Incentive Today articles from October 2004

Incentive Today archives from October 2004

Good prospects for motivation but challenges lie ahead.(Brief Article)(Editorial)
October 1, 2004... Last month, Incentive Today's annual promotional marketing survey found that agencies have been enjoying a significant upturn in business. This month's poll of motivation agencies reveals a slightly more circumspect picture after some of the...

Agencies can take steps to tackle staff issues.(Letter of the month)(Letter to the Editor)
October 1, 2004... We were interested to see that the biggest worry for promotional marketing agencies is recruiting and retaining good staff (Incentive Today, September 2004). At Blue Skies, we have seen that even a fractional improvement in our relationships...

Agencies must invest time in recruitment.(Letter of the month)(Letter to the Editor)
October 1, 2004... We broadly agree with the survey of promotional marketing agencies (Incentive Today, September 2004). The agency market has been hit hard over the last two years, particularly so within the incentives arena. Retention of key people has been a...

Lick.(Brief Article)
October 1, 2004... Lick, the direct mail and point-of-sale distribution company, has launched an email marketing solutions business, E-Lick. It will provide access to the internet and emails as major communications media for clients' campaign messages. It can...

Grolsch.(Grolsch N.V.)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2004... Grolsch is offering five free recipe cards on its swingtop bottle neck to encourage consumers to share the beer with friends and food. The dishes such as paprika-dusted chicken strips and Grolsch green salad with walnut and pear, tie in with...

Vodafone UK.(Vodafone Group PLC)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2004... Vodafone UK is using the Enpocket Engine mobile marketing software, licensed by Enpocket, to deliver marketing and customer-relationship management campaigns direct to customers' phones via SMS, MMS and WAP.

Macmillan Cancer Relief.(Brief Article)
October 1, 2004... Macmillan Cancer Relief has launched Rupert the Bear pin badges to raise up to 100,000 [pounds sterling] for people living with cancer. The four badges, created by the Big Badge Company, represent Rupert and friends through a licence from...

DC Thomson.(Brief Article)
October 1, 2004... DC Thomson has created innovative covermounts to mark the relaunch of its comic, Candy. They include a jumping spider, a severed tongue that "licks" its way down if placed on glossy vertical surfaces, and a tomato that can be thrown against the...

Squeeze Digital.(Brief Article)
October 1, 2004... Squeeze Digital, a new digital marketing agency, has been launched by Nik Margolis, Cameron Brewer and Simon Dean to bring "creativity" to email marketing. The team have worked on direct marketing campaigns for brands such as Royal Mail, the...

DS.Emotion.(Brief Article)
October 1, 2004... DS.Emotion, the digital agency, has created the first-ever online presence for Fox's Biscuits, which will be used for promotional marketing such as competitions. Newsletters about what's new on the site--at www.foxs-biscuits.co.uk--will be sent...

RPM.(Brief Article)
October 1, 2004... RPM, the brand experience agency, is launching a supermarket sampling campaign for McVitie's Flapjacks. The now campaign, scheduled to start this month, will sample five now varieties of the snack brand--Taste of Home Flapjack, GoAhead Crispy...

Homepride collectables confirm cult status of Fred.(News)(Kerry Foods Ltd.)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2004... Kerry Foods has completed a major promotional campaign to mark the 40th anniversary of its Homepride brand, confirming the cult status of its character, Fred. Chilli Marketing Communications devised the activity, which featured a...

Pink Panther strikes again with licensinq deal.(News)(Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Inc., Copyright Promotions Ltd.)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2004... Copyright Promotions has announced a digital licensing deal between MGM and Buongiorno Vitaminic to offer mobile content for the Pink Panther and Inspector Clouseau. The partnership coincides with the 40th anniversary of the pink cat,...

Country Life Butter offers money-back taste guarantee.(News)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2004... Leading butter brand Country Life is this month launching an on-pack promising to refund shoppers money if they do not love the taste. About 5million packs of Country Life Butter and Country Life Spreadable will carry the line: "You'll...

