Marketing articles from June 2004

Marketing archives from June 2004

Tesco targets dieters with glycemic index ratings.
June 3, 2004... Tesco marketing chief Tim Mason has unveiled plans to establish the retailer as the destination supermarket for dieters. The first phase of the activity will see a glycemic index (GI) rating, which measures levels of carbohydrates based on...

M&S puts Sharp at head of marketing strategy.
June 3, 2004... Steven Sharp, the former Arcadia executive parachuted in to Marks & Spencer by new chief executive Stuart Rose on Monday, is to take charge of the beleaguered retailer's marketing strategy. Sharp's appointment to the executive committee...

Ryanair to slash spend and fares.
June 3, 2004... Ryanair will respond to its first drop in profits since 1997 by cutting its marketing budget and fares, according to European head of sales and marketing Sinead Finn. The airline's marketing and distribution budget grew by 10% to 16.1m...

Unilever reinforces global commitment to CRM.
June 3, 2004... Unilever is to significantly scale up its global relationship marketing activity and has briefed one of its most senior marketers to lead the drive across the business. Global media director Alan Rutherford is to examine Unilever's use of...

Holsten marketing jobs on the line after review.
June 3, 2004... Carlsberg is to axe its Holsten UK operation in a move that throws a question mark over the future of the brand's managing director Jeremy Main and marketing director Ben Peters. Carlsberg, which acquired Holsten for pounds 740m earlier...

FSA to fight debt with pounds 40m push.
June 3, 2004... The Financial Services Authority (FSA) is to plough pounds 40m into a public awareness campaign that aims to improve consumers' understanding of financial services and prevent damaging levels of debt. The initiative comes amid record levels...

New campaign: Electronic Arts.
June 3, 2004... Client: Electronic Arts Creative Agency: See Advertising Media Agency: MediaCom

Defra plots pounds 10m climate activity.
June 3, 2004... The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) is creating a pounds 10m advertising campaign to raise awareness of the impact of climate change. Defra is working with the Central Office of Information on bringing together...

The AA fills top marketing post.
June 3, 2004... The AA has poached Vodafone corporate marketing director Emma Kenny to take its top marketing role, ending a six-month search. Kenny will become AA marketing director in July and report to managing director Roger Wood. She will oversee...

TfL bans London Dungeon jibe ad.
June 3, 2004... Transport for London (TfL) has banned an ad for the London Dungeon that unfavourably compares a journey on the Tube with the experience on its latest scary ride. The 'Full Scream Ahead' campaign broke in March and featured the line 'If you...

Organix to seek marketing head.
June 3, 2004... Organix, the ethical healthy babyfood brand, is to appoint a head of marketing as it expands with the debut of Organix Goodies, a range for under-fives. The marketing chief will report directly to managing director and founder Lizzie Vann...

FMCG innovation awards scheme set for UK debut.
June 3, 2004... Product of the Year, a marketing awards scheme that has run for several years across mainland Europe, rewarding product innovation for FMCG brands, is to debut in the UK this year. The initiative, being sponsored by Marketing and TNS, will...

Quiksilver to collaborate with rivals on TV venture.
June 3, 2004... Quiksilver, the surf and snowboard brand, is joining forces with its rivals to launch a pan-European digital sports channel. Quiksilver has held negotiations with firms thought to include Rip Curl and Billabong to create a channel that...

Vodafone aims at grey market.
June 3, 2004... Vodafone is to encourage an older audience to use services such as text and picture messaging with an offering tailored to mature users. The mobile phone giant is in the advanced stages of developing the service, which is likely to be...

Foster's prepares to introduce extra cold lager.
June 3, 2004... Foster's is taking the fight to its main lager rival this summer with the launch of Super Chilled to compete with Carling's Extra Cold. Scottish Courage is advising bars to serve Foster's Super Chilled at 3deg C as it takes on Coors'...

Barclaycard to overhaul loans.
June 3, 2004... Barclaycard is introducing a range of branded personal loans to position itself as a more responsible lender. The concept will be backed by a heavyweight campaign. The decision follows criticism of the company last year following a Treasury...

Glo White backs GMTV Wedding.
June 3, 2004... Acdoco's Glo White fabric whitener is sponsoring GMTV Wedding, an interactive slot on GMTV in which viewers will choose a couple to receive a free wedding. The show will air every weekday for 11 weeks from June 14 on the GMTV breakfast...

