Marketing articles from July 2009

Marketing archives from July 2009

Premier League Readies 'Theme Park' World Tour
July 29, 2009... The Premier League is to launch a global exhibition called Premier League Park, a touring theme park featuring exhibition games between England's top club sides. The park would be aimed at promoting the Premier League internationally. ...

Co-op calls pitch for pounds 16m ad account.(Co-operative Group Ltd.)(advertising)(Brief article)
July 29, 2009... The Co-operative Group is reviewing its pounds 16m brand advertising account, which is held by McCann Erickson. The review is being handled by The Co-operative's executive director of marketing, Patrick Allen, and Debbie Robinson, director of...

Lewis moves to Times role.(Alex Lewis)(Brief article)
July 29, 2009... News International (NI) has appointed Alex Lewis, director of marketing for the BSkyB network, as marketing director for The Times and The Sunday Times. She will report to NI chief marketing officer Jeremy Schwartz. Lewis was at BSkyB for...

P&G Tackles Discounter Threat with Simply Dry
July 29, 2009... Pampers is taking a bold but calculated risk with value nappies. Procter & Gamble has launched into the value sector with a lower-priced product under its Pampers babycare brand. The Simply Dry range highlights a notable change in...

Yahoo! Eyes TV Return with Heavyweight Push
July 29, 2009... Yahoo! has pledged to end its hiatus from TV advertising as part of a multimillion-pound marketing strategy over the next year. The internet company intends to launch discussions with agencies this summer. It currently works with Ogilvy and...

BT Consumer shifts digital task to AMV.
July 29, 2009... BT Consumer has consolidated its online advertising account into its offline agency Abbott Mead Vickers BBDO. It is the first time BT has merged its online and offline advertising into a single agency. The agency won the business following a...

Brit Insurance in cricket deal.(Brief article)
July 29, 2009... Brit Insurance is to become the principal sponsor of the England cricket team. The insurance company, which will replace Vodafone, becomes only the third shirt sponsor in the team's history. The four-year deal, which covers the men's and...

Warburtons drops BBH.(Bartle Bogle Hegarty Ltd.)(Brief article)
July 29, 2009... Warburtons has split with its ad agency of 12 years, Bartle Bogle Hegarty (BBH), and put its advertising account out to pitch. Last October, BBH led a heavyweight marketing push designed to promote Warburtons as 'Britain's favourite baker' as...

The Week in Marketing
July 29, 2009... - GM assigns UK ads. General Motors has consolidated its pounds 30m UK retail advertising business into McCann Birmingham. The account, covering the Vauxhall, Chevrolet and Saab brands, was previously handled by DLKW and BMB McCann Birmingham...

Sky Sports plots ESPN response.(British Sky Broadcasting Group PLC. Sky Sports)(Brief article)
July 29, 2009... Sky Sports is to run a brand campaign to reinforce its channel identity following US broadcaster ESPN's decision to begin showing UK sports. ESPN, which picked up Setanta's rights to show Barclays Premier League matches after the latter's...

Ambi Pur in scent line tie.(Brief article)
July 29, 2009... Ambi Pur has secured a partnership with National Geographic to launch a range of air-freshener products. The National Geographic collection of scents is 'inspired by the world', according to Sara Lee, which owns the Ambi Pur brand. It will be...

VBS pushes Hasbro game.
July 29, 2009... Viacom Brand Solutions (VBS), has tied up with Hasbro to promote an active outdoors game for children. The cable channel sales house will run a four-week campaign for Nerf's Dart Tag on Nickelodeon. The 40-second TV spot will be supported...

Media Road Test - Teletextholidays.co.uk.(Brief article)
July 29, 2009... - What's new? Teletext is focusing solely on its holiday websites, the best-known of which is teletext-holidays.co.uk. The site acts as a retailer enabling users to fill in the details of their preferred holiday and search through offers and...

Five cuts budget for programmes.(FiveTV)(Brief article)
July 29, 2009... Five has cut its budget for programmes by 25% in the face of declining advertising revenues. The broadcaster has allocated pounds 165m for productions this calendar year, down from pounds 220m in 2008. -------------------- Did you find...

