Marketing articles from May 2007

Marketing archives from May 2007

Sky boosts warchest as Virgin hostilities escalate.(British Sky Broadcasting Group PLC's promotional spendings)(Brief article)
May 2, 2007... BSkyB is bolstering its armoury as it wages war on Virgin Media for pay-TV subscribers by adding pounds 13m to its promotional spend this year. The increase comes as the broadcaster battles a fall in subscriber growth and rise in churn...

Coca-Cola plans second assault on water market.(Coca-Cola Great Britain)(Brief article)
May 2, 2007... Coca-Cola is gearing up for a second offensive on the European water market, three years after it was forced to withdraw its Dasani brand. According to industry insiders, the drinks firm will roll out Chaudfontaine, a local water brand it...

Big Brother vote system reviewed.(Channel Four Television Company Ltd. to drop SMS voting system)(Brief article)
May 2, 2007... Channel 4 could scrap SMS voting from the next series of Big Brother, following the recent furore surrounding participation-TV shows. The broadcaster is reviewing the use of SMS for all of its shows to ensure votes cast are correctly...

EDF lines up for top-tier London 2012 partnership.(London Organising Committee of the Olympic to sign EDF Energy as partner)(Brief article)
May 2, 2007... EDF Energy is poised to sign up as a top-tier domestic partner of the London 2012 Olympics. The London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games (LOCOG) is set to announce the second of its tier-one sponsorship partnerships...

Retail frenzy for celeb ranges.(Kate Moss to create a clothing line for Topshop)
May 2, 2007... Kate Moss this week joins a string of celebrities to have 'designed' fast-fashion ranges for high-street retailers. Pictures of consumers prepared to elbow their way to the must-have items will no doubt generate a significant amount of PR...

Transparency to hit free banking.(Office of Fair Trading of United Kingdom to investigate retail banking sector)(Brief article)
May 2, 2007... Free banking will end if banks are forced to reveal how much they make from charges, according to the Financial Services Forum (FSF), a body for marketing directors of finance firms. The admission follows last week's decision by the Office...

Esure to extend TV work to web.(advertising contract)(Brief article)
May 2, 2007... Esure is seeking a digital agency to handle an online extension of its TV ads, which feature film director-turned-food critic Michael Winner. The insurer has approached several UK agencies about the brief. Winner had been dropped by...

New campaign: Muller.(Muller Dairy UK's advertising)(Brief article)
May 2, 2007... Muller is positioning itself as a fun product as it seeks to cement its position as the UK's biggest yoghurt brand. The TV executions feature 100 members of the public, from the ages of one to 100, who are described as 'lid lickers' because of...

DoH cuts spend on sexual health.(United Kingdom's Department of Health's health campaign)(Brief article)
May 2, 2007... The Department of Health (DoH) is slashing the budget for its flagship sexual health campaign, despite calls for greater investment to combat the risk of disease. Public health minister Caroline Flint, responding to a question in Hansard,...

Lace resurfaces in Intelligent role.(Intelligent Marketing appoints Garry Lace)(Brief article)
May 2, 2007... Garry Lace, the former chief executive of Lowe London, has been appointed chairman of sales promotion agency Intelligent Marketing to spearhead the company's growth. Lace, who joins this week, has kept a low profile since his exit from...

118 118 to ditch Naked and take strategy in-house.(The Number (UK) Ltd. ends contract with Naked Communications)(Brief article)
May 2, 2007... The Number 118 118 is dropping Naked Communications from its roster amid a broad review of its UK agency arrangements. The directory enquiries firm, which was one of the planning agency's founding clients, intends to wind down its...

Royal Mail appoints five to pounds 20m digital roster.(Cheetah Mail, Proximity London, Tullo Marshall Warren, Reading Room and Zulu)(Brief article)
May 2, 2007... Royal Mail has hired five agencies to its pounds 20m digital roster ahead of a significant shake-up of its online marketing strategy over the next four years. The company has selected Cheetah Mail, Proximity London, Tullo Marshall Warren,...

VisitBritain engages niche visitors ahead of 2012.(Brief article)
May 2, 2007... VisitBritain is adapting its digital marketing to target niche consumer groups in its drive to attract visitors in the run-up to the London 2012 Olympics. The tourism body is relaunching its international websites with dedicated sections...

