Marketing articles from January 2008

Marketing archives from January 2008

Cadbury to embark on sustainable cocoa project.(Brief article)
January 30, 2008... Cadbury is launching a major CSR initiative in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme to support sustainable cocoa farming. Cadbury has said that there are no current plans to communicate the initiative to consumers,...

British Airways clinches pounds 50m London 2012 deal.(Brief article)
January 30, 2008... British Airways will be unveiled next week as the official airline of the London 2012 Olympics in a deal worth an estimated pounds 50m, Marketing can exclusively reveal. Earlier this month, the airline announced that it was to end its...

Oyster to roll out watch initiative.(Brief article)
January 30, 2008... Cashless payment scheme Oyster is to launch an additional method for touching in and out of London public transport later this year in the form of a wristwatch. The watch, which has inbuilt Oyster payment technology, has been trialled...

Asda shortlists agencies ahead of web overhaul.
January 30, 2008... Asda is planning a multimillion-pound relaunch of its website as part of a long-term strategy to give UK shoppers the 'ultimate online retail experience'. The Wal-Mart-owned supermarket chain has shortlisted several UK digital shops,...

Celebrity Weeklies Lose Appeal
January 30, 2008... The new breed of celebrity weeklies are set to reveal disappointing circulation figures in next month's ABCs, suggesting that consumers' seemingly insatiable desire for salacious celebrity gossip is starting to abate. The figures, which cover...

Qtrax launches file-sharing site.(Brief article)
January 30, 2008... Qtrax, a legal service offering free music downloads to users who agree to view online ads, has launched in nine countries including the UK. The file-sharing system, based on a rogue service launched by Qtrax more than four years ago,...

New campaign: Fanta Still.
January 30, 2008... Coca-Cola is launching a multimillion-pound campaign to support the launch of Fanta Still. The integrated drive, which will break on 18 February, encompasses TV, outdoor and online ads that aim to promote the 'playfulness' of the brand....

MTV to broaden website focus.(MTV Networks Inc.)(Brief article)
January 30, 2008... MTV Networks UK and Ireland is relaunching its website as a music and entertainment portal targeting 16- to 34-year-olds in a change that will see the site subsume its MTV Overdrive video-on-demand service. The plan is intended to...

Smirnoff selects Agency Republic.(MTV Networks Europe)(Brief article)
January 30, 2008... Smirnoff has appointed Agency Republic to its UK digital marketing account following a pitch. The Diageo-owned premium vodka brand plans to brief the agency on a number of web development and online advertising initiatives. Smirnoff...

Leaf marketers face job losses.(Leaf United Kingdom Ltd.)(Brief article)
January 30, 2008... The marketing team at Chewits owner Leaf UK are in consultation over the future of their jobs following plans to outsource the company's sales, marketing and distribution to Bendicks. The Leaf marketing team, headed by managing director...

Kia backs Pro_cee'd launch with pounds 10m campaign.(Kia Motors UK Ltd.)(Brief article)
January 30, 2008... Kia is launching a pounds 10m integrated marketing campaign to promote its Pro_cee'd model in the biggest UK advertising push the Korean manufacturer has ever undertaken. The campaign, which launches on 7 February under the strapline...

Government plots youth binge-drinking strategy.(Brief article)
January 30, 2008... The Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) is gearing up to launch its first marketing campaign aimed at tackling underage binge-drinking. The DCSF is carrying out consumer insight research aimed at establishing which...

Diageo awards cross-brand loyalty task to Tribal.(Diageo Great Britain Ltd.)(Tribal DDB Worldwide)(Brief article)
January 30, 2008... Diageo is launching a nationwide umbrella campaign to boost customer loyalty across its portfolio of brands, which include Baileys, Guinness and Gordon's Gin. The drinks giant is understood to have handed digital roster agency Tribal DDB...

Ad body review eyes websites.(Brief article)
January 30, 2008... Brands that target children through their websites are to come under scrutiny by the Advertising Association's digital media task force. Brands including Burger King have ditched all content aimed at children, but McDonald's has notably...

IPA Puts Focus on Perception Gap
January 30, 2008... Research finds gulf in executives' regard for the advice ad agencies can offer on business growth. The Institute of Practitioners in Advertising (IPA) has published a report claiming that advertising agencies are more effective than...

Cravendale picks shop for digital.(Arla Foods Ingredients A.m.b.a. (Red Hill, England))(Brief article)
January 30, 2008... Arla Foods has handed Outside Line the digital account for its Cravendale milk brand as part of a strategy to expand its online presence in 2008. The agency will overhaul the brand's Milk Matters web portal to provide product information...

