Marketing Week
20 September 2007

  • AdConnection wins Bunches planning and buying work

    Thu, 20 Sep 2007

    Bunches, the flower delivery service, has appointed media agency AdConnection to handle its £1m planning and buying account. It follows a pitch against undisclosed agencies.

  • AN Digital poaches Adlink head to become group commercial director

    Thu, 20 Sep 2007

    Associated Northcliffe Digital (AN Digital) has poached Adlink managing director Andy Mitchell. He will join the company later this year in the new role of group commercial director.

  • Atari appoints Euro RSCG C&O to boost awareness

    Mon, 24 Sep 2007

    Infogrames Entertainment has appointed Euro RSCG C&O to boost the Atari brand around the world. The French agency will be responsible for developing the brand globally and helping devise strategy around a number of new product launches.

  • Bafflement over London freesheet NRS figures

    Thu, 20 Sep 2007

    Associated Newspapers has won the latest round of bragging rights in London's afternoon freesheet battle, after coming out on top in the first National Readership Survey (NRS) last week.

  • Blyk signs new advertisers ahead of launch

    Mon, 24 Sep 2007

    Blyk, Europe's first advertiser-funded mobile phone network, launches today (Monday) with the backing of more than 40 brands. Sky, Boots, Xbox and XFM are among the latest brands to have signed up to advertise on the service.

  • Breaking through the last taboo

    Thu, 20 Sep 2007

    If Lil-lets' aims to target teenage girls, expand internationally and launch a range of towels go to plan, it could become the only brand to cross all sectors of feminine hygiene, says Rupi Gohlar

  • Car industry in uproar over cigarette-style ad controls

    Thu, 20 Sep 2007

    European Parliament (EP) proposals to introduce tobacco-style safety warnings on car ads have been branded an “absolute nonsense” by the motoring industry.

  • Car industry threatens ad exodus over CO2 warnings

    Wed, 26 Sep 2007

    Plans to introduce tough new regulations on car advertising could force the industry’s biggest players to stop advertising altogether, according to Kia UK managing director Paul Philpott. The automotive sector spent more than £550m on advertising last year (Nielsen ...

  • Caught again between a rock and a hard place

    Thu, 20 Sep 2007

    Conventional wisdom has it that the best way for marketers to navigate their way through a recession is the counter-intuitive tactic of upping their ad spend. Whether this advice holds good for one-company self-engendered crises remains to be seen, but Adam Applegarth, chief executive of beleaguered ...

  • Chinese products face UK backlash after Mattel crisis

    Wed, 26 Sep 2007

    Almost 40% of UK consumers are less likely to buy Chinese-manufactured products because of Mattel’s toy recall crisis, according to a YouGov survey commissioned by Marketing Week.

  • Clipper Teas backs disabled sailor’s Atlantic attempt

    Thu, 20 Sep 2007

    Clipper Teas has sponsored a disabled sailor who is attempting to cross the Atlantic using only one hand. Keith White, who lost the use of his left arm in a road traffic accident, will set off from Southampton later this month.

  • Codemasters shifts 5m brief to Target

    Thu, 20 Sep 2007

    Target Media has scooped the 5m UK media planning and buying account for videogames publisher Codemasters from Universal McCann, just nine months after the agency was handed the business (MW January 4).

  • Comet sales grow as Kesa group profits dip

    Wed, 26 Sep 2007

    Comet parent company Kesa Electricals says strong demand for flat screen televisions and laptops have helped drive sales growth but warns trading conditions for the second half of the year remain uncertain.

  • Delaney Lund and Rapier face 25m AA ad review

    Wed, 26 Sep 2007

    The AA is understood to be reviewing its 25m advertising business, which is currently split between Delaney Lund Knox Warren and Rapier.

  • DigitalAgencySearch.com offers no-nonsense online service

    Thu, 20 Sep 2007

    A new intermediary service that aims to help brands find digital agencies is launching later this week. DigitalAgencySearch.com aims to become the "first port of call" for a brand with a digital project.

  • Driving home the message

    Wed, 26 Sep 2007

    Bandwagons have a habit of careering towards advertising, and the latest one to hurtle into the industry is an unmistakable shade of green. Crammed full of politicians desperate to be seen to be taking action on climate change, it has a number of sectors in its sights, but it seems the car industry ...

