Marketing articles from October 2006

Marketing archives from October 2006

Allied Carpets in legal wrangle over axed activity.(Allied Carpets Group PLC vs. Gasoline)(Brief article)
October 25, 2006... Allied Carpets has had a writ issued against it by sales promotion agency Gasoline over non-payment of bills for a planned World Cup promotion, which was scrapped earlier this year. The agency was briefed by Allied's marketing director,...

3 puts WCRS on alert with review of brand strategy.(3G UK Ltd.)(Brief article)
October 25, 2006... Mobile network 3 is conducting a major review of its brand strategy this year, which could lead to it putting its pounds 39m advertising account, held by WCRS, up for pitch. The review is being led by director of brand and marketing...

Abbey pounds 11m task stays in Tequila.(Archibald Ingall Stretton)(Brief article)
October 25, 2006... Abbey has re-appointed Tequila\London to its pounds 11m direct marketing account. The review began in August and was handled by the AAR. It follows the bank's appointment of Archibald Ingall Stretton to handle a pounds 16m project to...

DfES ditches parenting ad plans in media rethink.(Department for Education and Skills)(Brief article)
October 25, 2006... The government has scrapped plans for a major ad campaign targeting mothers and fathers, as it reviews its strategy for encouraging better parenting. The Department for Education and Skills (DfES) launched a pitch for the work through...

B&Q to introduce offers in shift away from EDLP.(everyday low prices strategy)(Brief article)
October 25, 2006... B&Q is watering down its everyday low prices strategy (EDLP) to offset the downturn in the DIY sector. Speaking at the Marketing Society Retail Forum, the company's chief executive, Ian Cheshire, said the retailer would use offers and...

Disney shelves mobile package.(Walt Disney Co. postpones its launch of mobile phone service)(Brief article)
October 25, 2006... Walt Disney has postponed the launch of its family-oriented mobile phone service, blaming changes in the UK mobile retail market that have resulted in poor distribution. Disney Mobile was to be packaged as a family product, allowing...

Coty to produce Gwen Stefani line.(Brief article)
October 25, 2006... Coty is understood to have signed a deal with US singer Gwen Stefani to create a range of branded fragrances. Stefani will join the Reckitt Benckiser brand's stable of celebrities with their own lines, including David and Victoria...

Ben Sherman to run 'mod' events.(Exposure)(Brief article)
October 25, 2006... Ben Sherman has hired Exposure to create live events based around mod and ska music, as it seeks to re-affirm its heritage. The agency will also be responsible for product placement of the brand's apparel and accessories collections. ...

New campaign: Meat Promotion Wales.(Golley Slater)(Brief article)
October 25, 2006... Meat Promotion Wales, the organisation responsible for marketing red meat from the principality, is launching a TV campaign for lamb and beef to counter high-profile ads from its English equivalent. The work, which will air on ITV1,...

Cadbury readies Highlights idents.(Publicis)(Brief article)
October 25, 2006... Cadbury is supporting its Highlights low-calorie chocolate drink brand with TV advertising for the first time since it regained control of the brand from Premier Foods in May. The food giant is using its sponsorship of ITV's Coronation...

Tiger Beer holds pitch for media.
October 25, 2006... Tiger Beer is reviewing its UK media business, following last month's appointment of Young & Rubicam to handle its advertising. The media account is currently handled by Walker Media; Tiger has asked other, smaller agencies to pitch. ...

ITV sales chief brands C4 a 'one-show channel'.(Channel 4 Television Co., ITV PLC)(Brief article)
October 25, 2006... ITV has accused Channel 4 of relying on too few show formats to bolster its audience share. Gary Digby, managing director of ITV Sales, made the claims to media agencies during the current 'upfront' agency presentations, which precede...

Barclays hikes TV spend in refocus on products.(Bartle Bogle Hegarty Ltd.)(Brief article)
October 25, 2006... Barclays has pledged to increase the proportion of its marketing spend devoted to TV advertising in 2007, in a move that defies the current trend among advertisers to cut ad budgets. The bank is planning to increase its pounds 150m total...

