Marketing articles from December 2005

Marketing archives from December 2005

Tesco drops Lowe London after 20-year partnership.
December 7, 2005... Tesco, the UK's biggest supermarket, is to move its entire pounds 45m advertising account to a start-up agency headed by Sir Frank Lowe. The decision deals a massive blow to Lowe London, Sir Frank's former agency, which has held the...

British Gas in talks to avert ASA vetting.(Brief Article)
December 7, 2005... The Advertising Standards Authority and British Gas are to hold emergency talks over the utility giant's advertising, following the disclosure that more than half of its TV ads have had complaints upheld against it this year. The summit,...

Vodafone moots end to Ferrari tie.(Brief Article)
December 7, 2005... Vodafone is reviewing its pounds 50m sponsorship of the Ferrari Formula One racing team just weeks after it forced an early end to its Manchester United sponsorship. Although its contract with Ferrari does not expire until the end of 2006,...

Channel 4 to abandon FilmFour pay-TV model.(Brief Article)
December 7, 2005... Channel 4 plans to scrap the subscription fee for movie channel FilmFour and make the service free-to-air, carrying more advertising than in its current format. The decision comes into effect next year and fits with chief executive Andy...

Thai Airways in global rethink.
December 7, 2005... Thai Airways International, Thailand's national carrier, is reviewing its global advertising and media accounts. The carrier has asked media networks to pair up with global creative agencies to pitch for the business. The UK media...

New campaign: Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles.(Brief Article)
December 7, 2005... Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles (VWCV) is to launch the third execution in its 'Apparently, Volkswagen also make cars' TV activity. The execution, called 'Tent', is part of a pounds 1.5m investment in the brand. It sees a bullish VW van...

FTSE 100 boards snub marketers.(Brief Article)
December 7, 2005... Just 11 of the UK's FTSE 100 companies have a marketer on the main board, according to the Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM). However, this is an improvement on last year, when there were four board-level marketers. At the next...

O2 emerges top for satisfaction.
December 7, 2005... O2 has been named the best mobile phone retailer for customer satisfaction by one of the UK's most authoritative consumer surveys. O2 outperformed its network rivals and independent retailers including Carphone Warehouse, which ranked...

Kickers hunts ad shop for revamp.(Brief Article)
December 7, 2005... Footwear and clothing brand Kickers is searching for an ad agency ahead of a brand relaunch early next year. The Pentland Group-owned business has traditionally relied on word of mouth and PR, but it is now seeking to increase its marketing...

FTSE 100 bank in major UK activity.(Brief Article)
December 7, 2005... Standard Chartered Bank has handed TBWA\London its UK advertising business. The appointment by the global bank, best known for its Asian operations, comes ahead of an expansion of its consumer and corporate banking in the UK, and was made...

BA to axe marketing jobs in business restructure.
December 7, 2005... British Airways is to cut a swathe through its 44-strong marketing department as part of plans to axe more than half of its senior managers by March 2008. The plans are part of a major restructuring programme at the airline that will...

Fanta appoints Mother ahead of line expansion.(Brief Article)
December 7, 2005... Coca-Cola has picked Mother to handle advertising for its flagship Fanta brand, as it plans to launch limited-edition Fanta-branded variants early next year. The appointment precedes the relaunch of arch-rival Tango, which has seen sales...

McDonald's sets out CSR promise.(Brief Article)
December 7, 2005... McDonald's has published its first European Corporate Responsibility Report as part of an 'open-door' policy intended to reassure consumers of its food quality. It revealed that in 2005 McDonald's UK spent more than pounds 7m to promote...

Virgin Mobile-NTL to create single top brand role.(Brief Article)
December 7, 2005... The proposed pounds 800m merger of Virgin Mobile and NTL will lead to the creation of a super-marketing role that will oversee the brand and advertising activities of the merged entity. Although talks are still ongoing between NTL and...

