Marketing articles from May 2006

Marketing archives from May 2006

P&G boss slams innovation-stifling promotions.(Gianni Ciserani of Procter & Gamble says packaged goods companies spend too much on price promotions)(Brief article)
May 4, 2006... Packaged goods firms are struggling to create ground-breaking products as they spend too much on price promotions, according to Procter & Gamble vice-president and UK & Ireland managing director Gianni Ciserani. 'Lower prices are...

Motorola seeks agency for pounds 30m European task.
May 4, 2006... Motorola, the second-biggest handset manufacturer in the world, has called a pounds 30m pan-European pitch for a Christmas ad campaign for its PEBL, RAZR and SLVR handset brands. It is believed that the pitch is being handled by Motorola's...

Marketer of Year finalists named.(Brief article)
May 4, 2006... The shortlist of nominees for Marketer of the Year has been unveiled. The winner, to be chosen by Marketing readers, will be announced at the Marketing Society Awards for Excellence ceremony on 19 June. The nominees are: Neil Campbell,...

Coke Zero picks VCCP to create launch offensive.(Vallance Carruthers Coleman Priest)(Coca-Cola Co.)(Brief article)
May 4, 2006... Coca-Cola has appointed Vallance Carruthers Coleman Priest to handle the multimillion-pound launch campaign for its Coke Zero brand this summer. The highly anticipated launch, which will be Coca-Cola's biggest investment of the year, will...

General Motors rethinks Chevrolet UK marketing.(Brief article)
May 4, 2006... General Motors (GM) may absorb Chevrolet's marketing function into Vauxhall, following the departure of Rob Smettem, Chevrolet's marketing director. A Chevrolet spokesman confirmed that Smettem left the company in April and that managing...

ITN to upgrade online archive.(Independent Television Network Inc)(Brief article)
May 4, 2006... ITN is to boost its online news offering by appointing a digital agency to redevelop its archive service. Framfab has been hired to digitise the ITN Archive in an initiative that will allow customers to source content from their PCs via the...

Mattessons ads 'upset children'.(Brief article)
May 4, 2006... The Advertising Standards Authority has rapped Mattessons for its Fridge Raiders TV executions, which parents claimed upset their children. The TV spot shows a group of people whose teeth change into vampire fangs, descending on a man...

Aviva hands RAC chief wider role.(Shaun Meadows)(Brief article)
May 4, 2006... Insurance giant Aviva has promoted RAC marketing director Shaun Meadows to the role of marketing director across Norwich Union and RAC. The decision is intended to improve cross-selling opportunities. Colin Webb, who was director of...

New campaign: Mars.(Brief article)
May 4, 2006... Mars is launching a TV ad campaign designed to capitalise on the excitement surrounding the World Cup. The 'Believe' campaign, which marks the biggest investment in the brand since its relaunch in 2002, tells the story of Bill Lever, the...

L'Oreal set to run Jane Fonda work.(L'Oreal Paris)(Brief article)
May 4, 2006... Hollywood actress Jane Fonda is to be the face of L'Oreal Paris' anti-ageing treatment, Age Re-Perfect. The French cosmetics giant believes that Fonda, 68, will reflect its relevance to the mature-women market. The Age Re-Perfect range...

EU countries rapped for restrictions on ad breaks.(Viviane Reding)(Brief article)
May 4, 2006... Viviane Reding, the European Commissioner responsible for information society and media, has slammed EU countries for their reluctance to relax the rules governing the amount of time between ad breaks on TV. Speaking at an Association of...

DWP calls pitch for pounds 7m benefit-fraud business.(Department for Work and Pensions)(Brief article)
May 4, 2006... The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) is reviewing its pounds 7m benefit fraud advertising account as it prepares to shift the focus of the campaign away from cheats. The COI, which is handling the review, has paired four advertising...

Eurostar in pounds 7m web competition.(Brief article)
May 4, 2006... Eurostar is running a pounds 7m campaign, its first outside Europe, to back its association with the forthcoming film The Da Vinci Code. An online competition entitled 'The Eurostar quest', intended to find 'the world's best code-cracker',...

