Marketing Week
8 September 2005

  • Aegis revises its forecasts

    Thu, 8 Sep 2005

    Aegis, the media buying network, has revised its forecasts for advertising expenditure growth for the rest of the year, with the UK marked down to 3.7 per cent from almost five per cent.

  • All eyes will be on the Oval this week...

    Thu, 8 Sep 2005

    All eyes will be on the Oval this week as England's cricket team go into the fifth Test against Australia needing only to avoid defeat to regain the Ashes. The media has been ramping up its cricket coverage. However, William Hill seems a little less keen to jump on the bandwagon. Until recently, the bookmaker had issued press releases virtually every day of the summer, advertising its latest odds. England were 3-1 before the series started, and 10-1 after Australia won the first Test. ...

  • ASA accepts 'safer' Ambre Solaire line

    Thu, 8 Sep 2005

    The ASA has allowed L'Oréal brand Ambre Solaire to continue using the strapline "no one makes the sun safer", despite complaints about the effectiveness of its products from retailer Boots, which stocks the product.

  • AWD appoints Simon Waugh

    Thu, 8 Sep 2005

    AWD, the independent financial adviser, has appointed Simon Waugh, the former global marketing director at Centrica, as group chief executive. He took over the role last week.

  • Barclays airs branded radio programming

    Thu, 8 Sep 2005

    Starcom division Starcom+ is launching banking giant Barclays' first national campaign of advertiser-funded radio programming for its small business division.

  • BBDO appointed by Motorola

    Thu, 8 Sep 2005

    BBDO, the Omnicom-owned network, has been appointed by Motorola to handle the launch campaign for the ROKR phone, which has iTunes software. The move will increase speculation about the role of Ogilvy & Mather, which is the global agency of record, since 180 Amsterdam was appointed as the company's lead agency in Europe (MW May 12).

  • Blue Square unveils cash internet quiz

    Thu, 8 Sep 2005

    Online bookmaker Blue Square has launched what it claims is the world's first "person-to-person" cash quiz that allows players to compete with each other for money.

  • British Gas appoints Amanda Mackenzie

    Thu, 8 Sep 2005

    British Gas has appointed Amanda Mackenzie as marketing chief to replace Nick Smith. Mackenzie, the former HP vice-president of marketing for Europe, the Middle East and Africa, joins on November 1.

  • Brother signs £2m sponsor deal with C4 business show

    Thu, 8 Sep 2005

    Channel 4's Risking It All programme is to be sponsored by printer manufacturer Brother as part of a &£2m promotional campaign.

  • Cadbury Schweppes to sell European drinks division

    Thu, 8 Sep 2005

    Cadbury Schweppes has confirmed that it is planning to sell its European drinks division. It includes the Schweppes, Orangina and Oasis brands.

  • CanWest wins FM licence for Solent region

    Thu, 8 Sep 2005

    CanWest, the Canadian media company, has won the FM licence for the Solent region with an adult alternative station. Original 106 will play album-led tracks and local news.

  • CarLand reviews £4m ad account held by McCann

    Thu, 8 Sep 2005

    CarLand, the used-car supermarket, is reviewing its £4m advertising account held by McCann Erickson Birmingham.

  • CheetahMail joins Yahoo! spam scheme

    Thu, 8 Sep 2005

    CheetahMail has become the first major e-mail service provider (ESP) to fully implement Yahoo!'s DomainKeys e-mail authentication system, one of a number of initiatives designed to counter the growth of spam e-mail.

  • Chrysalis chief appeals for end to media clutter

    Thu, 8 Sep 2005

    Chrysalis Radio commercial director Don Thomson is calling for media owners and agencies to look for ways to reduce advertising clutter across commercial media.

  • Coke aims energy drink at fashion-conscious youth

    Thu, 8 Sep 2005

    Coca-Cola is launching an energy drink called Von Dutch, named after the fashion label famous in the US for its suggestive ads featuring models smeared in motor oil. It will be aimed at 18- to 35-year-olds.

