Marketing articles from August 2005

Marketing archives from August 2005

Coca-Cola brings controversial Ipsei drink to UK.(Coca-Cola Great Britain)
August 3, 2005... Coca-Cola is to launch its Ipsei drink in the UK, despite reports that it has run into trouble with Pepsi, which is claiming the brand is a play on its name. The still fruit-flavour drink, which contains African rooibos plant extract,...

Heinz brand chief walks out after budget freeze.(H.J. Heinz Company Ltd.)(Scott Garrett)(Brief Article)
August 3, 2005... Heinz's top UK marketer, Scott Garrett, has resigned from the company following its decision to freeze its pounds 7.8m annual advertising spend. Garrett, who was vice-president of brands, has left without a job to go to. The budget...

HSBC to roll out high-tech refit.(HSBC Holdings PLC)(Brief Article)
August 3, 2005... HSBC is gearing up for a radical overhaul of its 1600 high-street branches, which insiders predict will change the face of UK banking. The bank, which is refusing to comment on the revamp, has briefed Fitch London to develop an interior...

BAT hikes spend in retail distribution offensive.(British-American Tobacco Company Ltd.)(Brief Article)
August 3, 2005... British American Tobacco (BAT) is to increase its marketing spend significantly this year, despite the ban on traditional tobacco advertising and intense pressure from anti-smoking groups. According to a spokeswoman for BAT, which raised...

Reebok takes urban line for ad-funded TV debut.(Reebok International Ltd.)(Brief Article)
August 3, 2005... Reebok is to fund a TV programme for the first time, with the creation of a youth-oriented TV series. The programming concept will be based on the regeneration of urban areas into sports arenas or community centres, supporting Reebok's...

William Hill hires Ladbrokes chief.(William Hill Credit)(Chris Edgington)(Brief Article)
August 3, 2005... Gambling giant William Hill has poached Chris Edgington from rival Ladbrokes to be group marketing director. Edgington, a former McDonald's and Disney marketer, is understood to have left his post of retail marketing director at Ladbrokes...

T-Mobile agrees cross-media tie.(Brief Article)
August 3, 2005... T-Mobile is to run a six-month cross-media campaign driving customers to download content onto their mobile phones. It has struck a deal with the RSVP consortium of IPC, GCap Media and Viacom to promote its services across brands including...

Zoo set to enter Spanish market.(Brief Article)
August 3, 2005... Emap is seeking a bigger slice of the international men's magazine market with the launch of the first international edition of its weekly title Zoo. The lads' magazine will be published in Spain as part of a joint venture with Focus...

New campaign: Banrock Station.(Brief Article)
August 3, 2005... Australian wine brand Banrock Station is spending more than pounds 500,000 on a national advertising and sampling campaign running this summer. The activity will reflect the brand's 'Good Earth Fine Wine' proposition and play up its...

Kleenex creates 'anti-flu' tissues.(Kimberly-Clark Corp. )(Kleenex)(Brief Article)
August 3, 2005... Kimberly-Clark is to add an anti-viral tissue to its Kleenex range at the end of this month. The company is backing the product with a pounds 3m advertising campaign, which will break in November, the most Kleenex has spent on a single...

Premier League boss quits for World Snooker role.(Fantasy Premier League )(Nicky Fuller)(Brief Article)
August 3, 2005... The FA Premier League's (FAPL) top marketer, Nicky Fuller, has quit the organisation to take up a similar role at World Snooker. Fuller, who spent four years at the FAPL as head of commercial relations, becomes commercial director at the...

Currys drops Barker as it cuts pounds 37m ad budget.(Currys Group PLC)(Linda Barker)(Brief Article)
August 3, 2005... Currys has axed Linda Barker as the face of its advertising after two years. The chain will now focus on promoting its positioning as a specialist electricals retailer. At the same time, the Dixons Group-owned chain is slashing its pounds...

P&G paper chief to lead Pampers.(Procter & Gamble Ltd.)(Jenny Ashmore)(Brief Article)
August 3, 2005... Procter & Gamble Paper's UK marketing director, Jenny Ashmore, is shifting to a new role as P&G's global Pampers franchise leader. Ashmore has run the UK paper business since February 2004, overseeing Bounty, Charmin, Pampers and Kandoo....