Barnardo's signs Kevin Pietersen.(Brief article)
May 4, 2006... England cricket star Kevin Pietersen is set to become the face of national children's charity Barnardo's. The batsman, who shot to national stardom last summer following England's historic victory over Australia in the Ashes series, will...

Burger King poaches McDonald's ad executive.(David Kisilevsky)(Brief article)
May 4, 2006... Burger King has hired one of McDonald's longest-serving advisers, David Kisilevsky, to be its senior strategic marketing director for North-West Europe. Until earlier this year, Kisilevsky was an account director at Leo Burnett, where he...

InBev brand boss takes top UK job.(Evans, Richard)(Brief article)
May 4, 2006... Richard Evans, InBev's vice-president of brands and a former marketing director of Interbrew UK, has been promoted to president of InBev UK and Ireland. Evans, who takes up the post tomorrow (Friday), is returning to the UK from Belgium,...

Post Office adds prepay foreign-currency card.(Brief article)
May 4, 2006... The Post Office is launching a prepay foreign currency top-up card with Visa, called Money Travel Card, to strengthen its position as the UK's biggest provider of foreign currency exchange services. Consumers will be able to top up the card...

Ariel overhauls packaging for summer tennis activity.(Brief article)
May 4, 2006... Procter & Gamble has redesigned the packaging for its Ariel brand to resemble a tennis court as part of its 'Champ Whites' free tennis equipment promotion. The Ariel logo has been recreated in the style of tennis-court markings on a...

Bulldog in pounds 5m broadband push.(Bulldog Broadband)(Brief article)
May 4, 2006... Bulldog Broadband, the internet arm of Cable & Wireless, is launching a pounds 5m campaign to support its launch of a 16Mb service. The three-month activity comprises two TV ads, one DRTV ad and a direct drive using the line 'Broadband as...

Kumala ad task goes to McCann.(McCann-Erickson Inc.)(Brief article)
May 4, 2006... Kumala, the South African wine brand, has appointed McCann-Erickson Birmingham to its ad account ahead of a change of ownership. The agency's first brief is to develop a radio campaign using the brand's 'Relax with Kumala' line to coincide...

New campaign: Which?(consumer products)(Brief article)
May 4, 2006... Which?, the consumer guide to goods and services, is running its first TV brand campaign to change the perception that it reviews mainly domestic appliances. The 30-second spot features a wide range of consumer products, from credit cards...

John West backs Light Lunch line.(Brief article)
May 4, 2006... John West is relaunching its tuna Light Lunch meals with a multimillion-pound integrated campaign. The revamped recipes and redesigned packaging, which now includes a fork for convenience, are aimed at rejuvenating the brand as a healthy...

Budweiser secures pounds 20m World Cup tie.(Budweiser Budvar)(Brief article)
May 4, 2006... Budweiser has sealed the first of the second-tier sponsorship packages for the 2010 and 2014 FIFA World Cups. The deal, said to be worth pounds 20m, will give Budweiser pouring rights, on-field signage and use of FIFA World Cup branding....

Orange hands digital brief to Underwired.(Brief article)
May 4, 2006... Orange has appointed digital agency Underwired to handle online marketing for its Business Solutions account. The agency won the work in a three-way pitch handled by the AAR. It has been briefed to create email campaigns, online newsletters...

News brief: Digital UK launches first stage of campaign.(Brief article)
May 4, 2006... Digital UK, the body charged with co-ordinating the switchover to digital TV, is launching the first stage of a pounds 200m campaign tomorrow (Friday) to prepare the UK for the analogue signal switch-off.

News brief: Vodafone creates series of idents.(Vodafone Group PLC)(Brief article)
May 4, 2006... Vodafone has created a series of idents to run alongside Vodafone TBA, a series of televised gigs on Channel 4 and E4. The idents will feature The Static Dolls, a band made up of mannequins, and will debut tomorrow (Friday).

News brief: Unilever to unveil new Impulse body spray.(Brief article)
May 4, 2006... Unilever is to unveil a new variant of its Impulse body spray with the name Tease. The launch is being backed by a TV campaign created by Bartle Bogle Hegarty. Media planning and buying is through MindShare.

