Marketing articles from August 2006

Marketing archives from August 2006

Bradford & Bingley consolidates pounds 7m work in BJL.(Cheetham Bell JWT)(Brief article)
August 31, 2006... Bradford & Bingley has moved its pounds 7m creative account out of CheethamBell JWT after less than a year with the agency and consolidated it in BJL Group. CheethamBell JWT took the lead on the account after the business moved from M&C...

Coca-Cola music to tap social networking trend.
August 31, 2006... Coca-Cola is poised to develop online communities as part of its digital music strategy, following its recent high-profile deal with Apple. The soft-drinks giant already uses its music website, www.coca-cola.com/music, as a platform for...

Birds Eye bosses under threat after pounds 1.2bn sale.(Brief article)
August 31, 2006... The future of Birds Eye's top marketers is hanging in the balance after Unilever agreed to sell the majority of its European frozen-foods business to Permira Funds for EUR1.7bn (pounds 1.2bn). The private equity firm usually sets three-...

Clear Channel in strategy U-turn.(Clear Channel International Ltd.)(Brief article)
August 31, 2006... Advertiser indifference has forced Clear Channel to scrap plans to sell space on its large-format digital network for 12-month periods, and is instead offering them for sale for shorter bursts. Earlier this month, the outdoor media owner...

VisitBritain seeks retail partner to boost profile.(Michael Bedingfield on search for marketing agency )(Brief article)
August 31, 2006... National tourism body VisitBritain is looking to partner a major retailer as part of its strategy to raise its profile and stretch its limited marketing budget. Michael Bedingfield, director of England marketing at VisitBritain, is...

Kia UK managing director departs.(Paul Williams resigns )(Brief article)
August 31, 2006... Kia UK has confirmed that managing director Paul Williams has left the company. Williams went on indefinite leave for personal reasons in July (Marketing, 2 August). A spokesman for Kia declined to comment on the reasons for his...

Crisis shortlists five for direct job.(Brief article)
August 31, 2006... Crisis has drawn up a shortlist of five agencies in its hunt for a direct marketing shop. The charity for homeless people has previously worked with agencies on an ad hoc basis. Director of fundraising Andy Page is leading the...

Direct Line hires first digital shop.(Geronimo Marketing and Communications hired )(Brief article)
August 31, 2006... Direct Line has appointed Geronimo as its first digital agency, with the intention of boosting its use of online. The Royal Bank of Scotland-owned insurer has traditionally handled its digital marketing in-house. Marketing director...

New campaign: Love it!(News Magazines's new marketing venture)(Brief article)
August 31, 2006... News Magazines is launching a pounds 2.8m marketing campaign to promote its market-leading real-life women's weekly, Love it! The campaign, which kicks off on 4 September, will include TV, radio, print and outdoor activity. The 30-second...

Princes rethinks brand strategy.(Big Communications to overhaul its focus )(Brief article)
August 31, 2006... Princes has hired Big Communications to overhaul its brand strategy to focus on its healthy products. The agency will become Princes' lead brand agency; its roster also includes Tayburn and Poulters. Big has worked on Princes' drinks...

Freemans owner in media review.(Otto UK)(Brief article)
August 31, 2006... Otto UK, owner of the Freemans and Grattan mail-order catalogues, is to review its media account, estimated to be worth pounds 1m. Otto's business is currently split between MediaVest Manchester and Pure Media, which handle Grattan and...

Clearblue pushes boundaries in pounds 2m campaign.(Brief article)
August 31, 2006... Clearblue, the pregnancy testing brand, will confront taboos in the latest ads for its digital test by featuring the word 'pee' and a stream of liquid representing urine. Breaking on 4 September, the ad is part of a pounds 2m investment....

Lego set to sponsor ITV1 kids' programme strand.(Brief article)
August 31, 2006... Lego has signed a multimillion-pound deal to sponsor all CiTV programming on ITV1 from Mondays through to Saturdays. Lego is the first brand to sponsor the entire children's offering, which includes Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Curious...

