Marketing articles from February 2005

Marketing archives from February 2005

Nestle stuns Lowe with pounds 22m JWT consolidation.(Brief Article)
February 2, 2005... Nestle has consolidated its pounds 22m advertising account at JWT, shifting nearly pounds 6m of business out of Lowe London. JWT picks up the ad duties for Aero, Double Cream, Milky Bar, Quality Street and Italian premium chocolate line...

Trinity Mirror plots entry into TV magazine sector.(Trinity Mirror Newspapers)(television)(Brief article)
February 2, 2005... Trinity Mirror is to make its first foray into the consumer magazine market with a paid-for TV listings title. The magazine's roll-out could add fuel to a price war in the sector and pit Trinity Mirror chief executive Sly Bailey against her...

Tsunami auction raises pounds 49,000.(Brief Article)
February 2, 2005... Marketing's client auction has raised pounds 49,390 for survivors of the Asian tsunami. A frenzied final hour of bidding before the auction ended last Friday brought in winning offers of pounds 5010 for COI chief executive Alan Bishop and...

MSN takes on Google with search engine launch.(Brief Article)
February 2, 2005... MSN has this week launched its long-awaited search engine as it seeks to challenge the supremacy of Google. The Microsoft-owned internet business is placing its biggest marketing budget to date behind MSN Search. Activity will include a...

Hachette Filipacchi set to launch wellbeing title.(Brief Article)
February 2, 2005... Hachette Filipacchi is preparing to launch a UK edition of its French women's glossy Psychologie, to be called Being, sparking a war with The National Magazine Company. The magazine will cover the concept of wellbeing - diet, health,...

Lloyds TSB axes senior positions.(resignations )(Brief Article)
February 2, 2005... Lloyds TSB is cutting the roles of two senior retail marketers as part of a restructure intended to improve its fortunes on the high street. Head of consumer lending and current accounts David Gagie and Tim Crowley, head of credit cards,...

C4 restructures commercial arm.(Channel 4 Television Co.)(Brief Article)
February 2, 2005... Channel 4 has handed marketing responsibility for its entire business operations to Polly Cochrane, director of network marketing, following the streamlining of its commercial arm, 4Ventures. Cochrane joins an eight-strong executive...

New campaign: Lynx.(Brief Article)
February 2, 2005... Lynx is launching a TV campaign that parodies Asian martial-arts films, such as Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, to promote its new Unlimited variant. The 30-second ad, which breaks on 7 February, features a scene from the banks of a river...

Adidas prepares Lions tour push.(Brief Article)
February 2, 2005... Adidas is gearing up to launch its biggest-ever marketing push behind rugby with an international advertising campaign supporting its association with the British Lions Tour to New Zealand this summer. The sportswear brand has lined up a...

Diageo prepares to launch Bulleit.(Brief Article)
February 2, 2005... Diageo is planning a pounds 2m assault on Jack Daniel's leading position in the UK bourbon market with the launch of Bulleit bourbon. Bulleit, which will cost pounds 17.99 a bottle and will be positioned as premium bourbon, will be stocked...

Toni&Guy goes on-pack with Mars Delight link-up.(Brief Article)
February 2, 2005... Toni&Guy is to embark on its first on-pack promotion through a tie-up with Mars Delight, offering thousands of beauty prizes on 13m chocolate bars. An integrated campaign flagging up the promotion will appear in the consumer press as well...

McDonald's fills top job with internal promotion.(Brief Article)
February 2, 2005... McDonald's has ended its three-month search for a top UK marketer by promoting head of marketing Laurie Morgan to replace John Hawkes, who retired last month (Marketing, 6 October 2004). Morgan, who takes the role of vice-president of...

Capital One puts focus on ID theft.(Brief Article)
February 2, 2005... Capital One has become the UK's first credit card company to use the fear of identity theft to market its products. The company is running a two-month, pounds 4m TV campaign, created by incumbent ad agency McCann-Erickson and starring TV...

Sony BMG sets up central unit to push global acts.(Brief Article)
February 2, 2005... Music company Sony BMG is creating a global marketing group that will sit above individual country divisions. The decision, part of its strategy to abolish a territorial approach to artist promotion in favour of coordinated activity across...

