Marketing articles from June 2009

Marketing archives from June 2009

Change4Life ties hit by delay in DoH guidelines.(Brief article)
June 3, 2009... Kellogg, Mars and Nestle have been forced to launch marketing activity supporting the government's Change4Life campaign without the initiative's branding and messaging. The hiatus is due to the Department of Health's (DoH) continued failure to...

Microsoft job goes to JWT.(Brief article)
June 3, 2009... Microsoft has strengthened its relationship with WPP agencies by handing JWT the launch campaign for its Bing search engine. The assignment puts the future of the software company's relationship with McCann Erickson in doubt. Microsoft...

KFC trials 'healthier' griddled chicken.(Brief article)
June 3, 2009... KFC is responding to growing consumer demand for healthy foods by launching its first griddled chicken product in the UK market. The griddled chicken breast meat, flavoured with chimichurri - a garlic, herb and citrus baste - will be...

Microsoft embarks on quest to topple Google.
June 3, 2009... Can search engine Bing end the market leader's supremacy, asks Fiona Ramsay. Today (Wednesday), Microsoft launches Bing, a search engine that some experts say will 'change the face' of internet search. Microsoft, which trails far...

Waitrose shifts focus with price-led ads.(Brief article)
June 3, 2009... Waitrose is suspending its brand-led marketing strategy for a price-focused campaign to promote its Essential range. The push, created by MCBD, breaks today (Wednesday) and will promote the breadth of the line, which comprises more than...

BA in partnership talks with McLaren F1 team.
June 3, 2009... British Airways is in discussions with Formula One team Vodafone McLaren Mercedes about becoming an official partner. According to sources close to the talks, negotiations are being led by British Airways chief executive Willie Walsh....

Pestridge fills top Nike role.(Simon Pestridge has been promoted)(Brief article)
June 3, 2009... Simon Pestridge, the marketing director of Nike UK & Ireland, has been promoted to the role of global brand director of sportswear, based at the company's US headquarters. Pestridge has already worked for Nike in the US, as brand director...

Tesco in email loyalty drive.(Brief article)
June 3, 2009... Tesco is using Clubcard data to target shoppers via email marketing for the first time. The supermarket has started to send out personalised emails to back the pounds 150m relaunch of the Clubcard loyalty scheme. The activity is intended...

The week in marketing.(sports sponsorship from InterContinental Hotels Group )(tourism campaigns from mexico)(electric toothbrush for children from Philips )
June 3, 2009... - IHG signs up for 2012. InterContinental Hotels Group has become the latest domestic sponsor of the London 2012 Olympic Games. The hotel chain has agreed a third-tier deal, which it intends to use to promote its Holiday Inn and Holiday...

Sky rolls out first green-button ads.(Brief article)
June 3, 2009... Sharwood's and Warner Bros will be the first brands to advertise on Sky's green-button TV service, which launches this week after a year of delays. Green-button advertising allows brands to offer additional content lasting up to two hours....

Media Road Test: British & Irish Lions tour.(Brief article)
June 3, 2009... - What's new? The British & Irish Lions began its tour of South Africa with a win over the Royal XV, the first of 10 ties to be played over two months, shown only on Sky Sports. - What's in it for viewers? A battle between an...

OFT supports CRR retention.(Office of Fair Trading)(Contract Rights Renewal )(Brief article)
June 3, 2009... Advertisers have welcomed the Office of Fair Trading's (OFT) support for retaining the Contract Rights Renewal (CRR) mechanism. Industry body ISBA has been campaigning for the retention of CRR, which was introduced to protect advertisers...

MySpace fills director's role.(Barry Flanigan has been appointed)(Brief article)
June 3, 2009... MySpace has appointed Barry Flanigan, formerly marketing director at Telegraph Media Group (TMG), as director of marketing and audience development, UK and Ireland. Flanigan's remit will include audience development, external media...

IPC Southbank agrees partnership with Kenco coffee.(Kenco Coffee Co.)(Brief article)
June 3, 2009... IPC Southbank has agreed a partnership with Kenco coffee. Ads for the brand will run across the publisher's woman&home, Ideal Home, Marie Claire and Essentials titles. The campaign will drive awareness of Kenco's association with the Rainforest...