News brief: Mitsubishi to sponsor boxing coverage.
May 4, 2006... Mitsubishi is to sponsor boxing coverage on ITV1 and ITV4 and the second series of US boxing reality show The Contender on ITV4.

News brief: Lornamead acquires haircare brands.
May 4, 2006... Lornamead, owner of Lypsyl and Yardley, has acquired Unilever's Finesse and Aqua Net haircare brands in the US, its first major acquisition in the region.

News brief: Prosperity4 appoints Propaganda.(Brief article)
May 4, 2006... Prosperity4, the tax-advice firm for contractors, has appointed Propaganda to handle its pounds 2m advertising account as it launches a press, outdoor, online and PR campaign to target professionals in the IT, engineering, medical and...

News brief: Sainsbury's Bank appoints chief executive.(Brief article)
May 4, 2006... Sainsbury's Bank has appointed Rob Walker as chief executive. Walker joins from HSBC, where he was general manager head of credit and risk. He replaces Tim Pile, who left Sainsbury's Bank in March. Separately, recently retired BBC newsreader...

News brief: Appointment at MTV.(Dave Sibley)
May 4, 2006... MTV has hired Dave Sibley, the former senior vice-president and general manager, international marketing partnerships, at MTV Networks International, as managing director of MTV Networks Australia.

People moves: BUPA Wellness.(appointed Amanda Burns )
May 4, 2006... Amanda Burns is joining BUPA Wellness as head of marketing, responsible for corporate and personal business strategy. She was previously head of marketing at low-cost airline bmi.

People moves: Xbox.
May 4, 2006... Xbox has promoted platform marketing manager Michael Newey to group product marketing manager for the EMEA region.

People moves: Frequency Telecom.(appointed Stephen Donovan)(Brief article)
May 4, 2006... Stephen Donovan is taking up the role of head of marketing at handset distributor Frequency Telecom. He was previously an independent consultant, whose clients included Frequency.

People moves: Diageo.(appointed Simon Tilden as marketing director)(Brief article)
May 4, 2006... Diageo has hired Simon Tilden as global category director for advertising. Tilden takes up many of the responsibilities of Adam Kirby, who has joined Saatchi & Saatchi. Tilden previously ran his own agency called thenetworkone.

People moves: Air Jamaica.
May 4, 2006... Paul Pennicock, director of tourism for the Jamaica Tourist Board, is joining Air Jamaica as senior vice-president of sales and marketing from 1 June.

People moves: Standard & Poor.
May 4, 2006... Standard & Poor has named Donna Moloney as European marketing director for its index services. She joins from financial services company Stoxx.

People moves: Sparrowhawk Media.(appointed Vicky Mitchell and Katharine Tipper)(Brief article)
May 4, 2006... Hallmark Channel owner Sparrowhawk Media has hired Vicky Mitchell as marketing director and Katharine Tipper as international brand manager. Mitchell joins from Homechoice and Tipper from Zone Vision.

Media News: Magic FM in pounds 1m advertising push.(Brief article)
May 4, 2006... Emap-owned Magic FM is to run a pounds 1m campaign supporting Neil Fox's breakfast show in a bid to increase its share of the breakfast-show market. The integrated campaign, created by St Luke's, will run across TV, outdoor, press and...

Media News: Exchange & Mart set to review media job.(media.com)(Brief article)
May 4, 2006... Exchange & Mart is reviewing its media account after 14 years with WPP Group's MediaCom. The review follows the classified title's acquisition by Newsquest from United Business Media last September. The pounds 50m deal also saw the company...

Media News: CNBC boss goes to Walker Media.(CNBC International)(Davis takes appointed as managing partner)(Brief article)
May 4, 2006... Walker Media has hired CNBC International vice-president of sales and marketing Simon Davis to handle its pounds 100m DSGi UK media account. Davis takes up the post of managing partner, replacing Charlie Varley, who has taken the role of...

Media choice: Capital Radio.(Scott Muller appointed as programming director)(Brief article)
May 4, 2006... Despite a recent brand and programming overhaul, Capital Radio is back in the spotlight following the recent departure of key senior management and the prediction of less-than-impressive results at the next release of Rajar figures. But it...

