Marketing articles from July 2006

Marketing archives from July 2006

Carlsberg to strike u32m deal with England team.(Brief article)
July 5, 2006... Carlsberg is poised to take up the new headline sponsorship package for the England football team as it looks to renew its long-standing association with the Football Association. Negotiations over the four-year deal are close to...

Glenn leads consortium in Birds Eye takeover bid.
July 5, 2006... Former PepsiCo UK president Martin Glenn is leading a consortium tipped to win the u1bn auction for Unilever's Birds Eye brand. Sources claim Glenn is overseeing a team that includes private equity firms CapVest, CVC Partners and Kohlberg...

Electrolux 'novel' to appeal to men.(male consumers )(Brief article)
July 5, 2006... Electrolux has taken an unusual step to attract male consumers to its brand. The white-goods manufacturer has commissioned a novel, Men in Aprons, which tells the story of two 20-something men and their approach to relationships, work and...

Poster operators agree to run anti-Peugeot work.(advertising agencies)(Brief article)
July 5, 2006... Two outdoor media owners are jeopardising their relationship with the motor industry by agreeing to run ads for the TGWU and Amicus unions urging consumers to boycott Peugeot. JCDecaux and Clear Channel have accepted bookings from the...

Ad agencies on alert as meat body is scrapped.(advertising contracts)(Brief article)
July 5, 2006... Up to five agencies could lose their British meat advertising business, following the government's decision to axe the Meat and Livestock Commission (MLC). The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has announced it is...

Visit London calls for hike in spend.(advertising budget)(Brief article)
July 5, 2006... The head of Visit London has called for a bigger marketing budget to prop up the capital's tourism industry. At a meeting of business leaders to discuss the response to the 7 July bombings, Visit London chief executive James Bidwell said...

Indesit to review European media.(Brief article)
July 5, 2006... Indesit, the household appliance manufacturer, is planning to review its pan-European media planning and buying account estimated to be worth u30m. The review will encompass 18 European territories, starting with pitches in Italy, Russia...

FCUK calls pitch as boss departs.(Matthew Griffiths leaves French Connection UK)(Brief article)
July 5, 2006... After a disappointing response to its latest campaign, French Connection has parted company with its marketing director Matthew Griffiths and called a review of its ad account. The retailer confirmed Griffiths had left, but would not say...

New campaign: Sony Ericsson.
July 5, 2006... Sony Ericsson is launching a global ad campaign for its latest phone, the K800i Cybershot, featuring tennis players Daniela Hantuchova and Ana Ivanovic. The TV execution, which breaks on 5 July and uses the strapline 'Never miss a shot',...

Safetoeat enters free-from arena.(surveys on food allergy)(Brief article)
July 5, 2006... A line of food products designed for food-allergy sufferers is launching in the UK later this year. The Safetoeat range, which has been created by businessman Martin Hopkins and comprises five soups and eight sauces, will be stocked by...

Debenhams task returns to Fenix.(Brief article)
July 5, 2006... Debenhams has retained Fenix as its direct agency following a four-way pitch. The work, which will focus primarily on customer relationship management, as well as brochures and point-of-sale material, was contested by Baber Smith, Lida and...

Emirates gives global business-class work to Grey.(advertising contract given to Grey London )(Brief article)
July 5, 2006... Emirates has appointed Grey London to create a global advertising campaign for its business-class service. The airline is understood to have briefed the agency to create a campaign that will clearly position it as the leading service...

'Option 4' set to hold up children's food ad ruling.(advertising regulation)(Brief article)
July 5, 2006... Ofcom has warned there may be a further consultation on the future of food and drink advertising to children after the marketing and media industries submitted compromise proposals. Last week industry bodies handed the regulator an...

Warner Breaks job goes to Elvis.(Elvis Communications)(Brief article)
July 5, 2006... Warner Breaks, the hotels and resorts operator, has hired Elvis Communications to handle its advertising and direct marketing business. The pitch was overseen by the travel brand's marketing director, Jane McIvor, with the business moving...