Coral.co.uk hires 141 to back rugby Premiership tie.(141 Worldwide )(Brief article)
August 31, 2006... Coral.co.uk, the online arm of bookmaker Coral, has hired sports marketing specialist 141 Worldwide to promote its partnership with rugby union's Guinness Premiership. Coral hopes the two-year deal, which sees all Guinness Premiership...

Junk mail whistle blower faces axe.(Royal Mail Group PLC's Roger Annies fired )(Brief article)
August 31, 2006... Royal Mail has suspended a postman for telling people how to stop unaddressed door-drop mail being delivered to their houses. Roger Annies, who works at the Barry Delivery Office, created and distributed leaflets that told customers how...

PC World sets up customer title.(DSG Retail Ltd. ties up with WH Smith Group PLC)(Brief article)
August 31, 2006... PC World is to target small businesses in a magazine tie-up with WH Smith. The computer retailer's business division will produce a title called Your Office that will be distributed exclusively through WH Smith. Its focus will be helping...

German chain set to take on Evans.(Ulla Popken signs Fox Kalomaski )(Brief article)
August 31, 2006... German retailer Ulla Popken has appointed agency Fox Kalomaski to establish its brand in the UK as it seeks to take on Evans in the UK plus-size fashion market. The chain, which caters for women of size 16 and over, opened its first UK...

AXA UK parachutes in group marketing chief.(Olivier Mariee appointed )(Brief article)
August 31, 2006... Axa UK has appointed Olivier Mariee to the new role of group marketing director in a restructure of its marketing department following the arrival of Nicolas Moreau as UK chief executive in June. The role integrates responsibility for...

BA boosts focus on experiential.(British Airways PLC signs PCI Fitch )(Brief article)
August 31, 2006... British Airways is to increase its use of experiential marketing after appointing PCI Fitch as its events agency. The appointment is part of BA's strategy of increasing its focus on face-to-face events. It previously used Park Avenue on...

Matalan drops rugby star Henson in pounds 5m campaign.(signs Nick Moran)(Brief article)
August 31, 2006... Matalan has dropped Welsh rugby star Gavin Henson from its forthcoming pounds 5m ad campaign in favour of Lock Stock and Two Smoking Barrels star Nick Moran. The switch comes as the retailer alters its strategy to boost its focus on...

New campaign: South-West of England.(Brief article)
August 31, 2006... A campaign intended to promote off-peak tourism to the South-West of England is focusing on the experiences of real visitors. Radio, online and press ads, which break on 2 September, feature five couples. Sue and Dan talk about learning...

Aquascutum poaches top Pringle marketer.(Charlotte Thomas appointed )(Brief article)
August 31, 2006... Luxury-clothing retailer Aquascutum has recruited Pringle head of marketing Charlotte Thomas as global communications director. Thomas has been given the brief of building Aquascutum's profile as a quintessentially British brand, with the...

RSPB in drive to save albatross.(Royal Society for the Protection of Birds)(Brief article)
August 31, 2006... The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) is launching a multi-tiered marketing drive to help save the albatross from extinction. The campaign involves 'Bluecasting'; screens will be erected at 10 London railway stations to...

Sony signs up Pink to front PSP activity.(Brief article)
August 31, 2006... Sony has secured a deal with US pop star Pink to promote the launch of a limited-edition pink PSP console. The launch, on 27 October, is part of Sony's strategy of broadening its appeal to women. A disc featuring Pink music videos,...

Blacks fights slump with cycle concessions.(Blacks Leisure Group PLC)(Brief article)
August 31, 2006... Struggling outdoors-equipment retailer Blacks is diversifying into bicycles with the trial of an Evans Cycles concession. The trial will be carried out in an out-of-town store, with plans to extend the initiative to most Blacks outlets....

News brief: Carlsberg offers chance to win seats at Wembley Stadium.(Brief article)
August 31, 2006... Carlsberg is offering consumers the opportunity to win their own seats at Wembley Stadium for every event from 1 August 2007 to 31 July 2008. Promotional packs will be available in the off-trade until December this year.

