Marketing articles from August 2008

Marketing archives from August 2008

Energy brands ramp up spend amid price hikes.(Brief article)
August 27, 2008... Marketing spend in the energy sector has swelled by more than 25% this year, coinciding with unprecedented increases in the price of fuel to consumers. The UK's top six energy firms - British Gas, Npower, E.ON, EDF Energy, Scottish Power...

Visit London film slammed.(Brief article)
August 27, 2008... Visit London is under pressure to name a scapegoat for a gaffe in which an image of murderer Myra Hindley was used as part of a marketing video shown at the London 2012 handover in Beijing. The portrait appeared in promotional footage...

Brands target Olympic 'heroes' parade.
August 27, 2008... Olympic sponsors will scramble for consumers' attention at a 'heroes' parade for Team GB that promises to be the biggest celebration of British sport ever seen. According to insiders, several athletes would prefer a less commercial...

Supermarkets Extend Battle to Mobile Offers
August 27, 2008... The supermarket price war has spilled over into the mobile phone market as Asda and Tesco trade claims and counter-claims about the price of calls and texts for their pay-as-you-go (PAYG) customers. Asda, which partners Vodafone, sparked...

Car brands plan CO2 ad code.(carbon dioxide advertising)(Brief article)
August 27, 2008... Key figures from the car marketing industry will gather today (Wednesday) to draw up a code of conduct for the presentation of data on CO2 and fuel economy in outdoor ads. The meeting comes two months after a Department for Transport...

Nestle to offer baby probiotic.(Brief article)
August 27, 2008... Nestle is planning the global roll-out of an infant formula brand that contains probiotics next year. The company is yet to disclose the name of the line, which will contain the probiotic strain Lactobacillus reuteri. It will launch in...

Twinings sets up ad roster.(R. Twining and Company Ltd.)(advertising)(Brief article)
August 27, 2008... Twinings has appointed a roster of three agencies to handle its pounds 4m advertising business across its Twinings, Options and Ovaltine brands. Abbott Mead Vickers BBDO has been appointed to oversee its speciality teas portfolio, which...

Seager exits Kronenbourg.(Tim Seager)(Brief article)
August 27, 2008... Former Scottish & Newcastle marketing director Tim Seager has lost his job as chief executive of brewer Brasseries Kronenbourg following a management shake-up. Thomas Amstutz, chief executive of Carlsberg's Swiss subsidiary,...

'Boutique bank' venture hunts backers.(The Financial Services Forum)(Brief article)
August 27, 2008... A consortium headed by Anthony Thomson, chief executive of The Financial Services Forum, is to launch a chain of 'boutique' high-street banks called Metro Bank. Thomson is attempting to raise pounds 100m from private investors to get the...

Gatorade in Three-Year Premiership Rugby Tie
August 27, 2008... Gatorade, the world's first isotonic sports drink, has signed its most significant UK sponsorship to date by agreeing a three-year deal with rugby union's Guinness Premiership. The tie-up will be the first time that a single brand has become...

The Week in Marketing
August 27, 2008... SANDWICH PRICE-HIKE - UK supermarkets are set to increase sandwich prices as a result of rising food costs. Irish convenience food manufacturer Greencore, which supplies sandwiches and ready meals to Asda and Sainsbury's, told investors it will...

Media: Web gaming firm awards media job.(Brief article)
August 27, 2008... Online gaming firm Sportingbet has handed its pounds 10m pan-European media planning account to MediaCom. The UK company, which owns Paradisepoker.com, made the appointment ahead of a planned increase in its UK marketing spend. The...

Media: Suzuki Swift in SMS push.(Brief article)
August 27, 2008... Suzuki is encouraging consumers to register for test-drives through an outdoor campaign that incorporates a text-back service. The car marque is using the campaign to promote its Swift marque. The creative executions use the lines 'Time...