M&S Money cuts marketing post.(Marks & Spencer Money)(Brief Article)
February 2, 2005... M&S Money has axed the role of its top marketer, Alistair Milne, as part of a management overhaul by new owner HSBC. Milne, who was sales and marketing director and architect of its controversial &More credit card, has left without a job to...

Gatorade set for major UK drive.(United Kingdom)(Brief Article)
February 2, 2005... PepsiCo is preparing to challenge Coca-Cola's Powerade and GlaxoSmithKline's Lucozade Sport with its first major UK marketing programme for Gatorade. The energy drink is an international power brand for PepsiCo, with global revenues of...

BBC World puts chief reporters in anniversary ads.(British Broadcasting Corporation )(Brief Article)
February 2, 2005... BBC World is launching its biggest branding campaign to date in an attempt to combat increasing competition in 24-hour international news services. The three-month marketing push, featuring the channel's star reporters, marks BBC World's...

Fila axes urban focus to return to elite emphasis.(Brief Article)
February 2, 2005... Fila is to ditch its urban positioning, which has seen it link with hip-hop and basketball, to focus on its roots as an 'elite Italian brand'. The brand will now concentrate on a core market of affluent 25- to 45-year-olds in niche sports...

Gallo moves into Australian wines.(Brief Article)
February 2, 2005... E&J Gallo, the Californian wine company, is to challenge Hardys and Jacob's Creek with the pounds 1.5m launch of its first mainstream Australian wine brand in the UK. Branded JJ McWilliam's, the range of six dual varietal wines will...

Lil-lets adds pantyliners to overhauled portfolio.(Brief Article)
February 2, 2005... Accantia, the health and beauty company, is to move its Lil-lets femcare brand into pantyliners for the first time in a direct challenge to market leader Procter & Gamble and SCA Hygiene. The company is planning to add Pantyliners to its...

Fairy Non-Bio in baby charity tie.(Bliss)(Brief Article)
February 2, 2005... Fairy Non-Bio has signed up Bliss, the premature baby organisation, as its first charity partner and is to feature the cause in its TV advertising. The partnership will celebrate Bliss' 25th anniversary this year. Ads airing from this week...

Thomson seeks FMCG partners.(Fast Moving Consumer Goods)(Brief Article)
February 2, 2005... Thomson, the tour operator, is seeking a series of high-street and FMCG brand partnerships to drive awareness of its portfolio of holidays among UK consumers. The company has agreed its first tie-up with upmarket coffee, tea and gift...

Haagen-Dazs to run pounds 5m 'luxury' activity.(Brief Article)
February 2, 2005... Haagen-Dazs is to fight back against the influx of own-brand premium ice creams with a high-profile campaign aimed at justifying the brand's high price. The General Mills-owned ice cream will spend pounds 5m on marketing in 2005, with TV...

People moves: Lexus.(Appointment)(Brief Article)
February 2, 2005... Steve Settle has been hired by Lexus to head the car brand's UK operation. He will join from Lexus parent Toyota, where he has worked since 1979. His most recent job was at Toyota Motor Marketing Europe (TMME), where he was director of the...

People moves: Conival.(Appointment)(Brief Article)
February 2, 2005... Jeremy Schwartz, former Sainsbury's brand marketing director, has been recruited by Marco Pierre White to run food business Conival. The company, which sells celebrity chef-branded cooking kits, is set to launch a seafood range under the...

People moves: Market Research Society.(Appointment)(Brief Article)
February 2, 2005... Debrah Harding has been promoted from director of standards and policy for the Market Research Society (MRS) to the new dual role of director of policy and communication and deputy director-general. The appointment is part of an attempt to...

People moves: Orange UK.(Brief Article)
February 2, 2005... Anne-Catherine De Deker has been hired by Orange UK for the new role of director of business excellence. She will report to UK chief Bernard Ghillebaert and will be responsible for boosting Orange's business efficiency. She joins from Mobistar,...

