Marketing Week
26 April 2007

  • ABC launches investigations into freesheet dumping allegations

    Thu, 26 Apr 2007

  • Airey finds King Midas has no clothes

    Fri, 27 Apr 2007

    First, let me declare a personal interest in what follows. I once briefly worked with the legendary Tim Carron Brown, lately funding rainmaker at Dawn Airey’s ill-fated Iostar production company, and I suffered no financial impairment as a result. I have also lived in Dunoon, the dour Clydeside resort where Carron Brown first practised his financial magic all those years ago, and I have to say it would have needed a lot more than a promised cash injection of £411,000 (even in 1996 ...

  • Asda aims to bring pupils to its stores

    Thu, 26 Apr 2007

    Asda is launching a major schools initiative to teach children about food, health and the environment. The Kids Checkout Challenge, which starts next week, will be the retailer's flagship community programme.

  • Assessing the Waterstone's Brand

    Tue, 1 May 2007

    Each week in association with retail and marketing consultancy Pragma, MarketingWeek.co.uk looks at a high-profile UK brand, assessing its performance against a range of criteria and offering suggestions to improve its overall score. Marks for each section are given out of five stars.

  • Barbie website under fire for 'sexualisation' of girls

    Wed, 2 May 2007

    Mattel's Barbie Girls has come under fire for encouraging early sexualisation of girls following the launch of its new social network website.

  • BBC launches public value test for high definition

    Thu, 26 Apr 2007

  • Best Brand Performers 2007

    Mon, 30 Apr 2007

  • Big brands join fight to reduce carbon emissions

    Thu, 26 Apr 2007

    The advertising and marketing industry has a major part to play in the fight against climate change, according to some of the country's most senior business leaders at the launch of a Government-led green campaign.

  • Big names beef up senior management at 118 118

    Thu, 26 Apr 2007

    The Number 118 118 has strengthened its senior management line up with the appointment of former Premier Foods marketer Martin Hall as commercial director. In the newly created role Hall will report directly to chief executive Mark Horgan.

  • Brand sticking power

    Thu, 26 Apr 2007

    With its near monopoly on the UK chewing gum market torpedoed by rival Cadbury's launch of Trident, Rupi Gohlar asks what Wrigley can do to wrest back the initiative from its competitor

  • BSkyB's ITV acquisition under further scrutiny

    Mon, 30 Apr 2007

    Ofcom and the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) have recommended that the government look further at BSkyB's acquisition of 17.9% shareholdng in ITV.The media regulator†believes that there are public interest issues "in relation to sufficient plurality of news provision for both cross media and television news ...

  • Campaign of the month - LBi

    Thu, 26 Apr 2007

    LBi scoops the IAB Creative Showcase Campaign of the Month, sponsored by Microsoft Digital Advertising Solutions, with its dedicated microsite for Sony's PlayStation 3.

  • Cartridge World in brand-building push

    Thu, 26 Apr 2007

    Cartridge World, the company that specialises in refilling computer printer cartridges, has appointed integrated agency MICE TMM to handle a £1.5m campaign raise its brand awareness.

  • Channel 4 sees turnover increase despite flat advertising sales

    Tue, 1 May 2007

    Channel 4 has announced a 5% increase in turnover for 2006 despite a 39m fall in sales for its flagship channel. The figures were revealed in its annual report, which was published today (Tuesday).

  • Christine Walker to make a return as media consultant

    Wed, 2 May 2007

  • City AM puts more UK roll-outs on hold

    Thu, 26 Apr 2007

    City AM, the London business freesheet, has abandoned plans to roll out sister editions across the UK, as it announces a profit for the first time since its launch.

  • City AM reaches its critical expansion point

    Thu, 26 Apr 2007

    City AM, the 18-month-old London business freesheet, has reached what is perhaps the most critical juncture in its short life.

  • City Gateway Media puts Spiderman 3 on the big screen

    Thu, 26 Apr 2007

    City Gateway Media, operator of the largest commercial LED screen in Europe, in conjunction with outdoor company Posterscope, is advertising Spiderman 3 on its Manchester screen from Friday April 27.

  • Clients and agencies won't be playing ball if Google scores with DoubleClick

    Thu, 26 Apr 2007

    Google is in the midst of an industry backlash. While its tentative steps beyond digital into the traditional arenas of television and most recently radio have ruffled feathers, it is the proposed acquisition of ad-serving company DoubleClick for $3.1bn (£1.5bn) that is causing the most consternation ...