Media: Sunday Times backs National Theatre shows.(Brief article)
August 27, 2008... The Sunday Times is to sponsor five months of Sunday afternoon performances at the National Theatre. The activity by the publication, which claims to have the highest theatre-going readership of any quality newspaper, is part of a pounds...

Media Road Test: Reveal.(Brief article)
August 27, 2008... - What's new Reveal has relaunched with the bold claim that it is the 'celebrity magazine written by celebrities'. - What's in it for readers Many readers will be unable to identify the 'celeb columnists' on the cover of the...

Media brief: Channel 4 appoints Rubber Republic.
August 27, 2008... Channel 4 has appointed viral marketing agency Rubber Republic to create a campaign to support its animation website, 4mations.tv. The video-sharing site launches next month

Media brief: Contented Films reappoints ZenithOptimedia.(Brief article)
August 27, 2008... Contented Films, the DVD distributor, has reappointed ZenithOptimedia to handle its pounds 8m media planning and buying account after a four-way pitch. The company was acquired for pounds 50m by Entertainment One last year

Media brief: The London Paper to relaunch website.(Brief article)
August 27, 2008... The London Paper is relaunching its website in an effort to become the premier web destination for Londoners. The site, which will go live next year, will feature a range of user-generated content

Media brief: Penguin to launch dating site.(Brief article)
August 27, 2008... Penguin is launching a dating site with Match.com. Subscribers will be asked to pen a review of the last book they read, and be able to search Match.com's database of profiles by users' favourite authors and books

Media brief: Deloitte publishes report.
August 27, 2008... Deloitte has published a report claiming that internet TV has done little to change UK viewing habits. Research found that only 4% of consumers consider it very important to receive internet TV, while 47% say it is unimportant. Of TV...

Media brief: Dave to launch off-air campaign.(Brief article)
August 27, 2008... Dave, the digital TV channel, will launch an off-air campaign in October to coincide with the one-year anniversary of its rebrand. The push highlights an autumn season featuring a raft of new commissions

Branding: Grocery lines put spend into design.
August 27, 2008... Top UK grocery brands are increasing investment in packaging design as the slowdown in consumer spending bolsters the importance of point-of-purchase activity. Established brands, including those owned by Procter & Gamble and...

Branding: Powershot set for UK debut.(Brief article)
August 27, 2008... Powershot, a Danish energy-shot drink, is to roll out a pounds 1.2m push to back its UK launch. The range, which comes in 10ml bottles, is being positioned as a natural alternative to Red Bull. The drive will centre on the idea that the...

Branding: John Smith's in RAF ale tie.(Brief article)
August 27, 2008... John Smith's is launching a limited-edition ale to tie in with its 250th anniversary and the 90th birthday of the RAF. The beer, called Finest Hour, will be unveiled at RAF Coningsby, Lincolnshire on 2 September. The Scottish &...

Branding: Brand in the news - easyJet.(Brief article)
August 27, 2008... The recent dispute between easyGroup and its subsidiary, easyJet, about the airline's licensing agreement, which imposes a 25% limit on its revenues from non-flying activities, highlights a bigger issue: the need to define the core of the...

Branding brief: Asda to introduce cardboard milk bottles.(ASDA Group Ltd.)(Brief article)
August 27, 2008... Asda will introduce cardboard milk bottles in the East of England after a successful trial. The GreenBottle will be easier to recycle, biodegradable and require less energy to manufacture than plastic bottles

Branding brief: Onitsuka Tiger launches denim shoe styles.(Brief article)
August 27, 2008... Onitsuka Tiger, the Adidas-owned trainer brand, has launched five denim shoe styles in collaboration with Edwin Jeans. The collection will be available exclusively from the former's London flagship store

Branding brief: Ghd launching limited-edition hairstyler brand.(Brief article)
August 27, 2008... Ghd is launching a limited-edition fuschia high-gloss hairstyler brand called Kiss. The launch will be supported by a global marketing campaign created by TBWA\Manchester, which breaks next month

Branding brief: Brahma launches label designs.(Brief article)
August 27, 2008... Brahma, InBev's Brazilian beer brand, is launching four label designs born out of a campaign handled by design agency Boxer. A competition invited consumers to create designs inspired by Brazilian culture. The winners were picked by a panel...

