Marketing articles from June 2005

Marketing archives from June 2005

BT hunts roster ad agency after split with Fallon.(Brief Article)
June 2, 2005... BT has dropped Fallon London from its pounds 100m advertising roster, triggering a pitch for one of the most sought-after accounts in the UK. The agency had been working for BT alongside Abbott Mead Vickers BBDO and St Luke's since its...

Heinz marketers set for cull in European review.(Brief Article)
June 2, 2005... Up to 200 Heinz marketers in the UK and France will be axed as part of a review of the company's European business performance. According to a Heinz spokesman, the marketers most likely to be at risk are based at Hayes in Middlesex,...

Kellogg looks at Omega-3 range.(Brief Article)
June 2, 2005... Kellogg may launch products fortified with Omega-3 acids in the UK after partnering with a US science company. Under a 15-year deal, Martek Biosciences Corporation will supply Kellogg with docosahexaenoic acid, an Omega-3 fatty acid. ...

Blockbuster plans downloads to battle web rivals.(Brief Article)
June 2, 2005... Blockbuster is considering building an in-store movie download system as it seeks to fight off online film rental services. The proposed system will enable consumers to pick a film and download it onto a memory stick or card, meaning it can...

New Zealand reviews as M&C goes for Australia.(Tourism New Zealand)(Brief Article)
June 2, 2005... Tourism New Zealand (TNZ) is putting its pounds 13.6m global advertising business out to tender after incumbent M&C Saatchi was shortlisted for the rival Tourism Australia account. Saatchi & Saatchi and Australian agency Clemenger BBDO have...

Prahova wine set for UK expansion.(Brief Article)
June 2, 2005... Halewood International, the wine and spirits company behind Red Square, is planning a major expansion of its Prahova Romanian wine brand that will see the launch of new products backed by heavyweight advertising. Prahova, which is the...

Maxim slated for 'little black book'.(television advertising)(Brief Article)
June 2, 2005... Lad's magazine Maxim has been rapped by the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) over a TV ad for a 'Little Black Book' supplement in its April issue. The magazine, published by Dennis Publishing, ran a TV ad in which a voiceover said:...

New campaign: Living TV.
June 2, 2005... Living TV, the cable and satellite entertainment channel, is courting controversy with a poster campaign featuring graphic images of women. The ads promote the second season of US lesbian drama The L Word, which returns to UK screens on 15...

Jamster sets ad repetition record.(television advertising)(Brief Article)
June 2, 2005... TV ads for Jamster's Crazy Frog ringtone has set a record for frequency of repetition. In the first two weeks of May, Jamster ran 36,382 ad spots, the majority for the Crazy Frog tone, according to Nielsen Media Research. The next...

B&Q to aim stores revamp at pounds 15bn trade sector.(Brief Article)
June 2, 2005... Kingfisher has unveiled plans to overhaul some of its B&Q stores and convert them to trade-only outlets ahead of its assault on the pounds 15bn building-supplies sector. One store has been closed as part of the plans and Kingfisher is...

Coca-Cola set for UEFA Champions League deal.(Union of European Football Associations)(Brief Article)
June 2, 2005... UEFA, European football's governing body, has confirmed the overhauled sponsorship structure for the Champions League. This will include the addition of an exclusive category covering soft drinks, almost certainly leading to a deal with...

V2 Music arm to forge FMCG ties.(Fast Moving Consumer Goods)(Brief Article)
June 2, 2005... V2 Music, the record label whose artists include the Stereophonics and Paul Weller, has launched a division to broker tie-ups with major household brands. V2 Music Initiatives will offer a range of musical marketing solutions, spanning...

GSK holds agency talks for cancer vaccine work.(Brief Article)
June 2, 2005... GlaxoSmithKline, the pharmaceuticals giant, is talking to advertising agencies ahead of the proposed launch of its breakthrough cervical cancer vaccine, Cervarix. The call to pitch for the business comes as GSK prepares to seek regulatory...