C4 reaps rewards of 'Black Friday' programming.
June 3, 2004... Channel 4's much-hyped 'Black Friday' was one of the station's biggest commercial successes, with brands benefiting from record audiences for Friends and the return of Big Brother. Only final nights of previous Big Brother series have...

Hilton plots resurrection of 'reassuring' strapline.
June 3, 2004... Hilton hotels is to revive its 'Take me to the Hilton' strapline more than a decade after it was last used to give the market-leading brand more emotional appeal. Hilton is finalising a global campaign through Interpublic's FCB network....

Somerfield hands group role to Kwik Save chief.
June 3, 2004... Somerfield Group has promoted Kwik Save marketing director Gill McComas to a wider role overseeing both grocery chains' entire marketing activity. McComas' main successes since joining the retailer in 2002 include the introduction of its...

NU awards pounds 12m job to AMV BBDO.
June 3, 2004... Norwich Union has handed its pounds 12m brand advertising account to Abbott Mead Vickers BBDO in a major vote of confidence for its 'Quote me happy' campaign. The decision follows a review which began in April and saw AMV BBDO beat off...

GM pools pounds 7.5m UK job into Draft.
June 3, 2004... General Motors has shifted the pounds 7.5m UK direct marketing duties for its Vauxhall and Saab brands into one agency. The company has handed the consolidated account to Draft London, which already handles Saab's direct work, in a bid to...

Student TV network lines up advertisers.
June 3, 2004... Big-brand advertisers including Vodafone, Puma and Lynx are to target students through a digital TV medium being installed in universities across the UK. SUBtv will air on plasma screens in student union bars. It will broadcast music and...

People moves: The Grocery Company.
June 3, 2004... Ben Johnson has been named brand director at The Grocery Company, owner of Nando's Grocery and vegetarian brand Cranks. Johnson, previously European marketing controller at Schwan's Consumer Brands, will oversee the relaunch of Cranks later...

People moves: Electronic Arts.
June 3, 2004... Ian McGregor has been hired by video games giant Electronic Arts (EA) as its first director of creative services. McGregor, who joins from agency Publicis, will be responsible for all ads and creative-led services that support EA's activity. He...

People moves: Henderson Global Investors.
June 3, 2004... Henderson Global Investors has promoted senior marketer David Pickles to the position of director of marketing and strategy. He replaces Sarah Speake, who left to go travelling.

People moves: Fiat.
June 3, 2004... Giuseppe Morchio, Fiat's chief executive, unexpectedly quit at the weekend, after Ferrari president Luca Cordero di Montezemolo was chosen to succeed the late chairman Umberto Agnelli.

People moves: Celador International.
June 3, 2004... Rob Stevenson has been hired by Celador International to the new role of senior promotions manager. He recently worked as a consultant to Warner Bros and Mookie Toys.

People moves: Hardys & Hansons.
June 3, 2004... Sharon Whitehead has been named head of marketing at Hardys & Hansons brewery and has been tasked with setting up a marketing team and developing long-term strategy for the company. She joins from Rank Hovis McDougall, where she was head of...

People moves: Moneysupermarket.com.
June 3, 2004... Vicky Larkin will fill the new role of CRM manager at online financial aggregation service Moneysupermarket.com. She joins from CRM outsourcing firm Astron.

People moves: Collection 2000.
June 3, 2004... Sue Clayton-Smith and James Pope have been hired as account controllers by low-cost cosmetics brand Collection 2000. Clayton-Smith will be responsible for the range's presence in Superdrug. Pope will oversee distribution within the grocery...

People moves: Realm.
June 3, 2004... Charlotte Craven has been named marketing manager for outlet shopping centre operator Realm. Craven was formerly marketing manager at Trendsetter Home Furnishings. Rachel Cooper also joins Realm, as marketing co-ordinator, from Barkers...

People moves: Hill & Knowlton.
June 3, 2004... Tony Burgess-Webb has been promoted to chief marketing officer at global PR firm Hill & Knowlton. He was previously executive vice-president and a member of the company's worldwide executive committee.

People moves: Brand Learning.
June 3, 2004... Claire Brown has been hired as marketing capabilities director for consultancy Brand Learning. Brown was previously UK marketing director at SC Johnson.

People moves: Merchant Gourmet.
June 3, 2004... Kerri Palmer has been named senior product manager at Merchant Gourmet. She joins from Bourne Leisure, where she was senior product manager for Butlins.

