The Times’ low-price strategy has had an impressive impact on circulation, but it has proved harder to translate this success into increasing advertising revenue. However, there are signs this may be changing.
Mars shakes up marketing by appointing former Bates chief to oversee all European advertising
Cadbury Schweppes is taking on Pepsi’s “alternative” soft drink Mountain Dew with the launch of a rival called Raging Hog. Like Mountain Dew, Raging Hog is a neon green colour. It is sold in luminous pink cans and is available in a range of fruit flavours, including lemon. The drink is being marketed by Coca-Cola […]
The BBC has appointed Rupert Miles, publishing director of Radio Times, to lead the attack on CompuServe and America On Line as a provider of online news and information services. The new venture, called BBC Online, will tap into the corporation’s news, publishing and programming resources to provide information, either through the Internet or accessed […]
Given all the hidden costs of buying a car under personal contract purchase plans, David Sumner Smith says their future is bleak now that more straightforward hire schemes are available to the consumer.
The satellite channels’ viewing share is already on the increase, and the arrival of digital TV means even more options will become available for viewers and advertisers
The cable TV industry is reviewing its 12m generic marketing campaign following internal research that its ads, starring Dawn French, have turned off viewers. The Cable Communications Association, which is running the campaign through J Walter Thompson, says the campaign is now part of a “strategy review”. The rethink has stemmed from internal research conducted […]
A Budweiser advertising campaign for the UK has been axed after creating uproar in the US, where it was accused of racism after depicting American Indians as drunks. The ad, sanctioned by brewer Anheuser-Busch, shows an American Indian truck driver in search of a beer. London agency BMP DDB’s creation ran on TV and in […]
Economies of scale and distribution, certainly; Bass getting back on top, probably; marketing – negligible by comparison. Such is the conventional view of the forces driving Bass’ takeover of Carlsberg-Tetley. Like all saloon-bar wisdom, it misses the less obvious. The short- and medium-term cost savings in such a deal are undeniable but, in the longer […]
Scott Lynds, the sponsorship, media sales and production company, has relaunched as the Big Group, five months after losing managing partner Simon Lynds. The name change is designed to reposition the group as a total marketing communications company. After Lynds’ departure, the company suffered a succession of account losses on its media sales and sponsorship […]
Superdrug is screening its first TV advertising as its battle with Boots hots up but, as Kay Atwal argues, it has its work cut out for it. Video diaries from satisfied shoppers are the latest weapon adopted by Superdrug in its effort to steal market share from its main high street rival Boots. The diaries […]
George Miller is probably Britain’s oldest working salesman. The 83 year-old is a sales rep for Pricemaster and still travels the country in his company car, selling adhesive labels. George says: “They’ll have to shoot me to stop. I don’t want to retire.” Now George is writing a book about his long career, giving advice […]
Vauxhall plans to outflank Ford with a secret new finance programme to boost August and September “P” registrations of the Vectra car. The GM-owned car giant will this week confidentially notify its dealers of the buyer incentive, to avoid the launch of copycat schemes by rivals. August registrations are crucial, accounting for 25 per cent […]
The messy business of agencies over-trading with TV contractors has often been swept under the carpet, and small companies tend to be the ones to lose out. But the practice can’t go on for much longer, argues Paul Prince. Paul Prince is joint