Mental agility supplement backs debut with u3m.(marketing food supplements)
July 5, 2006... Cebrium, a supplement that its manufacturer claims can improve mental agility, is being launched in September, backed by a u3m campaign. The drive, by Leagas Delaney and its design agency Carbon, will comprise print, outdoor and online...

Avon adds skin firming product.(Brief article)
July 5, 2006... Avon is expanding its skincare range with the launch of a skin-firming product called Clinical Thermafirm as it seeks to update its brand. The product, which is designed to lift, tighten and tone the skin, will be supported by TV ads...

BMW finance arm runs online push.(BMW Group Financial Services)(web designing)(Brief article)
July 5, 2006... BMW Group Financial Services, which offers customers of the car marque financing for purchases and insurance cover, is planning a web campaign. The activity, BMW's first online drive in support of its finance arm, will be created by...

Nectar targets mailings by purchasing behaviour.(loyalty programs)(Brief article)
July 5, 2006... Nectar is to begin targeting its members with offers from more relevant brands after segmenting its membership based on the type of purchases they make. Previously, Nectar sent out quarterly direct mailings to its members, containing...

DoH ad strategy requires 'fundamental' changes.(Department of Health )(advertising)(Brief article)
July 5, 2006... The Department of Health (DoH) has been told it must fundamentally overhaul its marketing if it is to meet its public-health goals. A report by the National Social Marketing Centre, commissioned by the DoH, has proposed sweeping changes to...

Top British Olympic marketer exits after 10 years.(Marzena Bogdanowicz leaves British Olympic Association )(Brief article)
July 5, 2006... Marzena Bogdanowicz has quit as director of marketing at the British Olympic Association (BOA) with immediate effect. Bogdanowicz, who has been at the BOA for 10 years and played a pivotal role in bringing the 2012 Olympics to London, is to...

WSPA steps up farming drive.(World Society for the Protection of Animals )(Brief article)
July 5, 2006... The World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA) has appointed charity specialist Cascaid to handle its Farmwatch global awareness and fundraising campaign, which aims to end factory farming. A mailing, intended to boost donor...

Vodafone backs tariff with u10m campaign.(Brief article)
July 5, 2006... Vodafone is planning to spend u10m on a campaign to promote its latest mobile tariff, which offers free texts and calls to pre-pay customers over the weekend. The campaign, created by JWT, will run for nine weeks. It will be aimed at the...

Ministry of Sound in grooming line.(contract with The Core Business )(Brief article)
July 5, 2006... Ministry of Sound has tied up with personal care company The Core Business to create a range of branded grooming products for men and women. The men's line, which will include hair, skin, sun and shaving products, will be marketed under...

Asda unveils healthy Go Cook! meal kits.(Brief article)
July 5, 2006... Asda is boosting its healthy eating and own-brand offerings with the launch of a meal-kits line to replace its Meals Made Easy range. The kits, branded Go Cook!, contain pre-measured ingredients for meals that consumers prepare in the home...

Nationwide poised to create digital roster.
July 5, 2006... Nationwide Building Society has contacted up to four agencies in a review of its digital agency arrangements, with a view to appointing its first digital roster. It currently uses online advertising agency Tangozebra for its online...

News brief: Mastercard International rebrands.(Brief article)
July 5, 2006... MasterCard International has rebranded as MasterCard WorldWide and launched a new corporate logo and tagline, 'The heart of commerce'. The logo, which adds an interlocking circle to the two currently used, will not appear on MasterCard-branded...

News brief: Edrington Group reviews account.(advertising contracts)(Brief article)
July 5, 2006... The Edrington Group is reviewing the u2m media planning and buying account for its Famous Grouse whisky brand. The business is currently held by PHD.