Walkers Abandons Potato Heads Line
January 30, 2008... Walkers has delisted its children's crisp brand Potato Heads as it refocuses its healthy snacking portfolio. The product, which was launched in 2005 backed by a pounds 2m advertising campaign, was one of the first UK better-for-you products...

Westfield begins agency search.(Brief article)
January 30, 2008... Westfield, the multinational shopping centre operator, is planning a direct marketing offensive this autumn to support the launch of its first London shopping complex. The Australian company is hunting for an agency to handle a...

Wickes awards pounds 10m ad business to MWO.(Brief article)
January 30, 2008... Wickes, the DIY retailer, has hired MWO to handle its pounds 10m ad account, following last year's appointment of marketing director Rob Murray (Marketing, 7 November). Murray joined Wickes from Ryvita, where he was marketing director...

Britvic appoints ex-Emap chief.(Britvic Soft Drinks Ltd. hired Simon Stewart)(Brief article)
January 30, 2008... Britvic has hired Simon Stewart, former chief marketing officer at Emap, as its marketing director. Stewart will oversee Britvic's brand and category marketing, innovation, insight, corporate affairs and marketing services. He replaces...

Everton FC picks AEG to seal stadium tie.(Everton Football Club Ltd.)(Brief article)
January 30, 2008... Everton Football Club has hired AEG Sponsorship to handle the evaluation and sponsorship search for a naming-rights partner for its new stadium. Earlier this month, Everton submitted a planning application for the ground, which, if...

Adecco hires LBi to roll out online overhaul.(Adecco Holdings UK Ltd.)(Brief article)
January 30, 2008... Adecco, the world's biggest recruitment company, has appointed LBi as its full-service digital agency as part of an overhaul of its global marketing strategy. The company has handed LBi a multimillion-pound brief spanning website...

News brief: Nick Junior to launch ad campaign.(Brief article)
January 30, 2008... Nick Junior, the TV channel for pre-schoolers, is launching a three-week ad campaign for its Yo Gabba Gabba! show. TV ads will run on GMTV, while online ads will appear on kids' and parenting sites

News brief: Coca-Cola to launch ad campaign.
January 30, 2008... Coca-Cola is launching a pounds 5m ad campaign to support the launch of Coke Zone, a loyalty scheme for teenagers and young adults The work, created by VCCP, will run across TV, print and digital.

News brief: RBoS signs partnership with Sport Relief.(Royal Bank of Scotland PLC)(Brief article)
January 30, 2008... Royal Bank of Scotland has signed a partnership with Sport Relief to raise money for the charity via its sponsorship of this year's RBS 6 Nations rugby union tournament. Fundraising events will be held at matches and in city centres

News brief: Lowe London chief exec to leave the agency.(Amanda Walsh )(Brief article)
January 30, 2008... Lowe London chief executive Amanda Walsh is leaving the agency. It is not known whether Walsh, who replaced Garry Lace in October 2006, has a job to go to. Lowe's executive creative director, Ed Morris, and chief strategy officer, Rebecca...

News brief: Yeo Valley launching ad campaign.(Yeo Valley Organic Company Ltd.)(Brief article)
January 30, 2008... Yeo Valley is launching a pounds 3.6m ad campaign running across TV, press and outdoor throughout the year. The work, supporting a relaunch of its range, uses the line 'A breath of fresh air from the country'

News brief: Woolworths to back Blu-ray DVD format.
January 30, 2008... Woolworths will become the first major high-street retailer to exclusively back the Blu-ray DVD format with the launch of Disney's Ratatouille on 11 February

News brief: City AM launches sports betting paper.(Brief article)
January 30, 2008... City AM, the daily freesheet has launched a sports betting paper, The Punter, in conjunction with former horse trainer Charlie Brooks. The 20-page supplement will be published every Friday

News brief: Sugar magazine ties up with Ukash.(Brief article)
January 30, 2008... Sugar magazine has tied up with online-only cash-card brand Ukash to give away a pounds 5 voucher with its March issue. The activity is intended to appeal to under-16s who do not have debit cards

Media: MBNA hunts shop for pan-European work.(Brief article)
January 30, 2008... MBNA is seeking a media planning and buying agency to handle its pan-European account. The credit card firm has approached a number of undisclosed agencies about the brief, which signals a shift of strategy for the brand. MBNA...

Media: IPC mag in Kylie bed linen tie-up.(Brief article)
January 30, 2008... Woman & Home, IPC's monthly women's title, has secured an exclusive interview with Kylie Minogue to coincide with the launch of her range of bed linen. The singer has teamed up with homewares firm Ashley Wilde Group to launch the line of...

