Marketing Week
21 August 2008
-
Beijing Olympics and US election are driving revenue for WPP
Fri, 22 Aug 2008
The Beijing Olympics and the US presidential election will drive revenue for the rest of 2008, according to WPP Group, but the marketing services group warns the outlook appears less certain for next year.
-
...As retail body says consumer confidence at record low
Thu, 21 Aug 2008
The British Retail Consortium has called on Alistair Darling to restore consumer confidence and reduce press pressures on retailers, as the Chancellor begins drafting the pre-Budget report.
-
A second cultural revolution
Thu, 21 Aug 2008
Teenagers and young people are leading a massive change in Chinese retail culture that has seen influences from Japan and the West become absorbed into mainstream lifestyle and attitudes
-
Amazon remains UKs top e-tailer
Thu, 21 Aug 2008
Online bookstore Amazon has retained its position as the top UK e-tailer in figures published by Hitwise and Interactive Media in Retail Group. The quarterly Hot Shops list also cites Argos, Play, Tesco and Next in the top five.
-
ASA bans Churchill ad over false forms claims
Thu, 21 Aug 2008
The Advertising Standards Authority has banned a TV ad for Churchill home insurance that claimed new customers would not have to fill out forms to make a claim.
-
BAAs airport sale could open the marketing money floodgates
Wed, 27 Aug 2008
A Competition Commission (CC) report that calls for airports group BAA to be broken up could bring rich rewards for rival operators and airline brands. If proposals for BAA to sell three of its seven airports – two of Gatwick, Heathrow and Stansted in London and either Edinburgh or Glasgow – ...
-
Background noise muffles rising TV impacts
Thu, 21 Aug 2008
For a sector that is being hit hard by revised advertising budgets, commercial TV has something to smile about: industry data shows more people are watching ads than before.
-
Basics instinct
Thu, 21 Aug 2008
If Gap is to woo back UK consumers from the budget, high-turnaround fashion retailers, it needsto re-establish its brand position, reinvent itself and be more dynamic, says Archana Venkatraman
-
Beatthatquote.com picks Leagas Delaney for 20m account
Thu, 21 Aug 2008
Price comparison website Beatthatquote.com has appointed Leagas Delaney London to handle its UK advertising ahead of ambitious growth plans. It is worth an estimated £20m.
-
BRC disputes ONS figures...
Thu, 21 Aug 2008
The British Retail Consortium is at odds with the Office for National Statistics retail figures, following its recent report that retail sales rose unexpectedly in July.
-
British cycling set for cash boost after Olympic golds
Thu, 21 Aug 2008
The gold medal bonanza in cycling at the Beijing Olympics will raise cash for and boost interest in British cycling.
-
Carat cuts global ad spend forecasts
Wed, 27 Aug 2008
Carat has lowered its forecasts for global advertising expenditure in 2008 and 2009. Its worldwide prediction for 2008 has been reduced by 1.1% to 4.9% growth, fuelled by downward ad spend in the UK, the US, Spain and China.
-
Channel 4 poaches Ofcom executive
Thu, 21 Aug 2008
Channel 4 has poached Ofcom digital executive Tom Loosemore to head its 50m fund to drive public service digital media. Loosemore, Ofcom senior adviser for digital media, joins as head of Four Innovation for the Public Fund.
-
Chelsea FC launches kids magazine
Tue, 26 Aug 2008
Chelsea Football Club is launching a children’s magazine for its Junior True Blue members. The quarterly Bridge Kids magazine, which will be delivered free to junior club members, will also be available on the newsstand with its existing monthly title, Chelsea.
-
Chime's ad division sees 58% profits hike
Wed, 27 Aug 2008
Chime Communications' has reported that profits in its advertising and marketing services group increased by 58% in the first half of the year.
-
China holds price advantage
Thu, 21 Aug 2008
The Far East has long been a valuable source of cheap promotional items and, as economic conditions in Europe become harsher, this situation is unlikely to change. Jo-Anne Flack reports
-
Christian Aid in marketing shake-up after review
Thu, 21 Aug 2008
Christian Aid has promoted Matthew Reed to marketing and supporter director as part of a shake-up of its marketing team. It follows the departure of top marketer Jeff Dale last month (MW July 24).
-
Christian Dior cosmetics arm names top marketer
Thu, 21 Aug 2008
Christian Dior has appointed Sophie Lorge as marketing director of its cosmetics and fragrances division in the UK and Ireland.
-
DraftFCB appoints former Wunderman chief to head Europe
Tue, 26 Aug 2008
DraftFCB has appointed former Wunderman Worldwide vice chairman Alexei Orlov as president for Europe and the Middle East. Orlov, who will be based in London, replaces David Florence, who is leaving the agency.