Wanadoo parent hinders ad pitch.(Brief Article)
June 2, 2005... The drawn-out pounds 80m pitch for Wanadoo's pan-European ad business has been put on hold while parent France Telecom overhauls its global brand strategy. The ISP, which operates in the UK and on the Continent, had shortlisted five agency...

Premier Rugby in hunt for sponsor.(Brief Article)
June 2, 2005... Premier Rugby is seeking a financial services brand to become a secondary sponsor of domestic rugby union's top-flight league. The deal would cost about pounds 600,000 a year, with the partner joining O2, Powergen, The Times, Land Rover and...

MoS plans move into sportswear.(Ministry of Sound)(Brief Article)
June 2, 2005... Ministry of Sound is eyeing a tie-up with a well-known sports company to release branded sports clothing by the end of the year, as part of a drive to generate revenue from spin-offs. The nightclub and entertainment firm is stepping up its...

Mini hands task to Momentum.(Brief Article)
June 2, 2005... Mini has given its guerrilla marketing business to Momentum following a three-way competitive pitch. The agency will be responsible for creating sampling, word-of-mouth and buzz campaigns to tie in with Mini's advertising, which is handled...

Wine brands fight EC multilingual label proposal.
June 2, 2005... The Wine and Spirit Trade Association (WSTA) has clashed with the European Commission over its proposals to force manufacturers to print allergen warnings on wine labels in the language of each EU member state. The proposals mean that from...

Adnams steps up drive for responsible drinking.(Brief Article)
June 2, 2005... The chairman of real ale brand Adnams has slammed drinks industry body the Portman Group and supermarkets over what he has described as a lack of toughness in tackling irresponsible drinking. Simon Loftus told Marketing that the Portman...

Fish Fingers set for name switch.(Brief Article)
June 2, 2005... Birds Eye is to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Fish Fingers by temporarily renaming them Wish Fingers - the first time it has ever altered the brand name. The change will be backed by a multimillion-pound prize giveaway as part of a...

Workthing hires Crayon for pounds 6m relaunch activity.(Brief Article)
June 2, 2005... Recruitment company The Hotgroup is investing pounds 6m in the relaunch of job portal Workthing.com, which it acquired from Guardian Media Group last year. It has hired direct agency Crayon to handle the activity, which will be backed by...

UK Online to run TV ad campaign.(Brief Article)
June 2, 2005... UK Online is to launch its first TV advertising campaign as it prepares for rapid expansion of its service. The ISP, owned by Easynet Group, has assigned a six-figure budget to the TV work, which will run on Channel 4 in London and the...

Post Office bolsters HomePhone activity.(Brief Article)
June 2, 2005... The Post Office is backing its HomePhone service with a multimillion-pound advertising campaign as it escalates its challenge to BT's dominance of the UK landline market. The postal operator is increasing its promotional investment in the...

People moves: Figleaves.(appointed Robin Terell as executive vice-president)(Brief Article)
June 2, 2005... Robin Terrell, managing director of Amazon UK, is quitting to join online lingerie retailer Figleaves. He will take up the new post of executive vice-president EMEA to spearhead the company's growth and expansion into new European markets.

People moves: NCH.(appointed Liz Monks as executive director)(Brief Article)
June 2, 2005... Liz Monks has been appointed to the new strategic role of executive director of fundraising at children's charity NCH. She replaces Stephen Gilbert, interim director of marketing and fundraising, following a management shake-up, and will be a...

People moves: NatMags.(appointed Sara Stephenson as publisher)(Brief Article)
June 2, 2005... Sara Stephenson has been handed the new role of publisher of NatMags' Company magazine. She was formerly group commercial director for the publisher's Young Women's Group, which includes Company, She and Zest.

People moves: Chorion.(appointed John Collins as global brand manager for Noddy)(Brief Article)
June 2, 2005... John Collins has been hired by Chorion as global brand manager for Noddy. He joins from BBC Worldwide, where he was brand manager for Tweenies. He replaces Andrew Piller, who left Chorion at the end of last year. Collins will be responsible for...