ActionAid changes name of customer title.(Common Cause name change to Action)(Brief article)
June 3, 2009... ActionAid is changing the name of its customer title from Common Cause to Action. The relaunched magazine will be sent to 180,000 of the charity's supporters. It will be in a smaller A4 format, with an online version available from October. ...

Oneworld ties up with Lonely Planet.(Brief article)
June 3, 2009... Oneworld, the airline alliance of which British Airways is a member, has tied up with Lonely Planet to create six short films to inform frequent business flyers about new travel products and services. -------------------- Did you find...

Telegraph Media Group to focus on new revenue opportunities.(Brief article)
June 3, 2009... Telegraph Media Group has created a research, insight and strategy hub department to focus on new revenue opportunities. It will be led by director of advertising strategy Mathew Watkins. -------------------- Did you find this article...

Total Greek Yoghurt to sponsor slot on GMTV.(Brief article)
June 3, 2009... Total Greek Yoghurt is to sponsor a two-week summer-food-themed content slot on GMTV. The 'Taste of Summer', featuring TV chef Simon Rimmer, launches on 22 June and will run twice daily. -------------------- Did you find this article...

HSBC stands by 'global' strategy.(HSBC Europe B.V.)(Brief article)
June 3, 2009... HSBC has vowed to maintain its brand strategy focus on globalisation, despite the pressures of worldwide recession. Several of HSBC's high-street banking rivals, including NatWest, Barclays and Nationwide, have revamped their strategies to...

Blossom Hill in tennis label.(Br&Me)(Brief article)
June 3, 2009... Wine brand Blossom Hill has launched a limited-edition bottle to celebrate its sponsorship of this summer's Wimbledon tennis championships. The bottle is intended to maximise the brand's association with Wimbledon and the hype surrounding...

Santander to rename banks.(Banco Santander S.A.)(Brief article)
June 3, 2009... Spanish banking group Santander is to rebrand its Abbey, Alliance & Leicester and Bradford & Bingley UK banking brands to the primary Santander brand. The pounds 12m process, incorporating 1300 branches, will be completed by the end of...

Brand in the news: Aegon.(Brief article)
June 3, 2009... It takes time for a brand to become synonymous with a sporting event; it doesn't always sit comfortably at first. Carling Cup works well, but I still cringe at the airport to see the Tiger Woods/Accenture tie-up. Now Aegon pensions and...

Bendicks revamps range.(Bendicks of Mayfair)(Brief article)
June 3, 2009... Bendicks, the chocolate confectionery brand, has revamped its range to appeal to younger consumers. It has added variants including Bitteroranges with a Hint of Chilli and is launching an 'impulse pack' format - 100g tubes of individually...

Birds Eye relaunches Chicken Chargrills with added variants.(Birds Eye Wall's Ltd.)(Brief article)
June 3, 2009... Birds Eye has relaunched its Chicken Chargrills with the addition of variants including Reggae Reggae and Lime & Chilli Chargrills. The packaging makes greater use of bold colours and serving suggestions. The relaunch is supported by a pounds...

Munch Bunch adds new products to range.(Brief article)
June 3, 2009... Munch Bunch, the Nestle children's yoghurt brand, has added three products to its range: Alpha Pots, split-pot yogurts with letter-shaped cereals, Munch Bunch Stixx squeezy fromage frais tubes, and Squashums, mini yoghurts in squeezy...

Jeyes overhals Bloo packaging.(Made You Look)(Brief article)
June 3, 2009... Jeyes has overhauled the packaging of its toiletcare brand Bloo The redesign, by agency Made You Look, uses 'intense and vivid' colouring to give a fresh and clean feel. The packaging will be used for new products. -------------------- ...

EA seeks agency for launch drives.(Electronic Arts Ltd.)(Brief article)
June 3, 2009... Electronic Arts (EA) is seeking an agency to handle its pan-European marketing campaigns for game launches. The video games publisher has drawn up a pitch shortlist of several digital and direct agencies. Until now, it has used a variety of...

