Marketing Week
28 April 2005

A fearsome fob for keyring yobs

Thu, 28 Apr 2005

Activision UK promotes general manager

Thu, 28 Apr 2005

Activision UK general manager Roger Walkden has been promoted to vice-president of UK, emerging markets, European marketing and media planning at the computer games publisher.

AMD calls £16m global ad revamp

Thu, 28 Apr 2005

Computer chip manufacturer Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) is conducting a global advertising restructure and is holding pitches for its $30m (&£15.7m) business across seven regions.

Associated axes MetroPlus mag

Thu, 28 Apr 2005

Associated Newspapers has axed MetroPlus, a Metro spin-off magazine aimed at young female office workers, after less than four months. It was published for the final time on Monday.

Books, cases and brands' behaviour

Thu, 28 Apr 2005

A young journalist is hired by Levi-Strauss to travel through Latin America, befriend teenagers and report back to the company on their ideas, hopes, aspirations - and, of course, attitudes to the brand. Surprise surprise, the journalist, Amaranta Wright, turns renegade, rejects the complacent arrogance of global brand culture and writes a searing polemic (Ripped and Torn) based on her experience, which she confidently expects to be a bestseller.

British Film Magazine launches

Thu, 28 Apr 2005

British Film Magazine, a title aimed at both consumers and the film industry and published by Excellence In Media, launches this week with a sales target of 50,000 copies.

Campaigners round on 'racist' Unilever ice cream lolly

Thu, 28 Apr 2005

Cheetham Bell JWT wins Magnet account

Thu, 28 Apr 2005

Cheetham Bell JWT, the Manchester-based agency, has been appointed by Magnet to handle its &£9m ad account.

Click for closer

Thu, 28 Apr 2005

Search engines are jockeying for position at the top of surfers' Favorites lists and the latest innovation is 'local' search. There is certainly demand, but hurdles remain. By Martin Croft

Co-op financial arm hunts for direct marketing agency

Thu, 28 Apr 2005

Co-operative Financial Services (CFS) is looking to consolidate its below-the-line activities by appointing its first lead direct marketing agency.

Don't harden your hearts against the touchy feeling

Thu, 28 Apr 2005

Our foolish forebears proudly took life in their stride, but their thick-skinned ways are obsolete.

DoubleClick agrees to Hellman & Friedman buyout

Thu, 28 Apr 2005

DoubleClick, the internet advertising company, has agreed to be bought by California investment group Hellman & Friedman for $1.1bn (&£570m) in cash. Hellman & Friedman's last foray into the advertising world was the acquisition of 20 per cent of Young & Rubicam in 1996: it sold the stake in 1999 for a return of $1bn (&£520m) on its investment.

E4 Freeview launch earlier than planned

Thu, 28 Apr 2005

Channel 4's E4's launch as a free-to-air channel on Freeview is being brought forward to coincide with the start of the sixth series of Big Brother in May.

EasyJet targets businessmen with Financial Times spoof

Thu, 28 Apr 2005

EDF Energy rebrands business arm

Thu, 28 Apr 2005

Electricity and gas supplier EDF Energy has taken a first step towards uniting its three businesses, London Energy, Seeboard Energy and SWEB Energy, by rebranding its major business arm.

EDF Energy to sponsor rugby Heineken Cup Final coverage

Thu, 28 Apr 2005

EDF Energy is to sponsor Sky Sports' coverage of rugby's Heineken Cup Final.

Euro-sceptics could derail 'healthy' food

Thu, 28 Apr 2005

Health-conscious consumers have fuelled a boom in 'functional' food, from pro-biotic yoghurts to calcium-enriched orange juice. But the EU is set to rein in the sales pitches. By Caroline Parry

Ex-Phones4U boss to head C&W division

Thu, 28 Apr 2005

Former Phones4U marketing director Paul Hamburger has joined Cable & Wireless (C&W) as commercial director for the Caribbean.

FCB beats two to Heal's ad business

Thu, 28 Apr 2005

For true TV neutrality, agencies must bring buyers into the plan

Thu, 28 Apr 2005

Media neutrality does not apply simply between media: it applies within them too. This may mean agency staff need to learn new roles, says Mike Parker

Google plans to allow animated ads

Thu, 28 Apr 2005

Google plans to allow advertisers to run animated ads, in addition to text and static banners. The company will offer the format as part of its new site targeting facility, which lets advertisers select specific types of site across the Google Network to run their ads (so, for instance, wine companies could target wine websites). Google is also allowing bids for ads on a cost-per-thousand model, which charges according to how many people view an ad, in addition to its traditional cost-per-click

Heinz adds extras to Salad shakers range

Thu, 28 Apr 2005

Heinz is adding products to its Salad Shakers range, including layered pasta salads and a tuna variant.

Industry welcomes ads clampdown

Thu, 28 Apr 2005

New legislation brought in to crack down on advertising that encourages so-called "pester power" has been given a cautious welcome by the Incorporated Society of British Advertisers (ISBA) and the Direct Marketing Association (DMA).

Jaguar to cut production of X-type model

Thu, 28 Apr 2005

Jaguar is to cut production of its X-type model after worldwide sales fell by nearly a third in the three months to the end of March.

Keep the brand builders out of the ballot box

Thu, 28 Apr 2005

Any attempt to remedy a lack of interest in voting by increasing the involvement of marketers would, I fear, make matters worse (MW last week).

