Marketing articles from May 2004

Marketing archives from May 2004

Nescafe plots entry into fair trade coffee market.(Brief Article)
May 6, 2004... Nestle, which has a history of being attacked by pressure groups for 'unethical' marketing practices, is planning its own fair trade coffee product under the Nescafe brand. The product, as yet unnamed, will be positioned at the premium end...

Royal Mail slashes adspend by 40%.(Brief Article)
May 6, 2004... Royal Mail is cutting its advertising budget by more than 40% to pounds 12m and has postponed marketing activity as part of a major cost-cutting exercise. The drastic reduction in spend is part of Royal Mail's bid to reach profitability...

Vodafone offers free weekends.(Brief Article)
May 6, 2004... Vodafone is preparing its most aggressive drive for customers by offering free weekend calls for up to six months. The initiative, which applies to both new and existing customers, aims to replicate the success of One2One's (T-Mobile) free...

Sainsbury's to overhaul stores for football push.(Brief Article)
May 6, 2004... Sainsbury's is putting football at the heart of its summer promotional activity with the launch of the tagline 'Feed the Passion' to reinforce its status as the official supermarket for the England team during Euro 2004. It is planning...

Sky hires shops for online drive.(hires London and Finex)(Brief Article)
May 6, 2004... Sky has appointed glue London and Finex to handle its digital marketing ahead of initiatives to increase sales through the internet. The broadcaster began a competitive pitch of its digital marketing business out of incumbent Arnold...

T-Mobile readies Euro 2004 blitz.(Brief Article)
May 6, 2004... T-Mobile is preparing a multimillion-pound advertising campaign around its sponsorship of this summer's Euro 2004 football championships. To cash in on its pounds 12m association with the event, it will launch Everyone 200 Full Time, a...

New campaign: Yellow Pages 118 247.(Brief Article)
May 6, 2004... Client: Yell Creative agency: Abbott Mead Vickers BBDO Media agencies: The Allmond Partnership/PHD 'Elves' shows Nesbitt dressed in an elf costume, having misread an invitation to an Elvis fancy-dress party. In 'Tent', Nesbitt is...

Lads' mag sales hit by weeklies.(new magazines Nuts and Zoo Weekly affect sales)(Brief Article)
May 6, 2004... Sales of monthly lads' magazines have been drastically hit by the launch of weekly titles Nuts and Zoo Weekly, with some issues down 20% on last year. According to newstrade estimates, Dennis Publishing's Maxim has been worst hit, while...

Little Chef tests 'relaxed' format.(Brief Article)
May 6, 2004... Little Chef is moving away from its functional, service-station image to a more relaxed dining experience, with trials of a refurbished format. The first overhauled outlet has opened in Thame, Oxfordshire. It features a revamped signage,...

Summers Eve to enter UK market.(Brief Article)
May 6, 2004... Summers Eve, the US feminine hygiene brand, will take on sector giants Johnson & Johnson and Lil-lets with its first foray into the UK. The De Witt-owned brand will offer a range of products, including washes, deodorant sprays, cleansing...

Brands battle for ad space in final Friends on C4.(Brief Article)
May 6, 2004... Mobile phone and car advertisers are fighting over the few remaining ad slots for the final episode of Friends to be broadcast on Channel 4 later this month. Rates for a 30-second slot during the Friends finale, to be screened on May 28,...

PepsiCo rejigs top team to buoy Tropicana sales.(Karen Goffe and Caroline Diamond swap jobs)(Brief Article)
May 6, 2004... PepsiCo is overhauling its senior marketing team by swapping the roles of Karen Goffe, Pepsi's marketing chief, and Caroline Diamond, marketing director for Tropicana and Quaker. The two will swap jobs on 1 June as PepsiCo seeks to redouble...

Umbro prepares Euro 2004 range.(Brief Article)
May 6, 2004... Umbro is to cash in on Euro 2004 with its first co-ordinated fashion range, spanning football kit, equipment, apparel and casual clothing. Tagged Evolution X, the line will debut in the UK at the end of June to coincide with the...