Sony BMG in viral push for album.
October 25, 2006... Sony BMG is launching a major viral email campaign to launch an album by Grammy-winning singer-songwriter John Legend. The record label will send more than 100,000 emails to its database of Legend fans, asking them to visit the site...

United Co-operative set for breakaway overhaul.(Brief article)
October 25, 2006... United Co-operative, the second-biggest society in the Co-operative movement, has announced plans to overhaul its brand that differ substantially from those championed by the Co-operative Group. United Co-operative head of marketing...

FIA racing series refreshes image.(Eurosport's FIA World Touring Car Championship)(Brief article)
October 25, 2006... Eurosport has unveiled fresh branding for its FIA World Touring Car Championship (WTCC) in an attempt to appeal to a youth audience. The WTCC, which debuted last year, was the first new event authorised by the motorsport federation in...

Oliver to launch Italian food line.(Jamie Oliver)(Brief article)
October 25, 2006... TV chef Jamie Oliver has put his name to a range of Italian food products. The Jamie's range, comprising oils, sauces, vinegars and antipasti, will be sold in Sainsbury's from the end of this month. Broader distribution is planned for...

Kerrygold selects WCRS to handle pounds 3m business.(Brief article)
October 25, 2006... Kerrygold has handed its pounds 3m advertising account to WCRS following a three-way pitch involving Farm and Leo Burnett. The business had been handled on a project basis by DFGW since 2004; the agency declined to pitch for the account....

McDonald's fears ad code impact.(Steve Easterbrook)(Brief article)
October 25, 2006... McDonald's has admitted that any changes in the rules on advertising to children may dent its future results. In a statement attached to its third-quarter results, the fast-food giant said that increased regulatory complexity 'will affect...

Jim Beam plots extension of brand beyond bourbon.(Beam Global Spirits & Wine, The Licensing Company of North America )(Brief article)
October 25, 2006... Beam Global Spirits & Wine is planning a major international brand extension programme for its flagship Jim Beam bourbon. The company has hired The Licensing Company of North America (TLC) to lead the work. The agreement is global, with...

New campaign: Aunt Bessie's.(Euro RSCG Worldwide Inc., Tryton Foods Ltd.)(Brief article)
October 25, 2006... Tryton Foods is launching a two-week lenticular poster campaign for Aunt Bessie's Yorkshire Puddings at Tesco stores today (Wednesday). The poster, which uses the line 'Our Yorkshires aren't fussy', shows a roast dinner change to an image...

Emirates fills out its agency roster.(Emirates Airline)(Brief article)
October 25, 2006... Emirates has added VCCP and sales promotion agency Gasoline to its roster. The appointment of the agencies to work on as-yet unspecified projects follows the Dubai airline's decision to hire Grey London to create a global ad campaign for...

ISBA hands top role to ex-Bulmers chief.(Incorporated Society of British Advertisers appoints Mike Hughes)(Brief article)
October 25, 2006... Mike Hughes, the former chief executive of Bulmers, has been named as the surprise choice to replace Malcolm Earnshaw as director-general of the Incorporated Society of British Advertisers (ISBA). Hughes, 55, takes over from Earnshaw, who...

Coke hunts agency to exploit Euro 2008 tie.(Coca-Cola Co. (Atlanta, Georgia))(Brief article)
October 25, 2006... Coca-Cola is seeking an events agency to create and run its experiential and promotional activity at the UEFA Euro 2008 tournament. At Euro 2004 in Portugal, Coke had one fan park, but it increased its activity significantly at this...

News brief: Abbey launches campaign.(WCRS Group PLC)(Brief article)
October 25, 2006... Abbey is launching a TV, press and outdoor campaign to encourage consumers to switch to its current account. WCRS created the ads, which feature a rabbit crossing a river using Abbey's familiar red cubes as stepping stones. Carat has handled...