Nectar drops sportswear partner All:Sports.(Brief Article)
December 7, 2005... Loyalty scheme Nectar has dropped All:Sports from its list of retail partners. Richard Campbell, marketing director at Nectar owner Loyalty Management UK (LMUK), confirmed that All:Sports has not issued Nectar points since September, when...

LVMH wins China trademark case.(LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton S.A.)(Brief Article)
December 7, 2005... Hennessy Cognac producer LVMH has been awarded more than pounds 20,000 in damages from two drinks manufacturers in China for breach of its trademark. A court in Shanghai ruled in favour of the luxury goods firm after it took civil action...

EnjoyEngland pounds 12m drive to focus online.(Brief Article)
December 7, 2005... VisitBritain is to invest pounds 12m, primarily online, in promoting EnjoyEngland as part of a three-year strategy to build visitor numbers ahead of the Olympic Games in 2012. Spearheading the activity will be next year's relaunch of the...

Parties reveal record election direct spend.(Brief Article)
December 7, 2005... The three main political parties dramatically increased their spending on direct marketing in the run-up to this year's General Election, according to the Electoral Commission. The activity helped to improve turnout by 2% over 2001 figures,...

News brief: ITV asks Cadbury to increase payments.(Brief Article)
December 7, 2005... ITV is understood to have asked Cadbury to increase the amount it pays for its flagship sponsorship of Coronation Street during its annual negotiations. According to sources, the rise reflects the introduction of longer sponsorship idents from...

News brief: The Sportsman names marketing director.(appoints Mark Dixon)(Brief Article)
December 7, 2005... The Sportsman, the national daily gambling title due to launch next spring, has named Mark Dixon as its marketing director. Dixon has previously been a marketing director at Telegraph Group.

News brief: FIFA kicks off countdown to World Cup.(Brief Article)
December 7, 2005... FIFA has kicked off the countdown to next summer's World Cup by relaunching the official website, fifaworldcup.com, with sponsor Yahoo! The site will feature real-time coverage of Friday's Finals draw and each of the matches.

News brief: Prudential considers consolidating into one agency.(Brief Article)
December 7, 2005... Prudential is considering consolidating its media activities into one agency after taking full control of Egg. The move is aimed at saving about pounds 40m in costs. PHD currently handles Prudential's media planning and buying, while Egg...

News brief: LOCOG appoints the AAR.(London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games )(Brief Article)
December 7, 2005... The London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games (LOCOG) has appointed the AAR to handle the search for an agency to design the official emblem for the 2012 Olympics.

News brief: Thomas Cook appoints The Marketing Store.(Brief Article)
December 7, 2005... Thomas Cook has appointed The Marketing Store to handle a retail partnership drive next year.

News brief: People's Restaurant appoints Little Chef chief marketer.(Brief Article)
December 7, 2005... Little Chef chief marketer Joanne Blake has been appointed board-level marketing director at The People's Restaurant, which acquired the roadside chain in October. She will control all Little Chef's communications.

News brief: Grand Prix Manufacturers Association launches website.(Brief Article)
December 7, 2005... The Grand Prix Manufacturers Association, the group of Formula One car manufacturers including BMW, Honda and Renault that is looking to break away to form its own series, has launched a website to give potential commercial partners a rundown...

PC World digital job goes to Play.(Brief Article)
December 7, 2005... PC World is to increase its digital marketing focus following the appointment of Play as its first digital agency. M&C Saatchi-backed Play was hired by Dixons Stores Group without a pitch to work on a Christmas campaign. It will then...

Royal Mail puts pounds 10m behind pricing drive.(Brief Article)
December 7, 2005... Royal Mail is to plough more than pounds 10m into a public information campaign in the new year. The activity will provide information on its new pricing structure, based on the size and shape of mail as well as weight. The drive for the...