Credit Suisse reviews pounds 56m global ad business.
August 3, 2005... Credit Suisse Group is reviewing its dollars 100m (pounds 56m) global brand advertising account, held by Euro RSCG London, following its decision to become a bank. The financial services company, which operates in private and business...

Proton prepares pounds 7m brand push.(Brief Article)
August 3, 2005... Proton is to launch a major ad campaign early next year as it attempts to make headway against value rivals such as Hyundai and Kia. The Malaysian car marque will double its marketing budget for 2006 to about pounds 7m, with the bulk likely...

Bisto stretches brand with chilled-food lines.(Brief Article)
August 3, 2005... Bisto is expanding beyond its core gravy range with the launch of two further chilled Yorkshire pudding variants and potato croquettes. Sage-and-onion and mint-and-rosemary Yorkshire pud- dings, which are being produced under licence by...

BP retail link to M&S sparks Nectar clash.(Brief Article)
August 3, 2005... BP will not offer Nectar points to customers who shop at the Marks & Spencer Simply Food concessions it will trial across a number of forecourt sites from October. Nectar members would usually receive two points for every pounds 1 spent in...

VisitLondon eyes up 2012 SP roster.(sales promotion)(Brief Article)
August 3, 2005... VisitLondon is in talks with a number of sponsorship and sales promotion agencies about how to commercially exploit the capital's victory in securing the 2012 Olympics. The body is looking to create an agency roster to secure affinity...

Food industry attacks FSA label proposals.
August 3, 2005... The Food and Drink Federation has warned the Food Standards Agency (FSA) against labelling foods 'good' or 'bad' without taking account of consumption behaviour. The manufacturers' body spoke out after the FSA launched an eight-week...

News brief: Argo Holidays names marketing and sales director.(Kathryn Beadle)(Brief Article)
August 3, 2005... Argo Holidays, the tour operator, has named Kathryn Beadle as its marketing and sales director. Replacing Theo Demetriou, she will take responsibility for all marketing for Argo Holidays and Jetlife, its long-haul brand. Beadle was sales and...

News brief: Carlsberg relaunches Tetley's.(Carlsberg UK Ltd.)
August 3, 2005... Carlsberg UK is relaunching its Tetley's bitter brand. The roll-out of its fresh visual identity will be backed by a pounds 11m spend that will take in sponsorship and national TV and press advertising.

News brief: Your London hires Unreal for launch.(Brief Article)
August 3, 2005... Your London, the capital's first public service portal targeting residents, visitors and businesses, has hired Unreal to handle its November launch. The agency will create advertising, print and direct marketing material as well as online...

News brief: Interbrew UK to change name.(Inbev UK)(Brief Article)
August 3, 2005... Interbrew UK is to change its name to Inbev UK. The move is part of the transition of all Western European operations to the new name following the merger of Interbrew with South American brewer Ambev in August last year.

News brief: Coca-Cola extends sponsorship contract.
August 3, 2005... Coca-Cola has extended its contract as an Olympic Games top-tier sponsor for a further 12 years, until 2020. Its current deal with the International Olympic Committee was due to expire after the 2008 Games in Beijing.

News brief: Boost in household cleaning market says Mintel.(Brief Article)
August 3, 2005... New product and gadget launches are boosting the UK household cleaning market, according to Mintel. The sector is estimated to reach pounds 557m by the end of the year, up 13% on 2000.

News brief: Orange to take over Core.(Brief Article)
August 3, 2005... Orange is to take over GCap Media's youth digital radio station, Core, until November with promotions and programme sponsorships. Core has dropped all other ads for the four-month period. Branded programming will be linked to SMS listener...

News brief: Correction.(Correction Notice)
August 3, 2005... Gap is not dropping Joss Stone as the face of its advertising, as was reported in last week's Marketing.

UK hotels given standard rating.(Brief Article)
August 3, 2005... The main British tourism bodies are joining forces with the AA and RAC to offer a consistent hotel and guesthouse rating system for the first time. The organisations, which include VisitBritain, VisitWales and VisitScotland, have come...

