Marketing articles from January 2006

Marketing archives from January 2006

FA adds headline sponsorships to boost revenue.(Football Association)(Brief Article)
January 11, 2006... The Football Association (FA) has embarked on a controversial overhaul of its sponsorship packages by selling two headline sponsorships for both the FA Cup and the England team. The FA's changes are intended to meet calls from big brands...

Simon Thompson set to leave top Honda UK role.
January 11, 2006... Simon Thompson, Honda UK's outspoken marketing director, credited with overseeing some of the most innovative car advertising in the UK, is to leave the company. Thompson, who has been at the Japanese car marque for 13 years, is to step...

Camelot fills top marketing post.(Camelot Group PLC hires Martin Pugh)(Brief Article)
January 11, 2006... Camelot has hired former Pizza Hut marketing director Martin Pugh as its marketing chief to replace Jo Kenrick, who resigned last year. Pugh, who joins the National Lottery operator this week as marketing director, will manage an annual...

Morrisons plans shift of pounds 21m creative account.
January 11, 2006... Morrisons is planning a review of its pounds 21m advertising account, which is handled by BDH\TBWA. The Manchester agency, which has worked with the struggling supermarket since 2003, won the account after a pitch against JWT Cheetham...

ITV overhauls idents to stem audience decline.(rebranding)(Brief Article)
January 11, 2006... ITV has unveiled its latest on-air look with a series of idents designed to emphasise the range of its channel portfolio and staunch the number of viewers defecting to rival, digital channels. From 16 January, the broadcaster will replace...

WWE hands pounds 3m activity to Carat.(World Wrestling Entertainment Inc)(Carat Espace)(Brief Article)
January 11, 2006... World Wrestling Entertainment has hired Carat for a pounds 3m UK advertising campaign to capitalise on increasing interest in the sport. Carat defeated Vizeum and MindShare to win the account, following a pitch that was overseen by the AAR....

New campaign: Lion Quality eggs.(contracts with Scholz and Friends and AW Media)(Brief Article)
January 11, 2006... The British Egg Industry Council is launching a pounds 3.5m campaign to boost sales of British Lion Quality eggs. TV, press and PR activity, which breaks on 16 January, will focus on the Britishness and heritage of Lion Quality eggs. The...

Lynx Click ads to star Ben Affleck.(introduced by Unilever Group)(Brief Article)
January 11, 2006... Unilever will add a new variant to its Lynx male grooming range next month with the launch of Lynx Click. An orange and cranberry-scented range with a hint of ginger, Lynx Click will comprise a body spray, anti-perspirant and shower gel. It...

Eurostar secures Da Vinci Code tie.(is promoting its service vya movie called The Da Vinci Code)(Brief Article)
January 11, 2006... Eurostar has sealed its biggest brand partnership by tying up with blockbuster movie The Da Vinci Code, based on the bestselling novel, which is to be released this summer. The cross-Channel train operator, which does not feature in the...

Cadbury upsizes Dairy Milk blocks.(which increases the risk of obesity)(Brief Article)
January 11, 2006... Cadbury has risked the wrath of anti-obesity campaigners by unveiling plans to increase the size of its 200g bars of Dairy Milk to 250g. The decision comes despite snack manufacturers coming under fire for doing too little to tackle...

Golden Wonder puts ads on hold.(Brief Article)
January 11, 2006... Golden Wonder, whose brands include Nik-Naks and Wheat Crunchies, has frozen its pounds 1.3m advertising and promotional budget after going into administration this week. The decision follows spiralling losses and leaves a question mark...

Powergen chief departs ahead of E.ON rebrand.(Brief Article)
January 11, 2006... Powergen consumer chief Paul Parmenter has left the utility giant ahead of an expected rebrand of its retail operation to its parent brand, E.ON, later this year. It is believed that he does not have another job to go to. Parmenter, who...

P&G withdraws ads as Sky negotiations collapse.
January 11, 2006... Procter & Gamble has failed to agree terms with Sky for the 2006 commercial airtime for the Gillette brands it acquired in January 2005. Bernard Balderston, P&G's associate director for media, negotiates the advertiser's TV airtime deals...