Alcohol ad ban could hit sales promotions.(News)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2004... Marketers fear that proposed new restrictions on TV advertising of alcoholic products could herald a crackdown on sales promotions. Regular Ofcom last month completed public consultation on planned revisions to the regulation with the...

Promoters face new blow over Euro campaigns.(News)
October 1, 2004... The promotional marketing industry is poised for a major setback after moves to introduce new legislation in Europe were revived. As Incentive Today went to press, the European Council of Ministers was due to consider a newly amended draft...

Sony Ericsson promotes new phone with Anastacia.(News)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2004... Sony Ericcson is using mobile phone content to exploit its sponsorship of the first-ever European tour of pop diva Anastacia. Through a strategic relationship with Sony Music, it has linked up with the tour, which started last month, to...

Playful campaign drives launch of Modus.(News)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2004... Renault is running a campaign in dealerships devised by the Pulse Group to support the launch of its new Modus car. Pulse created a mailer, which was sent to 200,000 consumers, inviting them to the launch of the Modus. The mailer includes a...

Condoms and alcohol ruled out for Big Brother.(News)(Channel 4 Television Co.)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2004... Channel 4 has ruled out the use of the Big Brother name in promoting condoms or alcoholic brands after signing a new licensing deal. It has joined forces with Keyline Licensing to develop a licensing programme for the sixth series of Big...

Coors Brewers.(Coors Brewers Ltd.)(snow entertainment)(Milton Keynes)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2004... Coors Brewers has linked up with snow entertainment complexes Xscape in Leeds and Milton Keynes for an on-pack offer for its Coors Fine Light Beer. Reinforcing the message that ice-cold beer tastes best, four-packs have a voucher entitling...

UCI Cinemas.(Brief Article)
October 1, 2004... UCI Cinemas and Pepsi are using technology, that allows them to locate mobile phone users to invite them to the Pepsi free-kick challenge taking place at UCI complexes across the UK. It uses Enpocket Engine software to send out SMS messages...

The Football Fans' Census.(IntoFootball )(Brief Article)
October 1, 2004... The Football Fans' Census has agreed a deal with football memorabilia specialist IntoFootball to offer people the incentive of prizes in return for answering its surveys. Limited-edition items on offer include a Geoff Hurst-signed England cap...

Nokia.(Nokia Corp.)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2004... Nokia is running online marketing activity and promotional marketing demonstrations linked to its sponsorship of talent-search TV show, The X-Factor. Devised by Haygarth, the activity will be used to drive awareness and sales of new handsets...

Keyline Licensing.(Red Sky Entertainment)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2004... Keyline Licensing has formed a strategic alliance with Red Sky Entertainment to represent its portfolio of products in the UK, the rest of Europe and Australasia, including the Galaxy Rangers.

Base One Interactive.(Brief Article)
October 1, 2004... Base One Interactive has developed a website, www.b2bhub.org, to provide resources for business-to-business marketers. It has been created for a collective of organisations including Experian, Wegener DM and Reed Exhibitions.

MoonRiver Group.(Brief Article)
October 1, 2004... MoonRiver Group, which provides customer-management solutions, has acquired the Ion Group, which provides outsourced support in delivering marketing, sales and customer-relationship management communication programmes.

Intelligent Marketing and Communications.(Brief Article)
October 1, 2004... Intelligent Marketing and Communications is the only marketing agency to reach the final of HSBC's Start-Up Stars Awards, which recognises businesses less than two years old. The winner was due to be announced on October 7.

Network Rail thanks commuters with mints.(News)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2004... Promotional merchandise company Propaganda helped Network Rail to reward commuters who had endured two months of delays. More than 20,000 small blue business card-sized boxes of 50 sugar-free mints were handed out at Norwich and Ipswich...

Kirin links up with Slug and Lettuce.(News)(Charles Wells Ltd.)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2004... Brewer Charles Wells is offering consumers a chance to win a week's holiday to Japan as part of a trial of its Kirin Beer in Slug and Lettuce bars. The text-to-win promotion is being advertised within the 56 outlets, part of SFI Group, via...