Pimm's supports ready-mixed bottles with pounds 2m.(Brief Article)
May 6, 2004... Pimm's is to introduce a ready-to-drink variant into pubs and bars to make the drink more accessible to consumers. The 275ml bottle will go on sale later this week and will be supported by a pounds 2m summer campaign based on the brand's...

Footie Chick in Euro 2004 line.(clothing line for women)(Brief Article)
May 6, 2004... Women's sports fashion brand Footie Chick has unveiled a clothing range for female England supporters at Euro 2004. The line marks the company's first move into event-specific clothing since its launch last August. Footie Chick was founded...

ATOL puts five on agency shortlist.(Air Travel Organiser's Licence )(Brief Article)
May 6, 2004... ATOL, the travel protection organisation, has shortlisted five agencies to pitch for its multimillion-pound promotional account. The statutory review, out of integrated agency Ladders, comes as holiday-makers increasingly package their own...

O2 supports Business Zones with pounds 3m campaign.(Brief Article)
May 6, 2004... O2 is launching a multimillion-pound marketing campaign to back a discounted calls offer designed to boost its business customer base. The mobile operator this week rolls out O2 Business Zones, which offers companies 40% off calls from O2...

Remington to introduce 'wet' hair straightener.(Wet 2 Straight )(Brief Article)
May 6, 2004... Remington is to launch a hair-straightening device in a renewed drive to appeal to younger consumers. The female grooming product, called Wet 2 Straight, claims to be the first of its kind to let women straighten their hair while it is...

Frijj to back FHM 'Honeys' search.(Dairy Crest Ltd.)(Brief Article)
May 6, 2004... Frijj, Dairy Crest's milkshake brand, will sponsor FHM's annual High Street Honeys competition as it repositions the drink to appeal to the lad's market. The pounds 1m marketing programme, which will last nine months, includes advertorials...

Wella set for pounds 4m overhaul of Shockwaves range.(Brief Article)
May 6, 2004... Wella is ploughing more than pounds 4m into an overhaul of its Shockwaves range, which will see the introduction of new formulations, packaging and fragrances. A hair-styling range called Xtrovert will join the Wella product portfolio. ...

Red Stripe drops 'stubby' bottles.(Brief Article)
May 6, 2004... Red Stripe, the Jamaican lager brand, is to reintroduce its long-neck bottle to the UK following the failure of its 'stubby' variant. Red Stripe, which is brewed by Charles Wells in the UK, launched the stubby bottle at the end of 2001....

Blackthorn revamps for premium image.(cider )(Brief Article)
May 6, 2004... Blackthorn cider is undergoing a seven-figure facelift to re-establish itself as a premium alcohol brand. The Matthew Clarke-owned brand is being repackaged to communicate the quality and provenance of its ingredients. New-look bottles...

People moves: National Magazine Company.(Di Roach )(Brief Article)
May 6, 2004... Di Roach has been promoted from brand marketing head to assistant publisher for the Young Women's division of The National Magazine Company. Roach, who has been at the publisher for seven years, will be responsible for generating revenues as...

People moves: KAO Brands Europe.(Nigel Brown )(Brief Article)
May 6, 2004... Nigel Brown has been hired as European marketing manager for KAO Brands Europe. He joins from L'Occitane, where he was UK marketing director. In his new role, Brown's responsibility will include the marketing of the John Frieda, Guhl haircare...

People moves: Metro.(Karen Wall)(Brief Article)
May 6, 2004... Karen Wall, head of marketing at London's free daily newspaper Metro, has been promoted to marketing director. Wall replaces Linda Grant, who left to join Capital Radio as commercial managing director for the London region in September 2002....

People moves: National Car Rental.(Ian Hunt )(Brief Article)
May 6, 2004... Ian Hunt has joined National Car Rental (NCR) in the new role of director of sales development for the EMEA sales and marketing group. Hunt has previously held sales roles with the RAC, Thomas Cook and American Express. John Kear joins NCR as...

People moves: Research International.(Simon Lidington )(Brief Article)
May 6, 2004... Simon Lidington has been made chief executive of Research International's UK division. He replaces Colin Buckingham, who is promoted to chief executive of global business. Lidington was previously a partner at Quadrangle Consulting and...

