Marketing articles from April 2008

Marketing archives from April 2008

Cadbury airport-themed ad drawn into T5 farrago.(Brief article)
April 2, 2008... Cadbury's highly anticipated 'Trucks' ad has been dragged into the chaos engulfing Heathrow's stricken Terminal 5. The ad, which was created by Fallon, broke over the weekend as part of a pounds 17m marketing push behind the Cadbury Dairy...

Brands slash TV ad budgets as cost of raw materials escalates.
April 2, 2008... Rampant raw-material price inflation is forcing brands to cut their 2008 TV advertising budgets, meaning that UK broadcasters could face a shortfall of more than pounds 100m on last year. Some food manufacturers, including Premier Foods,...

Domino's casts doubt on Simpsons sponsorship.(Brief article)
April 2, 2008... Domino's has hinted that its long-running sponsorship of The Simpsons could be coming to an end, after admitting it has 'died away' in terms of effectiveness. The pizza chain's marketing director, Robin Auld, has said that the flood of...

Five axes red-button services.
April 2, 2008... Five has scrapped its interactive TV (iTV) service, meaning that viewers will no longer be able to access additional content for programmes or ads by using the red button on their remote controls. The broadcaster is believed to have dropped...

YouTube creates 'ad insight' tool.(Brief article)
April 2, 2008... YouTube has launched an audience measurement tool enabling advertisers to gather information on who watches their video clips and when. YouTube's owner, Google, will offer YouTube Insight to brand-owners and content publishers free of...

George launches Disney tie-in line.
April 2, 2008... George at Asda is launching a branded clothing line in collaboration with Disney teen TV show Hannah Montana. The range will roll out this spring, supported by a three-month sponsorship campaign spanning all Hannah Montana programming on...

New campaign: Staples.(Brief article)
April 2, 2008... Staples has launched a TV ad campaign that uses office humour to demonstrate how the company can help resolve office chaos. The series of ads, the first by McCann Erickson for the office-supplies retailer since it won the account in...

EasyJet reworks booking website.(Website overview)(Brief article)
April 2, 2008... EasyJet is relaunching its booking website as an 'intuitive travel portal' capable of helping consumers decide on their holiday destination. The budget airline has appointed Splendid to overhaul the site to target the 60% of its visitors...

Report calls for web safety panel.(Brief article)
April 2, 2008... The government is drawing up plans for a nationwide campaign promoting child internet safety, in response to a review by child psychologist Tanya Byron. The Byron review, which was published last week, called for the establishment of a UK...

Prudential ads to back home and motor policies.(Brief article)
April 2, 2008... Prudential is to focus its promotional activity on its home and motor insurance services after handing its pounds 9m integrated ad account to Inferno. The insurance company has briefed the agency to develop an integrated drive to promote...

UEFA to add Champions League sponsor sectors.
April 2, 2008... UEFA is to overhaul its sponsorship strategy over the next four years with the addition of a range of categories for its Champions League tournament. European football's governing body has now issued a tender for a 'technology' sponsor for...

BA places T5 ad activity on hold.
April 2, 2008... British Airways has postponed its multimillion-pound ad campaign to promote Heathrow's Terminal 5 after the first few days of service were marred by problems with the baggage system. The airline had planned to unveil TV and press activity...

Twinings to transfer pounds 3m business out of Lowe.(Brief article)
April 2, 2008... Twinings, the upmarket tea brand, has put its pounds 3m advertising account up for pitch, ending its two-and-a-half-year relationship with Lowe London. Lowe, which has chosen not to repitch for the work, had continued to follow a strategy,...

Tata takes turn with British icons.
April 2, 2008... What lies ahead for the Jaguar and Land Rover marques as they make the move from US to Indian stewardship? Tata's acquisition of Jaguar and Land Rover from Ford has been heralded as the best deal on the table for the two luxury UK car...

Norwich Union finalises digital roster line-up.(Brief article)
April 2, 2008... Aviva has completed the review of the pounds 4m combined digital roster for its Norwich Union Life and Norwich Union Insurance brands. Norwich Union Insurance will be served by Soup, GT, Glue and Chemistry. Web design and build and online...

2012 ties may hit elite sport funds.(Brief article)
April 2, 2008... The government's chances of raising pounds 100m to support elite British sport through private sponsorship are being threatened by competition from London 2012. In February, the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) announced that...

