Marketing articles from August 2007

Marketing archives from August 2007

Nectar to back repositioning with pounds 7m campaign.(Brief article)
August 1, 2007... Nectar is relaunching next month with its biggest promotional spend since its creation five years ago. It intends to shed its image as a discount programme and reposition itself as a rewards scheme. The Loyalty Management UK business...

Boots names Opticians' chief as top marketer.(Boots Opticians appoints Elizabeth Fagan)(Brief article)
August 1, 2007... Boots has drafted in Elizabeth Fagan, managing director of Boots Opticians, to replace Andrew Brent as UK marketing director. It is understood that Brent, who joined the firm in 2005, has taken a global marketing role within the...

RBS hands task to John Brown.(RBS Group Inc.)(Brief article)
August 1, 2007... RBS Group has hired John Brown to publish a magazine for RBS and NatWest customers, in the biggest retail bank programme of its kind. The title will go to between 3m and 4m customers quarterly from 2008, making it one of the top-three...

BSkyB and Virgin Media pour pounds 92m into ad fight.(British Sky Broadcasting Group PLC)(Virgin Media Group Ltd.)(advertising)(Brief article)
August 1, 2007... Virgin Media and Sky have lavished an unprecedented pounds 92m on advertising in five months, as the battle for subscribers in the pay-TV market intensifies. Sky made up the lion's share and boosted its adspend by more than a third year on...

Marsden decade draws to close.(resignation of Andrew Marsden from Britvic Soft Drinks Ltd.)(Brief article)
August 1, 2007... Last week, Britvic announced that its high-profile and outspoken marketing chief Andrew Marsden was leaving. Described by many as 'solid and professional', but a 'bit pompous', Marsden has remained in the headlines for most of his time at...

T-Mobile creates sponsorship role.(promotion of Sam Taylor at T-Mobile USA Inc.)(Brief article)
August 1, 2007... T-Mobile has promoted head of advertising Sam Taylor to take on the sponsorship responsibilities previously handled by Toby Hester. Taylor, who will take on the new title of head of advertising and sponsorship, will oversee existing...

L'Oreal to roll out ad disclaimers.(Brief article)
August 1, 2007... L'Oreal is inserting disclaimers into its advertising after the Advertising Standards Authority upheld complaints about a commercial featuring actress Penelope Cruz wearing false eyelashes. A spokeswoman said a disclaimer had already been...

New campaign: Ann Summers.(Brief article)
August 1, 2007... Ann Summers is set to roll out a risque campaign to back the launch of its latest vibrator, the Wave. In what is claimed to be a media first, the sex toy will be marketed through vibrating 6-sheet posters on bus shelters. Created by...

MFI tempers TV spot in wake of viewer complaints.(Brief article)
August 1, 2007... MFI has amended one of the ads in its controversial 'family argument' campaign following a deluge of complaints to the Advertising Standards Authority. The company has dubbed into Spanish and added subtitles to the execution, in which a...

Yahoo! set to pool pounds 2.6m business into one agency.
August 1, 2007... Yahoo! is reviewing its UK advertising agency roster as part of an overhaul of its marketing strategy. The internet services company intends to consolidate its pounds 2.6m creative account into a single agency ahead of plans to step up...

Magnet rethinks pounds 9m media task.(Brief article)
August 1, 2007... Magnet is reviewing its pounds 9m media account six months after the departure of marketing director Nick Booth. Booth has been replaced by Anjum Ahmed who also oversees design at the kitchen company; Ahmed now has the combined role of...

Look poised for triumph in ABCs.(Brief article)
August 1, 2007... IPC's high-street fashion weekly Look is set to post a debut Audit Bureau of Circulations (ABC) figure of more than 300,000 copies a week, smashing its first-year circulation target of 250,000. Sources say the title, whose February launch...

FT hunts agency for online drive.(Financial Times Ltd.)(Brief article)
August 1, 2007... The Financial Times is seeking a digital agency to handle its online advertising following a recent brand revamp. The Pearson-owned title has contacted a number of UK agencies with a brief to develop a digital marketing strategy under its...

