Marketing Week
7 September 2006

A day in the life of Lou Fairhurst

Sun, 10 Sep 2006

Company: Sense - experiential marketing agency Job title: Account Director What keeps you busy all day?: A large part of the day involves speaking to clients and venue-booking agents to keep on top of campaign planning. Budgeting, writing campai...

Aegis Group reports profits of £38m

Thu, 7 Sep 2006

Aegis Group, owner of media agencies Carat and Aegis, has announced underlying pre-tax profits of &£38m for the first half of this year, up 9% on the same period last year. Revenue rose nearly 20% to &£436.2m on billings up 11% to &£4.2bn.

Analysis: 3 fails to keep the customer engaged

Thu, 7 Sep 2006

As third-generation mobile phone operator 3 launches its latest ad campaign this week, the company is sharpening its efforts to reduce the high level of customer turnover it has suffered in the first half of this year.

Analysis: Supermarkets reach new heights in non-food retailing

Thu, 7 Sep 2006

Lidl's decision to offer consumers flight vouchers at checkouts (MW last week) is the latest innovation in the burgeoning non-food sector. While margins are being squeezed in traditional food retailing, supermarkets are desperate to grab a greater share of pocket by adding a growing range of unusual products and services, from will-writing ...

Apple to gain upper hand in download battle

Wed, 13 Sep 2006

Apple Computer is expected to steal a march on its bitter rival Microsoft this week, after BSkyB became the second company forced to suspend a movie download service because of problems with Microsofts software. Apple is launching in the competitive movie download market and is likely to use Microsofts problems as an opportunity to establish its own movie service...

Assessing the Molton Brown brand

Sun, 10 Sep 2006

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, while the overall rating is given at the end of the review.

Atari picks entertainment boss for presidential task

Thu, 7 Sep 2006

Atari, the troubled video games publisher, has appointed David Pierce as president and chief executive a year after Jim Caparro's departure from the role.

Battle for United Biscuits

Thu, 7 Sep 2006

Blackstone, the US buy-out group, and a consortium led by Premier Foods are understood to be battling for United Biscuits. The final bids, which will value the business at about &£1.7bn, are expected to be submitted this week.

BLM splits with Hallmark after row

Tue, 12 Sep 2006

BLM Media has resigned its 1m Hallmark Channel account amid rumours of a fall-out. BLM, the UKs largest independent media planning and buying agency, had held the business since 2001.

Brand-bashing bible stokes up the beggars

Thu, 7 Sep 2006

As Neil Boorman's brand busting pyrotechnic spectacle approaches (MW August 17), the Shoreditch socialite has been drumming up support, and publicity, in the media.

BSM plans major drive to target the youth market

Thu, 7 Sep 2006

British School of Motoring (BSM), the UK's largest driving school, is ramping up its marketing spend in an attempt to become a "sexy" youth brand that also appeals to parents.

Chime reports 62% hike in profits

Tue, 12 Sep 2006

Chime Communications, the holding group that owns advertising agency Vallance Carruthers Coleman Priest, has posted a 62% rise in pre-tax profits for the first half of the year.

Clear Channel to go upmarket with Pinnacle network

Thu, 7 Sep 2006

Clear Channel is planning to attract more luxury brands to outdoor advertising with the launch of its Pinnacle network of premium sites next month.

Consumer empowerment is now part of de-average day

Wed, 13 Sep 2006

Search engines are turning consumer empowerment into organised business opportunities by de-averaging information content. But this trend is not confined to the internet...

DDB London wins 5m pitch for FT account

Wed, 13 Sep 2006

DDB London has scooped the 5m advertising account for the Financial Times after a three-way pitch against Miles Calcraft Briginshaw Duffy and United London. The agency will handle the business across Europe, Middle East and Africa. The agency ha...

DoH reviews recruitment advertising

Tue, 12 Sep 2006

The Department of Health (DoH) is reviewing the advertising and media planning and buying accounts for its recruitment advertising business...

Dunstone: Broadband launch was a 'bruising' experience

Thu, 7 Sep 2006

Charles Dunstone has admitted that launching Carphone Warehouse's broadband service has been a "bruising" and "painful" experience for the company.