People moves: Fulham FC.(Appointment)(Brief Article)
February 2, 2005... David McNally is to join Fulham FC as commercial director. He moves from Celtic FC, where he was sales and marketing director with responsibility for ticketing, sponsorship, merchandising and multimedia marketing. He replaces Andy Oldknow, who...

People moves: Emap Advertising.(Appointment)(Brief Article)
February 2, 2005... Ross Webster has been promoted from head of client development to the new role of head of men's magazines at Emap Advertising. Webster will lead Emap's First for Men Club advertising initiative, created to harness the collective power of Emap's...

People moves: UniChem.(Appointment)(Brief Article)
February 2, 2005... Mark Stephenson has been named marketing director for pharmaceutical wholesaler UniChem, having been promoted from head of marketing and strategy. Jeremy Main, former managing director of Holsten UK, takes up the post of sales director. Both...

People moves: Warehouse.(Promotion)(Brief Article)
February 2, 2005... Lorraine Pringle has been promoted from head of PR and marketing at fashion retailer Warehouse to the new role of director of PR and marketing.

News brief: John Lewis Partnership backs Olympic bid.(Brief Article)
February 2, 2005... The John Lewis Partnership has become the first retailer to back the London 2012 Olympic bid. The company will promote it to 6m customers nationwide through its 26 John Lewis department stores and 166 Waitrose supermarkets. The 'Back the bid'...

News brief: Premier Foods hires Central Focus.(Brief Article)
February 2, 2005... Premier Foods has hired independent media planning agency Central Focus to work alongside incumbent ZenithOptimedia on its Ambrosia, Branston, Loyd Grossman and Typhoo Tea accounts.

News brief: Carat managing director to leave agency.(Resignation)(Brief Article)
February 2, 2005... Carat managing director Colin Mills is leaving the agency after seven years with no job to go to. Commercial director Neil Jones will take over on an acting basis.

News brief: O2 shuns high-profile marketing activity.(Brief Article)
February 2, 2005... O2 is planning to shun high-profile marketing activity in favour of phased roll-out for its 3G service, which was launched last week. The mobile operator, which became the fourth to launch 3G, is planning to focus its next ad campaign on the...

News brief: British Airways to sponsor Yahoo!'s rugby content.(Brief Article)
February 2, 2005... British Airways is to sponsor Yahoo!'s rugby content during the Six Nations tournament, which starts on 5 February. BA will use the tie-up to support its sponsorship of the competition.

News brief: HTI to roll out Take5 scheme.(Heads, Teachers and Industry)(Brief Article)
February 2, 2005... Heads, Teachers and Industry (HTI), a charity set up to align education and business needs, is to roll out its Take5 scheme nationally, offering brands opportunities to partner with primary and secondary schools.

News brief: Daily Telegraph to sponsor film season.(British Academy Film Season at UGC cinemas)(Brief Article)
February 2, 2005... The Daily Telegraph is sponsoring a British Academy Film Season at UGC cinemas, as well as movie trailers promoting The Orange British Academy Film Awards.

News brief: Nintendo to launch biggest ever campaign.(Brief Article)
February 2, 2005... Nintendo is putting EUR35m (pounds 24m) into its biggest ever pan-European campaign to promote the launch of its DS handheld console in March. Television, print and outdoor ads created by German agency Jung von Matt will run from later this...

This week: Marketing news from the national press.(Brief Article)
February 2, 2005... Unilever is to reform its dual Anglo-Dutch structure to create a single company. The overhaul is intended to put Unilever in a better position to compete with the new Procter & Gamble/Gillette. The Independent Honda and Toyota are being...

Kia clarifies identity with global strapline.(Brief Article)
February 2, 2005... Kia Motors is to overhaul its brand strategy with the introduction of its first global strapline, 'The power to surprise'. The slogan is intended to differentiate the brand from sister marque Hyundai. Traditionally, they have both targeted...

Sports websites bolster brands.(Brief Article)
February 2, 2005... Advertising on sports websites significantly improves a brand's standing with fans, according to a survey of 4500 followers of Premiership football and other sports. Nearly half of respondents (46%) claimed brands that advertise on...

