Marketing articles from October 2006

Marketing archives from October 2006

John Lewis Partnership readies greenbee launch.(Brief article)
October 4, 2006... John Lewis Partnership (JLP) is opening its first business since it acquired Waitrose in 1937, with the launch of greenbee, a direct-services company. The online business will offer a range of greenbee-branded products, including as-yet...

Permira secures Glenn to head Iglo Birds Eye.(Martin Glenn appointed )(Interview)(Brief article)
October 4, 2006... Martin Glenn has taken the post of chief executive at Iglo Birds Eye, the frozen-foods business bought by Permira from Unilever for EUR1.73bn (pounds 1.16bn) last month. The former president of PepsiCo UK led a rival bid for the company by...

Virgin Mobile ad to star Anderson.(Pamela Anderson)(Brief article)
October 4, 2006... Virgin Mobile has revealed that Pamela Anderson is to front the ad campaign for its Mobile TV service. The TV campaign, by RKCR/Y&R, breaks on 9 October. It shows Anderson watching Coronation Street on her Lobster 700TV phone as she...

Palmer to depart Green & Black's after five years.(Mark Palmer)(Brief article)
October 4, 2006... Mark Palmer, marketing director of Green & Black's and a former Marketer of the Year, is to leave the company. Palmer has managed the organic chocolate brand for five years, and last May shared in a pounds 5m windfall with four other...

Virgin picks brand chief to lead group expansion.(Catherine Salway appointed)(Brief article)
October 4, 2006... Virgin has appointed Catherine Salway as group brand director, as it prepares to double the size of its marketing department. Salway, who has been promoted from group brand manager, replaces Ashley Stockwell. He recently moved to become...

British Gas to run green prize draw.(Brief article)
October 4, 2006... British Gas is launching a quarterly competition for its customers as part of its on-going promotion of energy efficiency. Customers will automatically be entered into a draw and winners will receive a 'green' prize. These include an...

Butlins assigns direct business.(Fox Kalomaski gets an advertising contract )(Brief article)
October 4, 2006... Budget holiday resorts operator Butlins has chosen travel and retail specialist agency Fox Kalomaski to handle its direct marketing. The Bourne Leisure-owned brand had previously worked with Clark McKay & Walpole, which had also created...

Marston's seeks shop for ECB tie.(English Cricket Board)(Brief article)
October 4, 2006... Marston's is looking for an ad agency to support its sponsorship of the England and Wales Cricket Board. The brand's owner, Wolverhampton & Dudley Brewery division WDB Brands, signed a three-year deal in August making Marston's the England...

New campaign: Triple Velvet.(Triple Velvet toileteries industry)(Fallon advertising agency)(Brief article)
October 4, 2006... Toilet-tissue brand Triple Velvet is launching a TV campaign, which forms part of a pounds 15m marketing spend supporting it this year. The work, which broke this week, comprises three executions featuring its 'baby managing director' brand...

Bacardi-Martini hires InBev chief.(Liam Newton)(Brief article)
October 4, 2006... Bacardi-Martini has appointed former InBev brands director, Liam Newton, as director of marketing for its Bacardi rum portfolio and Martini vermouth. Newton, who left InBev last November to travel, will lead the consumer marketing strategy...

Whole Foods job handed to Liquid.(Liquid Communications )(Brief article)
October 4, 2006... Whole Foods Market, the organic and natural foods retailer, has hired direct agency Liquid Communications to handle the launch of its first UK store. The US retailer plans to open the 125,000ft2 outlet on Kensington High Street, London,...

Campaigners slam plans for breakfast club ties.(Child Growth Foundation)
October 4, 2006... Campaigners have urged the government to employ caution in allowing sponsorship of school breakfast clubs, ahead of expansion of the scheme, which will see all schools running clubs by 2010. It follows comments made last week by schools...

Tories in narrow vote to curb marketing to kids.(Conservative Party wants a ban on junk food advertisements)(Brief article)
October 4, 2006... A slim majority of Conservative Party members want a crackdown on marketing to children, according to the results of a high-profile debate held this week at the Tories' annual conference. Just over the half of the delegates, 52%, voted in...

