Marketing Week
22 May 2008
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Apple considers solar-power iPod
Wed, 28 May 2008
Apple is understood to be mooting the launch of a solar-powered iPod. A US patent application details an iPod with a solar panel behind the screen, which could be used to provide extra power.
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Ariel takes detergents war to next level with gel format
Wed, 28 May 2008
Procter & Gamble (P&G) is gearing up to launch flagship laundry brand Ariel in a next generation gel format. The new product will be backed by a major marketing push, as P&G stages a fightback against Unilevers successful launch of Persil Small & Mighty concentrated sub-brand last year.
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ASA rules in favour of Scottish organ donor encouragement ads
Thu, 22 May 2008
Complaints against a Scottish Government ad campaign that aimed to encourage people to sign up as organ donors have not been upheld by the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA).
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Axa appoints Saatchi & Saatchi to 15m ad account
Wed, 28 May 2008
6pm Update: Axa has appointed Saatchi & Saatchi to its 15m UK advertising account. The news comes just a month after the French insurance giant scrapped a review of the business, standing down a shortlist of agencies.
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Balls to scrutinise alcohol brands in youth action plan
Thu, 22 May 2008
Alcohol advertising will come under further scrutiny as Ed Balls, the Secretary of State for the Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF), plans to look ...
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Black Grouse whisky launch to benefit RSPB
Wed, 28 May 2008
Maxxium UK is launching a brand extension of its scotch whisky The Famous Grouse, called The Black Grouse, in partnership with the charity Royal Society for the Protection of Birds. The Black Grouse will be available next month with a recommended retail price of £15.49.
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Blockbuster set to openstandalone games outlets
Thu, 22 May 2008
Beleaguered retailer Blockbuster is understood to be rolling out a standalone chain of games stores, a year after it sold its video games arm, Game Station, to Game Group.
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Brand new world of cricket turns its back on centuries of tradition
Thu, 22 May 2008
Turning the home of cricket into a brand to rival the likes of Paris Hilton and Victoria Beckham risks destroying the magic that defines Lord's
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Brands team up to fight Google keywords policy
Wed, 28 May 2008
A heavyweight consortium of brands and organisations believed to include Saga and Lastminute.com has met to challenge Google's new keywords policy, which allows companies to bid on rivals trademarks and brand names. The Association of British Travel Agents has confirmed it took part in the meeting.
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Buzz marketing hits brick wall
Wed, 28 May 2008
TV commercials, radio jingles and outdoor advertising are all heavily scrutinised under the self-regulation code of practice, leaving marketers no choice but to resort to stealth advertising techniques when trying to reach out to the YouTube generation. But, with increasing calls to toughen ...
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Charity accuses Finsbury of profiting from tribes destruction
Wed, 28 May 2008
WPP-owned public relations company Finsbury is the latest agency to be confronted with direct action from a charity over a client, British mining company Vedanta. Survival International held a protest outside Finsbury's offices yesterday (May 28).
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Charlie Bigham's food range
Fri, 23 May 2008
Product: Charlie Bigham's food range
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Chocolate bars get taste for nostalgia
Wed, 28 May 2008
A drumming gorilla may have been the biggest phenomenon in chocolate last year but the triumphant return of the Wispa bar has kicked off a new trend in retro confectionery. The pressure from social networking groups to bring back the bar became too much, claimed Cadbury, so it caved in and ...
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City AM is first to use quick-response technology daily
Fri, 23 May 2008
City AM, the daily business freesheet, is introducing quick response (QR) code technology in its newspaper to drive readers onto its mobile internet site. It will now form part of its daily news service.
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Coca-Cola holds pitch for global Sprite relaunch
Thu, 22 May 2008
Coca-Cola has called a pan-European advertising pitch for Sprite, ahead of a global relaunch of the brand. Kamarama, M&C Saatchi Berlin and O&M Frankfurt have been shortlisted.