KFC to roll out grilled chicken option in UK.(Brief article)
April 2, 2008... KFC is developing plans to launch its first grilled chicken product in the UK in a shift away from its staple fried-chicken offer. Last week the fast-food brand said it expected to add the item to its menu across the US in early 2009, after...

Portman Group work highlights RTD failings.(Brief article)
April 2, 2008... Almost a quarter of 'alcopop' brands are failing to comply with the Portman Group's code of practice on their promotion, according to an independent audit. The results will lend weight to calls for tighter restrictions on the promotion of...

News brief: Diageo appoints JWT.(Brief article)
April 2, 2008... Diageo is understood to have appointed JWT to the global ad account for its Baileys brand. The agency pitched against incumbent Bartle Bogle Hegarty and Leo Burnett, after Fallon was eliminated at an earlier stage

News brief: Appointment at Sony Ericsson.(Brief article)
April 2, 2008... Sony Ericsson has appointed Lennard Hoornik, its corporate vice-president and head of Asia Pacific, as global head of marketing Hoornik will replace Dee Dutta, who departs after six years.

News brief: Northern Rock to retain brand identity.(Brief article)
April 2, 2008... Northern Rock, the beleaguered bank, will retain its brand identity following its temporary nationalisation, and focus on marketing as part of a wide-ranging provisional restructuring plan

News brief: Elle Macpherson to be global face of Revlon.
April 2, 2008... Revlon has confirmed that Elle Macpherson is to be its global face The model will feature in global advertising and be involved with Revlon-sponsored activities.

News brief: Lambrini appoints BJL to handle accounts.(Brief article)
April 2, 2008... Lambrini has appointed BJL to handle its digital and ad accounts, following a pitch against Connectpoint and Propaganda. The Halewood International-owned wine brand split with incumbent Cheetham Bell JWT last month

News brief: Npower takes on British Gas.(Brief article)
April 2, 2008... Npower is taking on British Gas in the heating installation and servicing market, with a TV campaign for its Hometeam business. The ads use the line 'We're so confident we can beat British Gas on boiler installation quotes, we'll give you...

News brief: Comfort Pure targets mothers.(Brief article)
April 2, 2008... Comfort Pure is targeting mothers with a campaign by Ogilvy. Ads highlighting the fabric conditioner's hypo-allergenic qualities will run in parenting titles and websites under the strapline 'Wrap them up in pure love'

News brief: 3UK teams up with Sony BMG.
April 2, 2008... 3UK has teamed with Sony BMG to offer customers free music video downloads to their mobiles in exchange for watching TV-style commercials

Media: Metro partners with Expedia for ad deal.
April 2, 2008... Metro has secured a year-long commercial deal with online travel company Expedia in a tie-up that will allow consumers to create ads to run in the daily freesheet. The travel firm will initially ask readers to submit holiday-related...

Media: Toyota Auris set for Times tie-up.(Brief article)
April 2, 2008... Toyota has signed a deal with Times Media to promote its Auris model via advertorial content in the print and online editions of The Times and The Sunday Times. The car marque will run a competition offering readers the chance to win a...

Media: Dulux to embark on IPC campaign.(Brief article)
April 2, 2008... Dulux is rolling out an integrated campaign across a number of IPC Southbank magazines and websites including Marie Claire, Livingetc and Ideal Home. The promotion, which will run throughout 2008, will include homepage takeovers on...

Media choice: iGizmo.(Brief article)
April 2, 2008... In 1950, Isaac Asimov wrote I, Robot; 54 years later, the adaptation of his novel became a Hollywood blockbuster. But why was this, and what has this got to do with iGizmo, the latest digital gadget magazine, from Dennis? Humankind has...

Media brief: BBC extends broadcast rights for Wimbledon.(Brief article)
April 2, 2008... The BBC has extended its broadcast rights for the Wimbledon Tennis Championships for a further five years from 2010 to 2014. The deal will allow viewers to catch up on key matches via BBC iPlayer for up to seven days after broadcast

Media brief: Digital penetration now 86.7% of households.(Brief article)
April 2, 2008... More than 524,000 UK households converted from analogue to digital TV in the fourth quarter of 2007, according to Ofcom. Total digital penetration is now 86.7% of households

Media brief: Setanta Sports hires director of new media.(Setanta Sports has hired Stephen Michael)(Brief article)
April 2, 2008... Setanta Sports has hired Stephen Michael, previously general manager of Liverpool Football Club's LFC TV, as director of new media Michael will oversee the distribution of content across the web and mobile platforms.