Timberland spins off premium collection.(Timberland UK Lt.)
August 3, 2005... Timberland is aiming to revitalise its brand and sales with the launch of a premium clothing range under the name Timberland Boot Company. Two retail outlets will open in London at the end of this month to house the collection, which will...

Bratz owner rolls out voice-recognition doll.(Vivid Imaginations Ltd.)(Brief Article)
August 3, 2005... Vivid Imaginations, the UK toy company behind the bestselling Bratz dolls, is eyeing similar success with the launch of what it claims is the world's most technologically advanced doll. Amazing Amanda will be available in toy shops from...

This week: Marketing news from the national press.(Brief Article)
August 3, 2005... Pepsi and Coca-Cola are heading for a legal battle over Ipsei, a drink launched by Coke in the Netherlands and Germany last year. Pepsi claims the drink, a mixture of water, grape juice, vitamins and herbal tea, is playing on its name - The...

New campaign: Orangina.(Brief Article)
August 3, 2005... Orangina is set to run its first TV advertising in nine years to reposition itself as a refreshing Mediterranean drink. The 30-second ad, aimed at young adults, is set in a traditional village. It follows a delivery driver as he takes a...

Media News: Post Office in Sky Travel tie.(Brief Article)
August 3, 2005... The Post Office is investing in a 12-month sponsorship of Sky Travel worth more than pounds 1m, as it aims to raise awareness of its range of travel services. The sponsorship is Sky Travel's biggest deal, and marks the Post Office's first...

Media News: Metro develops integrated deals.(Brief Article)
August 3, 2005... Associated Newspapers' free morning paper, Metro, is to offer advertisers integrated packages of advertising and product sampling on train station concourses. Metro has signed a four-year contract with Network Rail and Maiden to distribute...

Media choice: lastminute.com magazine.(Brief Article)
August 3, 2005... Hot on the heels of Procter & Gamble's decision to move the content of its contract-publishing title Mustard onto the web, lastminute.com has made the leap the other way with its own lifestyle magazine called, ahem, lastminute.com magazine. ...

Media News brief: Discovery Networks hires Dan Brooke.(Discovery Networks Europe)(Brief Article)
August 3, 2005... Discovery Networks has hired former Channel 4 controller of digital channels Dan Brooke as its UK general manager. Brooke won The Marketing Society's new marketer of the year award in 2001 for the launch of E4.

Media News brief: Emap Consumer Media promotes FHM marketing director.(Nial Ferguson)(Brief Article)
August 3, 2005... Emap Consumer Media has promoted FHM marketing director Nial Ferguson to head of marketing across its men's portfolio, taking in Zoo, Arena, Empire and music titles Mojo, Kerrang! and Q.

Media News brief: Radio Times to air campaign on UKTV.(Brief Article)
August 3, 2005... Radio Times is to air a three-month campaign on UKTV, created by Miles Calcraft Briginshaw Duffy, encouraging viewers to be better informed about their TV and radio consumption in a multi-channel world.

Media News brief: Sony Ericsson to promote camera phone.
August 3, 2005... Sony Ericsson is to promote its K750i 2.0 megapixel camera phone through a deal with Carlton Screen Advertising. The ad will run on all IMAX sites for nine weeks.

Media News brief: New Look menswear launch.(New Look Group PLC)(Brief Article)
August 3, 2005... New Look is supporting the launch of its menswear range this autumn with a six-figure sponsorship of the first FHM Insider Awards. The event will take place in London on 15 September.

Media News brief: Glamour mag launches National Glamour Week.(Brief Article)
August 3, 2005... Glamour magazine is launching National Glamour Week, from 5-10 September, with discounts and events. Discount partnerships have been struck with Top Shop, Oasis and Gap. A Kia Picanto car will be given away each day.

Media News brief: Ron Atkinson returns to media.(Brief Article)
August 3, 2005... Ron Atkinson is returning to the media as a sports pundit for Real Yorkshire Radio's Real Sports Phone-In show. He will present the weeknight drive-time sports show on the station.

