Incentive Today articles from May 2005

Incentive Today archives from May 2005

Loyalty programmes can be no more than a brief encounter.(Editor's note)(Brief Article)(Editorial)
May 1, 2005... According to the dictionary, loyalty means to be "faithful and true as a lover". But when it comes to loyalty within the retail arena, brands can hope for little more than an ongoing open relationship with a promiscuous consumer. Surveys have...

Americans and Britons can learn from each other.(Letter of the month)(Letter to the Editor)
May 1, 2005... I have been fascinated by the striking differences between the US and UK approaches to reward and recognition since forming Michael C Fina Worldwide, the world's first global recognition company in partnership with Michael C Fina Inc of New...

Don't be blinded by science.(Letter to the Editor)
May 1, 2005... Your February issue highlighted the growing trend for using new technology in promotional mechanics. A word of warning, though, for brands who focus on the science and forget the principles that define a good proposition. Sure, a snappy...

Paper and plastic can live together.(Letter to the Editor)
May 1, 2005... I read with interest your feature on vouchers (Incentive Today, April). There seemed to be the underlying notion that there is an undeclared war between the paper voucher and electronic gift card. As market leader in the design, development and...

Blue Inc.(Join the Blue Revolution)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... Blue Inc, the national high street menswear retailer, is rolling out a campaign to its 32 outlets under the tagline: "Join the Blue Revolution". Devised by creative agency Folk, it includes street guerrilla marketing with the brand's character,...

Hewlett-Packard.(Guinness World Record )(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... Hewlett-Packard is running a major integrated consumer marketing campaign to promote the benefits of digital photography. The Smile campaign is a Guinness World Record attempt to create the largest-ever photographic exhibition featuring people...

Tarantula.(merge with 141 Worldwide )(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... Tarantula, the response communications agency, is to merge with 141 Worldwide after being acquired by WPP. The new company will be known as 141 with a combined staff of 130. Tarantula chief executive Steve Harding will become chief executive of...

Headtohead.(Headtohead Web )(Them)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... Headtohead, the integrated marketing agency, and Headtohead Web have been reborn as Them and moved to larger offices in Barnes, south-west London.

Archer Young.(Appointments)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... Archer Young, the motivation business acquired this year by P&MM Group, has strengthened its board with two appointments. Sandra Collins has become divisional director responsible for the motivation, reward and recognition sector, and Natalie...

Tote.(Totepool)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... Tote, the government-owned bookmaker, is promoting its exclusive pool betting service, Totepool, through a viral online game. High scorers can win a VIP package or free passes to June's Royal Ascot at York event, or free bets.

Spar.(Teletext Holidays TV)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... Spar, the convenience store chain, is offering prizes of six family holidays to Florence in a joint campaign with Teletext Holidays TV to promote its sponsorship of the European Athletics Association, which is holding the Spar European Cup in...

Buy and Fly!(Odeon Cinemas)(Alton Towers)(Disney Resorts )(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... Buy and Fly!, the points-based rewards programmel, has added leisure partners to its range of redemption opportunities, such as Megabowl, Alton Towers, Disney resorts and Odeon cinemas.

New promotions laws reach statute books.(News)
May 1, 2005... Lottery-style promotions are set to become reality after the Government squeezed through the Gambling Bill before the General Election. The Bill lost some of its more radical proposals relating to casinos, but new laws went through on...

William Hill gambles on dream holiday incentives.(News)(William Hill Organization Ltd)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... Betting chain William Hill teamed up with holiday company Airtours for a joint promotion to ensure it was a winner in this year's Grand National. Anyone who placed a bet in last month's race was entered in a prize draw to win one of three...

John Smith's has a day at the races.(News)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... Scottish Courage exploited the sponsorship of the Grand National by its John Smith's Bitter this year with a promotion offering people the chance to win one of the horses for the day. The winner became the "owner" of Iznogoud, which...

Leisure offers send holidaymakers on the road.(News)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... Aztec Marketing has put together a promotional package to convert more holidaymakers to the joys of caravanning. It has created over 550 special offers, such as two-for-one and free-child deals, for the Caravan Club, which provides sites,...

New CEO replaces Stonier at Skybridge.(News)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... Randle Stonier has stepped aside as chief executive of communications agency Euro RSCG Skybridge to take on the role of non-executive chairman. His place has been taken by John Hackney, who was chief executive of Interpublic Group's B2B...

Club 18-30 abandons 'sex and sangria'.(News)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... Club 18-30 has launched a major through-the-line campaign to take the brand away from its "sex and sangria" image. It focuses on promotional activity on a dedicated website, www.beonthelist.co.uk, where people can register to be on an...