Branding brief: Campbell Hooper launches fresh look.(Brief article)
August 27, 2008... Campbell Hooper, a central London law firm, has launched a fresh look following consultations and research in the past year. It hopes the revamp will help to retain existing clients and win new work

Branding brief: McCain launches Simply Gorgeous range.(McCain Foods (GB) Ltd.)(Brief article)
August 27, 2008... McCain has launched Simply Gorgeous Chunky Chips and Simply Gorgeous Roasting Potatoes. The brands are packaged in silver foil, which flags up the products' use of natural ingredients

Digital & Direct: Disney plots push for Baby Einstein.(Walt Disney Co. Walt Disney Studios)(Brief article)
August 27, 2008... Disney is launching a year-long integrated on- and offline campaign promoting its Baby Einstein range of educational toys, books, DVDs and CDs. The direct element of the campaign, which begins next month, will see 70,000 Baby Einstein...

Digital & Direct: Beck's backs Fusions event.(Brief article)
August 27, 2008... Beck's is using an online strategy to promote its Beck's Fusions music event next month. The lager brand is inviting musicians and artists to unite to create original content for the event. This year it will culminate in a performance by...

Digital & Direct: Value Retail refreshes site.(Brief article)
August 27, 2008... Value Retail, which operates high-end shopping villages, has hired digital agency Pod1 to overhaul its online offering. The brief includes site design and overseeing the company's online marketing strategy for the next three years. ...

Digital & Direct: Digital choice - Carling iPint.(Brief article)
August 27, 2008... Amid the launch-day queues, disaffected nerds and under-trained O2 shop staff, it's easy to forget that last month's iPhone launch heralded something genuinely exciting for advertisers. Shifting 1m units in three days is impressive...

Digital & Direct brief: Comet redesigns homepage.(Brief article)
August 27, 2008... Comet, the electrical appliances retailer, has redesigned its homepage, which can now be customised by users. Added interactive features include 'click and chat', which enables users to get advice from electrical specialists

Digital & Direct brief: Oasis redesigns website.(Brief article)
August 27, 2008... Oasis, the fashion brand, has redesigned its website. Story Worldwide, which developed the site, has streamlined the purchasing process and created visually distinct 'sub-brand boutiques' such as Belle by Oasis

Digital & Direct brief: Dockers launches European version of website.
August 27, 2008... Dockers, the US men's clothing brand, has launched a European version of its website, designed by Duke UK

Digital & Direct brief: Kodak launching digital platform.(Eastman Kodak Co.)(Brief article)
August 27, 2008... Kodak is launching a digital platform designed by Ogilvy Action The platform gives the brand's distributors and retailers access to the latest product information, POP materials and brand guidelines.

Digital & Direct brief: Newcarnet.co.uk launches news service.(Brief article)
August 27, 2008... Newcarnet.co.uk, an online car-buying guide, is launching a weekly news service for its online partners. MSN Cars will be the first to feature the broadcasts, covering subjects such as new products, industry news and consumer issues

Digital & Direct brief: Dogs Trust runs DRTV ad.
August 27, 2008... Dogs Trust, the canine welfare charity, is running a DRTV ad to encourage donations. Created by 141 Worldwide/London, the ad will air on digital channels

Andrew Walmsley on Digital: Web Power to the People
August 27, 2008... As sites begin to equip users to mould the web to their own designs, creativity will flourish. Recently, I attended a conference at which one of the speakers said that the average consumer has more information at their fingertips today than...

News Analysis: Make Every Penny Count
August 27, 2008... Experts offer 10 tips to maximise the efficiency of marketing spend in a downturn. Marketing budgets - often among the early casualties of a recession - are declining faster than at any time since 11 September 2001, according to the IPA's...