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Coldplay to star in Q Radio relaunch
Wed, 28 May 2008
Coldplay will be the debut "star interview" on the relaunched Q Radio. It will be aired during the flagship QPM show, presented by Samanthi on June 2.
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Commercial TV impacts rise by 13.5%
Wed, 28 May 2008
Commercial TV impacts for April are up 13.5% on last year, and by 20% over the same period five years ago, according Broadcasters' Audience Research Board (BARB) figures.
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Companies could face prison for breaching product placement rules
Thu, 22 May 2008
Online marketers could face criminal proceedings if they do not adhere to the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008, warns European law firm Osborne Clarke.
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Could ex-Barclays chief give the Post Office the boost it needs?
Thu, 22 May 2008
Almost eight months into the Post Office's five-year marketing strategy there is talk that former Barclays marketing chief Andrew Gillespie will be brought in to bolster its firepower (MW last week).
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Daily Mail owners profits rise 7%
Thu, 22 May 2008
Daily Mail and General Trust, the publisher of the Daily Mail newspaper, has reported a 7% increase in underlying annual profits. It says profits of £144m in the six months ending March 31 were held up by its national titles, although the regional market is "tough".
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DLKW scoops 3.5m Mirror account
Fri, 23 May 2008
The Mirror Group has appointed Delaney Lund Knox Warren & Partners to its 3.5m advertising account. It beat Karmarama and Leagas Delaney to win the business.
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DLKW wins 9m House of Fraser ad account...
Fri, 23 May 2008
House of Fraser has appointed Delaney Lund Knox Warren to handle its 9m advertising account following a four-way pitch. It pitched against incumbent Hooper Galton, Adam & Eve and RPM Beechwood.
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Double the power of advertising
Thu, 22 May 2008
Research appears to show that although TV and online advertising influence purchase and response in their own rights, they are much more influential when brands use them in tandem
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Eat Natural campaign seeks ideas for its first ad
Thu, 22 May 2008
Eat Natural, the fruit and nut bar, is inviting consumers to design its first advertising campaign as part of its drive to raise awareness and boost sales of the brand.
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EDF Energy to champion green issues in 2012 Olympics campaign
Fri, 23 May 2008
EDF Energy is supporting its sponsorship of the London 2012 Olympics with a campaign featuring former champions. It says it wants to use the games as a "turning point" in the fight against climate change.
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Energy Savings Trust to sponsor UKTV Style’s Home Search
Fri, 23 May 2008
IDS, the Virgin Media sales house, has signed the Energy Savings Trust as the sponsor of Home Search on UKTV Style. The one-year sponsorship will launch on May 26.
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Expedia promotes Seiler to Euro marketing head
Thu, 22 May 2008
Expedia has promoted Jrgen Seiler to general manager of marketing for Europe. He will take on the position with immediate effect and will be in charge of all marketing activity across the company's sites in Germany, France, Italy and the UK.
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Faceparty bans users over 36 years old
Fri, 23 May 2008
Social networking site Faceparty is axing the acounts of users aged over 36, because it claims older users pose a danger of sex offending. The site says that it has been forced into the move because of changes in government legislation.
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Fine line that separates brand power from brand deception
Thu, 22 May 2008
While New Orleans summons its age-old image as the home of the Mardi Gras in its rebuilding efforts, McDonalds branding is about iron-fisted control
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Foster's Super Chilled, the Tarka super cold fount, Jacques etc
Fri, 23 May 2008
Product: Foster's Super Chilled, the Tarka super cold fount, Jacques etc
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Fox's Biscuits launch new ad campaign
Tue, 27 May 2008
Fox's Biscuits is launching a new campaign starring an Italian American brand icon called Vinnie. The fast-talking "wise guy" will enthuse about his favourite biscuits from England.