Honda F1 begins hunt for 2007 title sponsor.(Brief Article)
December 7, 2005... Honda Racing F1 Team, formerly known as BAR Honda, is seeking a title sponsor for the 2007 season. Lucky Strike will retain the title sponsorship until its deal expires after the 2006 season, but it is understood that the team has begun a...

This week: Marketing news from the national press.(Brief Article)
December 7, 2005... Sixteen- and 17-year-olds may be banned from buying cigarettes as part of a government crack-down on teenage smoking. The proposals have been welcomed by anti-smoking groups - The Sunday Telegraph Tesco is to take on The Carphone Warehouse...

People moves: Avon.(Avon Cosmetics Ltd. promotes Andrea Slater)(Brief Article)
December 7, 2005... Andrea Slater has been promoted from the role of vice-president of marketing at Avon to head its UK and Ireland business. Slater has been at Avon for 15 years and will replace UK president Jerry McDonald on 1 February. As Avon's top UK...

People moves: RAC.(financial services)(appointment of Alastair Pegg)(Brief Article)
December 7, 2005... Alastair Pegg, former head of customer marketing for Virgin Money, has been poached by the RAC to take up the new role of head of strategic marketing and brand. Pegg will report to RAC marketing director Shaun Meadows. His appointment comes as...

People moves: West Bromwich Albion.(appointment of Tim Gardiner)(Brief Article)
December 7, 2005... Tim Gardiner is joining West Bromwich Albion as director of sales and marketing. Gardiner joins from JD Sports, where he was group marketing director. He will lead the Premiership club's marketing and sponsorship operations.

People moves: Amazon.com.(appointment of Brian McBride)(Brief Article)
December 7, 2005... Brian McBride, UK managing director of T-Mobile, is leaving the mobile network at the end of the year to join online retailer Amazon.com as its UK chief. McBride, who has been at T-Mobile for two-and-a-half years, is being replaced by Jim Hyde,...

Media News: Heat set to sponsor ITV comedy awards.(Brief Article)
December 7, 2005... ITV has signed up Emap's Heat magazine to sponsor this month's British Comedy Awards. The magazine replaces telecoms firm One.Tel, which had sponsored the awards for the past three years but decided not to renew this year, in favour of...

Media News: Weight-loss mag eyes consumers.(Brief Article)
December 7, 2005... Diet specialist LighterLife is to launch its eponymous weight-loss title into the consumer market in January, backed by a TV campaign. The magazine, produced by customer publishing group Square One, was previously distributed through...

Media News: Business title in tie-up with CNBC.(Brief Article)
December 7, 2005... European Business magazine is being relaunched as CNBC European Business following a deal between its publisher, Ink Publishing, and CNBC Europe, the pan-European business and finance television network. The co-branded monthly magazine,...

Media choice: OFI Sunday.(Only Filling In)(Brief Article)
December 7, 2005... After a long and publicised fall from grace, and with a BBC Radio 2 slot in the bag, Chris Evans has finally returned to our screens as producer and presenter of OFI Sunday. The programme is billed as the long-lost cousin of the groundbreaking...

Media News brief: Nintendo appoints Future.(Brief Article)
December 7, 2005... Nintendo has appointed Future to publish its official magazine in the UK. The special-interest media group already publishes French and Italian editions of Nintendo's magazine. The first UK edition will go on sale in February.

Media News brief: Five reaches exclusive deal with Living TV.(Brief Article)
December 7, 2005... Five has reached an exclusive deal with Living TV for the terrestrial rights to Buena Vista International series Grey's Anatomy and Criminal Minds. Living TV, which has first-run rights to both series, started airing Grey's Anatomy in August...

Media News brief: James Villa Holidays appoints Starcom Digital.(Brief Article)
December 7, 2005... James Villa Holidays has appointed Starcom Digital to handle its online media business. The company has doubled its digital investment to more than pounds 1m over the past year. Starcom won the company's above-the-line media pitch in October.