-
Dyson Airblade
Thu, 21 Aug 2008
Product: Dyson Airblade
-
E.on raises gas and electricity prices
Thu, 21 Aug 2008
E.on, the utility giant, has become the third energy supplier to hike its gas and electricity prices. It has revealed that it will put electricity prices up by 16% and gas prices by 26% (August 22).
-
EBay cuts fixed price sales fees
Thu, 21 Aug 2008
Ebay has announced plans to make the online auction site more appealing to retailers by cutting fees for fixed-price sales. Shops using the Buy It Now function will now get greater prominence in search results.
-
Facebook doubles staff to boost engagement ad drive
Wed, 27 Aug 2008
Facebook is doubling its UK sales and marketing team as part of a major push behind its new engagement advertising programme. A trial of the scheme is due to launch next month.
-
Fast food chains should stick to what theyre known for
Wed, 27 Aug 2008
One of my favourite episodes of the US hit show Curb Your Enthusiasm features the main character, Larry David, being told by an acquaintance that he is a “self-hating Jew”. The implication is that David has bought into the criticism of his own people so much that he doesn’t even like ...
-
Feel Good Drinks launches kids range
Tue, 26 Aug 2008
The Feel Good Drinks Company is launching a new line of drinks aimed at children. The 100% natural juice drinks will be supported by promotions, sampling and digital marketing activity.
-
Forget the medals, only the brand deals are worth their weight in gold
Thu, 21 Aug 2008
As Beijing faces the inevitable host-country financial fallout, canny medallists are returning home with lucrative sponsorship tie-ups under their belts
-
Foster's in-can scuba activity wins Play top spot
Thu, 21 Aug 2008
Play won the Internet Advertising Bureau's Creative Showcase for July with a campaign for Foster's new in-can "bubble destroying" widget.
-
FRS wins sales contract for Jazz FM
Wed, 27 Aug 2008
First Radio Sales has won the national airtime contract for the relaunched Jazz FM. The station will be available on DAB, Sky and Freesat and the internet later this year.
-
Gamestation restructures marketing team
Tue, 26 Aug 2008
Retailer Gamestation has promoted Emma Kitching to head of marketing as part of a restructure. It follows the departure of Jon Brook after five years in the job.
-
Gap sees profits rise after cost-cutting exercise
Fri, 22 Aug 2008
Gap, the high street clothing retailer, has reported a 51% rise in profit, despite disappointing sales across its brands. It attributes the rise to cost-cutting across its brands, which also includes Banana Republic.
-
Getting Ahead: Mark Whitmore
Thu, 21 Aug 2008
It would be nice if the credit crunch would disappear as quickly as it came (along with the greed and recklessness that caused it in the first place).
-
GfK drops bid for rival TNS
Wed, 27 Aug 2008
GfK, the German market research company, has today (August 27) dropped its bid for rival Taylor Nelson Sofres after failing to secure funding for the deal. Its decision leaves only a £1.1bn bid from WPP Group on the table although TNS says it will continue to oppose the offer.
-
Head of marketing returns to Motorola
Wed, 27 Aug 2008
Motorola has poached marketing chief James King back from Samsung to take on the new role of European marketing director. He is expected to take on the role next Monday (September 1).
-
Heineken appoints BBH to secret project after talks
Thu, 21 Aug 2008
Heineken has appointed Bartle Bogle Hegarty to a secret project, just weeks after it put incumbent agency Red Brick Road on alert by approaching rival agencies about its £40m global advertising brief.
-
Heineken posts 34% rise in profits
Wed, 27 Aug 2008
Heineken, the Dutch brewer, has reported a rise in profit of 34% in the six months to the end of June. Increased profits have been buoyed by raising its prices and its acquisition of Foster's and Strongbow brands from the break-up of Scottish & Newcastle.
-
Home Office gives 10m brief to RKCR/Y&R
Thu, 21 Aug 2008
The Home Office has appointed Rainey Kelly Campbell Roalfe/Y&R to its 10m advertising brief to tackle crime and community safety.
-
Indian airline Kingfisher seeks UK-based marketer
Thu, 21 Aug 2008
Kingfisher, the privately-owned Indian airline, is seeking a UK-based marketer as it prepares to launch its international routes.
-
Innocent reviews 4m account
Thu, 21 Aug 2008
Innocent Drinks has called a review of its 4m advertising account. The review comes just seven months after moving the business in-house from Lowe London (MW January 31).
-
Iris wins Adidas global running business
Thu, 21 Aug 2008
Adidas has appointed Iris as the lead agency for its global running business after a pitch. It is understood to have included incumbent agency 180 Amsterdam.
-
Is India the gateway to global domination for Tesco?