News brief: McVitie's begins TV ad campaign.
June 3, 2004... McVitie's this week begins a pounds 6.5m television ad campaign targeting housewives in a bid to re-ignite consumer affection for the brand. The ads were created by Publicis.

News brief: Yeo Valley Organic to launch biggest ever ad campaign.
June 3, 2004... Yeo Valley Organic, the dairy company, is to launch its biggest ever advertising campaign. The pounds 3m integrated programme begins at the end of the month and is the first Yeo Valley work from Banks Hoggins O'Shea FCB.

News brief: Lastminute.com rolls out mobile phone ad service.
June 3, 2004... Lastminute.com has rolled out a location-based mobile phone ad service that lets companies offer deals to consumers when they are close to their stores. Branded DealFinder, the service will launch on O2 Active then Vodafone Live!

News brief: Siemens Mobile campaign breaks.
June 3, 2004... Siemens Mobile is breaking a pounds 5m campaign to promote its 65 range. TV, online, press and outdoor activity will focus on Siemens' sponsorship of the Real Madrid football team and initially promote the CX65 hands et. Creative was through...

News brief: UEFA to make millions from Euro 2004.
June 3, 2004... UEFA has revealed it will make pounds 545m from television rights sales, sponsorship deals and hospitality packages at Euro 2004. Over the next four years, pounds 174m will be distributed to the 52 national member associations.

News brief: Evening Standard to sponsor London Fashion Week.
June 3, 2004... The Evening Standard is to sponsor this year's London Fashion Week. It is also partnering with the British Fashion Council to sponsor London Fashion Weekend, the UK's biggest designer shopping event.

News brief: Senokot runs TV push.
June 3, 2004... Senokot is running a pounds 3m TV push to promote its constipation treatment. The ads, created by Health@JWT, will encourage non-users to think about the benefits of the product.

News brief: Caravan Club targets consumers with ad campaign.
June 3, 2004... The Caravan Club is targeting 5m consumers through a national press ad campaign promoting caravanning as a holiday option. The body has teamed up with tourism bodies such as VisitBritain for the activity.

Nationwide links with music prize.
June 3, 2004... Nationwide Building Society is moving its focus away from sport sponsorship toward music by becoming the headline backer of the Mercury Prize. The financial services brand takes over the title sponsorship from Panasonic. In recent...

Bike show plots pounds 1m campaign.
June 3, 2004... The International Motorcycle and Scooter Show is planning a pounds 1m drive to boost attendance of the event. Organiser MCI Exhibitions has appointed Bath agency The Real Adventure to develop an integrated ad campaign to break in the run-up...

Bourne Leisure selects HDM to support resorts.
June 3, 2004... Bourne Leisure has hired integrated agency HDM to create a campaign for its Haven Holidays and British Holidays brands. It wants to take advantage of an increasing number of Britons holidaying in the UK. Haven and British Holidays have...

Sainsbury's awards top post to trading director.
June 3, 2004... Sainsbury's has promoted Stephen Nelson from trading director to the role of marketing director. Nelson, a former managing director of Guinness GB, will be responsible for reversing the fortunes of the UK's third-biggest supermarket. ...

Refuge develops support website.
June 3, 2004... Refuge, the charity for woman and children suffering from domestic violence, is planning a major revamp of its website, using funds from its tie-up with the Body Shop. Refuge.org.uk will become a discreet support portal for all victims of...

Canderel updates packs for premium positioning.
June 3, 2004... Canderel, the UK's best-selling low-calorie sweetener, is redesigning its packaging and boosting marketing spend to cash in on the trend for healthy eating . The Merisant UK brand has been reformulated to target an estimated 3.7m lapsed...

Lexus work eyes younger market.
June 3, 2004... Lexus is targeting younger car buyers with its first viral game campaign. The luxury car marque, owned by Toyota, is trying to attract drivers in their late 20s and early 30s with the IS200 entry-level model. It has traditionally aimed at...

Huggies embarks on sampling campaign.
June 3, 2004... Huggies is ramping up its efforts to steal share from arch-rival Pampers by offering a free packet of nappies to parents across the UK. Huggies owner Kimberly-Clark is encouraging parents to try its Super-Flex line by offering a free pack...

