Marketing Week
16 October 2008
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3 owner to launch standalone handset company
Fri, 17 Oct 2008
Hutchison Whampoa, parent company of mobile operator 3, is launching a standalone handset manufacturer in a move that will take it head-to-head with brands such as Nokia. It is understood that its first phone will launch on 3 next month.
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After the gambling, we're in need of some solid wealth creation skills
Thu, 16 Oct 2008
Now that the speculators' bubble has burst, marketers' traditional market alignment methods will come to the fore to make our businesses proposer
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Anadin awards its 5m ad account to CHI & Partners
Thu, 16 Oct 2008
CHI & Partners has scooped the 5m advertising account for pain-relief brand Anadin. The agency won the business after a long-running, four-way pitch against Leo Burnett, Krow and Rainey Kelly Campbell Roalfe/Y&R.
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Apple iPhone outsells Blackberry
Wed, 22 Oct 2008
Apple has posted a 26% lift in profits to $1.14bn (697m) in the quarter ending last month. The company also says that iPhone sales have for the first time out-stripped the market-leading Blackberry.
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Arcadia reports 6.1% drop in profits
Tue, 21 Oct 2008
Arcadia Group, owner of Topshop, Dorothy Perkins and Miss Selfridge, has reported a 6.1% drop in operating profit for the full financial year. It fell from £293.3m last year to £275.3m for the 12 months to August 30.
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ASA pulls plug on Coors Light TV ad for appealing to underage drinkers
Thu, 16 Oct 2008
A television ad for Coors Light lager featuring two white men singing a reggae-style song about the drink has been banned by the advertising regulator for appealing to under 18-year-olds.
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Atheist group hits back at religious ads
Wed, 22 Oct 2008
The British Humanist Association (BHA) is launching an ad campaign on London buses featuring the strapline "There's probably no God". The move has been made in response to an ad currently being run by Christian group Jesus Said.
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Banking on the future
Thu, 16 Oct 2008
Amid all the extreme turbulence that has shaken the financial industry in recent months, there's one word that has appeared in most of the coverage of the subject: panic.
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Bauer Media in talks with agencies over ad account review
Thu, 16 Oct 2008
Bauer Media is set to review the advertising for its weekly gossip magazine Heat, almost a year after acquiring it.
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British Gas appoints HBOS man as marketing chief
Wed, 22 Oct 2008
British Gas has appointed HBOS marketer Rick Vlemmiks as marketing director. It comes as current marketing chief Chris Jansen is promoted to a commercial and strategy-focused role.
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Britvic sales growth buoyed by marketing activity
Thu, 16 Oct 2008
Britvic has reported a 29% sales increase in the year to September 28. The growth has been attributed to advertising and promotional activity, as well as its focus on improving in-store displays.
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Brugal "luxury" rum to launch in UK
Thu, 16 Oct 2008
Maxxium UK is launching a Caribbean rum called Brugal to the off-trade later this month. The rum brand will be aimed at the luxury market and will be available in two variants.
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Cadbury added as London Olympics sponsor
Mon, 20 Oct 2008
Cadbury has been confirmed as a tier two sponsor of the London 2012 Olympic Games. The deal, worth at least £20m, will make the company official confectionary and ice cream supplier.
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Calming the financial services storm
Thu, 16 Oct 2008
Trust has long been a precarious issue for the financial services sector, but never has it faced the crisis in consumer confidence it does now. This week, the Government confirmed an initial cash injection of £37bn into some of the UK’s biggest banking brands as part of a £400bn ...
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Capital scoops top breakfast radio spot
Thu, 16 Oct 2008
95.8 Capital FM breakfast's Johnny Vaughan and Lisa Snowdon have scooped the number one spot at breakfast in London, according to quarter three Rajar listening figures. They pushed Magic 105.4 to second place.
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Carlsberg UK CEO in abrupt departure
Fri, 17 Oct 2008
Carlsberg chief executive Doug Clydesdale is leaving the company in a sudden departure after 11 years with the company. He will be replaced by the chief executive of Carlsberg South East Europe, Issac Sheps.