People moves: Marketing Birmingham.(Ian Squires)(Brief Article)
May 6, 2004... Ian Squires, managing director of ITV Central, has been named as the chairman of Marketing Birmingham, an organisation responsible for promoting the city. He replaces Bob Gilbert, who retired in April.

People moves: Hilton UK & Ireland.(Hugh Taylor)(Brief Article)
May 6, 2004... Hugh Taylor, vice-president of marketing for Hilton UK & Ireland, is moving to the operational role of regional vice-president for the southern region. He replaces Peter Manby, who left Hilton two months ago to join De Vere as operations...

People moves: 192.com.(Jean Parodi )(Brief Article)
May 6, 2004... Jean Parodi has joined online directory 192.com as its first marketing director. He was formerly marketing director of online holiday specialist iglu.com. Parodi will be responsible for developing a campaign to promote the service over the 118...

News brief: British Airways launches TV ads.(Brief Article)
May 6, 2004... British Airways has launched its first campaign to use the strapline 'The way to fly', as revealed last month (Marketing, 8 April). The TV ads, by M&C Saatchi, feature a businessman and his family flying by BA to meet up for a holiday.

News brief: British Olympic Association unveils scratchcard.(Brief Article)
May 6, 2004... The British Olympic Association has unveiled an Olympic Gold scratchcard to raise funds for Team GB's trip to Athens this summer. The pounds 2 card has been created with Littlewoods Lotteries and offers a maximum cash prize of pounds 125,000.

News brief: New Powerhouse shortlists agencies.(Brief Article)
May 6, 2004... New Powerhouse, the electronics retailer, has shortlisted Archibald Ingall Stretton, Rainey Kelly Campbell Roalfe/Y&R, Rees Bradley Hepburn, cdp-travissully, Fresh and incumbent Result Marketing to pitch for its pounds 6m advertising business.

News brief: BUPA targets overseas market.(Brief Article)
May 6, 2004... BUPA is targeting the wealthy overseas market, including UK expatriates, with a pounds 1m press and online direct response campaign by agency WFCA Integrated.

News brief: VisitScotland claims media first.(Brief Article)
May 6, 2004... VisitScotland is claiming a media first for a pounds 300,000 campaign featuring a poster running the length of Waterloo Underground station.

News brief: Asahi teams up with Buena Vista for promotion.(Kill Bill 2)(Brief Article)
May 6, 2004... Asahi, the Japanese beer brand, has teamed up with Buena Vista Home Entertainment for a Kill Bill 2 promotion. The activity, created by Nexus/H UK, includes a prize draw and will be promoted in bars and clubs as well as press ads.

News brief: Daktarin extends sponsorship.(UK Athletics )(Brief Article)
May 6, 2004... Daktarin, the Johnson & Johnson-owned athlete's foot treatment, has extended its sponsorship of UK Athletics for a further three years.

News brief: Philips hires Redmandarin.(corporate sponsorship strategy)(Brief Article)
May 6, 2004... Philips has hired sponsorship consultancy Redmandarin to handle its global corporate sponsorship strategy, which includes the FIFA World Cup.

News brief: Co-op ties up with Community Heart for campaign.('Books to South Africa' campaign)(Brief Article)
May 6, 2004... The Co-op has tied up with charity Community Heart for a 'Books to South Africa' campaign. The scheme allows books to be donated in Co-op stores and marks the 10th anniversary of South Africa's first post-apartheid elections.

Ofcom examines telco mis-selling.(Brief Article)
May 6, 2004... Ofcom is to investigate the mis-selling of fixed-line telecoms services to BT customers by alternative providers. The regulator has begun a consultation process, during which it will interview consumers and industry insiders to evaluate...

Thomson Local links with NHS.(Brief Article)
May 6, 2004... Thomson Directories has teamed up with the Department of Health and NHS Direct to help people with minor injuries or illnesses diagnose themselves. Spring editions of the Thomson Local directory will include a 64-page guide based on NHS...