Media News brief: The British Museum hires B Media.(Brief article)
May 4, 2006... The British Museum has hired B Media to handle ad sales for its British Museum Magazine. The title, which is published three times a year, is sent to members and sold in the museum.

Media News brief: Ford runs campaign across Heat magazine.(Brief article)
May 4, 2006... Ford is running a 10-month campaign across Emap's Heat magazine and Kiss radio brands to back its Fiesta model. The 'Celebrity city' campaign asks readers and listeners to text or email in the names of celebrities they have spotted. The deal...

Media News brief: BBC Magazines sells off non-BBC-branded titles.
May 4, 2006... BBC Magazines has sold off all its non-BBC-branded titles published by Origin Publishing. These include Blonde Hair, Hair Ideas and Cross Stitch Crazy.

Media News brief: Channel 4 teams up to promote Lost.(Channel 4 Television Co. to work with Seven Network and ABC)(Brief article)
May 4, 2006... Channel 4 has teamed up with US broadcaster ABC and Australia's Seven Network to promote the second series of drama series Lost. An interactive competition asks viewers to solve a mystery via clues given in the show and in online and...

Media News brief: BBC should receive lower licence-fee increase says adviser.(British Broadcasting Corp)(Brief article)
May 4, 2006... The BBC should receive a lower licence-fee increase than it has requested, an independent adviser has told the government. The Corporation has requested a 2.3% rise above the retail price index for the next seven years. This excludes the cost...

Media News brief: Zurich Financial Services to advertise on hoardings.
May 4, 2006... Zurich Financial Services is to advertise on hoardings covering Nelson's Column, which will shield the Trafalgar Square monument during restoration.

Media News brief: Trinity Mirror names former Nissan president as chairman.(Trinity Mirror Digital Media Ltd has named former Nissan Europe president Sir Ian Gibson as its chairman)(Brief article)
May 4, 2006... Trinity Mirror has named former Nissan Europe president Sir Ian Gibson as its chairman, replacing Sir Victor Blank. Gibson was previously chairman of building materials group BPB.

Media News brief: National Galleries of Scotland hires Feather Brooksbank.(Brief article)
May 4, 2006... The National Galleries of Scotland has awarded its media planning and buying account to Feather Brooksbank. The account covers five venues in Edinburgh. The business has moved from The Media Shop.

Branding News: TNT Post backs pounds 3m revamp with ad push.(TNT Post Group N.V. campaign handled by Sutcliffe Reynolds Fitzgerald)(Brief article)
May 4, 2006... TNT Post, which was formed by the merger of TNT Mail and Circular Distributors, has overhauled its branding, as it seeks to position itself as the lead challenger to Royal Mail in the deregulated UK postal market. The company has invested...

Branding News: Seafood body in consumer drive.(United Kingdom. Sea Fish Industry Authority is embarking on a drive to encourage consumers to eat more seafood)(Brief article)
May 4, 2006... The Sea Fish Industry Authority (Seafish) is embarking on a drive to encourage consumers to eat more seafood. The 'Twice a Week' initiative will be flagged up by a logo, created by design agency KLM, which will appear on all the trade...

Branding News: AITC seeks shop to overhaul logo.(Association of Investment Trust Companies)(Brief article)
May 4, 2006... The Association of Investment Trust Companies (AITC) is seeking an agency to create a logo ahead of a proposed name change. The overhaul is intended to reflect the evolution of the investment business and AITC's membership. The organisation...

Branding News: Design choice - Gap Red.(Gap Inc. makes donations from its sales to nonprofit organizations)(Brief article)
May 4, 2006... Gap initially seemed to promise a kind of Yankee Yuppytopia. But over time, the basics we loved became, well, basically boring, and, just like a twice-laundered Gap T-shirt, a little washed-out. How cool it was, therefore, to see a riot of...

Branding News brief: Adidas embroiled in legal wrangle.(Brief article)
May 4, 2006... Adidas is embroiled in a legal wrangle with the All England Lawn Tennis Club, which organises the Wimbledon championships. The dispute is over plans by the club to restrict the size of logos worn by players during the tournament.

