Incentive Today articles from September 2004

Incentive Today archives from September 2004

Agencies remain wary despite upturn.(Editor's note)
September 1, 2004... A year ago, agencies were telling us that they had tightened their belts during the downturn in marketing spend and were preparing for more strife in the months ahead. Now, according to Incentive Today's latest survey of promotional...

Motivation programmes must not forget the temps.(Letter of the month)(Letter to the Editor)
September 1, 2004... Your article on motivation in the hospitality industry (Incentive Today, July/August 2004) reminded me that most motivational schemes still neglect temporary and contract workers. The recent trend towards increasing numbers of temporary...

Tackling absenteeism.(Comment / Editor's note and letters)(Royal Mail Group PLC)(Brief Article)(Editorial)
September 1, 2004... Maximum publicity was guaranteed over Royal Mail's prize draw for employees who are fortunate enough to stay well [News, page 14]. The Communication Workers Union has informed Royal Mail we will not agree any changes that bring about a...

Ferrero.(Brief Article)
September 1, 2004... Ferrero aimed to increase the bond between its Tic Tac mint and the brand's core market of 25 to 34-year-olds through an experiential marketing campaign at the V Festival in Chelmsford, Essex, last month. The Tic Tac tent, designed by live...

Callaway Golf.
September 1, 2004... Callaway Golf stores across the UK and Ireland are offering money off a short break at any Marriott International Hotel to customers who buy a Big Bertha driver or Fairway wood. They receive a Marriott Voucher giving them 100 [pounds sterling]...

Rou Bill.
September 1, 2004... Rou Bill, the promotional pen specialist, has launched an express service, Fast4U, which can produce 5,000 pens from selected lines with a single print in only five days. It applies to three of its most popular ranges, the Big Pen, Sarum and...

Clover butter.
September 1, 2004... Clover butter has teamed up with Hovis bread for the first time to run a six-week promotion targeting mothers who are making sandwiches for children going back to school. Featured on more than 3 million packs, it offers a free Hovis Classic...

Waverley Wines and Spirits.
September 1, 2004... Waverley Wines and Spirits is offering prizes of European flight vouchers to staff in bars and restaurants if they "create some theatre" and boost sales of its 75cl bottle of Oliver & Greg's Intro 2 wine range. Staff will be presented with...

Sourcing City.(Brief Article)
September 1, 2004... Sourcing City has been launched to offer the promotional merchandise trade online access to more than 20,000 products gathered from over 850 suppliers, including manufacturers and importers in the UK, the rest of Europe and the Far East. It has...

Nestle Purina.
September 1, 2004... Nestle Purina is running an in-store sampling campaign as part of activity to support the launch of its new dog chew, Winalot Dental Fresh. All below-the-line creative and communications strategy, including direct mail and point-of-sale...

Bacardi takes party spirit into young people's bars.(Brief Article)
September 1, 2004... Bacardi-Martini has launched a high-frequency experiential promotional programme for its Bacardi white rum in the on-trade, dubbed Plan B. Working with bars in 12 cities across the UK, it aims to create a closer bond with the target...

Thomas Cook lifts value of vouchers.(News)
September 1, 2004... Thomas Cook has added a 250 [pounds sterling] voucher to its range because of demand from bulk purchasers and people wanting more aspirational gifts. The new denomination for its Worldwide Travel Voucher is available alongside the existing...

Promota chief to step down.(News)(Charles Wade )(Brief Article)
September 1, 2004... Promota, the promotional merchandise trade association, is hunting for a new chief after secretary Charles Wade announced his intention to retire. The organisation's executive committee has begun the process of looking for a new...

Tropicana in health club tie-up.(News)
September 1, 2004... Tropicana UK is to stress the healthy credentials of its core fruit juice brand with an on-pack promotion offering health club membership. It is running a four-week promotion from next month in partnership with Fitness First, giving...

OFT issues warning on premium-rate promotions.(Office of Fair Trading)
September 1, 2004... Watchdogs have issued a warning to consumers to beware of scratchcards promising prizes at the end of a premium-rate telephone line. The Office of Fair Trading (OFT) carried out a survey of the promotions--normally distributed in magazines...

Smirnoff breaks the ice.(News)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2004... A giant ice sculpture was allowed to slowly melt away to give passers-by a chance to win cash prizes hidden inside in a promotion for Diageo GB's Smirnoff Black Ice. The 10-tonne, 2.5-metre block, topped by the Smirnoff eagle icon, was...