  • Deal Group Media posts increased pre-tax profits

    Thu, 8 Sep 2005

    Deal Group Media, the full-service online marketing company, has posted pre-tax profits up from &£45,000 in the first half of 2004 to &£154,000 in the first half of this year. Total turnover rose from &£6.5m to &£10.2m. The company says the first half of 2005 saw investment in new products and services, which should generate more income in the second half.

  • Designate Communications wins Wales Tourist Board contract

    Thu, 8 Sep 2005

    Designate Communications has won the Wales Tourist Board contract to market luxury breaks in Wales. The tourism specialist will raise awareness of top-end accommodation in the principality.

  • Direct Line poaches Mike Tildesley

    Thu, 8 Sep 2005

    Direct Line has poached More Than marketing director Mike Tildesley to join the company in the same role. Peter Corfield, who had been overseeing the role temporarily, will return to his role as marketing director at sister company Churchill.

  • DLKW lands £2m COI Business Link brief

    Thu, 8 Sep 2005

    Delaney Lund Knox Warren & Partners is believed to have been appointed by the Central Office of Information (COI) to handle the £2m advertising account for Business Link.

  • EasyJet appoints Andrew Harrison

    Thu, 8 Sep 2005

    EasyJet has appointed former RAC chief executive Andrew Harrison to head the low-cost airline. Harrison will take up the role in December when chief executive Ray Webster retires. Webster announced his departure in May; at the same time as founder Stelios Haji-Ioannou revealed he was rejoining the board.

  • Elle Girl suspended

    Thu, 8 Sep 2005

    Hachette Filipacchi will be suspending teenage title Elle Girl after the October issue hits newsstands next week.

  • E-mail marketing: say yes to relationships

    Thu, 8 Sep 2005

    I'm hoping that David Muir's viewpoint on e-mail marketing was deliberately provocative rather than narrow-minded (MW last week). You know you're not off to a good start when he describes e-mail marketing as "this electronic form of traditional direct mail". Just like a website is an electronic form of a brochure, I guess?

  • Eon sparks rumours of further consolidation

    Thu, 8 Sep 2005

    Eon, the German energy group that owns Powergen, has sparked rumours of further consolidation in the utilities sector after issuing a statement saying that it is considering an &£11bn all-cash offer for Scottish Power.

  • Ex-Orange marketer to steer Saga financial arm's efforts

    Thu, 8 Sep 2005

    Saga, the grey goods and service company, has appointed former Orange marketer Aynsley Jardin to marketing director of its financial services division. Jardin will report to Steve Ashton, chief operating officer of Saga Services, and join the boards of Saga Services and Saga Investment Direct.

  • Four agencies asked to pitch for Plymouth Gin advertising push

    Thu, 8 Sep 2005

    Coates is holding a four-way pitch for a consumer advertising push next year for its Plymouth Gin. It is understood that the ad campaign will cover the core premium gin brand and introduce brand extensions.

  • Gap pulls retail websites

    Thu, 8 Sep 2005

    Gap Inc has surprised e-commerce experts by suspending its online retail operations without warning, apparently while the global clothing company puts the final touches to completely new e-commerce-focused websites. The three sites involved - www.gap.com, www.oldnavy.com and www.bananarepublic.com - brought in $563m (&£305m) in sales in 2004, compared with Gap Inc's total $16.3bn (&£8.8bn) revenue.

  • Get to grips with Sony's handsets

    Thu, 8 Sep 2005

    I am writing in reference to the "Sony Ericsson signs up pop band" article (MW August 18). There appears to be a number of inconsistencies in the article that I would like to bring to your attention.