Alpha Telecom hands creative brief to KBK.(Keevill Barton Kershaw)(Brief Article)
February 2, 2005... Alpha Telecom has hired Keevill Barton Kershaw to handle its pounds 2m advertising business. The agency will work across the company's product portfolio looking at ways to develop the brand, which has focused its marketing on the low price...

New campaign: Sainsbury's.(Brief Article)
February 2, 2005... Sainsbury's is highlighting its status as the official supermarket of Comic Relief with a campaign fronted by Jamie Oliver. TV ads, which break on 23 February and carry the strapline 'It's easy to make a difference with Sainsbury's', will...

Media News: Clean & Clear in Trouble TV deal.(Television )(Brief Article)
February 2, 2005... Johnson & Johnson's Clean & Clear skincare brand has signed a six-figure deal with Flextech's Trouble TV for a series of advertiser-funded programmes and sponsorship of Trouble's US sitcoms. The deal, created by IDS and Initiative, will...

Media News: Vauxhall set for VM mag revamp.(Brief Article)
February 2, 2005... Vauxhall has hired Brooklands Group to relaunch its customer magazine, VM, to emphasise the car brand's Britishness and attract drivers of other marques. Brooklands Group won the business after a pitch against incumbent Mediamark, Square...

Media News: Cosmogirl! pioneers three-week format.(Brief Article)
February 2, 2005... The National Magazine Company is to break the mould of magazine publishing by relaunching teen title Cosmogirl! with a three-weekly frequency. It is believed to be the first title in the world to attempt to do so. Cosmogirl!, which is...

Media choice: Metro Plus.(Brief Article)
February 2, 2005... Associated Newspapers seems to have another winner with its Metro spin-off for young women, Metro Plus, a free magazine for the hard-working and equally hard-partying PA and secretary. Out every Monday and given away free to those working...

Media News brief: ASA receives complaints.(Advertising Standards Authority)(Brief Article)
February 2, 2005... The Advertising Standards Authority has ordered Five to halt a direct mail and internet viral campaign promoting US TV series CSI: NY after it received 30 complaints. The campaign, created by 20:20 London, depicts a murder scene, with the...

Media News brief: Future Publishing hires MK.(Brief Article)
February 2, 2005... Future Publishing has hired communications consultancy MK to develop a brand extension strategy to build revenue streams outside the company's core publishing business.

Media News brief: Dazed & Confused to launch biannual title for men.(Brief Article)
February 2, 2005... Dazed & Confused, publisher of the eponymous style magazine, is launching a biannual fashion and culture title for men. Another Man will debut in the autumn with a print-run of 125,000.

Media News brief: Archers links for on-pack music promotion.
February 2, 2005... Archers is linking with Warner Music UK and Capital Radio's Century FM network in an on-pack music promotion. The Diageo drinks brand will build on its sponsorship of Century FM's Hairbrush Divas show by offering a CD, Hairbrush Divas Mix,...

Media News brief: Times Newspapers sponsors season of movies.(Brief Article)
February 2, 2005... Times Newspapers is sponsoring Turner Classic Movies' '28 days of Oscars' season of Academy Award-winning movies. To tie in with the sponsorship, The Sunday Times will give away a DVD of Howards End on 6 February.

Media News brief: Video Networks to double availability of TV service.(Brief Article)
February 2, 2005... Video Networks is to double the availability of its HomeChoice broadband and digital TV service in London to 2.4m homes by June.

Media News brief: Lycra sponsors series of stickers.(Brief Article)
February 2, 2005... Lycra is sponsoring a series of stickers in the 11 February issue of BBC Magazines' What To Wear. The stickers can be used as page markers to keep track of fashion items in the magazine.

Media News brief: UIP promotes SpongeBob SquarePants Movie.(Brief Article)
February 2, 2005... United International Pictures is promoting the release of The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie with an online and TV campaign on Nickelodeon. The promotion, negotiated by Viacom Brand Solutions, includes a competition to win a Florida holiday.