  • Colgate chief steps down after 23 years

    Thu, 26 Apr 2007

    Reuben Mark, the long-serving chief executive of Colgate-Palmolive, has announced he is stepping down this summer. His departure was revealed as the personal care company reported a 50% rise in profits for the first quarter of the year.

  • Commodore shops plan to cash in on PC games revival

    Thu, 26 Apr 2007

    Iconic "retro" video games brand Commodore is phasing in a series of retail outlets in the UK and Ireland as part of a dramatic return to the games arena. A Commodore spokesman says the first stores will open in the UK and Ireland with further outlets to follow in France, Germany and the Benelux region. He says this is the first stage of a global roll-out of the retail store concept, which forms part of the brand's re-entry into PC gaming.

  • CSR is not consumers' priority

    Thu, 26 Apr 2007

    A new WPP Group study into consumer trust and corporate reputation shows that consumers are more concerned with product quality and consumer fairness than corporate social responsibility

  • Cunard appoints new head of marketing

    Thu, 26 Apr 2007

  • Daihatsu celebrates centenary with BBC genealogy show

    Thu, 26 Apr 2007

  • Daily Record appoints marketing chief

    Thu, 26 Apr 2007

  • David Lloyd and BUPA launch health clinics

    Mon, 30 Apr 2007

    David Lloyd Leisure, the health and fitness club chain, and private health care provider BUPA have teamed up to create a new health club that aims to unite medical and fitness expertise.

  • Dawn Airey TV start-up Iostar faces closure 'within weeks'

    Thu, 26 Apr 2007

  • Editorial brands are key to mobile TV take-up

    Thu, 26 Apr 2007

    The most misleading part of the whole discussion of mobile TV is the word TV. It brings to mind the set in the corner, which over several decades has settled into a comfortable pattern of half-hour slots, peak and off-peak schedules, and ads.

  • Energywatch slams high prices for poorest customers

    Mon, 30 Apr 2007

    Consumer group Energywatch has slammed rival utility providers Powergen and Npower for not reducing prices for their poorest customers. The two companies are introducing lower prices from today (Monday)†but not all customers will see the benefit.

  • Expedia hands Cake its 2007 experiential account

    Thu, 26 Apr 2007

    Expedia.co.uk, the UK's largest online travel agent, has appointed public relations agency Cake to manage its experiential account for 2007.

  • Father of PlayStation quits games giant

    Fri, 27 Apr 2007

    Ken Kutaragi, the man behind Sony PlayStation, has quit the Japanese electronics giant.

  • Filippo Berio appoints John Ayling ahead of TV assault

    Thu, 26 Apr 2007

    Italian olive oil brand Filippo Berio has appointed John Ayling and Associates to handles its £1m media planning and buying business following a pitch against undisclosed agencies.

  • Former JWT creative directors launch ad agency

    Mon, 30 Apr 2007

    Former JWT integrated creative directors Ken Muir and Ray Howard announced the launch of a new advertising agency, muirhoward. It has also announced that price comparision site Beat That Quote.com as its first client...

  • Freesat gets the go-ahead

    Fri, 27 Apr 2007

  • Freesheet struggle spirals out of control

    Thu, 26 Apr 2007

    Fans of Terry Gilliam's classic dystopian satire Brazil may recall a scene in the film where rebel hero Harry Tuttle, played by Robert de Niro, meets his end in a nightmare vortex of suffocating newspapers.

  • Further education and the digital skills set

    Thu, 26 Apr 2007

    As online advertising expands, steps are being taken, including training schemes, to address the digital skills shortage, though new graduates are closing the gap. Martin Croft reports

  • Fusing the marketing mix

    Thu, 26 Apr 2007

    DM's ability to deliver accountability is recognised more and more, so expect massive growth for those companies that get it right , says Hugh Bishop

  • Giant friendly society seeks revamp partner

    Thu, 26 Apr 2007

    LV=, the financial services friendly society previously known as Liverpool Victoria, is looking for an advertising agency to handle its creative account, worth several million pounds.