Audi tailors DVDs for direct mailer.(direct mail campaign)(Brief article)
May 2, 2007... Audi has launched a personalised interactive direct mail campaign, enabled by a partnership between Sony and Royal Mail. The activity uses 'postscribed ID' technology, which allows brands to personalise mass-produced DVDs with geographical...

Suzuki steps up hatchback push.(advertising contract with Nexus/H)(Brief article)
May 2, 2007... Suzuki is to take on Mini in the hatchback market with a national press campaign to support its Swift model. The campaign, created by Nexus/H, comes as Suzuki refocuses its advertising from the technical specifications of its models toward...

Fortnum loses strategy chief.(Fortnum and Mason PLC's Edward Mason resigns)(Brief article)
May 2, 2007... Fortnum & Mason board member Edward Mason has left the upmarket grocer after three-and-a-half years. Mason, who was director of strategy at the retailer, plans to take several months out before looking for a senior role at another brand in...

Bristol & West Mortgages hands job to cchm:ping.(Brief article)
May 2, 2007... Bristol & West Mortgages has awarded its marketing communications business to cchm:ping following a six-way pitch. The Bank of Ireland-owned firm says it hired cchm:ping because of the agency's strength in strategic planning. It is gearing...

VisitBritain sets sights on London 2012 legacy.(tourism promotion)(Brief article)
May 2, 2007... VisitBritain has outlined its marketing strategy to maximise UK tourism opportunities and create a legacy from the 2012 Olympic Games. The tourist body estimates that between 50% and 70% of an estimated pounds 2bn net economic benefit of...

Findus rolls out farmed cod line.(Findus UK)(Brief article)
May 2, 2007... Findus is attempting to combat consumer concern about sustainable fishing with the launch of a Farmed Cod line. The cod used in the product's manufacture are reared on a fish farm in Norway, and so will not place any further pressure on...

King of Shaves in anti-acne shaving line for teens.(Brief article)
May 2, 2007... King of Shaves is launching a shaving gel designed specifically for teenage boys who are just starting to shave. KUth, which will be rolled out at the end of the month, includes a number of antibacterial ingredients to help combat teenage...

Marketing up for Peaks Challenge.(magazine to raise funds for British Red Cross)(Brief article)
May 2, 2007... Marketing is aiming to raise more than pounds 2500 for the British Red Cross by completing the Three Peaks Challenge this July, and is seeking corporate sponsorship. The Marketing team will attempt to complete the challenge on 28-29 July...

Coca-Cola marketer quits for Diageo role.(Coca-Cola Great Britain's Steve Cumming resigns)(Brief article)
May 2, 2007... Coca-Cola head of sponsorship Steve Cumming is leaving to join Diageo as global sponsorship director. Cumming, who joined Coca-Cola in 2004, was responsible for overseeing the company's high-profile sponsorship of football's Championship...

Sugar Puffs awards TV brief to Bray Leino.(Bray Leino Group)(Brief article)
May 2, 2007... Sugar Puffs has hired Bray Leino as its creative shop as it plots its return to TV in September using brand icon the Honey Monster. The ads will be Sugar Puffs' first TV activity since it was acquired by Big Bear last year. They will...

News brief: BT expands its marketing department.(British Telecommunications PLC appoints Sara Bennison and Brant Long )(Brief article)
May 2, 2007... BT has expanded its marketing department with the hiring of two senior marketers. It has poached Sara Bennison from Grey London to be its group head of marketing communications, while Brant Long joins from FutureBrand as group head of marketing...

News brief: Apple hires WWAV Rapp Collins.(Apple Computer (UK) Ltd.)(Brief article)
May 2, 2007... Apple has hired WWAV Rapp Collins to its UK direct marketing business. The agency picked up the brief after a competitive pitch Apple's ad account is held by fellow Omnicom agency TBWA\London.

