibility for strategic marketing and media partnerships for the digital sports channel.

Media News brief: Telegraph Group combines online sales dept with main paper.(promoting Ken Breen)(Brief article)
April 5, 2006... Telegraph Group has combined its online sales department with that of its main paper, promoting Ken Breen, the group's sales director, to sales director, newspapers and online. He will seek to bolster the multimedia packages available.

Media News brief: Odeon Cinemas to screen World Cup matches.(Brief article)
April 5, 2006... Odeon Cinemas is to screen World Cup matches in high-definition format this summer. The chain will show all England games, the quarter- and semi-finals, the third-place play-off game and the final.

Media News brief: BBC Magazines expands pre-teen portfolio.(launch of 'Dr Who Adventures' )(Brief article)
April 5, 2006... BBC Magazines is expanding its pre-teen portfolio with the launch of Dr Who Adventures to coincide with the launch of the latest series of the cult show this spring.

Media News brief: Radley launches first outdoor campaign.(Brief article)
April 5, 2006... Radley, the UK's biggest-selling handbag brand, has launched its first outdoor campaign, with the creation of a fleet of 15 branded taxis. It is the group's first promotional initiative since Phoenix Equity partners took a majority share in the...

Media News brief: Channel 4 launches mobile ad campaign.(in partnership with Samsung group)(Brief article)
April 5, 2006... Channel 4's new-media division is launching its first mobile ad campaign, in partnership with Samsung. Consumers who watch a Samsung ad will be able to see clips of Hollyoaks and Shipwrecked free.

Branding News: Mattessons reworks chilled-meat packs.(Kerry Foods)(Brief article)
April 5, 2006... Kerry Foods is to introduce a new look to its Mattessons cold-meat products to distance the range from the current debate over processed foods. The look, designed by Jones Knowles Ritchie, is intended to emphasise the quality of...

Branding News: Beck's launches 4% premium Vier.(Brief article)
April 5, 2006... InBev UK has unveiled the design and brand identity for its 4% ABV Beck's Vier lager, which launches this month. With packaging and on-trade material designed by FutureBrand, the premium lager will be available on draught and in 375ml cans....

Branding News: Country Life in identity revamp.(Dairy Crest contracts with Springetts for relaunching butter brand )(Brief article)
April 5, 2006... Dairy Crest is relaunching its Country Life English butter brand this month, with packaging designed by Springetts. The packs have been designed to highlight the fact that Country Life is the only mainstream butter brand made in England....

Branding News: Design choice - American Express Red.
April 5, 2006... American Express is a strange brand. It recalls a particular period that probably ended in the late-70s, when global travel was still rather exotic and mysterious, and paying with plastic was, well, so sophisticated. Whipping out an...

Branding News brief: Walkers to relaunch Sensations brand.
April 5, 2006... Walkers is to relaunch its Sensations brand with packaging by Landor. It will back the new look with a pounds 2.5m ad campaign.

Branding News brief: Channel 4 appoints Branded.(Channel Four Television Company Ltd.)(Brief article)
April 5, 2006... Channel 4 has appointed Branded to develop a long-term brand strategy. The consultancy will advise on the channel's on-demand and mobile strategies as part of the brief. The appointment was overseen by C4 marketing director Polly Cochrane.

Branding News brief: Ladbrokes to introduce fresh corporate identity.
April 5, 2006... Ladbrokes is to introduce a fresh corporate identity created by Designhouse Consultants.

Branding News brief: CancerBACUP unveils new logo.(Brief article)
April 5, 2006... CancerBACUP, the cancer information charity, is unveiling a new logo and strapline through communications agency Able Creative, as it seeks to reach the 5000 people diagnosed with cancer each week.

Branding News brief: Real Foods extends range.(contracts with Blue Marlin )(Brief article)
April 5, 2006... Real Foods, the Australian natural-food company, is extending its range of Corn Thins with the addition of a Cracked Pepper & Lemon variant. The range will be relaunched, with packaging by Blue Marlin Brand Design.

Branding News brief: Great Ormond Street appoints Enterprise IG.(Great Ormond Street Hospital )(Brief article)
April 5, 2006... Great Ormond Street Hospital has appointed branding agency Enterprise IG to develop a name and visual identity for a philanthropic 'giving club'. Membership of the club is offered to donors who can contribute pounds 25,000 a year for three...

Branding News brief: Irn-Bru 32 packaging designed by The Spirit Of.(AG Barr contracts with The Spirit Of)(Brief article)
April 5, 2006... Irn-Bru 32, AG Barr's new energy drink, has had its packaging designed by The Spirit Of. The drink will compete against Red Bull and Sprite 3G.

Branding News brief: Footie Chick appoints Glorious Creative.
April 5, 2006... Footie Chick, the women's sports clothing brand, has appointed Glorious Creative to develop its branding and corporate design.