CIM officer resigns amid dispute over leadership.(Brian Smith resigned from Chartered Institute of Marketing)(Brief article)
October 4, 2006... The Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM) has been hit by the resignation of the vice-chairman of its International Board of Trustees (IBT), Dr Brian Smith. Smith, who had served on the board for two years and as vice-chairman since...

Emap to shorten peak ad breaks.(Brief article)
October 4, 2006... Emap is planning to emulate rival GCap Media by cutting the length of ad breaks during key periods across its radio network. Tom Moloney, group chief executive of Emap, said the decision is intended to improve listeners' perceptions of its...

Waitrose set to back local beers.(marketing of Waitrose Ltd. )(Brief article)
October 4, 2006... Waitrose is launching its first 'beer showcase' to promote its range of British and locally sourced ales. The sampling activity is intended to educate customers about the different styles of beer the supermarket sells, as well as...

Coca-Cola and Nestle to unveil green-tea drink.(Brief article)
October 4, 2006... Coca-Cola is to launch a green-tea based drink called Enviga across Europe, in partnership with Nestle. The decision marks the soft-drinks firm's latest launch in the 'better for you' category and continues its strategy of NPD outside its...

Emirates in hunt for direct shop.(Emirates airlines reviews its marketing relations)(Brief article)
October 4, 2006... Emirates, the Middle Eastern airline, has begun a review of its direct marketing arrangements in the UK, as it seeks to develop stronger relationships with its customers. It is seeking an agency to handle all aspects of direct marketing,...

More Th>n plans student activity.(More Th>n insurance company)(Brief article)
October 4, 2006... More Th>n is targeting students for the first time in a campaign promoting its Drive Time car insurance. Traditionally, the Royal Sun Alliance-owned insurer has targeted 30- to 60-year-olds. However, it has now appointed student specialist...

Bacardi expands portfolio with 42 Below acquisition.(spirits company 42 Below)(Brief article)
October 4, 2006... Bacardi is in the process of acquiring the New Zealand spirits company 42 Below, whose portfolio includes four flavoured vodkas as well as Stil Vodka, South Gin and the 420 Spring Water brand. The firm plans to invest substantially in the...

New campaign: Nintendo.
October 4, 2006... Nintendo is backing its portable DS Lite console with a pounds 6m pre-Christmas marketing blitz. The first tranche of activity will be an outdoor drive, breaking on 9 October. In line with Nintendo's strategy of seeking to tap into new...

Pets' Kitchen range seals distribution deals.(Pets' Kitchen-animal feed company)(Brief article)
October 4, 2006... The pet food range launched in August by former Vets in Practice star Joe Inglis has gained a listing in Waitrose. The Pets' Kitchen range of dry food, which is made from all natural ingredients, will also be sold in specialist pet shops....

Amnesty in viral activity for Ball.(Amnesty International launches viral campaign)(Brief article)
October 4, 2006... Amnesty International is to promote its revived comedy fundraising event, The Secret Policeman's Ball, with a viral campaign featuring John Hurt and Gordon Ramsay. The pair cameo in a series of humorous films, created by Mother, which...

Sainsbury's flags up sustainability of fish.(Brief article)
October 4, 2006... Sainsbury's decision to launch a 'traffic-light' system to illustrate the sustainability of the fish it stocks has met with a mixed response from pressure groups. The retailer is planning to colour-code fish products with red, amber or...

Barclaycard debuts Flexi-Rate credit card.(Brief article)
October 4, 2006... Barclaycard is to become the first UK credit-card brand to offer reduced interest rates to customers who repay more than the minimum amount required each month on their outstanding balance. The Flexi-Rate card will be backed by a TV...

News brief: Waitrose hires agency after pitch.(Kitcatt Nohr Alexander Shaw )(Brief article)
October 4, 2006... Waitrose has hired Kitcatt Nohr Alexander Shaw to handle its direct marketing after a pitch against Archibald Ingall Stretton and Partners Andrews Aldridge handled by The Haystack Group.

News brief: Audi launches campaign for A6.(Brief article)
October 4, 2006... Audi is launching a pounds 5m campaign for its A6 model. The ads, by Bartle Bogle Hegarty, claim that Audi has filed more patents than NASA in creating the car.