News brief: The Body Shop seeks creative agency through the AAR.(Body Shop International PLC)(Brief article)
May 2, 2007... The Body Shop is seeking a creative agency through the AAR. The retailer, which has not traditionally advertised, was bought by L'Oreal for pounds 652m last year

News brief: Allianz Cornhill drops the Churchill name in the UK.(Brief article)
May 2, 2007... Allianz Cornhill is dropping the Cornhill name in the UK in favour of its global Allianz Insurance moniker. The German firm is investing EUR1bn (pounds 684m) over three years in a global ad campaign to increase awareness of its brand. Cornhill...

News brief: M&S Money launches TV ad campaign.(contract with Rainey Kelly Campbell Roalfe/Y&R)(Brief article)
May 2, 2007... M&S Money is launching a TV ad campaign to promote its car insurance. Created by RKCR/Y&R, the ads feature model and motor-racing fanatic Jodie Kidd

News brief: JML to take on TV shopping giant QVC.(advertising)(Brief article)
May 2, 2007... JML, the homewares firm, is to take on TV shopping giant QVC after buying two Sky electronic programme guide positions. JML will launch on both channels at midnight on 28 May. The deal puts JML at the top of the shopping genre on the Sky...

News brief: Diageo to roll out TV work nationwide.(advertising)(Brief article)
May 2, 2007... Diageo is to roll out its responsible-drinking TV work nationwide The ads, featuring the straplines 'Don't see a great night wasted' and 'Make sure you like what you see', are based on the insight that drinking too much can lose you 'social...

News brief: The BBC Trust approves plans for BBC iPlayer.(Brief article)
May 2, 2007... The BBC Trust has approved plans for an on-demand service called BBC iPlayer, which will let viewers download BBC programmes free of charge with no advertising for a week after transmission

People Moves: Air Charter.
May 2, 2007... Geraldine Hardy has been named marketing manager of Air Charter, the cargo and passenger service. She was previously at a communications agency in Madrid

People Moves: Little Dish.
May 2, 2007... Little Dish, the children's food manufacturer, has appointed Cluny Brown as marketing manager. Brown joins from Bloom Design

People Moves: British Airways.(Katherine Whitton appointed)(Brief article)
May 2, 2007... British Airways has named Katherine Whitton general manager, marketing communications, to replace Jayne O'Brien, who left in March to join Regus. Whitton joins from American Express

People Moves: Freeads.co.uk.
May 2, 2007... Former head of retail marketing for lastminute.com Stuart Parish, who left in February, is joining independent classified site Freeads.co.uk as marketing director

People Moves: Honda.(Honda Motor Europe Ltd. promotes Tom Gardner)(Brief article)
May 2, 2007... Honda has promoted its head of aftersales, Tom Gardner, to marketing director. Gardner replaces Jeff Dodds, who is leaving to become European marketing director at Callaway Golf

People Moves: Zapf Creation.
May 2, 2007... Zapf Creation, a maker of life-like baby dolls, has hired Marian Davis as marketing manager

People Moves: Elizabeth Finn Care.
May 2, 2007... Phil Reed, marketing director for McDonald's Europe, has joined poverty charity Elizabeth Finn Care as director of marketing and development

IPA set to push home value of advertising.(Institute of Practitioners in Advertising)(Brief article)
May 2, 2007... The Institute of Practitioners in Advertising (IPA) is to run a series of initiatives promoting the value of advertising to the public, government and high-level business people, including chairmen, chief executives and finance directors. ...

Eurostar backs swifter service.(marketing)(Brief article)
May 2, 2007... Eurostar is embarking on a nationwide roadshow to promote its High Speed 1 service, which will launch in November when the cross-Channel rail service moves from Waterloo to St Pancras station. The five-month tour, which begins this month,...

Lastminute rolls out mobile phrase books.(Lastminute.com PLC launches text translation service)(Brief article)
May 2, 2007... Lastminute.com has created a series of talking phrase books for holiday-makers. The company has developed an 'intuitive' mobile application that consumers can download to their phone to translate foreign words and phrases into English. ...

New campaign: Fairy.(Fairy contracts Grey London)(Brief article)
May 2, 2007... Fairy is running a TV and print advertising campaign this month to back a promotion for its Liquid and Active variants that offers consumers the chance to win a diamond pendant. The executions portray sparkling dishes and bubble-like jewels...