New promotions company promises complete service.(News)(Complete Promotions Company)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2004... A company specialising in CD production and packaging has launched a promotional products supplier because of demand from its existing clients. Digital media firm CPC created the Complete Promotions Company to provide a one-stop shop for...

Mini-screens in salons aid Macleans launch.(News)(GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2004... GlaxoSmithKline is supporting a promotional campaign for a new Macleans toothpaste in hair salons through personal interactive LCD screens. It is running sampling activity and a competition to win one of eight flotation tank experiences to...

AirMiles launches new 'value' message.(News)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2004... The AirMiles Travel Company has launched its first major marketing campaign since the arrival of its new managing director. More than 1 million people will receive a pack focusing on "value" by promoting travel offers, including ski,...

Seafish in 'record' 600 million [pounds sterling] travel voucher giveaway.(News)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2004... The Seafish Industry Authority has been giving away 600 million [pounds sterling] of holiday vouchers in a promotion across Britain's 7,000 fishmongers and fish and chip shops this month. The campaign, called "How would you like to be the...

Chesswood cooks up token promotion.(News)(Westler Foods Ltd.)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2004... Westler Foods has launched a token collection scheme in a promotion to highlight that its creamed mushroom brand Chesswood can be used for more than just light snacks. It has teamed up with Tyneside publisher Zymurgy, which has produced a...

Dulux adds style in magazine offer.(News)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2004... Dulux is offering free magazines and a prize draw to promote its Dulux Editions brand in major DIY retailers throughout the UK. The campaign, developed by below-the-line agency SMP, qualifies consumers for four free magazines--including...

Butlins says hi-de-hi to catalogue campaign.(News)(Marshall Ward Ltd.)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2004... Catalogue retailer Marshall Ward has teamed up with holiday park giant Bourne Leisure for a new campaign targeting holidaymakers. The activity includes a Price is Right-style show in which people have to guess the correct price of clothes...

Nescafe Original wakes up consumers with cash giveaway.(News: promotion of the month)
October 1, 2004... Nescafe Original is continuing its campaign to position itself as a morning pick-me-up by offering consumers the chance to text to win 100 [pounds sterling] every day for a year. The Love the Morning on-pack promotion is being carried on...

Europe--the unfinished symphony.(ISP perspective: the latest views from the Institute of Sales Promotion)
October 1, 2004... It is now some 10 years since the ISP became involved in the proposals to have a level playing field in Europe for promotional marketing. The EU Sales Promotion Regulation has still not reached the statute book, having cost the ISP alone over...

Exhibitors celebrate leads from National Incentive Show.(National Incentive Show)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2004... Visitor numbers were up year-on-year at the National Incentive Show (NIS), bringing in quality leads and orders for exhibitors. According to unaudited figures, 7,224 buyers attended the event at Birmingham NEC over the three days, including...

Pole dancers make it happen for Red Devil.(National Incentive Show)(Queen of Clubs)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2004... A company specialising in providing pole-dancers for promotions and events has gained an award for its high standards of service. Queen of Clubs, which was formed just over a year ago, picked up a Making it Happen trophy at a ceremony in...

Students excel in ISP certificate course.(National Incentive Show)(Georgina Stock)(Institute of Sales Promotion)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2004... The Institute of Sales Promotion (ISP) is preparing to launch its certificate course for a fifth year after the graduation of this year's students. Georgina Stock, 25, an account manager at mobile marketing agency 12snap, picked up a prize...

New BPMA chair plans for future growth.(National Incentive Show)(British Promotional Merchandise Association)(Ian Allchild)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2004... The new chairman of the British Promotional Merchandise Association (BPMA) plans to continue building up membership services and working closely with other trade bodies. Ian Allchild, pictured, who has worked in the industry for nearly 30...

Nectar boosts online presence with Ebookers.(News)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2004... Online travel company, Ebookers.com, is to join the Nectar loyalty programme, offering collectors points every time they buy a holiday. Its exclusive role of online travel agent sponsor is part of a strategy by the programme's operator,...