Thu, 21 Aug 2008
Tesco's march into the Indian market was an inevitable move for a retailer with ambitions for global domination. But it comes almost two years after rival Asda-parent group Wal-Mart announced a 50/50 joint venture with Indian telecoms partner Bharti. And with an initial investment of £60m over ...
-
ITV2 rebrand to spurn 'cool' youth image for fun
Thu, 21 Aug 2008
ITV group marketing director David Pemsel says the broadcaster's rebrand of its youth-oriented digital channel ITV2 will spurn "being cool" for playing to its strengths of "fun" and enjoyable entertainment.
-
Johnston Press
Wed, 27 Aug 2008
Johnston Press has reported a 6% dip in revenues to 231m for the first six months of 2008. The company, which publishes 18 daily and 300 weekly newspapers, reported its results today (August 27).
-
Mattel sponsors CITV early evening strand
Wed, 27 Aug 2008
Toy company Mattel has announced a three month sponsorship programme with kids channel CITV in the run up to Christmas. Polly Pocket and electronic toy Woogies will be sponsoring the 4pm to 9pm autumn programming strand for three months from September.
-
Mike Welsh battles to revive Craik Jones' reputation
Thu, 21 Aug 2008
Following a disastrous 2007, many industry observers said it could not get any worse for the once creatively revered DM agency Craik Jones Watson Mitchell Voelkel.
-
Moneysupermarket profits rise 113% but warns of slowdown
Wed, 27 Aug 2008
Price comparison site Moneysupermarket.com has reported revenue for the six months to June 30 of £99.4m, a rise of 27% on the same period last year. However, it warns growth will slow in the second half of the year, primarily in its money-based division.
-
MoS' Miron jumps ship just as the rot sets in
Thu, 21 Aug 2008
Why did Stephen Miron, managing director of the Mail on Sunday and Mail Online, take the Global Radio shilling? After all Miron, pretty much a lifer at Associated Newspapers, is also one of its ablest executives - and no doubt about it, he will be missed. On the other hand, ...
-
Multimap ceo joins Microsoft search venture
Thu, 21 Aug 2008
Microsoft has appointed Multimap chief executive Jeff Kelisky as general manager of commercial search. The appointment comes as Microsoft restructures its search business group.
-
Mustoes wins 2m Blistex lip balm advertising account
Thu, 21 Aug 2008
Mustoes is understood to have won the 2m advertising account for lip balm brand Blistex, following a competitive pitch with several undisclosed agencies.
-
Mutual revival for building societies?
Wed, 27 Aug 2008
Beginning in the cut-and-thrust Thatcherite era, many of Britains biggest building societies became banks and set out on aggressive build-and-buy strategies. Yet, as the partial flop of Bradford & Bingleys (B&B) rights issue showed last week, those self-same demutualised entities are at the forefront of Britains beleagured banking industry.
-
Nemesis follows shopping hub-ris at Airstrip One
Fri, 22 Aug 2008
-
Nestlé smoothie venture in doubt after just four months
Wed, 27 Aug 2008
Boosted Smoothies, the joint venture between Nestlé and Boost Juice Bars, is in doubt just four months after launching because the product has struggled to get supermarket listings.
-
NetMums
Thu, 21 Aug 2008
Product: NetMums
-
New consumer 'supergroup' must define its purpose
Thu, 21 Aug 2008
Consumer Focus, the group that replaces three major consumer bodies, faces a tough task persuading consumers and the industry that its one-size-fits-all approach will improve on the status quo.
-
Notting Hill Carnival fails in quest for major brands
Thu, 21 Aug 2008
Notting Hill Carnival has failed to secure any major sponsors for this weekend's event. It had hoped to sign brands for a series of "bespoke packages" but ran out of time before a single agreement was signed.
-
Olympic sponsors launch countdown to 2012
Tue, 26 Aug 2008
The countdown to the London 2012 Olympic games began in earnest this week as sponsors launched a series of ads to celebrate the handover. A number of full page ads from many of the tier one partners appeared in national newspapers across the weekend.
-
Online Guardian tops table
Thu, 21 Aug 2008
Guardian.co.uk has maintained its lead among the newspaper websites for the second month in a row, while Telegraph.co.uk has recorded the biggest year-on-year growth, according to the latest Audit Bureau of Circulations Electronic figures for July.
-
Only a new 'social contract' can improve data perception gap
Thu, 21 Aug 2008
Marketers must adopt a different approach to gathering consumer data if they are to gain access to the information they really need
-
Penguin and match.com launch romantic dating site
Fri, 22 Aug 2008
Penguin and dating website match.com have launched a new website together. It aims to offer book lovers a place to “indulge in the age-old art of writing love letters” and restore the importance of the written word in modern courtship.
-
RadioCentre slams Project Kangaroo for radio silence
Thu, 21 Aug 2008
RadioCentre has hit out at proposed video-on-demand venture Project Kangaroo for failing to reveal whether it plans to include radio services.