Kent council in London 2012 row.(accused for patent infringement )(Brief Article)
January 11, 2006... The London 2012 Organising Committee (LOCOG) is investigating a potential trademark infringement by Kent County Council. The council has registered the trademark 'Kent 2012' with a logo that uses the colours of the Olympic rings. The...

More Th>n awards top position to Onetel boss.(Mike Holliday-Williams )(Brief Article)
January 11, 2006... More Th>n has hired Onetel marketing chief Mike Holliday-Williams to fill its vacant marketing director post. He replaces Mike Tildesley, who left last September to become the top marketer at rival Direct Line. Holliday-Williams will...

Age Concern over-50s scheme to rival Saga.(the charity shortlists companies for marketings Heyday)(www.heyday.co.uk)(Brief Article)
January 11, 2006... Age Concern is searching for an agency to handle the multimillion-pound launch of Heyday, a membership scheme for the over-50s. The initiative, which will launch early this year, is intended to rival Saga and capitalise on the spending...

Cravendale develops single-serve drinks.(Cravendale Hint of Wild Strawberry and Vanilla from Arla Foods Ingredients A.m.b.a.)(Brief Article)
January 11, 2006... Arla Foods is eyeing a slice of the on-the-go drinks market, launching a range of single-serve milk drinks. The Cravendale-branded drinks will go on sale in major multiples later this month. Cravendale Hint of Wild Strawberry and...

PC World plans to open repair shop.(Press F1)(Play appointed as digital agency )(Brief Article)
January 11, 2006... PC World is launching a dedicated repair store called Press F1. The first store, a one-stop repair shop, opens in Nottingham this month with Press F1 branding. If successful, the concept will be rolled out by owner Dixons Stores Group...

Portuguese cork body signs Jose Mourinho.(Portuguese Cork Association)(Jose Mourinho )(Brief Article)
January 11, 2006... The Portuguese Cork Association (Apcor) has signed up Chelsea Football Club manager Jose Mourinho to front a promotional offensive against the introduction of screwcaps on wine bottles. The agency behind the six-month campaign,...

News brief: Npower reviews ad account.(is planning contracts with advertising agencies)(Brief Article)
January 11, 2006... Npower is reviewing its pounds 8m advertising account. The utilities firm is planning a major campaign around its sponsorship of the new Wembley stadium and is in talks with several agencies including the incumbent, Isobel.

News brief: Revlon reviews media account.(Brief Article)
January 11, 2006... Revlon is reviewing its pan-European media planning and buying account, believed to be worth pounds 10m. The cosmetics company is considering pooling the business into a single agency network. The UK account has been held by PHD since 2003.

News brief: France Telecom shortlists agencies.(Brief Article)
January 11, 2006... France Telecom has shortlisted the TBWA Group, BBDO and DDB, Y&R and HHCL, Publicis and Fallon, Euro RSCG and FCB, and Mother for the pan-European advertising account for Orange.

News brief: Domestos to launch premium variant.(bleach called Domestos 5X)(Brief Article)
January 11, 2006... Domestos is launching a premium variant next month. The bleach, called Domestos 5X, will be backed by a pounds 3m TV and poster campaign.

News brief: Lloyds TSB launches campaign.(Brief Article)
January 11, 2006... Lloyds TSB is running a campaign to support the launch of a rapid-loans service, which will offer customers instant funds in their accounts. Ads by RKCR/Y&R highlight the speed with which the money is deposited.

News brief: Enterprise IG hires former JWT chief exec.(Simon Bolton )(Brief Article)
January 11, 2006... Enterprise IG, WPP's brand and identity consultancy, has hired former JWT UK and Ireland chief executive Simon Bolton in the same role. Bolton replaces Dave Allen, who becomes chief executive of Team Vodafone.

News brief: Honda to launch campaign for Civic hatchback.(American Honda Motor Company Inc.)(Brief Article)
January 11, 2006... Honda is launching a campaign for its Civic hatchback model this Friday. TV ads, created by Wieden & Kennedy, feature a choir in a multi-storey car park. They mimic the sound of various driving experiences, such as going through a tunnel and...

News brief: CarLand hires agencies for creative account.(Maher Bird Associates)(DMC Advertising and Direct Marketing )(Brief Article)
January 11, 2006... CarLand has hired integrated agency Maher Bird Associates and DMC to handle its pounds 4.5m creative account, following a four-way pitch through the AAR. CarLand has six retail outlets in the UK.