Branding News: Gaggia to introduce branded coffee line.(Brief Article)
August 3, 2005... Gaggia, the Italian coffee machine manufacturer, is to release its first range of own-brand coffee in the UK later this month. The brand will take on established Italian competitors including Lavazza and Illy, and Sara Lee-owned Douwe...

Branding News: Football film job goes to Boxer.(Goal!)(Brief Article)
August 3, 2005... Goal!, the Hollywood movie backed by Adidas and FIFA and featuring David Beckham and Alan Shearer, has appointed brand design consultancy Boxer to develop its identity. Boxer has been briefed by film-maker Milkshake Films to develop a logo...

Branding News: Icelandic Glacial prepares debut.(Icelandic Water Holdings Ltd.)(Brief Article)
August 3, 2005... Mineral water Icelandic Glacial is launching later this month, with the aim of capitalising on the booming water market. Bottled by Icelandic Water Holdings, the brand's marketing activity will centre on its claim to be one of the purest...

Branding News: Design choice - Heinz Tomato Ketchup.(Brief Article)
August 3, 2005... Easy peasy squeezy. Ah, the Heinz ketchup bottle. A mere condiment that has taken on legendary proportions since it caught the eye of Andy Warhol. There are not many products that can claim to be a bottle in their own right. Even empty,...

Branding News brief: Ambrosia to revamp packaging.(Brief Article)
August 3, 2005... Ambrosia, the desserts brand, is to revamp its packaging design through Parker Williams. The Premier Foods-owned brand is seeking to enhance its positive associations with Devon and natural products.

Branding News brief: Stella Artois undergoes brand overhaul.(Brief Article)
August 3, 2005... Stella Artois is undergoing a brand overhaul aimed at halting its plummeting sales in the UK. Jones Knowles Ritchie will design the look of all the Interbrew-owned lager's secondary packaging to emphasise its Continental brewing heritage.

Branding News brief: Fareshare 1st appoints Simmer.(Brief Article)
August 3, 2005... Fareshare 1st, the sister company to food charity Fareshare, has appointed food specialist design consultancy Simmer to develop its corporate identity and communications.

Branding News brief: Co-op to relaunch Simply Cook range.(Co-operative Retail Services)(Brief Article)
August 3, 2005... The Co-op is to relaunch and extend its Simply Cook meal-solutions range, with variants including healthy living products that contain less than 2% fat. The products will be relaunched in all stores on 12 September.

Branding News brief: Chorion buys Silver Lining Production.(Brief Article)
August 3, 2005... Chorion, the intellectual property rights owner of brands including Noddy and Mr Men, has bought Silver Lining Productions, a New York TV production and merchandising business. Silver Lining owns a number of literary licences, including Olivia...

Branding News brief: Maldon Crystal Salt to diversify.(Brief Article)
August 3, 2005... Maldon Crystal Salt is to diversify into premium organic peppers, herbs and spices. The peppercorns are likely to be the first product to launch in the autumn.

Branding News brief: Dualit to redesign logo.(Brief Article)
August 3, 2005... Dualit, the kitchenware company, is to redesign its logo through Milton Bayer Creative for its 60th anniversary. Seymour Powell remains the brand's product design company.

Branding News brief: Olives Et Al to launch Naturvie range.(Cornezuelo, Frantoio, Arnequina )(Brief Article)
August 3, 2005... Olives Et Al is to launch a Naturvie range of single-variety and single-estate olive oils. They will be available in 500ml bottles, in Cornezuelo, Frantoio and Arnequina varieties, priced pounds 15.

Direct News: Thomson hires VCCP to hunt partnerships.(Thomson Travel Group PLC)(Vallance Carruthers Coleman Priest)(Brief Article)
August 3, 2005... Thomson, the travel operator, is stepping up its direct marketing focus with the appointment of the direct arm of Vallance Carruthers Coleman Priest to create strategic partnerships for the brand. VCCP was appointed by Thomson's Incentives...

Direct News: Saab to support premium launch.(Saab Great Britain Ltd.)(SportWagon)(Brief Article)
August 3, 2005... Saab is backing the autumn debut of its SportWagon premium estate model via direct mail and the internet. A 100-page adventure game book featuring the Saab 9-3 SportWagon will be sent to 50,000 prospects and existing customers. Saab is...