-
Red Square Reloaded labelling complaint forces redesign
Fri, 22 Aug 2008
Halewood International is being forced to alter the packaging of its vodka-based drink, Red Square Reloaded, to make it clear that the drink contains alcohol. The Portman Group has written to retailers asking them to withdraw the drink in its current packaging from the shelves.
-
RTL predicts difficult second half as profits fall
Tue, 26 Aug 2008
RTL Group, the pan-European broadcaster and owner of Five, has reported a 2.5% fall in first half operating profits due to "adverse" currency effects and a slowdown in advertising.
-
Samsung Mobile marketer leaves after a month
Tue, 26 Aug 2008
Samsung Mobile marketing chief James King is leaving the handset manufacturer after just one month in the role. It is understood he is leaving due to personal issues.
-
The Cornish Sea Salt Company
Thu, 21 Aug 2008
Product: The Cornish Sea Salt Company
-
The Sun increases share of female readers
Thu, 21 Aug 2008
The Sun is gaining both male and female readers as it continues to show strong growth, according to the National Readership Survey for the year to June. The tabloid, which has seen strong circulation growth this year, has an estimated readership of 8 million.
-
Timberland campaign strengthens outdoor brand
Fri, 22 Aug 2008
Timberland is launching a new campaign aimed at re-establishing its values as an outdoor clothing brand. The first of three executions breaks on Sunday (August 24).
-
Tories slam DCMS for 2012 sponsorship promise gaffe
Wed, 27 Aug 2008
The Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) has been slammed by the Tories over its muddled understanding of Olympic sponsorship, which led it to promise £100m in private sector money.
-
Tories to cut energy bills for low earners
Fri, 22 Aug 2008
The Conservative Party will unveil a scheme that aims to cut energy bills for consumers without bank accounts later today (August 22). The scheme will offer low earners the same discounts as customers paying by direct debit.
-
Tourism New Zealand launches 2.7m campaign in UK
Thu, 21 Aug 2008
Tourism New Zealand is launching a 2.7 million marketing campaign in the UK featuring British tourists describing their experiences in the country. The ads, which break next month, will show UK tourists holidaying in July in NZ.
-
Turkish culture and tourism office reviews ad business
Thu, 21 Aug 2008
The Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism is reviewing its global advertising account, thought to be worth up to 60m.
-
Twinings picks three agencies for £12m ad work
Fri, 22 Aug 2008
Twinings has appointed Abbott Mead Vickers.BBDO, WCRS and Adam & Eve to handle its advertising. It is understood to come ahead of a major boost in ad spend by the hot beverages company from £3m to about £12m.
-
UK consumers are top beauty spenders
Fri, 22 Aug 2008
-
Unilever to expand Persil range with fragrances
Wed, 27 Aug 2008
Unilever is extending Persil into fragrances for the first time with the 5m launch of a new sub-brand. Persil Naturals will have three variants and will be launched at the start of next year.
-
UTV reports 12% rise in profit
Tue, 26 Aug 2008
UTV Media, owner of talk radio station TalkSport and the Northern Ireland franchise of ITV, has posted a 12% rise in first-half pre-tax profit. The group attributes the rise to it non-TV businesses.
-
ViaPost
Thu, 21 Aug 2008
Product: ViaPost
-
Virgin Radio football show seals sat-nav sponsorship
Thu, 21 Aug 2008
Virgin Radio, the soon-to-be relaunched national commercial station, has signed Garmin Satellite Navigation as the sponsor of its Rock'n'Roll football show. The deal begins at the start of next week.
-
Virgin wins share from BA amid T5 chaos
Tue, 26 Aug 2008
Virgin Atlantic claims it has won share from rival British Airways over the past year as it reveals pre-tax profits of £34.8m for the year to February. The strong results are attributed to growth in the number of business passengers.
-
VisitBritain seals deal with Ben Sherman
Thu, 21 Aug 2008
National tourism body VisitBritain has signed a deal with clothing brand Ben Sherman to help promote the UK.
-
Wallace and Gromit get a makeover for Harvey Nics
Tue, 26 Aug 2008
Wallace and Gromit are the new faces of chain Harvey Nichols following a deal between the upmarket department store chain and Aardman, creators of the animated duo. The first campaign is due to break imminently.
-
Why Miron quit the MoS for Global's radio division
Thu, 21 Aug 2008
After 22 years in the publishing industry, Stephen Miron is quitting Associated Newspapers to become chief executive of Global Group's radio division.
-
WPP sells off Mugabe agency
Tue, 26 Aug 2008
WPP Group has sold its 25% stake in the Zimbabwean agency involved in president Mugabe's re-election campaign. The marketing services group offloaded its stake in Imago Young & Rubicam for $1.