Braun to bolster epilator offering.(Brief Article)
January 11, 2006... Braun is seeking to cement its market-leading status in the UK hair-removal market by expanding its Silk-epil range of epilators, backed by an integrated campaign. The Gillette-owned brand is adding three devices: Easy Start Solo, Easy...

JD Wetherspoon in rejig as chief exits.(Suzanne Baker )(Brief Article)
January 11, 2006... JD Wetherspoon commercial director Suzanne Baker has quit the pub chain after more than 13 years. She does not have a job to go to. The company, which is not replacing Baker directly, will divide her responsibilities among other members of...

Platinum body to run pounds 3m press campaign.(Platinum Guild International)(Brief Article)
January 11, 2006... Platinum Guild International (PGI), the organisation responsible for the promotion of platinum jewellery, is embarking on a pounds 3m press campaign to boost sales. The ads, which were created by Leagas Delaney and feature the strapline...

New campaign: Virgin Money.(Virgin Money Personal Financial Service Ltd.)(Brief Article)
January 11, 2006... Virgin Money is backing its first life-insurance product in seven years with a TV campaign. Big V Cancer Cover, which will be priced from pounds 5 a month, is the only insurance of its type in the UK and is aimed at providing affordable...

This week: Marketing news from the national press.(Andy Hornby is chief executive of HBOS PLC)(Youngs Bluecrest Seafood Ltd. buys Findus)(Office's new stores and sales )(Brief Article)
January 11, 2006... Google is stepping up its challenge to Microsoft with Google Pack, an alliance of companies that plans to offer a package of PC programs for free download by consumers - The Independent HBOS has named former Asda marketer Andy Hornby its...

Media News: Goodfella's backs ice show.(Goodfella's Ltd. sponsors Dancing On Ice)(Brief Article)
January 11, 2006... Pizza brand Goodfella's is to sponsor ITV's Saturday-night primetime entertainment series Dancing On Ice. The sponsorship will promote Goodfella's Solos, a range of individual frozen pizzas that launched in October. The six-figure deal...

Media News: Real People set for pounds 6m launch.(ACP-NatMag's promotional campaign)(Brief Article)
January 11, 2006... ACP-NatMag is backing the launch of its weekly women's magazine Real People with a pounds 6m promotional campaign. The title, which launches tomorrow (Thursday), is targeting a broad audience with real-life stories, diets, puzzles as well...

Media choice: Lastminute.com London bus ads.(Brief Article)
January 11, 2006... For all of their well-documented costs, inefficiencies and frustrations, London's transport services lead the way in the application of digital media formats. So it is perhaps unsurprising that this sector achieved another first with the...

Media News brief: Credit Suisse to sponsor Worldwide Exchange.(Brief Article)
January 11, 2006... Credit Suisse is sponsoring CNBC International's global daily news programme Worldwide Exchange from 16 January as part of a rebranding campaign.

Media News brief: Kiss 100 hires Nick Button.(Brief Article)
January 11, 2006... Kiss 100, the Emap radio station, has hired Nick Button as its first marketing director. Button is a former brand marketing director of Chrysalis Radio's Galaxy Network and joins after three months as a brand development consultant for Hit40UK....

Media News brief: Brooklands Group to launch monthly title.(Brief Article)
January 11, 2006... Brooklands Group, the contract publisher, is launching a monthly title based on Channel 4 series Supernanny. The magazine, which includes advice on pregnancy and childcare, goes on sale in March.

Media News brief: ING Direct replaces Direct Line as sponsor.(Brief Article)
January 11, 2006... ING Direct, the bank, has replaced Direct Line as sponsor of Channel 4's property strand 4Homes. The deal, the bank's first tie-up, covers programmes such as Property Ladder, Grand Designs and Location, Location, Location.

Media News brief: Sportech ends contract.(with ITV PLC)(Brief Article)
January 11, 2006... Sportech, which provides interactive gaming content for ITV shows such as The X Factor, has ended the contract after failing to make the service profitable. ITV is seeking a replacement provider.

Media News brief: TNG Group to launch free weekly magazine.(Brief Article)
January 11, 2006... TNT Group, a division of Guardian Media Group, is launching a free weekly magazine targeting Eastern Europeans living in London. Fusion Magazine will have a 60,000 print run and will be available from February.