Direct News: Hamptons seeks direct agency.(Hamptons International)(Brief Article)
August 3, 2005... Hamptons International is on the hunt for its first direct marketing agency to handle its six-figure corporate business account. The estate agent is handling the pitch process and is seeking an agency with expertise in direct marketing,...

Direct choice: Peugeot 206.(Brief Article)
August 3, 2005... Grow your own 206? This pack shows you how and even encloses the seeds. It pun-tastically ploughs through a garden centre of wilting metaphors, eventually revealing the 'ready-grown' range a bit late in the day. It finally leaves the...

Direct News brief: Nissan sends A-Z guides to customers.(Nissan Motor Manufacturing (UK) Ltd.)(Brief Article)
August 3, 2005... Nissan is sending city A-Z guides to 30,000 customers. The pack, which has been developed by TMW, builds on recent TV work that carried the message 'Cities are made for Micra'.

Direct News brief: Newspaper Marketing Agency uses direct campaign for awards.(Brief Article)
August 3, 2005... The Newspaper Marketing Agency is using a direct campaign featuring Timberland's 'We stole their land' and Volvo's 'Cages save lives' executions to promote its National Newspaper Advertising Awards. The packs, developed by Tequila\London, are...

Direct News brief: Scout Association runs campaign to raise funds.(Brief Article)
August 3, 2005... The Scout Association is running a two-year integrated campaign to raise funds for its Centenary Jamboree in July 2007. The drive, which is the biggest in the association's history, will see it send personalised mailings to 290,000 people on...

Direct News brief: Blood Pressure Association appoints Red Berry.(Redberry Digital Ltd.)(Brief Article)
August 3, 2005... The Blood Pressure Association has appointed digital agency Red Berry to create a lifestyle questionnaire to highlight the danger of high blood pressure. It will be sent to corporate partners for use on their intranets and internal newsletters

Direct News brief: Benenden Healthcare chooses Brahm.(Benenden Healthcare Society Ltd.)(Brahm Public Relations)(Brief Article)
August 3, 2005... Benenden Healthcare, the mutual society, has selected communications agency Brahm to create an integrated campaign to attract new members.

Direct News brief: RIAS signs Titan HiTours.(Brief Article)
August 3, 2005... RIAS, the insurer, has signed up tour operator Titan HiTours to its affinity marketing programme. Titan HiTours will offer RIAS home and motor insurance to its database of customers.

Direct News brief: Je Joue appoints Archibald Ingall Stretton.(Cliq Ltd.)(Brief Article)
August 3, 2005... Je Joue has appointed Archibald Ingall Stretton to launch its programmable, non-penetrative vibrator, which will retail for about pounds 200. The agency will position the product as 'the ultimate choice' for urban women aged 24-40.

Direct News brief: Coca-Cola hires Serendipity 2.(Coca-Cola Great Britain)(Brief Article)
August 3, 2005... Coca-Cola has hired Serendipity 2 to create a data-driven marketing trial for soft drinks in Wales and the South-West. It will test the popularity of open-fronted fridge units against closed-door units.

Retail News: Fortnum & Mason revamps.(Brief Article)
August 3, 2005... Fortnum & Mason, the 300-year-old luxury goods store, is overhauling its brand identity to create a more contemporary image as it seeks to boost flagging sales. The retailer, whose sales have been flat for the past four years, has...

Retail choice: Homebase, Milton Keynes.(new store opened)(Brief Article)
August 3, 2005... Homebase has opened a store in Milton Keynes; nothing remarkable there, but this is Homebase as we have never seen it before. The first thing that strikes you as you approach the store is the amount of space. The entrance is bright and...

Retail News: Ann Summers to show ad in bars.(Brief Article)
August 3, 2005... Ann Summers is to rely on in-bar media to back its latest ad campaign with an execution too risque to appear on terrestrial TV. The campaign, which broke last Sunday in 150 bars nationwide, will be followed by a viral email sent to the...

Retail News brief: Waste & Resources Action Programme signs up retailers.(Brief Article)
August 3, 2005... The Waste and Resources Action Programme has signed up 13 retailers, including Asda, Boots and Tesco, as part of a drive to reduce the packaging and food waste produced each year.