Ray-Ban rolls out music site.(Brief article)
June 3, 2009... Sunglasses brand Ray-Ban is overhauling its dedicated summer music and festival site, Ray-Ban Rooms. Digital agency Zone will create all editorial content for the site, which is set to launch at the end of this week. The Ray-Ban Rooms...

Carlsberg in Goal.com tie.(Partofthegame.tv)(Brief article)
June 3, 2009... Carlsberg has secured an editorial tie-up between its branded football video website, Partofthegame.tv, and football site Goal.com. Under the agreement, Goal.com will introduce video content, while Partofthegame.tv will feature sports news...

Direct choice: Harrods.(Brief article)
June 3, 2009... What is this before me: a letter from the council or Inland Revenue? No, it's a Harrods loyalty pack. It baffles me that this campaign is designed to inspire loyalty - the only emotion it excites in me is incredulity. The drab leaflet...

Magners embarks on nationwide sampling drive.(Magners Original Irish Cider)(Brief article)
June 3, 2009... Magners Irish Cider has embarked on a nationwide sampling push. The activity will support the launch of a wider pounds 8m campaign for its pear cider. The brand aims to reach 100,000 consumers. -------------------- Did you find this...

King of Shaves launches coupon campaign.(Valassis Communications Inc.)(Brief article)
June 3, 2009... King of Shaves has launched a coupon campaign with Valassis as part of the brand's pounds 5m investment in its Azor razor. Coupons for pounds 1 will be issued in each razor pack to encourage trial and build customer loyalty. ...

Nivea partners with Toni & Guy.
June 3, 2009... Nivea is partnering hair salon chain Toni & Guy to run a national sampling campaign. The activity was developed by FST and Cognito Integrated Marketing, and will run in all Toni & Guy and essensuals salons this month. --------------------...

InStyle lines up first advertisers on relaunched website.(Harvey Nichols and Company Ltd.)(IPC Media Ltd.)(Brief article)
June 3, 2009... InStyle, the IPC Media women's monthly title, has lined up Chloe perfume, Dior perfume and Harvey Nichols as the first advertisers on its website, which relaunched last week. The site features fashion coverage, hair and news channels and video...

Collection 2000 launches website.(Collection 2000 Ltd.)(Brief article)
June 3, 2009... Collection 2000, the cosmetics brand, has launched a website. The site, which was created by Steel, allows members to rate products, recommend them to friends, share make-up tips and upload photos. -------------------- Did you find...

Andrew Walmsley on Digital: Time for a Q&A session.
June 3, 2009... When search engines don't give you the answer you're looking for, social search just might. The fantastic thing about search is the ability it gives us to interrogate billions of pages of content in a fraction of a second. Ten years ago,...

The ASA reform movement.(Advertising Standards Authority (United Kingdom))
June 3, 2009... A review of advertising codes has prompted calls to change how the ASA works. The ongoing review of the Broadcast Committee of Advertising Practice and Committee of Advertising Practice codes is being seen as a chance to take a closer look...

PC World breaks rank.(PCW Communications Inc.)
June 3, 2009... The retailer is swimming against the tide by shunning price in favour of brand, writes Joe Thomas. Heeding the advice of the Institute of Practitioners in Advertising (IPA), PC World has announced plans to launch its first brand-led,...

Tapping into the network.(Samsung Mobile)
June 3, 2009... Will Samsung Mobile's music-themed tie-in with Bebo corner the youth market? The strategic partnership signed by Samsung Mobile and Bebo last week marks the mobile company's most significant engagement with social networking to date. It is...

Mark Kleinman on marketing and the City: Aerial battle rejoined.
June 3, 2009... The slide in premium travel is about to make Virgin Atlantic and BA's old rivalry turn nasty once more. Sir Richard Branson's sense of timing is nothing if not impeccable. Four days after British Airways announced its biggest-ever annual...