News brief: PartyGaming prepares campaign.(Brief article)
July 5, 2006... PartyGaming is preparing a TV, press and online campaign to back the launch of its backgammon site, Partybackgammon.com. The gaming company is also looking at opportunities in sports betting.

News brief: BBC appoints Tamba Internet.(British Broadcasting Corp)(Brief article)
July 5, 2006... The BBC has appointed digital marketing specialist Tamba Internet to its new-media roster. The agency has previously created a number of viral campaigns for the BBC on a project basis.

News brief: New proposals from Gambling Commission.(labeling machines)(Brief article)
July 5, 2006... Fruit-machine operators will have to label all their slot machines with information on where players get help for problems with gambling from September 2007 under new proposals from the Gambling Commission.

News brief: Infuzions hires Mercieca to launch Zipp.(Brief article)
July 5, 2006... Infuzions has hired Mercieca to launch its Zipp range of premium functional drinks aimed at women aged 18-45. Fruit-based variants Slenderize and Vitalize, which include vitamins and minerals, will be supported by a press advertising and...

News brief: Shopping.com retains Exposure after review.(advertising contracts)(Brief article)
July 5, 2006... Shopping.com, the price-comparison website, has retained incumbent agency Exposure following a review of its online customer acquisition account. The agency has been briefed to boost traffic to the website.

News brief: Williamt Grant & Sons hires global brand director.
July 5, 2006... William Grant & Sons, the distiller, has hired Julie Page as global brand director for The Balvenie malt whisky brand. Page joins from consultancy Cubo.

Reckitt Benckiser to pool u400m account.(advertising contract given to Euro RSCG)(Brief article)
July 5, 2006... Reckitt Benckiser has consolidated its u400m global advertising business into Euro RSCG, axing JWT from its roster. The appointment of a single agency is a surprise; when the firm called the review in March, it was thought to be looking to...

Sainsbury's to offer in-store GP services.(government's plans)(Brief article)
July 5, 2006... Sainsbury's is to press ahead with plans to offer medical consultations in its stores, despite criticism from the British Medical Association (BMA). The BMA has been vociferous in denouncing the government's plans to outsource...

Special K seals David Lloyd tie.(advertising campaign)(Brief article)
July 5, 2006... Kellogg's Special K is teaming up with David Lloyd Leisure for an online drive promoting the government's 'Commit to get fit' campaign. The deal, struck by partnership marketing agency Mediator, is intended to bolster the cereal brand's...

New campaign: Bold.(advertising laundry products)(Brief article)
July 5, 2006... Bold is extending its current campaign with a TV ad promoting its 2in1 Apple Blossom and Lime Zest laundry detergent and softener, which launched in January. The 40-second execution, entitled 'Vintage top', breaks on Friday. It shows a...

This week: Marketing news from the national press.(promoting brands)(Brief article)
July 5, 2006... Matalan's non-executive directors will this week challenge chairman John Hargreaves to give firm details of the offer he has indicated he is considering for the retailer - The Independent The National Lottery Commission has opened the...

Media News: DWP gives fraud job to MindShare.(Department for Work and Pensions )(Brief article)
July 5, 2006... The Department for Work and Pensions has hired MindShare to handle its u3.5m communications planning account, as it continues to tackle benefit fraud. The agency appointment was handled by the COI, which is planning a campaign highlighting...

Media News: Babylicious runs debut TV activity.
July 5, 2006... Babylicious, the manufacturer of frozen baby and toddler food, is planning its first TV ad campaign. The activity, created by Viacom Brand Solutions, will educate consumers about where to find the products in supermarkets. Although the...

Media News: A&L seeks shop for u30m media work.(Alliance & Leicester)(Brief article)
July 5, 2006... Alliance & Leicester has called a winner-takes-all pitch for its media planning and buying account, estimated to be worth u30m. The business is currently split between MediaVest Manchester and Carat, but the bank is planning to consolidate...

