Toy manufacturer Mattel has taken a change of direction for its Barbie doll advertising with a new lifestyle campaign through Ogilvy & Mather. The campaign, featuring the tag line ‘Be Anything’, will be launched this month and takes the focus off particular products or dolls for the first time. Instead it concentrates on girls’ lifestyles, […]
DreamWorks has lost its European head of consumer products, Simon Spalding, as a result of Universal Studios taking over the Hollywood studio’s merchandising activities. Spalding has already left the company, and is working on several consultancy film projects. He was DreamWorks’ most senior marketer in Europe. His role is taken over by Universal Studios Consumer […]
Lloyds TSB is working on a new deposit-taking machine that will revolutionise business banking across its branch network. The bank is creating the first machine that can take in and process cash and cheques without the need for a cashier. At the moment, customers can either deposit cheques and cash in a night safe or […]
When will large corporations learn that customers will move if promises of swift customer service by telephone are not fulfilled? In the past few weeks, as a business customer, I have had to contact Scottish Amicable, Norwich Union Healthcare, BT Cellnet and Midland Bank with relatively straightforward queries. Not on one single occasion have I […]
Kingfisher has lost another member of its Big W hypermarket chain management team following the departure of trading director Geoff Brady for Allied Carpets in June. Marketing manager Katie Spriggs, who reported directly to Brady at Kingfisher, has followed her former boss to Allied, where she will become marketing director. Kingfisher has appointed Andrew Hickling […]
Up to 1 million Muslims in the UK could open bank accounts for the first time if the Financial Services Authority agrees to lift restrictions on Islamic banks in this country. They are keen to open UK branches but are prevented from doing so by legislation which requires operating practices against their religion – specifically, […]
Radio networks are making a play for music sales by launching record label spin-offs. But does the labels sector have much to offer?
The Volkswagen Group (VW) has moved its £60m UK media buying and planning account out of BBJ Media Services and into Mediacom TMB, wiping out nearly a third of BBJ’s billings. Mediacom’s victory, predicted in Marketing Week (MW June 3), puts into doubt the future of BBJ’s TV buying operation, which some observers believe may […]
Regional brewing and pub group Greene King is to review its marketing strategy following its £182m takeover of Thames Valley brewer Morlands. The Morlands deal adds 400 pubs to Greene King’s expanding estate in the South of England, bringing its total number of pubs to 1,600. The takeover also brings Morlands’ highly-regarded Old Speckled Hen […]
MindShare has beaten Initiative in a £220m winner-takes-all media pitch in Germany in the latest round of Unilever centralisations. The Anglo-Dutch consumer group is holding a series of media reviews around the world to cut costs and increase efficiency. MindShare has also won the business in China. In Germany, the planning and buying business was […]
Asda, the UK’s third biggest supermarket, has promoted its head of marketing Andy Bond to the position of director of brands. In his new role Bond will be responsible for developing the supermarket’s own-label product ranges. He will continue to report to Asda marketing director Richard Baker, who was promoted six weeks ago (MW June […]
Computer manufacturer Gateway has appointed senior managers to develop Internet and retail sales, and is to roll out a TV advertising campaign aimed at school children. Gateway marketing director Michael Maloney will take on the role of consumer director in addition to his current duties. He will develop Gateway’s consumer marketing throughout Europe, the Middle […]
There is a fundamental change occurring in the structure of the UK population. By 2020, nearly half the population will be over 45, while the proportion of under 25s will drop to just 25 per cent. Studies of the over 55s – commonly referred to as the “grey” market – conclude that this group is […]
In the euro/pound debate public opinion is favouring ‘Little Englanders’ more than ‘Brussels Puppets’. And even though a referendum is at least three years away, the campaigns to convince consumers are launching this autumn. Will those who sho
Eve Pollard’s new publishing company Parkhill Publications is launching a weddings magazine in Novem- ber. It will be followed next year by a glossy title aimed at mature women. The former tabloid veteran, who has edited the Sunday Mirror and the Sunday Express, is making presentations about the two projects to media buyers. The weddings […]