Marketing articles from October 2005, page 2

Marketing archives from October 2005

Directwatch: The monthly analysis of direct mail recall.(Illustration)
October 26, 2005... Q: Which of the following direct mailings do you remember seeing recently? Company Agency % 1 Capital One In-house, Boyden ...

Directwatch: The Book People - 'Red House'
October 26, 2005... I should start by confessing that I am a big fan of Red House Books, a subsidiary of The Book People. With two young children, both of whom are avid readers, I have been a customer of the company for some years now. The choice of books is...

Opinion: Marketing Society - Conference Call
October 26, 2005... At last year's Marketing Society annual conference we featured research from McKinsey, which found that what chief executives most wanted from their marketing directors was 'top-line growth'. So this is exactly what the 2005 conference,...

Editorial: Question Time for Labour
October 26, 2005... In PR, timing is everything. This was the irony that was the undoing of Jo Moore, special adviser to the Department for Transport when, at 2.55pm on 11 September 2001, she wrote in a memo 'It is now a very good day to get out anything we want to...

Marketer's diary.(Brief Article)(Calendar)
October 26, 2005... 7 November: National meals on wheels week. 7 November: National adoption week. 7 November: International Business Awards, Royal Lancaster Hotel, London. 8 November: The National Business Awards, Grosvenor House Hotel, London....

Focus on... The Muppets.(Brief Article)
October 26, 2005... The Muppets rose to fame on The Muppet Show which ran on TV from 1976-1981. - The iconic characters, created by Jim Henson, get their name from an amalgamation of the words marionette and puppet. - In 2004, the Muppets were bought by...

Seasonal Marketing: Not Just for Christmas
October 26, 2005... Sex, violence and bunnies - lingerie for Father's Day, fake fangs at Halloween and eggs at Easter prove there is more than one season worth promoting, writes Poppy Brech. Are you fresh out of fake blood? Running low on bat wands? As...

Sector Insight: Home Computers - Volume over Value
October 26, 2005... High-street computer retailers are feeling the squeeze despite booming sales figures, reports Jane Bainbridge. THE BACKGROUND - The home-computer market has evolved rapidly, with desktop PCs, laptops and PDAs becoming essential items for the...

Digital: Digital Leagues
October 26, 2005... As clients demand more from digital media, agencies are looking at how to broaden their offer. Not long ago, the idea of Bill Gates and Sir Martin Sorrell sharing a platform to discuss the finer points of online marketing would have seemed...

Helpline
October 26, 2005... Ed Kemp takes the hassle out of finding the right product or service - you ask the question, he'll provide the answer. TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT Q. I would like to learn more about visits to our website. Is there a way to check out what people...

Careers: What's It Really like Inside - Sekonda
October 26, 2005... Am I right in thinking there are few excuses for tardiness at Sekonda? Absolutely - time never stands still at Sekonda. The market is extremely dynamic, so we need to constantly come up with new ideas to hold on to our position as the...

Careers: Salary Snapshot - Marketing vs other professions.(Brief Article)
October 26, 2005... On average, senior and senior/middle managers are paid between 4% and 1% more than peers of equivalent stature in other professions. The best paid senior-level professionals are in consultancy, where senior managers are paid an average of...

Careers: Brand manager of the week - Peverel Manners, Brand manager, Belvoir.(Brief Article)(Interview)
October 26, 2005... What would you do if you weren't a brand manager? Be the prime minister or maybe James Bond. What is the best thing about your job? The variety of people and issues. Why did you get into marketing? Fascination with it and wanting to...

Careers: Just The Job - Celebrity officer; Macmillan Cancer Relief.(Brief Article)
October 26, 2005... Have you ever flicked through Heat or Hello! and wished you could get similar access to the stars and convince them to endorse your brand? Catherine Aird at Macmillan does just that, securing the services of celebs who empathise with the...