BBC Worldwide signs partnership.(Shine Television)(Brief article)
July 29, 2009... BBC Worldwide has signed a three-year revenue-share partnership to handle the MasterChef brand for producers Shine Television. The licensing programme includes live events, products, publishing and online activity. -------------------- Did...

Goodstuff wins planning account.(Gamesys Group)(Jackpot Joy)(Brief article)
July 29, 2009... Goodstuff, the communications planning specialist, has won Gamesys Group's planning account for the Jackpot Joy online gambling site. It was appointed following a joint pitch with ad agency start-up Campbell Lace Beta. -------------------- ...

COI reviews media buying requirements.(Central Office of Information)(Brief article)
July 29, 2009... The COI is reviewing its pounds 211m media buying requirements, with a view to consolidating the account. The business is currently shared between Carat, Starcom, MediaCom, i-level and Posterscope. -------------------- Did you find this...

The History Channel relaunches websites.(A&E Television Networks)(Brief article)
July 29, 2009... The History Channel (UK), a joint venture between A&E Television Networks and BSkyB, has relaunched its History and Military History websites, which will now feature a video-on-demand service. -------------------- Did you find this...

Sony Ericsson to add logo colours.(Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications AB)(Brief article)
July 29, 2009... Sony Ericsson is to refresh its brand identity by using coloured variations of its brand logo for the first time. It marks the first significant change to its green 'liquid identity' since the formation of the joint venture between Sony and...

Pret revamps drinks cans.(Pret A Manger Europe Ltd.)(Brief article)
July 29, 2009... Pret A Manger has revamped the can design for its Pure Pret sparkling juice drinks to focus on their natural ingredients. The range includes variants such as Grape & Elderflower, Ginger Beer and Yoga Detox Bunny. The cans, which carry...

Directgov in agency hiring.(Thompson Brand Partners)(Brief article)
July 29, 2009... Directgov has appointed Thompson Brand Partners to revamp its visual identity. The design agency won a four-way pitch against The Brand Union, Dragon Rouge and Start Creative (Marketing, 8 July). The review was overseen by Directgov...

Brand in the news - Stilton.(Brief article)
July 29, 2009... It is not easy to change the demographic appeal of your product. To succeed, brands need a deep-rooted, authentic attitude that is both credible and engaging. Chef and brand ambassador Gizzi Erskine may be beautiful, talented and funky, but...

Amoy adds variants to noodle range.(Brief article)
July 29, 2009... Amoy, the Chinese food brand, is adding two variants to its range of infused Straight to Wok Noodles. The Chilli and Garlic & Coriander-flavour noodles will be priced pounds 1.55 a pack. -------------------- Did you find this article...

Young's rolls out first wheat, gluten and dairy-free products.(Brief article)
July 29, 2009... Young's Seafood is rolling out its first wheat-, gluten- and dairy-free products, starting with Young's Free From Fish Fingers. The 300g packs of 10 will be available at Morrisons, Tesco and Asda. Young's plans to extend the range later in the...

Claims Direct refreshes visual identity.(GraphicoDMG)(Brief article)
July 29, 2009... Claims Direct, the personal injury-claim service, is refreshing its visual identity. The revamp will be supported by an ad campaign created by incumbent agency GraphicoDMG. -------------------- Did you find this article useful? Why not...

Weetabix Food Company launches range of snack bars.(Brief article)
July 29, 2009... The Weetabix Food Company is launching a range of snack bars aimed at children. The Oaty bars packaging, designed by branding agency Springetts, will show the products' natural ingredients and an animated character to appeal to children. ...

Lacoste updates packaging through Odd.(Brief article)
July 29, 2009... Lacoste, the fashion brand, has updated its packaging and point-of-sale materials through design agency Odd. The packaging, to be rolled out over the next three months, is intended to capture a sense of sport and movement. ...

Match.com kicks off agency review.(Brief article)
July 29, 2009... Match.com is holding discussions with advertising agencies as it reviews its marketing strategy and agency arrangements for next year. The online dating site's ad account is held by Hanft Raboy and Partners, and its media buying business by...