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Cath Kidston hires Publicis Blueprint for magazines
Thu, 16 Oct 2008
Publicis Blueprint has been appointed to publish a series of retail customer magazines for designer Cath Kidston. The agency won the account after a pitch, although it is not known which other publishers were involved.
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Channel 4 and ITV to broadcast in HD
Fri, 17 Oct 2008
Ofcom has awarded high definition licenses to Channel 4 and ITV to broadcast on digital terrestrial TV, including Freeview. The move means that sport and hit dramas, such as Desperate Housewives, will be available in HD in some regions by the end of next year.
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Channel 4 merges creative teams
Thu, 16 Oct 2008
Channel 4's in-house creative agency, 4 Creative, has been charged with overseeing the broadcaster's entire on-air channel branding and promotional activity. The change will see the merger of 4 Creative with Channel 4's separate in-house creative team.
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Coca-Cola reviews multi-million pound Euro Coke Zero ad account
Wed, 22 Oct 2008
Coca-Cola has started a multi million-pound pan-European advertising review of its Coke Zero brand, as part of the drinks company’s global plan to consolidate its agency rosters. The brand is worth £5.8m in the UK.
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Coke takes the wind out of Pepsis sales
Fri, 17 Oct 2008
Its a funny old world isnt it? Especially where global brands are concerned. Take the eternal duel between Coke and Pepsi as an example.
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Commercial radio continues to gain share
Thu, 16 Oct 2008
Commercial Radio has seen its share of listeners increase by 0.7% to 43.1%, according to Rajar listening figures for quarter three. It also increased reach with the key 15- to 24-year-old demographic, adding 35,000 listeners.
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Confectionary company invites consumers to create ads
Thu, 16 Oct 2008
The Natural Confectionery Company (TNCC) is inviting consumers to create their own digital advertising campaigns for the brand. It is launching an online movie-maker tool this week.
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Debenhams scales back investment to reduce debt
Tue, 21 Oct 2008
Debenhams is scaling back investment in stock and store openings next year in a bid to reduce its debt and improve its share price. It comes as the chain reports a decline a fall in profits in its full year results.
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Dennis acquires technology website
Mon, 20 Oct 2008
Dennis Publishing has acquired gaming website bit-tech.net as part of a move bolster its technology portfolio. It already owns iGizmo, PC Pro, knowyourmobile.com and itpro.co.uk.
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Digital radio audiences increase
Thu, 16 Oct 2008
Radio audiences are continuing to tune into digital radio despite concerns about the future of the platform. Digital now accounts for 18.7% of all radio listening, up from 15% from the same time last year.
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Drinkaware targets middle class drinkers
Mon, 20 Oct 2008
The Drinkaware Trust charity is launching an ad campaign targeting excessive drinking at home. It aims to educate middle class wine drinks about recommended unit guidelines.
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EasyJet consolidates ad and DM accounts into Publicis
Thu, 16 Oct 2008
EasyJet has consolidated its 20m pan-European advertising and DM accounts into Publicis London, in a move that has seen Ogilvy Group taken off the roster. It is the first time the budget airline has put the two accounts into one agency.
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EBay posts profit but warns of sales slump
Thu, 16 Oct 2008
EBay is expecting to take a hit in sales this Christmas, despite posting profits in the three months to August. It has recorded a net profit of $492m (£250m) but says it will reduce its 2008 revenue forecast.
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Ecover names first head of international marketing
Thu, 16 Oct 2008
Ecover, the maker of ecological laundry and cleaning products, has appointed Rudy De Vis to the new role of international sales and marketing manager.
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Fallon wins Powerade pan-Euro ad account
Thu, 16 Oct 2008
Coca-Cola has appointed Fallon to handle the pan-European advertising account for its Powerade brand. It is also understood that it has called a global ad review for its vitamin water, Glaceau.