  • Give people easy access to the 24/7 lifestyle

    Thu, 8 Sep 2005

    I thoroughly agree with Alan Mitchell's article which shows that to succeed, brands must find a way to become more accessible (MW August 25). The fight to juggle so many things into one's everyday life is becoming increasingly difficult and this is clearly reflected in consumers' on-demand buying behaviour. People no longer have time to wait in queues, and are constantly seeking out alternatives or improvements to this behavioural paradigm.

  • Google in the US placing print ads in US publications

    Thu, 8 Sep 2005

    Google in the US has started placing print advertising in US publications on behalf of clients, in what the company is calling a "limited test". Google bought full pages in several technology magazines, then resold the space to existing clients of its AdWords and AdSense online advertising services.

  • Handbag.com redesign and relaunch

    Thu, 8 Sep 2005

    Handbag.

  • I didn't get where I am todayâ¦

    Thu, 8 Sep 2005

    Having read the recent Walkers Snacks story (MW August 11), I realised why people working in marketing sometimes have trouble being taken seriously. The former job title of Jon Goldstone of Walkers Snacks: "Marketing director for evening snacking". Puh-lease! Reggie Perrin would be turning in his grave. Mark Leigh Director ThinkBDW London W1B

  • Innocent Drinks in agency trawl ahead of £6m drive

    Thu, 8 Sep 2005

    Innocent Drinks is trawling advertising agencies about a new campaign ahead of a &£6m multi-media marketing drive in 2006.

  • Interact in the right way, and you can bring a brand to life

    Thu, 8 Sep 2005

    Advertising remains a hugely important element of marketing, but brands need to engage in a personal dialogue with target consumers if they are to thrive, says Sue Farr

  • Internet providers prepare for VOIP dogfight

    Thu, 8 Sep 2005

    A marketing battle is breaking out between the providers of cheap internet phone services, as interest in "voice over internet protocol" (VOIP) technology finally takes off.

  • It's time to get a grip

    Thu, 8 Sep 2005

    Faced with consumer apathy and an influx of low-cost tyres, Dunlop is to step up its marketing. But the brand lacks definition, says Barny Stokes

  • Jowell hints at rethink

    Thu, 8 Sep 2005

    Tessa Jowell, the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, has hinted at a rethink of the bidding system for live sports coverage following the move of Test cricket to Sky for three years from next year.

  • Kinetic launches new division

    Thu, 8 Sep 2005

    Kinetic, the outdoor media company, is launching a new division for its ambient and digital services. Destination Outdoor will be headed by Chris O'Donnell, managing director of digital arm OneZeroOne, and will launch later this month.

  • Langdon bites the dust at Euro RSCG

    Thu, 8 Sep 2005

    The news that Ben Langdon has been ousted as UK chairman of Euro RSCG Worldwide after just 17 months has prompted the inevitable round of speculation about what one of advertising's most controversial figures will do next.

  • Learndirect Scotland launches £2m pitches

    Thu, 8 Sep 2005

    Learndirect Scotland, the governnment-funded adult learning initiative, has put its creative advertising, direct marketing and media planning and buying accounts, estimated to be worth &£2m, out to pitch.

  • Let the customers call the tune when developing a value theme

    Thu, 8 Sep 2005

    Today's successful brands exploit a value theme rather than a single idea or unique selling point, but the impetus for a theme must come from customers

  • Magic targets top spot with TV campaign

    Thu, 8 Sep 2005

    Magic 105.4, the EMAP-owned radio station, is launching a £1m television advertising campaign as part of a major marketing assault aimed at making the station number one in London.

  • Manners is a load of bullocks, or so a little Birt told his host

    Thu, 8 Sep 2005

    When a communications specialist such as Lord Birt loses his rag after his keynote MacTaggart lecture, it is time to review the basics of social etiquette

  • Marc Lepere rumoured to be leaving Euro RSCG

    Thu, 8 Sep 2005

    Marc Lepere, Euro RSCG executive vice-president and chief marketing officer, is rumoured to be leaving the agency next week following the departure of Ben Langdon, the former UK chairman of the worldwide group. Lepere was previously at McCann Erickson Worldwide. working under Jim Heekin, who is now chief executive at the Grey Network (Analysis, page 15).

