Marketing Week
14 February 2008
-
A Day in the Life of Brett Jacob
Thu, 14 Feb 2008
'There isnt a typical working day. If I am working at home I like to start the day by taking the kids to school before responding to enquiries, preparing presentations for the next days pitch. I try to keep internal meetings to as few as possible. Being a virtual organisation, its important to get together with the whole team every couple of months but we all speak almost daily and work together on various pitches.'
-
Air France launches its trans-Atlantic flight ad campaign
Thu, 14 Feb 2008
Airline group Air France KLM is stepping up its campaigns promoting its trans-Atlantic flights for both brands as the Open Skies agreement nears.
-
Andrew Harrison: Broadband strategy reaches overload as TV goes online
Wed, 20 Feb 2008
Three stories in the past week serve to emphasise how online and offline broadcasters are re-inventing their offerings for the digital age.
-
Arthritis Research Campaign hunts for marketing director
Thu, 14 Feb 2008
Arthritis Research Campaign, the medical charity, is looking for a marketing director to lead a new marketing department.
-
Audi set to overtake BMW as UKs premium marque
Wed, 20 Feb 2008
Audi is likely to overtake BMW as the UKs biggest premium carmaker within five years, according to the countrys leading expert on the motor industry, professor Garel Rhys.
-
Bandai extends Tamogotchi brand with Familitchi launch
Thu, 14 Feb 2008
Bandai, the toy company, is extending its virtual pets brand, Tamagotchi, with the launch of Tamagotchi Familitchi. This will allow users to look after multi-pets at the same time.
-
Bauer to promote Puma in Match magazine and online
Thu, 14 Feb 2008
Bauer Advertising has entered a deal with Puma to promote the sports brand's latest V football boot in its Match magazine and online portal matchmag.co.uk. The activity will run from early this month until the end of March.
-
Bernard Matthews seeks agency for autumn campaign
Tue, 19 Feb 2008
Bernard Matthews, the Norfolk-based poultry brand, is on the hunt for a creative agency after announcing plans for a campaign this autumn.
-
Birds Eye offers Eat Positive range
Thu, 14 Feb 2008
Birds Eye, the frozen food brand, is launching a ready meals range in a bid to develop its presence in the healthy eating market. Eat Positive will launch in March.
-
BMB to relaunch Mr Men TV show
Thu, 14 Feb 2008
Beattie McGuinness Bungay has won the 1m brief to relaunch iconic children's show Mr Men, which will air on Five later this month.
-
BMWs premium status under threat
Wed, 20 Feb 2008
Departing BMW UK chief Jim ODonnell will be taking a few moments to reflect on a job well done as he enters his final days in the role. During his eight-year tenure, UK sales have almost doubled and the marque has extended its product range without diluting the prestige of the famous Bavarian Motor Works brand.
-
Borrowers keep taking the credit
Thu, 14 Feb 2008
Despite a slowdown in the rate of credit spend, a report shows that many consumers continue to borrow, and public concerns about debt still need to be addressed by lenders and policy makers
-
Burnham hands over sale of The Tote to avoid scandal
Wed, 20 Feb 2008
Andy Burnham, the new Secretary of State for the Department of Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS), has been forced to hand over responsibility for the sale of state-owned betting operator The Tote because it is based in his constituency.
-
Cadbury "gorilla" ad drives UK sales
Tue, 19 Feb 2008
Cadbury Schweppes has reported that the relaunch of Wispa and the Dairy Milk Gorilla ad led to 6% revenue growth in Britain, Ireland and emerging markets in year to December 31. The rise came despite a 2% fall in overall profits.
-
CAF creates new section in marketing restructure
Thu, 14 Feb 2008
Charities Aid Foundation (CAF), the organisation that assists charities, has created a new marketing department in "the biggest shake-up in its 80-year history", and promoted Sheila Hooper as executive director of marketing and private clients.
-
Capital 95.8 switches marketing spend to events-driven strategy
Thu, 14 Feb 2008
GCap Media is ploughing the marketing spend for Capital 95.8 into an events-driven strategy following a review of the station's marketing. It will launch this year with a live summer event in London.
-
Celebrity show downs
Thu, 14 Feb 2008
Hiring a celebrity to front a live event may draw in the crowds but it is no guarantee of success. Choose those that are relevant to the brand message, and choose with care, warns Richenda Wilson
-
Celebrity weeklies lose their lustre
Thu, 14 Feb 2008
The celebrity weeklies market is showing signs of strain with EMAP's Closer and Heat taking a beating from the mid-market OK! Magazine. OK! has overtaken the two titles with a whopping 22.7% increase in circulation in the July to December 2007 ABCs.