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From the sub-prime crisis to the ridiculous
Thu, 22 May 2008
As economic uncertainty grows,innovative marketers have the opportunity to take advantage
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Fruit juice launch to receive TV ad support
Thu, 22 May 2008
Good Natured, the ethical fruit juice company, is looking to expand its share of the out-of-home market, with the launch of a 330ml bottle next month.
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Future Publishing announces flat revenues
Fri, 23 May 2008
Future Publishing has reported a slump in revenue and profits for the six months to March 31, despite a 31% increase in digital advertising. It also saw a 4% increase in overall advertising revenue.
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Glasses Direct relaunches to take on high street rivals
Thu, 22 May 2008
Glasses Direct, the online spectacles retailer, is relaunching in a bid to increase its share of the glasses market. The new look launches imminently.
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Global Radio and GCap merger stalled by OFT
Thu, 22 May 2008
Global Radios plans to merge its operations with GCap Media have been stalled until the end of July at the earliest, while the Office of Fair Trading carries out a regulatory review. Insiders say it could be months before the two companies are merged.
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GMG pools Real and Century radio sales
Thu, 22 May 2008
GMG Radio has bought its Real Radio and Century stations together as onenetwork for the first time. The Real Century Network is being launched to the trade now.
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Google criticises Viacom for copyright lawsuit against YouTube
Tue, 27 May 2008
Google has hit out at Viacom'a 1bn lawsuit against video sharing site YouTube for "threatening" internet freedom. The search giant's claim comes in legal papers submitted to a Manhattan court.
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Google seeks agency to promote its mobile division brand
Thu, 22 May 2008
Google is looking to appoint an agency to create a below-the-line campaign to promote its mobile division.
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Hewlett Packard account is catalyst for redundancies at Publicis London
Thu, 22 May 2008
When Publicis London started a consultation with staff last week about the future of the agency with a view to making redundancies, few could be blamed for thinking that it was the £80m worth of account losses at the start of last year that was ...
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How to bowl them over
Thu, 22 May 2008
The social sporting calendar is almost in full swing and the array of entertainment options ever greater, so making your event stand out from the crowd has never been more crucial, says Richenda Wilson
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In pursuit of brand loyalty
Thu, 22 May 2008
Product promotion is no longer geared towards creating a sales spike, it is now part of a wider brand engagement process. But how can an activity's success be measured? asks Jo-Anne Flack
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Initiative scoops 10m Hertz Euro media work
Wed, 28 May 2008
Initiative is understood to have won Hertzs 10m pan-European media planning and buying account. It is thought to have beaten Phd in a final pitch after MindShare was knocked out at an earlier stage.
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Is DSGi's bid for salvation 'too little too late'?
Thu, 22 May 2008
It would be no exaggeration to call DSGi, formerly Dixons, a pale shadow of its former self, cowed by the brutal cutbacks in con-sumer spending. After contending with increasing pressure from Tesco and Argos and e-retailers including Amazon, last week it announced yet another ...
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It was nice, but now for the harsh reality
Thu, 22 May 2008
You know we're in trouble when retailers start blaming the weather. Which is exactly what Sir Stuart Rose, chief executive of that bellwether of the high street Marks & Spencer, did when sounding off about April being a rotten trading month.
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ITV appoints new commercial brand director
Wed, 28 May 2008
ITV has appointed former Marvel and Warner Bros marketer Gustavo Antonioni in the new role of commercial brand director, working in the ITV Global division.
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Karen Earl Sponsorship relaunches as Synergy
Tue, 27 May 2008
Karen Earl Sponsorship is relaunching as Synergy as part a move to broaden its offer. The consultancy will now also offer branded content, digital, employee engagement and sales promotions services alongside its sponsorship services. The relaunch co...
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Mars shelves 2008 Fling launch after stock fears
Wed, 28 May 2008
Mars has pulled its only major new product development for 2008, Mars Fling, over concerns that it could not produce enough stock for the launch.