VTech chief Heyde hands pounds 2m ad work to Leagas.(Brief article)
August 1, 2007... Toy manufacturer VTech has handed its pounds 2m advertising account to Leagas Delaney. Two weeks ago the company hired John Ayling & Associates as its media agency, following Universal McCann's decision to resign the business after three...

RBS focuses on golf tie-ups in online campaign.(Royal Bank of Scotland PLC)(Brief article)
August 1, 2007... Royal Bank of Scotland is rolling out a digital marketing drive to promote its association with US golfers Jack Nicklaus and Paula Creamer. The bank has briefed digital agency Play to create a campaign based on its 'Make it happen' brand...

Travelodge to redesign rooms in Olympics push.(Travelodge Hotels Inc.)(Brief article)
August 1, 2007... Travelodge has outlined its pounds 1.2bn Olympic growth strategy, which will see the budget chain open 200 hotels in the UK and overhaul its room design to attract more guests in the run-up to London 2012. The overhauled rooms, which...

Sacla hands pounds 4m ad account to Chick Smith Trott.(Brief article)
August 1, 2007... Italian pasta-sauce brand Sacla has appointed Chick Smith Trott to its pounds 4m advertising account following a four-way pitch. The other agencies involved were Farm, which had worked for Sacla on a project basis, VCCP and MCBD. Chick...

Honda shuffles UK bikes team.(Honda Motorcycle and Scooter India Private Ltd.)(Brief article)
August 1, 2007... Honda Motorcycles has restructured its marketing department and promoted former supply-chain manager Simon Gardiner to lead a marketing operations team. As part of the rejig, direct marketing executive Glen MacMahon has been promoted to...

Npower ads to use green power.(advertising)(Brief article)
August 1, 2007... Npower is attempting to raise awareness of its green-energy product Juice and its solar-installation service by using the first wind- and solar-assisted outdoor poster sites. The campaign, which launches on 1 September, will see Npower...

Coca-Cola picks marketing chief.
August 1, 2007... Coca-Cola has appointed Joseph Tripodi as its chief marketing and commercial officer, replacing Mary Minnick, who left in February. The former senior vice-president of Allstate Insurance will oversee Coca-Cola's global marketing and lead...

Harlequins unveils Middle Eastern airline tie.(Harlequins Rugby Club)(Etihad Airways P.J.S.C.)(Brief article)
August 1, 2007... Harlequins Rugby Club has signed Middle Eastern airline Etihad as its principal sponsor in a three-year deal, having ended a 12-year naming rights deal with NEC. The club took the decision last season to reclaim its name, although NEC...

Body Shop puts task into Leagas Delaney.
August 1, 2007... The Body Shop has handed its creative account to Leagas Delaney amid plans to make its most significant investment in advertising since its launch 30 years ago. The ethical retailer selected Leagas Delaney over Publicis, Kamarama and its...

Cathay hires ACP for magazine job.(Cathay Pacific Airways Ltd.)(Brief article)
August 1, 2007... Asia's biggest airline brand Cathay Pacific has hired ACP Magazines to produce six customer and staff titles. The Australian magazine company picked up the business after a protracted pitch against Story Worldwide and Ink from an original...

Adidas plots social-network push for shoe.(adidas-Salomon AG)(Brief article)
August 1, 2007... Adidas is rolling out a global digital drive across social networks including Facebook, MySpace and Piczo to support the launch of its Microbounce running shoe. The sportswear company has briefed Glue to develop a heavyweight online drive,...

News brief: Heinz hires Adrian Mooney.(Heinz Babyfood)(Brief article)
August 1, 2007... Heinz has hired Adrian Mooney as marketing director for its sauces business. He joins from Northern Foods, where he was marketing manager for its Goodfella's Pizza brand, and will report to UK and Ireland chief marketing officer Suzanne Douglas...

News brief: GDA take up doubles.(Brief article)
August 1, 2007... The number of food and drink companies placing guideline daily amount nutrition information on the front of packs more than doubled in the six months to June, according to the Food and Drink Federation. The GDA labelling system is now used by...