Habitat plans digital mag.(Brief article)
July 29, 2009... Habitat, the home furnishings retailer, has appointed Fitzgerald Shurey Tarbuck (FST) to launch an eCRM programme and digital magazine. FST, hired following a pitch, will produce a monthly email newsletter and microsite, due to launch next...

Direct choice - ING.(Brief article)
July 29, 2009... ING tells us that saving feels good, and that going green can feel just as good. If a customer opts for clean, green electronic communications, rather than nasty crinkly paper, the shredded and pulped flesh of once mighty and noble trees,...

Cadbury plots charity drive.(Brief article)
July 29, 2009... Cadbury has tasked digital agency Weapon7 with developing a strategy to promote its partnership with the Make-A-Wish Foundation. The confectionery brand has briefed Weapon7 to drive donations to help children fighting life-threatening...

Facebook introduces range of ad features.(Brief article)
July 29, 2009... Facebook has introduced a range of ad features. These will allow brands to connect with fans on an advertiser's page or group, target people in several countries, and send gifts and offers to users on their birthdays. -------------------- ...

Toyota launches campaign to promote Verso MPV.(Toyota Motor Manufacturing UK Ltd.)(Brief article)
July 29, 2009... Toyota is launching a direct and email campaign to promote its Verso MPV. The campaign, which was created by Kitcatt Nohr Alexander Shaw, carries the strapline 'Perfect for couples who've had a couple, or a couple more'. --------------------...

Twitter launches beginner's guide for brands.(Brief article)
July 29, 2009... Twitter has launched a beginner's guide for brands, intended to attract businesses still unsure about how to use the service. Twitter 101 aims to show how customers and brands get value from Twitter. It includes case studies from Pepsi and Dell....

Yell.com launches online video channel.(VideoJug)(Brief article)
July 29, 2009... Yell.com has launched an online video channel featuring consumer guides after a deal with VideoJug. Thousands of videos will be added to the online directory, with information on topics ranging from 'How to buy a used car' to 'How to make your...

Kelkoo signs international advertising deal with Google.
July 29, 2009... Kelkoo, the shopping comparison site, has signed an international advertising deal with Google. Under the tie-up, sponsored ad links will be displayed on Kelkoo's product search results pages for its 10 European sites. The deal should give...

Andrew Walmsley on Digital: A Point of Social Etiquette
July 29, 2009... Social networking is not the same as social networks - a difference that brands ignore at their peril. Can big brands crash the social networking party? It's a question that is taxing digital specialists and brand managers alike. With more...

The Thinkboxes Winner for June 2009: Pure TV Brilliance from Heinz
July 29, 2009... The June Thinkboxes winner is a simple, yet effective, idea, which reminds consumers of the vital part that Heinz Tomato Ketchup plays at meal times. The ad, entitled 'Bottle' and created by ad agency Abbott Mead Vickers BBDO, is notable...

Ahead of the Games
July 29, 2009... As the Olympic site is taking shape, so too are London 2012's sponsorship deals, writes Ed Kemp. With three years to go, preparations for the Olympics are on time and on budget, according to the latest London 2012 Games Quarterly Economic...

Starbucks' Fresh Brew
July 29, 2009... Will the coffee chain's trial of unbranded shops bolster the core brand or backfire, asks Amy Golding. At the end of this week, global coffee chain Starbucks will begin trials of an unbranded store in its US home-town of Seattle. One of...

Standing Alone, Together
July 29, 2009... UKTV is struggling to balance its rebrands with the need for a coherent identity. With 90% of the UK population now plugged into digital TV, the electronic programme guide (EPG) has become the Ordnance Survey map of the broadcasting...

Mark Kleinman on Marketing and the City: Flying Close to the Sun
July 29, 2009... Ryanair might get away with ignoring customer service now, but what about post-recession? To call Michael O'Leary, the chief executive of Ryanair, a successful, if maverick, businessman, would be as big an understatement as suggesting that...