Dougal and Dylan lure top brands.(News)
September 1, 2004... Leading brands such as Kellogg's, Harper Collins and Thorntons are lining up to launch promotions and products linked to the new film version of the Magic Roundabout. Producer Pathe and UK agent The Licensing Company have signed up over 20...

Nissan targets extreme sports fans.(News)
September 1, 2004... Nissan is targeting its X-Trail four-wheel drive at extreme sports fans with a campaign that will see the vehicle appear to burst out of the ground. Devised by Tequila/Manchester and BDH\TBWA, it is running at events linked to extreme...

Birds Eye.(marketing)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2004... Birds Eye is sponsoring a national tour of an exhibition of photography by Yann Arthus-Bertrand, Earth from the Air, to highlight how its food brands are natural products with no artificial colours, flavours or preservatives. The campaign,...

Time Out London.(marketing)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2004... Time Out London offered two-for-one deals on tickets and meals over the summer involving partners such as Wagamama, the Design Museum, Kew Gardens, the Science Museum and the Gatwick, Heathrow and Stansted Express. Last year, a two-for-one...

Johnson & Johnson.
September 1, 2004... Johnson & Johnson has launched a campaign for its new product, Zocor Heart-Pro, in UK pharmacies after the government relaxed restrictions on promoting some nonprescription drugs. The marketing activity, created by Liquorice, includes a...

Age Concern.(Brief Article)
September 1, 2004... Age Concern is using the children's character, The Snowman, for its pin badges in its winter campaign, Fight the Freeze. It is appealing to retailers to stock the badge and help it raise 100,000 [pounds sterling] to fund services for older...

ICI Paints.(marketing )(Brief Article)
September 1, 2004... ICI Paints is offering thousands of prizes, such as room makeovers and Center Parc breaks, to consumers who buy any Dulux product before September 21 in Wilkinson stores in England and Wales. One of the prize tiers in the scratchcard promotion,...

Ballistic Marketing.
September 1, 2004... Ballistic Marketing has won the award for shopping centre promotion of the year for its Nivea For Men Retreat roadshow in the Shopping Centre magazine awards. The "mobile retreat" toured malls allowing men to sample the latest Nivea For Men...

Baxi Potterton.
September 1, 2004... Baxi Potterton, the heating company, has appointed Tequila\Manchester as its below-the-line agency to boost its customer-relationship management and loyalty programmes. The first promotional campaign is due to be launched later this month.

Buy & Fly!(Brief Article)
September 1, 2004... Buy and Fly!, the points-based travel reward programme, supported this year's Sport Relief in July by offering 50 free points to everyone who completed the Fitness First Sport Relief Mile. There were also individual point prizes for events...

Coolabi.(Brief Article)
September 1, 2004... Coolabi, the licensing company formed by Coolebah and Alibi, is to unveil its combined portfolio of properties at next month's Brand Licensing show in Earls Court 2, London. It includes its newest acquisition, a web-based property featuring a...

Wimpy.
September 1, 2004... Wimpy is offering a month's free rental of DVD movies through online firm Lovefilm to customers who buy special meal deals. The promotion is supported by more than 250,000 leaflets in Wimpy's 260 outlets plus point-of-sale material.

Dowlis Group.(Brief Article)
September 1, 2004... Dowlis Group has confirmed its position as the second-largest distributor of promotional and corporate merchandise in the UK through the acquisition of Brand Logistics. The deal creates a combined business with a turnover of more than 17...

Hilton UK & Ireland.(Brief Article)
September 1, 2004... Hilton UK & Ireland's Family Breaks was named as best group marketing campaign at the Cateys, the Caterer and Hotelkeeper awards. Created by The Campaign Works, it exceeded its target of generating more than 1 million [pounds sterling] of...

Portland Direct Marketing.
September 1, 2004... Portland Direct Marketing has rebranded its promotional handling and fulfilment trading division as Send-for.it. The change will help it to extend its reputation outside of the direct marketing sector into the promotional marketing industry.

Inprint.(Brief Article)
September 1, 2004... Inprint, the leaflet label specialist, has launched a new product, the Sachet Holder, for on-pack promotions. It is made up of an outer leaflet/envelope which acts as a coupon and is glued on to a self-adhesive base label. This forms the pouch...

Giveaway highlights tea's Fairtrade origins.(News)
September 1, 2004... Fairtrade company Cafedirect is highlighting the origins of its premium black tea brand in an on-pack promotion and sampling campaign. It is driving sales of Teadirect by offering a matt chrome-finished tea caddy carrying phrases such as...