  • Google's cookie firm buyout takes the privacy biscuit

    Thu, 26 Apr 2007

    A few years ago, privacy was cited as this decade's key issue for interactive media, with personal information the currency for transactions between advertisers and consumers. Proponents argued that, in return for giving up information about themselves, consumers ...

  • Great Ormond Street Hospital begins 1.5m hunt for ad agency

    Thu, 26 Apr 2007

    The Great Ormond Street Hospital Children's Charity (GOSHCC) is understood to be looking for a media agency to handle its £1.5m planning and buying business.

  • Grey loses bulk of Nokia

    Fri, 27 Apr 2007

    Grey has lost the bulk of its Nokia business after failing to make it through to the final round of the Finnish handset manufacturer's £175m global advertising pitch. JWT, Wieden & Kennedy and Mother will now compete for the account.

  • Halfords in Action Man charity push

    Wed, 2 May 2007

    Halfords is teaming up in an exclusive partnership with the Meningitis Trust that will see the motor goods retailer sell badges featuring classic boys toy icon Action Man as part of a new a fundraising initiative. The retailer will sell five different designs after agreeing a license from Hasbro ...

  • Harrods head of marketing quits after just a year

    Wed, 2 May 2007

  • Heir dos and don'ts

    Wed, 2 May 2007

    When a company loses a charismatic and successful leader the task of finding a successor is far from simple. Do you groom someone from the inside or bring in new blood? David Benady looks at how some of the country's best-known brands are attempting to avoid a bad heir day

  • How Francis Jago got ahead

    Tue, 1 May 2007

    My fathers passion for product development and our love of the best brands in the automotive industry

  • Howell leaves McCann Erickson after four years

    Thu, 26 Apr 2007

    McCann Erickson European chief Rupert Howell is leaving in June after four years at the network. It is thought that Howell, currently regional director for Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA), has another role lined up although it has yet to be announced.

  • If the public switches on, so will advertisers

    Thu, 26 Apr 2007

    The success of mobile TV largely depends on whether people will change their viewing behaviour. As home viewing becomes more like cinema, will it highlight the weaker experience of TV on your mobile? We have just about come to terms with watching movie...

  • Ilva appoints Krow and EdwardsGroomSaunders to 8m ad account

    Thu, 26 Apr 2007

    Krow and EdwardsGroomSaunders have won the 8m advertising account for Danish retailer Ilva. It follows a four-way pitch against Beechwood, Albion and incumbent agency Isobel, which pitched with undisclosed partners.

  • Innocent swaps summer music festivals for family village f鳥s

    Thu, 26 Apr 2007

    Innocent is scrapping its free annual Fruitstock music festival after four years and replacing it with a "summer of village fêtes".

  • iPlayer given the green light by BBC Trust

    Mon, 30 Apr 2007

  • Irish retailer Smyths sets its sights on English high street

    Thu, 26 Apr 2007

    Smyths, the Irish retail giant, is plotting its first foray into England with the launch of a chain of superstores by the end of the year.

  • ITV reveals advertising plans for ITV.com

    Tue, 1 May 2007

  • Langdon to raise £10m for new acquisitions

    Thu, 26 Apr 2007

  • M&S lures Waitrose chief for 'key' board-level role

    Thu, 26 Apr 2007

  • Magic 105.4 commercial director's role increases to include Kiss

    Tue, 1 May 2007

  • Mandelson pockets 1m from CHI sale

    Thu, 26 Apr 2007

    The sale of 49.9% of Clemmow Hornby Inge & Partners to WPP Group last week has helped European Trade Commissioner Peter Mandelson pocket over 1m.

  • Many happy returns

    Thu, 26 Apr 2007

    The corporate outing remains a popular form of entertainment, but organisers must ensure they get a maximum return on expensive events - be it on investment or objectives. By Martin Croft

  • McCann Erickson USA head named as EMEA president

    Wed, 2 May 2007

  • McDonalds to trial sale of Innocent smoothies

    Tue, 1 May 2007

    Innocent Drink is launching a trial of its smoothies at 80 McDonalds restaurants in the north of England. Its smoothie for kids will be available in Happy Meals in fast food outlets across the North East and Yorkshire from May 2.

  • Microsoft appoints marketer to drive mobile search division

    Tue, 1 May 2007

    Microsoft Online Services Group (OSG) has appointed Hugh Griffiths as director of mobile as it ramps up its push into the mobile search market. Griffiths joins from telecoms provider O2, where he was responsible for driving online search and advertising in a consultancy role.