Media: Banana Republic set for UK debut.(Brief article)
January 30, 2008... Upmarket US clothing brand Banana Republic has appointed PHD to handle its media planning and buying ahead of a major assault on the UK market. The agency already holds the media account for the Gap Group, which owns Banana Republic. ...

Media choice: Dancing on Ice.(Brief article)
January 30, 2008... It's a catastrophe! As I write this, sad news reaches me that loveable, laughable Michael Underwood is out of Dancing on Ice. He has broken his ankle and GMTV is broadcasting from his front room. He's absolutely gutted. And so will I be...

Media brief: Butlins appoints August Media to produce mag.(Brief article)
January 30, 2008... Butlins has appointed August Media to produce a monthly magazine to drive loyalty. The title, called Xtra, will have a print run of 50,000 and contain news and offers

Media brief: ABCe newspaper website figures.(Website overview)(Brief article)
January 30, 2008... Newspaper websites suffered a significant fall in unique users during December, according to the latest ABCe newspaper website figures Telegraph.co.uk, which rose to third place during November, fell back to fourth with 10.5m unique users,...

Media brief: Shockwaves signs up as sponsor.
January 30, 2008... Shockwaves has signed up to sponsor The Album Chart Show on Channel 4. The hair-styling brand will sponsor the 10-week show, which starts this Friday

Media brief: Harvey Nichols partners InStyle.(Brief article)
January 30, 2008... Harvey Nichols is partnering InStyle for a series of reader evenings to mark the 2008 Best Beauty Buys Awards. The retailer is hosting shopping events at six of its stores, treating guests to makeovers, treatments, expert advice and goody bags

Media brief: Lovefilm signs up to support (Product)Red.(Brief article)
January 30, 2008... Lovefilm, the online DVD rental service, has signed up to support the charity (Product)Red. It will offer a limited-edition Valentine's package through LoveRED.co.uk and donate 50% of the profits to the charity

Media brief: Mail on Sunday to give away exclusive CD.
January 30, 2008... The Mail on Sunday is giving away an exclusive CD by Lenny Kravitz this weekend, featuring six tracks from his latest album

Media brief: BBC Worldwide and MySpace sign deal.(Brief article)
January 30, 2008... BBC Worldwide and MySpace have signed a deal to distribute clips from BBC shows such as Doctor Who and Top Gear on the News Corp-owned social networking site

Media brief: Super Bowl to broadcast live on BBC.(Brief article)
January 30, 2008... The Super Bowl will be broadcast live for the first time on BBC television. The American Football game will air on Sunday at 10.50pm on BBC Two

Media brief: Correction.(Correction notice)
January 30, 2008... Subaru has appointed WordWide Communications, not Worldwide Communications, to launch its customer magazine

Branding: Cobra picks Landor to handle overhaul.(Brief article)
January 30, 2008... Cobra Beer has appointed design agency Landor Associates to oversee a revamp of the brand. Landor won the brief following a three-way pitch. The account was previously held by Williams Murray Hamm. The agency will work with the...

Branding: Asda in push for Valentine's Day.(Brief article)
January 30, 2008... Asda has appointed design agency gratterpalm to create an in-store campaign to encourage customers to buy Valentine's Day gifts. Gratterpalm has created an Asda Valentine's Day brand identity for use on point-of-sale material that will...

Branding: Housing charity to revamp shops.(Brief article)
January 30, 2008... Octavia Housing and Care has hired ethical communications agency Provokateur to rebrand the Notting Hill Housing Trust chain of charity shops, which it bought last year. The 19 shops are located in central and West London, with some in...

Branding: Design choice - Lufthansa.
January 30, 2008... Maybe it's my age, but I'm sure I'm not alone in thinking much contemporary airline design sits uncomfortably on the aircraft. Apart from the now-defunct Go, most budget airlines appear to adopt deliberately garish and ugly design. Many...

Branding brief: Npower unveils sponsorship logo.
January 30, 2008... Npower has unveiled the logo for its sponsorship of the 2009 Ashes cricket series. It has been designed by Merchantwise and is being promoted with a viral video that pokes fun at Australians

Branding brief: Wonderbra launches limited-edition collection.(Brief article)
January 30, 2008... Wonderbra is launching a limited-edition collection of underwear designed by burlesque artist Dita Von Teese. She is the first celebrity to design a range for the brand

Branding brief: Spar relaunching its own brand of wines.(Brief article)
January 30, 2008... Spar, the chain of convenience stores, is relaunching its own brand of wines, Discoveries. A fresh logo will be rolled out across the whole range to link the wines together

Branding brief: Whole Foods Markets ending use of plastic bags.(Brief article)
January 30, 2008... Whole Foods Markets is ending the use of disposable plastic grocery bags at all its stores in the UK, the US and Canada with the aim of being plastic bag-free by Earth Day on 22 April. It estimates the move will save 100m bags from going into...