Media News brief: MediaCom promotes Sue Unerman.(MediaCom-TMB Ltd.)(Brief Article)
January 11, 2006... MediaCom has promoted Sue Unerman from director of strategic solutions to chief strategy officer. She assumes responsibility for the agency's business strategy and client communication strategies.

Branding News: Cutty Sark in global packaging redesign.(Cutty Sark Scotch Whisky)(Brief Article)
January 11, 2006... Cutty Sark Scotch Whisky is to embark on its first global brand overhaul in seven years as it seeks to boost its popularity abroad. The relaunch of the Berry Bros & Rudd-owned brand will include the introduction of a new-look bottle,...

Branding News: Waitrose debuts spa-themed line.(umispa range)(Brief Article)
January 11, 2006... Waitrose is to expand its umi bathroom products line with the launch of a 'home-spa' offering. The Eastern-influenced umispa range, designed by Pearlfisher, includes Palm Milk & Guava Body Moisturiser and Kaffir Lime & Coriander Body Oil...

Branding News: Transavia.com reworks identity.(Brief Article)
January 11, 2006... Transavia.com, the KLM-owned low-cost airline, has redesigned its brand identity through Landor. The agency was appointed last August to reposition Transavia as a web-based travel provider (Marketing, 24 August 2005). Initially launched as...

Branding News: Design choice - Silver Spoon.(Brief Article)
January 11, 2006... Poor old sugar. Not only does it receive a hard time over the nation's current obsession with health, but it has also been relegated to dusty old wooden palettes in the aisles at the back of the local supermarket. It is pleasing, then, to...

Branding News brief: Carl Kammerling launches value range.(Carl Kammerling International's Avit designed by Boxer)(Brief Article)
January 11, 2006... Carl Kammerling International, a global distributor of craftsmen's tools, is launching a value range called Avit, designed by Boxer. The firm is using the brand to break into the economy tools category.

Branding News brief: Lyme Regis Fine Foods hires P&W.(Pemberton & Whitefoord will design Bright)(Brief Article)
January 11, 2006... Lyme Regis Fine Foods has hired design consultancy Pemberton & Whitefoord (P&W) to design a range of low glycemic index and glycemic load cereal bars called Bright. P&W won the business in a four-way pitch.

Branding News brief: Nominet overhauls style.(Brief Article)
January 11, 2006... Nominet, the national registry for all .uk internet domain names, has introduced an overhauled style and brand developed by Enterprise IG.

Branding News brief: Leonidas Chocolate Company revamps packaging.(Brief Article)
January 11, 2006... Leonidas Chocolate Company has revamped its packaging and in-store concepts through design agency DJPA Partnership. The Belgian chocolate company is introducing the new look in all its stores from this week.

Branding News brief: The Work and Travel Company rebrands.(Real Gap Experience)(Brief Article)
January 11, 2006... The Work and Travel Company is rebranding as Real Gap Experience. The work, developed by Day 1, comprises a logo, brochure and website. The company provides gap-year experiences and breaks to those wanting to take time out before entering...

Branding News brief: The Learning Organisation appoints Tayburn.(Brief Article)
January 11, 2006... The Learning Organisation has appointed corporate identity and branding specialist Tayburn following its name change from The Bethany Group. The company offers education, training and business advice to entrepreneurs, SMEs and corporate...

Branding News brief: Medecins du Monde appoints The Nest.(Brief Article)
January 11, 2006... Medecins du Monde, the humanitarian aid organisation, has appointed The Nest to create an identity for Project:London, an initiative aimed at helping vulnerable migrants, homeless people and prostitutes gain access to healthcare in the capital....

Branding News brief: Duplo ties up with Hit Entertainment.(LEGO Systems Inc.)(HIT Entertainment PLC)(Brief Article)
January 11, 2006... Lego pre-school range Duplo has tied up with Hit Entertainment to develop branded Thomas & Friends products for the UK and European markets this year.

Direct News: Nivea for Men in direct drive.(Cognito Integrated Marketing)(Brief Article)
January 11, 2006... Nivea is to significantly increase its investment in direct marketing for its Nivea for Men range following the appointment of a dedicated agency. The Beiersdorf-owned male-grooming brand has hired Cognito Integrated Marketing to handle...