Media News brief: News International Enterprise appoints Stuff Group.(Brief Article)
December 7, 2005... News International's affinity business partnership arm, News International Enterprise, has appointed Stuff Group as the exclusive white-label gifts and gadgets supplier for its stable of national newspapers.

Media News brief: media@baa appoints RoadAds.(Brief Article)
December 7, 2005... BAA's UK airports media business, media@baa, has appointed RoadAds to develop advertising opportunities on buses, vans and trucks that operate at its seven airports.

Media News brief: ITV lines up Simon Cowell for live music show.(Brief Article)
December 7, 2005... ITV has lined up Simon Cowell to produce a live music show, Star Duets, in which singing legends will perform a duet with celebrities. The duos will be assessed by a panel of judges and viewers will be able to vote on their favourite vocal...

Media News brief: VITV appoints Digital Media Sales.(Brief Article)
December 7, 2005... VITV, the digital TV broadcaster, has appointed Digital Media Sales to handle ad sales for urban music station Channel U and its offshoot pop music channel, Fizz.

Media News brief: Teletext appoints Sally Barker.(Brief Article)
December 7, 2005... Teletext has appointed Sally Barker head of display advertising. She joins from radio sales outfit Opus GWR, where she was head of client development.

Branding News: Cafedirect expands line to fend off rivals.(Brief Article)
December 7, 2005... Cafedirect, the Fairtrade coffee brand, is adding to its range with the launch of the UK's first whole-bean Fairtrade coffee It aims to fight off the challenge of Nescafe and Kenco, which are encroaching on its market. Three whole-bean...

Branding News: Ronseal activity to target women.(Principles Agency )(Brief Article)
December 7, 2005... Ronseal, the sealant, paint and varnish brand, has appointed Principles Agency to manage its design activity, including brochures and point-of-sale material. The agency will initially develop brochures for Ronseal outdoor living and indoor...

Branding News: Blacks revamps Stormshield line.(Brief Article)
December 7, 2005... Blacks, the adventure sports retailer, has appointed Stocks Taylor Benson to redesign its outdoor products range, Stormshield. The agency has been instructed to give the range a more premium look, while continuing to communicate its low...

Branding News: Design choice - Siemens CL75 Poppy.(Brief Article)
December 7, 2005... Let's face it girls, we can't go anywhere without our mobile phones. Apart from helping us keep in touch, they are a lifeline when it comes to making us feel a bit more safe and secure. But why do they have to look so boring? Until now,...

Branding News brief: Italian football team has insignia redesigned.(Brief Article)
December 7, 2005... The Italian national football team has had its shirt insignia redesigned by Gregory Bonner Hale Design, as part of an effort by the Italian Football Federation to counter an increase in counterfeit products.

Branding News brief: Tesco overhauls mulled-wine offering.(Brief Article)
December 7, 2005... Tesco has overhauled its mulled-wine offering through design consultancy P&W. The supermarket is positioning the product less as a Christmas special and more as a premium cold-weather drink. The new look features a black matt label with a wine...

Branding News brief: Theo Fennell introduces range of Christmas designs.(Brief Article)
December 7, 2005... Theo Fennell, the jewellry designer, is introducing a range of Christmas packaging designs by Gregor Partnership. The new look will cover its boxes, bags, wrapping and seals.

Branding News brief: E'SPA appoints Chaos Design.(Brief Article)
December 7, 2005... E'SPA, the beauty brand, has appointed Chaos Design to devise the launch marketing for a Christmas collection of spa products. The designs include a catalogue and promotional packaging.

Branding News brief: Young Vic theatre hires Intro.(Brief Article)
December 7, 2005... The Young Vic theatre in London has hired Intro for a rebranding exercise, ahead of a relaunch next year. The appointment followed a six-way pitch. The theatre's current identity dates from the 80s and has had few tweaks in the intervening...

Branding News brief: University of Bradford awards think!ng contract.(Brief Article)
December 7, 2005... The University of Bradford has awarded think!ng a three-year design contract following a three-way pitch. The brief includes a review of the university's corporate identity and main publications.

