The European Parliament has called for an “urgent investigation” into whether snus – the oral smokeless tobacco product – helps reduce tobacco-related illnesses. Snus has been banned throughout the European Union (EU) – except Sweden – since 1992. The EP wants the European Commission (EC) to “urgently investigate the health risks associated with consumption of […]
Toy manufacturer Mattel is recalling a further 12,000 toys in the UK and Ireland due to excessive levels of lead found in the paint. The beleaguered company has been forced to recall millions of toys in recent months because of fears over their safety. The latest recall affects the Fisher Price-branded Go Diego Go Animal […]
The Guardians website network, Guardian Unlimited, has recorded the highest-ever figure for unique users in the latest Audit Bureau of Circulations Electronics figures.
Emap radio station Magic has overtaken Capital and Heart to take the number one spot in the commercial breakfast show battle in London. DJ Neil Fox has now increased Magic’s breakfast show audience by 50% since he took over the slot two years ago. Fox had 885,000 listeners in the third quarter of this year, […]
VisitBritain has slammed the Government after it ignored the national tourism agency’s plea for more funds to launch a £20m global TV campaign and instead slashed its budget for the next three years. The Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) is reducing Visit Britain’s subsidy from £49.6m to £47.6m for next year. This will […]
The number of British Gas customers complaining about its service has quadrupled in the last two years, according to consumer watchdog Energywatch. The gas and electricity consumer body says British Gas customers are also three times more likely to have problems than people with other suppliers. The number of complaints received from British Gas customers […]
MySpace is teaming up with HarperCollins to publish a book on the environment for teenagers. “MySpace/Our Planet: Change Is Possible” will be the first branded book from the online social network. The book will provide facts, tips and practical suggestions for teens looking to become active promoters of environmental causes. It will be released in […]
EasyJet is buying British Airways (BA) franchise partner GB Airways from the Bland Group for £103.5m. The acquisition will include the airline’s slots at Gatwick Airport but not Heathrow. Budget carrier easyJet says the move is part of its expansion strategy and strengthens its offering at Gatwick. The purchase will give it more landing slots […]
MasterCard Europe is launching three prepaid cards designed for the corporate and government sectors. The cards offer a range of payment options that allow companies to “control and improve” the management of funds. The cards are the MasterCard Business Prepaid Card, the MasterCard Business Prepaid Travel Card and the MasterCard Everyday Money Prepaid Card. Group […]
Eye tracking technology may produce contradictory results to traditional click-map statistics, but by using new an old usability tools together marketers can gain complete understanding of their users
The growth of online retail opportunities may have altered our shopping habits, but the UK’s high streets remain in rude health as not even wet weather or interest rate rises can stop us spending
Unable to emerge from Google’s shadow and facing a drop in profits, the Web provider has recruited some experienced hands to try to plot a revival in its fortunes. Nathalie Kilby reports
Budget airline Ryanair faced the wrath of the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) for the third time in four months last week after the regulator banned a print ad accusing Lastminute.com of swindling customers. But the move has rais-ed questions about whether the ASA has been too lenient on the “rebel” airline. Lastminute.com complained to the […]
Lastminute.com has stopped selling Ryanair flights on its website following an Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) adjudication banning Ryanair from running an advertising campaign claiming the online ticket agent was ripping off its customers. Lastminute.com complained to the ASA after the low-cost carrier ran ads in the national press with the strapline: “Robbed by lastminute.com?” with […]
Greg Dyke, the former BBC director general and ITV suitor, has criticised the state of the TV industry and says that despite talk of an ITV renaissance, the broadcaster is “still struggling”. Dyke was talking ahead of the Marketing Week Effectiveness Awards 2007, which he compered last night . “ITV is still struggling and has […]