Card villains, card cynics and card sluts are just some of the categories that consumers fall into when it comes to their attitudes towards store loyalty cards. This is according to the latest research by Argos Business Solutions (ABS) – the loyalty and incentives division of catalogue store Argos. The study was undertaken by Hallam […]
Sopexa (UK), the marketing body for the French food and wine industry, has appointed Young & Rubicam to handle its 2m Le Crunch apple account. Y&R beat D’Arcy Masius Benton & Bowles and the incumbent K Advertising to the business. Ammirati Puris Lintas was also shortlisted, but pulled out before the final pitch. The group […]
I was interested to read Jane Luker’s RetailScan on supermarkets and loyalty “Supermarkets still ahead in battle to keep customers loyal” (MW September 13). It appears that, with 36 per cent of us now holding supermarket loyalty cards, they have become little more than a marketing overhead with minimal differentiation, thereby breaking all the rules […]
It was a star-studded, glittering occasion in the heart of London’s glamorous Mayfair last week when Playboy TV relaunched itself as “sexier and sassier” than ever before. In other words, it is going downmarket, having failed to find an audience for its previous glossy US-style approach. A bevy of the new Playboy beauties were on […]
Europe’s largest computer manufacturer, Vobis, has signed an agreement with Tandy in a third attempt to break into the UK market. The deal means that Tandy will stock Vobis personal computers and peripherals in its 348 outlets nationwide. The German manufacturer will spend about 3m on an advertising campaign before Christmas to get its brand […]
Using all its corporate muscle to stomp on a sandwich bar owner is not good for McDonald’s public image
“The prize is right” (MW September 4) was an interesting look at the returning enthusiasm for premiums and incentives. But while singing the praise-worthy merits of the various schemes, one of the most valid opening points was not explored. That “first-in-market” schemes create an uplift that is then hindered by the subsequent introduction of copycat […]
The good ship Oriana provided plenty of opportunities for deal making at this year’s Marketing Forum. One evening, after a presentation from Rover Cars the Diary had dinner with Leeds agency Poulter. At the table were two of the agency’s directors, as well as Airtours marketing director Richard Carrick, Amtico marketing manager Claire Bowen and […]
Faced with a flagging brand and poor results, BMW has drafted in its men to reverse Rover’s flagging fortunes.
George Pitcher in his piece “One2One to face UK regulation with US-style marketing plans” (MW September 27) sadly got some of his facts wrong and therefore his key conclusions. A new network launching tomorrow clearly cannot simply launch nationally. None of the current players did. It costs billions to build all the sites and takes […]
Microsoft and about 40 other manufacturers are to launch a palm-top computer as a challenge to Psion’s dominance in Europe. The new machines will use an adapted Windows format called Windows CE. Microsoft claims the new palm-top screens will resemble existing PC screens and will be easier for PC owners to use. Because both the […]
Advertisers are in the dark over the positioning of Channel 5. Sceptics question whether it can deliver on its early promises and how it will fare in a market made more competitive by the launch of digital TV. Nevertheless, the channel will be
The Incorporated Society of British Advertisers has clashed with an agency over research showing that viewers would change channels if faced with more TV advertising. ISBA director general John Hooper slammed the survey by CIA MediaLab as “useless” and “unhelpful and pointless” in front of delegates of the Marketing Forum conference last week. The survey […]
Mars Confectionery has made the final appointment in its far-reaching restructure of European marketing management. Sara Weller, UK marketing manager for the Mars group of brands, has been promoted to consumer development director, a pan-European role which involves understanding how the consumer interacts with all the Mars brands. Her appointment, announced internally at Mars on […]
Orange has hired Hilary Atherton as a “locum marketing director” to replace Lisa Gernon temporarily, though sources suggest the appointment will be made permanent. Orange, however, insists the hunt for a permanent replacement for Gernon, who quit as group director of marketing in the summer (MW August 23), will continue while Atherton is in position. […]