  • Eastpak hunts marketer for UK launch of clothes range

    Thu, 20 Sep 2007

    Eastpak, the American bags and accessories brand, is seeking a marketer to oversee the launch of its apparel range in the UK next year.

  • Finger on the satisfaction pulse

    Thu, 20 Sep 2007

    A cross-industry study into how the public rates service and products provides a 'health check' for companies, and reveals where the brand experience is failing to match the marketing promise

  • First Direct ads to mollify public over new account

    Thu, 20 Sep 2007

    First Direct, the HSBC-owned online bank, is launching a targeted campaign to support its controversial decision to axe interest payments on current accounts.

  • Ford buys first VIP ads on Heat Radio

    Thu, 20 Sep 2007

    EMAP Advertising has signed Ford as the first "VIP advertiser" to use the relaunched Heat Radio. The station will not carry traditional spot advertising, allowing advertisers to get involved in the creative output.

  • Freesheet publisher coaches vendors on YouTube

    Mon, 24 Sep 2007

    Mike Soutar, the publisher of the new freesheet ShortList, has launched himself on YouTube to instruct street vendors on how best to distribute the magazine targeted at men.

  • GMTV phone-in contest provider hit with record fine

    Mon, 24 Sep 2007

    Icstis, the premium rate phone services regulator, has imposed a record £250,000 fine on Opera Telecom, the company which provided phone competition services for breakfast broadcaster GMTV, itself the subject of an Ofcom investigation over the phone-in scandal.

  • GMTV replaces chief after competition fraud departure

    Thu, 20 Sep 2007

    GMTV has promoted sales and marketing director Clive Crouch to acting chief operating officer. He steps up at the start of next month, following the departure of managing director Paul Corley who resigned in July after admitting phone-in competitions had cheated viewers out of millions of pounds.

  • Grey strikes Wildfire deal to develop WoM offering

    Thu, 20 Sep 2007

    Grey London is teaming up with word-of-mouth (WoM) agency Wildfire as the first in a series of strategic developments that aim to improve the agency's non-traditional offering.

  • Grocers in a bit of a fix

    Fri, 21 Sep 2007

    In the lexicon of white-collar crime, price-fixing is a serious offence with career-terminating consequences if you happen to be found out. Ask Martin George, formerly board-level marketing director of British Airways.

  • Has brand loyalty 'bogged' off?

    Thu, 20 Sep 2007

    Product giveaways and offers are often seen as beneficial sales and promotion techniques, but do they work at the expense of a brand's image and damage brand loyality? asks David Benady

  • Havas reports strong results for first half of 2007

    Wed, 26 Sep 2007

    Havas has reported strong results for the first half of 2007 due to new business wins including Reckitt Benckiser, Pfizer, GlaxoSmithKline and Barclays. It says net new business grew at its highest level for five years during the first quarter of the year.

  • HMRC hands Iris Tax Credits partnership marketing role

    Thu, 20 Sep 2007

    HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) has appointed Iris to develop a partnership marketing programme for Tax Credits. The agency was handed the business following a pitch handled by COI.

  • HMV relaunches website as part of image overhaul

    Tue, 25 Sep 2007

    HMV, the music retailer, has relaunched its website as part of the brand's first image overhaul for over 15 years. It has been created by Manchester-based agency Code Computerlove.

  • Ikea ads home in on soul objective

    Thu, 20 Sep 2007

    Ikea is launching a campaign based on questioning people's feelings about the idea of "home". The furniture retailer claims it is encouraging people to think about whether they feel they live in a house or a home.

  • Initials claims 2m Cockburn's account

    Thu, 20 Sep 2007

    Initials has been appointed to handle the integrated advertising account for port brand Cockburn's ahead of a renewed marketing push. It is thought that the business is worth about £2m.

  • It's here: your chance to be The Apprentice (and stay off the TV)

    Thu, 20 Sep 2007

    Come on, admit it, you're missing The Apprentice aren't you? You probably wouldn't have minded a stab at it yourself. You could do much better than those idiots on the programme, except like an idiot is probably how you'd be made to look on TV too. But don't worry, there ...