New campaign: Imperial Leather.
June 3, 2004... Client: PZ Cussons Creative agency: BDH\TBWA Media agency: Mediaedge:cia Manchester They feature the transformation of the theme park's log flume ride, which has become The Flume Unplugged. The logs have been replaced with bathtubs,...

Don Darias hires first shop for 'Daddy' task.
June 3, 2004... Spanish wine brand Don Darias has hired its first advertising agency as it plots a marketing assault to take on its new world rivals. The wine, distributed in the UK by PLB, has appointed Potter Dow to handle the relaunch, which will see...

This week: Marketing news from the national press.
June 3, 2004... Hutchison Whampoa is considering closing 3, its third-generation mobile business in the UK, to shift resources to faster-growing markets, as it is worried it will be unable to recoup its investment in the network. Hutchison has denied the...

Media News: Wotsits defended in 'pester power' spat.
June 3, 2004... The Advertising Standards Authority and Abbott Mead Vickers BBDO have hit back at criticism of an ad campaign for Wotsits in the latest obesity report from the Commons Health Select Committee. The report concluded that the ads incited...

Media Choice: Big Brother.
June 3, 2004... After last year's snore-a-thon, Channel 4 has made a big effort to find contestants for the fifth series of Big Brother, clearly picking them to create a volatile atmosphere within the house. At first count, we have two gay men, one...

Media News: Ambi-Pur forges UKTV Style deal.
June 3, 2004... Sara Lee Household's Ambi-Pur brand is using TV sponsorship for the first time in a pounds 500,000 deal to back UKTV Style's two-hour morning homes programme strand. The 15-month link sees Ambi-Pur get credits across shows such as Changing...

Media News: MTV in Hachette Filipacchi link-up.
June 3, 2004... MTV Networks has formed a cross-media partnership with Hachette Filipacchi that will see programming for teen brand Sugar air on MTV, with the channel getting editorial promotion in Sugar, tvhits! and Elle Girl. Sugar-branded programming...

Media News brief: Kraft Foods moves account.
June 3, 2004... Kraft Foods has moved its pounds 17m media planning and buying account out of ZenithOptimedia into Starcom Mediavest after a two-way pitch with MindShare. Starcom Mediavest takes over the business from 1 July. Kraft said the move was part of...

Media News brief: DeWynters promotes musical with ad campaign.
June 3, 2004... DeWynters, the theatre chain, is promoting the move of musical Mamma Mia! to the refurbished Prince of Wales theatre in a national six-week press, outdoor, radio and online campaign. The ads highlight the venue's air-conditioning with the...

Media News brief: Comet signs as sponsor of Dinner Jazz.
June 3, 2004... Comet has signed up as sponsor of Jazz FM's flagship programme, Dinner Jazz. The 13-week deal, which began on 1 June, promotes Comet's range of kitchen products.

Media News brief: Observer Sport Monthly to sponsor England Dream Team show.
June 3, 2004... Observer Sport Monthly is sponsoring Channel 4's England Dream Team show, which will air on 5 June. An extended issue of the supplement, covering the Euro 2004 build-up, will be published with The Observer on 6 June.

Media News brief: Radio Times invests in direct campaign.
June 3, 2004... Radio Times is investing in a four-week direct campaign, targeting 850,000 readers. The promotion will offer discounts on four issues of Radio Times and add names to the magazine's customer database.

Media News brief: Times joins WH Smith and Harper Collins for promotion.
June 3, 2004... The Times has joined with WH Smith and Harper Collins in a 19-week promotion offering readers who buy The Times at WH Smith the chance to buy a book for 99p. A 32-page review of available titles will appear in The Times on 5 June.

Media News brief: BBC Magazines supports Sport Relief.
June 3, 2004... BBC Magazines is supporting Sport Relief by donating 5p from the price of the June issue of the Bob the Builder magazine and a Bob the Builder Special to the charity Commercial radio made a strong start to 2004, with first-quarter advertising...

Branding News: Mayver's to make UK debut.
June 3, 2004... Peanut butter is the latest product to enter the functional food arena with the launch of Mayver's Australian Peanut Butter, which contains Omega-3 oil in place of saturated fats. The peanut butter, a reformulated version of a product that...

Branding News: Diesel in comic tie for sci-fi line.
June 3, 2004... Diesel is to unveil a science-fiction range of casual clothing, which will go on sale later this month. The fashion brand has linked up with fantasy comic 2000 AD to promote the range in-store. A bespoke edition of the comic will be given...