  • Marlboro extends deal with Ferrari

    Thu, 8 Sep 2005

    Marlboro has extended its sponsorship deal with the Ferrari Formula One racing team until 2011, despite restrictions on tobacco advertising and sponsorship.

  • McDonald's appoints Mary Dillon

    Thu, 8 Sep 2005

    McDonald's has appointed Quaker Foods president Mary Dillon as global chief marketing officer. Dillon replaces Larry Light, who is retiring at the end of this year.

  • McDonald's in healthy hands

    Tue, 13 Sep 2005

    Mary Dillon's appointment as chief marketer at McDonald's comes at a time when the fast-food chain is desperate to prove its health credentials. The fitness fanatic has a wealth of experience with health and fitness brands, but can she change the company's image? asks Caroline Parry

  • Media buyers question Muncaster pledge to make City AM profitable

    Thu, 8 Sep 2005

    Scepticism about the success of Lawson Muncaster-led City AM, the free London business newspaper that launched earlier this week, is being voiced by press buyers who worry that the newspaper won't be read by commuters at the end of their journeys.

  • My vote for awareness

    Thu, 8 Sep 2005

    In your article "Election ads fail to woo non-voters" (MW last week), you claim that our campaign failed to persuade non-voters to vote at the elections in May. We believe that the statistic you quote to make this assertion (43 per cent of people claiming to "decide to vote" as a result of seeing our ad) is actually an encouraging rather than disappointing result.

  • National Geographic launches UK kids' mag

    Thu, 8 Sep 2005

    The National Geographic Magazine is planning to launch a standalone children's version of the magazine in the UK in 2006, in an attempt to extend the brand portfolio.

  • New Campaigns - Debenhams

    Thu, 8 Sep 2005

    Debenhams is unveiling a £2.5m television and press campaign to promote its autumn collection.

  • New Campaigns - Iceland

    Thu, 8 Sep 2005

    Retailer Iceland is to use a celebrity in its advertising for the first time in a new television, radio, press and direct marketing campaign.

  • New Campaigns - Orange

    Thu, 8 Sep 2005

    Orange is launching a £13m campaign featuring the revised strapline "The Future's Bright" in an attempt to foster brand loyalty in the mobile sector.

  • New role for a free thinker

    Thu, 8 Sep 2005

    The news that Evening Standard managing director Mike Anderson is leaving to replace Camilla Rhodes in the same post at The Sun and News of the World has been the talk of the newspaper industry since it was announced last week.

  • News International magazine move a gamble worth taking

    Thu, 8 Sep 2005

    News International's (NI) foray into magazine publishing, announced last Friday, is not the first time the newspaper publisher has attempted such a move.

  • News International moves Rhodes to front consumer magazine arm

    Thu, 8 Sep 2005

    News International (NI) is to take on the consumer magazines market with the creation of a new magazine publishing division.

  • News International shortlist

    Thu, 8 Sep 2005

    News International, publisher of The Times, The Sunday Times, The Sun and the News of the World, has shortlisted incumbent Carat, MindShare and OMD for the pitch to handle its media buying.

  • No house in order at MacKenzie's Talk Radio

    Thu, 8 Sep 2005

    In your analysis, you discuss Kelvin MacKenzie's prospects of putting Highbury House in order (MW last week). Citing TalkSport, you conclude that "he has proved he is capable of turning around ailing businesses".

  • Npower starts UK push for the Ashes

    Thu, 8 Sep 2005

    Npower is rolling out a national press and radio campaign today, as part of its effort to get the nation behind the England Cricket Team for the fifth Ashes Test. It aims to encourage the public to sing the well-known hymn Jerusalem.