News brief: Wisdom gears up for TV ads.(Doner Cardwell Hawkins creates television advertisements)(Brief article)
August 31, 2006... Wisdom is gearing up to run its first TV advertising in more than a year, for its new Easy Floss product. The pounds 500,000 campaign, created by Doner Cardwell Hawkins, will air from 4 September.

News brief: Yorkshire Building Society to launch TV campaign.
August 31, 2006... Yorkshire Building Society is set to launch a national TV campaign through Brahm to promote its mortgage rates. The ads break on 4 September.

News brief: Nuffield Hospitals appoints DFGW.(Universal McCann UK Group Ltd. signed )(Brief article)
August 31, 2006... Nuffield Hospitals, a group of 40 independent, not-for-profit hospitals, has appointed DFGW to handle its ad business and Universal McCann to handle media. It intends to build awareness of its offering among GPs and potential patients.

News brief: ASA upholds complaints about poster ads.(Advertising Standards Authority's)(The Gas)(Brief article)
August 31, 2006... The Advertising Standards Authority has upheld complaints about a sexually suggestive poster advertising Yorkshire company The Gas Showroom. The ad, which was placed in ladies' toilets, used the strapline 'Let The Gas Showroom stick something...

News brief: Something XTRA runs sampling campaign.
August 31, 2006... Something XTRA, a cereal bar, is running a sampling and promotional campaign during September to support its listing in Sainsbury's.

News brief: FSA fines Ancient Order of Foresters Friendly Society.(Financial Services Authority)(Brief article)
August 31, 2006... The Financial Services Authority has fined The Ancient Order of Foresters Friendly Society pounds 55,000 for misleading TV ads and direct mail packs that targeted the elderly. The ads for its 'Autumn Gold' life-insurance product erroneously...

News brief: Tourism Australia appoints Tim Jones.(Brief article)
August 31, 2006... Tourism Australia has appointed Tim Jones marketing manager UK, Ireland and Nordic. The move follows the departure of European marketing director Emma Bradley, who left to become BBC Children in Need's chief marketer.

Media News: Dummy copies snag hampers London Lite.(Associated Newspapers Holdings PLC)(Brief article)
August 31, 2006... Associated Newspaper's rush to launch its freesheet London Lite has had a rocky start as key media buyers have yet to see a dummy copy. Associated distributed a limited number of copies of the paper to consumers last Thursday to test its...

Media News: Glamour ties up with River Island.(Brief article)
August 31, 2006... Glamour is to launch its first covermounted, sponsored supplement. The 'High Street Handbook' will be bagged with the October issue of the Conde Nast glossy. Sponsored by River Island, it will contain 36 pages of fashion tips. Conde...

Media News: ITV2 supports US comedy import.(Brief article)
August 31, 2006... ITV is boosting investment in marketing its digital channels with a promotional drive backing the launch of US comedy drama Entourage on ITV2. As part of the work, the broadcaster has placed a number of DVDs in bars and pubs across the...

Media choice: London Lite.(News International PLC)(Brief article)
August 31, 2006... Associated beat News International to the punch by plunging into the freesheet market last week with the distribution of 20,000 dummy copies of London Lite - the launch date clearly hastened by the imminent arrival of its rival's...

Media News brief: Channel 4 New Media appoints Syzygy.(Channel Four Television Company Ltd.)(Brief article)
August 31, 2006... Channel 4 New Media has appointed interactive agency Syzygy to redesign its news website, www.channel4.com/news. The agency will work on a range of projects, including the relaunch of the Dispatches site and the introduction of blogs.

Media News brief: IPC appoints Eric Fuller.(Brief article)
August 31, 2006... IPC has appointed Eric Fuller - publisher of Nuts and Loaded - managing director of its Ignite! men's and music division. He replaces Tim Brooks, who was recently named managing director of Guardian Newspapers.

Media News brief: Turner Broadcasting System secures deal.
August 31, 2006... Turner Broadcasting System Europe has secured a deal with France Telecom to launch its Cartoon Network on Orange mobiles across Europe.