News brief: Beiersdorf targets 40-plus women.(Nivea Visage DNAge Cell Renewal Anti-Ageing System)(Brief article)
October 25, 2006... Beiersdorf is targeting 400,000 women aged 40-plus with a direct campaign for Nivea Visage DNAge Cell Renewal Anti-Ageing System. The mailing, through integrated agency Space, begins on 28 October and features product samples and money-off...

News brief: The Works appoints Big Communications.
October 25, 2006... The Works, the high-street bookshop, has appointed Big Communications to oversee its brand and marketing strategy.

News brief: Plum Baby hires former Heinz marketer.(Helena Jevons )(Brief article)
October 25, 2006... Plum Baby, the organic baby-food firm, has hired former Heinz marketer Helena Jevons as marketing director. Earlier this year, Plum Baby gained listings in Waitrose, Boots and Booths.

News brief: Green & Black's launches press campaign.(Brave)(Brief article)
October 25, 2006... Green & Black's is launching a press campaign, through Brave, to coincide with the clocks going back an hour this weekend. It will encourage consumers to enjoy the extra hour of darkness with the brand.

News brief: Thomson signs sponsorship deal.
October 25, 2006... Thomson has signed a deal to sponsor the travel section on yahoo.co.uk/answers as it seeks to reach a younger audience.

News brief: LITV poised to launch satellite TV channel.(London International Television )(Brief article)
October 25, 2006... London International Television (LITV) is poised to launch a satellite TV channel offering entertainment combined with business information. The Business Channel launches on 20 November and will offer 18 hours of programming a day.

News brief: Wallpaper founder to launch title in February.(Tyler Brule)(Brief article)
October 25, 2006... Tyler Brule, the founder of Wallpaper, is to launch a title in February focusing on global affairs, business, culture and design. Called Monocle, it is financed by an international consortium of private investors and combines web and...

People moves: Kimberly-Clark.
October 25, 2006... Troy Warfield has been promoted by Kimberly-Clark from global customer development director to general manager, UK and Ireland. He replaces John Bebbington, who has retired.

People moves: The Wall Street Journal.
October 25, 2006... The Wall Street Journal has hired Jonathan Wilson, former Telegraph Group ad sales director, as its first director of marketing and business development.

People moves: EDF Energy.(appoints Jo Steven )(Brief article)
October 25, 2006... EDF Energy has appointed Jo Steven as its marketing director following a restructure. She replaces Travers Clarke-Walker, who has been moved to director of business development.

People moves: Comic Relief.(appoints Jim Hytner )(Brief article)
October 25, 2006... Comic Relief has appointed Barclays brand and UK banking marketing director Jim Hytner to its board of trustees. Hytner's career has included roles at Five, ITV and Sky.

People moves: Abbey.
October 25, 2006... Abbey has poached Lewis Nolan, Visa head of business and corporate cards CEMEA, to head its Abbey Business product marketing.

People moves: The Bonham Group.
October 25, 2006... Paul Samuels, former head of sponsorship at O2, has re-emerged as chief executive of sports and entertainment marketing firm The Bonham Group's European division.

People moves: Lonely Planet.
October 25, 2006... Lonely Planet has appointed Shona Thind as marketing director. She joins from Haagen-Dazs, where she was marketing manager.

Media News: Iceland seals tie-up with I'm a Celebrity.(ITV PLC)(Brief article)
October 25, 2006... Iceland has replaced First Choice as the sponsor of ITV show I'm a Celebrity, Get Me Out of Here. The deal, negotiated by ITV Sales and MediaCom North, covers broadcast sponsorship of the show on ITV and ITV2, mobile clips on ITV's WAP...

Media News: Now to spin off DVD quiz game.
October 25, 2006... Now, IPC Media's weekly celebrity title, has extended its brand with the launch of an interactive DVD game. The Ultimate Celeb Quiz will be produced under licence by Sony BMG Music Entertainment and feature more than 1000 questions. It is...