Media choice: The Guardian.(Letter to the editor)
July 5, 2006... It has won awards for its journalism, design and online version, and is the most eye-catching newspaper in today's cut-throat market. Its circulation figures are equally impressive. When I was a politics student, I always found this paper...

Media News brief: Yahoo! signs deal.
July 5, 2006... Yahoo! has signed a deal to offer search, messenger, mail and mobile-web services to subscribers to mobile network 3 worldwide.

Media News brief: Trinity Mirror signs up to 'e-vouchering' system.(Brief article)
July 5, 2006... Trinity Mirror has signed up to use Thomson Intermedia's 'e-vouchering' system across its portfolio of regional newspapers. E-vouchering provides online proof that ads have been published.

Media News brief: GCap Media hires Keira Knightley.(Brief article)
July 5, 2006... GCap Media has hired actress Keira Knightley to front an hour-long special, which will be broadcast on more than 40 stations on The One and Century FM networks. The show will be transmitted tomorrow (Thursday).

Media News brief: Trinity Mirror announces ad revenues.(advertising)(Brief article)
July 5, 2006... Trinity Mirror has announced that its like-for-like ad revenues for the 26-week period to 2 July declined 10.6% on last year. Further declines in adspend are expected in all categories other than property.

Media News brief: UTV sells Q96 to rival.
July 5, 2006... UTV has sold Scottish radio station Q96 to rival Real Radio, which is owned by Guardian Media Group.

Media News brief: BBC Worldwide announces record profits.(Brief article)
July 5, 2006... BBC Worldwide, the commercial arm of the BBC, has announced record profits of u89.4m for the last financial year, a 62% increase on the previous year.

Media News brief: Times Educational Supplement to undergo relaunch.(Brief article)
July 5, 2006... Times Educational Supplement is undergoing a u5m relaunch including a redesign, a new magazine and a bigger website. TES was acquired by Exponent Private Equity from News International in 2005.

Media News brief: BBC World Cup wesite receives 200m page impressions.(British Broadcasting Corp.)(Brief article)
July 5, 2006... The BBC World Cup website has received 200m page impressions during the first two weeks of the World Cup. An additional 4.6m viewers have accessed BBCi on digital TV during the tournament.

Media News brief: BT signs content deal.(British Telecommunications's contract with Momentum Distributors)(Brief article)
July 5, 2006... BT has signed a content deal with film distributor Momentum Distributors for its TV service, BT Vision. The distributor's catalogue includes Vera Drake and Lost in Translation.

Branding News: Lottery adds Olympic draw.(Camelot's advertising by Interbrand)(Brief article)
July 5, 2006... Camelot has unveiled the visual identity of its first National Lottery draw-based game to support the London 2012 Olympics. Called Dream Number, the game, which is subject to regulatory approval, is due for launch later this summer. ...

Branding News: Design choice - Neoxxline Carving Racket.(Letter to the editor)
July 5, 2006... If my CDT teacher had asked me to design something I used in one of my hobbies, but with special 'Tom' modifications, I would have created a double-header tennis racket, for simultaneous backhand and forehand volley action. Probably what I...

Branding News: Directgov set to overhaul portal.(Bostock and Pollitt is appointed)(Brief article)
July 5, 2006... The COI has appointed Bostock & Pollitt to oversee a rebrand of its Directgov portal. Directgov, which receives 2.7m visitors a month, is the central portal for public information about all government services. It became part of the COI in...

Branding News brief: Woolwich set to disappear from high street.(Brief article)
July 5, 2006... The Woolwich brand is set to disappear from the high street following a restructure of the business. Its branches will be rebranded Barclays UK Banking from February. However, the Woolwich brand will be retained for the bank's mortgage...

Branding News brief: Highgrove Food revamps milk brand.(Highgrove Food Distribution)(design agency Reach )(Brief article)
July 5, 2006... Highgrove Food Distribution has revamped its Breakfast Milk brand through design agency Reach to encourage trial. The pack features a gold plaque to communicate its premium positioning and an illustration of Jersey and Guernsey cows to convey...