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Met Police calls a review of its advertising business
Wed, 28 May 2008
The Metropolitan Police Authority has called a statutory review of its advertising account. The account has been handled by Miles Calcraft Briginshaw Duffy since 2004.
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MFI Retail moves media and advertising accounts into McCann Erickson Birmingham
Thu, 22 May 2008
MFI Retail has pulled its advertising and media accounts from M&C Saatchi and ZenithOptimedia into full service agency McCann Erickson Birmingham. The move is understood to have followed problems securing credit insurance on its 26m media spend.
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Mike Colling & Co wins Spreadex media planning account
Thu, 22 May 2008
Mike Colling & Co has been appointed to handle the media planning and buying account for Spreadex, the online spread-betting company. It was appointed without a pitch.
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Monarch and Hed Kandi launched branded plane
Wed, 28 May 2008
Budget airline Monarch and Hed Kandi, the music brand, have extended their flyKandi partnership by unveiling a fully branded Boeing 757. The aircraft will take to the skies for the first time this weekend.
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New campaign - Sportingbet
Thu, 22 May 2008
Sportingbet's Euro 2008 goal
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New website attempts to trade 'unique' experiences
Thu, 22 May 2008
A website that will allow consumers to trade "experiences" is launching next month. Sweemo claims to be the first dedicated site to offer such a service.
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Newspapers grows ad revenue share to 14%
Tue, 27 May 2008
Newspapers grew their share of display advertising revenue to 14% last year despite circulation declines, according to the latest research from the Newspaper Marketing Agency. The figure is up from 13.7% in 2006.
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OgilvyOne wins BA global direct and loyalty marketing account
Tue, 27 May 2008
British Airways has handed its global direct and loyalty marketing account to OgilvyOne. The agency beat Carlson Marketing and WWAV Rapp Collins to win the account after a four-month pitch.
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Online supermarket that makes financial sense
Fri, 23 May 2008
Finding the best price for a product can be hard work, even more so if you're dealing with financial products where a range of companies offer similar deals. Moneysupermarket helps overcome this hurdle by providing price comparison information across ...
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Pan-European drive to cut fuel consumption
Wed, 28 May 2008
The European Commission has launched a pan-European promotion to encourage greener driving habits. More than 45,000 petrol stations across 29 countries will take part in the "Save More Than Fuel" campaign.
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Pickfords shortlists trio as part of ad business review
Thu, 22 May 2008
Pickfords, the moving and storage company, is reviewing its advertising business.
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Publicis poaches DraftFCB chief
Wed, 28 May 2008
Publicis has poached Nigel Jones, president of DraftFCB London, to become UK group chairman and chief executive. He will report to chief operating officer Richard Pinder
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Pulling down walls
Thu, 22 May 2008
The National Trust stands accused of being stuffy and standoffish, but that could change with a new digital strategy to connect with the masses and an effort to show its campaigning side. By Rufus Jay
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RAB launches ads to push benefits of radio
Thu, 22 May 2008
The Radio Advertising Bureau (RAB) is targeting advertisers and media buyers with a radio campaign that will highlight the benefits of the medium.
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Real knife wounds feature in 3m Home Office campaign
Wed, 28 May 2008
The Home Office is launching a 3m hard-hitting campaign featuring real knife wounds in an attempt to combat knife crime. The viral campaign, which is aimed at teenagers, will run across websites such as Bebo and over mobile phones.
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Renault and Nissan look to consolidate media across Europe
Wed, 28 May 2008
9am Update: Renault is reviewing its media planning and buying account, including sister brand Nissan, and is planning to consolidate the business into one agency for the first time. The Renault business is currently handled by Carat, while OMD Group holds the Nissan ...
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Royal Mail marketing head to leave after restructure
Thu, 22 May 2008
Royal Mail marketing director Alex Batchelor is leaving at the end of next month following a restructure of the marketing team. It is not thought that he has a job to go to.