Branding News brief: Norwich School of Art appoints agency.(Brief Article)
December 7, 2005... Norwich School of Art and Design has appointed Williams Murray Hamm to redesign its identity following a four-way pitch.

Branding News brief: Silver Spoon gets packaging overhaul.(Brief Article)
December 7, 2005... Silver Spoon's packaging overhaul has been designed by Jones Knowles Ritchie (Marketing, 30 November). An advertising campaign by Walsh Trott Chick Smith is planned for the new year.

Direct News: FA plots revamp of fan club.(football association)(Brief Article)
December 7, 2005... The Football Association is searching for a direct marketing agency to lead a major overhaul of its englandfans supporters club. As the FA's official supporters club, englandfans offers its 10,000-plus members access to exclusive...

Direct News: Birds Eye mailer to focus on salt.(Brief Article)
December 7, 2005... Unilever's Captain Birds Eye brand is to emphasise the nutritional value of its children's food in a targeted direct mail campaign. The mailing, which will be sent to 250,000 mothers with children under 10, has been created by roster...

Direct choice: BT Wireless Broadband.(Brief Article)
December 7, 2005... We all know that in today's business climate, there is little rest for the wicked. Work is no longer restricted to your office. Some evenings I use my spare room as an extension to the company's marketing department. I don't mind, but...

Direct News brief: Pilgrims Choice runs door-drop campaign.(Brief Article)
December 7, 2005... Pilgrims Choice, the cheese brand, is running a door-drop campaign through LinkDirect to distribute more than 1m leaflets near Tesco, Somerfield, Morrisons, Asda, Waitrose and Sainsbury's stores.

Direct News brief: Homechoice launches telemarketing drive.(Brief Article)
December 7, 2005... Homechoice is launching a telemarketing drive to attract subscribers to its broadband, digital TV, video-on-demand and phone package. Converso Contact Centres will handle the campaign.

Direct News brief: Maritime and Coastguard Agency to distribute packs.(Brief Article)
December 7, 2005... Maritime and Coastguard Agency is to distribute 250,000 Sea Smart Beach Activity Packs following a successful pilot scheme in the summer. The packs aim to increase awareness of the body among visitors to the UK coast.

Direct News brief: BBC Worldwide to launch WAP site.(Marvellous campaigns)(Brief Article)
December 7, 2005... BBC Worldwide is to launch a mobile response drive and WAP site to boost subscriptions to Top Gear magazine. Mobile specialist Marvellous will develop the campaign, which will include a text link to the Top Gear mobile site.

Direct News brief: Macmillan Cancer launches new section on website.(Brief Article)
December 7, 2005... Macmillan Cancer Relief has launched a section on its website to help teachers and health professionals discuss cancer, healthy lifestyle choices and fundraising with children. The charity sent a newsletter to UK primary-school teachers to...

Direct News brief: Whizz-Kidz uses campaign to attract support.(Brief Article)
December 7, 2005... Whizz-Kidz, the children's mobility charity, is using a winter campaign to attract more long-term support. A mail pack, created by 23Red, will be sent to donors on the charity's database; a follow-up letter will be sent to non-responders in...

Direct News brief: IDM Fair to be held at Earl's Court next year.(International Direct Marketing Fair )(Brief Article)
December 7, 2005... The International Direct Marketing Fair has announced that next year's event will be held at Earl's Court from 9-11 May.

Retail News: Somerfield rejigs top team.(Brief Article)
December 7, 2005... Somerfield has undertaken a major restructure of its marketing department, including its advertising, in-store and direct marketing positions. Ian Fay, head of the supermarket's Savercard loyalty scheme, is the most senior marketer to...

Retail choice: Timberland.(Brief Article)
December 7, 2005... It is always encouraging to see retailers attempt something original on the high street, and 1 Fournier Street is certainly something new for Timberland, leaving behind its middle-class US, outdoorsy characteristics for an urban, industrial...