Branding brief: Vision Express launches Contact7 brand.(Brief article)
January 30, 2008... Vision Express has launched a brand for its contact lens home-delivery service, called Contact7. Perspektiv created the identity as well as developing the packaging design and a quarterly customer magazine

Branding brief: D&AD Annual to be designed by Research Studios.(Brief article)
January 30, 2008... The D&AD Annual is to be designed this year by Neville Brody's Research Studios. The book, which will showcase work by 300 creatives, will appear in September. Brody is famous for his work on iconic magazine The Face

Branding brief: Polyfilla overhauls its packaging.(Brief article)
January 30, 2008... Polyfilla, the DIY, decorating and household repair brand owned by ICI Paints, is overhauling its packaging to better represent the different types of products it encompasses. The redesign was handled by Elmwood

Branding brief: Dri-Pak updates brand.(Brief article)
January 30, 2008... Dri-Pak, a range of traditional cleaning products, is updating its brand as demand for old-fashioned lines such as soda crystals and bicarbonate of soda increases. The packaging features an updated design, including the addition of a 'Clean &...

Direct: Tetley embarks on loyalty drive.
January 30, 2008... Tetley is launching its biggest customer loyalty promotion, with a six-month campaign backing its 'everyone's cup of tea' positioning. The campaign, which is intended to highlight its wide product range, includes two-for-one vouchers,...

Direct: Lucozade in gym work downloads.(Brief article)
January 30, 2008... Lucozade is to launch a campaign to promote its Hydro Active sports-drink brand through downloadable bespoke workouts. The Lucozade Hydro Active Virtual Trainer programmes are aimed at those gym-goers whose new-year enthusiasm for keeping...

Direct: Chevrolet awards UK business to Draftfcb.(Brief article)
January 30, 2008... General Motors (GM) has hired Draftfcb London to handle the digital and direct marketing for its Chevrolet marque in the UK. The agency's first task will be to promote the brand's latest four-door family model, the Epica, with an...

Direct choice: Mini Clubman.(Brief article)
January 30, 2008... In media terms, there's no bigger dinosaur than cold direct mail. Even as a direct media person, I'm often to be found ranting about its uninvited presence on my doormat, as well as on many a media schedule. But, just occasionally, along...

Direct brief: Betfair to support Tradefair launch with direct drive.(Brief article)
January 30, 2008... Betfair will support the launch of Tradefair, its financial exchange and spread betting brand, with a direct drive. Direct marketing agency Flourish, based in Bristol, will create both online and offline direct work

Direct brief: Bonne Maman launches first on-pack gift campaign.(Brief article)
January 30, 2008... Bonne Maman has launched its first on-pack gift campaign, to tie in with Valentine's Day and Mother's Day. From February, it will be giving away a heart-shaped toast cutter with its Strawberry & Wild Strawberry conserves. The campaign was...

Direct brief: Muller appoints Sense to run tour.(Brief article)
January 30, 2008... Muller has appointed experiential marketing agency Sense to run its Muller Rice Perfect Snack tour for the second year running. A branded double-decker bus will distribute samples at key festivals, shopping centres and university campuses...

Direct brief: Guide Dogs for the Blind launches campaign.(Guide Dogs for the Blind Association)(Brief article)
January 30, 2008... The Guide Dogs for the Blind Association is launching an integrated campaign comprising national press ads and online banners to signpost a bespoke landing page for its flagship fundraising product, Sponsor a Puppy. It has been developed by...

Direct brief: Metropolitan Police Service runs gun amnesty.(Brief article)
January 30, 2008... The Metropolitan Police Service is running a gun amnesty that will use a direct drive in an attempt to reduce the numbers of imitation firearms in London. The campaign spans door-drops, radio and targeted press ads

Direct brief: Kallo Foods launches first door-drop campaign.
January 30, 2008... Kallo Foods is launching its first door-drop campaign for its Kallo stock cubes brand. The campaign will target 8m households and be supported by sampling events. Customers will receive a discount coupon for Kallo stock cubes and two recipe...

Direct brief: Aspire hires Adams Creative to handle marketing.(Brief article)
January 30, 2008... Aspire, the spinal cord injuries charity, has hired Adams Creative to handle its marketing following a nine-way pitch. The charity, which has previously worked with multiple agencies, recently made the decision to consolidate the work into a...