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Financial crisis could increase homelessness, warns charity
Tue, 21 Oct 2008
Crisis, the homeless charity, is seeking to drive awareness of the increased threat of homelessness due to the financial crisis. A new campaign, which breaks today (October 21), warns that economic turmoil is also a "human crisis".
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Fisher Price sales maintain Mattel profits
Mon, 20 Oct 2008
Mattel has reported a slight rise in third quarter profits despite a 1% drop in sales of flagship brand, Barbie. Strong sales of Fisher Price and the American Girl brand helped to hold up profits over the period.
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Fishing for business
Thu, 16 Oct 2008
Despite the different audience, marketers should approach business-to-business work in the same way as they do consumer campaigns. They need to be targeted and engaging. By Richenda Wilson
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Former Vodafone marketer to head Iris Sponsorship
Thu, 16 Oct 2008
Former Vodafone global head of sponsorship and media, Peter Harris, has been appointed managing director of Iris Worldwide's newly launched sponsorship business. He will head Iris Sponsorship's worldwide network.
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FT campaign urges businesses to keep advertising
Fri, 17 Oct 2008
The Financial Times is launching an ad campaign this weekend urging companies to continue advertising. The move comes just days after the Bellwether Report showed that marketers are severely cutting back their ad budgets as the economic downturn deepens.
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FT the latest publisher to wield axe over jobs
Wed, 22 Oct 2008
The Financial Times is axing a number of jobs which is expected to include its sales and marketing departments. The move comes in a year which has seen a number of newspaper publishers undergoing major restructures.
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Gambling industry faces statutory levy
Tue, 21 Oct 2008
The gambling industry has less than a month to find a voluntary system to fund the Responsibility in Gambling Trust, or it will be forced to pay a statutory levy. The Government will proceed with steps towards legislation in mid-November.
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Getting Ahead: Kerry Reid
Tue, 21 Oct 2008
I want to see Epson continue to develop leading edge technology to inspire people and transform the way in which they view and work with images and photos. My ambition is to see the Epson brand recognised in business markets in the same way as it is in the consumer market today.
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Gillette and Nokia close to signing virtual football sponsorship deals
Thu, 16 Oct 2008
Gillette and Nokia are understood to be close to signing sponsorship deals with online game Football Superstars. The deals are expected to include in-game advertising as well as product placement.
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Google defies downturn with surge in profits
Fri, 17 Oct 2008
Google has reported a 26% profit surge to $1.35bn (778m) to beat analyst forecasts, despite the global financial crisis and downturn in the advertising market. The internet giant reported its results for the third quarter, which ended September 1, today (October 17).
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Government threatens energy pricing legislation
Fri, 17 Oct 2008
The Government has threatened to bring in legislation forcing energy companies to introduce fairer pricing rates for pre-payment meters. The push follows an Ofgem investigation that found the utility giants have been over charging vulnerable customers.
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Government to call a halt to Tote sell-off
Wed, 22 Oct 2008
The Government is expected to shelve plans to sell off betting business, the Tote. Sports minister Gerry Sutcliffe is set to make an announcement imminently.
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Home Retail Group reports 19% profit fall
Wed, 22 Oct 2008
Home Retail Group, owner of retailers Argos and Homebase, has slumped to a first-half loss of £437m and reported a 19% fall in profit. The company blames the poor summer and the economic downturn.
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Iceland backs Katona after This Morning appearance
Wed, 22 Oct 2008
Iceland has again been forced to publicly back Kerry Katona, face of its ads, after another erratic TV interview but says she should not have appeared on today's This Morning.
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Improving TNS' global footprint
Thu, 16 Oct 2008
When Taylor Nelson Sofres finally submitted to WPP's bid last week, it was the end of a bitter battle for the company by Sir Martin Sorrell's WPP, which had earlier seen off a bid from rival GfK.
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In the name of progress
Thu, 16 Oct 2008
When consumers have looked to "Hit the Hut" over Pizza Hut's 35-year UK history, invariably they have been after the restaurant and takeaway chain's signature dish.