Retail News: Total clears way for charity water.(Brief Article)
December 7, 2005... Petrol chain Total is to dedicate almost half of its forecourt shelf space currently allocated to water brand Volvic to the not-for-profit start-up brand One Water. All profit from sales of One Water, the official brand for Live 8 and Make...

Retail News brief: Sainsbury.co.uk creates DVD pack.(Brief Article)
December 7, 2005... Sainsbury.co.uk has created a DVD pack that will allow customers to buy rental deal packages as presents.

Retail News brief: B&Q Christmas campaign by JWT.(Brief Article)
December 7, 2005... B&Q's Christmas TV campaign by JWT will feature a branded cube that divides into sections to reveal various products. The current execution advertises Christmas trees and decorations and uses the endline 'Real deal'.

Retail News brief: Halfords launches free health check.(Brief Article)
December 7, 2005... Halfords has launched a free 'five-point health check' as part of its fitting service. A trained fitter will check lights and indicators, level of screenwash, windscreen wipers, engine oil level and battery.

Retail News brief: Select to revamp stores.(contract with Love Branding)(Brief Article)
December 7, 2005... Select, the womenswear chain, is to revamp its 240 stores next year. The retailer has appointed design agency Love Branding to create new signage to run throughout the stores.

Retail News brief: Asda installs phone booths.(Brief Article)
December 7, 2005... Asda has installed phone booths in its outlets to allow children to call Father Christmas and receive a message encouraging them to write a Christmas list. The concept, created by Gratterpalm, is in-store until 21 December.

Retail News brief: CIWF accuses supermarkets of ignoring cruel practices.(Compassion in World Farming)(Brief Article)
December 7, 2005... Compassion in World Farming (CIWF) has accused UK supermarkets of ignoring cruel farming practices in order to keep prices down. According to the CIWF, many stores sell pig meat from animals reared using methods banned in the UK.

Retail News brief: Game issues profits warning.
December 7, 2005... Game, the high-street video games giant has issued a profits warning after being hit by shortages of the latest devices, including the PSP. Game chief executive Martin Long has also warned that demand for the Xbox 360 will outstrip supply.

Helen Dickinson on retail: Forget supersizing, think downsizing.
December 7, 2005... When Morgan Spurlock, creator and star of US documentary film Super Size Me, gorged on nothing but McDonald's meals for a month and put his liver and life in danger, the trend for ever-larger portion sizes has surely reached its zenith. If...

News Analysis: Going after a generation's 'x'.
December 7, 2005... Young people show increasing reluctance to vote; will a Parliament mailer really change anything? Should he triumph in this week's Conservative leadership election, David Cameron will have his work cut out fulfilling his vow to 'switch on...

News Analysis: Football scores own goal.
December 7, 2005... Rising costs have taken the shine off football sponsorship, just as the FA raises its tie-in prices. Richard Gillis reports. First Vodafone pulled the plug on Manchester United, then Nationwide Building Society decided to end its pounds...

Raymond Snoddy on media: Branson no match for bruiser Murdoch.(Richard Branson )
December 7, 2005... Sir Richard Branson has lost none of his marketing chutzpah. There it was on the front page of The Sunday Telegraph, an enormous red banner headline: 'Save up to 55% on flights with Virgin Atlantic'. Immediately underneath was the carefully...

Media Analysis: Extended credits short on appeal.
December 7, 2005... Now that TV sponsorship idents can run longer, will brands be prepared to pay extra for the privilege? I'm A Celebrity, Get Me Out of Here's latest incarnation has bought more than the dubious toilet habits of Carol Thatcher to the media's...

Brand Health Check: Birds Eye potato range.
December 7, 2005... Despite a pounds 60m overhaul of its range, Birds Eye's products are struggling to shed an unhealthy image. Nicola Clark reports. As children's expanding waistlines continue to weigh heavily on the minds of parents, the popularity of...