Electrolux unveils 'designed for comfort' vacuum cleaner

Thu, 7 Sep 2006

Electrolux is launching a vacuum cleaner with a new "looped" handle that it claims will reduce strain on consumers' arms and shoulders. It will go on sale next month.

EMAP expands Keenan's role

Thu, 7 Sep 2006

EMAP has expanded the role of Paul Keenan, chief executive of Emap Consumer Media, to include responsibility for the media group's radio division.

Equinox and Connect land £4.5m Rightmove contract

Thu, 7 Sep 2006

Rightmove.co.uk, the property website, has hired Equinox Communications and integrated agency Connect to handle its £4.5m media and advertising business.

Freesheets will need to sustain interest

Thu, 7 Sep 2006

When The Guardian recently appointed Wieden & Kennedy to its advertising account, it was keen to emphasise (not for the first time) how important a multimedia approach was to understanding the brand. More crudely, and tellingly, we have become

Hong Kong Disneyland to hold character inductions

Thu, 7 Sep 2006

Hong Kong Disneyland is planning to hold inductions to educate Chinese consumers about Disney characters. A lack of knowledge is said to have contributed to a slow first year for the theme park.

How Russ Shaw got ahead

Sun, 10 Sep 2006

Company: O2 Title: Capability & Innovation Director What made you get into marketing: I hated being an accountant. How did you get into the industry: I have a BSc from Washington University in St. Louis and an MBA from Harvard...after spendi...

Hutchinson quits Virgin Mobile

Wed, 13 Sep 2006

Inschool Media scoops Lemony Snicket book launch task

Thu, 7 Sep 2006

Inschool Media, the marketing services agency run by a comprehensive school, has been appointed by Egmont Press to handle the launch of the final book in the Lemony Snicket series in schools.

Karmarama reported to be working with Conservatives

Thu, 7 Sep 2006

Karmarama is reported to be working with Conservative leader David Cameron after the political party and agency M&C Saatchi parted company.

Kraft appoints first dedicated marketing chief

Wed, 13 Sep 2006

Kraft Foods has appointed its first ever chief marketing officer....

Leagas Delaney scoops 2m Stannah

Tue, 12 Sep 2006

Leagas Delaney has won the 2m advertising account for Stannah Stairlifts following a four-way pitch handled by the AAR...

Levi-Strauss UK marketing director to leave

Thu, 7 Sep 2006

Levi-Strauss UK and Ireland marketing director Julie Davidson is to leave the company early next year.

Magners to hike investment as demand exceeds supply

Thu, 7 Sep 2006

The company behind Magners cider is being forced to accelerate investment plans for the brand as it struggles to keep up with demand.

Marketing directors frozen out of boardroom

Thu, 7 Sep 2006

Marketing directors are still struggling to earn their places in the boardroom with only a minority of Britain's biggest quoted companies appointing a marketer to the main board, according to new research from the Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM).

MediaCom wins Universal Theatrical pitch

Thu, 7 Sep 2006

MediaCom has won the £21m UK media planning and buying for film studio Universal Theatrical.

Nicotinell ad 'glamorises' smoking

Thu, 7 Sep 2006

Nicotinell, the nicotine patch for people who want to give up smoking, has been accused of glamorising smoking in its latest television ad campaign.

NTL:Telewest aims to grab slice of BT and Freeview market share

Thu, 7 Sep 2006

The cable industry is setting its sights on BT and Freeview after years of infighting, says NTL:Telewest's chief marketer James Kydd. He warns rivals that cable will "aggressively" pursue their customers and says the strategy defines a "new era" for the recently merged entity.

One to steer clear of?

Thu, 7 Sep 2006

Norwich Union has taken the brave step of being the first insurer to raise premiums, but is the brand strong enough to keep customers on board? asks Catherine Turner

Papa Johns and Game team up for joint promotion

Mon, 11 Sep 2006

Parisian tourism body hands £1m tourism account to PHD

Thu, 7 Sep 2006

Paris Ile de France Regional Tourism Committee is understood to have handed PHD Media its &£1m media planning and buying account.

Pepsi boss could face resistance in India

Thu, 7 Sep 2006

Ten days ago I was in India, and I was surprised how deep rooted the problems facing the cola sector there have become.

PHD scoops ING Direct pitch

Thu, 7 Sep 2006

PHD has scooped the £15m media planning and buying business for ING Direct, following a final pitch against incumbent Media Planning Group.