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InBev gears up for launch of 5.5% Stella Black lager
Thu, 16 Oct 2008
InBev is plotting the launch of an "aspirational" high-strength lager called Stella Black, in yet another move aimed at restoring the brand's premium positioning. It is the third major launch under the brand in three years.
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Industry sees Monster problem ahead for Coke
Thu, 16 Oct 2008
Coca-Cola's move to take over the UK distribution of Monster Energy has caused confusion in the industry about its strategy in the energy drink market.
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ITV faces fines if it returns PSB licences
Mon, 20 Oct 2008
ITV will face a series of fines if it presses ahead with its threat to hand back its public service broadcasting (PSB) licences. Michael Grade, ITV executive chairman (pictured), made the comments in a recent speech.
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ITV pushes 'event TV' credentials
Thu, 16 Oct 2008
ITV is launching a major offensive that aims to position it as the home of "event TV" and encourage advertisers to increase their spend around shows such as The X Factor and Coronation Street.
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Jamie Oliver's brand to launch dry pasta
Mon, 20 Oct 2008
Food brand Jamie Oliver's Cupboard Stuff is extending into dry pasta. It will be launched by Fresh Retail Ventures, which makes the Oliver's food products, next month.
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John Lewis sales blighted by "unhelpfully good weather"
Fri, 17 Oct 2008
John Lewis Partnership today (17 October) reported a downturn of 4.8% on net weekly sales, despite a positive response to its seasonal and fashion ranges.
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Jonathan Durden: What the banking crisis means for marketing
Wed, 22 Oct 2008
A couple of weeks ago there seemed to be a Red Letter day. It felt like one of those historic moments, like when Kennedy, Lady Di or Elvis died, for the global economic market.
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Karmarama to launch social networks venture for brands
Thu, 16 Oct 2008
Karmarama is launching a joint venture that will focus on building online communities and social networks for brands. The move aims to woo advertisers looking to launch targeted ads online.
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Keeping a fresh spin on music marketing
Wed, 22 Oct 2008
The music industry could learn a lot from Madonna. As a star and brand, she has constantly evolved over a 25-year period and managed to keep fans entertained and sales buoyant.
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Lastminute.com managing director quits
Thu, 16 Oct 2008
John Bevan, managing director at Lastminute.com, is leaving the online travel portal after four years. It is not known if he has a job to go to.
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Late entry into mobile market will hinder Google's Android ambitions
Thu, 16 Oct 2008
Not content with being the king of search, Google is looking to the mobile market for its next big hit, with Google-powered smartphones ready for launch.
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Lida lands Butlins DM account
Wed, 22 Oct 2008
Butlins, the Bourne Leisure-owned holiday company, has appointed Lida to handle its DM account. It won the business in a pitch against a number of undisclosed agencies.
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M&S to axe jobs
Mon, 20 Oct 2008
Marks & Spencer is considering axing a number of jobs in its store design and development and property departments. The move is part of the retailer's decision to scale back growth plans in the wake of the economic downturn.
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M&S to be hit hardest as consumers change food buying patterns
Thu, 16 Oct 2008
A fall in the number of people biting into a Marks & Spencer sandwich shows how cash-conscious consumers are rethinking not only where they shop, but also what they are putting into their baskets.
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Magic 105.4 retains crown despite listener loss
Thu, 16 Oct 2008
Magic 105.4, the Bauer Media-owned London station, has retained its crown as the capital's number one station despite its audience slipping below the 2 million mark, according to the latest listenership report.
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Marketing's Minsky Moment has arrived
Thu, 16 Oct 2008
Marketing has just experienced its own equivalent of the Minsky Moment, in the unlikely form of the IPA's Bellwether Report 2008, third quarter.
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Match.com launches consumer dating panel
Fri, 17 Oct 2008
Match.com is launching a new consumer panel that aims to provide an "on-the-ground" view of dating in 21st century Britain. The "match100" panel will also be consulted on potential new services from the dating site.