Direct News: Gartmore hands work to Rapier.(Gartmore Investment Management Ltd.)(Brief Article)
January 11, 2006... Gartmore, the investment management company, has appointed Rapier to handle its pounds 3m integrated business ahead of a press and direct-response poster campaign later this month. The activity will promote Gartmore investment funds to UK...

Direct choice: The Guardian Oyster card promotion.(Brief Article)
January 11, 2006... On buying The Guardian on Monday, I came across a simple blue envelope offering a free gift - if only all promotions were as straight to the point and simple to understand. It offered the chance to win a year's free travel and included a...

Direct News brief: Lloyds TSB call centre staff will not use scripts.(Brief Article)
January 11, 2006... Lloyds TSB call centre staff will no longer use scripts in a bid to build a stronger rapport with customers. The bank spent pounds 36m - more than half its total spend of pounds 52.9m - on direct mail in 2005, according to Nielsen Media...

Direct News brief: Citroen seeks direct marketing agency.(Automobiles Citroen S.A.)(Brief Article)
January 11, 2006... Citroen is hunting for a direct marketing agency through Creative Brief. The car maker's sister marque, Peugeot, appointed Clark McKay and Walpole to its direct account last year.

Direct News brief: Wilkinson Sword promotes razors with on-pack promotion.(Brief Article)
January 11, 2006... Wilkinson Sword is promoting its Xtreme3 disposable razors to winter sports fans with an on-pack promotion to win a US ski holiday. The promotion, which rolls out this month, also includes prizes of Snow & Rock gift vouchers.

Direct News brief: BHF to hold outdoor matchmaking event.(British Heart Foundation)(Parship.co.uk)(Brief Article)
January 11, 2006... The British Heart Foundation is holding the UK's biggest outdoor matchmaking event on 12 February with a 'Flirt walk' in London's Hyde Park. The 5km walk, run with online dating service Parship.co.uk, is being backed by a six-figure direct...

Direct News brief: Eurostar appoints Occam.(Brief Article)
January 11, 2006... Eurostar has appointed database firm Occam to overhaul and manage its traveller database. It aims to improve its targeting of frequent travellers as a result.

Direct News brief: Cancer Research UK launches direct campaign.(Brief Article)
January 11, 2006... Cancer Research UK is launching a direct mail campaign through WWAV Rapp Collins in the East of England to promote legacy donations. The 'Tribute' work will encourage over-70s to include the charity in their wills.

Direct News brief: Oxfam aims to sign up 1m donors.(Brief Article)
January 11, 2006... Oxfam is aiming to sign up 1m donors in 100 days with its biggest customer acquisition drive to date. The cross-media campaign, devised by Draft London, calls on the public to join by saying 'I'm in'.

Retail News: Millets overhauls UK stores.(Brief Article)
January 11, 2006... Outdoor specialist Millets is revamping its branding and stores to attract a broader range of consumers. The chain, which has 270 stores in the UK and is owned by Blacks Leisure, is due to open its first redesigned store in Newbury early...

Retail News: Store-card firm axes jobs in rejig.(GE Consumer Finance's restructure)(Brief Article)
January 11, 2006... GE Consumer Finance, which runs about half of the UK's store cards, is to cut jobs as part of a major restructure. The company, which operates store cards for retailers such as Debenhams, House of Fraser and Topshop, confirmed that...

Retail choice: Asda George, Milton Keynes.(Brief Article)
January 11, 2006... I consider myself a true shopaholic and label addict, so George at Asda's 'value' image has meant it has never been top of my shopping itinerary. But this might be about to change - the George store in Milton Keynes is fantastic. It...

Retail News brief: Kookai goes into administration.(appoints Deloitte & Touche L.L.P.)(Brief Article)
January 11, 2006... Kookai, the fashion retailer, has gone into administration. Adjustbetter, which is now running Kookai's 55 UK stores, has appointed Deloitte to carry out a review of the business.

Retail News brief: Lovefilm.com launches movie download service.(Brief Article)
January 11, 2006... Lovefilm.com has launched a movie download service that will offer 500 films to members priced from pounds 2.99 each.

Retail News brief: Superdrug to open more outlets.(Superdrug Stores PLC)(Brief Article)
January 11, 2006... Superdrug will open 35 outlets this year. These will vary from smaller shops to larger outlets in a similar format to its two-floored presence in Kensington, London.