Branding News: EC proposes unified packaging directive.(European Commission)(Brief Article)
February 2, 2005... The European Commission is considering making radical changes to legislation by proposing to standard-ise packaging and labelling guidelines for consumer goods manufacturers in the European Union. The commission hopes to introduce a single...

Branding News: Cinzano creates mixable variant.(Brief Article)
February 2, 2005... Cinzano, the Italian vermouth brand owned by Campari, is launching a mixable drink aimed at young women to combat declining interest in the sector. The Cinzano-based drink, which will be called Girls Get Ready, has been formulated to...

Branding News: Unwins revamps to widen appeal.(Brief Article)
February 2, 2005... Unwins, the bulb and seed company, is planning to overhaul the design of its product range and has hired BDH/TBWA as part of plans for an increased focus on marketing. The revamp is intended to consolidate Unwins' appeal among gardeners...

Branding News: Design choice - JBL On Stage iPod speakers.(Brief Article)
February 2, 2005... The iPod topped many wish lists again this year. With 4.5m pre-Christmas sales worldwide, Apple's dominance continues unabated, despite the best efforts of leviathan Sony to combat it with its HDD Walkman. Technologically, the iPod is...

Branding News brief: Cafedirect to launch decaffeinated tea.(Brief Article)
February 2, 2005... Cafedirect, the fair trade hot drinks company, is launching the first fair trade decaffeinated tea under its Teadirect brand. Print advertising for the tea will focus on the link between its products and 'outbreaks of decency'.

Branding News brief: Merloni Elettrodomestici rebrands.(Brief Article)
February 2, 2005... Merloni Elettrodomestici, the parent of Hotpoint and Ariston, has rebranded as Indesit Company, with an identity created by Enterprise IG. The name is intended to reflect the company's expanded European presence.

Branding News brief: Tropicana relaunches with new design.(Brief Article)
February 2, 2005... Tropicana, the PepsiCo-owned fruit juice, has relaunched with redesigned packs by Landor. A Low Acid variant has been introduced to its Essentials added-nutrients sub-brand, which includes fibre and calcium options.

Branding News brief: Benylin expands range.(Brief Article)
February 2, 2005... Benylin, the cough-remedy brand, is expanding its Chesty Coughs variant with the addition of single-dose liquid sachets to improve portability. The packs will be sold in adult and child versions.

Branding News brief: Haagen-Dazs to revamp Leicester Square cafe.(Brief Article)
February 2, 2005... Haagen-Dazs is to revamp its flagship Leicester Square cafe with a design by Rawfish. The venue, which re-opens in March, will feature an upstairs cocktail bar, and will sell sorbets, frozen yoghurt and ice cream downstairs.

Branding News brief: Thorntons creates range of novelty confectionery.(Brief Article)
February 2, 2005... Thorntons has created a range of novelty confectionery inspired by The Magic Roundabout. Its launch will coincide with that of The Magic Roundabout movie, which features the voices of Robbie Williams and Kylie Minogue.

Branding News brief: The Savoy Group rebrands.(Maybourne Hotel Group)(Brief Article)
February 2, 2005... The Savoy Group has rebranded as Maybourne Hotel Group, following the sale of The Savoy hotel last year. Maybourne will own and manage The Berkeley, Claridge's and The Connaught. The new brand was created by Landor.

Branding News brief: Food and Drink Federation launches website.(www.meat-free.org.uk)(Brief Article)
February 2, 2005... The Food and Drink Federation has launched a website to provide consumers with a guide to the meat-free manufacturing sector. The site, www.meat-free.org.uk, will provide ideas for vegetarian versions of popular meals.

Direct News: Home Office readies drive for volunteers.(Brief Article)
February 2, 2005... The Home Office is planning a high-profile integrated campaign to encourage consumers and businesses to take part in volunteer work. COI Communications has hired direct agency 23red to develop promotional activity to support the...

Direct News: Samsung teams with O2 for Brits.(Brief Article)
February 2, 2005... Samsung Mobile is promoting its sponsorship of the 2005 Brit Awards through a direct response-led campaign run jointly with O2. Integrated agency Geoff Howe Marketing Communications has created a multimedia drive promoting Samsung's E330...