Borders
July 29, 2009... The bookshop chain is struggling with falling sales in the face of digital competition. The heavy press coverage of the woes afflicting bookseller Borders will not be making easy reading for its directors. The company is operating in an...

Mark Ritson on Branding: Industry in Ferment
July 29, 2009... Ten years of astounding export sales growth has set Australian winemakers up for an almighty fall. In 1996 the Australian government's wine authority set an ambitious 30-year sales target. Imagine its delight when that goal was reached a full...

Adwatch 29.07.09.(Statistical table)(Survey)
July 29, 2009... Marketing's unique weekly analysis of advertisement recall in association with tns. Q Which of the following TV commercials do you remember seeing recently? 22.07 Brand Agency/TV buyer % 1 ...

Adwatch 29.07.09: Virgin Media
July 29, 2009... The campaign lacks the fresh touch that is characteristic of so many Virgin brands. The action is changing for Virgin's mobile phone business. Ten years ago, the brand launched as a value operator. It morphed into a successful youth brand...

Profile: Banking on Rebuilding Trust
July 29, 2009... Helen Page, managing director for marketing and innovation, UK retail, at RBS is upbeat about her unenviable task. Interview by Alex Brownsell. Helen Page, the managing director for marketing and innovation, UK retail, at RBS, has the dubious...

Opinion: The Marketing Society Forum - Is the Era of the Discount Label Now over in Food Retail?
July 29, 2009... According to Tesco, fewer of its customers are dropping premium, ethical and organic lines in favour of cheaper alternatives, suggesting savvy consumers may be turning their backs on discount goods. NO - SIDONIE KINGSMILL, FOOD MARKETING...

Editor's Comment: P&G Puts Premium on Value
July 29, 2009... Procter & Gamble's launch of a cheaper product under its existing Pampers brand marks the beginning of a new phase in the company's history in the UK. It is, however, the result of a strategy put in place five years ago. It is also likely to...

Retrospective: Tim Ambler - a Career of Marketing Excellence
July 29, 2009... David Benady looks back on the marketing academic's career and gets his views on the future of the discipline, while Mark Ritson offers an appreciation of the influential writer, researcher and teacher. The retirement of marketing academic...

Loyalty at a Premium
July 29, 2009... The advent of price-comparison websites is levelling the playing field as motor insurance providers compete for market share. The way we buy motor insurance has changed significantly over the past few years. Thanks to the advent of...

PR: Special Report - A Measure of PR Success
July 29, 2009... No matter how successful a PR campaign appears, marketers still struggle to measure the results effectively. Claire Murphy asks the experts whether an answer will ever be found to the industry's perennial Achilles heel. Discussing the...

PR: Special Report - PR Agencies Suffer Digital Jet Lag
July 29, 2009... Internet marketing agencies are breaking new ground by using edgy, social media-led campaigns. Becky Wilkerson reports on whether PR agencies are as well-equipped to push brands online. Tempted to apply for the 'Best Job in the World'?...

Helpline
July 29, 2009... We take the hassle out of finding the right product or service - you ask the question, we'll provide the answer. TAKE YOU TO THEM Q: We want to give some of our clients a gift that can also showcase our work. Could you recommend someone...

What It's Really like Inside: The Lady
July 29, 2009... - How do you come up with new marketing ideas? An impromptu, informal meeting is called and the marketing team brainstorms. - What are the perks? Our brand is one of the oldest in its sector and we take pride in our publication. There...

Brand Manager of the Week: Ben Pratchett, Brand Manager, CORGI
July 29, 2009... - Describe yourself in three words. Effulgent, pernickety, Machiavellian. - How would you define marketing? Akin to the Jedi mind trick. - What would you be if you weren't a brand manager? Less annoying. - What advice would you...

Me & My Mentor: Paul Nicholls, Marketing director, Gerber Juice Company.(Brief article)
July 29, 2009... My inspirational colleague and unofficial mentor is a crazy multilingual Dutchman from Suriname called Peter Van As. I worked alongside Peter in Argentina in the 90s, as part of the Lipton soft-drinks team. Peter, who is now managing director...

