Lord of the Rings and Yu-Gi-Oh!, a Japanese cartoon, are being tipped as the hot properties for children’s toys and merchandise following last week’s Licensing 2001 International Show in New York. But despite the fact that more than 4,700 properties were on show this year, Logistix Kids Worldwide, one of the UK’s leading children’s marketing […]
Henkel, the German detergents and personal care company, has unveiled plans to provide butler-style personal services to cash-rich, time-poor consumers. The services, which include paying bills, arranging theatre or concert tickets, booking restaurants and shopping, are being introduced in Germany and the UK. Henkel has teamed up with London-based lifestyle and home management company tenUK, […]
Smash! Hits, EMAP’s music magazine for youngsters, is launching a promotion with Little Chef, the roadside restaurant chain. The companies have enlisted artist management company BMG to launch the £250,000 summer marketing campaign, which aims to attract families with children. The campaign will give children the chance to pick up a free Smash! Hits CD […]
High street retail chain Next is hoping to make smelly feet a thing of the past by launching a range of antibacterial socks for men. The socks, to be launched as part of the retailer’s autumn and winter collection, contain an antibacterial substance that kills the micro-organisms which cause the smell. A spokeswoman for the […]
“Sex sells” is an age-old advertising aphorism. But the Diary believes the bombardment of mucky media messages is becoming too up-front for comfort. Witness a recent print ad for McLelland Seriously Strong Cheddar, which features a horny young couple indulging in some pretty graphic antics, with the extraordinary strapline “safe sex, dangerous cheese”. Continuing the […]
Web design Media have come under fire in a new report, which accuses them of poor standards, late delivery and disappointing results. The survey, produced by branding consultancy Elmwood, was conducted among senior managers who had recently used an agency to develop or redesign their website. A worrying 35 per cent of clients said the […]
Anti-smoking monomaniacs are upset by the Government’s lack of action on tobacco ads. But the cracks in the kitchen also merit their attention, says Iain Murray
Transport for London (TfL) is inviting agencies to pitch for a £20m project promoting London Mayor Ken Livingstone’s proposed congestion charges for the capital. As TfL is a separate contracting authority from the Greater London Authority, the pitch is not limited to the three agencies – BMP DDB, Soul and Euro RSCG Wnek Gosper – […]
Corporate vilification is the modern-day nightmare for marketers. Once, it was a case of a product failing to live up to performance-related claims in one market. Now, it is the fear of consumers biting back and targeting a company on a global scale for perceived misdemeanors or misplaced morality. Exxon Mobil is the latest company […]
Kimberly-Clark (K-C) is slashing prices on its Andrex brand and could drop its famous “soft, strong and long” strapline, after reducing the size of the toilet roll. K-C is planning a summer marketing push for the Andrex range, which will start in August, and could include an ad campaign. The company is understood to be […]
Some companies will offer the world to persuade people to buy their services. But Printbynet, the online printer, has cleverly cottoned on that many of its clients just want the moon on a stick. That’s why the company is offering the most bizarre prize draw the Diary has seen for months. By requesting a free […]
The Meat and Livestock Commission (MLC) has lost its battle to quash an ASA ruling against its ad campaign promoting British pork and the good living conditions of British pigs compared with those in other countries. An ad featuring a pig feeding its young with the heading “After she’s fed them, she could be fed […]
Fila UK has scrapped the role of marketing director in a restructure following the departure of Stuart Ryan last month (MW May 24). Ryan, who joined Fila in 1997 from rival sportswear brand Nike, was Fila’s first marketing director. His departure came hard on the heels of UK managing director Mike Baxter, who retired in […]
The Financial Times (FT) has rejected a pre-booked ad for the Gay Times magazine’s July issue, which carries the strapline “Bend me, shape me, any way you want me” and a suggestive picture of a man with his hand on his stomach. The ad was due to appear in the FT’s Arts section on June […]
Virgin Holidays has appointed Airtours purchasing director Amanda Wills to managing director. She replaces Ron Simms, who is due to retire at the end of the summer. Wills will have ultimate responsibility for marketing at the holiday group, and sales and marketing director Kathryn Street will report to her. Wills spent 14 years at Airtours, […]