Media News brief: Littlewoods agrees deal with ITV.(Littlewoods Organisation PLC)(Brief article)
August 31, 2006... Littlewoods has agreed a deal with ITV to sponsor the next Trinny and Susannah series, due to air this autumn on ITV1. The deal will include online, interactive and mobile activity.

Media News brief: News International appoints Frank PR.
August 31, 2006... News International has appointed Frank PR and its sister agency Sneeze to handle PR and experiential marketing for the launch of thelondonpaper.

Media News brief: Andy Duncan ends speculation.(Channel Four Television Company Ltd.'s )(Brief article)
August 31, 2006... Andy Duncan, chief executive of Channel 4, has ended speculation that he will replace ITV's outgoing chief executive. In a statement, he said: 'In the event of a formal approach I intend to make it clear that I do not wish to be considered...

Media News brief: M&S to be title sponsor of design awards.
August 31, 2006... Marks & Spencer will be the title sponsor of the 2006 Elle Decoration Design Awards. The sponsorship will include advertorials in the September to November issues.

Media News brief: Marie Claire to boost online content.
August 31, 2006... Marie Claire, IPC's flagship women's glossy, is to boost its online content and has appointed Carla Bevan as editor of its recently launched website marieclaire.co.uk.

Media News brief: Correction.(Correction notice)
August 31, 2006... Chris Hughes is publisher of Easy Living, not Eve, as reported in last week's ABC coverage. Jessica Gibson is publisher of Eve.

Branding News: CNN flags up global coverage in revamp.(Cable News Network signs Iris)(Brief article)
August 31, 2006... CNN has unveiled a fresh brand identity, its first overhaul in five years, which it will support with substantial promotional activity. Created by integrated agency Iris, the revamped identity is intended to better define CNN as a global...

Branding News: MoS hires Unreal for toiletries job.(Ministry of Sound Holdings Ltd.)(Brief article)
August 31, 2006... Ministry of Sound has appointed Unreal to design the packaging for its branded male and female toiletries ranges, which will hit the shelves next April. Unreal, which was hired after a six-way pitch, will create packaging for the female...

Branding News: Thorntons alters Continental line.(BR&Me to introduce )(Brief article)
August 31, 2006... Thorntons has redesigned its flagship chocolate brand, Continental, to attract younger consumers. The revamp, by BR&Me will introduce gold packs with coloured ribbons to differentiate the five varieties: assortment, dark, white, summer...

Branding News: Design choice - Samsung E900.(Brief article)
August 31, 2006... Taking a design cue from LG's popular 'Chocolate' handset, the E900 sports a similar, streamlined finish akin to the shiny, waxed body of a black high-performance sports car. The most striking feature is the sexy touch-sensitive front end...

Branding News brief: Black & Decker unveils power-tools redesign.(Brief article)
August 31, 2006... Black & Decker has unveiled a redesign of its power-tools line across Europe. The work, carried out by Bulletproof Design, comprises an overhaul of the range's packaging and livery.

Branding News brief: Arsenal launches Diamond Club.(Brief article)
August 31, 2006... Arsenal Football Club has launched Diamond Club, a 1000m2 members-only area at its Emirates stadium, designed by 20/20. The design is intended to capture the Art Deco feel of its previous Highbury stadium.

Branding News brief: Ginger Productions revamps corporate identity.(Ginger Television Productions Ltd. signs Elmwood)(Brief article)
August 31, 2006... Ginger Productions, creator of TV shows Don't Drop the Coffin and Jack Osbourne - Adrenaline Junkie, has revamped its corporate identity through Elmwood. The change is intended to make the brand more edgy and reflect its move beyond...

Branding News brief: Chubb Insurance revamps brand.
August 31, 2006... Chubb Insurance has revamped its brand as it targets greater cross-selling opportunities. The work, by Radley Yeldar, is intended to give the brand greater consistency.

Branding News brief: UEFA Champions League brand gets overhaul.
August 31, 2006... The UEFA Champions League brand identity has been redesigned by English & Pockett. The overhaul positions the competition as the ultimate stage for football.