Branding News brief: S4C hires Proud Creative.
July 5, 2006... S4C, the Welsh TV channel, has hired Proud Creative to rebrand it ahead of digital switchover in 2009.

Branding News brief: Ormonde Jayne work handled by Caulder Moore.(Brief article)
July 5, 2006... Ormonde Jayne, an upmarket perfumery, is introducing an OJ icon and updating the look of its Old Bond Street store and packaging to give it a more premium look. The work has been handled by Caulder Moore.

Branding News brief: Chatham House picks Spencer Du Bois.
July 5, 2006... Chatham House, the foreign policy think-tank, has picked branding agency Spencer Du Bois to design its corporate membership packs.

Branding News brief: Kelvingrove museum overhauls identity.(Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum)(Fitch)(Brief article)
July 5, 2006... The Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum in Glasgow has overhauled its identity through Fitch as part of a three-year refurbishment. The museum attracts over 1m visitors a year.

Branding News brief: Haymarket event to be held at the Oxford Belfry.
July 5, 2006... Haymarket's Packaging News Forum will be held from 6-8 November at the Oxford Belfry, Oxford. It offers packaging buyers and suppliers the opportunity to network. The forum is free, though places are limited. See www.packagingnews forum.co.uk,...

Direct News: Yo! Sushi plans loyalty drive.(marketing by DS-J )(Brief article)
July 5, 2006... Yo! Sushi has appointed direct marketing agency DS-J to handle the launch of its first loyalty programme. The agency, which won the business without a pitch, has been tasked with developing a series of online and offline CRM initiatives....

Direct News: Asrecommended adds motor title.(Brief article)
July 5, 2006... Asrecommended, the specialist direct-response magazines publisher, is adding a motoring title to its portfolio. The A5 magazine, targeting ABC1 car owners, will be delivered in September, a car-registration month, to more than 1m homes in...

Direct choice: Lurpak.(Letter to the editor)
July 5, 2006... The association this mailing makes between Lurpak and breakfast is spot-on and a good way to present sampling activity at train stations and retail outlets. The box design uses the product packaging and reinforces the brand. It brings a smile...

Direct News brief: Lloyds TSB launches direct campaign.(Brief article)
July 5, 2006... Lloyds TSB is launching a direct mail campaign, fronted by Risking it all presenter Martin Webb, to promote its Essential Business Insurance product. It intends to drive traffic to a microsite and will be supported by press and online...

Direct News brief: ING Direct promotes sponsorship.(Brief article)
July 5, 2006... ING Direct is promoting its sponsorship of the Royal Horticultural Society Family Month through a direct campaign created by Claydon Heeley. It is targeting head teachers of 200 primary schools.

Direct News brief: Red Letter Days runs insert campaign.(Brief article)
July 5, 2006... Red Letter Days is running an insert campaign to promote its range of 900 experiences. The inserts, created by marketing consultancy Dave, will appear in newspapers across the South-East.

Direct News brief: University of Edinburgh appeals for donations.(Brief article)
July 5, 2006... The University of Edinburgh is appealing to its worldwide alumni for donations. The university is targeting 30,000 former students with a direct mail campaign created by direct agency Story.

Direct News brief: Field & Trek appoints Pure360.com.
July 5, 2006... Field & Trek, the outdoor specialist, has appointed email marketing firm Pure360.com to drive traffic to its relaunched website, www.fieldandtrek.com.

Direct News brief: Prudential supports campaign launch.(Brief article)
July 5, 2006... Prudential is supporting the launch of its latest DRTV ad with a direct campaign through Tequila\London. It comprises radio, direct mail, door-drops, insurance guides, online and national press advertising.