Marketing Mix: We'll Call You - Marks & Spencer
October 26, 2005... Would the retailer take our complaint about bra sizes seriously or would it treat it as a storm in a double-D cup? M&S: (Male voice answers.) Marks & Spencer, how can I help? Mktg: I wanted to give you some feedback on a...

Marketing Mix: Pen Portrait - Russell White, joint managing partner at Rivermill Foods.(Biography)
October 26, 2005... This writer is extremely goal-oriented and likes nothing better than identifying and then hitting a desired target. He tends toward impatience, so force him to mark time at your peril. His thready writing reflects well-honed...

Marketing Mix: Name That Brand.
October 26, 2005... This brand, which dates back to 1814, is said to be named after a Norfolk flour miller who created the product by mixing various seeds together. In 1866 it was awarded a Royal Warrant, which it still holds. Its iconic branding appears on...

Barclays campaign to highlight quality of staff.(Brief Article)
October 19, 2005... Barclays is embarking on a multimillion-pound bid to establish itself as a customer-friendly bank, backed by its biggest ad campaign in four years. At the same time, the bank's staff are to dumb down how they talk to customers. A 'Tone...

British Gas slammed by ASA for playing on fears.(Advertising Standards Authority)(Brief Article)
October 19, 2005... British Gas will be forced into an embarrassing climbdown later this week when it is reprimanded by the Advertising Standards Authority for running misleading ads intended to stem a customer exodus. The decision follows a campaign which...

McDonald's wins RSPCA support.(Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty To Animals )(Brief Article)
October 19, 2005... McDonald's has been recognised by the RSPCA for improvements in its animal welfare practice in a pairing that is likely to enrage animal activist groups. The accolade, which came at the inaugural RSPCA Alternative Awards, is the first...

Italy in jail threat to Olympics ambush marketers.(Brief Article)
October 19, 2005... The Italian government has introduced legislation that will criminalise ambush marketing at the Winter Olympics in Turin in February 2006. Brand owners that infringe the law could face jail sentences, as well as fines ranging from...

Innocent appoints Lowe ahead of pounds 7m campaign.(Brief Article)
October 19, 2005... Innocent Drinks has hired Lowe London as its advertising agency. The decision comes ahead of a pounds 7m marketing blitz next year that will include a cross-media campaign created by the agency. Lowe is understood to have pitched against...

Marketing spend hit by slowdown.(Brief Article)
October 19, 2005... Marketing budgets were cut in the third quarter of this year, with marketers bearing the brunt of the consumer slowdown - and the outlook for the rest of 2005 is equally bleak, according to the IPA's latest Bellwether report. Budgets...

Morgan Stanley hunts UK agency.(Brief Article)
October 19, 2005... Morgan Stanley is looking for an agency to handle its pounds 3.7m UK consumer advertising account after appointing Ogilvy & Mather in the US to handle its dollars 80m (pounds 45m) global business. O&M handles rival American Express' pounds...

Anheuser-Busch names UK chief.(David Dryden)(Brief Article)
October 19, 2005... Anheuser-Busch is stepping up its UK focus with the appointment of its first UK managing director, David Dryden. Dryden, who moves from the role of director of licensed markets to become UK vice-president and managing director, will have...

New campaign: Bendicks.(Bendicks of Mayfair)(Brief Article)
October 19, 2005... Bendicks is to launch a pounds 2m TV ad campaign to promote its Mingles and Gorgeous chocolate brands in the run-up to Christmas. The Gorgeous range of boxed chocolates, which launched in September, will target women with a 'mini-drama'...

BA weighs email agency options.(British Airways PLC)(Brief Article)
October 19, 2005... British Airways is considering outsourcing its lucrative email marketing business. The airline uses email as its primary customer communication channel, sending out thousands of emails a day. BA commercial director Martin George said...

Carphone plans Pink Razr drive.(Carphone Warehouse Group PLC)(cell phones)(Brief Article)
October 19, 2005... Carphone Warehouse will focus its Christmas marketing effort on the launch of the limited-edition Motorola Pink Razr phone. The handset will be available only through the chain, which has bought several hundred thousand of the clamshell...