Branding News brief: Initial Style Conferences rebrands.(Initial Style Conferences merges with The Alternative Hotel Group )(Brief article)
May 4, 2006... Initial Style Conferences has rebranded as Verve Venues, following its acquisition by The Alternative Hotel Group last December. The firm's overhauled identity is being promoted through a direct mail, press and online drive by Spinnaker.

Branding News brief: Shepherd Neame hires Graham Dury.(Brief article)
May 4, 2006... Shepherd Neame has hired Viz cartoonist Graham Dury to work on a cartoon to promote its Spitfire Premium Kentish Ale. The work follows a football team as it tries to win the World Cup for England.

Branding News brief: Victoria updates brand identity.(Cato Purnell Partners designs logo)(Brief article)
May 4, 2006... Victoria, the Australian state, is updating its brand identity with a logo designed by Cato Purnell Partners. The activity is intended to capitalise on the recent success of the Commonwealth Games, held in Melbourne.

Branding News brief: Waitrose joins David Lloyd Leisure for promotion.(Brief article)
May 4, 2006... Waitrose has tied up with David Lloyd Leisure for a promotion across its Perfectly Balanced range. The activity, which offers free passes to David Lloyd health clubs, will use Packaging Media's Moreinside system, enabling products to carry a...

Branding News brief: Sourz given first makeover.(Smith & Milton Ltd.)(Brief article)
May 4, 2006... Sourz, the alcoholic shot brand, has been given its first makeover since its launch in 1990. The design, by Smith & Milton, features clearer branding on the label and stresses the drink's fruit flavour.

Branding News brief: BBC New Media & Technology runs competition.
May 4, 2006... BBC New Media & Technology is running a competition to redesign the www.bbc.co.uk homepage. Entrants have been asked to include functions of online services such as information resource Wikipedia and video site You Tube.

Branding News brief: Cusquena launches dark variant.(Brief article)
May 4, 2006... Cusquena, the Peruvian lager brand, has launched a dark variant called Cusquena Malta. The brand, designed in-house, goes on sale in Harvey Nichols later this month.

Direct News: Dyslexia charity hires SFW.(Stephens Francis Whitson)(British Dyslexia Association )(Brief article)
May 4, 2006... The British Dyslexia Association (BDA) has appointed Stephens Francis Whitson (SFW) to handle its direct business in a bid to expand its donor base. The charity, which aims to promote 'a dyslexia-friendly society' hired SFW as its first...

Direct News: Environment job handed to 23Red.(Brief article)
May 4, 2006... The Environment Agency has hired integrated agency 23Red to promote the United Nations' Environment Programme's World Environment Day (WED) 2006. 23Red, a COI roster agency, has been briefed to create a multi-platform ad campaign as well...

Direct choice: Samaritans.(Brief article)
May 4, 2006... Most creatives would relish the opportunity to work on the Samaritans account. Yet there is a danger of taking the all-too-familiar route of tugging on the heartstrings, which has long been used to get people to part with their money. ...

Direct News brief: Virgin Trains highlights menu.(Brief article)
May 4, 2006... Virgin Trains is highlighting the exclusive menu available to its first-class passengers in a direct mail campaign by Craik Jones Watson Mitchell Voekel. The activity is intended to encourage customers to upgrade.

Direct News brief: Saab promotes 9-3 Convertible.(Brief article)
May 4, 2006... Saab is promoting its 9-3 Convertible as a 'modern icon' though a campaign created by Draft London. The work will include a mail pack, an interactive TV ad and a dedicated microsite.

Direct News brief: Opodo seeks agency.
May 4, 2006... Opodo is seeking a direct and a digital agency to handle its pan-European direct activity as part of a brand repositioning strategy.

Direct News brief: Dogs Trust supports opening of rehoming centre.(Brief article)
May 4, 2006... Dogs Trust, the canine welfare charity, is to support the opening of its rehoming centre with a direct-response and experiential campaign created by 141 Worldwide/London. The activity will include poster and press executions.

Direct News brief: Flora pro.activ runs roadshow.(Brief article)
May 4, 2006... Flora pro.activ is running a Test the Nation roadshow offering free blood pressure and cholesterol-level tests. The work, which is being handled by Tullo Marshall Warren, will be supported by door-drops and a dedicated website.

