Marketing Week back issues from March 2006:
Diageo shakes up industry with biggest launch since Smirnoff Ice.(Quinn)(Brief Article)
Mar 02, 2006 ... Diageo is plotting to shake-up the drinks industry with the launch of a new fruit-based alcoholic drink called Quinn's, aimed at tackling excessive drinking. One bottle of Quinn's will count as one unit of alcohol. The drinks giant's biggest launch since Smirnoff Ice in 1999, ...
Formula 1 needs to market itself better to youth - Fuller.(Brief Article)
Mar 02, 2006 ... Formula 1 could be "as big as the Olympics" but needs to market itself better to younger consumers, says music impresario Simon Fuller. In an exclusive interview with Marketing Week, he says that F1 is not being talked about "around the country's water coolers" in the same ...
Future unclear after death of RHM head.(RHM Bread Bakeries)(Brief Article)
Mar 02, 2006 ... The future of the top marketing role at RHM Bread Bakeries is unclear following the death of divisional marketing director Kate Taylor. It is understood that Taylor, who had been in the job for a year, had been suffering from cancer. It is thought that she had been away from ...
China enraged by trademark.(Brief Article)
Mar 02, 2006 ... China is reported to be incensed at an attempt by a Gibraltar-based company to register "Not made in China" as a Europe-wide trademark. The application, by Alvito, is being processed by the Office for Harmonization in the Internal Market (Trade Marks and Designs), which will be ...
Morgan Stanley set to relaunch Goldfish.(Goldfish, the credit card )(Brief Article)
Mar 02, 2006 ... Goldfish, the credit card brand bought by Morgan Stanley's UK consumer banking group, is to relaunch later this year in an effort to rebuild awareness of the brand. Morgan Stanley, which recently appointed Grey London to its #50m through-the-line account (MW last week), is ...
Comet hunts marketing chief after top-level rejig.(appointment of Bob Darke and Simon Fox )(Brief Article)
Mar 02, 2006 ... Comet is searching for a head of marketing after promoting Bob Darke to commercial director, with a seat on the board, as part of a management reshuffle. Darke's new remit encompasses commercial, supply chain and direct channel functions. He will report to Comet managing ...
Thistle finds sales boss at Choice.(appointment of Stuart Leven )(Brief Article)
Mar 02, 2006 ... Thistle Hotels has appointed Stuart Leven as sales and marketing director, replacing Richard Adler who left without a job to go to last month. Reporting to chief executive Tim Scoble, Leven joins Thistle Hotels from Choice Hotels Europe (CHE), where he was director of sales and ...
Coke, AG Barr launch drives to compete with Red Bull.(Sprite 3G and Relentless )
Mar 02, 2006 ... Coca-Cola's Sprite 3G and Relentless and rival AG Barr's Irn Bru 32 are to launch an advertising assault in order to ensure they provide serious competition to top-seller Red Bull in the saturated energy drink market. Retailers say there is no more room on their shelves for ...
Analysts urge P&G to stick to strengths.(Procter & Gamble Co.)(Brief Article)
Mar 02, 2006 ... Procter & Gamble's (P&G) decision to pull the plug on its prescription drug research programme shows that specialist functions are best left to specialists, according to industry analysts. Experts say that the US consumer goods giant is increasingly recognising that it should ...
Chupa Chups rolls out Mentos revamp.(Mentos)(Brief Article)
Mar 02, 2006 ... Chupa Chups Perfetti van Melle is relaunching the Mentos brand and introducing what it claims is the first sugar-free chewy mint later this month. It is the confectionery company's biggest launch of the year. The brand, which is the world's second biggest confectionery brand, ...
Wash&Go to retain football association.(Football League)(Head and Shoulders and Pantene)(Brief Article)
Mar 02, 2006 ... Procter & Gamble (P&G) has reaffirmed its support for Wash&Go with a new tie-up with the Football League. The Wash&Go "Good Sport" award has been created to support the latest addition to the Wash&Go range, Wash&Go Sport, which includes green tea, lemongrass and mint, and ...