Barbie develops Girls Aloud dolls for Christmas.(Brief Article)
October 19, 2005... Mattel UK hopes to breathe new life into its classic Barbie brand by tying up with British pop group Girls Aloud for a range of dolls that will go on sale in time for Christmas. The line will form part of Barbie's existing Fashion Fever...

ITV faces up to potential pounds 190m revenue shortfall.(Brief Article)
October 19, 2005... ITV is braced for a potential pounds 190m hole in its advertising income owing to the poor performance of its flagship ITV1 channel this year. The news comes as media agencies and broadcasters prepare to begin TV-buying negotiations for...

COI readies pounds 4m alcohol duty ads.(Central Office of Information)(Brief Article)
October 19, 2005... The government has appointed Cheetham Bell JWT to develop a pounds 3.8m marketing campaign to broaden awareness of its new Alcohol Duty Stamps scheme. Duty Stamps are being introduced on licensed spirits as part of the government's bid...

Ryvita introduces cereal bar to take on Kellogg.(Brief Article)
October 19, 2005... Ryvita is to take on Kellogg's dominance of the cereal bar market with the introduction of a branded crispbread bar early next year. The product will be backed by an advertising campaign, as the group seeks to spur growth through NPD....

Nescafe eyes TV star Ross for ad campaign.(Jonathan Ross )(Brief Article)
October 19, 2005... Nescafe is poised to sign up Jonathan Ross to star in an ad campaign promoting its flagship coffee brands. The company is keen to net the TV and radio presenter as part of its 'morning managers' programme, designed to drive sales of its...

BT ties with Football League for kids' cup.(British Telecommunications PLC)(Brief Article)
October 19, 2005... BT is moving into football sponsorship for the first time through a grass-roots deal with The Football League which will see it launch a national tournament for primary-school children. The BT Community Cup, a six-a-side competition for...

Cantor broadens gaming services.(Cantor Fitzgerald L.P.)(Brief Article)
October 19, 2005... Cantor Fitzgerald is expanding its gambling business with the launch of an online gaming division offering brands a white-label service. A number of sectors are being targeted, according to Cantor Gaming chief operating officer Tom...

Turkey hunts global agency for tourism task.(Brief Article)
October 19, 2005... The Turkish government is seeking a global ad agency to bolster the country's appeal as a tourist destination. Turkey's Ministry of Culture and Tourism has issued a tender for the business, which is worth more than pounds 3m in the UK,...

News brief: Expedia seeks ad agency.(Brief Article)
October 19, 2005... Expedia is seeking an ad agency through a pitch managed by the AAR. Clemmow Hornby Inge, the online travel brand's last agency, resigned the work earlier this year.

News brief: PHD and Starcom pull out of Abbey pitch.(Brief Article)
October 19, 2005... PHD and Starcom have pulled out of the pitch for Abbey's pounds 26m media business after learning that they would be required to submit their pricing details online.

News brief: Npower launches initiative.(Brief Article)
October 19, 2005... Npower is launching a corporate social responsibility initiative, 'Spreading warmth', to tackle the issue of 'energy poverty'. A dedicated helpline will be set up to support vulnerable customers and a range of tariffs introduced to help those...

News brief: Domino's promotes sales and marketing director.(Brief Article)
October 19, 2005... Domino's Pizza has promoted sales and marketing director Chris Moore to the new role of chief operating officer. The day-to-day running of the marketing department will be overseen by marketing manager Robin Auld, but Moore will continue to...

News brief: ITV pilots broadband TV service.(Brief Article)
October 19, 2005... ITV is piloting a broadband TV service in the Brighton and Hastings area. The offering, which includes local news, weather and entertainment, is intended to draw money away from local classified advertising. The service will be extended if...

News brief: Aegis acquires Just Media.(Brief Article)
October 19, 2005... Aegis has acquired business-to-business media planning and buying agency Just Media for a fee in the region of pounds 10m. Just Media's clients include Adobe and Cognos.