People moves: Reuters.(appointed Dean Wright as senior vice-president and managing editor for consumer services)(Brief Article)
June 2, 2005... Dean Wright has been hired as Reuters' first senior vice-president and managing editor for consumer services. Based in New York, he will lead the editorial operations and programming for Reuters' consumer-facing media services globally through...

People moves: PA Sport.(appointed Simon Edwards as marketing director)(Brief Article)
June 2, 2005... Simon Edwards has taken up the new role of marketing director for PA Sport, the sports news and information supplier. He will lead the development and implementation of PA Sport's marketing and product strategy. Edwards joins from...

People moves: Chrysalis Radio.(appointed Francis Currie as programme director )(Brief Article)
June 2, 2005... Francis Currie has been promoted to the new role of Heart brand programme director at Chrysalis Radio. He will assume overall programming responsibility for the Heart network as it prepares for further expansion. Currie was previously programme...

People moves: Radio Times.(appointed Fergus O'Brien as promotions manager)(Brief Article)
June 2, 2005... Fergus O'Brien has been appointed to the new role of Radio Times promotions manager. Reporting to publisher Kathy Day, he will drive sales and develop long-term relationships with promotional partners. O'Brien was previously head of promotions...

News brief: Carlsberg continues to be sponsor of Liverpool FC.(Brief Article)
June 2, 2005... Carlsberg will continue to be the official sponsor of Liverpool FC after extending its deal for two years to the end of the 2006/07 season. It renewed the deal, believed to be worth pounds 5m a year, following the club's victory in last week's...

News brief: Chevrolet refutes sponsorship has been a failure.(Brief Article)
June 2, 2005... Chevrolet has refuted suggestions that its sponsorship of Celebrity Love Island has been a failure. The show has been criticised in the press, but the marque claims interest in its models has increased.

News brief: Virgin Mobile launches first loyalty scheme.(Brief Article)
June 2, 2005... Virgin Mobile has launched its first loyalty scheme, offering discounts on new phones and upgrades in return for customers making calls. The scheme will be promoted to its 5m existing customers before being marketed more widely.

News brief: Camelot to sponsor GB rowing team.(Brief Article)
June 2, 2005... Camelot is to become the headline sponsor of the GB rowing team. The sponsorship covers competitions and training until January 2009, and will see women's and men's teams using Camelot-branded kit and equipment.

News brief: KFC ad is cleared by ASA.(Brief Article)
June 2, 2005... KFC's ad featuring people talking with their mouths full has been cleared by the Advertising Standards Authority, despite setting a new record of 1671 complaints. KFC argued that the ad was meant to be funny.

News brief: O2 to provide technology for ticket distribution.
June 2, 2005... O2 is to provide the technology for the distribution of 75,000 pairs of free tickets to Bob Geldolf's Live 8 concert. The giveaway will be conducted as a text lottery next Monday. Live 8, which takes place on 2 July, is seeking brand partners.

News brief: The AA appoints i-level.(Brief Article)
June 2, 2005... The AA has appointed i-level to its pounds 5m digital media planning and buying account. The business was previously held by Manning Gottlieb OMD.

News brief: AMV looks at folding Minerva shop.
June 2, 2005... The AMV agency group is looking at folding its Minerva integrated shop into Abbott Mead Vickers BBDO and Proximity London. The move will affect clients such as Masterfoods, DaimlerChrysler and E&J Gallo. A decision is due by the end of the...

This week: Marketing news from the national press.(Brief Article)
June 2, 2005... New Look, the fashion chain, is to open five stores in France this year and is in talks to extend the franchise into India, the Middle East, China and eastern Europe - Sunday Express The Catholic Church is to run recruitment ads for priests...

Pigsback.com plans pounds 6m assault on UK.(Brief Article)
June 2, 2005... Pigsback.com, an Irish loyalty and reward web portal, is to make its UK debut, backed by a pounds 6m launch budget. Pigsback has operated for five years in Ireland, where its partners include Kellogg and Coca-Cola. It provides exclusive...

Refuge prepares digital ad debut.(Brief Article)
June 2, 2005... Refuge, the charity for women who have suffered from domestic violence, is to conduct its first digital advertising as it seeks to raise donations. Digital agency Profero has donated its services and will create the web ads using creative...