  • iVillage appoints former IPC chief as general manager

    Mon, 24 Sep 2007

    iVillage UK, the women's website, has appointed former IPC commercial chief Rebecca Miskin as general manager. She replaces Angus Glover Wilson, who left the community-based website to join digital commerce agency dComm as president.

  • Jude Law to front Dunhill worldwide

    Thu, 20 Sep 2007

    Alfred Dunhill has signed Jude Law to be the global face of its luxury menswear and accessories ranges. The actor has represented the brand in Asia since 2005 (pictured) but his role is to be extended to include all Alfred Dunhill's international markets, with the exception of North America.

  • King of Shaves grooming line targets men in salons

    Thu, 20 Sep 2007

    King of Shaves is launching a range of male grooming products aimed at professional salons. It will be available from October.

  • Kwik-Fit launches the UK's first 'green' car check-up

    Thu, 20 Sep 2007

    Kwik-Fit is launching what it claims is the UK's first "green" car service to help its cutomers reduce their carbon footprint.

  • Lil-Lets to expand range with sanitary pads launch

    Thu, 20 Sep 2007

    Lil-lets UK is extending its feminine hygiene range by introducing a range of sanitary pads. It claims the launch will make it the only brand to have products across the whole category.

  • M&C figures to lend creative hand to snubbed Tory party

    Wed, 26 Sep 2007

    The Conservatives are set to work with senior M&C Saatchi figures on its election brief, as advertising agencies turn their backs on the Tory Party under David Cameron.

  • Market shift opens door to word-of-mouth

    Thu, 20 Sep 2007

    Grey London's decision to put word-of-mouth (WoM) marketing at the heart of its offering in a tie-up with Wildfire is a response to a seismic shift in the market, according to Grey's recently appointed group chief executive David Patton. But others wonder whether WoM is just another ...

  • Masters of the ancient craft of beer writing will continue to the bitter end

    Thu, 20 Sep 2007

    Ever wondered where the phrase 'gnat's piss' comes from? Perhaps The British Guild of Beer Writers can put down their pints and enlighten us all

  • Mattel apologises to China over toy recalls

    Mon, 24 Sep 2007

    Mattel, the toy manufacturer tainted by the lead-paint recall scandal, has apologised to China for damaging the 2008 Olympic Games host's reputation. The company, the world's largest toy maker, has admitted that it has recalled some Chinese-made goods that were up to scratch.

  • McCann Erickson managing partner joins BJL board

    Wed, 26 Sep 2007

    Manchester ad agency BJL has poached Charlotte Thompson from full-service rival McCann Erickson Communications House to head business development. Thompson will also join the board.

  • McDonalds loses head of sponsorship to RPMC

    Thu, 20 Sep 2007

    McDonalds head of sponsorship Stephen Hall is leaving the fast food chain after 27 years to join events and promotions agency RPMC. He starts at the agency on October 15 as vice-president of business development.

  • Monarch Airlines promotes ex-EasyJet boss to top role

    Thu, 20 Sep 2007

    Monarch Airlines has promoted former EasyJet director of business development Liz Savage to the role of managing director for scheduled services. She will take responsibility for marketing as part of her new role.

  • Monkey business, not marketing

    Thu, 20 Sep 2007

    Cadbury's Drumming Gorilla breaks all the rules of category advertising and, as a result, has won much attention. But will it sell Dairy Milk? asks Kate Cox

  • New campaign: JCB unearths British roots

    Thu, 20 Sep 2007

    JCB, the construction equipment manufacturer, is laun-ching a global advertising campaign to boost its profile, focusing on its British roots and global success.

  • New Look to launch press assault with weekly ads

    Thu, 20 Sep 2007

    New Look is reinforcing its "fast fashion" credentials with a major press campaign that will see a different ad launched every week for 13 weeks, to support its autumn/winter collection.

  • Northern Rock sealed its fate by betraying consumers' trust

    Wed, 26 Sep 2007

    The lessons to be learned from the consumer run on the bank at Northern Rock will fill the marketing text books for years to come. For those brand managers who have ever struggled to justify marketing’s role to the accountants, it’s a dramatic demonstration of the ...

  • Norwich Union slashes marketing jobs and spend

    Wed, 26 Sep 2007

    Norwich Union is axing almost a third of its 430-strong marketing department in a bid to cut costs. It is thought that the Aviva-owned company will also slash its marketing spend by up to £80m next year as part of the move.