Branding News brief: Nick Tentis hires bigspace.(Brief article)
August 31, 2006... Nick Tentis, a menswear designer, has hired bigspace to create the branding for its London shop and showroom. The designer also has a concession in Harrods.

Branding News brief: Royal Navy announces licensing programme.(Brief article)
August 31, 2006... The Royal Navy has announced a licensing and merchandising programme that will see a range of sub-brands being rolled out for retail this Christmas. The aim of the initiative is to raise awareness of the Navy among younger consumers. It is...

Branding News brief: Derwent Cumberland hires Briggs Hillier Design.(Brief article)
August 31, 2006... Derwent Cumberland, a pencil manufacturer, has hired Briggs Hillier Design to create the packaging for the launch of a Cumberland Graphite range this autumn. The appointment follows a two-way pitch.

Direct News: DWP hands job to EHS Brann.(Department for Work and Pensions)(Brief article)
August 31, 2006... The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has hired EHS Brann to handle an autumn direct marketing campaign encouraging pensioners to claim all benefits for which they are eligible. The agency has been briefed initially to create a...

Direct News: Kew Gardens in loyalty scheme.(Brief article)
August 31, 2006... Foundation & Friends of the Royal Botanic Gardens, the charity arm of Kew Gardens, is launching a loyalty programme to raise funds and increase visitor numbers. The charity has appointed Keevill Barton Kershaw to promote its Premier...

Direct choice: Macmillan Cancer Support.(Brief article)
August 31, 2006... We have all shuffled past the charity box in reception. It sits there, forlorn, generally dog-eared and hoping to attract a conscience with a few coppers. A functional collection point with little appeal. Not any more. This piece for...

Direct News brief: Nissan runs direct campaign.(Nissan Motor Company Ltd. signs Tullo Marshall Warren )(Brief article)
August 31, 2006... Nissan is running an email and direct mail campaign created by Tullo Marshall Warren to encourage 30,000 prospective customers to test-drive its 350Z sports car or Murano 4x4.

Direct News brief: asrecommended launches insurance edition.
August 31, 2006... asrecommended, the door-to-door consumer guide, is launching an insurance edition. The title will be inserted in Sky the Magazine.

Direct News brief: Crown Paints targets female fashion enthusiasts.(Brief article)
August 31, 2006... Crown Paints is targeting female fashion enthusiasts with a direct-response consumer press campaign promoting its colour range. The ads, created by BDH\TBWA, will be supported by in-store booklets and leaflets.

Direct News brief: Alzheimer's Society shortlists agencies.(Brief article)
August 31, 2006... The Alzheimer's Society has shortlisted agencies for its direct marketing account. The society, which previously worked with WWAV West, is hoping to appoint an agency by the end of October.

Direct News brief: Information Commissioner's Office issues guide.(Brief article)
August 31, 2006... The Information Commissioner's Office has issued Stop Unwanted Marketing, a guide to consumers' and organisations' rights in relation to direct marketing. It also offers advice for firms considering using direct marketing.

Direct News brief: Save the Children uses ambient campaign.(Proximity London creates )(Brief article)
August 31, 2006... Save the Children UK is using an ambient campaign by Proximity London to raise awareness of the lack of healthcare for children in Africa. Worn flip-flops will be attached to trees, lampposts, gates and walkways with the message 'Imagine...

Direct News brief: Thomson Holidays teams up with LeapFrog Toys.(Brief article)
August 31, 2006... Thomson Holidays has teamed up with LeapFrog Toys for a cross-promotion. The partnership, created by Cocktail Marketing, will include a prize draw, inserts, digital and in-store activity.

Retail News: Co-op Group widens loyalty programme.(Co-operative Group (CWS) Ltd.)(Brief article)
August 31, 2006... The Co-operative Group is overhauling and extending its Dividend loyalty scheme across all its sub-brands, two years after the idea was first mooted. Previously, the Dividend card initiative applied only to the Co-op's food stores....

Retail News: Nectar seeks to boost web sales.(Brief article)
August 31, 2006... Loyalty scheme Nectar is targeting 4m of its members with a competition to encourage them to use its online shopping portal. The competition, details of which will be mailed out, offers the chance to win prizes and rewards from Nectar...

