Argos’s multi-channel clothing and home furnishings catalogue, Argos Additions, is increasing its use of e-mail as a way of drawing customers to its website, argosadditions.com. The move follows the initial results of Argos’s trial of ContactMail, an e-mail application from database management solutions provider Experian. Working with Experian, Argos Additions has issued more than 1 […]
Argos is attempting to shift the downmarket ‘stigma’ attached to its brand with a TV advertising campaign featuring film star Richard E Grant. The 40-second ad, which breaks on July 26, is the first work to come out of Euro RSCG Wnek Gosper since Argos appointed the agency earlier this year. The ad features Zak, […]
Rachel’s Organic Dairy has appointed former Del Monte European marketing chief Neil Burchell to the newly created position of marketing director in an effort to drive sales of its branded products. The appointment is the result of Rachel’s splitting the sales and marketing director role, with incumbent David Stacey taking the sales position (MW April […]
There was a time when people were convinced that witches existed. We now know this to be fantasy, much like companies’ profits argues Alan Mitchell
British Gas is launching a £150m scheme to alleviate fuel poverty, in partnership with local authorities and five charities. The energy company is considering an advertising campaign, through BMP DDB, later this year to publicise the initiative, called the Home Essentials for Life Project (HELP). The joint initiative, which will target some of the UK’s […]
BBC Worldwide, the BBC’s commercial arm, has appointed WARL Change Behaviour to handle a £1m global advertising campaign for its loss-making international news channel, BBC World. WARL pitched against BBC roster agency DFGW for the business. The incumbent, integrated agency Curio, was invited to pitch when the review began in June, but the agency ceased […]
The Women’s Environmental Network is lobbying cosmetics companies to use clearer ingredient labelling on make-up products. But the health and beauty industry believes the status quo is adequate, says Sonoo Singh
The Food Standards Agency (FSA) has condemned foods labelled as “diabetic” or “suitable for diabetics” as overpriced and of no real benefit for people with diabetes. The FSA says that this type of labelling should not appear on food products, as consumers see it is a stamp of approval and think that such food is […]
Sex is a powerful marketing tool. It has been used to sell products from ale to cheese, but many believe that using sexual imagery to sell brands not normally associated with sex is a cheap and tacky way of driving sales and can be detrimental
The news that the Electoral Commission is trying to prevent full access to the electoral roll is clearly bad for direct marketing, but it is hardly surprising. The industry has abused the electoral roll for years, bombarding hapless consumers with untargeted offers and causing such resentment that many have chosen to opt out already. In […]
Michael Wolff, one of the best-known names in the corporate identity industry, has allegedly been “dismissed for gross misconduct” from The Fourth Room, according to a statement issued by the company. Marketing Week has tried and been unable to contact Wolff for a response to Tuesday’s (23 July) statement. The Fourth Room co-founder and managing […]
Footwear retailer Clarks is to reintroduce a Seventies logo for its Originals brand and latex materials that it used 40 years ago, in an effort to revamp the design of its shoes and create greater brand consistency. The company is launching a range of shoes in the autumn featuring the brand’s original latex sole. It […]
Reading Patrick Elliot’s article (MW June 27), one would assume that we must all be truly beholden to the corporate big shots for the invention of sport! This scenario has been going on for years since the Olympics became “cool” again after the Los Angeles 1984 event. This was the birth of profit-making sport, where […]
Avis Rent A Car has appointed Matt Andrews as UK director of sales and marketing. Andrews joins from American Express, where he was vice-president of sales, with responsibility for corporate card and travel services for UK and European customers. He replaces Grahame Gallagher, who has returned to his native Australia after three years with the […]
In scenes straight out of the early Nineties, two FBI agents were flown in by the Government this week to investigate spooky goings-on in Beckhampton, Wiltshire. They were taken to a field, where, overnight, a crop circle had appeared – but this was no ordinary crop circle. Trampled into the plants was the image of […]