Charles and Camilla give boost to promotions firm.(News)(Supreme Creations)(Camilla Parker Bowles)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... A promotional product supplier was celebrating the one-day postponement of the Prince of Wales' wedding despite making thousands of tea towels with the earlier date. What could have been a disaster turned out to be a huge boost for Supreme...

Fairtrade goes bananas.(News)(Fairtrade Foundation)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... People dressed as giant bananas used street theatre to highlight the need for governments to help banana farmers in the Windward Islands. Civil servants arriving for work at the Department of Trade and Industry in London last month were...

North Downs Dairies.(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... North Downs Dairies has been running a sampling campaign for its Pilgrims Choice cheese brand, handing out the extra-mature Pilgrims Choice Vintage on crackers and biscuits at Sainsbury's, Tesco and Somerfield stores. The activity is organised...

Malmaison Hotels.(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... Malmaison Hotels teamed up with Mute Records for joint promotional activity for the new album, Hotel, from singer and DJ Moby. Competitions were run through the local press and the Malmaison database, supported by the hotels' website, offering...

National Pub Football Week.(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... National Pub Football Week is to be run this September for the third year running, organised by pub giants Punch Taverns and Enterprise Inns. Supported by Lords Marketing, it offers publicans promotional materials and merchandise to help them...

Kingfisher Gift Vouchers.(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... Kingfisher Gift Vouchers (KGV) has teamed up with Lloyds TSB to run offers for customers of its Trustcard credit card, which gives them loyalty points that can be redeemed against the vouchers. Customers who buy 90 [pounds sterling] worth of...

UIA Insurance.(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... UIA Insurance, which specialises in the not-for-profit sector, is offering incentives to potential customers in a programme devised with Lifestyle Incentives. People calling for a quote can choose a free book from a selection based on health...

Interbrew UK.(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... Interbrew UK is offering the on-trade a branded football table and promotional support material to help them drive sales of Boddingtons. Channelled through stockists, it can be used by pubs and bars to run tournaments.

Asda.(marketing)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... Asda is running a campaign to highlight healthy eating through an on-pack promotion linked to Disney movie The Incredibles. It is running a prize draw over 30 different fresh produce items with prizes of merchandise linked to the film.

Harvey Nichols.(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... Harvey Nichols in Edinburgh has been forced to issue a statement denying that it is running a promotion offering women a 500 [pounds sterling] voucher if they go into labour while in store. Manager Fiona Kinnaird worked out there was unfounded...

The cost of politics.(ISP Perspective: The latest views from the Institute of Sales Promotion)(Gambling Bill )(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... I am writing this just as a General Election is called and am reflecting on the time that has been spent in Parliament debating legislation that is now lost. The Government could have left the election for at least another year, but political...

Agency aims to repeat US coalition marketing success.(News)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... Foodservice operators in the UK are to be the focus of a major campaign developed by a new coalition marketing division of communications and motivation agency BI. The partnership programme will be the first to be put together by the new...

Magic promotion for Surcare.(News)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... Household products group McBride has boosted sales of its Surcare range of products through a promotional tie-up with the film version of The Magic Roundabout. It revealed last month that its range of laundry and cleaning products for...

Pub deal makes everyone a winner.(pub dealing)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... Trials of a new sales promotion mechanic, Everyone's A Winner, are to run in pubs across the north-west after a deal with Punch Taverns. Terminals will be placed in pubs run by Punch's tenants and lessees, offering customers a chance to...

New incentives show targets new audiences.(News)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... The team behind next year's new Promotional Marketing show are to launch a high-impact marketing campaign in the hope of attracting new clients to the incentives sector. It is to target employers in Greater London, particularly those in...

Cruise promotion comes under fire from watchdog.(News)
May 1, 2005... Promotions company MKM Group has warned that it will be reporting "a substantial loss" this year after its handling of a cruise promotion was criticised by an industry watchdog. The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) upheld a number of...

New agency gets passionate about brands.(News )(Passion)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... New agency Passion has begun work on campaigns for its first clients, an online poker brand and a major UK music festival. The business aims to work on specific brands within the drinks, gambling, technology and music sectors and is already...

MCCA offers copy and legal advice.(News)(Marketing Communication Consultants Association )(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... A copy and legal advice service has been launched by the Marketing Communication Consultants Association (MCCA) to help member agencies. It is being provided, at no extra charge to members, by the Committee of Advertising Practice's copy...