Product of the Year invites 2006 entries.
June 2, 2005... The second annual UK Product of the Year awards are now open for entries. The awards, which are supported by Marketing, recognise the best product design for FMCG brands in sectors such as food, drink, health and beauty. A group of...

New campaign: Weetabix.(Brief Article)
June 2, 2005... Weetabix is to advertise its entire product range together for the first time in a pounds 10m TV, press and outdoor drive. The ads, which break this week, highlight the heritage of the brands - Weetabix, Weetos, Alpen and Ready Brek - as...

Media News: 118118.com seals C4 drama sponsorship.(Brief Article)
June 2, 2005... The Number's online telephone directory enquiries service, 118118.com, has signed a 12-month, multimillion-pound deal to sponsor drama on Channel 4. The sponsorship, which takes in five leading US dramas and at least three UK dramas, kicks...

Media News: Nobok sponsors Sky One Legends.(Brief Article)
June 2, 2005... Nobok, the sporting legends website and events company, has signed a six-figure deal to sponsor Sky One series The World's Greatest Sporting Legends, starting on 5 June. The eight-week series sees Desmond Lynam and Sir David Frost host a...

Media News: Clerical Medical plans first mag.(Brief Article)
June 2, 2005... Clerical Medical, the pensions and investments company, is launching its first customer magazine, Complete, to provide information on complex, long-term savings decisions. The first issue of the biannual title will be sent to nearly 1m...

Media choice: McDonald's Big Mac song lyrics.(Brief Article)
June 2, 2005... McDonald's is buying in to the trend for brand plugging in hip-hop songs, joining Gucci, Dom Perignon and Seagram's, which have all been name-dropped by stars such as Jay-Z, 50 Cent and Snoop. Hip-hop generates an estimated dollars 2bn...

Media News brief: COI moves business out of OMD UK.(Central Office of Information)(Brief Article)
June 2, 2005... The COI has moved its pounds 20m radio planning and buying business out of OMD UK into Starcom following a pitch that also involved Carat, MindShare and ZenithOptimedia. It recently moved its pounds 78m TV account out of Starcom Mediavest into...

Media News brief: Inter-Rhone to be first show sponsor.(Brief Article)
June 2, 2005... Inter-Rhone, the promotional body for Cotes du Rhone wines, is to be the first show sponsor on 102.2 Smooth FM in a six-figure, six-month deal. A variety of wines from the French region will be promoted on Sarah Ward's four-hour evening jazz...

Media News brief: Sony Walkman to promote MP3 players online.(Brief Article)
June 2, 2005... Sony Walkman is to promote its MP3 players through a pan-European online branding campaign, planned by OMD UK. The campaign, taking in music and entertainment sites across 14 European markets, will highlight the players' superior battery life.

Media News brief: 3 links up with Kiss 100.(Brief Article)
June 2, 2005... 3, the mobile network, is linking up with Kiss 100 to launch the first music video download chart show. The top 20 chart, based on use of 3's video jukebox, will air in a two-hour Saturday morning slot.

Media News brief: Petplan insurance brand hires John Ayling.(Brief Article)
June 2, 2005... Allianz Cornhill Animal Health's Petplan insurance brand has hired John Ayling and Associates to its pounds 1m media planning and buying business. Equimedia will handle the brand's direct marketing activity.

Media News brief: Revisions to contracts agreed.(Brief Article)
June 2, 2005... ISBA, the IPA, CIPS and the MCCA have agreed revisions to the recommended terms for client and agency contracts. These see the deletion of the controversial section focusing on intellectual property rights.

Media News brief: TK Maxx teams up with Elle.(Brief Article)
June 2, 2005... TK Maxx is teaming up with Elle magazine to run the TK Maxx Elle Buying School, offering readers the chance to join the retailer as a fashion buyer for six months.

Media News brief: ITV Sales sponsors showcase.(Brief Article)
June 2, 2005... ITV Sales is sponsoring the Chartered Institute of Marketing Travel Industry Group's Television Travel Advertising Showcase, which is to be held on 8 June at London's IEE Theatre.