Media brief: Michael Grade receives bonus of 117% of salary.(Brief article)
April 2, 2008... ITV executive chairman Michael Grade received a 2007 bonus of 117% of his salary, giving him a total package of nearly pounds 2m. Rupert Howell, managing director of brand and commercial, was paid a basic salary of pounds 450,000

Media brief: Carolina Herrera runs first cinema ad campaign.
April 2, 2008... Carolina Herrera, the perfume brand, is running its first cinema advertising campaign around the big-screen version of Sex and the City The film launches next month.

Media brief: Independent Newspapers outsources marketing responsibility.
April 2, 2008... Independent Newspapers is outsourcing responsibility for its marketing operations to Freud Communications following the departure of circulation and marketing director David Greene

Media brief: Nikon signs up as sponsor.(talkSPORT's golf )(Brief article)
April 2, 2008... Nikon, the photographic brand, has signed up to sponsor talkSPORT's golf coverage for the rest of 2008, spanning 11 tournaments including The Masters and the Ryder Cup

Branding: Cadbury Milk Tray to focus on gift appeal.(Brief article)
April 2, 2008... Cadbury Trebor Bassett is relaunching Cadbury Milk Tray in an attempt to bolster its appeal as a gift for older women. The range will launch this week with revamped packaging aimed at 35-to-45-year-olds. The fresh packaging, which will...

Branding: Schwartz adds premium range.(Brief article)
April 2, 2008... Schwartz is rolling out Cook Art, a range of premium spices that will be available in Sainsbury's. The herbs and spices brand has tasked Coley Porter Bell with creating an identity and packaging for the range, which is being aimed at...

Branding: Triumph widens clothing offering.(Brief article)
April 2, 2008... Triumph Motorcycles is to extend its clothing line with a T-shirt range that will be rolled out in UK dealerships, selected stores, and online. The 106-year-old British marque is aiming the line, which comprises 23 styles for men, women...

Branding: Design choice - Heathrow Terminal 5.(Brief article)
April 2, 2008... Even after all these years in events, I still don't have a clue what runway we are likely to use, or what the seating configuration is on any given aircraft. As a result, I almost ended up missing the UK's biggest terminal-building...

Branding brief: Fairy expands washing-up liquid range.
April 2, 2008... Fairy has expanded its range of washing-up liquids. Fairy Clean & Care will be available in three scents: Almond, Aloe Vera & Cucumber, and Silk & Orchid

Branding brief: Jamie Oliver cookware range to be relaunched.(Brief article)
April 2, 2008... Jamie Oliver's food and cookware range is being relaunched and its distribution extended beyond Sainsbury's to Tesco and Waitrose. The packaging has been overhauled by Design Bridge

Branding brief: Toblerone adds Fruit and Nut variant.(Brief article)
April 2, 2008... Toblerone is adding a 35g Fruit and Nut variant. The bar will be backed by a pounds 4m campaign - owner Kraft's biggest investment in the brand

Branding brief: Harrods relaunches bed linen range.(Brief article)
April 2, 2008... Harrods is relaunching its range of bed linen with packaging designed by Paul Cartwright Branding. The new-look black-and-white design marks a shift away from Harrods' trademark green and gold palette

Branding brief: Discover Ireland briefs Designworks to revamp identity.
April 2, 2008... Discover Ireland has briefed Designworks to revamp its identity, which will be rolled out over the coming months to coincide with the country's biggest domestic tourism push to date

Branding brief: Blendies reworks its image.(Brief article)
April 2, 2008... Blendies, a blended frozen-fruit product from Squeeze Me, has reworked its image to target young, affluent and health-conscious consumers. A fresh logo and redesigned packaging have been created by Live & Breathe

Branding brief: Thirsty Planet launches multi-pack.(Brief article)
April 2, 2008... Thirsty Planet, a charity water brand, is launching a multi-pack aimed at children. For every pack sold, 30p will be donated to partner charity Pump Aid

Branding brief: PizzaExpress hires Pearlfisher.(Brief article)
April 2, 2008... PizzaExpress has hired Pearlfisher to redesign the packaging for its supermarket range of pizzas. The new look will be rolled out in Sainsbury's from this month

Branding brief: Venezuelan Black to be sold in Waitrose.(Venezuelan Black)(Brief article)
April 2, 2008... Venezuelan Black, the 100% cocoa chocolate created by William Harcourt-Cooze, the entrepreneur featured in Channel 4 documentary series Willie's Wonky Chocolate Factory, is to be sold in Waitrose. The chocolate is being positioned as an...