Lean is no longer mean

Thu, 28 Apr 2005

Premium prices were once a test of brand value but pioneering brands are slashing costs.

Lib Dems call foul on telemarketing tactics

Thu, 28 Apr 2005

The Liberal Democrats are angry about the cold-calling tactics employed by Labour and the Conservatives, claiming they are using underhand methods to canvass voters, says Sonoo Singh

Liquid Communications creates DM campaign for The Times

Thu, 28 Apr 2005

Liquid Communications has created a direct marketing campaign for The Times to promote the newspaper's job supplement Career.

Liquid Communications wins SAS Scandinavia Airlines account

Thu, 28 Apr 2005

Liquid Communications has been appointed to handle SAS Scandinavia Airlines' advertising and media planning and buying following a competitive pitch...

Lloyds TSB joins American Express to launch upmarket credit card

Thu, 28 Apr 2005

Lloyds TSB is linking up with American Express to launch an upmarket reward-based credit card on the Amex network in the UK. The card, which will be launched in June, will be Lloyds TSB-branded and offer a retail-based reward scheme as well as American Express deals and benefits.

M&S plans underwear extension for Per Una

Thu, 28 Apr 2005

Marks & Spencer is extending the Per Una brand into lingerie, a product category that is at the core of the retailer's offer.

Mark Wnek joins Lowe New York

Thu, 28 Apr 2005

Mark Wnek, former chairman of Euro RSCG group and co-founder of failed start-up Ben Mark Orlando, has been appointed chairman and chief executive of Lowe New York.

Miles Calcraft Briginshaw Duffy creates Millets campaign

Thu, 28 Apr 2005

Miles Calcraft Briginshaw Duffy has created a press campaign for outdoor pursuits retailer Millets. The campaign, which will run across national and consumer press, will focus on the summer camping and festival seasons and promote a variety of different products, including the Starter Tent Pack.

More marketing jobs to go at Marks & Spencer

Wed, 4 May 2005

Marks & Spencer is set to axe up to 30 more jobs from its marketing department as tough conditions on the high street drive the chain to seek further cost savings.

NABS gets one on the wrist for a cause

Thu, 28 Apr 2005

Online car dealer Autobytel calls review

Thu, 28 Apr 2005

Autobytel, the internet car retailer, is reviewing its media planning and buying account. It is not known whether incumbent agency MediaVest Manchester is planning to repitch.

Palmolive in Euro search assault

Thu, 28 Apr 2005

Colgate-Palmolive is to launch a European search marketing and search optimisation campaign to raise consumer awareness of its new Palmolive deodorant range.

Phoenician line for Pope debate

Thu, 28 Apr 2005

With reference to Tony Barrett's letter (MW last week), the issue of black Popes is by no means clear-cut. The simple fact is that nobody knows for sure whether Victor, Militiades or Gelasius were actually black Africans, though it is accepted that they are likely to have hailed from "Africa".

Pringles launches Star Wars promotion

Thu, 28 Apr 2005

Pringles, the Procter & Gamble-owned snack brand, is teaming up with Lucasfilm to launch a "Win the Jedi Challenge", promoting the final Star Wars film.

River Island in High St ad drive

Thu, 28 Apr 2005

'Sado-masochistic' gym leaflet censured by ASA

Thu, 28 Apr 2005

Tango unveils limited edition Mango flavour

Thu, 28 Apr 2005

Britvic Soft Drinks is launching a Mango variant of its Tango soft drink this summer in a bid to boost sales of the faltering brand.

Television conference to sell out

Thu, 28 Apr 2005

The Marketing Week 2005 Television Conference has only a few tickets remaining.

The fast food tables are turning

Thu, 28 Apr 2005

Consumers' growing concern over health is forcing changes in the out-of-home eating sector, with traditional fast food losing out to 'fresh' sandwich and coffee shop options

Turner Broadcasting creates mini series to promote fresh fruit and veg

Thu, 28 Apr 2005

Turner Broadcasting has created a cartoon mini-series about elves, aimed at a pre-teen audience, promoting the virtues of fresh fruit and vegetables.

Unilver Ice Cream & Frozen Food introduces new veg to SteamFresh frozen vegetable range

Thu, 28 Apr 2005

Unilever Ice Cream & Frozen Food is launching leeks, sugar snap peas and garden peas in its the SteamFresh frozen vegetable range.

WCRS creates Abbey campaign

Thu, 28 Apr 2005

WCRS has created an integrated advertising campaign for high street bank Abbey, its first work since winning the account in March. The campaign, which will break on May 2, will have the new tagline 'Abbey. More ideas for your money'.

Whitbread leisure group reports rise in profits

Thu, 28 Apr 2005

Whitbread, the hotels, restaurants and leisure group, has reported profits before tax up 17.8 per cent to £249.4m for the year to March 3. Group sales were up 6.8 per cent to £2.1bn.

Who cares wins, but is there a hidden agenda?

Thu, 28 Apr 2005

Many companies boasting about how socially responsible they are have one eye on the poor image and falling profits of their brand

WPP Group reports organic growth

Thu, 28 Apr 2005

WPP Group has reported organic growth of six per cent for the first quarter of the year compared to the same period in 2004, with revenues rising 16 per cent overall.

Xfm extends 'outdoor' ad campaign into online game

Thu, 28 Apr 2005

Xfm, the indie rock radio station, is to advertise inside computer game Anarchy Online as part of its £500,000 push to promote Christian O'Connell's Breakfast Show.