Argos.(Argos Distributors Ltd.)
June 3, 2009... Recessions are meant to be good for budget brands, so why is Argos doing so badly? Much like a bride who discovers that her wedding ring came from Elizabeth Duke, observers and investors felt more than a little disappointment when Argos...

Mark Ritson on Branding: Back to the future.(advertising campaigns)
June 3, 2009... British marketers have a lot to learn about the importance of provenance, heritage and history. May was undoubtedly marketing's month for nostalgia. M&S ran triumphant three-day penny bazaars to honour its 125-year anniversary; meanwhile,...

Adwatch 03.06.09.(Statistical table)
June 3, 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? 27.05 Brand Agency/TV buyer % ...

Adwatch 03.06.09: Pot Noodle.
June 3, 2009... Fresh from its Flight of the Conchords-style reboot, the snack brand has been 'tastified'. I remember it as if it was yesterday... It was 1993, and as a researcher for Coca-Cola, I found myself in the West End of Newcastle talking to a...

Profile: Engineering change.(British Gas)
June 3, 2009... Rick Vlemmiks, marketing director at British Gas, is on a mission to get people to trust the energy company again. Interview by Amy Golding. After spending much of his career living and working around the world, British Gas marketing...

Opinion: The Marketing Society Forum - Is it the right time for Santander to ditch its heritage brands?
June 3, 2009... While other companies are trying to tempt consumers with nostalgia, the Spanish bank has said it will phase out its Abbey, Bradford & Bingley and Alliance & Leicester brands by the end of next year. YES - ALISON SAGAR, VICE-PRESIDENT,...

Editor's Comment: Time to axe Vauxhall brand.(Brief article)
June 3, 2009... There has been a lot of debate about whether Magna, the Canadian company that has agreed a deal to take over most of General Motors' European operation, should scrap the Vauxhall brand name in favour of Opel. Experts are torn, with one...

Power 100: Next Generation.(List)
June 3, 2009... Ambitious, successful and sharp - the next generation of marketers is set for big things, writes Nicola Clark. Take a good look at the faces on this page. You could well see a lot more of them in the coming years. From the high-octane...

Feeding off the baby boom.
June 3, 2009... The premium market stands to benefit as mothers continue to prioritise the quality of food they feed to their babies. There's nothing like greater demand to boost revenues, and that's exactly what the baby-food category has been...

What comes after a 'perfect storm'?
June 3, 2009... Experts share their opinions on the landscape that will emerge after the turmoil currently affecting the media. The media industry has been hit by an unprecedented combination of rapid change in the way that people consume information and...

Keeping the show on the road.(Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications AB)
June 3, 2009... Brands are experimenting with virtual events, but face-to-face contact with consumers remains the key to successful experiential activity, writes Nicola Clark. From Innocent abandoning its Village Fete to Sony Ericsson ditching its...

Marketing Digital Report: Affiliate - Survive the online jungle.(Report)
June 3, 2009... The multitude of price-comparison, cashback and voucher-code sites make it hard for brands to control how customers reach a purchasing decision on the web. David Benady looks at how to get the best from affiliates. The plethora of...

Marketing Digital Report: Affiliates - How to handle affiliates.(Affiliate Window)(eBay Inc.)(AffiliateFuture.co.uk)
June 3, 2009... Affiliate networks have driven the growth of the industry since its inception, but are now coming under pressure from traditional media agencies, keen for a bite of the cherry. Networks have been instrumental in driving the growth of the...

Helpline.
June 3, 2009... Joe Thomas takes the hassle out of finding the right product or service - you ask the question, he'll provide the answer. FIELD PROMOTION Q: Our brand is looking to embark on a roadshow, but we would like some field or promotional...

What it's really like inside: Quintessentially.(Interview)
June 3, 2009... - Describe the marketing team in three words. Entertaining, energetic, quick-witted, creative and intelligent. Three words are not enough. - How do you come up with new marketing ideas? We constantly have brainstorming sessions,...

Brand manager of the week: Rob Bugler, Brand manager, Jordans Cereals.(Interview)(Brief article)
June 3, 2009... - How would you define marketing? Building equity that adds value for consumers. - What would you be if you weren't a brand manager? A teacher, or perhaps an unemployed banker. - What advice would you give someone starting...