-
Chief Egg marketer quits
Wed, 20 Feb 2008
Egg chief marketing officer Alison Wright is leaving the business without a job to go to. Wright moved with the brand when it was sold to Citigroup from Prudential last year (MW April 5, 2007).†
-
Chime wins Olympics integrated advertising account
Wed, 20 Feb 2008
The London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games (Locog) has appointed the Chime Group to handle its integrated advertising account for the next year. The appointment follows a pitch handled by the AAR.
-
Clear Channel earnings increase due to outdoor sales growth
Fri, 15 Feb 2008
Clear Channel Communications, the US media group, has reported a 52% increase in earnings for the fourth quarter of last year, which it puts down to strong growth in its international outdoor sales. The company says revenues for its outdoor division, for the year to December 31, were up 13% to $3.3bn (£1.67bn).
-
Creston closes US office
Mon, 18 Feb 2008
Creston, the marketing services group that owns Delaney Lund Knox Warren, is axing its US operation after less than a year. The move means Creston US chief executive Steve Blamer will leave the company.
-
Diageo sales up as Guinness grows
Thu, 14 Feb 2008
The ailing Guinness brand has returned to growth in the UK and Ireland, according to drinks giant Diageo, which has announced an increase of 5.3% in pre-tax profits to £1.37bn for the six months to December 31, 2007.
-
Digital agencies gear up for 6m COI online review
Thu, 14 Feb 2008
Digital agencies are getting ready to pitch for the Government's estimated 6m online media buying business, at i-level. The tender is expected to go up for renewal this summer, before the four-year contract expires in September.
-
Digital Outreach launches to help older viewers in digital switchover
Mon, 18 Feb 2008
An organisation that aims to support older and disabled viewers through the shift to digital TV has been launched. The group, called Digital Outreach, brings together Age Concern England, Help the Aged and Community Service Volunteers.
-
Disney creates regional marketing division for Euro expansion
Wed, 20 Feb 2008
Disney has restructured its management team and created a regional marketing division in a bid to drive expansion across Europe. It follows the shift to basic distribution across Europe, Middle East and Africa, which has increased its reach across the region.
-
Distell calls on DraftFCB to raise Savanna cider profile
Thu, 14 Feb 2008
Distell, the South African drinks company, has appointed DraftFCB to handle the advertising for its premium cider brand, Savanna.
-
EdwardsGroomSaunders wins Spinvox launch task
Thu, 14 Feb 2008
Spinvox, the voice-to-text phone technology, is understood to have appointed communications planning agency EdwardsGroomSaunders ahead of a marketing push.
-
EMIs Disney distribution deal hangs in balance
Thu, 14 Feb 2008
Disney is understood to be considering replacing EMI as the international distributor of its soundtracks. It is reported to have started talks with rival Universal Music Group.
-
Facebook and Orkut face organ trafficking allegations in India
Mon, 18 Feb 2008
Social networking sites Facebook and Google-owned Orkut have come under fire in India following allegations that they are being used in the illegal organ trade.
-
Facebook in Microsoft's sights after Yahoo! snub
Mon, 18 Feb 2008
Microsoft may turn its attention to Facebook after Yahoo! rejected its $44.6bn (£22.4bn) takeover bid. Microsoft bought a 1.6% stake in the social networking site for $240m (£120m) at the end of last year, valuing Facebook at $15bn (£7.6bn).
-
Facebook launches Mars products shopping service
Thu, 14 Feb 2008
Packaged goods giant Mars will become the first advertiser to sell actual products on Facebook, a move aimed at building the commercial credentials of the social network.
-
FHM tops mens lifestyle mags league
Thu, 14 Feb 2008
Circulation figures were mixed in the mens Lifestyle sector with established players including GQ and Esquire enjoying rises, while titles such as Maxim, Loaded and Arena dropped, according to the latest Audit Bureau of Circulations (ABCs) figures.
-
Fiat saviour eyes Alfa after taking global marketing role
Thu, 14 Feb 2008
Fiat has promoted Giovanni Perosino to a group marketing role as part of a shake-up of its global marketing .
-
Foxy Bingo signs deal to sponsor Jeremy Kyle Show
Thu, 14 Feb 2008
Foxy Bingo, the online bingo operator, is to sponsor the Jeremy Kyle Show on ITV in a £1m deal, starting on February 14. The Cashcade-owned brand replaces Learndirect, after the Government-funded agency axed its sponsorship of the show amid controversy surrounding the programme in September last year.
