Marketing Week
1 November 2007

  • 3 Chief: 'free calls' Skype phone will put us in line for the big time

    Thu, 1 Nov 2007

    The launch of the new Skypephone, from mobile operator 3, will be a "defining moment" for the brand, according to its marketing director John Penberthy-Smith.

  • 7m ad brief will promote apprenticeships initiative

    Wed, 7 Nov 2007

    The Government is seeking an agency to handle its estimated 7m advertising brief to encourage young people not in education or training to seek an apprenticeship.

  • Activision appoints UK and Ireland marketing director

    Thu, 1 Nov 2007

    Activision, the US-based videogames publisher, has promoted senior brand manager David Tyler to marketing director for UK and Ireland. He replaces Scott Morrison, who left the company earlier this year (MW July 12).

  • Ad land on guard as Govt plots pre-9pm blanket ban

    Wed, 7 Nov 2007

    The advertising industry is on its guard against a Government plot to announce a statutory 9pm-watershed, blanket ban on all food and alcohol advertising later this year.

  • Alton Towers takes on marketing head

    Thu, 1 Nov 2007

    Alton Towers has appointed Morwenna Angove as its head of marketing. She takes up her position this week and will report to park general manager Russell Barnes.

  • ASA censures Citroꬠover emissions claims

    Thu, 1 Nov 2007

    Car manufacturer Citro?has been banned by the advertising regulator from claiming that its C4 model produces the "lowest" levels of CO2 in its class.

  • BA attacked for promoting blood sports

    Fri, 2 Nov 2007

    British Airways has been attacked for promoting blood sports on its website by animal action group Animal Defenders International (ADI). BA's site features the Nocturnal Flamenco Bullfighting festival and the Quito Bullfighting Fair as tourist attractions on its online destination guide section for Quito, Ecuador. According ...

  • Bernard Matthews chief quits

    Fri, 2 Nov 2007

    Bernard Matthews chief executive Bart Dalla Mura has left the company without a job to go to. He departure comes as the brand stuggles to regain sales following the bird flu crisis and cruelty allegations

  • Boosey & Hawkes in licensing deal to sell music catalogue

    Thu, 1 Nov 2007

    Music tracks from popular TV ads, theme tunes and videogames will be available to buy following a deal between digital music service The Orchard and Boosey & Hawkes Production Music.

  • Budget hotels sector hits £1bn as Brits embrace cheap breaks

    Thu, 1 Nov 2007

    The budget hotel market has topped the £1bn mark for the first time growing 38% between 2002 and 2006, according to Mintel. Growth in the budget sector is three times that of the overall UK hotel market, valued at £11.2bn, which grew by just 12% over the same period.

  • Buscombe hits out at Which?

    Tue, 6 Nov 2007

    Advertising Association chief executive Peta Buscombe has hit out at consumer organisation Which? for having its “own ideological agenda” and not being independent enough.

  • C4 shows TV ads still top the ratings

    Wed, 7 Nov 2007

    Channel 4s birthday this month not only marks 25 years of more choice for viewers, but also for the UKs TV advertisers, which had been limited to just one commercial channel until 1982.

  • Click rates on sponsored search links may be down, but is it just a blip??

    Thu, 1 Nov 2007

    Click rates on Google's sponsored links are faltering in the UK for the first time, according to a leading brand owner and sources from two top search marketing agencies.

  • Confidence takes a knock

    Thu, 1 Nov 2007

    The latest Chartered Institute of Marketing Trends Survey reveals the battle for budget is one factor behind lower levels of optimism, but the technology and telecoms sectors remain in bullish mood

  • Crime does pay: Sky One's mock serial-killing crime scenes push the latest series of US forensics drama

    Thu, 1 Nov 2007

    With all the TV channels that keep cropping up these days, it is plausible that the arrival of a new series could go largely unnoticed. An eye-catching promotional campaign is certainly one way to guarantee exposure, especially when that campaign includes a human skeleton appearing in a busy shopping ...

  • DD Beverages seeks less offensive name after Beaver Buzz warnings

    Thu, 1 Nov 2007

    DD Beverage Company is being forced to change the name of its energy drink, Beaver Buzz, after retailers warned the company its name would be offensive to UK consumers.