Branding News: Impulse to add Shakers variant.(Brief Article)
June 2, 2005... Impulse is to launch a line called Shakers aimed at the younger end of its 11- to 18-year-old target audience. The Unilever-owned body fragrance will unveil the Melon Madness, Berry Crush and Frangipani Fling variants in July. The cans...

Branding News: Fetzer raises profile with brand overhaul.(Brief Article)
June 2, 2005... Fetzer, the Brown-Forman-owned international wine brand, is updating its brand to raise its profile in the competitive UK wine market. The premium Californian wine will rework its range of seven sub-brands to create a more cohesive feel....

Branding News: Quaker extends into cereal bars.(Brief Article)
June 2, 2005... Quaker is taking on Kellogg by expanding its breakfast brand into the cereal bar market. The PepsiCo-owned cereal brand is launching Quaker Oat Bars, backed by a pounds 1.5m spend, with ads through Abbott Mead Vickers BBDO. Design agency...

Branding News: Design choice - Ruf Cinema Bed.(Brief Article)
June 2, 2005... For all its multi-screen choice and bountiful popcorn supplies, the modern cinema experience has abandoned the luxurious aesthetic to which its art deco ancestors aspired. Add numb-bum, chatter from the back row and stickiness underfoot, and...

Branding News brief: Quorn introduces packaging designed by Ziggurat.(Brief Article)
June 2, 2005... Quorn is introducing packaging designed by Ziggurat to develop its appeal among healthy eaters. The packaging for the chilled and frozen ranges, which features the strapline 'It might just surprise you', is part of a pounds 3m marketing...

Branding News brief: Talent TV commissions Bruce Dunlop for update.(Brief Article)
June 2, 2005... Talent TV has commissioned design agency Bruce Dunlop Associates to update the look of BBC One's flagship interactive show, Test The Nation. The update includes a refreshed logo with a tick-box motif.

Branding News brief: English National Ballet appoints The Team.(Brief Article)
June 2, 2005... English National Ballet, the international classical ballet company, has appointed brand communications consultancy The Team as its creative brand consultant. The Team will review and refresh all internal and external elements of the brand.

Branding News brief: LLoyds TSB and American Express luanch joint credit card.
June 2, 2005... Lloyds TSB and American Express are launching a joint credit card designed by direct marketing specialist FCBi London. The card combines Lloyds TSB branding with the American Express logo and features a black horse hologram, the first time...

Branding News brief: Mateus introduces first variant in 60 years.(Brief Article)
June 2, 2005... Mateus, the Portuguese wine brand, is introducing the first variant in its 60-year history. Rose Tempranillo, priced pounds 4.99 a bottle, will be backed by a pounds 1.2m marketing budget.

Branding News brief: Peter Rabbit Organics to add new juice.(Brief Article)
June 2, 2005... Peter Rabbit Organics is to add an Apple & Grape Juice to its range of children's food and drink. Certified organic and containing no added salt or sugar, it will be available in 125ml Tetra Paks.

Branding News brief: Fabulous Bakin' Boys to launch new line.(Brief Article)
June 2, 2005... The Fabulous Bakin' Boys is to launch a line of cake fingers and flapjacks in Tesco. Available in grab bags, each slice will be individually wrapped.

Branding News brief: Edinburgh Festival introduces identity.(Brief Article)
June 2, 2005... The Edinburgh Film Festival is introducing an identity developed by creative agency 300million. A new website will be followed by a national direct mail campaign and press and cinema ads.

Direct News: Which? prepares for pounds 6m magazine drive.(Which?)(Brief Article)
June 2, 2005... Consumer rights organisation Which? has handed its pounds 6m direct marketing business to Watson Phillips Norman, following a four-way pitch. The agency will develop all subscriber acquisition activity for the watchdog's Which? magazine....

Direct News: Honda steps up Civic campaign.(Brief Article)
June 2, 2005... Honda is seeking to pique consumer interest in its latest Honda Civic model ahead of its launch. The work involves inserts in motoring titles such as BBC Top Gear, Car, EVO and F1 Racing. Ads will also appear on web pages popular with...