Media News: CSA seeks 'gold spot' advertiser.(Carlton Screen Advertising)(Brief article)
October 25, 2006... Carlton Screen Advertising (CSA) is on the hunt for an advertiser to fill its flagship 'kids' gold spot', after Sky declined to renew a 12-month deal that ends this January. The 60-second standard gold spot, which appears before the main...

Media choice: The Business.(Viewpoint essay)(Brief article)
October 25, 2006... I have to declare my interest here - I love magazines. So when I first read that The Business was moving from a weekly Sunday broadsheet to a weekly business magazine, naturally, I thought it was a sound idea. The title will come out on a...

Media News brief: Emap Esprit relaunching website for Yours.(Brief article)
October 25, 2006... Emap Esprit is relaunching the website for women's title Yours. The overhaul follows its decision to increase the frequency of the magazine from monthly to fortnightly from January.

Media News brief: Time Out to run ad campaign.(Brief article)
October 25, 2006... Time Out is to run an advertising campaign this autumn, promoting its guides to the capital. The ads will run on London Underground escalator panels, in the national press and online.

Media News brief: Good Food mag signs sponsor for Christmas calendar.(Calendar)
October 25, 2006... Good Food magazine has signed up The English Provender Company as the sponsor of its Christmas calendar, which is distributed with its December issue.

Media News brief: Sky secures deal with Buena Vista.(Sky Television PLC, Buena Vista International Inc.)(Brief article)
October 25, 2006... Sky has secured a deal with Buena Vista International for the exclusive TV rights in the UK to hit US drama Lost. The rights for the cult series were previously held by Channel 4, which finished showing the second season last month, before...

Media News brief: Red Torpedo signs sponsorship deal.(IPC Media's Club NME)(Brief article)
October 25, 2006... Red Torpedo, an underwear brand, has signed a one-year deal to sponsor IPC Media's Club NME - a live new-music event taking place in 17 UK cities.

Media News brief: BBC appoints RKCR/Y&R and reappoints Fallon.(British Broadcasting Corp.)(Brief article)
October 25, 2006... The BBC has appointed RKCR/Y&R and reappointed Fallon to its ad agency roster. Alongside Red Bee Media, agencies on the roster will provide strategic advice and creative content for the broadcaster's brands, services and priority marketing...

Media News brief: University of Bedfordshire appoints Axon Publishing.
October 25, 2006... The University of Bedfordshire has appointed Axon Publishing to produce its magazine, thexperience, which is aimed at prospective students.

Media News brief: NatMags to create central digital sales unit.(handbag.com)(Brief article)
October 25, 2006... NatMags is creating a central digital sales unit to maximise online revenues following its acquisition of handbag.com. All the group's online sales and editorial departments, now known collectively as the Hearst Digital Network, will be...

Branding News: Mars reworks drinks ahead of expansion.(Masterfoods )(Brief article)
October 25, 2006... Masterfoods has repackaged two of its Mars drinks - Mars Original Drink and Mars Drink Extra Choc - ahead of the launch of Mars Thick Shake in the next few weeks. Created by Vibrandt, the designs are intended to improve on-shelf...

Branding News: Penderyn adds to spirits range.(Penderyn Distillery )(Brief article)
October 25, 2006... Penderyn Distillery is extending its presence in the premium spirits market by adding a vodka and gin to its existing whisky product. Designed by Enterprise IG, Brecon Special Reserve Gin is packaged in a clear glass bottle, while Brecon...

Branding News: Ragu highlights tomato content.(Unilever's Knorr Ragu )(Brief article)
October 25, 2006... Unilever has redesigned the packaging of its Knorr Ragu pasta sauces line to highlight the health benefits of its high tomato content. The revamp emphasises that the product contains more tomatoes per kilo than its rivals. The bottles are...

Branding News: Design choice - Creative ZEN Vision:M.(Creative ZEN Vision:M)(Brief article)
October 25, 2006... One of the advantages of working in advertising is being able to see through the hype and sometimes make a purchase that bucks a trend. This is what I did when I bought my Creative ZEN Vision:M, deciding to leave the iPod on the shelf. ...