Saga eyes younger audience with 'action' breaks.(Brief Article)
May 6, 2004... Saga Services is launching a range of adventure and action holidays under the banner Go For It to broaden its appeal. Saga has a core customer base of people in their 60s and 70s, but is aiming Go For It at those in their 50s. Go For It...

Amstel relaunches cans in off-trade growth plan.(Brief Article)
May 6, 2004... Amstel, the Dutch lager brand, has unveiled a UK growth plan that will see cans reappear on shelves after a 10-month absence. The imported Heineken-owned beer is sold only on draught in upmarket bars. The initiative will introduce it into...

Skype seeks UK marketing boss.(Brief Article)
May 6, 2004... Skype, an online phone call company taking on BT's landline business, is hunting a head of marketing to drive UK growth. Skype, which promotes itself as a global person-to-person telephone company, uses a piece of free software enabling...

Budvar campaign to highlight Czech pedigree.(Brief Article)
May 6, 2004... Budweiser Budvar is trying to boost its premium credentials by highlighting its authentic Czech brewing roots. Budvar will position itself alongside other imported premium lagers, including Peroni and Pilsner Urquell, and is planning its...

Nationwide backs Football League websites.
May 6, 2004... Nationwide is resurrecting its links with the Football League by agreeing a three-year deal to sponsor official club websites. The six-figure partnership comes three months after Nationwide's title sponsorship of the three-division league...

Daewoo in speed-dating tie.(Chemistry sponsorship deal)(Brief Article)
May 6, 2004... Daewoo is targeting young singles through a sponsorship deal with speed-dating firm Chemistry. Throughout May, Chemistry's national events, which attract 23- to 35-year-old young professionals, will be rebranded Daewoo Dates. The deal...

New campaign: Marston's.(Wolverhampton and Dudley Breweries PLC)(Brief Article)
May 6, 2004... Client: Wolverhampton & Dudley Breweries Creative agency: Walsh Trott Chick Smith Media agency: Manning Gottlieb OMD

Charities unite for fundraising.(Brief Article)
May 6, 2004... Mencap has joined with other leading charities to launch a fundraising consortium designed to give major brands a ready-made cause related marketing platform. Under the banner Disability United, the charities - which include Action for...

This week: Marketing news from the national press.(Brief Article)
May 6, 2004... Dixons has struck a multimillion-pound deal with music download company Napster UK to launch the service here. Napster-branded discs will be distributed in the group's chains, including Dixons, PC World and The Link, which will allow consumers...

Media News: Unilever in exclusive link-up with The Hits.(advertising partnership)
May 6, 2004... Unilever has agreed a deal to become the exclusive FMCG advertising partner of Emap music TV station The Hits. The 12-month tie-up, valued at pounds 600,000, covers the promotion of youth-oriented Unilever brands such as Lynx, Impulse, CK,...

Media News: LBC runs ads for breakfast show.(LBC 97.3FM)(Brief Article)
May 6, 2004... Talk radio station LBC 97.3FM is stoking the battle for London breakfast listeners by advertising on TV for the first time. The Chrysalis-owned station is promoting its Nick Ferrari At Breakfast show with an pounds 800,000 campaign. ...

Media News: Emap revamps over-50s title.(Yours)(Brief Article)
May 6, 2004... Emap Esprit is repositioning over-50s magazine Yours to appeal to a younger audience, and is backing the overhaul with a pounds 2m TV ad campaign, the title's biggest marketing spend to date. The magazine has been redesigned to appeal to...

Media choice: All Out Cricket.(Brief Article)
May 6, 2004... All Out Cricket is the sport's latest and biggest magazine launch. Backed by the Professional Cricketers Association, TriNorth and the chairman and managing director of Costcutter, the title is a departure from bygone days of statistics,...

Media News brief: IPC Media goes head-to-head with Golf Punk.(Brief Article)
May 6, 2004... IPC Media is going head-to-head with fledgling golf title Golf Punk with the launch of Total Golf. The IPC title targets the same 23- to 35-year-old male audience as its rival and will have similarly laddish content. It debuts on 6 May, and...