-
Freesheets and tabloids profit from broadsheets decline
Thu, 14 Feb 2008
The number of people reading broadsheets is down while the number of tabloid and freesheet readers has increased, according to the latest National Readership Survey (NRS) figures. The Guardian’s readership dropped by 10% in the 12 months to December, although The Sun and Daily Star figures increased by 3%.
-
Fruitus revamps packaging to launch new snacks
Fri, 15 Feb 2008
Snack brand Fruitus is relaunching with revamped packaging and new product variants. The relaunch is being supported by an ad campaign that will break next month.
-
GMG Radio to launch two new rock stations
Fri, 15 Feb 2008
GMG Radio is planning to extend its Rock Radio brands with the launch of two new stations later this year. A digital-only station in the north-east will launch in April and will be followed by an FM station in Manchester in May.
-
Going back to its luxury roots
Thu, 14 Feb 2008
Becoming a fashion label failed to pay dividends for Louis Vuitton - the world's most counterfeited brand, but can a new TV and cinema ad re-establish LV in the luxury sector, asks Kate O'Flaherty
-
Gold Radio scraps marketing team to cut costs
Fri, 15 Feb 2008
Gold Radio, the GCap Media classic hits network, has scrapped its marketing team, including chief marketer Grant Brookes. The move follows the announcement earlier this week that the radio group is planning to scale back the network as part of a dramatic cost-cutting plan.
-
Good behaviour or bad?
Sat, 16 Feb 2008
Behavioural targeting could be a goldmine for online marketers, however issues of privacy are providing significant hurdles. By Catherine Turner
-
Good Housekeeping gets better of Cosmo
Thu, 14 Feb 2008
Good Housekeeping has overtaken National Magazine Company stablemate Cosmopolitan, posting a 6.6% rise in circulation, according to the July to December 2007 Audit Bureau of Circulations (ABCs) figures.
-
GSK supports Corsodyl with TV ad
Tue, 19 Feb 2008
GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) is launching an advertising campaign for its Corsodyl mouthwash brand. It is the first time the product has been advertised on TV.
-
Harris joins William Hill as controller
Thu, 14 Feb 2008
William Hill has appointed MyTravel director of marketing Adam Harris to the newly-created role of marketing controller, as the company considers launching its first television campaign.
-
Havas reports record organic growth
Thu, 14 Feb 2008
Havas, the worlds sixth largest marketing services group, has reported "record organic growth" of 7.1% in its full year results for 2007. Its performance was driven by strong growth in Asia Pacific and a good performance by its digital division.
-
Homebase needs more than advertising support
Thu, 14 Feb 2008
Homebase's decision to review its 27m advertising account comes at a difficult time for the brand - and the DIY market as a whole.
-
Hong Kong Tourist Board to review 46m ad business
Wed, 20 Feb 2008
The Hong Kong Tourist Board (HKTB) has called a review of its 46m global advertising account. The incumbent agency, DraftFCB, is not repitching.
-
Inbev UK ceo departs after 14 years
Mon, 18 Feb 2008
Inbev UK's high-profile chief executive Richard Evans is stepping down after 14 years with the company. He leaves with immediate effect without a job to go to.
-
International Poster Management signs 1m advertising deal with Jordan Tourism
Thu, 14 Feb 2008
International Poster Management (IPM), the outdoor company, has signed up Jordan Tourism in a million-pound deal.
-
Ipsos Mori identifies the 'New Influencers' among everyday consumers
Wed, 20 Feb 2008
A class of "super consumers" made up of everyday people that are interested in corporate issues, politics and the environment is becoming influential, according to research from Ipsos Mori. The "New Influencers" are having a significant effect on their friend groups and families.
-
Jane not jenni, lesbian not farm labourer: all's not well on radio 4
Thu, 14 Feb 2008
Having had our middle class humour displaced by gutter-level gags, that last bastion of solace against the working classes - Radio 4 - is under attack
-
JYSK appoints MediaVest to media account ahead of UK launch
Mon, 18 Feb 2008
Scandinavian homewares retailer JYSK has appointed MediaVest Manchester to handle its media planning and buying business ahead of its launch in the UK this spring. The first shops are due to open in Mansfield and Lincoln. JYSK is the second Scandinavian retailer to come to the UK after rival homewares chain ...
-
Katona’s ’crazy’ TV ad is accused of ridiculing mental illness
Fri, 15 Feb 2008
An advert showing Kerry Katona tied to her husband in a straightjacket has come under fire for ridiculing mental illness. The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) has received three complaints about the poster ad for her new reality show Crazy in Love and is considering whether to investigate.