News brief: Wembley seats sold out.(Brief Article)
October 19, 2005... Wembley Stadium's corporate hospitality sales have topped the pounds 3m mark with the official launch still a year away. Three of the five sections of the Club Wembley programme's gold and silver seats have now sold out.

News brief: Totesport teams up with Haymarket.(Brief Article)
October 19, 2005... Totesport, the high-street bookmaker, is teaming up with Marketing's owner, Haymarket Publishing, to offer readers internet betting and gaming. Totesport.com will provide joint-branded services to titles including What Car? and Stuff.

FA unveils men's grooming range.(Football Association)(Brief Article)
October 19, 2005... The Football Association is to launch a range of England-branded men's grooming products to cash in on next summer's World Cup finals in Germany. The line will launch in Sainsbury's this winter, with a roll-out across the high street in...

Omo's pounds 135m global account goes to BBH.(Omo detergent brand, known as Persil in the United Kingdom)(Bartle Bogle Hegarty Ltd.)(Brief Article)
October 19, 2005... Unilever has handed the EUR200m (pounds 135m) global ad account for its Omo detergent brand, known as Persil in the UK, to Bartle Bogle Hegarty. The move means JWT has lost the pounds 25m UK business. BBH, which competed against Omo's...

New campaign: 'Ello Tosh'.(Toshiba Corp.)(Brief Article)
October 19, 2005... Toshiba has revived a campaign that last ran 20 years ago to promote its latest range of laptops. The pounds 3m cross-media work, which breaks this week and includes print, online and direct mail, will mark the electronic giant's 20th...

Save the Children to open 'student' shops.(Brief Article)
October 19, 2005... Save the Children is to trial a store format aimed at and staffed by students, as part of a move to specialise its city-based outlets. The first new-format store will open in Albany Road, Cardiff, next month, selling retro-clothes, CDs,...

This week: Marketing news from the national press.(Brief Article)
October 19, 2005... Unilever is to cut more than 2000 jobs in Europe as part of an administrative shake-up. It is considering relocating thousands of human resources, finance and IT roles to India and Eastern Europe - Daily Mail Microsoft and Yahoo! are to...

Media News: HFC hires MindShare to handle pounds 10m task.(HFC Bank PLC)(Brief Article)
October 19, 2005... HFC Bank has moved its pounds 10m media account out of Starcom and into MindShare as part of a consolidation process conducted by its parent company, HSBC Group. The bank and credit-card provider invited MindShare to pitch for the work,...

Media News: Nissan ties with Five reality show.(Brief Article)
October 19, 2005... Nissan's Navara model has axed its sponsorship of Channel 4's Scrapheap Challenge in favour of backing Five's new reality show, Commando:VIP, which will put celebrities through SAS-style training sessions. The sponsorship, which begins...

Media News: WWE in hunt for media agency.(World Wrestling Entertainment Inc.)(Brief Article)
October 19, 2005... World Wrestling Entertainment, the global sport entertainment company, is seeking a media agency to handle a multimillion-pound advertising campaign to increase interest in its events. WWE, which rebranded from WWF after a clash with the...

Media choice: More4.(digital television stations)(Brief Article)
October 19, 2005... With the analogue switch-off planned for 2012, the future will undoubtedly see multi-channel's share of viewing increase. The terrestrial channels are fighting to hold onto their share and it is therefore no surprise that Channel 4 has...

Media News brief: IPC Media appoints new head of mobile development.(Brief Article)
October 19, 2005... IPC Media has appointed Miles Ross to the new role of head of mobile development. Ross, who previously ran his own consultancy, will be responsible for launching mobile services across IPC's publishing divisions.

Media News brief: Xfm ties up with V2 Music.(Brief Article)
October 19, 2005... Xfm, the radio station, has tied up with record label V2 Music to allow its musical content to be podcast. Downloadable versions of Xfm shows will feature music from Elbow, The Rakes and Nada Surf.