Media News brief: Guardian launches free weekly tabloid edition.(Guardian Student)(Brief Article)
May 6, 2004... The Guardian is launching a free weekly tabloid edition for students. Guardian Student, a 32-page 'best of The Guardian', will be tested at five university campuses from 7 May. If successful, it will be rolled out nationally.

Media News brief: Dennis Publishing develops car magazine.(Brief Article)
May 6, 2004... Dennis Publishing is developing a monthly car magazine with the working title Project Squirrel. The title will be positioned between two other Dennis publications, AutoExpress and Evo. No date has been set for launch.

Media News brief: Subway signs sponsorship deal.(95.8 Capital FM )(Brief Article)
May 6, 2004... Subway, the fast-food chain, has signed a five-month deal with 95.8 Capital FM to sponsor its daily Workforce Anthems music requests strand. Competitions will offer free lunches for office staff.

Media News brief: Universal Music sponsors Club Reps Aftersun.(ITV2)(Brief Article)
May 6, 2004... Universal Music is sponsoring ITV2's Club Reps Aftersun with a compilation album, Clubland X-treme 2. The reality show will focus on workers who have settled in holiday resorts long-term. Sponsorship idents are being created by Factory.

Media News brief: Ford sponsors Sport Breakfast Show.(Brief Article)
May 6, 2004... Ford is sponsoring talkSPORT's Sport Breakfast Show, presented by Alan Brazil and Mike Parry.

Media News brief: Centurion Publishing Group to rebrand.(Redactive Media Group)(Brief Article)
May 6, 2004... Centurion Publishing Group is rebranding as Redactive Media Group. The company specialises in magazines for membership organisations. Its titles include People Management and Supply Management.

Media News brief: ITV joins forces with Department of Health and Sport England.('Britain On The Move' campaign)(Brief Article)
May 6, 2004... ITV has joined forces with the Department of Health and Sport England to launch a campaign for a healthier Britain. As part of the 'Britain On The Move' initiative, ITV will air a series of half-hour regional programmes leading up to an ITV...

Branding News: Golden Wonder to relaunch.(Brief Article)
May 6, 2004... Golden Wonder is taking the fight to Walkers by introducing its repackaged and refined flavour crisps in England. The phased activity follows trials in Northern Ireland and Scotland last year, where Golden Wonder gave the crisps their debut...

Branding News: Penguin in tie-up with Spider-Man.(Brief Article)
May 6, 2004... United Biscuits UK is to temporarily repackage its Penguin range as part of a pounds 500,000 link-up with Sony Pictures for the forthcoming sequel to Spider-Man. Penguin has sewn up exclusive biscuit and cake category promotional rights to...

Branding News: Design choice - Jellyfish laptop stand.(Brief Article)
May 6, 2004... What's that? What's wrong with your Mac? These are just two of the questions I am now regularly asked, having taken delivery of my Jellyfish laptop stand. At first it can look as though your precious laptop has been hoisted up on bricks to...

Branding News brief: Pepsi unveils special-edition bottle.(Euro 2004)(Brief Article)
May 6, 2004... Pepsi has unveiled a special-edition 300ml bottle to drive sales in the lead-up to, and during, Euro 2004 this June. Five football stars, including David Beckham, feature on a coloured sleeve on the bottles.

Branding News brief: Wagamama to publish branded cookbook.(Brief Article)
May 6, 2004... Wagamama, the Japanese noodle-bar chain, is to publish a branded cookbook containing recipes for some of its most popular dishes.

Branding News brief: Procter & Gamble revamps Bold 2in1.(Brief Article)
May 6, 2004... Procter & Gamble has revamped the packaging and brand identity of its Bold 2in1 washing detergent and fabric conditioner brand. The identity was created by Landor.

Branding News brief: Lego focuses on licensing.(Brief Article)
May 6, 2004... Lego is hoping to revive its fortunes with a renewed focus on licensing. It has appointed Start Licensing and SGLP to help with future licensing deals.

Branding News brief: Yardley creates 'brand bible'.(Brief Article)
May 6, 2004... Yardley, the cosmetics brand, has created a 'brand bible' to ensure global marketing consistency.