-
Ladbrokes UK marketing director leaves for Punch Taverns
Mon, 18 Feb 2008
Ladbrokes UK retail marketing director Barry Clemo is leaving the company to join pub operator Punch Taverns in a similar role. The betting shop chain is now seeking a replacement.
-
Lastminute plumps for Julie Davidson
Thu, 14 Feb 2008
Online travel and leisure retailer lastminute.com has appointed former Levi's marketer Julie Davidson as UK marketing director, in the midst of an advertising review across all its brands.
-
Leading ISPs sign up to Phorm targeted ad service
Fri, 15 Feb 2008
BT, Virgin Media and TalkTalk have signed up to a new service that allows them to provide users with targeted adverts. The three companies will use a new online advertising platform called the Open Internet Exchange (OIX), which monitors every website that a user visits in order to serve customers with more relevant advertising.
-
Lowe to create Government A Level campaign
Thu, 14 Feb 2008
The Department for Children, Schools and Families has appointed Lowe to create a campaign to boost the number of students taking science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) at A Level. Digital agency Glue and Naked will also work on the campaign.
-
Magic 105.4 appoints new head of marketing
Fri, 15 Feb 2008
Bauer Radio has promoted Sarah Hyatt-Williams to head of marketing for Magic 105.4. She replaces Nicola Thomson, who is joining Global Radio, as the station's top marketer.
-
Mars and Cadbury get into twist with latest launches
Thu, 14 Feb 2008
Mars UK is gearing up for the launch of a product that contains three flavours in one sweet. Starburst Twisted is due to be launched later this spring.
-
Microsoft ramps up fight to acquire Yahoo!
Wed, 20 Feb 2008
Microsoft is strengthening its bid for Yahoo!, with the appointment of law firm, Innisfree M, to drive a proxy battle to gain control of the internet company. The new tactic follows Microsoft's failed bid to take over Yahoo! earlier this month.
-
New campaign - Domino's Pizza
Thu, 14 Feb 2008
Domino's airs first Big ads
-
No Standard assignment for Gulliford
Wed, 20 Feb 2008
After four years plying his trade as a marketing consultant, former Barclays marketing chief Simon Gulliford is returning to the industry albeit for three days a week as chief marketing officer of Standard Life.
-
Northern Rock nationalised in crisis measures
Mon, 18 Feb 2008
The Government is introducing emergency legislation to temporarily nationalise stricken high street bank Northern Rock. Trading in shares of the Newcastle-based bank has been also suspended.
-
Northern Rocks ad plans are in the taxpayers interests
Wed, 20 Feb 2008
Legal and sponsorship experts believe that stricken Northern Rock will be able to continue with its sponsorship deals and advertising plans following its nationalisation earlier this week because it is appropriate and in the public interest.
-
Nutella hands Krow digital account in online push
Thu, 14 Feb 2008
Krow Communications has been handed the digital business for Nutella, the hazelnut-based chocolate spread, without a pitch. The appointment marks the Ferrero-owned brand's first move into online advertising.
-
Online newspapers spread the brand abroad
Thu, 14 Feb 2008
The announcement on Monday that Reuters is to sell advertising space on guardian.co.uk to US advertisers is further evidence of the site's growing popularity with international audiences.
-
Porsche slams TfL for congestion charge increase
Tue, 19 Feb 2008
Transport for London's plans to increase the congestion charge to 25-a-day for the highest polluting vehicles has come under renewed fire from car manufacturers and green groups.
-
Publicis Groupe operating margins rise 9.3%
Thu, 14 Feb 2008
Publicis Groupe has reported a 9.3% increase in operating margins in its annual revenue for 2007 but its underlying growth has failed to meet expectations. However, the company says it has exceeded expectations for the period.
-
Ryanair on look-out for UK financial partners
Thu, 14 Feb 2008
Low cost airline Ryanair is looking for financial partners in the UK after unveiling a car insurance product in Ireland.
-
S&N UK launches Jygsaw to back heritage brands
Thu, 14 Feb 2008
Scottish & Newcastle UK has launched a joint venture for its heritage brands, including Newcastle Brown Ale and cider brand Scrumpy Jack, to seek and develop markets for the brands.
-
Saatchis to appoint Singapore chief to lead London agency
Wed, 20 Feb 2008
Saatchi & Saatchi has appointed Michael Rebelo, chief executive of the network's Singapore agency, as managing director of its London office. The appointment ends a six-month search to fill the agency's top role.