Direct News brief: National Geographic hires The Insert House.(Brief article)
July 5, 2006... National Geographic has appointed The Insert House to develop its insert business in the UK. The agency has been briefed to recruit advertisers from a variety of sectors, including finance, charity and travel.

Retail News: Tesco website to sell kids' school clothes.(Brief article)
July 5, 2006... Tesco has upgraded its website Tesco.com to enable shoppers to buy children's back-to-school clothes online as part of a fresh push into the clothing sector. The retailer has been showcasing its clothing range on the site since April last...

Retail News: Co-op Bank first in group revamp.(Co-operative Bank )(Brief article)
July 5, 2006... The Co-operative Bank is preparing to overhaul the interior of its branches as part of the Co-operative Group's overall rebrand. The bank intends to modernise its 92 branches and change their interior layout. A Co-operative Bank spokesman...

Retail News: Superdrug runs festivals activity.(Brief article)
July 5, 2006... Superdrug is extending its links with music festivals after signing a deal with Scotland's T in the Park to create a brand experience in which women can test its cosmetics. 'Superdrug backstage', created by experiential agency LoewyBe, is...

Retail choice: Dollond & Aitchison, Regent Street.(Brief article)
July 5, 2006... The year was 2000; it was spring time in Paris. At the top end of the Champs Elysees, there it stood: Grand Optical, the flagship store of the GrandVision group, a collection of companies that includes Vision Express and Solaris. A...

Retail News brief: BMA attacks supermarket plans.(British Medical Association)(Brief article)
July 5, 2006... The British Medical Association has attacked plans for supermarket pharmacies to offer in-store GP-style healthcare as 'deplorable'. The body believes the stores' sales of products including alcohol, tobacco and junk food would undermine any...

Retail News brief: Fairtrade product sales increase.(Fairtrade Foundation )(Brief article)
July 5, 2006... Fairtrade Foundation product sales in the UK reached u195m last year, an increase of 40%, with sales on course to reach u200m in 2006. Global sales increased by more than a third to hit u758m in 2005.

Retail News brief: Harrods in pole position for retail site.(buildings)(Brief article)
July 5, 2006... Harrods is believed to be in pole position to take the main 12,000ft2 retail site in Heathrow's Terminal 5. Although Harrods has a number of airport stores, they have a limited range and mainly sell souvenirs. The new store's offering is likely...

Retail News brief: WH Smith plans to demerge distribution arm.(Brief article)
July 5, 2006... WH Smith has set out plans to demerge its newspaper and magazine distribution arm at the end of August. The distribution operation will be called Smiths News.

Retail News brief: Morrisons' business moves into positive growth.(Brief article)
July 5, 2006... Morrisons' business has moved into positive growth for the first time since it acquired Safeway in 2004. According to the latest TNS Worldpanel grocery market share figures, for the 12 weeks to 18 June, its share is up 2% to 11.3%.

Retail News brief: Somerfield hires Nunwood.
July 5, 2006... Somerfield has hired field marketing agency Nunwood to conduct mystery shopping at its stores as part of the retailer's ongoing 'Customer focus' shopping experience programme.

Retail News brief: Cardiff City FC names Joma as retail partner.(contracts)(Brief article)
July 5, 2006... Cardiff City Football Club has named Joma as its official retail partner. The Spanish sportswear manufacturer will design, develop, source and retail all of the club's merchandise. Joma was already the club's kit supplier.

Retail News brief: Hamleys to host launch.(product introduction)(Brief article)
July 5, 2006... Hamleys is to host the launch of a range of children's collectible toys called The Bogies. The launch, on 26 July, will include in-store events, competitions and prizes. The Bogies were designed by Piranha Studios.

Helen Dickinson on retail: Global ambitions, diplomatic tactics.(market research)
July 5, 2006... Venturing overseas has historically been a treacherous strategic move for retailers, but after numerous false starts by many companies over the years, we are now seeing a concerted effort by UK retailers to make their presence felt in other...