Nestle Purina revamps Felix loyalty promotion.(News)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2004... Nestle Purina has launched an updated version of its loyalty-building scheme to support its Felix cat food range. The World of Felix campaign, devised by integrated marketing agency Geronimo, offers items that can be redeemed in return for...

North-south divide revealed in gambling.(News)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2004... Londoners are the least likely to gamble than anyone else in the UK, according to new research from Mintel. About a third of people living in the capital said they were not into gambling, compared to only 13 per cent of people living in the...

William Hill puts money on Poulters.(News)(Poulter Group)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2004... Poulter Group expects to use random numbers games and virtual racing as part of a major campaign to launch William Hill's new digital betting TV channel. The activity, worth 250,000 [pounds sterling] to the agency, will involve a range of...

Events.(News)(Brief Article)(Calendar)
October 1, 2004... October October 12 Is your brand supporting a healthy lifestyle? London Organised by Business in the Community 020 7566 8696 www.crm.org.uk October 12-13 Customer Acquisition Battle IDM, Teddington Organised by IDM 020...

Best Slade plans: Philip Slade talks about the future after his departure from Hicklin Slade & Partners.(People)
October 1, 2004... Only six years ago, Hicklin Slade & Partners was just three blokes working in Philip Slade's front room in Clapham, south London. Now it employs 50 people in offices in London's West End and last year had billings of more than 6 million [pounds...

Family marketing agency Logistix has made top-level changes as it prepares for the departure of founding directors Liz Taylor and Ian Madeley.(Moves)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2004... Family marketing agency Logistix has made top-level changes as it prepares for the departure of founding directors Liz Taylor and Ian Madeley. Vicky Kinasz has taken over as UK managing director, taking over from Taylor, after joining the...

Liquid Communications.(Moves)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2004... Liquid Communications has appointed Chris Boddice, pictured, as a group partnership director. He has 14 years' experience in direct marketing roles, including spells at Evans Hunt Scott, where he worked on the Tesco account, and TBWA\GGT...

The Yellow Submarine.(Moves)
October 1, 2004... Below-the-line agency The Yellow Submarine has appointed Cal Ledward as client services director. She was previously a board director at The Marketing Store and Draft and was part of the team that built up Marketing Principles. She will support...

Pims-SCA.(Moves)(Pims-SCA )(Brief Article)
October 1, 2004... Promotional risk management specialist Pims-SCA has appointed Esme Gold, pictured, to its sales team. She joins from Fotorama where she was account director and brings 19 years' experience working with sales promotion agencies and direct...

Reed Exhibitions.(Moves)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2004... Reed Exhibitions has appointed Henry Farahar as sales executive for its Incentive World show. He joins from Haymarket's Marketing magazine, where he was a sales executive in charge of public sector client recruitment.

Lick UK.(Moves)(Lick UK)(Arnold, Marian)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2004... Marketing agency Lick UK has appointed Marian Arnold, pictured, as marketing executive as it expands with the launch of its new media division, e-Lick. She was previously a sales and marketing coordinator for a construction industry firm In...

Character building: by linking up with characters such as the Simpsons or Shrek, FMCG brands can enjoy strong sales increases. Glynn Davis reports that, in an ever more competitive retail environment, licensing continues to gain in popularity.(Licensing)(Fast Moving Consumer Goods)
October 1, 2004... Promotional campaigns using licensed properties are now a key device for major FMCG brands to drive up sales and help them maintain their listings on supermarket shelves. That the supermarkets are also now striking licensing deals for their...

For the public good: leading the field in creativity and target marketing, public sector promotions are giving the private sector a run for their money.(Public sector)
October 1, 2004... Public sector promotions are no longer the province of worthy but dull TV ads and turgid handouts. More and more public bodies are borrowing promotional techniques from the private sector to get their message across. The Central Office of...

Positive outlook for motivation agencies: Incentive Today's annual report on trends in motivation.(Annual survey)
October 1, 2004... Britain's motivation agencies are preparing for growth despite a flattening in profits across the sector last year, according to Incentive Today's annual survey. Four out of five companies working in motivation expect to increase staff...