-
Scottish Widows in 4m ad spend hike
Wed, 20 Feb 2008
Scottish Widows is raising its marketing spend by more than 50% to 11m in a bid to fight the effects of a likely economic downturn and leverage its London 2012 Olympic sponsorship.
-
Seat Sport UK appoints Dave Ward as team manager
Fri, 15 Feb 2008
Seat Sport UK, the British Touring Car Championship (BTCC) team, has appointed Dave Ward (pictured) as race team manager. Ward, who worked with the 1996 championship winning Audi team, returns to the BTCC after a ten-year absence.
-
So what is communications planning?
Thu, 14 Feb 2008
Communications planning provokes as much debate today as it did in the mid-1990s, when it was the height of fashion in media and marketing. But while the industry may have accepted the concept, the questions about what it is and who should do it remain the same.
-
Stylo swoops for Dolcis
Thu, 14 Feb 2008
Footwear retailer Stylo has agreed to buy the brand and trading stock of stricken shoe chain Dolcis, which went into administration last month. Stylo, the parent company of Barratts, Shellys and PriceLess chains, has also negotiated the temporary right to operate 24 Dolcis stores.
-
Teenage lifestyle titles turn corner
Thu, 14 Feb 2008
Teenage lifestyle magazines have rallied against the threat of social media with circulation rises across the sector, according to the July to December 2007 Audit Bureau of Circulations (ABCs) figures.
-
The Carphone Warehouse joins Nectar scheme
Thu, 14 Feb 2008
The Carphone Warehouse has joined loyalty scheme Nectar, days after retailer Debenhams announced it would pull out to focus on its own customer loyalty card.
-
The Daily Mail launches free SMS service
Mon, 18 Feb 2008
The Daily Mail is offering readers free text messages through a new mobile phone service launched today (February 18). MailTXT aims to drive traffic to the paper’s mobile-based web portal.
-
The Empress drops the emperor's new clothes
Thu, 14 Feb 2008
It's typical of the haphazard and unsatisfactory development of digital commercial radio in this country that its fate should be crystallised by a hurriedly conceived GCap defence document.
-
The online data black market
Thu, 14 Feb 2008
The market for online data has experienced an explosion in growth but demand is outstripping supply, paving the way for websites that are obtaining and selling data illegally. By David Reed
-
TimePlay to spend 250k on UK interactive cinema launch
Thu, 14 Feb 2008
TimePlay Entertainment, a US company that exclusively provides interactive content for cinemas, is planning to launch in the UK.
-
TV phone-in watchdogs bring in tougher rules
Tue, 19 Feb 2008
Regulators Ofcom and PhonepayPlus have unveiled measures to strengthen viewer and consumer protection in participation TV programmes. The new rules follow the industry-wide scandal that erupted 12 months ago over mistakes and cover-ups in TV quizzes and phone-ins.
-
Virgin Media appoints managing director
Thu, 14 Feb 2008
Virgin Media has appointed Johnston Press digital director Alex Green as its first managing director of its portal, as the cable company looks to push its broadband offering. Green has been tasked to accelerate Virgin Media’s online presence and growth.
-
VirtualGym holds train station workouts
Tue, 19 Feb 2008
Online fitness brand VirtualGym TV is running an experiential campaign at major London railway stations this week, offering rush-hour commuters the chance to take part in workout sessions on the way to and from work.
-
VW extends BlueMotion eco range
Tue, 19 Feb 2008
Volkswagen is extending its low emission BlueMotion range to include Golf, Jetta and Passat models. BlueMotion, which VW defines as the most efficient car in each of its ranges, was previously only available on Volkswagen Polos.
-
Warburtons adds Dig for Fire to roster for awareness boost
Thu, 14 Feb 2008
Warburtons, the family-owned bread company, has added Dig for Fire to its below-the-line roster. It is understood that the Sheffield-based agency will work on a project to raise awareness of the company in the South of England.
-
When brands cross-dress
Thu, 14 Feb 2008
To grab consumers' attention brands need original, eye-catching images, but dressing up won't work if they don't get into character as well. By Gerry Moira
-
Will GCap survive without DAB?
Thu, 14 Feb 2008
When Fru Hazlitt took over as chief executive of GCap Media eight weeks ago, it immediately became clear that she would have to grab shareholder attention by being ruthless and bold.
-
ZenithOptimedia wins 6.5m Warner account
Wed, 20 Feb 2008
Warner Music UK has appointed ZenithOptimedia to its 6.5m media planning and buying account. It is understood to have beaten Carat in a final two-way pitch to win the business.