Branding News brief: Acompany adds to brand portfolio.(Suzy Smith and Wonderbag )(Brief Article)
May 6, 2004... Acompany, the fashion accessories manufacturer, has added Suzy Smith and Wonderbag handbags to its brand portfolio.

Branding News brief: Old Vic overhauls brand identity.(Brief Article)
May 6, 2004... The Old Vic, one of London's oldest theatres, has overhauled its brand identity. The work, by R&D&Co, coincides with the theatre's reinvention as a production house, and includes a redesigned crest.

Branding News brief: Global Baby Marketing rebrands sample packs.(Brief Article)
May 6, 2004... Global Baby Marketing has rebranded its Baby Welcome and Pregnancy Welcome packs to modernise their image. The new-look packs contain product samples and leaflets.

Branding News brief: Maharishi signs licensing deal.(Cartoon Network )(Brief Article)
May 6, 2004... Maharishi, the urbanwear brand, has signed a licensing deal with Cartoon Network to develop a range of clothes based on the channel's Samurai Jack character.

Direct News: Telewest readies price promotion.(Telewest Broadband)(Brief Article)
May 6, 2004... Telewest Broadband is preparing a pounds 1m integrated campaign to back its cut-price blueyonder offering, which it claims is the cheapest and fastest home cable service. Mailings and door-drops will be introduced this month. The work...

Direct News: Volvic to develop on-pack activity.(Liquid Communications )(Brief Article)
May 6, 2004... Volvic has selected integrated agency Liquid Communications for a direct campaign aimed at boosting sales over the crucial summer period. The agency will create an on-pack campaign that will appear on 24m bottles over a six-week period. ...

Direct News: Cadbury hands Elvis cause related brief.(Cadbury Trebor Bassett )(Brief Article)
May 6, 2004... Cadbury Trebor Bassett has added direct agency Elvis to its roster. Elvis will develop a cause related DM campaign to replace Cadbury's heavily criticised Get Active sales promotion scheme. Elvis was appointed following a pitch against KLP....

Direct choice: Saab.(Brief Article)
May 6, 2004... How often does one get something for nothing? Hardly ever. And how many times have we seen good customer loyalty programmes ruined by the small print? Frequently. The exception being this recent mailing from Saab. 'We simply thought a...

Direct News brief: Homebase seeks to recruit consumer brands.(loyalty scheme)(Brief Article)
May 6, 2004... Homebase is seeking to recruit consumer brands to its Spend & Save loyalty scheme. Spend & Save members are mailed nine times a year and Homebase will allow other brands to promote their products or services on vouchers or loyalty statements.

Direct News brief: Seasons Holidays appoints LinkDirect.(Brief Article)
May 6, 2004... Seasons Holidays has appointed DM agency LinkDirect to run a national door-drop campaign. The activity will initially target 1m consumers, primarily home-owning couples in their 30s and 40s. A further 4m consumers will be targeted later in the...

Direct News brief: COI Communications seeks direct agency.(Brief Article)
May 6, 2004... COI Communications is searching for a direct agency to make employers aware of Jobcentre Plus, a service that advertises vacancies. Kitcatt Nohr Alexander Shaw, Tullo Marshall Warren, Publicis Dialog and Craik Jones Watson Mitchell Voelkel are...

Direct News brief: MSN picks rmg:blackcat.(Brief Article)
May 6, 2004... MSN has picked rmg:blackcat to back the benefits of online advertising. The agency has designed a fruit and vegetable crate with the line 'How's your thinking?' to be sent to creative agencies. Inside is a banana bearing a sticker with an MSN...

Direct News brief: Loans.co.uk rolls out DRTV campaign.(Brief Article)
May 6, 2004... Loans.co.uk is rolling out its DRTV campaign nationally, following a test in February. Two 40-second executions will air on ITV, Five and selected satellite channels. Both star former cricketer Phil Tufnell.

Direct News brief: Passion4 Health selects MRM for incentive schemes.(Brief Article)
May 6, 2004... Passion4 Health, the nutritional supplements firm, has selected MRM to develop coupon- and voucher-based incentive schemes for products including vitamins, minerals and herbs.