News brief: Brut embarks on print campaign.(Brief article)
October 4, 2006... Brut, the aftershave brand, is embarking on a print campaign in titles including The Sun and News of the World. The ads, which have been created by McCann Erickson and break this weekend, will back the product's new look.

News brief: Bold adds new variant to range.(Brief article)
October 4, 2006... Bold is adding a Crushed Silk and Jasmine variant to its range as it seeks to drive sales in the premium laundry category. The launch will be backed by a campaign through Grey London.

News brief: Sony BMG signs deal with BT Vision.(Brief article)
October 4, 2006... Sony BMG has signed a deal with BT's IPTV service, BT Vision. The tie-up will offer BT Vision's customers exclusive on-demand access to music videos by the record label's artists, who include Foo Fighters, Justin Timberlake and Bob Dylan.

News brief: T-Mobile launches StreetCheck.(Brief article)
October 4, 2006... T-Mobile has launched a service that allows customers to check the strength of mobile-phone coverage in any location before they buy a new phone. The StreetCheck service works on the basis of the postcode provided.

News brief: Loyd Grossman sauces launches ad campaign.(Brief article)
October 4, 2006... Loyd Grossman sauces is launching a poster, print and sampling campaign. The ads, by Clemmow Hornby Inge, use the strapline 'Taste is everything'. The activity is being supported online at www.loydgrossman.co.uk.

News brief: Waitrose launches range of liqueurs.(Brief article)
October 4, 2006... Waitrose is launching a range of liqueurs that contains no artificial flavours, colourings or additives. The line, called the Classic Liqueurs Collection, comprises Cherry Brandy, Apricot Brandy, Curaaao Triple Sec and Creme de Menthe.

Media News: Good Food creates website.(Brief article)
October 4, 2006... BBC Magazines has appointed Dare Digital to handle the launch of a dedicated website for its Good Food magazine. The decision to create bbcgoodfood.com is part of the publisher's strategy to increase its presence in the digital arena;...

Media News: Green & Black's turns to Starcom.(Brief article)
October 4, 2006... Green & Black's has appointed Starcom to its media planning and buying business as the upmarket chocolate brand grows in scale under new owner Cadbury. Starcom, which replaces Matters Media on the business, will begin work immediately on a...

Media choice: ASOS.com.(Brief article)
October 4, 2006... Mischa Barton on the cover of any magazine usually gets a thumbs up from me. But my pleasure was tempered by surprise when I realised that this cover belonged to ASOS.com's monthly fashion magazine. For those of you without female friends,...

Media News brief: Ideal Home gets design overhaul.(Brief article)
October 4, 2006... Ideal Home has overhauled its design. The new look, which will be unveiled in its November issue, on sale from today (Wednesday), includes a redesigned masthead and greater use of photography.

Media News brief: Anthem claims a first with Taste Italia.(Anthem Publishing)(Brief article)
October 4, 2006... Anthem Publishing is launching what it claims is the first UK title dedicated to Italian food and drink. Taste Italia, which launches on 16 November, will be sold in WH Smith, Borders, Waitrose, Sainsbury's and Italian delis.

Media News brief: Salford City Reds gets sponsors.(Brief article)
October 4, 2006... The Manchester Evening News and sister TV channel Channel M are to sponsor rugby league side Salford City Reds. The team will display both sponsors' logos on its shirts and shorts for the next three seasons.

Media News brief: GQ to launch travel supplement.(GQ Travel)(Brief article)
October 4, 2006... GQ is launching a travel supplement. GQ Travel, which will be bound into GQ's February 2007 issue, published in January, will comprise eight sections on topics including city breaks and business.

Media News brief: NME links up with Topman.(Brief article)
October 4, 2006... NME has linked up with Topman to produce a 60-page NME Student Guide. The publication, which will be bagged free with the 30 September issue of the music title, features a listings section and an interview with comedian Russell Brand.

Media News brief: Jetix Europe develops online racing game.(Jetix Europe)(Brief article)
October 4, 2006... Jetix Europe has developed an online racing game to promote the launch of animated series Oban Star-Racers, which made its UK debut on its digital TV channels over the weekend. The activity will be backed by TV, online and press ads targeting...