Me & My Mentor: Simon Morris, Chief marketing officer, LoveFilm.com.
June 3, 2009... One of my biggest mentors is Nick Alexander. Nick took me out of advertising and threw me into the deep end of marketing, and was responsible for teaching me much of what I know today. After he helped to launch Virgin Atlantic, I worked...

Marketing Mole: Who does Google think you are? - David Gosen, Vice-president of marketing, Xbox Europe.
June 3, 2009... - The first result pushes to a developmag.com interview following a keynote speech Gosen gave at UK Gamefest. - The second is news of Gosen's appointment at Microsoft on the gaming site Gamasutra. - The third reference links to a...

Marketing Mole: Name that brand.
June 3, 2009... This Unilever-owned soap brand was launched in the US in 1957, after the company bought a Dutch factory called Duif. Over the past 30 years, it has refocused as a skincare brand; recent UK marketing has focused on 'real beauty'. Can...

Marketing Mole: We'll Call You - Sky.
June 3, 2009... We've gone HD, or at least we thought we had. Would Sky finally be able to solve the long-running saga of our Sky+ box following our recent change of address. Mktg I've recently moved and I called you on Sunday to sort out my Sky+...

Honda extols economic impact as plant reopens.
June 10, 2009... Honda will promote its contribution to the UK economy, as the embattled automotive industry attempts to present a positive image. The car maker is running a push to highlight how reopening its Swindon production line, which shut in...

Sainsbury's wins top marketing award.(J Sainsbury PLC)(Brief article)
June 10, 2009... Sainsbury's carried off the Grand Prix at the Marketing Society Golden Jubilee Awards on Monday night. The accolade recognises the effectiveness of the supermarket's recent campaigns, including its 'Feed your family for a fiver' initiative. ...

Brands seek free ad space.(CBS Outdoor)(Brief article)
June 10, 2009... Media owners have been inundated with requests from brands requesting free outdoor advertising following comments made by Aviva's group marketing director, Amanda Mackenzie, that she had been given free space. Mackenzie was recently quoted...

Phones4U boosts focus on core youth market.
June 10, 2009... Latest campaign plays on people's obsession with popularity. Phones4U aims to capitalise on the more distinct target market positioning it has over principal competitor Carphone Warehouse with a new brand campaign that will ditch characters...

Price site rolls out TV push.(Brief article)
June 10, 2009... Moneysupermarket.com is launching a pounds 14m TV campaign featuring Dragon's Den entrepreneur Peter Jones as its first celebrity spokesman. The campaign, which breaks on Friday (12 June), comprises six executions over the year. The...

Bacardi chief to leave role.(Stella David)(Brief article)
June 10, 2009... Stella David, chief marketing officer of Bacardi, is stepping down from her position after 15 years at the company. David, who will leave in July, said that she is considering 'a variety of business options'. The marketer behind the...

Ryvita hires Grey London to ad account.(Brief article)
June 10, 2009... Ryvita has appointed Grey London to handle its pounds 3m ad business in a move signalling a split from brand ambassador Fern Britton. The business was previously handled by MWO, which held the account for five years and created the Britton...

Foster's to emphasise Australian provenance.
June 10, 2009... Foster's will ditch its long-standing marketing focus on chilled beer in favour of advertising that highlights the brand's Australian heritage. A multimillion-pound campaign, which will span TV, cinema and radio, as well as digital and CRM...

The week in marketing.(VCCP)(Channel 4)(briefs)
June 10, 2009... - Viral anti-drinking ad. The Home Office has launched a viral ad aimed at changing drinking behaviour among 18- to 24-year-olds, as part of the government's wider 'Know your limits' alcohol-awareness campaign. The film, created by VCCP,...

Cadbury in Dave TV and web tie.(Brief article)
June 10, 2009... Cadbury has signed a deal with UKTV channel Dave to sponsor its weekend evening schedule and develop online content. The tie-up runs for a year from Saturday (13 June) and spans programming between 7pm and 12.30am on Saturdays and Sundays....