  • Debenhams shows signs of revival

    Thu, 1 Nov 2007

    Debenhams' latest sales figures seem to show signs of a revival for the ailing department store chain. In its annual results, published last week, the company's like-for-like sales had improved 2.1% since the start of September and its profits over the year rose 11%.

  • EasyCar appoints new chief executive

    Mon, 5 Nov 2007

    EasyCar.Com has appointed Bill Jones as its new chief executive. He takes up the position this week and replaces Steve Maltby who left the company in October.

  • EasyJet slammed for stealth pricing

    Mon, 5 Nov 2007

    Ryanair has accused budget carrier easyJet of being a closet high fares airline" after it signed a deal to sell flights through travel agencies (October 5). It is the first time a low-cost carrier used a third party for sales.

  • Electrolux appoints UK and Ireland MD from Asia

    Thu, 1 Nov 2007

    Swedish consumer electronics giant Electrolux has appointed Brad Tribble to the new role of vice-president and managing director of Electrolux Major Appliances UK and Ireland. He will take up the position on January 1.

  • EMAP offers flexible ad slots on City Talk

    Thu, 1 Nov 2007

    EMAP is offering advertisers a range of "innovative commercial packages" on its new Liverpool talk station, City Talk, that aims to build relationships between clients and the local audience. The service launches in January.

  • Euro carpet consortium hunts agency for 3m task

    Thu, 1 Nov 2007

    A consortium of pan-European carpet retailers called The Fifth Wall Group is hunting for an agency to handle its £3m advertising business in an attempt to raise its profile.

  • Facebook announces long-awaited ad strategy

    Wed, 7 Nov 2007

    Facebook has unveiled a new advertising system that will enable marketers to be "part of the conversation". Facebook Ads will allow brands to create their own pages which users can then recommend to friends.

  • Fiat MD bows out as China chief steps up

    Thu, 1 Nov 2007

    Fiat Group Automobiles UK managing director Giulio Salomone is stepping down after two-and-a-half years in the role. He will be replaced by Fiat China chief Andrew Humberstone.

  • Forget Lewis Hamilton, the Grand Prix really worth winning is awarded to a UK agency for the first time

    Thu, 1 Nov 2007

    Over the past month several words have been calculated to reduce die-hard fans of English sport to tears; words such as "football", "rugby" and "Grand Prix". However, integrated marketing agency Space has done its bit to reclaim the association of "Grand Prix" with celebrations.

  • Freesat appoints launch marketing team

    Mon, 5 Nov 2007

    Freesat, the free-to-air satellite television service backed by the BBC and ITV, has boosted its marketing team ahead of its launch next year. It has appointed Richard Lindsay-Davies as commercial development director and former BSkyB marketer Will Abbott as brand marketing and communications director.

  • Google woos developers with OpenSocial network

    Thu, 1 Nov 2007

    Google is gearing up to unveil plans for its new social networking offering OpenSocial. The site aims to make it easier to connect your profile and friends across social networks and it also allows developers to build applications that run on any participating network, using the data stored by that network.

  • Government introduces social network for older generation

    Thu, 1 Nov 2007

    The Government is the latest organisation to embrace the social networking phenomenon with the launch of a dedicated portal aimed at the older generation.

  • Government plans financial advice ads

    Thu, 1 Nov 2007

    The Government is planning a heavyweight advertising campaign, with a budget of up to £30m, to support its free, basic financial advice scheme to every adult in the UK.

  • Grey scoops 100m global Fortis account

    Thu, 1 Nov 2007

    Grey EMEA has scooped the 100m global advertising business for Fortis, marking the first time the European banking giant has consolidated its account into one global network.

  • Grey sidelines Alberts to head £100m Fortis account

    Thu, 1 Nov 2007

    Grey London is understood to be moving its chairman and executive creative director Dave Alberts to head the £100m global ad account for financial services group Fortis, which it won this week (MW November 1).

  • Grimmer issues for Hurrell & Dawson

    Thu, 1 Nov 2007

    Just as rumours were beginning to circulate that start-up Hurrell & Dawson was in trouble after only a year, the agency announced its creative and media partners to herald the launch of its "full-service" model.