PO appoints Abbey marketer to top role

Thu, 7 Sep 2006

The Post Office has appointed Abbey marketer Gary Hockey-Morley as marketing director. He will take over from acting marketing director Simon Carter, who is leaving the company. It is not known if Carter, previously head of marketing, has a job to go to.

Radio Advertising Bureau launches creative advisory service for advertisers

Mon, 11 Sep 2006

The Radio Advertising Bureau has launched a creative consultancy to advise advertisers on developing their advertising campaigns for radio.

Royal Mail starts review of interactive business roster

Thu, 7 Sep 2006

Royal Mail is overhauling its interactive agency roster in a bid to improve its communication with customers. The new strategy follows an increase in competition from new postal service providers.

Samsung nets Joe Cole for camera launch

Thu, 7 Sep 2006

Samsung Cameras has signed up England and Chelsea football star Joe Cole to support its new range of NV series digital cameras.

Save the Children launches global education drive for child war victims

Mon, 11 Sep 2006

Search's disappearing act

Thu, 7 Sep 2006

Multiple brand management can be a marketing tightrope trick at the best of times. But a new dimension to that perennial question - who or what defines a brand - has marketers tottering on the high wire. The consumer ultimately determines brand value, and it is the marketer's job to influence perception and encourage resolution. Nothing new there. But now search engines are playing an increasingly vital role in the management of brands - and they've got their own particular ...

Second high-profile marketer leaves Wanadoo after merger

Wed, 13 Sep 2006

Wanadoo marketing chief Philip Mehl has become the second high-profile marketer to leave in three weeks following the brand’s merger with Orange. It is thought he does not have a job to go to. Mehl, who joined Wanadoo two years ago, was the company’s director of sales and communications with overall responsibility for marketing. Peter Turner, who reported to Mehl as director of marketing communications, left at the ...

TBWA creates teaser for Sony PS3 launch

Thu, 7 Sep 2006

TBWA has created a teaser campaign for the launch of the Sony PS3.

Tesco to go up against media giants with digital TV service

Thu, 7 Sep 2006

Tesco, the UK's biggest retailer, is challenging media owners BSkyB, BT and Freeview head on with the launch of a Tesco-branded digital television service. The supermarket is already testing a Tesco Digital Home service in North London.

The Art Fund appoints OgilvyOne

Thu, 7 Sep 2006

OgilvyOne has been appointed by the Art Fund to handle a recruitment and fundraising drive. It beat Hooper Galton and Lunar to the business.

The golden girls

Thu, 7 Sep 2006

The problem of finding substantial sponsorship for women in sport is a long-standing one, so will the UK's major sporting bodies' new multi-layered efforts to redress the balance have any chance of making the breakthrough that so many have bee

Thomson signs Nectar deal for advertisers and callers

Thu, 7 Sep 2006

Nectar is rolling out its first joint consumer and business loyalty offer after signing up Thomson Local Directories as its latest partner.

Too much, too soon

Wed, 13 Sep 2006

The unexpected success of a relatively unknown Irish cider brand has thrown the spotlight onto a much-neglected area of marketing. Demand planning is often restricted to big launches, but even the largest multinational can be tripped up by failures in research...

Unloved Capital One makes 9m bid to gain popularity

Thu, 7 Sep 2006

Capital One is launching a 9m brand campaign that aims to persuade UK consumers to "like" the unpopular financial services brand. It breaks next week, and marks a U-turn in the marketing strategy for the brand.

Uswitch says British Gas are losing customers

Thu, 7 Sep 2006

Uswitch, the comparison service, says British Gas (BG) is losing customers at the rate of one every 34 seconds. BG dismisses the claims.

Vodafone confirms UK broadband launch

Mon, 11 Sep 2006

The company has struck a deal with BT to launch a Vodafone-branded consumer fixed-line service before the end of the year.

Would madam like something a little more radical this week?

Thu, 7 Sep 2006

Be careful what you tell your hairdresser - you may only have gone in for a quick wash and set, but you could end up with a quickie divorce

Wyborowa hunts agency to support international launches

Thu, 7 Sep 2006

Wyborowa, the Polish vodka brand owned and distributed by Pernod Ricard, is seeking an ad agency to create a campaign to support the brand's launch in international markets and drive up sales outside Europe.