Sassy condom campaign targets women.(News)
September 1, 2004... Mates is building the appeal of its Xplore condoms with women through a promotion that links the brand with glamorous female models and the party island of Ibiza. It put 10 models to the public vote to find a face to front the brand's...

A taste of the high life.(News)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2004... Manchester Airport is offering special deals on meals at top restaurants to encourage passengers to spend more in its shops and catering outlets. The promotion--the third devised for the airport by Blue Chip Marketing--allows anyone...

Tetley ice tea uncovers fruity secrets.(News)
September 1, 2004... Tetley GB is supporting a new peach and orange flavour for its ice-tea brand, T of Life, by sending a film crew in fruit-covered costumes on to the streets of London. The campaign, created by Tarantula Responsive Communications, aims to...

Back to school at Asda.(News)
September 1, 2004... Asda is running an in-store marketing campaign aimed at children and parents to mark the start of the new school term. Media include seaside-style picture board units which children can poke their heads through to appear with the body of...

Wade wins grrreat deal.(News)
September 1, 2004... Wade Ceramics has scored a winning deal with cereal maker Kellogg's to produce limited-edition licensed collectables linked to the Frosties character, Tony the Tiger. The two hand-painted figurines and a money box have a football theme to...

Brands play down Olympics links.(News)
September 1, 2004... The 2004 Olympics failed to capture the imagination of many marketers, with only a handful of brands linking up with the event for promotional campaigns. Heineken, Coca-Cola and McDonald's--all official partners of the Athens games--were...

Papa John's teams up with Teleqraph.(News)
September 1, 2004... Pizza restaurant group Papa John's has been building its profile in the UK through a promotional tie-up with the Daily Telegraph's fantasy football game. It gave out an application pack for the game, which is run by sales promotion agency...

McDonald's steps up health message.(News / Promotion of the month)
September 1, 2004... McDonald's has been exploiting its sponsorship of the Olympics with a new promotion aimed at emphasising its increasing commitment to healthy eating. Throughout August it was giving away a free pedometer and an information leaflet on...

Nectar steps up campaign to boost cross-shopping.(News)
September 1, 2004... Nectar is testing a new marketing initiative aimed at encouraging the loyalty card's members to visit more of its partners to earn points. Mailings are being sent to cardholders in Nottingham and Cardiff in the form of postcards carrying...

Cartoon girls brought to life.(News)
September 1, 2004... Cartoon Network ran a major summer push for its Powerpuff Girls series, including pyjama sleepovers and a search for real-life versions of the characters. A Powerpuff Girls Zone formed part of Bliss magazine's Rock and Shop Tour at...

Benjys seals deals with Kiss.(News)(marketing)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2004... Sandwich bar chain Benjys has completed a summer-long campaign with London radio station Kiss 100, devised by SP Partnerships. In-store activity, including a co-branded picnic deal, promoted Kiss 100's five London park events, Kiss on the...

Quorn aims for non-vegetarians.(News)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2004... Marlow Foods is running a promotional campaign to expand the appeal of its Quorn brand to "meat reducers" as well as vegetarians. The Summer Lovin' campaign, created by Fenix, is spearheaded by a mini-magazine in over 2-million packs of...

Redeeming and misredeeming.(ISP Perspective: The latest views from the Institute of Sales Promotion)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2004... Funny old month August: everybody pretends nothing is happening, we are all on holiday, Westminster is dead, Brussels is dead, and those weekly emails contain extraordinary bits of news that never would have seen the light of day in normal...

Felix finds purr-fect way to build loyalty.(News)
September 1, 2004... Nestle Purina is trying to grab new cat owners and keep them loyal to its Felix brand by giving away taster packs for kittens. A year-long campaign has been put together by integrated marketing agency Geronimo Communications to acquire...

Promotions suppliers form alliance.(News)
September 1, 2004... Leading prize promotions supplier Unmissable has formed a strategic partnership with third-party marketing specialist Parallel Promotions so they can both offer a fully integrated service. Unmissable's director of sales, Andrew Cook, said...

New name in B2B promotions.(News)
September 1, 2004... Multi-channel retailer I Want One of Those is developing its corporate incentives business by launching a new division. I Want Lots of Those specialises in business-to-business sales of the company's products--described as "stuff you don't...

Know your consumer and their dreams: Andrew Cook, director of sales at prize promotion specialist Unmissable, says brands are missing out by not coming up with specifically targeted offers.(Opinion)
September 1, 2004... It's universally accepted that in promotional marketing, holidays along with cash and cars, are deemed the most popular consumer incentive. However "holidays" is a very broad term and increasingly the move has been towards "experiences". ...