News Analysis: Coors Seeks Feminine Touch
August 27, 2008... Will the brewer's 'Project Eve' unit succeed in bolstering sales among women, asks Gemma Charles. A report from the British Beer and Pub Association showed that pubs, bars and restaurants sold 144m fewer pints between April and June this year...

Raymond Snoddy on Media: ITV Presents United Front
August 27, 2008... The broadcaster chose the Edinburgh TV Festival as a platform to make clear its views on regulation. Edinburgh is a great city for a wee dram, but it's quite a long way to go on a bank holiday weekend just to attack television regulators. ...

Media Analysis: Press Feels the Pinch
August 27, 2008... National newspapers may find themselves vulnerable in a bleak fourth quarter. The current supermarket price war has done more than knock down the prices of essentials at a time when consumers have a heightened awareness of the cost of...

Brand Health Check: Gap
August 27, 2008... The retailer built its global growth on basics, but has struggled to rival fast fashion. Nearly 40 years ago, Doris and Don Fisher opened the world's first Gap store in San Francisco with the idea that they wanted to 'make it easier to find a...

Mark Ritson on Branding: Aldi Feeds off Lean Times
August 27, 2008... The German discount retailer's own-label model is paying dividends as consumers count the pounds. The Germans are coming. That was the clear message from TNS, which revealed that German discount retailer Aldi had grown its sales in the UK by...

Recall: Adwatch 27.08.08.(Statistical table)(Survey)
August 27, 2008... Marketing's unique weekly analysis of advertisement recall in association with tns. Q: Which of the following TV commercials do you remember seeing recently? 20.08 Brand Agency/TV buyer %...

Recall: Adwatch 27.08.08 - Sainsbury's
August 27, 2008... The supermarket's latest ad makes a meal out of a simple plate of burger and chips. Question: when is burger and chips not burger and chips? Answer: when Sainsbury's hires a chef to tell us how to make it. I like Jamie Oliver. He makes...

Profile: Reclaiming the Centre Ground
August 27, 2008... Mark Simpson director of marketing communications, Ford of Europe, is adjusting the marque's approach to ads. Tailoring a global brand's message for a dramatically diverse audience - Ford of Europe, which generated sales of nearly pounds 20bn...

Opinion: The Marketing Society Forum - Should Brands Take a Tougher Stance against NGOs?
August 27, 2008... Alcohol Concern's report on ads targeting children is shaping government policy, but the Portman Group claims it is inaccurate. Should brands be prepared to dispute research produced by NGOs? YES - IAN ARMSTRONG, MANAGER, CUSTOMER...

Editor's Comment: Marketing's Changing Agenda
August 27, 2008... Welcome to the new-look Marketing and its fresh, contemporary design. We have made sure this issue is packed with information, setting the agenda for the final quarter of the year. As well as being a good read, we aim to give you real food for...

Blog of the week: Both Barrels.
August 27, 2008... 'With the release of its autumn highlights I thought Five deserved an objective analysis of what we can 'look forward to' as the nights draw in. Astonishingly, flying in the face of received wisdom dictating that commissioning editors...

Credit Crunch: The New Thrift Agenda
August 27, 2008... With economic issues dominating the headlines, Jane Simms examines whether environmental concerns have begun to slide down consumers' priority lists. The economic downturn is already having an effect on consumer spending, and 'green' products...

Sector Insight: Household Paper Products - Widening Offer Fuels Sales
August 27, 2008... Added-value lines and green awareness are driving innovation and growth for facial and toilet tissues and kitchen towels. Household paper products are hardly the most glamorous of FMCG categories. Toilet roll, kitchen towels and facial...

Travel: Business Class or Bust?
August 27, 2008... Nicola Clark asks whether the combination of airport chaos, delays, the rising cost of oil and shrinking budgets means that business travel is falling out of favour. The glut of pictures of disgruntled travellers at Terminal 5 after its...