News brief: Virgin to launch Virgin Poker Festival.(Brief article)
August 1, 2007... Virgin is launching a two-day Virgin Poker Festival, which will take place in Birmingham in November. Players on Virginpoker.com will be able to compete for the chance to win a place at the live tournament

News brief: Energy Saving Trust to sponsor awards.
August 1, 2007... The Energy Saving Trust is to sponsor the 2007 Green Awards, which recognise marketing that informs consumers and businesses about sustainable choices

News brief: Honda Racing F1 hires marketing director.(appointment of David Butler)(Brief article)
August 1, 2007... Honda Racing F1 has hired David Butler as its marketing director He replaces Alistair Watkins, who left to work for America's Cup team Alinghi. Butler joins from Laureus, a joint venture between DaimlerChrysler and Richemont that promotes sport...

News brief: GMTV runs campaign to restore confidence.(Brief article)
August 1, 2007... GMTV is running a press campaign in an attempt to restore viewers' confidence after the premium-rate phone-in scandal. The broadcaster is to hold 250 free draws, each offering a pounds 10,000 prize

News brief: Thelondonpaper teams up for recycling initiative.(Brief article)
August 1, 2007... Thelondonpaper has teamed up with Boots and the New West End Company for a recycling initiative. Consumers who take their papers to recycling bins at selected Boots stores will have the chance to win an electric scooter

News brief: Arm & Hammer signs up former Blue Peter presenter.
August 1, 2007... Arm & Hammer has signed up former Blue Peter presenter Katy Hill to front the launch of its Enamel Care Sensitive toothpaste

Coca-Cola expands Relentless offering.(Brief article)
August 1, 2007... Coca-Cola is gearing up for the launch of Relentless Inferno, a variant of its Relentless energy drink, to strengthen the brand and steal share from the market leader Red Bull. The product, which is being positioned as a refreshing energy...

S&N puts promotions brief into Steam UK.(Scottish & Newcastle PLC)(Brief article)
August 1, 2007... Scottish & Newcastle has consolidated its sales promotion business into Steam UK. The appointment comes after a 2006 World Cup promotion for the brewer, created by the agency, won The Marketing Society Award for Excellence in Loyalty. ...

Electoral bodies set to hold pitch.(Electoral Commission )(Brief article)
August 1, 2007... The Electoral Commission and London Elects are holding a pitch for the Mayor of London and London Assembly elections, which are due to take place next year on 1 May. The pitch, which is being managed by the COI, will involve four agency...

New campaign: Culinare.(Brief article)
August 1, 2007... Kitchen-utensil brand Culinare is backing the launch of its Culinare One Touch tin opener with a pounds 1m TV ad campaign. The product will be available in stores from this month, with TV ads breaking in October. The activity, which is...

This week: Marketing news from the national press.(Brief article)
August 1, 2007... Argos is targeting middle-class John Lewis customers with a more aspirational catalogue that includes premium brands such as Dualit and Magimix - The Observer Reckitt Benckiser's first-half sales have soared by 10% on the back of demand...

Media: Barnardo's to widen drive with cinema ad.(Brief article)
August 1, 2007... Barnardo's is to expand its controversial 'F**k off story' ad activity with its first cinema campaign. The ad, which is part of its wider 'Believe in children' activity, will break in cinemas this Friday, despite the fact that the...

Media: Mr & Mrs Smith adds event diary.(Brief article)
August 1, 2007... Mr & Mrs Smith, the luxury brand best-known for its hotel guides, is to launch a European events diary called Smith 52. The brand, which is owned by Spy Publishing, will support the listings title with a membership scheme that will provide...

Media: Emap weighs up business sell-off.(Brief article)
August 1, 2007... Beleaguered publishing company Emap has confirmed it is considering a potential sale or demerger of its business, which includes brands such as FHM, Grazia and radio station Kiss. The move follows a U-turn in strategy at the publisher...

Media choice: Transformers.(Brief article)
August 1, 2007... Being a girl and a born fidgeter, it's hard for me to fathom sitting still for more than two hours watching giant fighting robots, but that's exactly how it happened. There's so much action packed into every second of Transformers, and...