Events.(News)(Calendar)
May 1, 2005... May 17-19 Times Creme show Olympia, London Organised by Touchstone Exhibitions Tel: 01923 690635 www.thetimescreme.co.uk May 20 ISP Promotional Marketing Awards London Organised by ISP Tel: 020...

Kimberly-Clark cleans up in stores with promotional tie-up.(News / Promotion of the month)
May 1, 2005... Kimberly-Clark has embarked on a series of sales promotions to increase its share of the growing household paper market for its Fiesta brand. It has set up partnerships with interior design specialist Fired Earth as well as DIY chain...

DBMT gets on board the travel market.(News / Motivation)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... Continuing growth in foreign holidays has prompted performance improvement company DBMT to launch a new travel voucher into the motivation market. Called 4Travel, it is supported by Superbreak, Red Letter Days and Atlantis Travel, which is...

Retailer drives up leads with scratchcards.(News / Motivation)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... Corporate Traveller, the business travel division of travel retailer Flight Centre UK, has launched a staff incentive campaign to increase the number of new business leads. Developed by Capital Incentives & Motivation, the Rollercoaster...

Conference to reveal trends in voucher market.(News / Motivation)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... The Voucher Association has announced plans for its annual conference providing trends, innovations and practical guidance on the use of vouchers. Speakers are set to include Philippe Dufour, chief executive of PrePay Technologies, John...

Corporate events take to the water.(News / Motivation)(International Festival of the Sea in Portsmouth)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... Companies are being urged to reward their staff and customers with corporate hospitality packages for this summer's 200th anniversary of the Battle of Trafalgar. The Royal Navy and corporate entertainment company Land Sea Air Events are...

New leisure voucher launched as part of HSGV rebranding.(News)(Park Group's High Street Gift Voucher)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... One of the leading retail vouchers in the motivation sector is undergoing a major rebranding this month alongside the launch of a new leisure voucher. Park Group's High Street Gift Voucher, which is redeemable at over 75 different...

THA expands operations in Europe.(News / Motivation)(Thomas Hannah & Associates )(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... Motivation agency Thomas Hannah & Associates (THA) has increased its ability to provide pan-European programmes after a deal with a Belgium-based company. THA's European arm, which has its headquarters in Brussels, has merged with Nikitra...

Motivation market 'set to grow'.(News / Motivation)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... Demand for motivation services will continue to grow this year, P&MM has told the City after reporting an upturn in profits. It posted a 67.5 per cent jump in pretax profits to 1.377m [pounds sterling] for the year to December 31,...

Recognition comes on stream.(News / Motivation)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... Full-service agency Stream has launched a new employee recognition solution linked to its own online product catalogue. The programme, called GoldStar, can be adapted for individual companies for rewarding achievement, marking career...

Suppliers target PAs with buying power.(News / Motivation)
May 1, 2005... The growing power of secretaries and PAs in the choice of incentives has prompted suppliers to target this audience at an exhibition this month. Exhibitors at the Times Creme event at London's Olympia on May 17 and 18 include the...

Virgin Incentives.(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... Virgin Incentives has added singles agency Twisted Martini to its portfolio of redemption partners. Described as an "adventures agency for singles", it is aimed at professionals aged 20 to 45, offering activities such as flair cocktail-making...

Capital Incentives & Motivation.(Sewells Training and Consultancy)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... Capital Incentives & Motivation has produced a "definitive" guide to improving business and people performance in conjunction with Sewells Training and Consultancy and made it available for downloading at www.capitalincentives.co.uk.

Jurys Inn.(Jury's Hotel Group PLC)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... Jurys Inn Heathrow is targeting PAs and secretaries in the area with a scheme offering them a 5 [pounds sterling] Marks & Spencer voucher for every room they book, allowing them to earn up to 250 [pounds sterling] worth. Each time they book...

The World Launch Group.(www.hospitalitybox.com)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... The World Launch Group has added an "online consultancy" providing people with a choice of over 500 corporate hospitality packages at trade prices. Hospitalitybox.com is a spin-off of the group's successful Londonlaunch.com brand.

Keith Prowse Attraction Tickets.(Attraction Man)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... Keith Prowse Attraction Tickets is giving travel agents a daily chance to win one of 30 prizes in a 25,000 [pounds sterling] trade give-away under the banner of Attraction Man. Agents making a booking are automatically entered into a draw and,...

Hampton Court Palace.(corporate hospitality packages )(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... Hampton Court Palace in Surrey has launched a range of corporate hospitality packages for its annual festival from June 7 to 25. It features menus prepared by top chef Gordon Ramsay, working with caterer Absolute Taste. The festival, organised...