Helpline
August 27, 2008... Joe Thomas takes the hassle out of finding the right product or service - you ask the question, he'll provide the answer. PERFECT GIFTS Q: We would like to create a selection of gifts that complement our product. Who will be able to create...

Careers: What It's Really like Inside - the National Trust
August 27, 2008... - The National Trust provides locations for many TV and film productions. Does the marketing team ever get to hang about on set? Property staff or volunteers often have to be on location to check that valuable goods aren't damaged in filming....

Careers: Brand manager of the week - Angela McGee, Brand manager, Volvic Aquadrinks, Danone Waters.(Interview)
August 27, 2008... - Describe yourself in three words. Aspiring, focused, vivacious. - What would you be if you weren't a brand manager? Bestselling author. - How do you define marketing? Finding out what people really want and making them think they...

Careers: Me & My Mentor - Tom Lucas, Director of marketing and communications, UKTV.(Brief article)
August 27, 2008... My marketing mentor is David Pemsel, who hired me as an account director at St Luke's in the late-90s, and as controller of channel marketing at ITV in 2005. We have both moved from advertising roles to senior marketing positions;...

Marketing Mole: Who Does Google Think You Are? - Katie Vanneck, Sales and Marketing Director, Times Media
August 27, 2008... - Fresh link provides relevant information on Vanneck, but with the Facebook link grading so highly, it can make things slightly puzzling. - An old story about her moving jobs comes up very high on the results and distorts her current role,...

Marketing Mole: We'll Call You - Coca-Cola
August 27, 2008... We have been trying to eat more healthily, but Coke's recent ad has made us think that we might not need to give up our daily fizzy caffeine fix after all. Coca-Cola You're through to Coca-Cola, (call-handler gives name). How can I help you?...

Marketing Mole: Name that brand.
August 27, 2008... This effervescent product, invented in 1928 and originally branded Aspir-Vess, has been on the UK market for more than 70 years. One of the world's top pharmaceutical brands, it is now marketed in more than 90 countries. Can you name...

Coors aims to extend brand's appeal to women.(Coors Brewers Ltd.)(Brief article)
August 20, 2008... Coors is to roll out a series of products aimed at women as part of a wider innovation programme to attract new drinkers. The brewer has established a separate business unit, called Eve, to develop the brands and their marketing...

Nike secures waiver for ads starring Olympians.(Nike Inc.)(Brief article)
August 20, 2008... Nike has secured waivers from the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to run ads featuring Olympic athletes during the Beijing Games. IOC regulations state that athletes cannot feature in brand activity during the Games, but has made an...

Portman Group blasts Alcohol Concern for 'haphazard' study.(Brief article)
August 20, 2008... The Portman Group has issued a rebuttal to lobby group Alcohol Concern, branding the latter's report claiming alcohol brands are targeting children with ads as 'haphazard and disingenuous'. In a letter copied to government officials and...

Sponsors win big in Beijing.(Brief article)
August 20, 2008... With the Olympics in full swing, Marketing investigates brands' winning strategies at the event. Games sponsors have successfully circumvented security restrictions to exploit deals. Brands had hoped for up to 200,000 daily visitors to...

BK names Power marketing chief.
August 20, 2008... Burger King has resurrected the role of UK marketing director and promoted Sarah Power to the role. Power, previously the senior marketing manager for North-West Europe, will report to David Kisilevsky who was recently promoted to vice...

Mazda rolls out fresh identity.
August 20, 2008... Japanese car manufacturer Mazda is to run a phased marketing campaign to introduce its revamped brand identity to UK consumers over the next three months. All marketing communications, will feature the updated branding to coincide with a...

New campaign: Yell.com.
August 20, 2008... International directory brand Yell is launching a stand alone TV campaign to promote its online service, Yell.com. The ads, by Mother, aim to show that Yell.com can find a supplier to solve every problem. The ads feature a party planner...