Toni & Guy helps to restyle Lastminute.com.(News)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2004... Lastminute.com has been strengthening its brand offline through a high street promotion with upmarket salon chain Toni & Guy. The Hot Hair for Hot Beaches campaign, put together by SP Partnerships, involved a stylist from one of the salons...

Carnaby Street goes online.(News)(Shaftesbury PLC)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2004... Property company Shaftesbury has launched a website to support retailers in its landmark shopping area of Carnaby Street in London's West End. The interactive site, created by digital agency DS.Emotion, offers the 100 shops and 35...

ASA raps Avon.(Advertising Standards Authority )(Brief Article)
September 1, 2004... Avon has been criticised by the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) after a promotion offering a free mobile phone was hit by over-redemption. Consumers who spent 15 [pounds sterling] or more on Avon's Anew skincare products were offered...

Marketing Communications by Smith and Taylor.
September 1, 2004... Marketing Communications is described by the Chartered Institute of Marketing as one of the "marketing classics". At over 700 pages, it's a breeze block of a book packed full of practical and entertaining guidance on putting together marcoms...

Consumers prefer discounts and BOGOF to prize draws.(News)
September 1, 2004... Consumers believe the best type of promotion is a simple "buy one get one free", with few opting for prize draws, according to a new survey. The 2004 National Incentive Survey reveals that 54 per cent of respondents said the most...

BPMA to launch new look at show.(News)(British Promotional Merchandise Association)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2004... The British Promotional Merchandise Association (BPMA) is launching its new-look logo at the National Incentive Show (NIS) this month. The streamlined image, designed by Medialab, comes as the BPMA prepares to celebrate its 40th anniversary...

Seminar speakers sought for Incentive World.(News)(National Incentive Show)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2004... Reed Exhibitions, the organiser of this month's National Incentive Show, has begun planning next year's Incentive World show, including its seminar programme. It promises that the seminars, which were a popular part of Incentive World in...

Events.(News)(Brief Article)(Calendar)
September 1, 2004... September September 5-8 Autumn Fair NEC Birmingham Organised by Trade Promotion Services 0845 051 2610 www.autumnfair.com September 8-9 Marketing & Sales Promotion Show RDS, Dublin Organised by SDL...

Expedia.co.uk.(Brief Article)
September 1, 2004... Expedia.co.uk has carried out research into which destinations are favoured by different professions, indicating how travel incentives can be adapted to different employees. For instance, bank managers prefer France while accountants prefer...

Maritz.(joins Voucher Association)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2004... Maritz, the motivation agency, has joined the Voucher Association (VA) as a full member. Its reward portfolio manager, Tim Brown, said: "We are sure that the VA will provide us with some very useful networking and information-sharing...

Exhilaration.
September 1, 2004... Exhilaration, the experience supplier, has launched an online points system for use by employers in motivation programmes, allowing staff to choose which activity they want as a reward. It is part of a special section on its website,...

Gorgeous Group.
September 1, 2004... Gorgeous Group, which helps to set up new cocktail bars, is this month launching a corporate hospitality division, Gorgeous Events, to bring glamour and style to tailor-made parties. * www.gorgeousgroup.com

Novotel London West.(Brief Article)
September 1, 2004... Novotel London West has won its third accolade for its customer service and staff training programme, Service Extraordinaire. It picked up the award for excellence in training and development at the UK Hotel and Catering Personnel and Training...

Bringme.
September 1, 2004... Bringme, the employee benefits package from Lloyds TSB, has linked up with TLC Motivation to offer existing members of its schemes a free flight to one of 10 European destinations in tactical campaigns throughout 2004.

ValueLink.(Brief Article)
September 1, 2004... ValueLink, the gift card service of First Data Corp, has found that 40 per cent of decision-makers in corporate incentive programmes in the US used gift cards and/or vouchers as incentive products within the past year. For 14 per cent, they...

Hamleys.
September 1, 2004... Hamleys, the London toy store, has been added to the list of retailers accepting Capital Incentives & Motivation's Capital Bond vouchers, adding to the existing tally of over 120 redemption partners.

CBI backs 'imaginative' schemes to cut sickies.(Motivation / News)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2004... Britain's leading employers' organisation, the CBI, has backed "imaginative" motivation programmes that tackle absenteeism by offering prizes. It said it was right for companies to invest in incentive schemes that fight workplace absence,...

Theatre Tokens develops offer.(Motivation / News)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2004... Theatre Tokens have been enhanced through new partnerships and vouchers that offer end users access to complementary products. The Society of London Theatre, which administers the theatre vouchers, has launched a 12 [pounds sterling] drinks...