Direct News brief: VisitScotland Dumfries & Galloway launches campaign.(Brief article)
May 4, 2006... VisitScotland Dumfries & Galloway is launching a direct mail campaign to encourage older people to visit the area. The mailing, by Edinburgh agency Navigator Responsive Advertising, offers discounts on accommodation.

Direct News brief: Harris runs online campaign.(Brief article)
May 4, 2006... Harris, the decorating products retailer, is running an online campaign that introduces the strapline 'Intelligent decorating'. A microsite offering painting tips has been created by Tamba Internet.

Retail News: The AA signs up for Nectar membership.(Automobile Association and Loyalty Management UK)(Brief article)
May 4, 2006... Nectar, the loyalty scheme owned by Loyalty Management UK (LMUK), has drafted in motoring organisation the AA as a partner to replace Threshers, which left the scheme last month (Marketing, 20 April). The AA will join the scheme from June...

Retail News: Mitsubishi Colt in hair salon push.(Mitsubishi Motors Corp. and Mitsubishi Colt CZC Cabriolet )(Brief article)
May 4, 2006... Mitsubishi Colt has taken the unusual move of targeting female drivers by advertising the forthcoming launch of its CZC Cabriolet in hair salons. The Japanese car marque will run 60-second interactive ads on the i-vu channel which has...

Retail News: BSkyB adds Sky Net card facility.(British Sky Broadcasting Group PLC)
May 4, 2006... BSkyB is developing technology to allow consumers to use payment and loyalty cards when buying goods through its multipurpose interactive TV service, Sky Net. The system, launched on 20 April, allows retailers to recreate their websites...

Retail choice: B&Q, Milton Keynes.(home furnishings and Building materials building materials combine)(Brief article)
May 4, 2006... The Guardian recently suggested that the DIY market is nearing extinction, but B&Q, the bastion of British bank holidays, is not to be beaten: it is regrouping with a showroom-based store format. Combining DIY and home furnishings is a...

Retail News brief: Amazon announces global sales increase.(Amazon.com Inc.)(Brief article)
May 4, 2006... Amazon has announced a global sales increase of 20% to dollars 2.28bn (pounds 1.28bn) for the three months to 31 March. However, the online retailer's profits fell by 35% over the same period due to costs incurred updating its technology.

Retail News brief: T-Mobile plans to double retail network.(T-Mobile (UK) Ltd.)
May 4, 2006... T-Mobile is planning to double its retail network in the UK, taking its total number of shops to 300 by the end of 2007. The mobile network has acquired more than 50 stores over the past six months.

Retail News brief: Dreamworks Universal to run in-store campaign.(Coutts UK)(Brief article)
May 4, 2006... Dreamworks Universal is to run an in-store campaign to support this month's release of the film Jarhead on DVD. Point-of-sale material comprising display units, created by Coutts UK, will be rolled out to stores from 15 May.

Retail News brief: Sainsbury's extends gift-voucher scheme.(J Sainsbury PLC)(Brief article)
May 4, 2006... Sainsbury's is extending its gift-voucher scheme to its Sainsbury's at Bells and Sainsbury's at Jacksons convenience store chains. The move takes the total number of outlets in which Sainsbury's vouchers are available to 800.

Retail News brief: Easter worst shopping period this decade.(Brief article)
May 4, 2006... The Easter shopping period was the worst so far this decade in terms of high-street footfall, according to SPSL's Retail Traffic index. However, shopper numbers were 4.4% higher than on the same calendar dates last year.

Retail News brief: Waterstone's founder looking to buy back chain.(Brief article)
May 4, 2006... Waterstone's founder Tim Waterstone is looking to buy back the chain from owner HMV in a pounds 280m deal. Waterstone, who founded the chain in 1992, said the deal was dependent on HMV not buying rival bookseller Ottakar's.

Retail News brief: Clinton Cards' l-f-l sales fall.(Brief article)
May 4, 2006... Clinton Cards' like-for-like sales fell 2.7% for the year to 29 January. Revenue also dropped, from pounds 361.6m last year to pounds 355.4m. Chairman Don Lewin said the chain would continue to look at reducing operating costs.