Incentive Today articles from March 2005

Incentive Today archives from March 2005

Cooking up successful travel promotions.(Editor's note)(MKM Marketing and Promotions, Carribbean Islands' travel)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... From Sharwood's cooking sauces to Nestle's Baci chocolates, holidays are the top prize in promotions running this month. Travel is an ever-popular incentive but, as MKM Group has found, they are not an easy option. Last year, the...

Focus on the real purpose of loyalty programmes.(Letter of the month)(Letter to the Editor)
March 1, 2005... There may be "14 trillion frequent flyer miles" waiting to be redeemed (Incentive Today, February 2005) but what are the airline companies themselves getting out of the schemes? Our recent research suggests that only 41 per cent of them were...

Better education benefits all.(Letter of the month)(Letter to the Editor)
March 1, 2005... I am forever surprised that most of the promotional marketing industry fails to see the education of key personnel as the best investment it will ever make. Continuous improvement to provide the highest level of service should be the top...

Agencies must run promotions by the book.(Letter of the month)(Letter to the Editor)
March 1, 2005... I could not agree more with Edwin Mutton's letter (incentive Today, January 2005) in which he states that promoters must ensure the future of self-regulation by being more compliant to the rules, otherwise we will have only ourselves to blame...

Carling.(promotional campaign)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... Carling supported its sponsorship of the Carling Cup by running a text-to-win promotion offering people a chance to win one of 14 pairs of tickets to the final between Chelsea and Liverpool at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff at the end of...

Colorama Pharmaceuticals.(Toast Marketing's marketing contract for Dawn)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... Colorama Pharmaceuticals has chosen Toast Marketing to promote Dawn, a freestanding touch-screen console unit that allows customers in independent pharmacies to order from a range of products. Toast will create an external marketing campaign...

Copyright Promotions.(licensing agreement for Madagascar)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... Copyright Promotions has received a "great response" for licensing opportunities in all categories and from retailers for Madagascar, the latest animated film from DreamWorks, the makers of Shrek and The Shark Tale. The agency is also in...

DS.Emotion.(online database for fans of Franz Ferdinand)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... DS.Emotion is amassing a database of email and mobile phone details of fans of Franz Ferdinand through a promotion on the British band's website that was developed by the digital agency. In return for confirming their details, people are...

Character World.(sales promotion of bedroom textiles)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... Character World is running an on-pack promotion to drive sales of its bedroom textiles carrying the Thomas & Friends property this coming autumn and winter. People who buy its duvets, curtains and other products through high street retailers...

Buy and Fly!(Tesco PLC's loyality program)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... Buy and Fly!, the points-based loyalty programme, has linked up with supermarket chain Tesco as a collection partner on its scheme running in Ireland. Members of Tesco Ireland's Clubcard can choose to have their card points converted...

UGC Cinemas.(name changed to Cineworld after merging with Cine UK)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... UGC Cinemas, which supplies a range of voucher products for incentives, is to rebrand its sites as Cineworld after the 42-strong chain became part of Cine UK in December. It is expected that UGC's Unlimited Pass, which allows people to visit...

BDS Beechwood.(Barry Woodcraft appointed, acquisition of GTCR and name changed )(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... BDS Beechwood, the integrated agency, was due to emerge this month under the new name of Beechwood after bosses completed a management buy-out from private equity group GTCR. The management structure is to remain the same, including managing...

Nestle gets romantic with Baci experience.(News)(marketing campaign for chocolate brand)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... Nestle is supporting a major marketing drive for its Italian chocolate brand, Baci, with a brand experience campaign with a romantic theme. Marketing communications agency Billington Cartmell has developed a campaign focused around a prize...

Edible chocolate posters tour cities.(News)(Cadbury Dairy Milk's 100 th anniversery promotional campaign)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... An "edible poster" toured UK cities in the latest piece of promotional activity linked to the 100th anniversary of Cadbury Dairy Milk. The giant hoarding was covered in thousands of bars of the brand's nine variants, which were given to...

Tiger Beer boosts link with Asian film.(News)(Ubevco' marketing, finance for film festival)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... Ubevco is to strengthen its Tiger Beer brand's association with underground Asian culture by running promotions and sampling alongside a film festival. It is investing 2m [pounds sterling] in an integrated marketing campaign this year,...

Whitbread offers voucher discounts.(News)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... A range of discount vouchers has been developed for customers of Whitbread's pub-restaurant chain Brewers Fayre to support a personalised direct marketing campaign. Marketing agency Meteorite developed two creative variants, with copy and...