  • Hebridean cruise line hands Souk 1.3m integrated brief

    Thu, 1 Nov 2007

    Souk has been appointed to handle the 1.3m integrated account for Hebridean International Cruises. The agency won the business following a pitch against three undisclosed agencies.

  • Hemingways help RSPCA ad campaign

    Thu, 1 Nov 2007

    RSPCA, the animal welfare charity, is launching a print campaign this month that calls on the public to tell it what animal-related issues they are concerned about.

  • Holidaymakers "not prepared to pay" for carbon off-setting

    Mon, 5 Nov 2007

    A third of consumers are not prepared to spend extra money on holidays in order to offset their carbon emissions, according to a study by travel industry marketing specialist BLM Media.

  • How can UK tourism be promoted if the budget is slashed?

    Thu, 1 Nov 2007

    Culture secretary James Purnell ordered the UK tourism industry to review the way it promotes the country last week, just as the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) announced that it was cutting the budget of tourism body VisitBritain over the next three years.

  • In search of the killer question

    Thu, 1 Nov 2007

    How many questions should an effective questionnaire have? Just the one, which pinpoints the most necessary bit of information, or a range to give the best perspective? Alicia Clegg reports

  • Inbev pushes Artois range with multi-million pound investment

    Thu, 1 Nov 2007

    Inbev is launching a multi-million pound advertising campaign to promote the Artois family of premium beer brands.

  • Inbox Digital snaps up United Biscuits’ digital account

    Thu, 1 Nov 2007

    United Biscuits (UB), which owns brands such as McVitie’s Jaffa Cakes and Jacob’s, has appointed Inbox Digital to handle its online advertising account.

  • Inquiry discovers supermarket paradise

    Fri, 2 Nov 2007

    That's it. I'm emigrating. After reading this week's Competition Commission report into the grocery market, I'm packing my bags and leaving for that gloriously competitive, free, fair, fine and dandy land visited by the wise souls who carried out the inquiry. Clearly the ...

  • Intel and MySpace launch music application

    Thu, 1 Nov 2007

    Intel, the technology giant, has launched a campaign in collaboration with social networking site MySpace that aims to build on its reputation in music and shed its stuffy image.

  • Internet telco launches in-call ad platform

    Mon, 5 Nov 2007

    Jajah, the internet telecoms company, has announced plans to launch an in-call advertising platform that aims to advertise to consumers using voice over internet protocol (VoIP) telephone calls. 

  • Investment group pulls out of Sainsbury's takeover

    Mon, 5 Nov 2007

    Delta Two, the Qatari-backed investment group, has abandoned its proposed 10.6bn takeover of supermarket chain J Sainsbury. It said uncertainty in global markets and the need to pump funds into Sainsbury's pension scheme were behind the decision.

  • ITV seeks marketers to "exploit" hit shows

    Mon, 5 Nov 2007

    ITV is creating programme brand manager roles to "exploit" and "liberate" the value of its hit shows. Dawn Airey, managing director of global content, outlined the strategy at industry conference Promax this week.

  • John Lewis launches its biggest ever Christmas campaign

    Fri, 2 Nov 2007

    John Lewis is to launch its biggest Christmas advertising campaign on November 5. The £6.2m campaign is more than three times the amount spent by the retailer last year and is only the second time it has used television advertising.

  • Kingfisher hunts chief exec as Murphy exits

    Thu, 1 Nov 2007

    Kingfisher, the group behind DIY brand B&Q, is on the hunt for a chief executive after it announced Gerry Murphy is to step down early next year after five years at the group. Murphy is credited with focusing the group on its DIY stores.

  • Little Britain fails to get the Big Picture

    Thu, 1 Nov 2007

    So VisitBritain, the umbrella marketing platform of UK tourism, has failed in its bid to run a global TV advertising campaign whipping up visitor enthusiasm prior to the 2012 Olympics (MW October 18). Whatever next? Will the tourist industry collapse as a result?

