Month: January 1997

In a superficial world, image consultants are like miracle workers. But surely even they can’t help the England cricket team

Mediapolis has picked up a combined 8m of UK media buying from the US Nasdaq stock market and the Spanish Tourist Board. Nasdaq, which specialises in technology stocks, has earmarked 6.3m for a TV campaign to persuade people in the UK to invest in the stocks it lists. The advertising is created by Mediapolis’ sister […]

Daniel Percy, 15-year-old Surrey schoolboy and acting managing director of AOL’s UK operation, has shrugged off suggestions that a wave of lawsuits and backlash among US customers which dominate AOL’s 8 million subscriber base will affect marketing and customer service plans in Britain. Percy, now back at school after taking the helm at AOL UK […]

Pocket money-priced sachets of spirits dubbed “alcotots” could soon be on sale in UK stores, to the alarm of health lobbyists. Independent grocery chains have been approached by a company called Churchill Foods – the UK selling agent for the dispensing machines, which are imported from South Africa. Churchill Foods wants the retailers to install […]

Last week’s collapse in supermarket share prices overshadowed pricing changes at Asda. But their combined impact could lead the supermarket chains down the path to a price war.

Not many television chief executives come to personify the channels they head. But, in Michael Grade’s case, the man was the brand. The outsize cigar stubbed in an ashtray outside his office was like a flag over Windsor Castle, denoting the chief was in. The ubiquitous red braces signalled flamboyance in a world of grey […]

Britain stands on the edge of the digital revolution, yet applicants for digital terrestrial licences seem less than enthusiastic about its prospects. There are still several problems which need to be ironed out before the multichannel system

US brewer Anheuser-Busch is launching its own jeans and clothing range in the UK next month under the Budweiser brand. The move makes the brewer the first alcoholic drinks company to break into the clothing market. The range is aimed at the core market for Budweiser drinkers, 18- to 24-year-old males, and is being launched […]

The Diary is going to be on television! Last week, at Regent Street restaurant L’Odeon, a commercial for telephone bank First Direct, was being shot as diners sat down to lunch. At one table, the Diary was entertaining a team from agency Barker & Ralston in customary hilarious fashion. Shooting Stars star Bob Mortimer, who […]

Sports and leisure wear manufacturer Cotton Oxford has launched a Website aimed at promoting and retailing the company’s range of rugby replica kit online. The company, which supplies 60 per cent of UK Premier Division rugby clubs, and site developer Xplora aim to develop original editorial content to drive traffic onto the site. The site […]

Bass Brewers is losing the senior marketer responsible for its market-leading lager brand Carling. Dave Carruthers, who has been director of brands for Carling since 1992, has resigned to join South African Breweries in Johannesburg as head of brands marketing. Since Carruthers’ appointment, the brand has seen volume and market share grow for four successive […]

This week’s launch of an efficient consumer response scorecard not only helps companies planning category management in groceries to choose their partners more successfully but proves how ECR can assist marketers to look at problems from a

Channel 5 has paid back ITV for its months of attacks by deciding this week to exclude ITV airtime from its 10m to 15m launch advertising campaign. Instead the new channel has decided to concentrate its budget on satellite TV, press and poster advertising. The launch campaign will break in March in preparation for the […]

Toshiba’s plans to launch into the UK consumer personal computer market have been put on hold, according to sources in the company. Toshiba is believed to have decided that margins for both the retailers and manufacturers in the UK market are very tight, making things difficult for a new entrant. The company has already launched […]

The loss of Sainsbury’s and Ford has severely restricted Shell’s Smart card scheme. And, as Sean Brierley reports, their departure calls into question whether competitive companies can work together to build loyalty