Procter & Gamble is freezing capital investment and new marketing initiatives in what could be one of its worst crises of the past 20 years, according to a confidential memo from head of European operations Wolfgang Berndt.
Beck’s Bier has signed a 2m deal with Channel 4 to sponsor its drama output.
The Independent newspaper – a fervent opponent of predatory pricing -has cut its cover price in the North and Midlands in a bid to encourage new readers. The newspaper’s price has been slashed from 45p to 30p to coincide with the launch of a new branding campaign which broke in cinemas last Friday. The price […]
It’s fascinating to learn from Simon Glasgow that Virgin Clothing is a wholesaler not a retailer (Letters, October 22). While pointing out that he won’t be attracting the wrath of his retail partners by selling clothes through the Web – at least for the moment – he studiously avoided the article’s additional reference to Diesel, […]
Channel 4 has raided BSkyB’s sports department for a controller to lead the network’s coverage of cricket, which it wrested from the BBC earlier this month. The network has appointed Mark Sharman to the newly-created role of controller of sport. He is currently deputy head of Sky sports. Sharman replaces the network’s commissioning editor of […]
Esther Dyson is the woman the computer industry listens to. The New York Times called her “the most powerful woman in the ‘Net-erati’”, while Vanity Fair magazine included her as one of the 50 most powerful people in the “New Establishment”. Dyson is an evangelist for the liberating effects of new technology, travelling the world […]
Look through any magazine carrying recruitment advertising and one fact stands out – ads for classic brands put as much emphasis on the brand’s message as they do on the details of the job. Those involved in the recruitment industry agree that an opp-ortunity to work on a classic, British-based packaged goods product will provide […]
A merger is an emotional event which has to be handled with the utmost care by senior staff. It appears Tim Mellors has taken this on board. Mellors gave a poignant speech at a get-together to launch “The Revolution” – the rebirth of Grey – following the merger of Grey Advertising and Mellors Reay. From […]
Holiday company Mark Warner Leisure has appointed Banks Hoggins O’Shea to its 1m advertising account after a three-way pitch. Banks Hoggins pitched against incumbent Quintessential Advertising, which held the account for four years, and the Arc Group of Companies. The media account, previously held by Bygraves Bushell Valadares & Sheldon (BBVS), will also be handled […]
UK online auction house Quixell is to launch a range of “bucket shop” travel services aiming to offer cut-price holidays to consumers. The company, which to date has specialised in matching sellers and buyers of discounted computer equipment, electronic goods and jewellery online, launched the first of its travel services on Monday, offering holiday homes […]
Pharmaceutical giant Roche Products is considering extending its Pro-Plus brand into other areas, including a caffeine-based energy drink. Richard Hollies, marketing manager for Pro-Plus, says: “With a product that is growing more than 50 per cent a year, it would be strange not to leverage it. But there are no specific plans at the moment.” […]
Nearly half the UK’s marketing managers expect to miss their current sales targets, while confidence among marketers has fallen to its lowest ever level, an authoritative new survey claims. The findings have added fuel to calls by business leaders for a further cut in UK interest rates. More importantly for marketers, nearly one in five […]
Anti-tobacco lobbyist ASH (Action on Smoking & Health) is launching a new poster campaign calling for bigger health warnings on cigarette packets.
Your article on plain language in the financial services sector “Jargon busters” (MW October 15) was interesting, but it tended to go over old ground. Surely it’s now time to advance our understanding of this issue a little. For example, how does plain English work in the contemporary world of “brand voices”? And how exactly […]
Victory-owned Virgin Clothing Company is parting company with a further four members of its marketing department. The move follows the departure of marketing director Lesley Angus this summer. The company has decided not to replace Angus. Marketing manager Sue Powell will head the marketing team in future, which, after the latest departures, now has four […]