This week: Marketing news from the national press.(Help the Aged launching a new service for the elderly people)(easyJet Airline Company Ltd delaying the launch of new scheme due to economic reasons)(sonys promotion of a newly launched violent video game)(Brief article)
May 2, 2007... Help the Aged is to take on Saga with the launch of a financial-services business for the over-50s. The subsidiary, Intune, will sell motor, travel and home insurance and equity-release products - The Sunday Telegraph EasyJet has warned...

Media: Freesheet infighting 'will hit ad revenues'.(Freesheets London Lite and thelondonpaper)(Brief article)
May 2, 2007... Freesheets London Lite and thelondonpaper face a backlash from agencies, which are resisting increases in ad rates after Associated Newspapers published footage it claims is evidence of the 'dumping' of thelondonpaper. Industry sources say...

Media: Magic 105.4 set for pounds 1m TV push.(Emap Digital Ltd., advertising)(Brief article)
May 2, 2007... Emap is running a pounds 1m TV ad campaign to persuade consumers to switch to its Magic 105.4 radio station. The campaign, which is being overseen by Magic marketing director Nicola Thomson, uses the strapline 'Lift your mood, change your...

Media: Mobile radio use on the increase.(Brief article)
May 2, 2007... A third of 18- to 24-year-olds listen to the radio through their mobile phones, according to research from Sony. It puts the level of use significantly above that estimated by Rajar, which had suggested a figure of 22%. The news comes as a...

Media Choice: Jim'll Fix It Strikes Again.(television show)(Brief article)
May 2, 2007... The fashion for retro TV continues apace. The Jim'll Fix It that I remember from the 70s and 80s is a byword for a classless era that allowed TV shows such as 3-2-1 with Ted Rogers and The Benny Hill Show to be thought of as acceptable viewing....

Media brief: Ofcom and OFT raise concerns oveer Sky's stake in ITV.(United Kingdom's Office of Fair Trading and Office of Communications)(Brief article)
May 2, 2007... Ofcom and the Office of Fair Trading have raised concerns over Sky's stake in ITV. The OFT has recommended that BSkyB's stake should be investigated by the Competition Commission, while Ofcom has public-interest concerns about news provision

Media brief: Danish Bacon runs sponsorship on radio stations.(Danish Bacon Company PLC)(Brief article)
May 2, 2007... Danish Bacon is running a three-month, six-figure sponsorship on radio stations Capital 95.8, BRMB and Century 105.4, as well as in IPC Media's Now magazine. The deals were brokered by RSVP and Media Planning Group

Media brief: The BBC Trust approves introduction of Freesat.(satellite television service)(Brief article)
May 2, 2007... The BBC Trust has approved the Corporation's plans to introduce Freesat, urging BBC management to launch the free-to-view satellite alternative to BSkyB, Virgin Media and Freeview as soon as possible

Media brief: The Sunday Sport seeks sponsor for football pull-out.(Brief article)
May 2, 2007... The Sunday Sport is seeking a sponsor for a new 12-page football pull-out from next season. The section will focus on the Football League, with a match report on every professional game in the Championship

Media brief: Heathrow Terminal 5 to open digital outdoor sites.(Brief article)
May 2, 2007... Heathrow Terminal 5 is to open 280 digital outdoor sites next March. JCDecaux Airport is to invest pounds 25m in installing the sites at the terminal

Media brief: HMV Group awards account to OMD UK.(advertising contract)(Brief article)
May 2, 2007... HMV Group has awarded the pounds 24m consolidated media account for high-street retailers HMV and Waterstone's to OMD UK following a final pitch against fellow incumbent PHD, MediaCom and Starcom

Media brief: Conde Nast Interactive boosts its team.(Josa Young appointed)(Brief article)
May 2, 2007... Conde Nast Interactive is boosting its team with the appointment of Josa Young as executive editor. Young, who has been acting features editor at Vogue and Tatler, was previously senior manager and head of member communications at AOL

Media brief: ITV Local partners Mediabox.(United Kingdom's Department for Education and Skills)(Brief article)
May 2, 2007... ITV Local, the broadcaster's regional broadband TV service, is partnering with the Department for Education and Skills' Mediabox division to showcase short films, vodcasts and programmes made by disadvantaged young people

Branding: Starbucks to push food line.(Starbucks Coffee Company (UK) Ltd. launches products in new packaging)(Brief article)
May 2, 2007... Starbucks has redesigned the packaging for its sandwiches, paninis and salads to highlight its food offering. Pemberton & Whitefoord created the new-look packaging, which is being rolling out across Starbucks' 535 UK stores. A source...