EasyJet angers founder with brand extensions.(EasyGroup)(Brief article)
August 20, 2008... Budget airline easyJet may have to cut back its non-flight activities after becoming embroiled in a bitter dispute with the owner of the 'easy' brand, Sir Stelios Haji-Ioannou. EasyGroup, which is wholly owned by Haji-Ioannou, has claimed...

Stella Artois parts ways with Lowe after 26 years.(Brief article)
August 20, 2008... InBev has started a hunt for a global advertising agency for its Stella Artois brand ending a 26-year relationship with Lowe London. An InBev spokeswoman said the brewer's decision to review the brand had led to Lowe's resignation. The...

McDonald's looks to wildlife in Happy Meals push.(Brief article)
August 20, 2008... McDonald's has launched a range of educational Happy Meals following its decision to rely less on film tie-ups. The first promotion will focus on preserving endangered species and will run across Europe. Launched in Sweden last week, the...

Digital ads give lift to outdoor.(Outdoor Advertising Association)(Brief article)
August 20, 2008... The outdoor advertising market is proving robust in comparison to other media channels, according to Outdoor Advertising Association figures published this week. Overall, outdoor ad revenues were down 1.6% from April to June to a total...

Carat withdraws ads from Maxim.(Dennis sold Maxim to US private equity group Quadrangle )(Brief article)
August 20, 2008... Media agency Carat, whose clients include the AA, Adidas and Smirnoff, is to cease all advertising in Dennis Publishing's Maxim following its ABC results. Dominic Williams, press director at Carat, said: 'They are not investing in the...

Body Shop goes back to ethics.(Brief article)
August 20, 2008... The Body Shop has unveiled a fresh global positioning for its first major marketing campaign designed to re-establish its ethical heritage after its takeover by L'Oreal. The 'Nature's way to beautiful' campaign carries details of the...

Birds Eye readies pounds 2m pea promotion work.(Brief article)
August 20, 2008... Birds Eye is launching a pounds 2m drive promoting its peas with ads aimed at dispelling perceptions that they are not as healthy as other vegetables. The push, created by Abbott Mead Vickers BBDO, will be spearheaded by TV ads due to...

Airports push retail to counter downturn.(Brief article)
August 20, 2008... As many high-street retailers suffer from a slowdown in consumer spending, retail sales at airports are booming as operators market their sites as shopping destinations. Global retail sales at airports are expected to grow to dollars...

Scope uses PDA data-gathering.(Disability charity Scope )(Brief article)
August 20, 2008... Disability charity Scope is to introduce the use of hand-held personal digital assistants (PDAs) in its fundraising campaigns to draw a 'better quality' of donor. Although other UK charities have tested the devices as a means of...

O2 and Hilton seal rugby sponsorship deals.(Brief article)
August 20, 2008... O2 has extended its tie with the Rugby Football Union (RFU) as the lead sponsor of the England Rugby Team for a further four years, taking it beyond the next World Cup. The deal, negotiated by IMG Consulting, is worth pounds 16m, and was...

News brief: Visit London launches first global ad campaign.(Visit London Ltd.)(Brief article)
August 20, 2008... Visit London is launching its first global ad campaign, 'See the world, visit London', to coincide with the Olympic handover on 24 August. The pounds 4m campaign, by RKCR/Y&R, includes press, online and outdoor advertising

News brief: WH Smith phases out Clubcard.(WH Smith Group PLC)(Brief article)
August 20, 2008... WH Smith is phasing out its long-standing Clubcard in favour of a Privilege card. It claims this will enable it to provide customers with extra benefits and email offers

News brief: Carlsberg abandons plans for free beer promotion.(Carlsberg Brewery Ltd.)(Brief article)
August 20, 2008... Carlsberg has abandoned plans to run a Bank Holiday free beer promotion with The Sun, after complaints by fans of Liverpool FC Carlsberg has sponsored the Premiership club for the past 16 years, but many fans still boycott the paper over its...