The Diary has noted an improvement in the linguistic skills of Courage’s pub landlords. Manchester-born Walter Hall, who runs the Courage-owned George Inn at Bathampton near Bristol, has hit out at M&C Saatchi’s ads for Courage Best, which claim “The heads are thicker up North”. Walter is certainly no thicko, for he is quoted by […]
Sponsors risk being held liable for the events they sponsor, leaving themselves open to multimillion-pound lawsuits, delegates were told at a conference in London yesterday (Tuesday). Too few enter into deals with adequate contracts and legal cover, warned Warren Phelops, head of the sports law group at solicitor Nicholson Graham & Jones, in his address […]
George Pitcher is joint managing director of media consultancy Luther Pendragon
Whitbread’s vouchers can now be redeemed at more than 3,000 outlets such as Country Club resorts and Thresher Wine Shops The use of vouchers and catalogues instead of merchandise as a sales incentive has been growing in recent years and the companies supplying such services are keen to make their products more flexible and easier […]
Alas and alack! Would that your history was as good as Iain Mur ray’s marvellous analysis, “Queen of Hearts won’t go quietly” (MW February 2). As a serious Richard III anorak (yes, there are those thus afflicted), I take deep exception to the further blackening of his character, and am rushing to his defence. Far […]
Midland Bank’s head of group card development, Ken Howes, is leaving next month. A Midland spokesman says Howes is going to work at the London office of US consultancy Edgar Dunn as a partner. He was involved with the Mondex trials in Swindon, Internet development and new technology payment systems. He is unlikely to be […]
BT is on the verge of signing up Scottish comedian Billy Connolly to star in its TV advertising campaign. But BT claims he will not be replacing Bob Hoskins. BT’s advertising manager Sholto Douglas-Home says: “We are looking at introducing other ‘guides’ alongside Bob Hoskins but he is not being replaced.” Connolly is believed to […]
The old rules of engagement count for nothing in the new climate of in-your-face aggression in the advertising industry
The first Incentive World Show has attracted 75 exhibitors. The event which takes place from February 20 to 22 at Wembley Exhibition Centre. Household names signed up by organiser Avenue Exhibitions include Next Retail, Kodak, Kingfisher, Samsonite, Berol, Garrard, Wedgwood, Sainsbury’s, Stuart Crystal and Burberrys Incentive Services. Buyers who pre-register for complimentary admission also get […]
Orange has always had a reputation for breaking the mould in its products and advertising, so it was no surprise when the company became official sponsor of the colourful Cirque du Soleil in London. Jeremy Thwaites reports on an innovative campaign Since the launch of Orange in April 1994, the battle among airtime providers has […]
Kevin Gavaghan is heading The Telegraph’s financial venture, the first in a range of new services
A north London newspaper recently ran a story – headlined “Horrified mother’s cutting comment” – in which an angry local mother whose child used a pair of scissors distributed as part of an unsolicited mailshot to give himself a haircut. The scissors were sent out to underline a cable TV company’s advertising, based on the […]
Sponsors risk being held liable for the events they sponsor, leaving themselves open to multimillion-pound lawsuits, delegates were told at a conference in London yesterday (Tuesday). Too few enter into deals with adequate contracts and legal cover, warned Warren Phelops, head of the sports law group at solicitor Nicholson Graham & Jones, in his address […]
Being a firm believer in high journalistic standards, the Diary thinks that giving balanced coverage of issues is essential. But last week, the BBC took the issue of balance to new extremes. The Diary was asked to take part in a round-table discussion on Radio 5 Live’s Drive Time programme about alcoholic colas and lemonades, […]
Strong advertising has put Levi-Strauss way ahead of its rivals and given its 501 brand cult status. Michele Simpson finds out where this leaves its competitors and what they are doing to win a share of the market