Conferences UK.(www.conferences-uk.org.uk)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... Conferences UK has expanded its operations after the success of its online venue-finding service, www.conferences-uk.org.uk, which was launched in August. It also offers guides to planning and running meetings and conferences and links to...

Motivation Awards 2005.(News / Motivation)
May 1, 2005... The motivation sector came together to celebrate their achievements at the 2005 Motivation Awards gala dinner and ceremony, organised by Incentive Today. The awards, which were in their fourth year, attracted agencies and suppliers as well as...

A plush job: John Mallows, the new chairman of the British Promotional Merchandise Association, tells Mark Ludmon why he still gets a buzz from promotional marketing.(People)
May 1, 2005... John Mallows has worked for world-leading companies from Cadbury Typhoo to Russ Berrie but his first job is one that sticks in your mind--a Butlins Redcoat. Following in the footsteps of Des O'Connor, Sir Cliff Richard and Shane Ritchie, he...

Euro RSCG KLP.(Moves)(Mark Hamilton appointed)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... Marcoms agency Euro RSCG KLP has appointed Mark Hamilton, as account director to head the Diageo GB account. He comes from an in-house position at L'Oreal and was previously senior brand manager at Bacardi.

Capital Incentives & Motivation.(Moves)(Andrew Bailey, Neil Pagnam, Glen Wrigley and Richard Lyon)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... Andrew Bailey has joined Capital Incentives & Motivation as sales manager from Boots Incentive Vouchers where he worked in sales development. The company has also appointed three other new sales managers--Neil Pagnam, who was corporate account...

Cognito.(Moves)(Sophie Spallone appointed)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... Integrated marketing agency Cognito has expanded its account management team with new account director Sophie Spallone, who was previously at Dialogue working on the Del Monte and Burger King accounts.

The Naked Group.(Moves)(Brian Rees appointed)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... Brian Rees, founder of PDP and former chief executive of Interpublic's Momentum Group, has joined the board of The Naked Group, publisher of Realrunner.com, the official online partner of the Flora London Marathon.

Reed Exhibitions' National Incentive Show.(Moves)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... Mark Lewis has been promoted to manage the sales team of Reed Exhibitions' National Incentive Show, which is at Birmingham NEC in September, as well as the National Direct Marketing Show and the International Direct Marketing Show. He joined...

Mando Brand Assurance.(Moves)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... Mando Brand Assurance, the promotional risk assessor, has appointed Brian Freeman to its board to strengthen its insight into contingency insurance. He joins from specialist insurance broker Tyser Special Risks, where he was a founder and...

Meteorite.(Appointments)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... Ed Prichard has left McCann Relationship Marketing (MRM) to become creative director of agency Meteorite. With over 30 awards to his name, he has agency experience of above-the-line, direct marketing, sales promotion, online, in-store and brand...

Grass Roots Group.(Moves)(Paul Bartlett appointed)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... The Grass Roots Group has appointed Paul Bartlett to its benefits team to extend the company's presence in the flexible benefits market. He was previously head of rewards at the London Stock Exchange.

Travellers joy: despite recent high-profile promotions that were poorly fulfilled, the public has not lost faith in travel promotions. But Catherine Chetwynd finds consumers need to be reassured that they will get what they are promised.(Institute of Sales Promotion)
May 1, 2005... It may have been over 10 years ago, but the disastrous and much-documented Hoover flights giveaway should have served as a conclusive lesson in how not to run a travel promotion. Unfortunately, however, lessons are not always learned, as a...

Loyal retainers: loyalty programmes only work if you get the communications and the incentives right.(loyalty programmes)
May 1, 2005... Over recent years it has been questioned whether loyalty programmes actually create loyalty after numerous surveys showed they had little impact on where people chose to shop. A report from Mintel three months ago revealed that as few as four...

Greece is the word: Athens has undergone a transformation since last year's Olympic games, adding to the venues and activities available for motivation and incentive programmes.(incentive programmes)
May 1, 2005... Before last year's Olympic games, the perception was that the Greeks could barely run a bath, let alone a conference and incentive event. But Athens put such misconceptions to rout. They may have pulled the rabbit out of the hat at the last...

Black art or common sense? As one of the specialists involved in putting together the content of the new ISP Motivation Diploma, P&MM director John Sylvester explains how the qualification is essential for supporting the development of new talent.(Institute of Sales Promotion Limited )
May 1, 2005... It is a sign that a discipline has come of age when the industry collaborates to deliver formal and independent educational resources to serve the greater good of the industry. My first encounter with the motivation discipline was during...

