Marketing articles from July 2008

Marketing archives from July 2008

Smoking ban effectiveness called into question.(Survey)(Brief article)
July 2, 2008... The impact of the smoking ban has been called into question by Mintel, in a report that claims just 9% of smokers have given up in the past year. The study, published to coincide with the first anniversary of the ban, also says that the...

Tesco splits pricing strategy for clothes and food.(Brief article)
July 2, 2008... Tesco is bolstering its clothing offering with the launch of premium and fairtrade ranges, as it simultaneously continues to slash food prices. This week, Tesco has cut the prices of 3000 food items by up to 50%, but the supermarket, whose...

McDonald's plots 'educational' gift giveaway with Happy Meals.(Brief article)
July 2, 2008... McDonald's is planning a global overhaul of its Happy Meal toys as part of a wide-ranging push to improve the image of its flagship children's food offering among parents. The fast-food restaurant chain is developing a range of educational...

Sunday Times drops strapline.(Brief article)
July 2, 2008... The Sunday Times has replaced its strapline for the first time in 17 years. Communications will now feature the line 'The Sunday Times. For all you are'. It replaces the current tagline 'The Sunday Times is the Sunday papers', and will...

Sony BMG forges student event tie.(Sony BMG is partnering student travel company Spring Break UK)(Brief article)
July 2, 2008... Sony BMG is partnering student travel company Spring Break UK (SBUK) to promote up-and-coming artists and established stars. Travel and event company SBUK stages week-long live music events for students in Majorca, at which Sony BMG acts...

Whole Foods set for shift in focus.(Whole Foods Market Inc.)(Brief article)
July 2, 2008... Whole Foods Market, the organic superstore, aims to shed its image as a retailer of special-occasion produce. A drive repositioning it as a shop for everyday goods to rival Waitrose and Marks & Spencer, will launch this month. The work, by...

New campaign: ParalympicsGB.(Brief article)
July 2, 2008... BT and Sir Paul McCartney are launching a pounds 2m fundraising campaign with a superheroes theme for ParalympicsGB. Funds will support athletes at this summer's Beijing Games, and investment in the future of disability sport in the UK. The...

Turner hands top UK role to Dawe.(Turner Broadcasting Europe Ltd. has appointed Barnaby Dawe )(Brief article)
July 2, 2008... Turner Broadcasting has appointed former Heart FM managing director Barnaby Dawe as vice-president of marketing and communications across its entertainment brands in the UK. Dawe will oversee the strategy for brands including Cartoon...

Cadbury awards pounds 30m media job.(Cadbury Ltd. has appointed PHD)(Brief article)
July 2, 2008... Cadbury has appointed PHD to handle its pounds 30m media planning and buying account in the UK. The account moves from Starcom, which had held the business for the past six years. The UK pitch was part of a wider pan-European review of...

Subway adds Reggae Reggae-branded spicy sub.(Dragons' Den)(Brief article)
July 2, 2008... Subway is to sell a Reggae Reggae Chicken Sub in its UK outlets, having signed a deal with Dragons' Den entrepreneur Levi Roots enabling it to use his spicy sauce brand in its sandwiches. The Reggae Reggae Chicken Sub, which contains the...

Disney snaps up family gold spot in UK cinemas.(Brief article)
July 2, 2008... Disney has put cinema advertising at the heart of its marketing activity after securing one of the biggest commercial deals in cinema - the 'family gold spot'. Distributor Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment is taking on the prime...

Brands back XTP ad sites on Tube.(CBS Outdoor')(Brief article)
July 2, 2008... Nestle, Sky, Magners, Paramount, InBev and Dewynters have signed up as official launch partners of CBS Outdoor's cross-track projection service (XTP) on the London Underground. Giant screens carrying soundless commercial content in full...

Castrol signs as global sponsor of FIFA World Cup.
July 2, 2008... Castrol is to step up its involvement with football by becoming a global sponsor of the 2010 and 2014 FIFA World Cups. The motor oil and lubricants company made its football sponsorship debut this year by becoming one of 10 principal...