Direct News: Berkeley Homes hires Chemistry.(Brief Article)
February 2, 2005... Berkeley Homes has appointed customer relationship management specialist Chemistry to help it attract buyers to a major regeneration project on the banks of the Thames. Berkeley is building 4000 townhouses and apartments at the Royal...

Direct choice: F&C.(mailer)(Brief Article)
February 2, 2005... Eating my breakfast cereal one morning, I opened a mailer from investment trust firm F&C and, much to my surprise, a shiny new 20p piece flew unannounced into my cornflakes. Investment trusts are a dry old subject, especially at the...

Direct News brief: The Times Educational Supplement targets teachers.(Brief Article)
February 2, 2005... The Times Educational Supplement is targeting teachers with a door-drop campaign promoting its four-part survival guide to GCSE revision and exams. A series of postcards have been created by integrated agency Kitcatt Nohr Alexander Shaw.

Direct News brief: Cats Protection launches TV ad.(Brief Article)
February 2, 2005... Cats Protection is launching a direct-response TV ad to raise funds. Created by direct agency TDA, it will highlight how the charity helps abandoned animals.

Direct News brief: KLM hires Imano.(Brief Article)
February 2, 2005... KLM has hired viral agency Imano to develop an online campaign to boost ticket sales . The 'Fly a friend' activity will offer recipients the chance to win free flights on the airline and KLM-branded MP3 players.

Direct News brief: LG Electronics promotes air-conditioning units.(advertising)(Brief Article)
February 2, 2005... LG Electronics is promoting its range of air-conditioning units in a campaign created by BDH\TBWA. Press and online advertising and direct mail will target construction companies and architecture firms.

Direct News brief: Yorkshire Forward to launch viral game.(New Media Collective)(Brief Article)
February 2, 2005... Yorkshire Forward, the regional development agency, is launching a viral game to promote the benefits of living and working in Yorkshire and Humberside. The game was developed by digital agency New Media Collective.

Direct News brief: Tax Watchdog launches drive to acquire new customers.(Brief Article)
February 2, 2005... Tax Watchdog, a company offering fixed-fee income tax assessment, has launched a pounds 300,000 integrated drive to acquire new customers. Created by direct agency Prego, the campaign will include inserts and ads in specialist publications.

Direct News brief: Latenightlondon.co.uk sends out emails.(Brief Article)
February 2, 2005... Latenightlondon.co.uk, a lifestyle website, is emailing 100,000 of the capital's residents to persuade them to visit one of 28 bars and restaurants on Valentine's Day. The campaign was developed by ad agency Halpern Cowan.

Direct News brief: Campaign to Protect Rural England launches campaign.(Brief Article)
February 2, 2005... The Campaign to Protect Rural England is launching a fundraising campaign to raise awareness of its opposition to government plans to build houses on greenfield sites. A mail pack developed by Crazy Horse will be delivered to households in...

Retail News: Sainsbury's rolls out Basics low-price line.(marketing)(Brief Article)
February 2, 2005... Sainsbury's is to fight back against Tesco and Asda by doubling the size of its Low Price grocery and household products range and rebranding it Basics. The decision is part of the beleaguered supermarket's repositioning as a...

Retail News: Barratts set for stores overhaul.(marketing)(Brief Article)
February 2, 2005... Footwear chain Barratts is rolling out new-look imagery across its stores this month as part of its strategy to reposition as an aspirational fashion retailer. The in-store photography features 'trendy models with a wow factor', said...

Retail News: Kangaroo Poo in retail expansion.(Brief Article)
February 2, 2005... UK surfwear brand Kangaroo Poo is to open four stores this year as the first stage of building a national retail network. The company has only one standalone outlet, in Milton Keynes, having focused its distribution through 250 independent...

Retail choice: Ripe Gifts website.(ripegifts.co.uk)(Brief Article)
February 2, 2005... I came across Ripe Gifts' tasteful (in more ways than one) website when looking for a birthday gift for a health-conscious friend. The site challenged my perceptions of the tired old gift hamper. It offers a range of beautifully designed...