  • Marketers' confidence is wilting according to the latest CIM Marketing Trends Survey

    Thu, 1 Nov 2007

    Marketers are feeling less bullish about the future of the economy than they were this time last year and this is squeezing budgets, according to the latest research from the Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM).

  • Mentos rides the geyser

    Thu, 1 Nov 2007

    YouTube is awash with films of the eruptive results when Mentos are mixed with Diet Coke. The confectionery company is hoping the surge will be reflected in its UK sales, says John Reynolds

  • Michael Nutley: Why personalised ads fail to find their target

    Wed, 7 Nov 2007

    The great promise of new media, at least as far as advertisers are concerned, has always been personalisation. But up to now, that promise hasnt really been kept.

  • New campaign: Ad-Air giant banner wins Guinness World Record

    Thu, 1 Nov 2007

    Outdoor company Ad-Air has unveiled the largest banner ad in the world at Dubai International Airport.

  • New campaign: Heinz cooks up a feast for babies

    Thu, 1 Nov 2007

    Heinz is launching a new press campaign to support its Mum's Own Recipe range of prepared baby food.

  • New campaign: Orange puts Home Alone star in the Gold Spot

    Thu, 1 Nov 2007

    Mother's latest Gold Spot cinema ad for Orange will feature Macaulay Culkin, the actor who shot to fame as the child star of Home Alone in 1990, appearing as a death row prisoner trying to "reconnect" with humanity.

  • Nike launches iD store for DIY design

    Thu, 1 Nov 2007

    Sportswear giant Nike is hoping to cash in on the trend for personalised products with do-it-yourself design service at its flagship London Nike Town store. Nike says the iD studio will “change the face” of the high street.

  • No-frills hotels take off

    Wed, 7 Nov 2007

    The UK budget hotel sector is big business with customer spend topping 1bn for the first time. It seems that peoples desire for no frills services, seen in the success of low-cost airlines, is now driving a growth in bookings for budget hotels.

  • Nokia sets up creative wing in bid to become most loved

    Wed, 7 Nov 2007

    Nokia is setting up a creative excellence division in a bid to become the most loved and admired, iconic brand in the world.

  • Oman Air picks Mediaedge for 2m business

    Thu, 1 Nov 2007

    Mediaedge:cia Manchester has won the 2m media planning and buying brief for national airline Oman Air. It won the business after pitching against a number of undisclosed agencies.

  • Over 50s dismiss Government green "scaremongering"

    Fri, 2 Nov 2007

    The over 50s are cynical about the Government and brands jumping on the eco-friendly bandwagon, according to a new report. It has also found that they believe that concerns about the environment are "disproportionate and scaremongering".

  • Posters to benefit from proof-of-posting plans

    Thu, 1 Nov 2007

    The outdoor advertising industry is boosting the accountability of posters as a medium with two companies launching schemes that offer "real-time" information that will confirm when campaigns are put up.

  • Putting people-centric metrics first opens the door to big time

    Thu, 1 Nov 2007

    The marketer's job is to identify the metrics customers most want to improve and use 'big-time process management' to deliver them

  • Red Bull seeks short stories for new TV ads

    Fri, 2 Nov 2007

    Red Bull is launching a short-story contest, with the winning entry to be made into the next television advert for the energy brand. The Red Bull Tall Story Contest will be backed by a £500,000 campaign.

  • Red button dodges phone-in scandals

    Wed, 7 Nov 2007

    Viewers are increasingly using the red button and interactive television services despite revelations that UK broadcasters have misled the public and mishandled premium rate phone services, according to new research.

  • RMG joins in school arts and crafts

    Thu, 1 Nov 2007

    Members of staff from RMG Connect faced a true test of their creativity when they visited Willow Brook Primary School in Leyton, east London, as part of their support for the office charity, Kids Company.

  • Ryanair reports strong sales as passengers increase

    Mon, 5 Nov 2007

    Ryanair, the low cost airline, has reported strong growth for the past six months due to increase sales of its car hire, hotel and travel insurance services. The results were also helped by a 20% increase in passenger numbers to 22.6m.