Multi-buy deals come under fire.
July 2, 2008... National Consumer Council claims supermarket promotions on HFSS foods have the biggest impact on obesity. Supermarkets have come under attack for contributing to the obesity crisis by running two-for-one offers on unhealthy foods. Anna...

Marketing body to list top brands.(Marketing Society )(Brief article)
July 2, 2008... The Marketing Society will celebrate its 50th anniversary next year by launching a website listing the country's best brands since 1959. The body is challenging the public to help create a year-by-year list for the site...

Littlewoods unveils pounds 4m ad campaign.(Littlewoods Shop Direct Group )(Brief article)
July 2, 2008... Littlewoods Shop Direct Group is launching a pounds 4m ad campaign promoting both its clothing and non-clothing ranges as it shifts away from a mail-order model to focus on its internet business. The activity, created by WCRS, marks a...

General Mills' UK chief in US move.(Linda Hipkiss)(Brief article)
July 2, 2008... General Mills UK marketing director Linda Hipkiss is leaving her post after seven years for a role in the company's US operations. Hipkiss leaves in September to take up the post of General Mills vice-president of international marketing,...

BBC appoints Davie to audio and music role.(British Broadcasting Corp. promoted Tim Davie)(Brief article)
July 2, 2008... Tim Davie, communications and marketing director at the BBC, has been promoted to director of audio and music. He will replace Jenny Abramsky, who is leaving the corporation after 39 years. Davie will take charge of an annual budget of more...

BAA set to push airport facilities.(Brief article)
July 2, 2008... BAA Group, the airport operator, is launching an ad campaign to promote its sites' facilities, shops, bars and restaurants. The activity, encompassing TV, radio, outdoor and press ads, breaks this week using the strapline 'To fly for'. ...

Domain ruling poses paid-search threat.(Brief article)
July 2, 2008... Advertisers' ability to have multiple 'top-level' domains could have disastrous consequences for paid-search advertising, according to industry experts. Following a ruling in Paris last week by industry body Icann (Internet Corporation for...

Thomas Cook picks agency for direct work.(Outside the Box)(Brief article)
July 2, 2008... Thomas Cook has hired Outside the Box to handle its direct business as part of an overhaul of its agency roster. The account includes the Thomas Cook, Going Places and Cresta brands, which were acquired by the firm as a result of its merger...

News brief: Orange to spend pounds 30m in the UK.(Brief article)
July 2, 2008... Orange is spending pounds 30m in the UK this year as part of the introduction of a global ad campaign, which uses the strapline 'I am' The ads break in the UK on 5 July.

News brief: Bernard Matthews hires Isobel.(Brief article)
July 2, 2008... Bernard Matthews has hired Isobel to its pounds 3m ad account following a pitch against Publicis and Hurrell Moseley Dawson and Grimmer. The account was previously held by Blac

News brief: Seat Ibiza signs deal to sponsor summer show.(Brief article)
July 2, 2008... Seat Ibiza has signed a cross-platform deal to sponsor a summer show on Living called Ibiza. The sponsorship, negotiated by ids, includes the online edition of the show and branded pages on Facebook, Bebo and MySpace

News brief: Vertu appoints De Beers marketing director.
July 2, 2008... Vertu, the luxury mobile phone business owned by Nokia, has appointed De Beers marketing director Hazel Kay as its global marketing director. She replaces Chris Harris who has moved to a new position at Nokia

News brief: EasyJet to run press campaign.(easyJet Airline Company Ltd.)(Brief article)
July 2, 2008... EasyJet is to run a press campaign to highlight its support for the government's replacement of the duty paid by passengers flying out of the UK. The ads, which will roll out nationally, will encourage the government to ignore protests from...