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Ruth Mortimer: Seal of approval from ancient Egypt
Wed, 28 May 2008
Karl Marx once wrote: Value does not stalk about with a label describing what it is. In other words, items of value do not need to tell people that they are valuable; their worth should be patently obvious to everybody.
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Scottish Parliament plans cigarette sales crack down
Thu, 22 May 2008
The Scottish Parliament has unveiled plans to stop selling cigarettes in packets of 10 and to ban the counter display of tobacco in shops from 2010 in a bid to stop the young from smoking. Deputy health minister Shona Robison unveiled the plans yesterday (May 21), as part of a £9m five-point action plan.
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Singles reduced to just a marketing tool, says report
Thu, 22 May 2008
The music industry has been warned that single tracks could be reduced to simply marketing tools used to drive merchandise sales, according to a music industry expert.
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Sony Ericsson extends MTV awards sponsorship
Tue, 27 May 2008
Sony Ericsson has extended its sponsorship of the MTV Europe Music Awards with a new two year deal. This year’s ceremony takes place on November 6 in Liverpool.
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Soup chairman named as Joshua G2 chief exec
Thu, 22 May 2008
G2 EMEA Chairman Peter Thompson has appointed former TBWA/GGT chief executive and Soup chairman Mike Cornwell (pictured) as chief executive of Joshua G2. Thompson will continue in his role as the G2 group chief executive and UK chairman, while joint founder Nick Spinter will step down from day-to-day management.
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Telegraph wins online battle with Guardian
Thu, 22 May 2008
Telegraph.co.uk has overtaken long-time market leader Guardian.co.uk for the first time in the latest month-on-month ABCe figures. The Telegraph Media Group website also saw the biggest increase year-on-year.
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The iPhone
Fri, 23 May 2008
Product: The iPhone
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The lull before the storm
Fri, 23 May 2008
A deceptive calm has temporarily enveloped the fractious GfK-TNS merger, which would see two of the world’s largest market research companies united.
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Thorntons hunts agency to handle 3.3m account
Thu, 22 May 2008
Confectionery retailer Thorntons is seeking a new agency for its 3.3m advertising business, after the incumbent Shop went out of business.
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Top-level restructure sparks npower hunt for sales chief
Wed, 28 May 2008
Npower, the utility giant, is seeking a sales and marketing director after a restructure of its top-level staff. It follows the promotion of Giuseppe Di Vita to managing director of its residential division earlier in the year.
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Travelodge launches "one stop shop" website
Wed, 28 May 2008
Travelodge has launched what it claims it the UK's first one-step hotel website after £1m overhaul of the travelodge.co.uk. The new look site has a new booking system and Google Maps.
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USwitch names marketing head as part of restructure
Thu, 22 May 2008
USwitch, the price comparison site, has restructured its marketing team as a result of a strategic review. It has promoted Christina Rebollo to its top marketing role as part of the changes.
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Vodafone chief announces departure
Tue, 27 May 2008
Vodafone chief executive Arun Sarin is stepping down in July after five years. The news comes as the mobile operator reports strong revenues for the year to March 31.
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Who will win out in the UK broadband battle?
Thu, 22 May 2008
When telecoms giant BT proclaims its strategy is broadband first and telecoms second, it is easy to see why Tiscali's UK assets are being eyed by brands eager to build or break into the sector.
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Woolworths launches 10m price drop
Thu, 22 May 2008
Retailer Woolworths is dropping the price of over 1,000 products today (May 22) to help customers beat the effects of the credit crunch. The move will backed by a multi-millions marketing campaign.
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Yahoo! puts off AGM over Microsoft bid issues
Fri, 23 May 2008
Yahoo! has postponed its annual general meeting after moves by billionaire investor Carl Icahn to unseat the internet company’s board over the failed Microsoft deal. The AGM was due to take place on July 3, but has been delayed indefinitely.
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Zopa
Fri, 23 May 2008
Product: Zopa