Branding News: Design choice - Gu Mini Puds.
June 3, 2004... The packaging for these Gu chocolate pots is a stroke of genius. If you are a chocolate nut like me, you will love this product. By cleverly deciding to be bold and aim for high impact, these products have immediate standout. Their...

Branding News brief: Weight Watchers expands range.
June 3, 2004... Weight Watchers is expanding its range with the introduction of a Creamed Rice dessert this month. The product costs 89p for a pack of two 130g pots.

Branding News brief: Co-op adds further 10 fair trade products.
June 3, 2004... The Co-op has added a further 10 fair trade products, taking its number of own-brand fair trade products to 55. It has pledged to double the size of its range to 62 by the end of the year.

Branding News brief: Cadbury extends Fingers brand.
June 3, 2004... Cadbury is extending its Fingers brand with the introduction of Giant Fingers. Four times the size of traditional Fingers, the Giant version will be individually wrapped and sold in packs of eight.

Branding News brief: Zoggs moves into swimwear.
June 3, 2004... Zoggs, the swimming equipment brand, is moving into swimwear as it aims to become the top global brand for recreational swimmers. It will also run a training programme called Swim4Fitness to encourage customers to make best use of its products....

Branding News brief: Shiseido makes debut in male cosmetics market.
June 3, 2004... Shiseido, the luxury health and beauty brand, is making its debut in the male cosmetics market with the global launch of Le Male, a range of skincare, body and make-up products. The line will be stocked in Harrods and Selfridges.

Branding News brief: Roberts Bakery overhauls packaging.
June 3, 2004... Roberts Bakery has overhauled its bread and cake packaging to make it appear more contemporary. They will carry the company's revamped identity - a round, dark-green logo featuring a wheatsheaf.

Branding News brief: Microsoft redesigns Office 2004 packaging.
June 3, 2004... Microsoft has redesigned the look of its Office 2004 software, the first time it has updated the product's packaging since 2001. Brand consultancy Landor created the packs, which combine technological elements with cutting-edge design.

Direct News: Green Flag to boost profile in DRTV drive.
June 3, 2004... Green Flag, the breakdown service owned by the Royal Bank of Scotland, is preparing its first direct response TV campaign for seven years, as it seeks to establish itself as a standalone brand. The company's agency, MRM Partners, has...

Direct choice: Save The Children.
June 3, 2004... Being a generous soul I have managed to find myself on many a charity mailing list, and time and again I have wondered how they ever get a response from the rather hackneyed, repetitive messages they so often trot out. It was therefore a...

Direct News: iPledge rolls out credit card push.
June 3, 2004... Credit card iPledge, which aims to help parents save money for their children's education, is conducting a direct marketing campaign highlighting the benefits of the scheme. Chemistry created the work on behalf of Lloyds TSB, whose affinity...

Direct News: DMA web portal to tackle waste.
June 3, 2004... The Direct Marketing Association has joined forces with environmental group Planet Ark in a bid to reduce the amount of waste generated by wrongly addressed mail. The two bodies have developed www.controlyour post.co.uk, a portal that...

Direct News brief: Hyundai teams up with Shredded Wheat and BHF.
June 3, 2004... Hyundai has teamed up with Shredded Wheat and the British Heart Foundation (BHF) to offer five Getz cars in a prize draw. Five million boxes of the cereal will include tokens for the contest. Shredded Wheat will donate pounds 1 to BHF for every...

Direct News brief: DTI launches campaign through JJ.
June 3, 2004... The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) is launching a campaign through agency JJ to persuade drivers to switch to Liquefied Petroleum Gas. JJ was hired by Momenta, which oversees work for the DTI's Automotive Unit.

Direct News brief: Loot hires Telecom Express.
June 3, 2004... Loot, the classified ads title, has hired response handling company Telecom Express to manage its reader dating service in London, Liverpool and Manchester until the end of 2006.

Direct News brief: Ascot Racecourse runs door-to-door campaign.
June 3, 2004... Ascot Racecourse is running a door-to-door campaign to attract consumers to its summer racing season. It is using an A5-sized leaflet created by Mercier Gray and distributed by Circular Distributors.

Direct News brief: Dogs Trust targets Scottish households.
June 3, 2004... Dogs Trust, the UK's biggest dog welfare charity, is targeting 250,000 Scottish households with a door-drop campaign that encourages them to have their dogs neutered. The leaflets were created by agency 141.