Media brief: Orange UK ties with Disney's ABC.(ABC International Television Inc.)(Brief article)
August 1, 2007... Orange UK and Disney's ABC International Television have signed a video-on-demand deal for digital TV and PC. The tie-up will enable Orange subscribers to access Disney movies on the mobile operator's digital TV service, which will launch in...

Media brief: Eve launches loyalty card.(Eve Group PLC)(Brief article)
August 1, 2007... Eve magazine is launching a loyalty card offering subscribers exclusive year-long discounts with Figleaves.com, Ocado, Mr & Mrs Smith, L'Occitane, Nicky Clarke and LK Bennett. The scheme was developed in partnership with Touchdown Brand...

Media brief: AXA to move account to new agency.(Brief article)
August 1, 2007... AXA is to move its pounds 12m media planning account out of OMD Connect. The insurance company will now assign the business to either Carat, MPG or MindShare

Media brief: BSkyB reports revenue increase.(British Sky Broadcasting Group PLC)(Financial report)(Brief article)
August 1, 2007... BSkyB reported an annual operating profit of pounds 815m and a 10% increase in revenues to pounds 4.55bn in the year to the end of June. It now has 8.58m subscribers in the UK and Ireland, up 90,000 on the previous quarter

Media brief: Virgin Mobile axes mobile television service.(Virgin Mobile Telecoms Ltd.)(Brief article)
August 1, 2007... Virgin Mobile has axed its mobile television service less than 12 months after it was launched. The decision follows the closure by its technology partner, BT, of its Movio mobile-TV division due to weak customer take-up

Media brief: Sony Computer Entertainment ties with BSkyB.(Sony Computer Entertainment Europe contract with British Sky Broadcasting Group PLC)(Brief article)
August 1, 2007... Sony Computer Entertainment Europe has tied up with BSkyB for a video-on-demand service that will enable users of Sony's PSP handheld console to download video-on-demand content from the broadcaster. The service will launch early next year

Media brief: TheJazz to launch website.(Thejazz.com)(Brief article)
August 1, 2007... TheJazz, GCap's dedicated jazz radio station is launching a website. Thejazz.com is the latest brand extension by the station, which also produces branded CDs and digital radio players

Media brief: Promotion at Fox International Channels.
August 1, 2007... Fox International Channels UK has promoted Jason Thorp to managing director from deputy managing director of FX

Branding: Green & Black's in gift range.(launch of new chocolate gift packs)(Brief article)
August 1, 2007... Organic chocolate maker Green & Black's is launching a confectionery gift range this autumn. The product line has been designed to meet different gift occasions, such as formal dinners and informal get-togethers. Its packaging, created...

Branding: Constache rolls out Crumbs line.(Constache Foods launches crumbs as well as website)(Brief article)
August 1, 2007... Constache Foods has launched a range of pies, quiches and other savoury snacks, called Crumbs. The brand identity and packaging for the line, which will be available in Sainsbury's and Waitrose stores from next month, have been created by...

Branding: Design choice - Crocs.(Brief article)
August 1, 2007... They say in the car industry that you only start to notice a new model on the roads once 10,000 have been sold. If that's also true for Crocs footwear, then I suspect the chief executive has got a big smile on his face right now. The little...

Branding brief: Westminster City Council buys rights to street signs.
August 1, 2007... Westminster City Council has bought the rights to the iconic red-lettered street signs - many of which mark well-known locations such as Downing Street - in order to protect their copyright. The rights were held by the family of their creator,...