Media News brief: Disney launches campaign.(Brief Article)
October 19, 2005... Disney is launching a campaign to support the release of Cinderella on DVD. Disney claims the lenticular ad drive supporting the release, which shows Cinderella's rags-to-riches transformation, is the biggest ever developed for a children's...

Media News brief: Hachette Filipacchi boosts distribution of ELLEgirl US.(Brief Article)
October 19, 2005... Hachette Filipacchi is boosting the UK distribution of its teen fashion and style magazine ELLEgirl US. It will replace the UK version, which is being phased out this month.

Media News brief: World Association of Newspapers disputes demands.(Brief Article)
October 19, 2005... The World Association of Newspapers is disputing demands by football body FIFA that media organisations do not publish images from next year's World Cup matches in Germany until an hour after the final whistle. The move is intended to stop...

Media News brief: Mobile operators become licensees of The X Factor.(Brief Article)
October 19, 2005... Orange, T-Mobile, O2 and 3 have become licensees of The X Factor. The deal with FremantleMedia allows the mobile operators to offer content including video and games. The show has also been licensed to Madame Tussauds, which will host an...

Media News brief: Companies sponsor content on Sports TV.(Brief Article)
October 19, 2005... Carlsberg, Wickes and LDV Vans are to sponsor content on in-stadia channel Sports TV.

Media News brief: Puzzler Media launches subscription website.(Brief Article)
October 19, 2005... Puzzler Media, which publishes Puzzler Magazine and Puzzler Collection, has launched a subscription website at puzzler.co.uk. The site features Sudoku, wordsearches, crosswords and code-cracker games.

Branding News: Flora hires JKR for global job.(Jones Knowles Ritchie)(Brief Article)
October 19, 2005... Unilever Bestfoods has appointed Jones Knowles Ritchie (JKR) as global design agency for its Flora brand. JKR, which will start work on the brand immediately, has been tasked with maintaining Flora's status as a 'global power brand'. It...

Branding News: Haribo to debut jelly bean range.(Brief Article)
October 19, 2005... Haribo is seeking to capitalise on the growing popularity of jelly beans with the launch of its own range, called Starlets. The crunchy, sugar-coated jelly sweets, the packaging for which has been designed in-house, will be available in...

Branding News: Design choice - Paul Smith for HP Sauce bottle.(Brief Article)
October 19, 2005... The Paul Smith for HP Sauce bottle has become the must-have designer item in London this month, if the queues and rationing at Harrods, where it is being sold, are anything to go by. To be sure of acquiring one, savvy shoppers have to get...

Branding News brief: Butcher's Pet Care revamps logo.(Brief Article)
October 19, 2005... Butcher's Pet Care is launching a can design for its dog-food range featuring a revamped logo and lifestyle images. The company plans to roll out the overhaul across its Butcher's Choice range for smaller dogs in the new year.

Branding News brief: Lapponia redesigns bottle.(Brief Article)
October 19, 2005... Lapponia, the Finnish liqueur, has redesigned its bottle for the first time in more than 25 years. The packaging has been updated by Design Bridge to emphasise the drink's premium qualities and provide it with a more contemporary look.

Branding News brief: Chambers hires R&D&Co.(Brief Article)
October 19, 2005... Chambers, the dictionary and reference publisher, has hired branding and identity agency R&D&Co to revamp its image and portfolio of titles. The agency has been tasked with creating a single identity across all Chambers' titles.

Branding News brief: Portsmouth Historic Dockyard hires Brand New Day.(Brief Article)
October 19, 2005... Portsmouth Historic Dockyard has hired Brand New Day to create a coherent identity and comprehensive signage at the attraction. The overhauled look will launch early next year.

Branding News brief: Clyde Property shortens name.(Brief Article)
October 19, 2005... Clyde Property, the Scottish estate agent, has shortened its name to Clyde as part of a rebrand developed by The Hub Agency.

Branding News brief: Tommy's to produce range of merchandise.(Brief Article)
October 19, 2005... Tommy's, the baby charity, is to produce a range of merchandise based on the children's TV brand Peppa Pig. Pin badges, made by Rubber Duck and the Big Badge Company, will be sold in Asda from January.