IN BRIEF: Orange to enter the fixed-line telephony market.(Brief Article)
Mar 02, 2006 ... Orange is to enter the fixed-line telephony market, the first major move of its kind by a mobile phone operator. The new ...
IN BRIEF: Powergen prices.(Brief Article)
Mar 02, 2006 ... Powergen, the utility supplier, is putting up its gas prices by 24.4%, the highest ever single rate hike in the sector, and electricity prices by ...
IN BRIEF: Domino's Pizza profits.(Brief Article)
Mar 02, 2006 ... Domino's Pizza UK & Ireland has announced a 26.6% increase in pre-tax profits to #11.2m for the 52 weeks to Janaury 1. Sales ...
IN BRIEF: MFI review.(Brief Article)
Mar 02, 2006 ... MFI has confirmed it is to axe almost half the kitchen and bedroom products it sells. Concluding a company-wide review, chief executive Matthew Ingle ...
IN BRIEF: Which? renews calls.
Mar 02, 2006 ... Which? has renewed its calls for the formation of a Nutrition Council, and is also calling on the Government to introduce ...
IN BRIEF: P and G claims supremacy.(Brief Article)
Mar 02, 2006 ... Procter & Gamble chief executive AG Lafley has claimed supremacy over Unilever in sales of household goods in emerging markets. He ...
PEOPLE: Loyalty Management International.(Brief Article)
Mar 02, 2006 ... Loyalty Management International, the company that is overseeing the expansion of Nectar (MW January 19), has promoted Steve Lobb to managing director. Alex Moorhead, previously Loyalty ...
PEOPLE: Colgate Palmolive.(Brief Article)
Mar 02, 2006 ... Colgate Palmolive has announced that president-chief operating officer Ian Cook will become chief executive. Cook will ...
PEOPLE: Chrysler.(appointment of Simon Elliott )(Brief Article)
Mar 02, 2006 ... Chrysler's UK managing director Simon Elliott is leaving at the end of March to become executive director of sales, marketing, aftersales and ...
PEOPLE: Lloyds TSB.
Mar 02, 2006 ... Lloyds TSB group marketing director Helen Stevenson has quit and will leave the bank at the end of March. Former Western Union chief executive Alan Silberstein has been ...
PEOPLE: EMAP Radio.(Brief Article)
Mar 02, 2006 ... EMAP Radio managing director of national brands Shaun Gregory is leaving after ten years. His team will now report to managing director of radio Dee Ford. Gregory has spent the past 16 ...
EasyMobile U-turn into high street handset sales.(Brief Article)
Mar 02, 2006 ... EasyMobile, the mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) that sells SIM cards over the internet, is launching a range of handsets in high street stores. The no-frills service, a joint venture between Stelios Haji-Ioannou's easyGroup and Danish telecoms company TDC, was launched ...
Renault UK recalls Bouvier to lead the marketing team.(appointment of Emmanuel Bouvier )(Brief Article)
Mar 02, 2006 ... Renault UK has appointed Emmanuel Bouvier as its new marketing director. He replaces Olivier Genereux, who becomes marketing director for the Asia and Africa region. Bouvier, who reports to UK managing director Philippe Talou-Derible in his new role, joined Renault as an area ...
Handbag.com launches card.(Brief Article)
Mar 02, 2006 ... Women's website Handbag.com is launching its own-branded credit card. The Handbag Visa card is said to be one of a raft of brand extensions planned by the site this year. The bright pink card is aimed at women who love to shop and offers discounts at retail partners including ...
Global Brands snaps up former Budvar boss.(Brief Article)
Mar 02, 2006 ... John Harley, the former chief executive of Budweiser Budvar in the UK, has resurfaced as the beer brands director at vodka-specialist Global Brands. In his newly created role, the marketer will be responsible for bringing imported beer brands to the UK, with the company having ...