Masterfoods makes up on-pack promotion.(News)
March 1, 2005... Masterfoods has linked up with hairdressing brand Toni & Guy to offer prizes of makeovers for two in an on-pack promotion for Mars Delight. The campaign, which hit shelves last month, is carried on more than 13m bars of the chocolate brand...

New tool supports online scratchcard.(News)(Akriga introduced Wildfire)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... A new viral marketing tool based on the game of pass the parcel has been launched to drive promotions using e-scratchcards. Web developer Akriga has introduced Wildfire, which involves emailing out its existing LiveScratch "card" that has...

Sharwood's woks the city with chopstick challenge.(J.A. Sharwood and Company Ltd.'s marketing campaign)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... Sharwood's promoted its Chinese cooking sauces at events where passers-by were challenged to eat food with giant and mini chopsticks to win holiday prizes. The Wok The City sampling sessions were run by Red Snapper Events last month at...

Books offer two US flights for price of one.(News)(Time Out's marketing agreement with Landround PLC)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... publisher Time Out is offering people two return flights to the US for the price of one when they buy selected editions of its 12.99 [pounds sterling] travel guides. Travel promotions specialist Landround put together the campaign which is...

The European Union.(regulations on promotional marketing aimed at children)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... The European Union could impose a ban on promotional marketing aimed at children, according to its health and consumer affairs commissioner, Markos Kyprianou. The Financial Times reported that he would like to see an end to advertising to...

Ann Summers.(marketing campaign)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... Ann Summers last month repeated its Valentine's Day drive to attract men into its stores with the incentive of free beer and personal shopping advice. It held men's evenings in the run-up to February 14, supported by a partnership with lads'...

Grolsch.(promotional campaigns)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... Grolsch is running its first on-can promotion for nearly four years, asking consumers to send in eight ring pulls from promotional Grolsch packs to receive a free Grolsch-branded boxed pint glass. The offer is on 500ml and 440ml cans for eight...

Wall's.(SMR advertising contract)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... Wall's has awarded its below-the-line account, including its first-ever on-pack promotion, to SMR It will include an offer on 6.5m packs spanning Wall's bacon and sausage products in all major multiples this summer.

The Committee of Advertising Practice.(committee to review rules on alcohol advertising by Office of Communications (United Kingdom))(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... The Committee of Advertising Practice (CAP) has set up a committee to review the CAP Code on alcohol advertising in the light of new rules on TV advertising introduced by regulator Ofcom last year. Philip Circus, the Institute of Sales...

Sainsbury's.(J Sainsbury PLC's Active Kids voucher scheme for school children)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... Sainsbury's has launched the Active Kids voucher scheme, a collection programme for school sports equipment encouraging children to take more exercise. Instead of using receipts as a collection method, customers earn a voucher for every 10...

The Direct Marketing Association.(rules on promotions in the financial services by United Kingdom. Financial Services Authority )(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... The Direct Marketing Association's legal department has prepared guidance on putting together promotions in the financial services sector in the light of legislation and new rules from the Financial Services Authority. They are available online...

Make promotions more fulfilling.(ISP perspective: the latest views from the Institute of Sales Promotion)(Brief Article)(Column)
March 1, 2005... "It's a big con!" This comment by la disappointed prize-winner sadly reflects a good number of complaints received by the ISP. I have referred in this column before to an increase in complaints about promotional execution, and non-receipt...

Holiday and leisure offers help Acdoco to clean up.(News)(MKM Marketing and Promotions' advertising contracts)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... Acdoco is this year rolling out new promotions for its washing brands, offering holiday vouchers and money off visits to leisure attractions. The on-pack activity has been put together by MKM Marketing and Promotions after the success of a...

Study stresses value of e-coupons.(News)(survey on usage of discount cupons and samples)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... Money-off coupons and samples have been used by nearly nine out of 10 people in Britain, according to new research. A survey of 7,000 consumers found that 87 per cent had used them in the past, and that nearly half of them had responded to...

Winners of Protravel reader promotion.(News)(Amy Stansbridge of Billington Cartmell)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... A reader promotion run by travel specialist Protravel and Incentive Today at the end of last year has been won by Amy Stansbridge of agency Billington Cartmell. The prize was for two people for two nights staying at the luxury five-star...

Keeping track of marketing musical chairs.(AP Information Services' Marketing Manager's Yearbook)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... Nothing stands still in the world of marketing. Whether it's the person who buys incentives or the agency that handles advertising, it is hard to keep track of the revolving doors of Britain's top companies. According to AP Information...