Confetti's TV sponsor debut.(Confetti Network Ltd.)(Brief article)
June 10, 2009... Wedding accessories retailer Confetti is entering into its first TV sponsorship, which will link the brand with Virgin Media channel Living's Four Weddings series. Confetti idents will run at the beginning and end of each programme. The...

Borders set to roll out consumer publication.(Brief article)
June 10, 2009... Bookstore chain Borders is launching a customer magazine. It will be given to customers spending more than pounds 10. Published by Freeway, part of the Media Circus Group, the title will include interviews with writers, reviews and...

Media Road Test: Big Brother.(Big Brother Records)(Brief article)
June 10, 2009... - What's new? Big Brother is back, signalling the official start of summer. Its malevolent side was evident right from the start, with 16 housemates arriving on launch night last Thursday to discover that they had to complete tasks to win...

Tesco sponsors Mother & Baby Awards.(Brief article)
June 10, 2009... Tesco is sponsoring this year's Mother & Baby Awards in a tie-up promoting its Tesco Baby & Toddler Club. The magazine's awards are held in November. -------------------- Did you find this article useful? Why not subscribe to the...

Channel 4 seeks brand sponsor.(Brief article)
June 10, 2009... Channel 4 is looking for a brand to sponsor a programme which will follow girl band The Saturdays on a tour of Asia and Australia. The programme will be shown as part of the T4 strand. -------------------- Did you find this article...

Circulation falls for London Evening Standard.(Financial report)(Brief article)
June 10, 2009... The London Evening Standard's circulation fell by 6.7% year on year and 19.9% month on month in May, despite its relaunch, according to the latest ABC figures. On the day of the relaunch, 11 May, the newspaper sold 850,000 copies. ...

BT to launch online magazine.(Redwood)(BT Group PLC)(Brief article)
June 10, 2009... BT is launching an online magazine. Upload Innovate, published by Redwood, will include advice for small- to medium-sized businesses. -------------------- Did you find this article useful? Why not subscribe to the magazine? Please call...

Home Office teams up with TV channels for competition.
June 10, 2009... The Home Office is teaming up with TV channels MTV, Comedy Central, Nickelodeon and VH1 through Viacom Brand Solutions to launch a 'Good 4 the Hood' competition. The contest aims to inspire teenagers. Winners will have a mini-series made about...

TalkSport and Classic FM take home gongs.(Brief article)
June 10, 2009... TalkSport and Classic FM both took home two gongs at last week's Arqiva Commercial Radio Awards. TalkSport was named station of the year, as well as winning national sales team of the year. Classic FM's Darren Henley picked up the radio...

T-Mobile assigns strategy to Dave.(T-Mobile (UK) Ltd.)(Brief article)
June 10, 2009... T-Mobile has appointed branding agency Dave to work on its overarching brand strategy over a five-year period. It is the first time that the mobile operator has hired a UK branding agency on a retained basis, having previously made...

DoH unveils approval mark.(Department of Health)(Brief article)
June 10, 2009... The Department of Health (DoH) is to launch a brand identity for The Information Standard, an organisation it created last month to certify producers of health and social-care advice. The DoH appointed branding agency Smith & Milton to...

Sanatogen in pack revamp.(Brief article)
June 10, 2009... Sanatogen, the vitamin supplement brand, is rolling out fresh packaging that places greater emphasis on the products' benefits. The revamped packaging, designed by branding agency Holmes & Marchant, retains Sanatogen's circular graphic...

Brand in the news: Bing.(Brief article)
June 10, 2009... I knew that at some point Microsoft would challenge the dominance of Google. Such an attack will need the clout of Gates' empire if it is to stand a chance against the internet king. Bing is storming onto the scene with serious marketing...

Mars and Snickers bars reduced in size.(Mars UK Ltd.)(Brief article)
June 10, 2009... Mars has decreased the size of its Mars and Snickers chocolate bars without changing their price. The bars have been reduced in weight by 7.2%, from 62.5g to 58g. However, a single Mars bar will continue to cost 37p, with an individual Snickers...