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Maxus appoints Clark to chief global role
Mon, 20 Oct 2008
Group M chief executive of Europe, the Middle East and Africa, Kelly Clark, is moving into the new position of global chief executive at WPP's media agency network Maxus. He is expected to officially start next month.
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MCBD retains 7m P&O Cruises account
Mon, 20 Oct 2008
P&O Cruises has reappointed incumbent Miles Calcraft Briginshaw Duffy to handle its 7m ad account. The agency retained the business following a pitch against Red Brick Road, TBWA\London and Adam & Eve.
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Metro International predicts losses
Mon, 20 Oct 2008
Metro International, the international free daily newspaper group, does not expect to break even this year given the "uncertainty" in the global economy.
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Monty Panesar to promote Jaguar
Mon, 20 Oct 2008
Jaguar has signed England cricket star Monty Panesar as its latest brand ambassador. The deal coincides with the 60th anniversary of the XK range.
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Motorola releases its most expensive phone handset
Wed, 22 Oct 2008
Motorola is launching its most expensive handset in a bid to break into the premium phone market. The Motorola Aura, which goes on sale at the end of November, will cost $2,000 (£1,174).
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Nobia reviews 10m media business
Thu, 16 Oct 2008
Nobia, the owner of Magnet Kitchens, is reviewing its 10m media planning and buying business. MediaVest Manchester is the incumbent, although it is not clear if the agency is involved in the pitch.
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Nokia confident despite fall in net sales
Thu, 16 Oct 2008
Nokia has reported a 5% decline in net sales across Europe in the three months to September. The mobile phone manufacturer says, however, it expects handset volumes for the entire industry will rise by 10.5% to 1.26 billion by the end of the year.
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Omnicom predicts tough times ahead
Wed, 22 Oct 2008
Omnicom Group has posted a 5.6% rise in profit for the third quarter. In spite of the increase the parent company of ad agency networks including TBWA, BBDO and DDB, has predicted a tough fourth quarter.
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P&G tests online consumer shop
Mon, 20 Oct 2008
Procter & Gamble is testing a website that sells its products directly to consumers. The move is likely to anger the company's traditional retailers by running in direct competition with them
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PepsiCo to overhaul marketing strategy
Mon, 20 Oct 2008
PepsiCo is investing $1.2bn (0.7bn) in a global overhaul of its marketing strategy, which has started with the launch of a new Pepsi logo. In the UK, its Tropicana brand is also believed to be undergoing a major rebrand.
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Pizza Express and Jazz FM join forces
Thu, 16 Oct 2008
Pizza Express and Jazz FM have teamed up to launch a number of joint branded initiatives. The deal includes the pizza chain's sponsorship of Jazz FM's drive time show.
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Poppy Man goes digital
Mon, 20 Oct 2008
The Royal British Legion is launching its annual Poppy Appeal into social networking in a bid to target a younger audience. Its Poppy Man, a life size figure made from poppies, will host his own blog as part of the campaign.
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Pressure mounts on Duncan at Channel 4
Wed, 22 Oct 2008
Andy Duncans four-year tenure as chief executive of Channel 4 has seen the station soar to lofty heights of success but also occasionally scrape the barrel.
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Publicis scoops ATP Tennis Tour account
Thu, 16 Oct 2008
Publicis has been handed the 1m advertising account for the Barclays ATP World Tennis Tour without a pitch. It is the first time the tournament has appointed an agency.
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RAF uses Bauer Media for recruitment drive
Thu, 16 Oct 2008
The Royal Air Force is targeting 16- to 24-year-olds through a major recruitment campaign across a number of Bauer Media brands.
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Scope to cut marketing spend as part of review
Thu, 16 Oct 2008
Disability charity Scope has launched a review of its marketing strategy, following a major restructure of the marketing department.
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Sony delays game over anti-Muslim concerns
Mon, 20 Oct 2008
Sony Computer Entertainment has been forced to recall its copies of its new game, Little Big Planet, over concerns it could offend the Muslim community because it contains lines from the Koran.