  • Monster seeks pan-Euro ad agency

    Wed, 2 May 2007

  • MWBrandIndex/ BG bottom, Google top

    Thu, 26 Apr 2007

    British Gas's woes continue as it suffers further customer condemnation in the Marketing Week BrandIndex Best Brand Performers 2007 survey - coming bottom of 697 brands in four out of seven criteria.

  • Next hires Mediaedge:cia as it revises approach to marketing

    Thu, 26 Apr 2007

    Next, the high street retailer, has appointed Mediaedge:cia to its 10m media planning and buying. The struggling clothes store group awarded the business to Mediaedge:cia following a competitive pitch against incumbent MediaVest Manchester. However, the Manchester-based agency is believed to have retained its 2m Next Directory account.

  • Npower film tie-up puts pressure on Powergen

    Fri, 27 Apr 2007

    RWE-owned npower kicks off a new campaign this week as part of dual-branded initiative to tie in with the launch of SpiderMan 3 in the UK next week.

  • Npower plans ambush of Eon's FA Cup rebranding

    Wed, 2 May 2007

  • OMD wins 22m HMV media business

    Thu, 26 Apr 2007

    OMD UK has won the 22m consolidated media planning and buying account for the HMV and Waterstone's brands. The agency, which was the incumbent on HMV's account, pitched against MediaCom, Starcom and Waterstone's incumbent PHD to win the business.

  • Omnicom names IPC board director as UK media chief exec

    Mon, 30 Apr 2007

  • Online sites play their part in the search for property

    Thu, 26 Apr 2007

    In recent months many a Cassandra has predicted if not a crash, then at least a demise of the property market in the UK. It seems not a week goes by without a headline pointing out that affordable housing is beyond the reach of key workers, or that prices are rising inexorably - just this ...

  • Paramount launches new ad-funded comedy show

    Thu, 26 Apr 2007

    Digital channel Paramount Comedy is launching its first ad-funded TV series with US city Las Vegas.

  • Personally speaking...

    Thu, 26 Apr 2007

    Getting up close and personal with the message can produce big dividends. But using the raw customer data in a sensitive way is a technique the industry has yet to learn. By David Reed

  • Plans for UK Music Week revealed

    Mon, 30 Apr 2007

    The commercial radio industry has revealed plans for the second UK Music Week. The event will see over 250 stations across five commercial radio networks collaborating on a week of special programming.

  • Portman Group backs parental choice on alcohol

    Fri, 27 Apr 2007

    The Portman Group is making the case for encouraging giving children small amounts of alcohol at home to avoid binge-drinking. This follows Alcohol Concern's call for parents who give alcohol to children under the age of 15, even with a meal at home, to be prosecuted.

  • Price is right for waitrose

    Wed, 2 May 2007

    The one-time John Lewis graduate trainee returns to the supermarket arm as its top executive fully determined to double sales, uphold quality and open more outlets by Matthew Gorman

  • PS3: Good, but not good enough

    Thu, 26 Apr 2007

    Sony's decision to cut almost 10% of staff across its Sony Computer Entertainment Europe (SCEE) division, as revealed on marketingweek.co.uk last week, has led some to suggest its PlayStation 3 console is not the breakthrough product the electronics manufacturer had hoped for.

  • Publicis set to win global Egg account

    Wed, 2 May 2007

    Publicis is understood to be close to securing the 12m Egg advertising account without a pitch.

  • Ramblers Holidays rebrands as Ramblers Worldwide Holidays

    Wed, 2 May 2007

    Ramblers Holidays, the "original walking company", is rebranding as Ramblers Worldwide Holidays. The new look is unveiled today (Wednesday)...

  • Siemens chief executive ousted over corruptions allegations

    Thu, 26 Apr 2007

  • Skoda unveils man it wants to rev up motorsport profile

    Thu, 26 Apr 2007

    Skoda has promoted Michal Hrab?k to run its motorsport division. He replaces Martin Muehlmeier, who is returning to Audi after three years at Skoda. Hrab?k, previously a head of sales and marketing for technical development at Skoda, will report to Eckhard Scholz, who is the company's board member for technical development.