News brief: Danone Waters to send weekly email to retailers.
July 2, 2008... Danone Waters is to send a weekly email to retailers, called the 'Weatherman', which will feature a weather forecast and predictions for bottled-water sales

News brief: McArthurGlen appoints chief marketing officer.(appointment of Linda Tipping )(Brief article)
July 2, 2008... McArthurGlen, the shopping centre chain, has appointed Linda Tipping to the role of chief marketing officer. Tipping will be responsible for McArthurGlen's promotional strategy across its 16 European locations

News brief: Kangaroo referred to Competition Commission.(Brief article)
July 2, 2008... Kangaroo, the proposed video-on-demand service supported by BBC Worldwide, ITV and Channel 4, has been referred to the Competition Commission by the Office for Fair Trading for further enquiry

Media: Five backs summer shows.(Brief article)
July 2, 2008... Five is launching its biggest programme marketing campaign of the year, based on two summer commissions - Banged Up and Superstars. The broadcaster has billed Banged Up as a 'bold social experiment'. The series will feature 10 teenagers who...

Media: NSPCC revamps Your Family title.(National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children)(Brief article)
July 2, 2008... The NSPCC has refreshed its marketing activity through a redesign of its Your Family magazine and the roll-out of a TV campaign that aims to encourage more public donations. Your Family, a free title, has been overhauled by customer...

Media choice: Total Politics.(Brief article)
July 2, 2008... Total Politics is billed as a must-read political magazine. One can't fault the pedigree of the team behind it - it's the brainchild of political blogger and author Iain Dale - but I have to question whether we really need another political...

Media brief: BBC Global News reappoints Agency Republic.(British Broadcasting Corp.)(Brief article)
July 2, 2008... BBC Global News has reappointed Agency Republic and added Play to its global digital agency roster. Campaigns this year will promote a range of language programming and the World Service's 24-hour Arabic station

Media brief: Starbucks to sponsor Take 5.
July 2, 2008... Starbucks is to sponsor Take 5, Virginmedia.com's celebrity and entertainment portal, which features celebrity, fashion, beauty, travel and games news

Media brief: Bauer names editor-in-chief of FHM Digital.(Bauer Consumer Media appoints Chris Mooney)(Brief article)
July 2, 2008... Bauer Consumer Media has named Chris Mooney as editor-in-chief of FHM Digital. Mooney is currently the international editorial director of FHM and Arena, having led the roll-out of the latter in five countries

Media brief: Lovefilm ties with Johnston Press.(Cocktail Marketing)(Brief article)
July 2, 2008... Lovefilm, the online DVD rental and movie-download company, has tied up with Johnston Press. Under the deal, brokered by Cocktail Marketing, readers of Johnston Press newspapers and websites will be given a Lovefilm coupon for two free cinema...

Media brief: Freeview appoints Beattie McGuinness Bungay.(Beattie McGuinness Bungay )(Brief article)
July 2, 2008... Freeview has appointed Beattie McGuinness Bungay to handle its pounds 5m ad account after a three-way pitch against Wieden & Kennedy and St Luke's. BMB, which replaces DLKW on the account, will develop a campaign for Freeview's PVRs in the...

Media brief: Bauer Radio hires programmes manager for The Hits.(appointment of Steve Dunlop )(Brief article)
July 2, 2008... Bauer Radio has hired Steve Dunlop as programmes manager of its digital-only station, The Hits. He joins from Xfm and replaces Jamie Wood who has moved to Rock FM

Media brief: Hair magazine to refresh content and design.(Brief article)
July 2, 2008... Hair, the IPC beauty magazine, is to refresh its content and design from its August edition. The title's cover, logo and colour palette have all been overhauled

Branding: Britvic sets sights on European properties.(Britvic Soft Drinks Ltd.)(Brief article)
July 2, 2008... The UK soft-drinks market is likely to see an influx of brands from Northern and Western Europe, according to Britvic. The company, the second-biggest in the UK soft-drinks market, is looking at brands in the regions as part of a plan to...

Branding: Hotel Chocolat in expansion push.(Brief article)
July 2, 2008... Hotel Chocolat, the high-street confectionery chain, is ramping up its marketing strategy ahead of major expansion plans. The luxury chocolatier, which has 27 UK stores, is recruiting for a new board-level sales and merchandising director...