Direct: DMA warns firms to boost data security.(Direct Marketing Association)(Brief article)
April 2, 2008... Government blunders involving personal data have led consumers to be reluctant to share their personal information with companies, the Direct Marketing Association (DMA) has claimed. Last October, HM Revenue & Customs lost two CD-ROMs...

Direct: Nivea plots push for Double Effect.(Nivea is launching a campaign )(Brief article)
April 2, 2008... Nivea is launching a campaign spanning press, sampling, experiential and TV to back the launch of its Double Effect deodorant brand. The campaign, which targets 25- to 44-year-old women, aims to increase awareness of the brand and drive...

Direct: DCSF on hunt for literacy partners.(Department for Children, Schools and Families)(Brief article)
April 2, 2008... The government's Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) is to adopt a partnership marketing strategy in its drive to improve literacy among children and teenagers. The department will support the National Year of Reading...

Direct choice: VSO.
April 2, 2008... In fundraising, it always helps if your cause has 'immediacy'. But what if the big issue you are concerned with is now perceived as yesterday's news? In this mailing for VSO, we can see a neat solution to a perennial problem for charities...

Direct brief: Mothercare enters partnership with Gurgle.com.
April 2, 2008... Mothercare has entered a marketing partnership with Gurgle.com, a mother-and-baby social networking website. Promotional material for the site will appear in the retailer's stores

Direct brief: Food and Drink Federation launches press campaign.(The Food and Drink Federation )(Brief article)
April 2, 2008... The Food and Drink Federation is launching a press campaign to support its preferred guideline daily amount food-labelling system. Two executions have been created by Craik Jones Watson Mitchell Voelkel, one aimed at consumers watching their...

Direct brief: Parkinson's Disease Society launches campaign.(The Parkinson's Disease Society )(Brief article)
April 2, 2008... The Parkinson's Disease Society is launching a direct campaign encouraging donors to raise funds to support friends and families of people with the condition. The work has been created by TDA

Direct brief: Nickelodeon UK hires Sledge for annual event.(Sledge)(Brief article)
April 2, 2008... Nickelodeon UK has hired Sledge to handle its annual 'Jump Up' event for its pre-school TV channel Nick Jr. The event features characters from programmes, activity zones and a stage show

Direct brief: Friends Provident criticised by ASA.(Friends Provident )(Brief article)
April 2, 2008... Friends Provident has been criticised by the ASA for causing distress to consumers with a mail pack containing a mock X-ray of a pinned joint. The pack was sent to 10,000 customers to promote its income protection policies

Direct brief: Fanta gives consumers chance to win prize.(Brief article)
April 2, 2008... Fanta is giving consumers the chance to win a prize from online retailer Play.com every 15 minutes via an on-pack promotion. The push, created by bd-ntwk, will run from 7 April on 60m packs

Direct brief: Concern Worldwide hires Pure.(Concern Worldwide)(Brief article)
April 2, 2008... Concern Worldwide has hired Pure to handle its donor development phone calls. The fundraising specialist will contact a selection of the charity's regular givers and ask them to increase their donations

Direct brief: Total launches partnership with Merlin Entertainment.(Brief article)
April 2, 2008... Total is launching a partnership with Merlin Entertainment to offer its petrol-station customers two-for-one entry to theme parks when they spend more than pounds 30 on fuel or in-store. The promotion, created by Euro RSCG KLP, will run across...

Digital: Music labels eye 'bundle' tie.
April 2, 2008... UK record labels are planning to boost revenue by offering an 'all you can eat' mobile download package in partnership with Apple. EMI, Universal Music and Sony BMG are believed to be in negotiations with Apple to make their back...

Digital choice: Google logo.(Brief article)
April 2, 2008... How refreshing it is to see one of the world's great brands playing with its logo. Valentine's Day saw the middle three letters of Google replaced with a geriatric couple holding hands, with the wife clasping balloons on a string. More...

Digital: Greggs puts task into Propaganda.(Brief article)
April 2, 2008... Greggs has handed its digital marketing business to Propaganda as it increases its online advertising spend. The agency will handle web development, online advertising and eCRM, and develop e-vouchers, games and competitions for the bakery...