  • Showcase covers hot topics

    Thu, 1 Nov 2007

    Billed as Europe's biggest event for buyers and users of market research, Insight 2007 will feature 150 exhibitors and a programme of talks given by leading industry figures. David Benady reports

  • Sod the provider: consumers call all the shots in the uk hospitality industry

    Thu, 1 Nov 2007

    Modern consumers know their rights and make themselves heard. So when a naked sleepwalker requests a newspaper and gets a towel, expect trouble

  • Supermarkets deal blow to Gatorades UK roll-out

    Wed, 7 Nov 2007

    PepsiCo has suffered a major blow ahead of its latest attempt to widen Gatorades distribution in the UK, with two major supermarkets refusing to list the sports drink.

  • Support agency director Tricia as she sets off to cycle around south-east Asia

    Thu, 1 Nov 2007

    Getting on your bike to go to work has obvious benefits for the environment and your health. But few people take it to the level that Tricia Weener, managing director of Intelligent Marketing, is planning to.

  • The great google rebate debate

    Thu, 1 Nov 2007

    Search marketers face a price increase when Google scraps the rebates it gives to big spenders by 2009, a rise that will just help to thicken the lining of Google's pocket. By David Benady

  • The intuitive insight

    Thu, 1 Nov 2007

    Just because data and analysis are easier to come by does not mean they should replace 'the inner voice' when making business decisions, says Aidan Bocci

  • The Red Brick Road scoops Thinkbox ad business

    Wed, 7 Nov 2007

    The Red Brick Road has won the advertising account for television marketing body Thinkbox. The agency pitched against Beattie McGuinness Bungay, Albion and WCRS in a review handled by the AAR.

  • Thomson marketer Rayner steps down

    Wed, 7 Nov 2007

    Thomson Holidays head of marketing and brand development Andrew Rayner is leaving the company after almost seven years. It is not known if he has another job to go to.

  • Titan launches magazine about Heroes TV show

    Thu, 1 Nov 2007

    The American sci-fi drama Heroes is launching an official magazine that hits the stands on November 15 and will be published every other month.

  • Tomy unveils TV ad plan for toys in Easter period

    Thu, 1 Nov 2007

    Tomy, the toy manufacturer, is launching its first spring television ad campaign to support the launch of its Whistle & Go Thomas train. The move marks a shift in Tomy's marketing strategy, which only promoted its products around the key Christmas ...

  • Virgin Atlantic in Spice Girls deal

    Thu, 1 Nov 2007

    Virgin Atlantic is to be one of the sponsors of the Spice Girls’ world reunion tour, which starts in December, in a deal that sees the company provide flights and offer consumer promotions and competitions.

  • Vizeum scoops £40m Coke account

    Thu, 1 Nov 2007

    Coca-Cola has handed its £40m UK media planning and buying account to Vizeum. The agency beat Starcom, Universal McCann and Naked Communications to the business.

  • Waitrose calls £26m review

    Thu, 1 Nov 2007

    Supermarket retailer Waitrose has called a review of its £26m above-the-line advertising account. It is in talks with agencies to compile shortlist of five shops to pitch for the business in the next four weeks.

  • When it comes to digital the keyword is still 'integration'

    Thu, 1 Nov 2007

    Search is a vital part of online marketing but many of the best-selling keywords are reaping the benefits of offline activity, says Kevin Murphy

  • WRAP in £2m push to reduce food waste

    Thu, 1 Nov 2007

    The Waste & Resources Action Programme (WRAP) starts a £2m campaign this week that aims to encourage UK consumers to reduce the amount of food waste they create. The initiative features the strapline: "Love Food Hate Waste".

  • Xfm sponsors X.League.TV flagship show

    Fri, 2 Nov 2007

    Xfm is to sponsor the flagship show on X.League.TV, the online sports channel, to mark the channel signing its first brand partnership. Xfm's Alex Zane breakfast show is sponsoring flagship programme The Match.

  • Zenith wins 20m insurance task

    Mon, 5 Nov 2007

    Comparethemarket.com has appointed ZenithOptimedia to handle its 20m media planning and buying account. The account was previously held by Mediavest Manchester.

Job of the Week

Latest Jobs

Top Jobs

social+media Facebook Twitter LinkedIn
knowledge+bank