Branding: Claridge's owner to revamp hotels.(Claridge's, The Berkeley and Connaught Hotel)(Brief article)
May 2, 2007... Claridge's, The Berkeley and The Connaught hotels are overhauling their identities as part of a major investment by parent company Maybourne Hotel Group. Design shop The Partners has been briefed to create an identity for each of the...

Branding: Design choice - pounds 20 note.(Bank of England outsources banknote design task to De La Rue Currency)(Brief article)
May 2, 2007... The new pounds 20 note greeted me with surprise at the cash machine recently, and it is no wonder - with very little publicity surrounding its launch, the note has slipped into circulation barely noticed. It is the first time the Bank of...

Branding Brief: Union Coffee Roasters renames itself.(rebranding)(Brief article)
May 2, 2007... Union Coffee Roasters, the gourmet-coffee firm, has renamed itself Union Hand-Roasted and developed a fresh identity through Pearlfisher Its dark indigo packs now include tasting notes similar to those on wine.

Branding Brief: Superjam unveils its branding.(Brief article)
May 2, 2007... Superjam, the sugar-free jam created by Scottish entrepreneur Fraser Doherty, has unveiled its branding, created by Edinburgh agency Ias Smarts. Superjam is rolling out in 130 Waitrose stores this month

Branding Brief: Gaymer Cider Company revamps packaging.
May 2, 2007... Gaymer Cider Company has revamped its Olde English cider packaging through Parker Williams Design as part of a pounds 500,000 investment in the brand

Branding Brief: Conrad Hotels rebrands.
May 2, 2007... Conrad Hotels is rebranding as Conrad Hotels & Resorts to emphasise its expanding portfolio and highlight its appeal to both leisure and business travellers. The firm is currently developing properties in Shanghai, Abu Dhabi, Dubai, the...

Branding Brief: SABMiller appoints Corporate Edge.
May 2, 2007... SABMiller has appointed Corporate Edge to design and publish its annual report, following a five-way pitch

Branding Brief: Harrogate Spa Water rebrands.(launch of Thirsty Planet water)(Brief article)
May 2, 2007... Harrogate Spa Water is rebranding as Waterbrands to reflect its growing portfolio. The company launched a second water product in March called Thirsty Planet, which makes donations to rural communities in Africa

Branding Brief: Club 18-30 hires Killer Creative.(contracts)(Brief article)
May 2, 2007... Club 18-30 has hired Killer Creative to design its summer 2009 brochure. The agency produced its 2007 brochure, which helped the firm reposition and engage with the youth market

Direct: Which? hunts shop to back Money title.(Brief article)
May 2, 2007... Which?, the independent consumer champion and advice service, is seeking an agency to handle the direct marketing brief for its latest magazine, Which? Money. The title, which launched earlier this year and offers money-saving advice for...

Direct: Dementia charity plots donor push.(Alzheimer's Society )(Brief article)
May 2, 2007... The Alzheimer's Society is targeting more than 250,000 people with a two-pronged direct campaign. The work, by Arc, focuses on a report on dementia in the UK, produced by the London School of Economics and King's College London, and...

Direct: VisitScotland in walking activity.(Brief article)
May 2, 2007... VisitScotland has tied up with outdoor clothing retailer Millets to promote the country as a destination for outdoor, walking and hiking holidays. The four-week partnership, which runs until the end of this month and was devised by...

Direct Choice: Mercedes-Benz.(campaign evaluation)(Brief article)
May 2, 2007... When it comes to Mercedes I suppose one expects the obligatory glossy brochure with drool-worthy shots and seductive copy, beautifully printed and bound. So I was pleasantly surprised when this A5 stitched leather-effect envelope landed on my...