Media News brief: Spar appoints Avanti Screenmedia.
October 4, 2006... Spar has appointed Avanti Screenmedia to provide content including product information and promotions, for TV screens in its 206 UK stores.

Branding News: Welcome Break rolls out identity revamp.(Brief article)
October 4, 2006... Welcome Break, the motorway services operator, has overhauled its corporate identity, 'retiring' the flying-swan device that has been a design feature for almost 20 years. The Welcome Break name now appears on signage in vibrant green and...

Branding News: Jing Tea to debut premium brand.(Jing Tea company)(Brief article)
October 4, 2006... Jing Tea, a white-label supplier of premium teas to Harrods, is launching its own luxury brand. Rolling out from December, the Jing range will initially comprise green, white and black teas in bags, with a loose-leaf line due next year....

Branding News: Batemans gives beers fresh look.(Batemans brewery)(Brief article)
October 4, 2006... Batemans, the Lincolnshire brewery, has unveiled new packaging for its eight-strong bottled-beer portfolio. Labels will carry details of each beer's characteristics in bold red print. The products are also given marks out of 10 to indicate...

Branding News: Design choice - BBC One.(Common Gateway Interface)(Brief article)
October 4, 2006... Idents are a TV brand-loyalty device. They are there to remind you which channel you should thank for the episode of EastEnders you just watched - and stop you switching over to Corrie. As with anything to do with loyalty, there has to be a...

Branding News brief: Club 18-30 appoints Killer Creative.(Killer Creative advertising agency)(Brief article)
October 4, 2006... Club 18-30 has appointed Killer Creative to design its summer 2007 brochure following an eight-way pitch. The agency recently worked on branding Malta as a tourist destination for First Choice.

Branding News brief: Strathmore Foods updates Scotch pie logo.(Brief article)
October 4, 2006... Strathmore Foods has relaunched its Countryside frozen Scotch pie brand with an updated logo to align it with McIntosh, its sister brand of chilled-food products. Nutritional information also appears on-pack.

Branding News brief: Sportingbet said to be reviewing corporate identity.(Brief article)
October 4, 2006... Sportingbet, the online gambling company, is understood to be reviewing its corporate identity as it seeks to expand its share in core markets while also moving into emerging gaming markets.

Branding News brief: ATL union rebrands materials.(Association of Teachers and Lecturers)(Ideas advertising agency)(Brief article)
October 4, 2006... The Association of Teachers and Lecturers (ATL) union has rebranded all the materials with which it targets teachers in an attempt to drive recruitment. The refreshed design, by Ideas, uses bright yellow to create stand-out and features the...

Branding News brief: BCSC revamps corporate identity.(British Council of Shopping Centres)(Harrison Fraser advertising agency )(Brief article)
October 4, 2006... BCSC, the British Council of Shopping Centres, has revamped its corporate identity ahead of its 25th anniversary in 2008. The work, through Harrison Fraser, introduces the strapline 'Shaping retail property'. BCSC has 2000 member organisations....

Branding News brief: Gambling.com Magazine to undergo revamp.
October 4, 2006... Gambling.com Magazine is to undergo an upmarket revamp. Its publisher, Newbold Enterprises, appointed former Esquire senior designer Stuart Tolley to oversee the redesign.

Branding News brief: Spencer du Bois creates logo for driving clubs.(Disabled Drivers' Association, Disabled Drivers' Motor Club)(Brief article)
October 4, 2006... The Disabled Drivers' Association and Disabled Drivers' Motor Club have merged and rebranded as Mobilise Organisation, with a black and orange logo created by Spencer du Bois intended to attract younger members.

Branding News brief: Rob McAlister launches windproof umbrellas.
October 4, 2006... Rob McAlister is launching two innovative windproof umbrellas. The Witch and Kiss umbrellas, which feature a double-spoked and hinged design, will roll out from November.

Direct News: Carlsberg backs upmarket wines.(Carlsberg United Kingdom Brewery)(Rave advertising agencies)(Brief article)
October 4, 2006... Carlsberg UK is to extend into the on-trade wine sector with the launch of a premium range called Cellar Selection. The brewer is supporting the introduction of the wine with a direct mail campaign, created by Rave. Cellar Selection is...