Branding: Littlewoods set to revamp Pools.(Brief article)
July 2, 2008... Betting firm Sportech has appointed Branded Moments of Truth to relaunch its Littlewoods Football Pools brand ahead of next month's start of the 2008/09 season. Its rebrand as The New Football Pools follows its merger with rival pools...

Branding: Design choice - Tesco eco shopping bags.(Brief article)
July 2, 2008... As a typical Northern lad whose mum did the weekly shop while dad messed about with cars in the garage, the idea of me giving an opinion on a woman's shopping bag - ecologically angelic or not - made me a little uncomfortable. However, I...

Branding brief: Superdrug launches cream to rival Boots' serum.
July 2, 2008... Superdrug has launched a cream to rival Boots' popular anti-ageing Perfect & Protect Beauty serum. Its Optimum Advanced Firm & Lift Perfecting Serum is priced pounds 9.95

Branding brief: Alpen adds variants to cereal bars range.(Brief article)
July 2, 2008... Alpen is adding two variants to its cereal bars range. Alpen Light Chocolate and Alpen Groove Ravishing Raspberry & Chocolate launch this month. It has also redesigned the packaging for its premium Alpen Groove bar range

Branding brief: Goodlife expands The Diner brand.(Goodlife Foods Ltd.)(Brief article)
July 2, 2008... Goodlife, a restaurant group that owns Hoxton Square Bar & Kitchen, has expanded its 50s US-style bar and restaurant brand, The Diner. The third outlet, in Camden, has a roof terrace

Branding brief: The Sanctuary appoints iD.(Sanctuary Spa Group Ltd.)(Brief article)
July 2, 2008... The Sanctuary, the spa brand, has appointed iD to create a branded 'spa dome' for its 30th birthday tour. Visiting seven cities, the tour will deliver more than 40,000 complimentary product samples and 'express' versions of its treatments

Branding brief: Whistles to target women in mid-20s.(Brief article)
July 2, 2008... Whistles is to target women in their mid-20s with a collection of 'pared-down classics with a twist' that launches in September. Chief executive Jane Shepherdson, who bought the fashion chain in January, wants to abandon the brand's signature...

Branding brief: House of Frazer to launch fresh store concept.(Brief article)
July 2, 2008... House of Fraser is to launch a fresh store concept at Cabot Circus in Bristol. The 170,000ft2 store is the first designed under the current management team and will anchor the pounds 500m development, which is set to open on 25 September

Branding brief: Moss Bros to target younger consumers.(Brief article)
July 2, 2008... Moss Bros, the menswear chain, is to target younger, fashion-conscious consumers, refurbish its estate and offer more premium brands as part of a three-year turnaround plan following an aborted bid for the company by Icelandic investor Baugur

Branding brief: Breastcancer.org gets logo redesign.(Brief article)
July 2, 2008... Breastcancer.org has redesigned its logo through Siegel & Gale as part of a website overhaul. The intertwined pink ribbons forming a circle will appear on all the charity's brand communications

Direct: Waitrose plans Food Heroes store activity.(Brief article)
July 2, 2008... Waitrose is backing the launch of its Food Heroes line with a nationwide in-store marketing drive. The range, which promotes the retailer's relationship with local and regional suppliers, comprises nearly 150 products, from sea salt and...

Direct: Moneycorp brief goes to Inferno.(Brief article)
July 2, 2008... Moneycorp Group, the specialist foreign exchange firm, has appointed Inferno to its pounds 3m international marketing communications account. The agency has been tasked with overhauling the brand and creating promotional activity,...

Direct: WWF aims work at legacy donors.(WWF UK )(Brief article)
July 2, 2008... WWF UK is launching an acquisition campaign to attract more supporters to its legacy fundraising scheme. The initial activity has been created by Cheltenham agency Tangible Response; planning is through Trinity Communications. Building...

Direct choice: Land Rover.(Land Rover UK Ltd.)(Brief article)
July 2, 2008... There are many ways to sell a Land Rover, but I've always thought that the best way to start is by getting into the head of your prospective audience. This well-executed piece of direct mail takes that philosophy literally, and relies on a...