  • OFT rules against Mastercard

    Thu, 8 Sep 2005

    The Office of Fair Trading (OFT) says that Mastercard and the banks that issue its credit card overcharged customers between 2000 and 2004. Mastercard has since changed its charging practices, but the OFT says it may still face a fine. Mastercard is set to appeal.

  • Penguin launches Rough Guide for Xbox game

    Thu, 8 Sep 2005

    Book publisher Penguin has teamed up with video games developer Ubisoft for the launch of its latest Xbox game, Far Cry Instincts, to produce a spoof Rough Guide. It is the first time that such a spoof has been produced.

  • Penta Water team to launch 'sporty' water drink in UK

    Thu, 8 Sep 2005

    A new rapid-hydrating bottled water called HydroPower aimed at sports stars and health-conscious consumers is to launch in the UK.

  • PHD poised to beat off all competition for £10m TfL

    Thu, 8 Sep 2005

    PHD is believed to be in pole position to retain the £10m Transport for London (TfL) media planning and buying account. PHD has held the brief since 2001.

  • Playing with your mind

    Thu, 8 Sep 2005

    As quiz shows and puzzles proliferate, consumers are beginning to expect promotions to engage their intellects. Mark Palmer looks at the ways some brands are trying to make consumers think

  • Porter handed top role at WPP's Added Value Group

    Thu, 8 Sep 2005

    Former top Abbey marketer Angus Porter has been appointed global chief executive of WPP-owned specialist brand development and marketing insight agency Added Value Group.

  • Procter & Gamble promotes Gary Coombe

    Thu, 8 Sep 2005

    Procter & Gamble has promoted general manager for customer business development, UK and Ireland Gary Coombe to the role of general manager, beauty, UK and Ireland.

  • PSP the fastest-selling games console of all time in the UK

    Thu, 8 Sep 2005

    Sony's PlayStation Portable is the fastest-selling games console of all time in the UK, according to Chart-Track. The group, which tracks the sales for the gaming industry, reports that 185,000 were sold in the first four days following its launch. This equates to sales of &£33m.

  • Scottish Courage in extra cold push

    Thu, 8 Sep 2005

    Scottish Courage is challenging its premium lager rivals, Stella Artois and Grolsch, with the launch of extra cold variants on the draught versions of Kronenbourg 1664 and San Miguel.

  • Sharp Electronics appoints digital agency

    Thu, 8 Sep 2005

    Sharp Electronics has appointed digital agency swamp to completely redesign its website, after a competitive pitch against agencies from the UK and Japan.

  • Skype names ex-Microsoft executive marketing chief

    Thu, 8 Sep 2005

    Skype, the company that pioneered voice over internet protocol (VOIP) services, has appointed Saul Klein as vice-president of marketing.

  • SwitchCo appoints PHD Group

    Thu, 8 Sep 2005

    SwitchCo has appointed PHD Group to handle the media planning and buying for an initial project ahead of a formal pitch for the &£10m account. PHD is expected to pitch for the account.

  • The business of boredom

    Thu, 8 Sep 2005

    There is no need for business-to-business events to be boring affairs, with business-to-consumer events leading the way in demonstrating how to entertain potential customers, says Pete Roythorne

  • The Post Office reviews its accounts

    Thu, 8 Sep 2005

    The Post Office is reviewing its £17.

  • Time for fellas to foster a fluffy philtrum-filler

    Thu, 8 Sep 2005

    Des Lynam has one, the Australian cricket team used to have them (when they were half decent), porn stars are required to have them by law, and the Diary's old Aunt Edna used to let her young nephews and nieces swing on hers.

  • To boldly go fully mobile

    Thu, 8 Sep 2005

    Investment in mobile marketing is expected to explode in the next five years as communication with customers via mobile phones evolves beyond simple text messages to sound and pictures

  • Toucan picks ex-Compass chief as marketing head

    Thu, 8 Sep 2005

    Telecoms company Toucan has appointed former Compass Group marketer John Prior as its first marketing director.