Thunderbirds are go in Ford dealership incentive scheme.(News)(Ford Motor Co.)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2004... Ford Motor Company is driving up car sales through an incentive scheme for dealership staff tied in to the movie, Thunderbirds. The campaign, devised by Maritz, uses above, through and below-the-line marketing communications including TV,...

BAA and Compass among CIPD finalists.(News)(British Airports Association, Compass Group, Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2004... The six finalists for the annual industry award organised by the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development have been announced ahead of this month's ceremony. They include an incident and injury programme by British Airports...

Reward scheme to boost pre-Christmas sales.(News)(Yamaha Electronic UK)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2004... Yamaha Electronics UK is to run a retail trade incentive programme to boost sales at independent audio specialist retailers. The campaign, which will offer performance points for product sales, is being managed by full-service marketing...

Events bookers enticed with Monte Carlo trip.(News)(Concerto Group)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2004... Companies will be able to earn points that could win them an all-expenses-paid weekend in Monte Carlo whenever they buy events and event services from the Concerto Group. The company believes the sales incentive scheme, called...

Shares schemes bring windfalls to staff.(News)(WH Smith Group PLC)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2004... WH Smith is set to introduce a shares bonus scheme that could see its top 40 executives share in a windfall worth up to 20million [pounds sterling]. Thy can invest up to 100 per cent of their gross salary in shares in return for a...

Globoforce bids for growth with Ebay incentives deal.(News)
October 1, 2004... International incentives company Globoforce is preparing for growth n the UK after securing an exclusive worldwide deal for a new online voucher. It has become the international provider of gift certificates from Ebay, the auction bidding...

'Motivational decline' costs employers millions.(News)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2004... British business is losing millions of pounds every year because companies are failing to deal with "motivational decline", according to the boss of a leading agency. They need to pay more attention to remotivating long-serving staff who...

Virqin Experience reviews branding.(News)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2004... Virgin Experience has brought in promotional and relationship marketing agency Liquid Communications to help it develop the brand. The company, which supplies the corporate incentives market through Virgin Incentives, will work closely with...

Bosses should 'show they care', say staff.(News)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2004... Over half of workers would be more motivated if their boss simply "showed they cared", according to new research. Investors in People found that 44 per cent of employees would be more motivated and valued if their manager just said "welcome...

Show visitors seek new products.(News)(International Confex Incentive Travel Show)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2004... Four out of five visitors to the International Confex incentive travel show attend to find new products and source suppliers, according to new research. Orangiser CMP Information said the results showed that exhibitions were still an...

Workers 'love' going out with workmates.(News)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2004... A third of British workers say they "love o spend time" with their colleagues outside working hours, according to a new poll. The survey by recruitment website Monster also found that 23 per cent would take part in organised activities with...

Leisure Vouchers weds new partner.(News)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2004... Leisure Vouchers has extended its redemption offering globally through a new deal with Keith Prowse Ticketing. The agreement means that the vouchers can be redeemed for experiences such as a helicopter ride over New York or a wedding at a...

Foster carers gain rewards from council.(News)(Buckinghamshire County Council)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2004... Foster carers looking after children were rewarded with vouchers through a programme run by their local authority to retain and recruit the best people. Buckinghamshire County Council social services department was looking for a measurable...

Staff 'at risk' from long hours.(News)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2004... Employers have been warned that staff are at risk after research showed that 70 per cent of British workers voluntarily work extra hours unpaid. According to a survey by employment law firm Peninsula and recruitment firm Portfolio Payroll,...

More men choose rewards of pedicures and facials.(Experience profile)
October 1, 2004... Activity: Men's grooming Supplier: The Refinery, London According to market research group Mintel, the men's grooming market in the UK rose by about 10 per cent over the past five years. More blokes than ever are buying moisturisers...

Time is now for motivation agencies.(Opinion)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2004... According to Incentive Today's survey of motivation agencies, the collective agency view would appear on balance to be "cautiously optimistic". While the all-important gross profit measure stays stable, turnover is up and staff are down....