Marketing Mole: Who Does Google Think You Are? - Nick Fell, Group Marketing Director, SABMiller
July 29, 2009... - The first result links to a blog by another Nick Fell, of Ogilvy. - The second listing pushes to SABMiller's Nick Fell's management profile. - The third and fourth results are for LinkedIn profiles, the first for Ogilvy's Fell. - The...

Marketing Mole: Name that brand.(Brief article)
July 29, 2009... This fashion brand was created in Kensington in 1964 by Barbara Hulanicki and her ad-man husband Stephen Fitzsimon. Celebrities such as Brigitte Bardot gave the brand wider appeal and it soon launched a mail-order catalogue. Can you name...

Marketing Mole: We'll Call You - Tesco Finance
July 29, 2009... Our savings have been under the mattress since the recession started, but perhaps now is the time to bank on the UK's biggest supermarket to take care of them. Tesco Hi there, you're through to Tesco Loans. How can I help? Mktg Sorry, I...

Government Draws Up 'Code Red' Flu Strategy
July 22, 2009... The government plans to implement a series of marketing campaigns to alleviate the growing sense of public unease surrounding the swine flu pandemic. The Department of Health (DoH), which has been working with the COI, also has plans in place...

COI leapfrogs P&G as biggest advertiser.(Procter & Gamble Co.'s advertising expenditures)(Brief article)
July 22, 2009... The government has become the UK's biggest advertiser, spending pounds 211m over the financial year 2008-09. The COI, which serves government departments and other public sector bodies, overtook Procter & Gamble, which spent pounds 176.2m...

GM assigns pounds 70m ad task.(General Motors Corp. appoints McCann-Erickson Inc. for its advertising account management)(Brief article)
July 22, 2009... General Motors (GM) has appointed McCann Erickson Frankfurt to handle the pounds 70m advertising account for the pan-European launch of its lastest Astra model. The agency picked up the business following a pitch against Lowe London and DLKW....

Spread of Swine Flu Puts Government to the Test
July 22, 2009... The pandemic is stretching public health marketing plans. As the number of swine flu deaths rises in the UK, critics are circling the government, ready to attack over its handling of the pandemic. The UK now has the third-highest number of...

UKTV weighs up return of parent brand.(UKTV Interactive Ltd.'s marketing and audience share )(Brief article)
July 22, 2009... UKTV is considering a U-turn by reinstating its brand on TV screens, little more than a month after it was dropped. The broadcaster, which is jointly owned by BBC Worldwide and Virgin Media, axed the UKTV logo from its channels as part of a...

Sainsbury's Backs 'Try' Push Via Green Button
July 22, 2009... Sainsbury's is to launch a series of recipes and other long-form content on Sky's 'green button' service, making it one of the first brands to use the digital platform. The service, which was launched last month, enables advertisers to offer...

Skype hires Russ Shaw.(Russ Shaw appointed at Skype Technologies S.A.)(Brief article)
July 22, 2009... Former O2 marketing director Russ Shaw is to join Skype as its general manager for EMEA. Shaw, whose most recent role was as global innovation director for O2's parent company, Telefonica, has been briefed to make the Skype system more widely...

O2 marketers in sex toy line.(Brief article)
July 22, 2009... O2 head of brand and marketing communications, Shadi Halliwell, is rolling out a range of luxury sex toys with the full support of her employer. The marketer launched the Shy vibrators brand in 2006, but now hopes to win shelf-space in...

The Week in Marketing
July 22, 2009... - Seafish in health push. Seafish, the body responsible for promoting seafood, is launching a campaign to highlight its 'two-a-week' message and the benefits of eating fish regularly. Next month, every fishmonger in the UK will be sent a...

Freeview assigns switchover task.(WDMP appointed at DTV Services Ltd.)(Brief article)
July 22, 2009... Freeview has hired WDMP to handle its direct marketing, both online and offline. WDMP was appointed following a three-way pitch against undisclosed agencies. The process was overseen by Tim Hunt, director of marketing communications at...