  • Travelocity team faces drastic cuts

    Thu, 8 Sep 2005

    The future of Travelocity's five-strong marketing team is in doubt as parent company Sabre Holdings moves to incorporate the online travel brand into Lastminute.com, which it acquired earlier this summer.

  • TVR marketing chief quits after six months

    Thu, 8 Sep 2005

    TVR, the Lancashire sports car maker with international expansion plans following its &£15m takeover by Russian millionaire Nikolai Smolenski, has parted company with marketing chief Phil James less than six months after he was appointed.

  • Vernon proves that TV types can't be custard

    Thu, 8 Sep 2005

    When the Diary was young, world records were an everyday occurrence. Roy Castle would watch intently, trumpet in hand, while Norris McWhirter lurked in the background with his clipboard at the ready, as a group of school children looked on in horror as their mass domino topple was inadvertently set off by a blundering caretaker before it had been completed.

  • Walkers to push 'healthy' Sensations pretzel range

    Thu, 8 Sep 2005

    Walkers Snacks is launching a range of pretzels under the Sensations umbrella, in a further concerted effort to increase the "healthy" appeal of the snacks brand.

  • When you're selling loans to Lords...

    Thu, 8 Sep 2005

    The Diary's biggest direct marketing bugbear is not "junk mail", but incorrectly addressed junk mail. The Diary is sick and tired of receiving mail addressed to "The Diary", rather than Lord Diary of Cricklewood.

  • Why is everyone talking about anything but digital switchover?

    Thu, 8 Sep 2005

    The TV industry is in the middle of its flagship conference season, so you might expect the imminent analogue switch-off to be in the news. Far from it - it hasn't even made the agenda

  • Wickes shortlist

    Thu, 8 Sep 2005

    Wickes, the DIY retailer, has shortlisted Carat, Mediaedge/CIA, BJK&E, MediaCom, BLM and OMD for its £6.

  • Will Anderson drive a red-top revival at NI?

    Thu, 8 Sep 2005

    The departure of Mike Anderson, managing director of the Evening Standard, has provoked a swirl of rumours about Standard Lite's imminent demise. That may simply be wishful thinking on the part of Associated Newspapers' rivals. What's more pertinent is that Lite was never likely to provide a long-term solution to the Standard's chronic circulation and revenue problems. Nor was a man of Anderson's energy and ambition likely to be around long enough to test the theory's validity.

  • Will Barclays' customers really 'have a nice day'?

    Thu, 8 Sep 2005

    Although Barclays has picked pioneering American banker Deanna Oppenheimer to transform customer services at its 2,000-strong branch network, many observers are sceptical that she will bring about anything other than cosmetic changes.

  • Wm Grant hands Lowe Athens £2m global brief

    Thu, 8 Sep 2005

    William Grant & Sons has appointed Lowe Athens to the £2m global advertising business for its scotch whisky brand Grant's, following a six-way pitch.

  • Worshipful Company of Marketors to advise Malta

    Thu, 8 Sep 2005

    The Worshipful Company of Marketors is sending a group of 26 members to Malta this month to advise the Mediterranean island on marketing issues. The team, led by current Master, Sir Paul Judge, aims to come up with marketing solutions to help develop Malta's economy.

  • Yahoo! UK loses commercial boss

    Thu, 8 Sep 2005

    Yahoo! UK commercial director Alison Reay left the company last week, apparently without a job to go to. Her departure follows the appointment two weeks ago of Mark Chippendale, the ex-director of sales for Sky Media, to the new role of regional vice-president of media sales for Yahoo! Europe (MW August 25).

  • You ain't never caught a rabbit you're just a fibreglass canine

    Thu, 8 Sep 2005

    It may look like the type of thing advertised in Sunday newspaper magazines, advertised as "If the King was reincarnated as a dog", with tins of cheeseburger dog food and a "lovingly crafted" wiggling pelvis, but the imaginatively titled "Hound Dog" has been created for an altogether more worthy cause.

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