Direct brief: Rob Brydon to star in Globrix campaign.(Brief article)
July 2, 2008... Globrix, the property search engine, is launching an integrated campaign starring comedian Rob Brydon. The activity will include national radio work and be supported by print work

Direct brief: Virgin Media mailing draws complaints to ASA.(Advertising Standards Authority (United Kingdom))(Brief article)
July 2, 2008... A Virgin Media mailing featuring a bullet hole has drawn 10 complaints to the ASA. The mailing, in a plain white envelope, gives no clue as to the identity of the advertiser and features a bullet hole surrounded by burn marks

Direct brief: TheDrinkShop.com joins Maximiles.(Brief article)
July 2, 2008... TheDrinkShop.com has joined online coalition loyalty scheme Maximiles. It will be TheDrinkShop's exclusive loyalty partner; the tie is intended to boost sales by rewarding customers for purchases

Direct brief: Honda to roll out direct drive.(Honda Australia Proprietary Ltd.)(Brief article)
July 2, 2008... Honda is rolling out a direct drive that will culminate in an experiential push. A selection of prospective customers will be invited to weekend events at a country house, where they will be able to test-drive cars and take advantage of treats,...

Direct brief: HSA criticised by ASA for misleading claims.
July 2, 2008... HSA has been criticised by the Advertising Standards Authority for making misleading claims in a DRTV spot for its health-insurance plans

Direct brief: Kopparberg to run ad campaign at festival.(Kopparbergs Bryggeri AB)(Brief article)
July 2, 2008... Kopparberg, the Swedish cider brand, will run experiential marketing activity at the Camp Bestival and Connect Festival this summer. The activity will be its first in the UK and be supported by billboards, building wraps, online ads and an...

Direct brief: First Choice Holidays seeks direct shop.(WDMP)(Brief article)
July 2, 2008... First Choice Holidays is seeking a direct shop and has approached several agencies regarding the brief. WDMP, which was hired to handle a CRM project last year, will be involved in the review

Direct brief: Natural History Museum hires Krow Communications.(Brief article)
July 2, 2008... The Natural History Museum has hired Krow Communications to drive visitors to its Charles Darwin 200th Anniversary exhibition in November The agency was appointed following a review handled by the AAR.

Digital: Bounty rolls out web TV parents channel.(www.bounty.tv)(Brief article)
July 2, 2008... Parenting website Bounty.com is broadening its offer with the launch of an online TV portal, www.bounty.tv. Films featured on the site will span a range of issues relating to five categories: planning a pregnancy, pregnancy, birth, first...

Digital: RAF in film drive to lure recruits.(Brief article)
July 2, 2008... The RAF is launching a 'warts-and-all' online film series portraying life in the field in a bid to attract suitable recruits. The film, created by LIDA, follows II Squadron of the RAF Regiment in Basra, Iraq. Episodes will illustrate...

Digital: ECB adds online youth presence.(England and Wales Cricket Board )(Brief article)
July 2, 2008... The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) is developing an online strategy to help it engage with younger fans. The ECB currently communicates directly to the youth market only through its coaching network in school and club environments....

Digital choice: MyMagnum.co.uk.(Nails Inc)(Brief article)
July 2, 2008... Once, ice creams were divided into two categories: a 99 with a Flake, or a 99 without a Flake. Aside from the foreign-sounding, but defiantly everyday tutti frutti, ice cream's first tentative steps into the exotic extended no further than...

Digital brief: Sunsilk rolls out campaign by Jam.(Brief article)
July 2, 2008... Sunsilk, the haircare brand, is rolling out a global user-generated content campaign created by Jam. The activity will invite women to submit footage of themselves telling personal stories about life-changing moments, related to the theme 'life...

Digital brief: BUPA appoints TH_NK as adviser.(British United Provident Association Ltd.)(Brief article)
July 2, 2008... BUPA has appointed digital agency TH_NK to act as its adviser as it develops its digital strategy for 2012 and beyond. TH_NK has begun research into all areas of BUPA's digital business, from websites and online marketing to the technology...