Branding brief: Waterbrands repackages bottled water range.
August 1, 2007... Waterbrands, the parent company of Harrogate Spa Waters, has repackaged its range of bottled waters to reduce their weight and cut transportation costs

Branding brief: Aussie unveils fresh packaging.
August 1, 2007... Aussie, the haircare brand, has unveiled fresh packaging for its Dual Personality range, designed by Dew Gibbons

Branding brief: Serious Food Company reworks Sunjuice packaging.
August 1, 2007... The Serious Food Company has reworked the packaging for its Sunjuice range of branded smoothies and juices. The packaging for the products, which are available in supermarket Netto, was created by Live & Breathe

Branding brief: The Economist appoints Tomato.(Brief article)
August 1, 2007... The Economist has appointed Tomato to design its quarterly lifestyle title Intelligent Life. The large-format magazine, which launches next month, will cover a range of subjects including food, travel and the arts

Branding brief: Sky to launch range of HD set-top boxes.(Brief article)
August 1, 2007... Sky is to launch a range of limited-edition HD set-top boxes in October. They have been designed by fashion designers Giles Deacon, Jonathan Saunders, Preen, Gareth Pugh and Basso & Brooke

Branding brief: John Lewis hires Endpoint.(Brief article)
August 1, 2007... John Lewis has hired Endpoint to create the branding at its first food hall, which will be based at its flagship Oxford Street store, in London. The agency, which has worked on a project basis for the retailer for the past eight years, has been...

Direct: Zig Zag awards Job account to Glorious.(Zig Zag Papers has hired Glorious Creative )(Brief article)
August 1, 2007... Zig Zag Papers, the tobacco rolling papers company, has hired Glorious Creative to handle the marketing communications account for its Job brand. The agency, which has been appointed to create a series of above- and below-the-line...

Direct: NSPCC puts task into Whitewater.(Brief article)
August 1, 2007... The NSPCC has hired charity direct marketing specialist Whitewater to handle its legacy fundraising account. The agency, which was appointed following a competitive four-way pitch, will be tasked with increasing legacy income from the...

Direct: Citroen backs C3 'dolphins' work.(Automobiles Citroen S.A. uses Kitcatt, Nohr, Alexander and Shaw for it's advertisment campaign)(Brief article)
August 1, 2007... Citroen is adopting a direct marketing strategy for its low-CO2 C3 model. The campaign, created by Kitcatt Nohr Alexander Shaw, supports the marque's existing 'Dolphins' TV and cinema advertising, which was created by Euro RSCG. The...

Direct choice: WWF.(Leeds Girls' High School got award)(Direct Marketing Association)(Brief article)
August 1, 2007... 'What's the point?' is the intriguing question posed on the outer of this pack. It's followed by persuasive, eloquent copy and strong images of people, plants and animals. No prizes for guessing it's a campaign for the WWF. But you might...

Direct brief: Ipoints.co.uk launches promotion.(Ipoints.co.uk)(Brief article)
August 1, 2007... Ipoints.co.uk, the online rewards scheme, is launching a 'Summer Scratchathon' promotion that will offer members the chance to win one of 600 prizes from more than 40 partners, including Marks & Spencer, Play.com and lastminute.com

Direct brief: Rowntree's supports Fruit Pastilles with sampling campaign.(Brief article)
August 1, 2007... Rowntree's is supporting its Fruit Pastilles sweet brand with a sampling campaign at three Isle of Wight theme parks. The company has hired iD to handle the brief, which kicks off this week

Direct brief: EDF Energy renews affiliation with Nectar.
August 1, 2007... EDF Energy has renewed its affiliation with the Nectar reward scheme. The utility brand first participated in the programme four years ago

Direct brief: Nivea promotes skin cream with sampling campaign.
August 1, 2007... Nivea is promoting its Nivea Visage DNAge skin cream via a sampling campaign through The Big Kick. The push is targeting 150,000 women nationwide

Direct brief: Ekornes re-hires Fox Kalomaski.(Brief article)
August 1, 2007... Ekornes, a Norwegian furniture brand, has re-hired Fox Kalomaski to create a pounds 4m national campaign for its Stressless recliners range The work will span direct marketing, press, TV, online and in-store promotions.

Direct brief: Disability Now hires Engage Group.(Brief article)
August 1, 2007... Disability Now, the monthly title published by disability organisation Scope, has hired Engage Group to redesign it and refresh its website. The overhaul is the magazine's first major revamp in more than 20 years

Direct brief: Capability Scotland hires Target Direct Scotland.(Brief article)
August 1, 2007... Capability Scotland has hired Target Direct Scotland to develop a three-year direct marketing programme to expand its donor base. The agency picked up the charity's account following a three-way pitch against WWAV Rapp Collins Scotland and 1576...