  • O2 and Clear Channel give taxi passengers free calls

    Thu, 20 Sep 2007

    O2 has teamed up with outdoor agency Clear Channel to offer taxi passengers free calls to all UK national and mobile numbers in O2 branded cabs in London and Birmingham.

  • Ofcom hands GMTV record fine over quiz scandal

    Wed, 26 Sep 2007

    Ofcom has fined breakfast broadcaster GMTV a record 2m for misconduct in viewer competitions run between 2003 and 2007. The broadcast watchdog has also ordered the morning show to broadcast a summary of its findings on three separate occasions.

  • Orange celebrates "home" with broadband ad

    Mon, 24 Sep 2007

    Orange is launching a 5m advertising campaign to promote its new landline and broadband packages. The TV, press, outdoor, digital and direct marketing campaign, created by Fallon, breaks today (Monday).

  • RAB founder to audit COI media buying

    Tue, 25 Sep 2007

    COI has drafted in radio advertising expert Douglas McArthur to audit its media buying systems. His brief will be to ensure value for money for Government advertising.

  • Reading Room takes on Skoda digital duties

    Mon, 24 Sep 2007

    The Reading Room, the digital communications agency, has won the digital account for Skoda following a pitch against undisclosed agencies. The agency will develop a new website for Skoda, which is owned by Volkswagen Group, and will integrate its "Manufacturer of Happy Drivers" brand positioning.

  • Ribena switches to 100% recycled bottles

    Tue, 25 Sep 2007

    Ribena is relaunching its full range of ready-to-drink products into 100% recycled plastic bottles next month. It claims it is the first soft drinks company to make the change.

  • RKCR/Y&R wins £4m Oxfam brief

    Thu, 20 Sep 2007

    Oxfam has handed its £4m UK advertising account to Rainey Kelly Campbell Roalfe/Y&R after a five-way pitch. The agency beat Bartle Bogle Hegarty, Leo Burnett, Abbott Mead Vickers.BBDO and DraftFCB to win the business. Incumbent DDB did not repitch.

  • Sky shows a friendly face

    Thu, 20 Sep 2007

    In the face of much tougher competition and the loss of its exclusive football rights, Sky has launched an advertising campaign that aims to demonstrate the brash satellite broadcaster does have a heart - and to manoeuvre its brand into Virgin territory. Catherine Turner reports

  • St Austell Brewery awards Bray Leino 2m ad account

    Tue, 25 Sep 2007

    St Austell Brewery has handed Devon-based agency, Bray Leino its 2m advertising account. It is understood that it has won the business without a pitch. The agency is currently working on a campaign to promote the brewer's premium real ale brand, Tribute, which will launch in October.

  • Steak Media appoints agency veterans Campbell and Clark to its non-exec board

    Tue, 25 Sep 2007

    Digital agency Steak Media has appointed advertising agency veterans Robert Campbell, founder of Rainey Kelly Campbell Roalfe/Y&R (pictured), and Matt Clark, partner at Mother, as non-executive board directors.

  • Stella 'family' ad provokes ASA ire

    Thu, 20 Sep 2007

    InBev has been censured by the Advertising Standards Authority for suggesting that Stella Artois is still part of a "family-owned" company.

  • The Carbon Trust talks with P&G and Unilever stall

    Thu, 20 Sep 2007

    The Carbon Trust says it is in continuing discussions with packaged goods giants Procter & Gamble and Unilever aimed at persuading them to sign up to its carbon footprint "kitemark".

  • The Leith Agency wins 1.5m Health Promotion Agency Northern Ireland ad account

    Tue, 25 Sep 2007

    Health Promotion Agency Northern Ireland (HPANI) has appointed The Leith Agency to its £1.5m advertising account after a three-way pitch against Northern Irish agencies, Navigator Blue and AV Browne. The incumbent agency, Genesis Advertising, did not repitch.

  • There's something deeply fishy about sustainability

    Thu, 20 Sep 2007

    As the human demand to consume fish keeps rising, supermarkets are struggling to find a sustainable way to keep up with the demand

  • Too much information

    Thu, 20 Sep 2007

    We live in a society obsessed with a 'you are what you eat' agenda, but John Stones discovers that conveying this information need not mean an impenetrable barrage of jargon on pack fronts

  • Toying with public trust

    Wed, 26 Sep 2007

    The global product recall crisis that has left the toy industry reeling shows no sign of abating following Sainsbury’s decision to recall thousands of toys from its stores at the weekend over fears of lead contamination. The move comes just weeks after Mattel came under ...