Branding News brief: Brand Licensing Show.(Brief Article)
October 19, 2005... BBC Worldwide, Manchester United and The Pokemon Company are among the brands exhibiting at this year's Brand Licensing Show, which takes place on 25-26 October at London's Earls Court 2.

Direct News: Hotel group in pounds 7m review.(Brief Article)
October 19, 2005... The InterContinental Hotels Group is reviewing its pounds 7m pan-European direct marketing business as it seeks to consolidate activity across its three core brands. The review is a blow to incumbent Arc Worldwide, which was awarded the...

Direct News: Employers' body overhauls mag.(PeopleNews.com Ltd.)(Brief Article)
October 19, 2005... Investors in People, the employment strategy organisation, has relaunched its members' magazine, Connections, as part of a brand overhaul. The redesign for the quarterly title was handled by integrated agency ZEST, which was appointed...

Direct choice: Artois Bock.(breweries)(Brief Article)
October 19, 2005... The UK premium lager category was virtually invented by Stella Artois. Its 'reassuringly expensive' positioning opened our shores to a flotilla of exotic bottles, while outlasting all the new arrivals. But once a brand earns the...

Direct News brief: Condor Ferries hires Allsorts UK.(Brief Article)
October 19, 2005... Condor Ferries, the Dorset & Hampshire ferry operator, has appointed Allsorts UK to handle its consumer mailing for 2006. Allsorts will work with Condor's creative agency The Walker Agency.

Direct News brief: Rugby Football League to launch campaign.(Brief Article)
October 19, 2005... The Rugby Football League is to launch a campaign for this year's Tri-Nations tournament between Great Britain, Australia and New Zealand. The activity, developed by Phillipson Ward Longworth Camponi, breaks this month across posters, press,...

Direct News brief: The Trojans Scheme launches first ad campaign.(Brief Article)
October 19, 2005... The Trojans Scheme, a London charity that organises out-of-school activity, has launched its first ad campaign. A booklet promoting its Extended Schools Service will be sent to 70 primary schools in the Croydon area, as part of plans to open...

Direct News brief: Macmillan Cancer Relief launches email campaign.(Brief Article)
October 19, 2005... Macmillan Cancer Relief has launched a direct-response email campaign, created by direct agency Squeeze Digital, explaining how it feels to be diagnosed with the illness.

Direct News brief: TPS has 10m registered users.(The Telephone Preference Service)(Brief Article)
October 19, 2005... The Telephone Preference Service now has 10m registered users, up from 5.8m last year. The free service allows consumers to opt out of receiving unsolicited direct marketing calls.

Direct News brief: ITN Archive targets marketers.(Brief Article)
October 19, 2005... ITN Archive is targeting marketers via an email which will contain a movie trailer-style film promoting its news footage for use in ads.

Direct News brief: Thomson Directories launches Emarketing Advantage.(Brief Article)
October 19, 2005... Thomson Directories has launched Emarketing Advantage, a service developed with software specialist IDS and database marketing firm Alterian to help companies target email campaigns more effectively.

Retail News: Nectar sets up online mall.(Brief Article)
October 19, 2005... Nectar has quadrupled the number of retailers through which its members can collect points with the launch of a virtual shopping mall. In addition to Nectar's existing partners, the eStores mall offers access to several other major...

Retail News: Diabetes UK set for in-store ads.(Brief Article)
October 19, 2005... Diabetes UK is launching a membership drive using in-store TV. The campaign will run on The Pharmacy Channel in about 400 independent chemists. The 30-second ads are aimed at recruiting sufferers of the disease and broadening awareness...

Retail choice: Casio store, Carnaby Street.(Brief Article)
October 19, 2005... Casio has revamped its G-Shock store in London's fashionable Carnaby Street. It now stocks the company's full range of products, but like many such stores the real purpose is to provide a brand experience. As its brochure says:...