Direct News: Renovated Ascot plots direct blitz.(Ascot Racecourse)(Ascot Hospitality)(Brief article)
October 4, 2006... Ascot Racecourse and Ascot Hospitality, operators of the recently renovated racecourse venue, have hired direct specialist Agency Inc to attract more visitors. Two campaigns will begin this month and continue into 2007, targeting consumers...

Direct News: Energy Saving Trust seeks user 'pledges'.(Energy Saving Trust)(Brief article)
October 4, 2006... Energy Saving Trust (EST), a not-for-profit organisation, is to use a direct-response drive in a bid to reduce carbon-dioxide emissions in the UK. The 'I Commit' campaign, which launches this month, asks consumers to pledge everyday...

Direct choice: Wales Tourism.(Brief article)
October 4, 2006... What a well-crafted piece of direct mail. This mailing, which communicates the benefits of visiting Wales and is clearly targeting a foreign audience (it is in English, after all), conveys all that is exciting in the principality. The...

Direct News brief: Rugby Football League aims to boost ticket sales.(Leeds agency Prego)(Brief article)
October 4, 2006... The Rugby Football League is aiming to boost ticket sales for its Super League play-off and final games with an integrated drive. The activity, created by Leeds agency Prego, will include press, direct mail, radio, online and TV.

Direct News brief: Guide Dogs for the Blind running direct mail campaign.(Brief article)
October 4, 2006... The Guide Dogs for the Blind Association is running a direct mail campaign targeting warm prospects. The work, created by TDA, focuses on how guide dogs can change people's lives.

Direct News brief: Suspended postman keeps job.(Roger Annies of Royal Mail Group PLC)(Brief article)
October 4, 2006... Royal Mail postman Roger Annies, who was suspended for distributing leaflets advising customers how to prevent unsolicited mail, has kept his job (Marketing, 31 August). However, he has been stripped of his round and offered a role in the...

Direct News brief: Race for Life 2007 offers sampling opportunities.(Brief article)
October 4, 2006... Race for Life 2007, a fun-run event organised by Cancer Research UK, is offering sampling opportunities. Brands will be able to pay to have products included in souvenir bags distributed at the women-only event.

Direct News brief: Stroud & Swindon runs poster campaign.(Brief article)
October 4, 2006... Stroud & Swindon Building Society is running a poster campaign. The 48- and 96-sheet and bus-side activity, created by Dutton Merrifield, carries the strapline 'Your building society' and displays contact details of local branches.

Direct News brief: The Camphill Family runs direct drives.(Brief article)
October 4, 2006... The Camphill Family, a fundraising body for adults in need of special care, is running a series of direct drives to recruit donors. The work, by Burnett Works, includes direct mail and inserts.

Direct News brief: Microsoft hires Channel Advantage.(Brief article)
October 4, 2006... Microsoft has hired field marketing agency Channel Advantage to demonstrate its latest operating system, Windows Vista, to consumers. Work on the brief will begin early next year.

Direct News brief: MMI Automotive hires Experian.(Experian Information Solutions Inc.)(Brief article)
October 4, 2006... MMI Automotive, which provides marketing software to the motoring industry, has hired Experian to handle its data cleansing. Vehicle dealers will be able to export data directly to Experian for auditing to highlight inaccuracies.

Digital News: Ask.com in 'shortcuts' drive.(Ask.com Internet Ltd.'s advertising campaign)(Brief article)
October 4, 2006... Ask.com has created a bespoke microsite to support its latest digital ad campaign, as it seeks to tempt consumers away from search engine rivals Google and MSN. The 'Take the Shortcuts' campaign, which breaks this week, challenges internet...

Digital News: Packard Bell ties to BT broadband.(Packard Bell Electronics Inc.)(British Telecommunications PLC)(Brief article)
October 4, 2006... Packard Bell has ended its relationship with AOL and agreed a deal with BT to pre-load its range of broadband packages on its PCs. Customers who sign up for the BT Total Broadband service through the pre-loaded software will receive a free...