ASA deems Konami ad irresponsible.(Advertising Standards Authority)(Brief Article)
Mar 02, 2006 ... Konami of Europe has been slammed by the Advertising Standards Authority for an ad for computer game Crime Life Gang Wars showing a group of black men holding guns, alongside the headline: "Rule the streets or fall by the wayside." Konami has argued that the men - members of the ...
ASA criticize NSPCC.(Advertising Standards Authority criticize The National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children)(Brief Article)
Mar 02, 2006 ... The ASA has criticised children's charity NSPCC for a mailing that looked like a birthday card but was part of a campaign aimed at raising awareness of child abuse. The ASA upheld a complaint that the NSPCC was ...
Farmers' Union of Wales complains to ASA.(Advertising Standards Authority)(Brief Article)
Mar 02, 2006 ... The Farmers' Union of Wales has complained to the ASA about a press campaign for animal rights charity RSPCA, which appeals for public ...
Analysis: Has Morgan Stanley landed a winner with Goldfish?(Goldfish)
Mar 02, 2006 ... Morgan Stanley, the US financial services giant, has signalled a renewed assault on the UK credit card market by announcing it is to relaunch Goldfish, the beleaguered card brand it bought from Lloyds TSB. The #175m acquisition by Morgan Stanley's UK consumer banking arm last week was ...
Coke tests non-diet Lime variant.(advertising)(Brief Article)
Mar 02, 2006 ... Coca-Cola is to spend #1.5m launching Coke with Lime in a green bottle later this month. The drink is initially planned to be a limited edition, which will be on shelves throughout the summer. Diet Coke with Lime is a cornerstone of the company's permanent ...
Saga health and wellbeing range targets fit over-50s.(Brief Article)
Mar 02, 2006 ... Saga Group, the specialist over-50s service provider, is preparing an assault on the health and wellbeing sector. The group is said to be talking to national gym chains about a co- branded membership scheme, with classes and activities tailored to the needs of older men and ...
Analysis: Sharp aims for high-end electronics market.
Mar 02, 2006 ... Sharp may have been seen as a safe mid-market consumer electronics brand during the 1980s and 1990s but recent years have seen it repositioning through its focus on high-end TV technology. The company sees flat panel LCD screens as a key part of a three- pronged strategy, which ...
IPG plans Lowe group rebrand to sever ties with founder Sir Frank.(Interpublic Group)(Brief Article)
Mar 02, 2006 ... Interpublic Group is understood to be planning to rebrand the beleaguered Lowe advertising network in an attempt to sever its association with Sir Frank Lowe. It is thought that IPG is using the working title 24 for the network, and is planning to rename each of the network's ...
Charles Worthington haircare hunts agency.(Brief Article)
Mar 02, 2006 ... Charles Worthington, the luxury haircare brand, is looking for an agency to handle its multi-million pound UK creative business. The PZ Cussons-owned brand, co-created by celebrity hairdresser Charles Worthington, has been in talks with a number of undisclosed agencies about ...
AA unveils TV ads that show 'caring' side of patrols.(automobile associations)(Brief Article)
Mar 02, 2006 ... Delaney Lund Knox Warren & Partners is to launch a television campaign for the AA this week. It will also run in cinemas and will be fully integrated with digital and direct marketing work created by Dialogue DLKW. The ads are an evolution of the #18m "You've Got AA ...
IN BRIEF: Marketing Store appointed.(Dyson)(Brief Article)
Mar 02, 2006 ... The Marketing Store has been appointed to handle Dyson's customer relationship management account in the UK. The agency won the business ...
IN BRIEF: 23red appointed.(West Indies Rum and Spirits Producers Association)(Brief Article)
Mar 02, 2006 ... 23red has been appointed to handle the integrated marketing business for the West Indies Rum and Spirits Producers Association ....
IN BRIEF: Campaign for T-Mobile.(Brief Article)
Mar 02, 2006 ... Saatchi & Saatchi has created a #10m advertising campaign for T-Mobile to promote its Flext tariff. The campaign ...