Branding News brief: Hackney Homes launches this month.(Brief article)
April 5, 2006... Hackney Homes, an organisation that works in partnership with Hackney Council and will be responsible for managing council homes in the borough, is to launch this month with an identity designed by DogStar.

Direct News: The O2 picks launch agency.(Brief article)
April 5, 2006... The O2, formerly the Millennium Dome, has hired Stephens Francis Whitson to handle its direct marketing. The O2 will open in the summer of 2007 following a pounds 600m redevelopment. Owner Anschutz Entertainment Group (AEG) is to turn the...

Direct News: COI to back jobs in construction.(Central Office of Information )(Brief article)
April 5, 2006... The COI is to run an awareness campaign highlighting career opportunities in the construction industry. Meteorite has devised a campaign for Construction Skills urging young people to 'Make your mark'. The campaign is the agency's...

Direct choice: Amnesty International.(Brief article)
April 5, 2006... Spoofs only work if they mimic their source of inspiration with ruthless precision. This piece from Amnesty International is seeringly relevant. TeleShop, a 'lifestyle sales catalogue', offers a stunning array of lethal arms, beautifully...

Direct News brief: Nissan revamps mailshot.(Nissan Motor (GB) Ltd.)(Brief article)
April 5, 2006... Nissan has revamped its quarterly direct mailshot, which it sends to 80,000 customers and leads. Created by Tullo Marshall Warren, the mailer will support Nissan's brand positioning of encouraging consumers to embrace life.

Direct News brief: Kerrygold offers free butter samples.(Brief article)
April 5, 2006... Kerrygold is offering free butter samples and jacket potatoes to callers to its 'Spud line', which features on a mailshot being sent to 800,000 households. The Marketing Store devised the campaign.

Direct News brief: Asrecommended launches over-50s edition.(Brief article)
April 5, 2006... Asrecommended, a series of direct-response publications that bring together brands targeting particular sectors, has launched an edition for the over-50s. Lifestyle Fifty Plus will be sent to 1m homes.

Direct News brief: Somak Holidays teams up with Whittard of Chelsea.(Brief article)
April 5, 2006... Somak Holidays has teamed up with Whittard of Chelsea for a summer promotion. Created by Cocktail Marketing, the campaign will see Somak holidays feature on leaflets and in window displays in the tea retailer's outlets.

Direct News brief: Littlewoods to support launch through TBG London.(Littlewoods Organisation PLC)(Brief article)
April 5, 2006... Littlewoods is to support the launch of littlewoodsbingo.com with an online push through digital agency TBG London. The 'Bingo chic' campaign will target aspirational women through gaming and casino portals.

Direct News brief: Starfish tests first door-drop campaign.(Brief article)
April 5, 2006... Starfish, the charity for orphaned and vulnerable children in South Africa, is testing its first door-drop campaign. The leaflet, created by Communicator, will go to 100,000 homes in the UK.

Direct News brief: PepsiCo promotes Copella apple juice.(PepsiCo Inc. contracts with Haygarth)(Brief article)
April 5, 2006... PepsiCo is promoting its Copella apple juice brand with an integrated drive. Sampling, handled by Haygarth, began last week. The campaign will drive consumers to a dedicated Copella website.

Retail News: Retailers line up for cardless loyalty link.(Brief article)
April 5, 2006... Several retailers are set to sign up to a loyalty programme that will not require members to carry a dedicated card. The initiative has been devised by Reward, a company that specialises in loyalty activity for football clubs, and is backed...

Retail News: Oasis adds e-tail capability to site.(Brief article)
April 5, 2006... Fashion chain Oasis is to launch a fully transactional website this summer to take on Next and River Island. The retailer's current site offers only product information, downloads and a store locator. It is not among the top 10 womenswear...

Retail News: Woolworths rolls out 5/5 format.(Woolworths Group PLC)(Brief article)
April 5, 2006... Woolworths is trialling a format for its smaller outlets as part of a plan to make its stores more interactive and allow customers to order products not in stock at the stores. The overhauled layout, tagged 5/5, will enable Woolworths to...

Retail choice: Sweaty Betty.(Brief article)
April 5, 2006... How many busy, would-be sporty, working women out there suffer from a fear of entering a high-street sporting emporium where a steroid-pumped 18-year-old assistant treats you with disdain? How many of you have experienced the sheer...

Retail News brief: Sainsbury's announces increase in l-f-l sales.(Brief article)
April 5, 2006... Sainsbury's has announced a 5.3% increase in like-for-like sales, excluding petrol, for the 12 weeks to 25 March, its fifth consecutive quarter of growth. The retailer added 1m customers over the previous six months, taking the total to 16m a...

Retail News brief: Tie Rack ties up with Carlton Books.
April 5, 2006... Tie Rack has tied up with Carlton Books for a Father's Day promotion. The retailer will give away two Carlton titles - The Well Dressed Gentleman's Guide and The Football Miscellany - with selected purchases from 29 May to 18 June.