Motivation industry must raise its profile.(Opinion)(Column)
October 1, 2004... Given the increasingly competitive nature of all businesses today, it is reassuring that more and more companies are again slowly realising the value of a stable and committed workforce: I believe it is this optimistic climate that underpins...

Experience and creativity deliver real returns.(Opinion)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2004... Pick up any incentive, marketing or promotions magazine in the past year and you'll have found industry opinion on a variety of "hot" topics. These have covered the increasing role of procurement, legislation, changes to taxation, how to...

Securing rewarding experiences: from cleaning to security, MacLellan International is behind the smooth running of many UK companies. Mark Ludmon reports on how it is rewarding staff and encouraging them to understand the company's values.(Case Study)(MacLellan International)
October 1, 2004... MacLellan International is one of the UK's leading provider of facilities services, employing over 12,000 people across the UK and Ireland. The scope of its operations includes technical services, security, office services, post room, catering,...

Agency A-Z: a complete listing of agencies that describe themselves as operating in the staff and third-party motivation sector.(Agency listing)(Directory)
October 1, 2004... Archer Young Redwood House, Rectory Lane, Berkhamsted, Hefts HP4 2DH Tel: 01442 877577 Email: motivation@archeryoung.co.uk Contact: Richard Collisen www.archeryoung.co.uk BI 1 Vantage Court, Tickford Street,...

The buying game: voucher sales in the motivation sector are on the increase. Mark Ludmon looks at what trends will drive the purchasing of vouchers in the future.(Vouchers)
October 1, 2004... Every three months, the Voucher Association (VA) puts out a report that shows annual sales of vouchers unerringly edging upwards. In March, the figure was 1.21billion [pounds sterling] but by the end of this summer, it was up to 1.37billion...

Cards on the table: Mark Ludmon explores the debate over paper and plastic.(Vouchers)
October 1, 2004... Electronic gift cards remain only a small part of the corporate incentives market. Comet, the Grass Roots Group, Debenhams and Asda are among the few suppliers to have taken the step towards plastic. Even in the US, where gift cards are more...

Vouchers A-Z.(Voucher listing)
October 1, 2004... Arcadia Redeemable at branches of Burton, Dorothy Perkins, Evans, Miss Selfridge, Outfit, Topman, Topshop and Wallis Tel: 020 7927 1390 Email: vouchers@arcadiagroup.co.uk www.arcadiagroup.co.uk Denominations: 1 [pounds...

Must-have experience: memories rather than material goods are tickling the fancy of staff and consumers alike. Ben McFarland finds that a proliferation of companies are offering an increasingly innovative selection of life-changing and leisure experiences.(Leisure)
October 1, 2004... Twenty years ago, if a manager suggested rewarding employees by throwing them out of a plane with nothing but a glorified hankie on their back, they would have been given either a jacket with the arms at the back or a swift P45. But times they...

Electric dreams: gadgets, gizmos and technological wizardry are currently cooler than the other side of the pillow. Ben McFarland plugs into the latest cutting-edge technology.(Electrical)
October 1, 2004... Hi-tech devices such as mobile camera phones, MP3 players and iPods that, not so long ago, would have existed only in the in the nerdy imagination of Q, supreme gadgeteer and outfitter of James Bond, are now highly sought-after functional...

Game cards go digital.(Product showcase: a special report on products at last month's National Incentive Show (NIS) at Birmingham NEC)(Electronic Game Card Marketing)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2004... New technology has created a "scratchcard" that can be used again and again in promotions. Electronic Game Card Marketing (EGC) launched its Xogo game card range at NIS. These interactive digital games, about the size of a credit card, have...

Putting it together.(Product showcase: a special report on products at last month's National Incentive Show (NIS) at Birmingham NEC)
October 1, 2004... A golf towel is more than just for cleaning your clubs--it is a versatile product for use in incentives, according to online sports store Fireball Sports. It was at NIS to highlight corporate uses for its GolfRound towel which, as the name...