Direct Brief: The Labour Party hires Experian.
May 2, 2007... The Labour Party has hired Experian to create and manage its voter-contact database for both national and local campaigns

Direct Brief: PDSA looks to raise awareness through campaign.(Brief article)
May 2, 2007... PDSA, the veterinary charity, is looking to raise awareness through a DRTV campaign. The ad, by Watson Phillips Norman, will run on Channel 4 and various satellite channels until next month. It continues the charity's promotional theme of...

Direct Brief: Ford launches direct mail drive.(Ford Motor Co. )(Brief article)
May 2, 2007... Ford is launching a direct mail drive targeting 70,000 prospective customers. The campaign, which will promote the Ford Fusion hatchback, uses the line 'How can a car be so small on the outside and yet so big on he inside?' Created by...

Direct Brief: Yeo Valley Organic ties up with WaterAid.(Brief article)
May 2, 2007... Yeo Valley Organic has tied up with WaterAid to offer tickets to the Glastonbury Festival via an on-pack text-to-win competition WaterAid will receive a percentage of the revenue from the text entries.

Direct Brief: The Woodland Trust teams up with The Co-op Bank.(Brief article)
May 2, 2007... The Woodland Trust has teamed up with The Co-operative Bank to launch a credit card. For each account opened by 20 June, the Trust will receive a pounds 20 donation, and for those opened thereafter, pounds 15. A further 25p will be donated for...

Direct Brief: Jetix seeks first direct agency.
May 2, 2007... Jetix is seeking its first direct agency. The children's TV channel will brief the agency to handle its direct and customer relationship management activity

Direct Brief: Postcomm extends deadline for responses.(Postal Services Commission of United Kingdom to allow zonal pricing to Royal Mail Group PLC)(Brief article)
May 2, 2007... Postcomm, the postal regulator, has extended the deadline for responses to whether it should allow Royal Mail to proceed with its zonal-pricing proposal until 1 June. Postcomm will make its final decision by 2 January 2008

Direct Brief: Cantor Index hunts for direct agency.(Brief article)
May 2, 2007... Cantor Index, the spread-betting company, is hunting for a direct agency. The search is being handled by the firm's marketing manager, Stephen Mault, with an appointment imminent

Digital: Canon set for fashion drive.(Brief article)
May 2, 2007... Canon is rolling out a pan-European campaign that will encourage consumers in 17 countries to contribute to the creation of a fashion collection reflecting the spirit of their nation online. The 'We speak image' initiative will see Canon...

Digital: 82ASK hands ad brief to Fig Tree.(Brief article)
May 2, 2007... 82ASK, the SMS instant-answer provider, has appointed its first advertising agency with the intention of stepping up its marketing during the second half of this year. The firm, which claims to answer any question texted to it in the...

Digital Choice: Sony Bravia.(Sony (U.K.) Ltd.'s television advertising on British Sky Broadcasting Group PLC)(Brief article)
May 2, 2007... Much has been written about the Sony Bravia 'Paint' ad, which is a remarkable piece of content. It communicates clearly the brand values that Sony and its agencies have worked hard to build. Embracing the potential of long-form, brand-led...

Digital Brief: Mercedes-Benz appoints Weapon7.(contracts)(Daimler-Benz AG)(Brief article)
May 2, 2007... Mercedes-Benz has appointed Weapon7 to create an interactive TV campaign for the UK launch of its latest C-Class model in June. The agency is developing a red-button application highlighting the various design features of the saloon car

Digital Brief: Department of Health selects LBi.(Brief article)
May 2, 2007... The Department of Health has selected LBi to relaunch its website, with a brief to help users access information it contains on a range of National Health services, including local hospitals and general practitioners

Digital Brief: Panasonic hires Inbox Digital.(Matsushita Electric Corporation of America)(contracts)(Brief article)
May 2, 2007... Panasonic has hired Inbox Digital for an online ad campaign promoting its Viera range of plasma TVs. The digital drive will run across major portals, as well as film, gaming and sports sites

Digital Brief: Yell.com rolls out mobile campaign.(Brief article)
May 2, 2007... Yell.com is rolling out a mobile campaign to boost downloads of its recently launched directory application. The promotion, developed by AKQA Mobile, will run across portals including Vodafone Live! and Planet 3