Mercier Gray team regroup for Purity.(News)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... The former team behind failed agency Mercier Gray have begun to build up a list of big-name clients after launching a new business. Rob Gray and Anton Mercier are joint managing partners of Purity, which is operating out of Mercier Gray's...

US gift card specialist targets UK.(News)(Narboni UK)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... New technology in gift cards is being brought to the UK after its success with leading retailers in the US, including Starbucks and Wal-Mart. Narboni UK is targeting the growing voucher market in the UK with its solutions which can produce...

The future looks plastic for vouchers.(News)(forecasts and trends of gift cards)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... New research on the growing popularity of gift cards suggests that take-up is set to accelerate over the next three to five years, according to the Voucher Association (VA). A study carried out by consultancy Mintel has revealed that 73 per...

Loyalty cards drive few people to shops.(News)(survey on consumer preferences)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... Two-thirds of consumers say they regularly use at least one loyalty card, but location remains the biggest driver when it comes to choosing where to shop. New research on customer loyalty by Mintel found that only four per cent of people...

Events.(News)(Calendar)
March 1, 2005... March March 8-9 Promota Show Birmingham NEC Organised by Promota 024 7624 7208 www.promota.co.uk March 13-16 International Food & Drink Exhibition ExCel, London Organised by Fresh RM 020 7886...

P&G promotes Pampers at stores by inviting parents into world of babies.(Promotion of the month)(Procter & Gamble Ltd.)
March 1, 2005... Brand experience agency LoewyBe is running roadshows at stores across the UK to give adults insight into the world of babies as part of Procter & Gamble's 7m [pounds sterling] experiential campaign for its Pampers brand. It is running a...

New DBMT product brings Smile to the face of motivation.(Motivation)(reward vouchers)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... A new multi-choice reward voucher called Smile has been launched by incentive company DBMT to target staff and third-party motivation. The paper reward product can be exchanged for vouchers from leading retail, leisure and experiences...

Online scheme targets resellers across Europe.(Motivation)(Improve and Intechnology Corp.'s advertising contract)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... Improve, the online motivation company, has won the contract to operate a pan-European loyalty scheme for data storage company InTechnology. The contract uses a new European version of Flexable, Improve's real-time reward management system...

Motivation group celebrates growth.(Motivation)(Grass Roots Group's financial data)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... Leading motivation agency, the Grass Roots Group, enjoyed growth last year, according to its latest accounts. Its turnover jumped by 58 per cent to 107.1m [pounds sterling] for the year to the end of June while pre-tax profits were up 51...

Holiday incentive makes big impact for small firm.(Motivation)(Pacific Direct)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... All 25 staff at a luxury hotel toiletries supplier were given the surprise reward of a week-long trip to the Caribbean--earning their employer national media coverage. Lara Morgan promised staff at her Bedford-based company, Pacific...

Archer Young becomes new division of P&MM.(Motivation)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... Motivation agency Archer Young is to become a separate trading division within rival group P&MM after being acquired for 682,000 [pounds sterling] in cash. Employing 25 staff, it will continue to operate out of its base in Berkhamsted,...

Deadline looms for new motivation diploma.(Motivation)(Institute of Sales Promotion)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... A new diploma for people has attracted interest from companies who want their staff to have a strong grounding in motivation, performance improvement and rewards and recognition. The course, which was launched by the Institute of Sales...

Debenhams renews gift card deal.(Motivation)(PrePay Technologies)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... Debenhams has emphasised its commitment to gift cards by renewing its contract with PrePay Technologies (PPT) which developed the product's platform. The retailer has found that the gift card--the first to be launched in the UK--has become...

Finalists line up for 2005 Motivation Awards.(Motivation Awards)
March 1, 2005... Some of Britain's leading employers and motivation agencies are set to be rewarded for creativity and excellence at this month's Motivation Awards. Programmes developed for major blue-chip companies have reached the finals of the awards,...

Noble prize: Tim Noble, executive creative director of Cubo Brand Communications, talks to Mark Ludmon about a career of beer, whisky and cigarettes.(People)
March 1, 2005... Tim Noble may have worked in marketing communications for more than two decades, but he has become passionate about being a chartered surveyor. "They help to protect coral reefs and the seabed, or work in fine art and antiques," he enthuses....

Reed Exhibitions' National Incentive Show.(Moves)(Darren Whitehead appointed)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... Darren Whitehead, pictured, has taken over as event director of Reed Exhibitions' National Incentive Show (NIS), which is at Birmingham NEC in September. The event is being added to his current portfolio of Reed events which includes the...