Digital brief: Responsibletravel.com launched this week.(Ethical Travel Directory)(Brief article)
July 2, 2008... Responsibletravel.com, an affiliate scheme launched this week by Ethical Travel Directory, offers partners the opportunity to add its ads, articles and content to their sites and earn money from bookings made by users referred from their sites

Digital brief: Flexicover hires Crayon.(Brief article)
July 2, 2008... Flexicover, the travel insurer, has hired Crayon to handle its email marketing and redesign its portfolio of UK websites. The appointment follows a three-month trial period

Digital brief: Simon Gunning leaves post at EMI.(Brief article)
July 2, 2008... EMI senior vice-president of digital Simon Gunning has left his post after a year. Gunning took up the role last July with responsibility for EMI's UK labels

Digital brief: Dixons launches sponsored group on Facebook.(Brief article)
July 2, 2008... Dixons has launched a sponsored group on social networking site Facebook. The page provides consumers with reviews and videos of its latest products, as well as exclusive competitions and discounts

Digital brief: COI hires Mook.(Brief article)
July 2, 2008... The COI has hired digital agency Mook to handle online marketing for the Department of Health HPV (human papillomavirus) vaccine programme, which will help protect girls against cervical cancer

Digital brief: Correction.(Correction notice)
July 2, 2008... The Co-operative Bank's 'Good with money' paid search campaign was created by Greenlight, and not CFS (Marketing, 25 June)

Andrew Walmsley on digital: Is marketing still fit for purpose?
July 2, 2008... Mass-marketing emerged to deal with distance - to bring products from a marketing department in one city to small towns in Idaho and Italy. Brands were a tool of that process, a 'wrapper' for all the rational and emotional attributes of a...

News Analysis: Whole Foods eyes the everyday.(Whole Foods Market Inc.)
July 2, 2008... The US retailer, yet to turn a profit at its London store, is adopting a more mainstream strategy. Whole Foods Market, the US grocery chain, arrived in London's affluent Kensington High Street last June to a fanfare of publicity. The...

News Analysis: Cars remain the star.(Industry overview)
July 2, 2008... Despite the pressures on automotive marketing its exponents remain upbeat about the challenge. Given recent government announcements that restrict car marketing, such as the Department for Transport's ruling that print and poster ads must...

Raymond Snoddy on media: Glut of reports devalues their findings.(Survey)
July 2, 2008... High-quality research reports are like buses - you wait ages for one, then several turn up at once. You can't fault the energy of all the media industry bodies churning out respectable research proving quite categorically that their medium...

Media Analysis: Could second helpings choke TV?(Company rankings)
July 2, 2008... Spin-offs extend the mileage of popular shows, but they may not be a safe bet in the long term. Spin-off shows are nothing new. It is more than 20 years since Channel 4 created TV history with the first 'soap bubble' when it span-off three...

Brand Health Check: Milkybar.
July 2, 2008... Nestle's kids' chocolate brand has been hit by HFSS ad restrictions and childhood obesity fears. Milkybar, a brand inextricably linked to the enduring image of a benevolent, bespectacled boy wearing a cowboy hat, has, perhaps inevitably,...

Mark Ritson on branding: Chickens came first in Tesco descent.
July 2, 2008... Terry Leahy is an intelligent man. He must have realised that, just as Sainsbury's lost the leadership of the supermarket category in the 90s, Tesco's unprecedented market share would one day come to an end. It is unlikely, however, that he...

Profile: Facing the music - John Mills, Managing director, Gaymer Cider Company.
July 2, 2008... He may be hitting 50 this autumn, but Gaymer Cider Company's John Mills is still getting down with the kids. Last month, he was hanging out with moshers at the Download festival, while last weekend was spent at Glastonbury. 'They look like...

Adwatch: Fox's Biscuits - 'Good stuff'.(Brief article)
July 2, 2008... Is it a panda, is it a dog? Neither, according to those who know. It's a Danda: so named because, apparently, the client didn't want a panda. And that sums up my feelings about this ad - I worry it's neither one thing nor the other. The...