Branding News brief: Options revamps packaging.(Brief article)
October 25, 2006... Options, the low-calorie chocolate drink, has revamped its packaging. The shape of the jar and the graphics have been changed in a redesign carried out by Springetts.

Branding News brief: Nairn's introduces new variant.
October 25, 2006... Nairn's, the oat cakes brand, has introduced a variant called Organic Herb Oat Cake with Pumpkin Seeds. The packaging was designed by Tayburn.

Branding News brief: TV chef lends name to Belgian-style beer.(Cornish brewer Sharp's Brewery)(Brief article)
October 25, 2006... Rick Stein, the TV chef, has lent his name to a Belgian-style beer from Cornish brewer Sharp's Brewery. It will be called Chalky's Bite, named after Stein's Jack Russell terrier.

Branding News brief: Amstel to launch bottled variant in UK.
October 25, 2006... Amstel is launching a bottled variant in the UK. The beer will be imported from Amsterdam and carry the design used on the Continent.

Branding News brief: Highland Spring develops limited-edition packaging.(Merle)(Brief article)
October 25, 2006... Highland Spring has developed a limited-edition festive packaging for Christmas. A snowflake design will appear on selected bottles across the mineral water range during November and December. The packaging was designed by Merle.

Branding News brief: Filofax rolls out limited-edition personal organiser.(Gharani Strok)(Brief article)
October 25, 2006... Filofax has rolled out a limited-edition personal organiser designed by fashion designer Gharani Strok. The Filofax includes sketches and fabric swatches from Strok's spring/summer 2007 collection.

Branding News brief: Glenfiddich unveils Christmas gift packs.(Decoder)(Brief article)
October 25, 2006... Glenfiddich has unveiled a range of Christmas gift packs that use different colours to reflect the variety of tastes available. The packs were designed by Decoder.

Branding News brief: George opens 12th UK store.(Fitch)(Brief article)
October 25, 2006... George, the budget fashion chain, is opening its 12th UK store, in Southend. The design uses feminine tones alongside the black-and-white George logo. The design was created by Fitch.

Branding News brief: Ecclesiastical relaunches brand.(Brief article)
October 25, 2006... Ecclesiastical, a specialist insurer for churches in the UK, is relaunching its brand to underline its wider community appeal. The rebrand will include the creation of an interactive website. The work has been handled by Corporate Edge.

Direct News: Standard Life set for review of Healthcare.(Saatchi & Saatchi)(Brief article)
October 25, 2006... Standard Life Healthcare is planning to review its direct marketing account. The healthcare-insurance provider, which is relocating from Guildford to Bournemouth later this year, intends to review its arrangements once the marketing team...

Direct News: Poppy Appeal in pounds 26m fund drive.(Brief article)
October 25, 2006... The Royal British Legion is giving its Poppy Appeal campaign a fresh focus as it seeks to smash its previous fundraising high. The appeal, which has traditionally focused on the sacrifices made by British service personnel, raised more...

Direct News: Strongbow to tie with ghost show.(Livingtv's Most Haunted Live )(Brief article)
October 25, 2006... Strongbow is teaming up with Livingtv's Most Haunted Live to run a scratchcard promotion in more than 13,000 pubs and clubs nationwide to generate interest in the cider brand around Halloween. The Scottish & Newcastle brand hopes to boost...

Direct choice: Virgin Holidays.(Brief article)
October 25, 2006... It has been quite a while since anyone wedged a helicopter through my letterbox, so I was very pleased to see Virgin Holidays be so bold. And for a very good reason - a 'free night flight in Las Vegas'. Should that have been 'over Las Vegas'?...

Direct News brief: Citroen promotes C6 with campaign.
October 25, 2006... Citroen is launching a direct marketing and insert campaign to promote its C6 model. The work is the first created for the marque by Kitcatt Nohr Alexander Shaw.