IN BRIEF: Principles wins account for Salton Europe.(Principles Agency)(Brief Article)
Mar 02, 2006 ... Principles Agency, the Leeds-based full service agency, has won the #6m advertising account for Salton Europe, ...
IN BRIEF: Omnicom appointment.(Brief Article)
Mar 02, 2006 ... Bruce Nelson, the controversial former Interpublic executive who left during last year's Bank of America review, is following the $600m (#342m) ...
IN BRIEF: John Lewis reviewing advertising account.(Brief Article)
Mar 02, 2006 ... John Lewis is reviewing its #13m advertising account, handled by Burkitt DDB. The review, managed by the AAR, will be ...
McDonald's in agency talks over quality of food brief.(I'm Lovin' It)(Brief Article)
Mar 02, 2006 ... McDonald's is talking to roster networks Leo Burnett and TBWA Worldwide about an advertising brief to promote the quality of the fast food chain's food offering. It is not clear when the campaign is due to break. At the same time, it is also thought to be talking to all its ...
New Campaign: Walkers Crisps.(Brief Article)
Mar 02, 2006 ... Walkers Crisps, the UK's top-selling crisp brand, has scrapped its "No More Mr Nice Guy" campaign with a view to using brand icon Gary Lineker to educate customers about its improved health credentials. The campaign, which was created by Abbott Mead Vickers.BBDO and breaks ...
Mercedes sets up integrated ad team.(Brief Article)
Mar 02, 2006 ... Shop, formerly known as Campbell Doyle Dye, has strengthened its grip on Mercedes-Benz's #13m advertising account with the formation of a joint agency- client business unit. Resources from Mercedes, Shop and Zulu agencies Claydon Heeley and Agency Republic, which handle the ...
More Than campaign moves on from the dog.(Brief Article)
Mar 02, 2006 ... Insurance brand More Than is to introduce the strapline "We do more" in a new campaign created by Fallon, which won the #35m account last year. The work, which breaks next week, marks the end of Lucky the Dog. The strapline also reflects the Royal & SunAlliance-owned ...
Zulu spears Invesco #2m direct brief.(Brief Article)
Mar 02, 2006 ... Omnicom's newly formed Zulu network has won the #2m below-the-line account for Invesco Perpetual. The news follows the appointment of Shop to handle the company's #7m advertising business last month. Zulu is understood to have pitched against incumbent The Gate, and ...
Analysis: Fear of disaster in a fragile ad industry.(advertising industry)
Mar 02, 2006; ... As "an industry run on gossip", in the words of one senior agency figure, advertising can often appear to the outside world as frivolous and fragile. Clients and other observers witnessing the ongoing spat between WPP Group chief executive Sir Martin Sorrell and his former top Italian ...
IN BRIEF: PPA targeting agencies with new guide.(new guide out- lining the opportunities)(Periodical Publishers Association)(Brief Article)
Mar 02, 2006 ... The Periodical Publishers Association is targeting agencies with a new guide out- lining the opportunities presented by the children's magazine ...
IN BRIEF: Pearson profits.(Pearson )(Brief Article)
Mar 02, 2006 ... Pearson has reported a rise in pre-tax profits of 23% to #422m for 2005, as advertising revenue improved by 9% ...
IN BRIEF: Manchester United close to signing sponsorship deal.(Mansion)(Brief Article)
Mar 02, 2006 ... Manchester United is understood to be close to signing a #60m shirt sponsorship deal with online gambling company Mansion. The deal ...
IN BRIEF: EMAP selling French magazine business.(Tele Star)(Brief Article)
Mar 02, 2006 ... EMAP is selling its struggling French magazine business and returning the proceeds to investors. It expects to complete the sale, ...
IN BRIEF: Abbey parts company with MindShare's mOne.(Abbey)(Brief Article)
Mar 02, 2006 ... Abbey has parted company with MindShare's mOne, which held the bank's #8m online media account. Carat is tipped to pick up the ...