Waste company treats staff to benefits.(Motivation / News)(SITA Corp.)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2004... Waste collection and treatment group SITA UK has launched a new employee benefits package, including discounts on lifestyle products, to motivate staff. The own-branded solution, provided by Barclays Bank's employee benefits service,...

New travel voucher promises no strings.(Motivation / News)
September 1, 2004... High Street Gift Voucher has launched a travel voucher into the motivation and incentives sector, promising that it imposes "no conditions or restrictions". The product, called Love2travel, can be redeemed for city breaks, flights,...

M&S cuts back community projects.(Motivation / News)
September 1, 2004... Marks & Spencer has insisted that it is still committed to programmes that enable staff to do community work despite cutbacks in some of its initiatives. The retailer informed staff by email that it was ending some schemes, such as a...

P&MM begins expansion drive with takeover.(Motivation / News)
September 1, 2004... P&MM has bought one of the UK's leading fixed-fee promotions companies as part of an expansion drive that is due to be supported by flotation on the Stock Exchange. It has acquired the trading assets and name in the UK of Fotorama from...

Getting close to nature in tooth and claw.(Experience profile)(pomotions of park)
September 1, 2004... Activity: Feeding animals at the zoo Supplier: Yippee! Experiences When I was 10, I wanted to be a zoo keeper. In the end, I realised it would be a dirty job involving a lot of raking of muck, so I became a journalist instead. Now...

Alpha flying high with rewards.(Motivation / News)(Alpha Group)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2004... A motivation programme has taken to the skies after it succeeded in boosting sales and staff retention in shops, restaurants and bars at airports across the UK and Ireland. Alpha Group said its reward and recognition initiative, Alpha...

Virgin unveils new experiences.(Motivation / News)(Virgin Incentives)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2004... Quad biking and "coasteering"--a form of cliff climbing--are among new experiences to be launched this month by Virgin Incentives. Other additions to the Virgin Experience collection include paint-balling and summer concerts. A new...

Communication is key to successful motivation; Susan Sexton, director of Worldspan International, believes clear goals and messages are vital for improving performance.(Brief Article)
September 1, 2004... With any motivation programme, the perceived value of the ultimate reward is heavily influenced by the communication process. No matter how brilliant the motivational concept, if it is not communicated clearly, repeatedly and effectively then...

Days of our lives: Richard Kaffel tells Mark Ludmon how Red Letter Days has grown into the best-known provider of 'experiences'.(grown from a small company to the global leader)(Company Profile)
September 1, 2004... Richard Kaffel turned his back on a job in merchant banking for a career in shark diving, Formula 1 driving and llama trekking. His friends in the City thought he was mad when, nine years ago, he quit for a small firm which was only a few years...

Liquorice.(Moves)
September 1, 2004... Marketing communications agency Liquorice has appointed Gail Shaw as overall planning director. She has three decades of experience, including four years as an international planning director with McCann Erickson. For the past two years, she...

The Communications Agency.(Moves)
September 1, 2004... Xavier Martin has joined multi-disciplined agency The Communications Agency as account manager with the initial remit to manage the American Express corporate card, travel and insurance accounts. He joins from Melbourne-based agency The Brand.

Blue Chip Marketing International.(Moves)
September 1, 2004... Blue Chip Marketing International has appointed new staff to help service existing and new clients. Karen Brooks joins from Tequila to look after Manchester Airport, Tina Schultz has come from Arc to work on Kellogg's projects and Alex Gibson...

Reed Exhibitions'.(Moves)
September 1, 2004... Sarah Porter has taken over the role of event director for Reed Exhibitions' incentive portfolio, including the National Incentive Show and Incentive World. She replaces Versha Carter who is relocating to the West Country with her husband....

Leisure Vouchers.(Moves)
September 1, 2004... Leisure Vouchers has brought in Murray Leslie, pictured, to the new position of sales director as part of its target to quadruple the value of the business by 2008. He was director of wholesale at Whitbread's coffee retailer, Costa, after...

BD Network Scotland.(Moves)
September 1, 2004... BD Network Scotland has expanded with new appointments. Leah Tannock joins as business-to-business project manager from MDK Consultants in Singapore, Richard Carlow has moved from Hotel Connexions to be account manager of the VisitScotland...

SP Partnerships.(Moves)
September 1, 2004... SP Partnerships has taken on two new promotions managers. Charlotte Jennings was previously promotions manager at Ministry of Sound while Jane Watson comes from Celador where she worked on the Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? brand.