Digital brief: National Car Rental launches digital push.(Brief article)
April 2, 2008... National Car Rental is launching a digital marketing push via online mapping service Multimap. The campaign will be geographically targeted to reach visitors viewing any of 10 major cities on the site

Digital brief: VizWoz launches in the UK.
April 2, 2008... VizWoz, an animated virtual world for teens, has launched in the UK. The site allows young consumers to create an avatar and interact through chat, games and user-generated content

Digital brief: Hotelopia appoints The Search Works.
April 2, 2008... Hotelopia, the online travel agent, has appointed The Search Works to handle its pay-per-click search marketing in Europe and the US

Digital brief: Banana Republic appoints Preloaded to develop website.
April 2, 2008... Banana Republic has appointed Preloaded to develop a website to support the launch of its flagship store on London's Regent Street

Digital brief: Nestle extends contract.(Brief article)
April 2, 2008... Nestle has extended its contract with Microsoft Digital Advertising Solutions with the launch of a Nestle Heaven microsite to showcase its range of Swiss chocolate bars

Digital brief: Butlins hires RedEye to handle email marketing.
April 2, 2008... Butlins has appointed RedEye to handle its email marketing. The agency will work with the holiday park company's in-house direct marketing team

Digital brief: NME signs deal with MySpace.(Brief article)
April 2, 2008... NME has signed a deal with MySpace to stream live coverage of its NME Awards US. The News Corp-owned social networking site will also sponsor the Best Band of the Year Award

Digital brief: Learndirect launches online quiz.
April 2, 2008... Learndirect is launching an online quiz, hosted by Eammon Holmes and Johnny Ball, across Lycos network websites. It will be supported by a digital campaign

Digital brief: The Sun signs in-game sponsorship deal.
April 2, 2008... The Sun has signed an in-game sponsorship deal with Sports Pro Games for the inclusion of branded pitch-side hoardings in the mobile and internet game Football Pro

Digital brief: Just-eat.co.uk hires new marketing director.
April 2, 2008... Just-eat.co.uk, the online food ordering service, has appointed Ash Ali, former online marketing manager for Tarsus Group's Caroo Media, as its marketing director

Andrew Walmsley on digital: Web stores must complement brands.(Company overview)
April 2, 2008... In 1921, the Wolseley Motor Company commissioned architect William Curtis Green to create an opulent showroom in Piccadilly. In doing so, it anticipated a modern trend - a drive to control the environment in which its marque was displayed, and...

News Analysis: In search of a winning strategy.
April 2, 2008... InBev faces a tough balancing act to extend Artois' presence while rehabilitating the Stella brand. Perhaps the most surprising aspect of InBev's decision to end its Artois brand's 30-year sponsorship of the traditional precursor to the...

News Analysis: Training partners.
April 2, 2008... Beyond the top-tier sponsorships, brands have a key role to play in developing British Olympic talent. If Britain achieves its ambition of finishing fourth in the London 2012 Olympics medals table, the result will be welcomed with plenty of...

Raymond Snoddy on media: Sorrell is the quadrennial optimist.
April 2, 2008... The evidence is mounting. Sir Martin Sorrell was right all along. Close observers of the legendary WPP chief executive will already be familiar with his previous contributions to economic forecasting through such technical terms as...

Media Analysis: An extra dimension.
April 2, 2008... The commercial potential of 3-D broadcasting is starting to become clearer and more viable, writes Ed Kemp. Technology in sports broadcasting has brought the action closer to the viewer and been broadly welcomed - except perhaps by umpires...

Brand Health Check: Sony Ericsson.
April 2, 2008... The exit of the mobile manufacturer's marketing chief has cast a shadow over its planned overhaul, writes Gareth Jones. Thanks to its distinctive positioning, Sony Ericsson, a joint venture between Japan's Sony Corporation and Sweden's...

Mark Ritson on branding: BA's catalogue of terminal mistakes.
April 2, 2008... British Airways' Terminal 5 disaster will prove even more damaging to the BA brand than initial indications suggest. A PR storm has been created by mismanagement, strategic circumstances and simple bad luck, and the events of the past few...

Profile: Driven to deliver - Robin Auld, Sales and marketing director, Domino's Pizza.
April 2, 2008... When Robin Auld reveals he is a Tai Chi devotee, it comes as something of a surprise. The voluble 35-year-old only occasionally stops for breath and to ask whether he is going on too much before launching into another stream of...

Adwatch: Lotto 'Flamin' Hot Bingo' - 'Granny pimp my ride'.
April 2, 2008... What is it about grannies? Or rather, what is it about grannies with attitude? As a vein of humour, it's as old as the Ark and yet it never ceases to amuse. Maybe it's because these poor, feeble, defenceless members of society are often...