Direct News brief: Hasbro teams up with newspapers.(The Times and Sunday Times )(Brief article)
October 25, 2006... Hasbro has teamed up with The Times and Sunday Times to promote National Game Playing Week this week. 'The Big Play' awareness-building work in The Times will culminate in Sunday Times readers being targeted with a Monopoly Chance card...

Direct News brief: Help the Aged launches Christmas fundraising catalogue.(Brief article)
October 25, 2006... Help the Aged is launching a 'Cows'n'Things' Christmas fundraising catalogue to support its work with elderly people in developing countries. The catalogue, created by Joshua, will be supported by a dedicated website, direct mail and inserts.

Direct News brief: Glenfiddich uses mailer to promote whisky.
October 25, 2006... Glenfiddich is using a mailer created by Presky Maves to promote its limited-edition Toasted Oak whisky to its existing database of consumers.

Direct News brief: Aerobed luanches campaign through Fox Kalomaski.(Brief article)
October 25, 2006... Aerobed, which has sold more than 20m beds worldwide, is launching a direct-response press and outdoor campaign through Fox Kalomaski to boost sales and increase awareness in the UK. The campaign flags up the Aerobed website and UK stockists...

Direct News brief: Yorkshire Tourist Board seeks agency.(Brief article)
October 25, 2006... Yorkshire Tourist Board is hunting an agency to handle its direct marketing and advertising in conjunction with an in-house team. The work will retain the 'Make Yorkshire yours' theme.

Direct News brief: Serrenia hires 2C.(advertising contract)(Brief article)
October 25, 2006... Serrenia, the pounds 1bn residential project in Egypt, has hired 2C to create highly targeted brochures, direct mail and advertising. The development, designed by Foster & Partners, includes a 200-bedroom hotel, apartments and a marina.

Direct News brief: Lincolnshire Tourism hires Katapult.
October 25, 2006... Lincolnshire Tourism has hired Katapult to promote the region as a destination for short breaks and holidays through a direct mail and email campaign.

Digital News: Learndirect hands job to LBi.(Brief article)
October 25, 2006... Learndirect, the government-funded online learning and information service, has appointed LBi to revamp its website to be more engaging. The agency won the work in a three-way pitch against True Digital and Digital TMW. The pitch was run...

Digital News: Tired & Tested in member drive.(Progress Communications )(Brief article)
October 25, 2006... Social networking sports site Tired & Tested has hired Progress Communications to develop a campaign aimed at increasing its number of registered users. The site, which launched last month, is aimed at people who play and watch sport at...

Digital choice: Glassbooks.co.uk.(Brief article)
October 25, 2006... The Victorian concept of publishing books one chapter at a time, leaving readers with a cliffhanger and eagerly awaiting the next instalment, is clearly the selling point of this project, but I don't think the website is entirely successful...

Digital News brief: Musicbrigade signs deal with MSN.
October 25, 2006... Musicbrigade, an online music retailer, has signed a deal with MSN to become its exclusive provider of music videos.

Digital News brief: Rio Tinto redesigns corporate website.(View)(Brief article)
October 25, 2006... Rio Tinto, the mining company, has redesigned its corporate website to place a greater emphasis on its sustainable development programmes. The site will feature more rich-media content to tap into increased broadband penetration. The redesign...

Digital News brief: O2 launches website.(Archibald Ingall Stretton)(Brief article)
October 25, 2006... O2 has launched a website to support its Inspiration Award scheme, which rewards London's best small business. The website was created by Archibald Ingall Stretton, which also created O2's customer site, called the blueroom.

Digital News brief: Marie Claire runs online campaign.(Taglab)(Brief article)
October 25, 2006... Marie Claire is running an online campaign to promote its November issue. The work, by Taglab, comprises skyscrapers and banners and will run on the UKTV Style, UKTV Food and Disney websites.

Digital News brief: Island Records teams up with HMV.(Brief article)
October 25, 2006... Island Records has teamed up with HMV to produce the first single on a USB memory stick for the release of Nothing in My Way by chart act Keane.