Calling for strategic motivation: David Hackett, UK chairman of communication and motivation company BI, calls for 'a collective voice' for the motivation sector.(motivation industry)
May 1, 2005... At this year's Motivation Awards, keynote speaker David Hackett reignited the debate on the need for a collective voice in the motivation sector. "I suggest it is time that we find a way to join together and present the intellectual arguments,"...

Pulling together: team-building activities can be fun and entertaining but they have little value if they are not linked to objectives and broader strategies.(analysis of team work)
May 1, 2005... There is little doubt that team activities can be fun, even challenging. But on the flip side, they can be a waste of time and money if participants treat them as no more than a mild diversion and discount them the minute they step back into...

Brother superior: Argos Business Solutions helps office supplies giant Brother UK to drive sales and increase sales channel loyalty.(Motivation / Case study)
May 1, 2005... Brother UK is the UK sales company of Brother Industries, the worldwide manufacturer of printers, fax and multifunction machines. It has a multiple channel route to market for its products, including dealers, distributors and retailers such as...

Banking on success: in an increasingly competitive market, financial services companies are increasingly turning to motivation despite the challenge of tight regulations.(Motivation of financial services)
May 1, 2005... Money talks, so they say, and when it does, most of us stop to listen. But when it comes to parting with our own cash, it's not too difficult to think of more interesting things to spend it on than mortgages, insurance and pensions. ...

Power ranges: from flat-screen televisions to USB port accessories, electrical and electronic incentives offer the latest in innovation and cutting-edge design.(television industry)
May 1, 2005... The wide choice of high-tech goods ensures they are a desirable item for everyone, irrespective of age. Part of their popularity lies in the constantly evolving nature of technology, creating an on-going demand for newer, slicker products....

Clocking on: everyone has a watch: they're central to organizing our busy lives. Although they can be relatively inexpensive, timepieces still have a high perceived value.(analysis of watches)
May 1, 2005... We're obsessed by time. We're roused by an alarm clock in the morning, check the clock to make sure we're not late, have the time displayed on our PCs, and finally find it's "time for bed". Martin Cooper, head of marketing at Cottrills, says:...

A lighter load.(Product Showcase: Incentive Today's round-up of the latest products for incentives, promotions and motivation)
May 1, 2005... Zippo has confirmed it is more than just a world-leading maker of lighters with the publication of its new 2005 catalogue of promotional products. For instance, there are gift sets, such as a manicure set (pictured), flashlights, golf and...

Racing demon.(Product Showcase: Incentive Today's round-up of the latest products for incentives, promotions and motivation)
May 1, 2005... New radio-controlled "micro-looping" cars from Race-Tin are promotional products that can provide fun for adults and children. Available in a variety of colours, they can be made to different ingenious designs. Prices stag from 4 [pounds...

On the road.(Product Showcase: Incentive Today's round-up of the latest products for incentives, promotions and motivation)
May 1, 2005... All motorists will soon have to carry a reflective jacket in their vehicles under new EC regulations, so RHR Select has come up with a promotional solution. Its Comfy cushion has been newly packaged with either a poncho or jacket (pictured) to...

Snap to attention.(Product Showcase: Incentive Today's round-up of the latest products for incentives, promotions and motivation)
May 1, 2005... At first glance, snap armbands (pictured) look like a straight ruler-like strip of plastic but, as soon as they are tapped against the wrist, they curl round like a bracelet. Made of a reflective material, they are among the range of new...

Play with Fire.(Product Showcase: Incentive Today's round-up of the latest products for incentives, promotions and motivation)
May 1, 2005... A new range of pens has been inspired by the metal curves of the modern Guggenheim museum in Bilbao in northern Spain. Rou Bill, the sister company to Senator Pens, says architect Frank Gehry's building has led to the Ad Fire range made up of...

Bag of tricks.(Product Showcase: Incentive Today's round-up of the latest products for incentives, promotions and motivation)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... The growing range of bags available for corporate branding at Techair apparently means that the "old-fashioned style of laptop bag as an accessory for business professionals will soon be consigned to history along with the bowler hat and black...

Sliding door.(confectionary products)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... Two new products from confectionery specialist Belgium's Best are proving popular for promotional merchandise. The mini mint matt silver tin has a sliding lid and can be personalised in up to four colours, while a larger rectangular tin with a...

Putting on a good show.(Diary)
May 1, 2005... The champagne hangovers may be long gone, but the picture evidence remains of this year's Motivation Awards gala dinner. As the official photographs on pages 12 and 13 show, the event in Kensington, London, was a dignified and professional...