  • Sony in Hit40 UK tie-up

    Thu, 26 Apr 2007

  • Spotlight falls on ABC as freesheet row escalates

    Thu, 26 Apr 2007

    Media buyers have hit out at News International, Associated Newspapers and the Audit Bureau of Circulations (ABC) for their roles in the furore over alleged freesheet-dumping in London.

  • Stelios launches serviced office business

    Thu, 26 Apr 2007

  • TCA signs designers and podcasters

    Thu, 26 Apr 2007

    The Communications Agency (TCA) has signed partnership deals with two agencies to bolster its design and content.

  • The Home Office consolidates media to capture target audience

    Thu, 26 Apr 2007

    The Home Office's decision to consolidate its entire media-planning operation into one agency (MW last week) is expected to herald a round of similar centralisations by Government departments.

  • The O2 signs BMW as car partner

    Thu, 26 Apr 2007

  • Thompson quits Haystack after six years

    Tue, 1 May 2007

    Suki Thompson is leaving The Haystack Group after six years to pursue other interests and is expected to launch a new venture later in the year. The consultancy will now be run by Alan Thompson.

  • Tied to the past - today's slobs will never bring back formal neckwear

    Thu, 26 Apr 2007

    Claims that sales of the tie are increasing don't ring true - wearers are in the minority and many people still see it as a symbol of right-wing stuffiness

  • Transform takes knife to agency list

    Thu, 26 Apr 2007

    Transform Medical Group, the UK's largest cosmetic surgery provider, has launched a new advertising strategy following a review of its marketing.

  • United scoops Beijing Olympics brief

    Thu, 26 Apr 2007

  • VCCP scoops 10m Tanqueray gin account

    Thu, 26 Apr 2007

    Diageo has appointed Vallance Carruthers Coleman Priest to handle the 10m global advertising account for Tanqueray gin. It is understood to have won the business after a four-way pitch against four undisclosed agencies.

  • Vimto enters healthy drinks market

    Mon, 30 Apr 2007

    Vimto Soft Drinks is launching a range of indulgent dessert drinks with less than 20 calories in a move aimed at tapping into the healthy drinks market. YUM will target health conscious and female consumers and will be positioned as an alternative to a dessert.

  • Virgin Media sues 'abusive' Sky

    Fri, 27 Apr 2007

    Virgin Media, the cable TV operator, has submitted a 33-page complaint to the High Court as it looks to sue its "abusive" rival BSkyB over anti-competitive behaviour in the latest round of the public spat between the media giants.

  • Virgin's biodegradable card trumps Barclays'

    Thu, 26 Apr 2007

    Virgin Money is upping the ante in the eco-friendly financial services stakes with the promise of a biodegradable credit card.

  • Visa looks to consolidate $400m media account

    Thu, 26 Apr 2007

    Visa, the card payment services company, reviewing its estimated $400m (199m) global media planning and buying account as part of a move to consolidate the business into one agency.

  • VisitScotland appoints new agencies to roster

    Tue, 1 May 2007

    VisitScotland, the tourism body, has appointed four new agencies to handle its digital, direct mail and sales promotion accounts in the UK and Ireland. It follows a competitive pitch between a number of undisclosed agencies.

  • Vivid Imaginations builds TV-inspired board game

    Thu, 26 Apr 2007

    TV company Endemol has teamed up with toy manufacturer Vivid Imaginations to create an electronic board game for its new ITV1 gameshow Goldenballs.

  • Walker exits agency world

    Tue, 1 May 2007

    Christine Walker, the grande doyenne of the media world, is retiring from the agency that she co-founded with Phil Georgiadis in 1997, Marketing Week can exclusively reveal. An announcement is due to be made to the Stock Exchange later today.

  • Walker quits amid mass adulation but is her leaving permanent?

    Wed, 2 May 2007

  • Westminster council and freesheets move towards recycling agreement

    Mon, 30 Apr 2007

    Westminster City Council says it has had "productive" meetings with the publishers of London's two afternoon freesheets, thelondonpaper and London Lite, over contributions to its 500,000 recycling costs...

  • Woolworths pins hopes on star-studded TV campaign

    Thu, 26 Apr 2007

    Troubled retailer Woolworths has signed Kelly Osbourne, Rolf Harris and Darth Vader to front a major campaign for its "Worth It" range in an attempt to turnaround its lacklustre performance.

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