Retail News brief: Thorntons reveals drop in l-f-l sales.(like-for-like sales)(Brief Article)
January 11, 2006... Thorntons has revealed a drop in like-for-like sales in its shops over the Christmas period of 4.9%, despite a high-profile advertising campaign.

Retail News brief: KPMG considers offers for Unwins stores.(KPMG International)(Thresher Group)(Brief Article)
January 11, 2006... Unwins administrator KPMG is considering offers for the off-licence chain's remaining 150 stores. Rival chain Threshers purchased 200 stores shortly after Unwins' collapse in December.

Retail News brief: Music Zone to buy MVC stores.(Brief Article)
January 11, 2006... Music Zone, the entertainment retailer, is buying 41 MVC stores, following the latter's decision to call in administrators late last year. Music Zone said the stores would be operating under its banner from 9 January.

Retail News brief: Accessorize opens flagship store.(JHP creates)(Brief Article)
January 11, 2006... Accessorize has opened a flagship store in Bluewater shopping centre in Kent. Created by JHP, the outlet will stock new upmarket lingerie and footwear products.

Retail News brief: Ecco appoints new managing director.(Ecco Design Inc.)(David Sleigh)(Brief Article)
January 11, 2006... Ecco, the shoe brand, has appointed David Sleigh as managing director. Sleigh was previously UK managing director of The Rockport Company and has also held sales and marketing roles at Kickers and Kangol.

Helen Dickinson on retail: Franchising offers foreign adventure.
January 11, 2006... Franchising has certainly risen in profile recently as a number of retailers have announced their intentions to use this tried-and-trusted method to expand their store base. O2 and BP Connect are among the well-known retail names to recently...

News Analysis: Pinpoint targeting.(satellite positioning system in mobile marketing)
January 11, 2006... Europe's Galileo satellite positioning system will allow for more precise mobile marketing, writes Bill Britt. The world of location-based advertising as portrayed in the film Minority Report, in which ads are personalised to Tom Cruise's...

News Analysis: Leaving Birmingham behind.(British International Motor Show)
January 11, 2006... Will a return to London after 30 years help Britain's premier motor show lure back the big marques, asks Lucy Barrett. Anyone who thinks a motor show is just an opportunity to ogle bikini-clad glamour models, sprawled across a souped-up...

Raymond Snoddy on media: ITV's colour-coded look changes little.
January 11, 2006... Just when we had got used to those nice blue and yellow colours on ITV, it changes everything. The kaleidoscope is given a shake, and up pops a new shade of yellow, lurid green, burgundy, turquoise and blue - though not all at once. From...

Media Analysis: Tesco TV flaws show through.(Tesco PLC's in store tv channel Tesco TV)
January 11, 2006... Heralded as an alternative to broadcast advertising, the in-store network has underperformed, reports Jeremy Lee. Despite its best efforts, the outdoor industry is finding it difficult to suppress a sense of schadenfreude at the problems...

Brand Health Check: Walkers.(products raises health concern)
January 11, 2006... Walkers is in danger of losing its crown as the UK's biggest grocery brand, as health concerns hit sales hard. As concerns over healthy eating have grown, consumers have become less inclined to reach for a bag of crisps. As a result, sales...

Mark Ritson on branding: Norse fire smokes out bland brands.(Yorkshire Soup Co.)
January 11, 2006... Four years ago Belinda Williams decided to combine her experiences as a caterer, entrepreneur and farmer's daughter to launch the Yorkshire Soup Company. While most soup companies are content with globally sourced, frozen ingredients and...

Profile: Here to stay - Guy Parsons, Chief operating officer, Travelodge.
January 11, 2006... More than 6m people a year entrust Guy Parsons to provide them with a stress-free stay and sound night's sleep; it is a responsibility he takes very seriously. While being photographed in Travelodge's Covent Garden Hotel in Drury Lane, the...

Adwatch: The weekly analysis of advertisement recall.(Brief Article)(Illustration)
January 11, 2006... Q: Which of the following TV commercials do you remember seeing recently? Last Brand Agency/TV buyer % week 1 (1) Marks & Spencer RKCR Y&R/Walker Media 71 2 ...