Is it any wonder that the marketing industry is held in such low esteem by an increasingly sceptical and suspicious public? Just ask anyone on the street what they really think about all the hard selling they’re constantly faced with. Last week (MW March 15) we read how some highly-questionable shock campaigns are being used […]
Alex Rodrigues, Ericsson’s UK consumer products marketing chief, is leaving to take up a post with the telecoms company in Singapore. Rodrigues will run the Ericsson Accessories business in the Asia-Pacific region. Rodrigues’ role will be filled by Steve Walker, Ericsson’s UK marketing director of future technology and business development, who will now lead the […]
England’s green and pleasant land is open and, despite everything you’ve heard, it is a nicer place to be now that the tourists have stopped coming, says Iain Murray
A long long time ago George Lucas asked for nothing more than the licensing rights for Star Wars. $7bn later he has proved that merchandising is a cash-cow, but has it become bloated? asks Jo-Anne Flack
I read with interest the article “Mail Chauvinism” (MW March 8). While I agree with many of the points raised in the article, I think what is interesting is that the Internet has spawned the “online data game”. When the dot-com bubble burst in mid-2000, dot-coms looked at their inventories in search of something to […]
Pants to Poverty, the slogan for this year’s Comic Relief event, had creative departments throughout ad land getting their knickers in a twist. The Diary was inundated with various items of unsexy underwear in the build-up to the big day, but was impressed with the efforts of the guys and gals at Saatchi & Saatchi. […]
I enjoyed David Benady’s article on training (MW March 15). It drove home the fact that there is a growing skills gap, and the threat a downturn in the economy poses. However, Benady’s approach brushed over one key factor affecting skills requirements today, and even assisted in fulfilling his gloomy forecasts, with his somewhat negative […]
Shell UK is set to introduce a new customer loyalty scheme to replace its national Smart card scheme, which has been running since April 1998. The company says the Smart card scheme will be superseded with a “bigger and better” loyalty programme this summer. Smart card holders collect points from purchases made at Shell service […]
Alliance & Leicester (A&L) will open two new-style retail outlets tomorrow (Thursday).The outlets, branded “movingimproving”, will target homebuyers and home improvers with the bank’s financial products.
Small banks are finding it difficult to compete in a competitive credit card market. Many, such as the Abbey National, are outsourcing their cards to keep down costs. But will this be the key to success? asks Gary Thurtle
I read with interest Alicia Clegg’s article “Local Colour” (MW March 8). While I agree that an international presence brings opportunities to transfer knowledge, experience and skills, the article fails to mention the crucial groundwork that is needed to enter these markets. It is often assumed that the Western agency model can be transported across […]
Playtex, the maker of Wonderbra, has promoted marketing manager Stephen Holbrook to UK marketing director. Holbrook’s appointment follows the promotion of commercial director Nick Houghton, who oversaw sales and marketing, to managing director. Holbrook, who has been with Playtex since 1993, will report to Houghton. Playtex brands, owned by the Sara Lee Corporation, include Affinity, […]
Rather than denigrating Mark Tuppen’s idea the safe transport of in-car curries (MW last week) you should be singing his praises from the rooftops. You have obviously never experienced the week-long smell of curry pervading the company motor after the better half’s World Rally drive back from the local emporium on the grounds that she […]
Halifax Card Services has poached Citibank’s UK consumer marketing director Martin Johnson to be its first director of marketing. Johnson starts on April 2 and will have responsibility for card acquisition, customer relationship marketing, marketing services, marketing information, e-commerce and telemarketing. He will report to James Corcoran, managing director of Halifax Card Services. The Card […]
I enjoyed David Benady’s article on training (MW March 15). It drove home the fact that there is a growing skills gap, and the threat a downturn in the economy poses. However, Benady’s approach brushed over one key factor affecting skills requirements today, and even assisted in fulfilling his gloomy forecasts, with his somewhat negative […]