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Star Alliance launches multi-platform campaign
Thu, 16 Oct 2008
Star Alliance, the airline consortium, is launching a multi-platform campaign to drive awareness of its products, services and reward offers. The ads will promote its frequent international traveller offering and services such as Alliance Lounge.
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Sugar fails in bid to buy a stake in Woolworths
Fri, 17 Oct 2008
Alan Sugars bid to buy a 3.88% stake in ailing retailer Woolworths has failed after his shares did not arrive. It has prompted speculation that he had acquired the stake from an Icelandic investor whose assets have been frozen.
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SurgiCare to push surgical credentials in brand revamp
Fri, 17 Oct 2008
Cosmetic surgery group SurgiCare is undergoing a major brand overhaul, which it is planning to unveil early next year.
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Telegraph scraps high-level marketing and digital roles
Thu, 16 Oct 2008
Telegraph Media Group marketing director Barry Flanigan is leaving the newspaper publisher after his role was scrapped. It is part of an overhaul of the marketing and digital departments, which has also led to the departure of Mike Moore, general manager of digital.
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The madness of charles saatchi takes an eggs-traordinary turn
Thu, 16 Oct 2008
Can advertising damage your health? Speaking from experience, I have reason to believe that it might. Of all the daily bombardments on the senses to which one is subjected, there are but few that disturb the mental composure for which I am renowned, and which by my wife is regularly mistaken for indolence, and in every instance these assaults are wrought by advertisements.
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TomTom deal offers real-time traffic info
Thu, 16 Oct 2008
TomTom, the GPRS navigation system, has signed a deal with Vodafone to offer a real-time traffic information service, based on data collected by an integrated SIM card.
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Top marketer to sit on Telegraph board
Wed, 22 Oct 2008
Telegraph Media Group is understood to be seeking a board-level marketer with a strong retail background to replace its senior marketing team, which was scrapped last week.
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Travel operators need to beat gloom with strong brand identities
Thu, 16 Oct 2008
The captains of Britain's troubled travel sector gathered last week in Gran Canaria for its annual industry conference. But for the sector, which had previously declared itself "recession proof", there was no holiday atmosphere.
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Travel portal goes consumer friendly
Thu, 16 Oct 2008
Youtravel.com, the accommodation booking site, is planning to extend into flights before Christmas. It is part of a move by the site to become a one-stop shop for holidaymakers.
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UK consumers least willing to pay "green premium"
Mon, 20 Oct 2008
UK consumers are the least willing to pay more for sustainable food and home products, according to a new research from TNS. It found that just 45% of UK consumers are prepared to pay more for sustainable products compared to 59% globally.
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VCCP expansion continues into Middle East
Tue, 21 Oct 2008
VCCP has opened offices in the Middle East and Germany as part of wider plans to turn the agency into a global network. It is also planning to set up an office in one of the former Soviet states next year.
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Vladivar Vodka launches humorous sensible drinking ad
Thu, 16 Oct 2008
Whyte & Mackay is launching a responsible drinking ad campaign to promote its new-look Vladivar Vodka brand. The campaign launches this weekend (October 18).
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William Hill reports growth in business
Mon, 20 Oct 2008
William Hill has reported a strong third quarter after seeing "little evidence" of its business being affected by the economic slowdown.
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Yahoo! profits fall with 10% of jobs to get the chop
Wed, 22 Oct 2008
Yahoo! has reported a pre-tax profit fall outside of the US of 7% to $119m (72.8m) in the three months to September 30. The internet giant has responded with the announcement it will cut around 10% of its global workforce.
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Zitter takes on Mail Newspapers MD role
Fri, 17 Oct 2008
Guy Zitter, the Daily Mail managing director and Associated Newspapers commercial director, has been appointed to the expanded role of managing director of Mail Newspapers. Zitter will now take on responsiblility for The Mail on Sunday.