Retail News brief: Asda reverses downward sales trend.(ASDA Group PLC)(Brief Article)
August 3, 2005... Asda has reversed its recent downward sales trend, according to the latest TNS Grocery survey. The supermarket had a 16.6% share for the 12 weeks to 17 July, a year-on-year rise of 1%.

Retail News brief: Schuh overhauls store design.(Schuh-Union AG)(Brief Article)
August 3, 2005... Schuh, the fashion footwear retailer, is overhauling the design of its Bluewater store. The concept, created by Briggs Hillier Design, is intended to create a bar- or club-like atmosphere.

Retail News brief: Aldi revamps store layout.(Brief Article)
August 3, 2005... Aldi is revamping its store layout. It is introducing aisle breaks to enable easier navigation, improving sight lines by moving higher shelving toward the edge of stores and installing a free-standing health and beauty display.

Retail News brief: Woolworths to convert more stores.(Woolworths Group PLC)(Brief Article)
August 3, 2005... Woolworths is to convert another 50 stores to its refurbished 10/10 format. In the six months to 16 July, the small-format stores performed better than the rest of the chain, which saw like-for-like sales decrease by 4.4%.

Retail News brief: Hobbs overhauls brand identity.(Brief Article)
August 3, 2005... Hobbs, the women's fashion retailer, is overhauling its brand identity. Design consultancy Lippincott Mercer has been briefed to work on the company's in-store merchandising and window displays.

Retail News brief: Peacocks supports Cancer Research campaign.(Peacock's Stores Ltd.)(Cancer Research UK)(Brief Article)
August 3, 2005... Peacocks, the clothing chain, is supporting Cancer Research UK's 'All Women Together' campaign for breast cancer awareness month in October. The retailer has produced a range of pink clothing and accessories to back the initiative.

Helen Dickinson on retail: In-store TV is an advertiser turn-off.
August 3, 2005... There has been plenty of hype surrounding in-store TV, but it seems to me that there isn't as much of it in the shops as you might think. Yes, there are video loops advertising the latest car-cleaning gadgets running endlessly at DIY and...

News Analysis: Imports threaten domestic bliss.
August 3, 2005... White-goods manufacturers are facing stiff competition from non-European, cut-price rivals. Joanna Bowery reports. You can go to the supermarket for a pint of milk these days and come back with a fridge to put it in. What's more, the...

News Analysis: Brand Coca-Cola's big gamble.
August 3, 2005... The company's first umbrella activity risks denting the health halo of its non-carbonated brands. This month Coca-Cola is taking the unprecedented step of promoting its full portfolio of drinks brands through an umbrella advertising...

Raymond Snoddy on media: NewsCorp is almost out of options.
August 3, 2005... It takes a certain kind of courage to turn down the right to run one of the world's biggest media empires. But that is exactly what Lachlan Murdoch has just done. While he will remain a director of News Corporation, by wandering off from the...

Media Analysis: Football nets global winner.
August 3, 2005... British clubs are looking at their branded TV channels as key overseas revenue generators, writes Colin Grimshaw. Gruelling globe-traversing trips to the Far East and US are not what Sir Alex Ferguson and Jose Mourinho would have planned as...

Brand Health Check: Woodpecker.
August 3, 2005... Cider is suffering - and the Scottish & Newcastle brand more so than its rivals. How can it prop up sales? Cider has never quite become a mainstream drink, and falls a long way short of the heights that lager brands have scaled in the UK....

Mark Ritson on branding: Where next for ASA's ugly stick?
August 3, 2005... Lambrini may sound like an exclusive Italian wine. It is, however, none of the above. Despite outselling every other wine brand in the UK, it is actually made from pears, not grapes, and is therefore a perry. Rather than Tuscany, the brand...

One to watch: Geeks on Wheels.
August 3, 2005... PCs pack up all too often, providing this computer repair brand with a fast-growing customer base. Johan Rall, a Geeks on Wheels computer technician, arrives at a flat overlooking Brighton harbour to call on a young entrepreneur who is in...