Digital choice: Thesun.co.uk.(website)(Website overview)(Brief article)
October 4, 2006... Skipping the broader discussion about how newspaper brands are evolving into media-neutral properties, for now let's focus on whether punters like Thesun.co.uk's latest revamp - and whether that will translate into extra income. The site...

Digital News brief: MySpace UK unveils deal with sister company.(Fox International Channels)(Brief article)
October 4, 2006... MySpace UK has unveiled a deal with sister company Fox International Channels to webcast the first episode of new FX drama series, Brotherhood, a week ahead of its TV launch. It is the first time Fox has offered the promotional rights to...

Digital News brief: Listerine launches online game.(Listerine Advance Tartar Control)(Brief article)
October 4, 2006... Listerine has launched an online game to support the launch of Listerine Advance Tartar Control. The game, which is on the mouthwash's website, encourages players to 'zap' food, drink and cigarettes, rewarding them with a money-off voucher.

Digital News brief: James Villa Holidays appoints DC Interact.(Brief article)
October 4, 2006... James Villa Holidays has appointed DC Interact to redesign its website following a five-way pitch. The revamped site, which goes live at the end of the year, will include a range of features designed to increase bookings.

Digital News brief: Everton FC re-appoints Rippleffect.
October 4, 2006... Everton Football Club has re-appointed Rippleffect as its online partner. The agency will be responsible for the design, development and commercial activity of Evertonfc.com.

Digital News brief: Cimex to develop consumer website.(Cimex Media)(London and Continental Stations and Property)(Channel Tunnel Rail Link)(Brief article)
October 4, 2006... London and Continental Stations & Property has commissioned Cimex to develop a consumer website for the Channel Tunnel Rail Link. The site will launch at the end of the year.

Digital News brief: Austrian Airlines hires Global Media.
October 4, 2006... Austrian Airlines has hired Global Media to handle its keyword advertising and optimise its search-engine ranking in seven countries, including the UK.

Digital News brief: Saitek launches microsite.
October 4, 2006... Saitek has launched a microsite for its audio products. Created by 141 Worldwide/London, it will target consumers for whom style is more important than technology.

Andrew Walmsley on digital: Combative labels will alienate users.
October 4, 2006... Sam Goldwyn was better known for his (mostly apocryphal) semi-literate aphorisms than for his ability to predict trends, but an essay he wrote 60 years ago in the Hollywood Quarterly looking at the impact of TV on the movies was bang on the...

News Analysis: Too innovative for its own good.(growth in ready-to-eat cereals market)(Kellogg Company of Great Britain Ltd.)(Industry overview)
October 4, 2006... Kellogg is known for its NPD, but is it damaging its core brands by stretching its budget too far, asks James Curtis. Kellogg has long been the UK's biggest cereals manufacturer, but now, suffering from a long-term sales lull, it is in sore...

News Analysis: More choice could confuse.(regulations in packaging industry)
October 4, 2006... An imminent EC regulation on packaging sizes may be a mixed blessing for consumers. Jane Bainbridge reports. For shoppers unable to choose between the vast array of food products stacked on supermarket shelves, the news that manufacturers...

Raymond Snoddy on media: Time to formalise product placement.(Column)
October 4, 2006... Sometimes it takes a decade for a consensus to emerge on a contentious media issue. In the case of paid-for product placement, the world has changed so dramatically around the ban on the practice in British commercial television that it is...

Media Analysis: Commercial radio eyes upturn.
October 4, 2006... Andrew Harrison's arrival at centralised trade body RadioCentre should prove a fillip for the sector, writes Andy Fry. Commercial radio's fightback began in earnest this week as former FMCG marketer Andrew Harrison took up the reins at the...

Brand Health Check: Minute Maid.(disappointing sales in United Kingdom)
October 4, 2006... Coca-Cola's juice brand has failed to make inroads into the UK market, despite a pounds 5m relaunch. Nicola Clark reports. A 25% decline in Minute Maid's volume sales between February and August are a worrying sign for owner Coca-Cola's...

Mark Ritson on branding: Three wrongs that show what's right.(brand positioning)(Viewpoint essay)
October 4, 2006... Yet again, it's time to teach another MBA class on brand management. I like to look at as many applied examples as possible during these sessions and, in particular, focus not only on brand successes, but also stupid positioning...