Retail News: Retail marketing news to your PC.(retail trade)(Brief article)
August 31, 2006... From this week, Marketing's dedicated retail page will be replaced by an email bulletin sent to readers from our web portal, Brand Republic. If you work in the retail industry, or with retail clients, you can keep up to date with all the...

Retail choice: Zara Home, Regent Street.(Tom Dixon designs )(Brief article)
August 31, 2006... Alongside the Tom Dixon-designed Habitat outlet stands the first stand-alone Zara Home store. Worthy of its central Regent Street location, and a totally different kettle of fish to its neighbour, Zara Home contrasts the architectural...

Retail News brief: Instore halts Poundstretcher rebranding.(Brief article)
August 31, 2006... Instore has halted the rebranding of its 300 Poundstretcher discount stores, claiming consumers have a stronger affinity with the existing brand. The 150 stores already rebranded will not be changed back. The other Poundstretcher outlets will...

Retail News brief: Blacks posts fall in l-f-l sales.(like-for-like)(Brief article)
August 31, 2006... Blacks, the adventure-sports retail group, has posted a fall in like-for-like sales of 0.4% for the 25 weeks to 19 August. This figure includes a 4.1% sales rise for the Blacks retail chain and a 5.6% decline for its Millets stores.

Retail News brief: Baugur in 'advanced talks' over takeover bid.(House of Fraser PLC to be acquired )(Brief article)
August 31, 2006... Baugur, the Icelandic investment group, is in 'advanced talks' with department-store chain House of Fraser over a pounds 351m takeover bid. The two have been in discussions about a possible acquisition of the 80-store chain since May.

Retail News brief: Department stores edge ahead of single-brand outlets.(Brief article)
August 31, 2006... Department stores have edged ahead of single-brand outlets this summer, according to FootFall research. The figures, which cover the period of 14-20 August, showed a year-on-year rise of 12.3% in footfall at the stores.

Retail News brief: Tesco's grocery sector share continues to grow.(Brief article)
August 31, 2006... Tesco's share of the grocery sector is continuing to grow, according to TNS. The retailer's market share for the 12 weeks to 13 August rose from 30.3% last year to 31.6%. Sainsbury's share also increased, from 15.7% to 16%, while Asda's...

Retail News brief: Fopp to open stores in Scotland.(Brief article)
August 31, 2006... Fopp, the music, books and DVD retailer, is to open six stores in Scotland in the next year, taking its total number of UK stores to 37. It has also opened a flagship store in London's Tottenham Court Road.

Retail News brief: Matalan founder given extension for bid.(Brief article)
August 31, 2006... Matalan founder John Hargreaves has been given until 11 October by The Takeover Panel - a one-month extension - to come up with a bid for the discount fashion retailer. Hargreaves has made an indicative offer of pounds 817m.

Retail News brief: Argos teams up with Barclays.
August 31, 2006... Argos has teamed up with Barclays to create a range of branded financial products. The offerings will include an Argos credit card and personal loans.

Helen Dickinson on Retail: Downloads Spell End of Movie Rental
August 31, 2006... Although I'm not a typical customer of the video rental stores, because we have a large library of films on DVD and video at home, it's difficult not to see how dramatically the industry is changing. The number of high-street rental shops is...

News Analysis: Insurers Close the Loop
August 31, 2006... Prepay cards will expedite the claims process - but also restrict replacement purchases, writes Joanna Bowery. The closest insurance traditionally gets to innovation is their proximity in the dictionary. That is about to change with Norwich...

News Analysis: First among Equals
August 31, 2006... A brand may launch before its rivals, but there is no guarantee it will retain its early advantage. If any evidence were needed of the value of being first to market, News International and Associated Newspapers provided it last week. ...

Raymond Snoddy on Media: Allen Highlights Conflict at ITV's Heart
August 31, 2006... By the time they sweep up the broken glass from the floor of the George Hotel in Edinburgh, that's usually it for the latest bunch of daft ideas for another year. The over-cooked concepts that have momentarily entertained the delegates at the...