Direct brief: Octopus Investments refreshes website.(Brief article)
August 1, 2007... Octopus Investments, a fund management company, has refreshed its website and developed two corporate brochures targeting IFAs and investors through Liquid Communications. The work will promote its positioning 'Products that perform. People...

Digital: Philips backs shaver online.(company launches advertise on internet)(Brief article)
August 1, 2007... Philips is embarking on a multimillion-pound digital marketing drive to promote a moisturising shaving system, launched in partnership with Nivea for Men. The consumer electronics company has briefed Tribal DDB to oversee an online...

Digital: Friction TV picks Soup for web job.(Brief article)
August 1, 2007... Friction TV, the user-generated debating site, has hired Soup to handle its pounds 1m web development and online advertising account. Soup will work closely with Friction TV's mobile partner, Piscel Technologies, to launch a wireless...

Digital choice: Lynxplayers.com.(Lynxplayers.com)(Website overview)(Brief article)
August 1, 2007... Lynxplayers.com is not really intended for me, the site is definitely aimed at young lads. I first came across it after seeing an ad inviting me to vote for a bikini being modelled by a 'Lynx Mynx'. As a red-blooded male, I couldn't resist...

Digital brief: Burger King teams up with EMI Music.
August 1, 2007... Burger King has teamed up with EMI Music for an on-pack promotion encouraging consumers to search for, sample and download a pre-paid track from a dedicated campaign site

Digital brief: Volkswagen to create microsite.(Brief article)
August 1, 2007... Volkswagen is creating a microsite as part of its 'See films differently' cinema campaign. It will be promoted across sites including AOL, Channel 4, Lovefilm and Yahoo! to coincide with the box-office release of The Bourne Ultimatum, for which...

Digital brief: Nokia acquires Twang.
August 1, 2007... Nokia has acquired photo-sharing personal media website Twang for an undisclosed sum, as part of plans to allow customers to share multimedia content via their mobile phone

Digital brief: Seatwave signs strategic deal.(Brief article)
August 1, 2007... Seatwave, the ticket exchange, has signed a strategic deal with Microsoft Digital Advertising Solutions to become the exclusive ticketing provider to users of Windows Live Messenger in the UK

Digital brief: Speedo appoints Design UK.(Brief article)
August 1, 2007... Speedo has appointed Design UK to increase its digital presence ahead of the Beijing Olympics next year. The swimwear brand intends to add social networking and e-commerce functionality to its global brand website

Digital brief: Filmnight partners with Bango.(Brief article)
August 1, 2007... Filmnight, the online DVD retailer, has partnered with Bango to allow mobile phone users to download ringtones, wallpaper and videos related to the latest film releases such as Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

Digital brief: Guardian Media Group hires Worth.
August 1, 2007... Guardian Media Group has hired digital agency Worth to overhaul its website to emphasise the scale and diversity of the group's portfolio of media businesses

Andrew Walmsley on digital: Wed content to retail for web rewards.(web publishing is threat to newspaper publishing)
August 1, 2007... For as long as anyone can remember, publishing has been a business with two principal sources of revenue: companies using advertising and sponsorship to promote themselves to a specific audience, and that audience, which is charged to view the...

News Analysis: What's so green about Vauxhall?(Vauxhall Motors Ltd. manufactures eco-friendly cars)
August 1, 2007... The marque's ecoFlex initiative aims to appeal to consumers' wallets as well as their conscience. The trend for companies to trumpet their environmental credentials has taken a firm hold over the past couple of years. Brands have jumped on...

News Analysis: Budget hotels eye Olympic gain.
August 1, 2007... Low-cost hotels are fine-tuning their growth strategies to win a share of tourism revenue. Jemima Bokaie reports. With more than 1m overseas visitors expected to flock to the UK for the London 2012 Olympic Games, brands are already looking...