Month: July 1997

AOL forced into data climbdown

Marketing Week

AOL, the world’s leading online service provider, has been forced into an embarrassing climbdown over plans to pass on its customer’s telephone numbers to telemarketers, following criticism in the US. The company, which has 8 million customers worldwide and 200,000 UK subscribers, denies it ever planned “to sell customer telephone numbers on the open market”. […]

Number is up for those counting media value

Marketing Week

Numbers are not the be all and end all when it comes to evaluating an advertising medium. The public’s response to the material is what yields the coveted results, according to Terry Mansfield. Terry Mansfield is managing director of NatMags.

Two battle for 12m Calortex

Marketing Week

Calortex, the gas supply company, has shortlisted Wunderman Cato Johnson and IMP for its 12m customer loyalty account. Part of the brief will be to promote new products related to the company’s gas supply, including service contracts, energy saving schemes and warranties. IMP is the company’s agency of record, and works on the branding and […]

Chainstore Massacre

Marketing Week

The death knell has sounded for FW Woolworth amid severe profit losses. While other US discounters are faring well, its image is stuck in the past. So after 118 years the Woolworth name is disappearing.

Body Shop marketing chief quits

Marketing Week

The Body Shop’s head of marketing Sandra Pickering has quit after 18 months following the downgrading of her role in a company restructure. The shake-up positions the head of marketing under new head of communications Marina Galanti, who joined the Body Shop from Benetton in April. Pickering has overseen the new structure, which will integrate […]

Savacentre name comes under review

Marketing Week

J Sainsbury is considering changing the name of its Savacentre hypermarket chain as part of the strategic review of the business, which was announced at the company’s financial results in May. The review was launched to look at the poorly performing clothing, electricals and other non-food areas after year-end results showed profits were down 11.9 […]

Compaq moves into direct-sell PC market

Marketing Week

Personal computer manufacturer Compaq is to move into direct-selling for the first time. The move, by the fifth-largest computer manufacturer in the world, will encroach on the province of rival direct sellers like Gateway 2000 and Dell, or Amstrad-owned manufacturer Viglen. Until now, Compaq machines have only been available through retail chains such as Dixons […]

ECONOMY CLASS

Marketing Week

British Airways is considering launching a low-cost airline to stem the rise of budget operators. But with staff already up in arms over new pay and conditions, can it slash its costs enough to compete?

UK Plus redesigns to improve access times

Marketing Week

UK Plus, the Web directory service owned by Associated Newspapers, has stripped down its graphic content as part of a revamp aimed at improving access time for users. The site redesign also features improved search functions for users trying to pinpoint harder-to-find content on the Web. Paul Zwillenberg, managing director of Associated Electronic Publishing, says […]

TSMS appoints outsider to top job

Marketing Week

Airtime sales house TSMS has recruited Rosie Faulkner, board director of TMD Carat, as its marketing and client sales director. Jerry Hill, chief executive of TSMS, says he deliberately opted to recruit a TV industry outsider with a media planning background for the role. Faulkner is expected to join in October. The appointment follows Hill’s […]