Ofcom reveals falls in TV viewers and ad revenues.(Brief Article)
Mar 02, 2006 ... Overall television reach has declined in the two years to December 2005, according to figures published this week by media watchdog Ofcom. Its interim communications market report also reveals that total TV advertising revenues in quarters two and three last year declined by 1% ...
Virgin improves offer to advertisers with changes to radio team.(Virgin Radio )(Brief Article)
Mar 02, 2006 ... Virgin Radio has restructured its senior sales team in a move aimed at improving its advertising offer to clients and agencies. It is the latest change to the team made by sales director Nick Hewat, who joined the station from GCap Media late last year. The changes will see ...
New Campaign: 118 118.(Telephone directory service )(Brief Article)
Mar 02, 2006 ... Telephone directory service 118 118 is launching an outdoor campaign featuring catchphrases from hit 1980s television show The A-Team. To support the brand's current TV work, which features the programme's theme tune and the 118 118 runners, Clear Channel is running a "sonic" ...
Analysis: Press marketers in the dock over giveaway culture.
Mar 02, 2006 ... Free DVDs and CDs mounted on newspapers' front pages have become a source of worry to the bosses of the nationals. They condemn the use of DVDs as an expensive way of boosting circulation, which fails to promote loyalty among consumers; yet marketing teams seem unable or unwilling to ...
Pubs attempt to take advantage of smoking ban.(Brief Article)
Mar 02, 2006 ... Pubs are looking to cash in on the Government's smoking ban by offering advertisers space in outdoor areas being created for smokers. A raft of planning applications is expected to be lodged with local authorities as pubs attempt to keep smokers happy by extending beer garden ...
Mansell sells ads on Web and car to fund racing bid.(Scott Mansell )(Brief Article)
Mar 02, 2006 ... Racing driver Scott Mansell is attempting to emulate Alex Tew's "Million Dollar Homepage" method of selling advertising over the internet - on his car. Mansell, 20, is being hailed as a future Formula 1 driver and is competing in the US Indy Pro series this year - the ...
Manning Gottlieb OMD wins #4m Police Support recruitment push.(Brief Article)
Mar 02, 2006 ... Manning Gottlieb OMD has been appointed to handle a #4m project for the Home Office to boost the number of police community support officers (PCSOs). The agency beat ZenithOptimedia and Mediaedge: CIA to win the business, following a pitch that was run by COI Communications. ...
Razor giant in 'media first' FHM promotion.(Quattro Titanium razor )(Brief Article)
Mar 02, 2006 ... Wilkinson Sword has signed a six-figure deal with EMAP to promote its latest Quattro Titanium razor in the men's monthly title FHM. The promotion will run in the April and May issues of FHM. The Quattro Titanium activity will start in the April issue with a double-page spread ...
DVD rental service to push film release on envelopes.(Lovefilm, online digital video disks rental service)(Brief Article)
Mar 02, 2006 ... Lovefilm, the UK online DVD rental service, is linking up with Momentum Pictures to promote the film company's new DVD release, Lord of War, on the back of its distinctive mailing envelopes. Lovefilm sends out 750,000 film and computer game DVDs every month. A Lovefilm ...
IN BRIEF: Askjeeves.com launches ad campaign.
Mar 02, 2006 ... Askjeeves.com has launched a Europe-wide ad campaign to mark its rebranding as Ask.com. The relaunch is being supported with press, outdoor, ...
IN BRIEF: Circus Street appointment.(Richard Townsend appointed as partner)(Brief Article)
Mar 02, 2006 ... Starcom Digital's former digital managing director Richard Townsend has joined digital start-up Circus Street as a partner. Circus Street was set up in September by ...
IN BRIEF: O2 links up with InfoSpace.(Brief Article)
Mar 02, 2006 ... O2 has linked up with mobile content and infrastructure solutions provider InfoSpace to give consumers access to classic British pub games on their mobiles via O2's I-mode service. The partnership will see the two launching iPub, ...