Marketing Communications Consultants Association.(Moves)(Sam Gill appointed)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... The Marketing Communications Consultants Association has recruited Sam Gill, pictured, as membership and information manager. She previously worked at Major Players as digital client services manager, Atkins Rail as information manager and...

Flytxt.(Moves)(Annabel Shorter appointed)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... Flytxt, the mobile marketing services provider, has appointed Annabel Shorter as business development director. She was previously partnership development manager at Virgin Mobile and head of business development at NTL/Cable & Wireless.

Meteorite.(Moves)(Nicola Wilson appointed)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... Nicola Wilson, pictured, has joined direct agency Meteorite as senior account director in its B2B division, working on the Nokia team. She previously worked at agencies Heresy, Proximity and Joshua. Anna Walker, who was at the Marketing...

RPM.(Moves)(Hugh Robertson appointed)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... Hugh Robertson has taken over as managing partner of RPM after Ross Urquhart--who founded the brand experience agency with Robertson in 1993--left to "pursue other interests".

Grass Roots Group.(Alick Miskin promoted)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... The Grass Roots Group has promoted Alick Miskin to head of diversity after Stephen Lloyd left to focus on his campaign to be elected Liberal Democrat MP for Eastbourne. Miskin has nearly 20 years' experience in diversity, primarily in age and...

Liquorice.(Moves)(Christina Lucke and Chris Beeson appointed)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... Marketing communications agency Liquorice has expanded its creative department with the appointment of Christina Lucke, pictured, as senior art director and Chris Beeson as senior copywriter. Lucke, pictured, has 10 years' experience, most...

Cruise control: Mark Ludmon looks at how MKM Group has dealt with a turbulent few months.(News feature)(Magyar Kabel Muvek and MKM Marketing and Promotions)(Company Profile)
March 1, 2005... It's been a rollercoaster ride over the past few months for MKM Group. Last June, the company, which specialises in travel and leisure promotions, raised its profile by joining the Stock Exchange's Alternative Investment Market (AIM). ...

The need for caution in travel promotions.(Opinion)
March 1, 2005... A a high-profile travel promotion has been beset by hurricanes in the Caribbean and other problems. David Lebond, director of leading travel promotions company P&MM Travel and Leisure Solutions, gives his view on the offer, which was put...

Quelling sales out of school: promoting to children has always been a complex issue, but heightened parental concerns mean marketers have to tread more carefully than ever.(News feature)
March 1, 2005... Big consumer brands love to receive awards. As well as the warm and fuzzy glow that we all get from a pat on the back, the PR spin-off from a high-profile accolade is pure gold dust if exploited properly. At first glance then, it's puzzling...

Pleasure island: Jamaica is more than just sun, sea and sand. Catherine Chetwynd made a visit and discovered it offers adrenaline-pumping activities, luxurious spa resorts and even some rum experiences which make the island ideal for motivation programmes and incentive travel.(Travel)
March 1, 2005... It is an inevitable burden of the Caribbean islands that they will be seen as a destination for sun, sea and sand with little of substance hidden behind the waving palms. Jamaica, however, has a different story to tell and the island launched...

Happy hours: stress and long hours are key contributors to a demotivated workforce with high levels of absenteeism and staff turnover. Sharon Greaves finds how improving employees' quality of life and working environment can reap dividends.(Quality of life)
March 1, 2005... In a working climate that is increasingly characterised by long hours and pressure to exceed expectations, it comes as no surprise that the work-life balance is becoming harder to get right. All work and no play inevitably creates a...

Delivery time for sales incentives: marketing communications agency Zest launches a new motivation programme for TNT International.(Case study)(One Vision, sales incentive program)
March 1, 2005... A year ago, delivery and logistics company TNT International brought in marketing communications agency Zest to relaunch its sales incentive programme, Quest. This has proved so successful that Zest has developed a much larger scheme for sales...

Talking shop: motivation techniques have long been used in the retail environment to drive sales and push staff to sell add-on services, but Glynn Davis finds they are increasingly being used to improve other areas of performance.(Retail)
March 1, 2005... Driving sales remains the most common objective for motivation programmes, but retailers are now applying similar techniques to non-sales areas such as reducing absenteeism or improving the speed of service, both at busy times such as Christmas...