Direct News: McCoy's to back Specials in-store.(Brief Article)
June 2, 2005... Crisps brand McCoy's is embarking on a nationwide sampling campaign to promote its recently launched Specials premium range. The seven-week push, developed by brand experience agency RPM, continues the theme of recent TV ads created by...

Direct News: Direct choice: Land Rover.(Brief Article)
June 2, 2005... Last week I was fortunate enough to experience what is termed 'the fastest way out of London' - the Heathrow Express. As I took my seat on the 17.45 out of Paddington (in first class, due to overcrowding by Japanese schoolchildren), my knee was...

Direct News brief: TUI appoints Acxiom.(Brief Article)
June 2, 2005... TUI, the UK's biggest packaged holiday company, has appointed Acxiom to improve the targeting of its marketing campaigns using behavioural data.

Direct News brief: Volkswagen begins direct drive.(Brief Article)
June 2, 2005... Volkswagen has begun a direct drive to promote the launch of its Golf Plus. More than 70,000 packs will be mailed out, and respondents will be entered into a draw for one of five Sony DVD camcorders.

Direct News brief: Carpe Diem mounts sampling campaign.(Brief Article)
June 2, 2005... Carpe Diem, the Asian-inspired drinks brand, is mounting a pounds 1m sampling campaign to promote its Ginkgo, Kombucha and Kefir drinks. The activity, which will see commuters and shoppers offered samples by stilt walkers, begins in Brighton...

Direct News brief: VSO to run direct campaign.(Brief Article)
June 2, 2005... VSO, the global development charity, is to run a direct campaign to raise funds for disabled children who live in the developing world. The activity, devised by Kitcatt Nohr Alexander Shaw, will see a mailshot sent to 35,000 existing and lapsed...

Direct News brief: Baillie Gifford conducts push.(The Leith Agency)(Brief Article)
June 2, 2005... Baillie Gifford, the Edinburgh investment management firm, is conducting a print, online and direct push devised by The Leith Agency. The activity aims to raise awareness and understanding of investment trusts.

Direct News brief: Bango teams up with Volantis.(Brief Article)
June 2, 2005... Bango, a platform that allows brands to deliver mobile content, has teamed up with online content supplier Volantis to set up direct-to-consumer mobile internet sites. The link-up includes Channel 4's Big Brother mobile site.

Direct News brief: BSI Business Information publishes pocket guide.(Brief Article)
June 2, 2005... BSI Business Information has published a pocket guide on how to comply with the Data Protection Act. Aimed at small businesses, the guide seeks to protect companies from data protection scams, where conmen posing as officials exploit ignorance...

Direct News brief: Highland Homes hires Folk.(Brief Article)
June 2, 2005... Highland Homes has hired Folk to create direct response activity to launch its Belvedere development in Cambridge. Folk will create brochures, DVDs and a website for prospective purchasers.

Retail News: Costcutter to tackle supermarket threat.(Brief Article)
June 2, 2005... Costcutter, the convenience store group, is gearing up for a heavyweight brand campaign as it stands its ground against supermarkets moving into its sector. The drive, unveiled by chairman and managing director Colin Graves at its annual...

Retail News: New Look goes for fast fashion.(Brief Article)
June 2, 2005... New Look, the high-street womenswear retailer, is to launch a clothing range every six weeks, backed by an advertising campaign. The New Now initiative will have a dedicated area in stores. The strategy is intended to help New Look keep up...

Retail News: T-Mobile readies revamp of stores.(Brief Article)
June 2, 2005... T-Mobile is to overhaul its 200-strong retail chain after handing iris its pounds 2m retail marketing business. The agency has been briefed to modernise outlets and improve the in-store experience as part of the mobile operator's strategy...

Retail choice: Sock Shop, Oxford Street.(Brief Article)
June 2, 2005... Sometimes when you don't notice a design, it means it has been well thought-out and very well designed. The refit at the Sock Shop on Oxford Street is just that - subtle, unobtrusive and functional. Thankfully, wooden slats, poor lighting...