Digital: Adidas plots mobile drive for boot lines.(Brief article)
January 30, 2008... Adidas is rolling out a global digital strategy based on its football brand ambassadors, including Steven Gerrard, Ricardo Kaka and Lionel Messi. The sports-goods manufacturer has appointed Marvellous to develop a mobile campaign to...

Digital: Cadbury to run Flake ads online.(Brief article)
January 30, 2008... Cadbury is launching its first digital promotional activity for its Flake bar. It is rolling out a branded website and online ads featuring singer Joss Stone, the latest Cadbury Flake girl. The site allows consumers to register their...

Digital: A-Z maps set for handset service.(Brief article)
January 30, 2008... The Geographers' A-Z Map Company has partnered with mobile syndication firm Billadam to launch a map service that users can download to their mobile phones. Customers can access A-Z Finder by typing in a street to its dedicated site,...

Digital choice: Radox.(www.ourfamilytime.co.uk)(Brief article)
January 30, 2008... The issue of families not spending enough time together is a perennial problem, so any advertising that promotes quality family time is probably not far off the mark in terms of relevance. Radox has done just this with a simple, yet...

Digital brief: MTV to close MTV Flux.(Brief article)
January 30, 2008... MTV is to close its user-generated content channel MTV Flux less than 15 months after its launch. The broadcaster intends to replace it with a one-hour timeshifted channel for its main music service

Digital brief: Waitrose briefs Kitcatt Nohr Alexander Shaw.
January 30, 2008... Waitrose has briefed Kitcatt Nohr Alexander Shaw to roll out its first e-CRM programme as part of a strategy to build closer relationships with its online customers

Digital brief: Manchester United appoints Jump Games.
January 30, 2008... Manchester United Football Club has appointed Jump Games to design, develop and distribute a series of mobile games in key international markets this year

Digital brief: The Post Office partners with MySpace.(Brief article)
January 30, 2008... The Post Office has partnered with MySpace to launch a branded community aimed at encouraging young people to think about the service as the 'People's Post Office' and to discuss how they feel about the brand

Digital brief: Google ties up with Publicis Groupe.
January 30, 2008... Google has tied up with Publicis Groupe. The two will pool their creative and technical knowledge on work for their respective advertiser clients

Digital brief: Affiliate marketing sector grows by 45% says E-consultancy.(Brief article)
January 30, 2008... The UK affiliate marketing sector grew by an estimated 45% in 2007, taking the total value of online sales generated by the channel to more than pounds 3bn last year, according to E-consultancy

Digital brief: Turner Broadcasting launches revamped websites.
January 30, 2008... Turner Broadcasting is launching revamped websites for its Boomerang and Cartoonito children's TV channels in an effort to provide greater synergy with on-air programming

Digital brief: Gambling.com has re-launched.
January 30, 2008... Gambling.com, a web portal for gaming enthusiasts, has re-launched, moving from a search site to a content-rich online community for avid gamblers

Digital brief: Fitness First announces long-term partnership.(Brief article)
January 30, 2008... Fitness First, the health and fitness chain, has announced a long-term partnership with Realbuzz.com, the lifestyle-based social network, to encourage gym-goers to keep attending by finding people to go with them

Andrew Walmsley on Digital: Scene Is Set for Global TV Revolution
January 30, 2008... Apple has sold more than 3bn songs through its iTunes website since its launch in 2003, making it a major force in the global music business - a position Apple is keen to leverage in the TV space. But the launch of Apple TV last year was met...

News Analysis: M&S Eyes Up Brand Names
January 30, 2008... Can own-label stalwart Marks & Spencer's positioning withstand a branded-grocery influx, asks Jemima Bokaie. Sir Stuart Rose, chief executive of Marks & Spencer, this month revealed that he is considering breaking with tradition by...

News Analysis: The Price-Sensitive Approach
January 30, 2008... Energy firms are reassessing their strategies to appeal to customers hit by utility-bill increases, writes Ed Kemp. Consumers stick with a utilities supplier for reasons ranging from confusion created by a cluttered marketplace to laziness....

Raymond Snoddy on Media: What's in Store Now Burnham's Boss?
January 30, 2008... Until his sudden arrival as secretary of state for culture, media and sport, Andy Burnham, the member of parliament for Leith, had not crossed my horizon before. Now we know he has a majority of more than 17,000 and has held ministerial posts...

Media Analysis: Is BBC Three a Commercial Threat?
January 30, 2008... The digital channel is setting its sights on 16- to 24-year-olds, in a direct challenge to E4 and ITV2. With the shadow of looming job cuts hanging over the BBC, last week's relaunch of digital channel BBC Three was a fairly muted affair. The...