Do the write thing: writing instruments have moved on from being a functional necessity to a fashion item. Sara Goodwins finds that modern pens and pencils are sought after and displayed with pride.(Pens)
March 1, 2005... Even in this technical age, pens and pencils are used every day. They never go offline, never crash and never need rebooting. Pens and pencils are used at work, at school, at home. They're loaned, shared, swapped and hoarded. They're a portable...

Sweet dreams: giving chocolates and sweets as an incentive or gift is about much more than just the mouth-watering contents--attractive and creative packaging is also a must, as Catherine Chetwynd discovers.(Confectionery industry's sales promotions)
March 1, 2005... Health and diet may be on everyone's minds, but confectionery continues to be on their lips. The industry has increased from 5.47bn [pounds sterling] in 1999 to 6.14bn [pounds sterling] last year and is projected to be worth 6.27bn [pounds...

On the ball.(Product showcase: Incentive Today's round-up of the latest products for incentives, promotions and motivation)
March 1, 2005... The creators of a new oval-shaped golf ball, for a game called GolfCross, have gained the boost of a licensing deal with England Rugby, arranged through licensor Copyright Promotions Sport, which will lead to rugby-branded versions of the...

Cruising game.(Product showcase: Incentive Today's round-up of the latest products for incentives, promotions and motivation)
March 1, 2005... Special EFX applied its design and manufacturing skills to creating trophies for Carnival UK, part of cruise group Carnival Corporation, to reward top-performing travel agents. The awards reflected the company's cruise lines, P&O Cruises,...

Bottling up.(Product showcase: Incentive Today's round-up of the latest products for incentives, promotions and motivation)
March 1, 2005... A new range of stylish wine and drink accessories has been launched by luxury product supplier Picnic at Ascot, including a four-piece corkscrew and bottle stopper set (pictured). They are made from polished stainless steel and come in...

Change on the cards.(Product showcase: Incentive Today's round-up of the latest products for incentives, promotions and motivation)
March 1, 2005... B&H Colour Change, which produces temperature-sensitive products for the promotions market, has made its most popular products available for supplying in smaller quantities. The 22 items, which are all suitable for company over-branding,...

Techno wizardry.(Product showcase: Incentive Today's round-up of the latest products for incentives, promotions and motivation)
March 1, 2005... Heart-rate monitors and pedometers with built-in FM radios and sports MP3 players (pictured) are among the new "techno lifestyle" range that has been unveiled by Firebrand Promotions. Other products include a personal global positioning system,...

Back chat.(Product showcase: Incentive Today's round-up of the latest products for incentives, promotions and motivation)
March 1, 2005... With more than 1.5bn people globally owning mobile phones, one of the biggest fears is having a flat battery miles from a charger. CTC International has launched the Chat Power as a giveaway--a slim 5mm battery, weighing only 28 grams, which...

Eco park.(Product showcase: Incentive Today's round-up of the latest products for incentives, promotions and motivation)
March 1, 2005... Promoters can prove their ethical credentials by using Ecobags (pictured), which are made from natural jute fibre with, in most cases, cane or bamboo handles. They are hard-wearing and, although Ecobags director Debbie Kay says they last for...

Fruit polo.(Product showcase: Incentive Today's round-up of the latest products for incentives, promotions and motivation)
March 1, 2005... Fruit of the loom has more than trebled its stocks of polo shirts this year because of "unprecedented" customer demand in 2004. Speaking of last year's rush, brand manager Alison Woodvine commented: "We were compelled to ramp up our production...

Kitsch Corner: Julie Arnott, group account director at Swordfish, longs for the return of Noel Edmonds and purple dinosaurs.(Diary)
March 1, 2005... My idea for Kitsch Corner came to me in a vision, a multicoloured vision if you like. For me, Saturday mornings in the 70s and early 80s will always be special (and not only because that's probably the last time I actually experienced a...

Counting on KitKash.(Diary)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... Nestle Rowntree has clearly come up with a winner with its latest KitKat promotion which enables people to earn KitKash points for spending at online auctions (Incentive Today, February 2005). It emerged last month that Essex businessman Kevin...

Dining out is small beer.(Diary)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... Restaurateurs in the finals of this years Publican Awards were rather bemused when one of the judges showed a rather obsessive interest in incentives. The industry event is being held in front of nearly 2,000 people in London's Grosvenor House...

Q&A: Jonathan Haskell, managing director, Michael C Fina Worldwide.(Diary)
March 1, 2005... What is your favourite incentive? Workthing.com created a clever promotion that invited visitors to register to receive job alerts to win a career makeover valued at 2,000 [pounds sterling. It was simple with a great prize that communicated...