I welcome Stephen Hardwick’s support in his letter to Marketing Week (May 6) but I am amazed at his faith in vouchers and surprised that his clients are happy to choose from a “menu” of motivation programmes. Every company has its own unique incentive and performance improvement needs. In order to create the right solution, […]
Pretty Polly’s first advertising for its new range of bras has come under fire for being sexist and degrading to women. It is being investigated by TV regulator The Independent Television Commission. The 60-second ad, called “Wild about that bra”, features 11 writhing underwear-clad women pouting and repeating the tagline: “I’m a sex goddess” together […]
Winston Churchill thought democracy was the least worst form of government on offer, but that was before focus groups. Strange how the bons vivants thinkers of Hampstead blame advertising for all manner of bogus ills – from creating false wants, to putting up prices, to withholding information, to picking on the vulnerable, and much more […]
Maiden Outdoor is taking to the hills – 24 hills to be exact. The upwardly mobile poster contractor is sponsoring the 24 Peaks Challenge, which involves conquering 24 Lake District mountains, all over 2,400ft, within 24 hours. The 31 mile, 13,000ft ascendant Challenge sounds more like a crazy Japanese endurance tests than a charity fundraiser, […]
Allied Domecq’s beleaguered group chief executive Tony Hales has become the first casualty of the company’s decision to sell its UK retailing business to Whitbread. As the £2.3bn sale of Domecq’s 3,500 pubs and restaurants was announced to the stockmarket this week, it was revealed that Hales is to step down in favour of group […]
It was a terrific achievement for us to win the highly prized Gold IDM Business Performance Award for our client Legal and General. Although this is a unique award for business effectiveness and proven direct marketing performance, our creative work had an equally significant role to play. It is therefore disappointing that the creative shown […]
In response to Mel Saunders’ letter (MW May 13), Heinz Baked Beans did not win the baked beans price war through inertia. It won it by offering a superior product at a value for money price, supported by effective advertising. During and since the price war, the value share of Heinz Baked Beans has remained […]
I’m writing in response to last week’s article by Alan Mitchell about npd deficiencies (MW May 13). My experience is that, while the big strategic questions such as line extension versus new brand are important, the fundamental issue appears to be that large organisations have lost the ability to behave entrepreneurially. Too many companies kill […]
Pornographic sites are expected to continue to outstrip mainstream content providers in the battle for revenues well into the new millennium, according to a report by market analysts Datamonitor. A survey published this week shows that porn sites secured nearly 70 per cent of the estimated $1.4bn (£848m) online paid content market in the US […]
Major UK food producers have pledged to keep their products free of genetically modified ingredients, according to a survey by Marketing Week.
Chemicals giant DuPont has handed Saatchi and Saatchi a £50m slice of its advertising and below-the-line business.
The National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC) was shown the red card by TV’s watchdog at last week’s FA Cup final after trying to insert a virtual ad on the pitch. A consortium of companies planned to run a virtual ad on the centre circle matting on the Wembley pitch. The […]
Providing the consumer with what he or she wants, at a profit, is the foundation of sound marketing. Which is what makes genetically modified foods (GMOs) so fascinating, because they seem incapable of fulfilling either condition. UK food manufacturers, after a period of anguished internal debate, have now reached the same conclusion with devastating consequences […]
Pornographic sites are expected to continue to outstrip mainstream content providers in the battle for revenues well into the new millennium, according to a report by market analysts Datamonitor. A survey published this week shows that porn sites secured nearly 70 per cent of the estimated $1.4bn (£848m) online paid content market in the US […]
J Walter Thompson and Carat are contesting the strategic media planning accounts on an estimated &£16m of advertising for United Distillers and Vintners UK. The pitch involves the planning on Baileys Irish Cream, Smirnoff Vodka, Malibu rum, J B whisky and Tanqueray gin. It results from UDV’s surprise decision to shift its $125m global creative […]