Look charity T-shirt range.(Look from London donates to Jo's Trust)(Brief article)
July 22, 2009... Women's fashion weekly Look is to launch a range of T-shirts designed by readers that will be sold exclusively in New Look. The shirts will be available in stores from 27 July. A quarter of the proceeds of each sale will be donated to...

Discovery Foods in dual television tie-up.(Discovery Foods Ltd. in deal with Living TV and the Discovery Channel )(Brief article)
July 22, 2009... Discovery Foods has signed a deal with Living TV and the Discovery Channel to back its pounds 2.3m overhaul. The food brand will sponsor 20 hours of Living's weekday programming, as well as Discovery Channel's acquisition of Channel 4 series...

Media Road Test - Bruno.(comedy movies advertising)(Brief article)
July 22, 2009... - What's new? Sacha Baron Cohen's latest satire sees him pulling on hotpants - and frequently taking them off - as camp Austrian reporter Bruno, who flies to the US hoping to stake a claim to fame. The film is a world away from Borat's antics...

STV launches online on-demand service for free.(Brief article)
July 22, 2009... STV, ITV's franchise-holder in Scotland, has launched an online on-demand service that broadcasts its content for free. It will make ITV shows including Emmerdale, Coronation Street and The Jeremy Kyle Show available for 30 days from their...

Ben & Jerry's partners Bauer Media Radio.(Brief article)
July 22, 2009... Ben & Jerry's has partnered with Bauer Media Radio to promote its sponsorship of next weekend's Sundae on the Common festival across 19 Bauer stations. It is the first time the ice-cream brand has used radio as a marketing channel. ...

Lloyds TSB shortlists Mediaedge:cia.(Brief article)
July 22, 2009... Lloyds TSB has shortlisted Mediaedge:cia to pitch against incumbent agency ZenithOptimedia for its pounds 62m media planning and buying account following a four-way pitch that also included Vizeum and OMD. -------------------- Did you find...

Teletext to switch off analogue service in January 2010.(Brief article)
July 22, 2009... Teletext will switch off its analogue TV news and information service in January 2010 and focus solely on online travel services. The move follows a comprehensive review of the business by senior management. -------------------- Did you...

Carphone Warehouse's telecomms business considers TV operations.(Brief article)
July 22, 2009... Carphone Warehouse's telecommunications business is considering branching into TV operations after it bought the UK assets of Italian telecoms company Tiscali. -------------------- Did you find this article useful? Why not subscribe to the...

ESPN hands media account to Carat.(Brief article)
July 22, 2009... ESPN has handed its media planning and buying account to Carat. The Aegis-owned agency already handles the media business for ESPN parent company Disney. Wieden & Kennedy will handle ESPN's advertising. -------------------- Did you...

Insurance brands in upmarket shift.(Axa UK marketing plans)(Brief article)
July 22, 2009... Banking and insurance brands are looking to tap into a growing consumer demand for premium financial products. French company AXA has revealed it will launch a direct car insurance brand, aimed at more affluent consumers, which will roll out...

Sudocrem to add adult line.(skincare cream introduced targeting women)(Brief article)
July 22, 2009... Sudocrem, the antiseptic cream for infants, is breaking into the women's skincare market with a range for adults. The new product, Skin Care Cream, is aimed at the beauty and travel market. It treats skin problems such as sunburn and spots...

Museum plots science focus.(British Museum of Natural History's campaign)(Brief article)
July 22, 2009... The Natural History Museum has launched its first branding campaign as it seeks to reposition itself as an organisation in touch with modern issues. The 'Science and Nature' push, which broke last week, is aimed at a 'learned, liberal'...

Brand in the news - Little Chef.(Brief article)
July 22, 2009... I am a proud consumer of Little Chef ('gasp', I hear you cry) Although I remain unabashed by my confession, Heston Blumenthal has made Little Chef's breakfasts acceptable - even to my health-conscious wife. The thought of Little Chef without...

Procter & Gamble to add value range to Pampers line.(Brief article)
July 22, 2009... Procter & Gamble is to add a value range to its Pampers babycare line. The products will include Simply Dry Nappies and Simply Clean Wipes. The roll-out will be supported by an integrated campaign including TV, print and online activity. ...