  • Trade-mark laws increase need for vigilance

    Fri, 21 Sep 2007

    Marketers will have to be "much more vigilant" about monitoring UK trade marks when changes to the law are made on October 1, according to patent and trade mark solicitors Marks & Clerk.

  • Travelodge owner to sponsor Channel 4 racing

    Thu, 20 Sep 2007

    Channel 4 is poised to sign a 4m deal with Dubai Holding the owner of Travelodge to sponsor its racing coverage for the next two years. The partnership will begin at the end of the year when Channel 4s current sponsorship deal with Tote expires.

  • Travelodge to expand into insurance retail online

    Thu, 20 Sep 2007

    Travelodge, the budget hotel chain, is extending its brand into new categories for the first time with the launch of travel insurance products, as part of a new online retail strategy.

  • UK Mail slams Royal Mail over strikes

    Thu, 20 Sep 2007

    UK Mail has slammed rival Royal Mail over continued strike action, warning it will damage the future of the mail industry. Guy Buswell, chief executive of UK Mail parent Business Post Group, has spoken out following this week's announcement of further Royal Mail strike action.

  • Virgin Atlantic teams up with green charity for book launch

    Thu, 20 Sep 2007

    Virgin Atlantic is attempting to ramp up its green credentials by teaming up with environmental charity We Are What We Do to launch a book encouraging consumers to change their behaviour to save the world. It will even ask readers to question whether their flight is necessary.

  • Virgin Media chief marketer Kydd expands his role after reshuffle

    Wed, 26 Sep 2007

    Virgin Media has extended the role of chief marketer James Kydd, following the promotion of Ashley Stockwell to managing director of people.

  • Virgin Vie At Home appoints OMG for online drive

    Thu, 20 Sep 2007

    Virgin Vie At Home, the cosmetics, jewellery and homeware retailer, has appointed Online Media Group (OMG) to develop its online strategy. The appointment signals a move from the Virgin brand to expand its online sales.

  • Visa pushes payWave card

    Thu, 20 Sep 2007

    Visa is marking the launch of its new payWave card with a new advertising campaign that breaks next week. The press, digital and in-store campaign has been created by Saatchi & Saatchi.

  • VisitBritain campaign to boost city breaks

    Mon, 24 Sep 2007

    VisitBritain is building on the popularity of city breaks in the UK with a new campaign that will give travellers reasons to visit cities across England. It breaks today (September 24).

  • Waitrose campaign thanks Mourinho

    Thu, 20 Sep 2007

    Waitrose is launching a press campaign today (Thursday) in response to comments made by Jose Mourinho (pictured) about the quality of the supermarket's eggs on the same day the Chelsea manager parted company with the club.

  • Why high-street sports retailers are missing their goals

    Thu, 20 Sep 2007

    Why high-street sports retailers are missing their goalsSeptember has not started well for specialist sports retailers, who have faced a tougher time than most on the high street in 2007. JJB Sports announced last week that it could miss profit targets by 25% this year, while its main high street rival Sports Direct has seen its share price more than halve from 300p when it floated in February to about 137p.

  • Will Neil Simpson be the answer to Publicis's prayers?

    Thu, 20 Sep 2007

    Troubled London agency Publicis has brought an end to its six-month search for a chief executive by appointing former Vodafone, Coca-Cola and Adidas marketer Neil Simpson to the role.

  • Yoconut: literally coconut 'eau naturale' for the body

    Thu, 20 Sep 2007

    These days it's hard to find a food product that hasn't had something, largely inexplicably, added to it - from sugar or E numbers to excess packaging. Premier Lifestyles has launched a product that has literally nothing extrabunged into, onto or around it: Yoconut, a pre-peeled ...

  • Zurich poaches Churchill chief for insurance drive

    Wed, 26 Sep 2007

    Zurich Financial Services has poached Churchill marketing director Peter Corfield to spearhead the pan-European launch and roll-out of direct brand Zurich Connect.

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