British Gas launches billing for ‘dummies’
Seb JosephBritish Gas has unveiled details of its simplified energy bill, or “billing for dummies”, as part of its wider efforts to improve transparency and regain the trust of UK homeowner.
Month: June 2012
Barclays corporate woes hit retail brand
Russell ParsonsPerception of Barclays’ retail bank brand has plummeted following this week’s revelations that executives in its investment banking arm rigged lending rates between banks.
Bye-bye BB
Lara O'ReillyBlackBerry maker RIM’s latest financial results and corresponding announcements that it is to delay its crucial turnaround OS BB10 and lay off almost 30% of its staff were not just disappointing. They were disastrous. As one analyst put it, BlackBerry’s downfall is like “watching a puppy die”. Ouch.
Arsenal sets sights on African fans
Seb JosephArsenal has penned a three-year deal with African mobile network operator Airtel for sponsorship rights across five different countries, as it looks to drive engagement with fans across the continent.
RIM disappoints with BB10 delays
Lara O'ReillyBlackBerry maker RIM has further delayed the crucial launch of its BB10 operating system and has confirmed it is to cut 28% of its workforce, indicating once again that the smartphone maker is struggling to compete against rivals such as Apple and Samsung.
Costa: There is no room for complacency
Rosie BakerMWL 2012: Market leading brands cannot afford to be complacent, or they risk losing out to challenger brands, warns Costa top marketer Caroline Harris.
Premier League clubs’ focus switches to data in Asia
Seb JosephAs one of the biggest markets for Premier League teams, Asia offers a plethora of revenue generating opportunities. For the likes of Arsenal, Queens Park Rangers and Manchester City, who are all preparing to travel to the region on pre-season tours, the trips are no longer smash and grab raids to sell replica shirts but an exercise in data capture designed to create additional value for sponsors.
News Corp confirms split
Lara O'ReillyThe Murdoch-owned company says the split will create an “unparalleled portfolio of assets, brands and franchises” that will benefit from enhanced strategic alignment and increased operational flexibility.
Ritson – We should avoid ‘logo fascism’
Branwell JohnsonMWL 2012: Brand consultant and Marketing Week columnist Mark Ritson warned marketers to be on guard against “logo fascism” when delivering a seminar on the lessons to be learnt from luxury brands.
Product placement for Jamie Oliver C4 show
Lara O'ReillyChannel 4 has signed product placement deals with Uncle Ben’s and Yeo Valley to appear in the forthcoming series of Jamie’s 15 Minute Meals.
Multi-screen viewing drives TV ad engagement
Seb JosephPeople who watch TV while using an internet-connected device such as a smartphone or tablet are more likely not to change the channel during the ad break because they are able to “act on what they see immediately”, a new study reveals.
Google unveils first tablet
Lara O'ReillyGoogle has unveiled its first tablet device as it looks to make further dents into rival Apple’s dominance of the hardware and software sectors.
Debenhams credits marketing for sales lift
Russell ParsonsDebenhams has cited investment in marketing for a sector-beating and weather-defying increase in quarterly sales.
Nokia bids to be a ‘homewrecker’
Seb JosephMWL 2012: Nokia will adopt a “homewrecker“ approach to “break up the marriage” consumers have with rival smartphone brands such as Apple and Samsung if it is arrest falling sales, according to one of its top marketers Steven Overman.
The Secret Marketer: what will be the worth of marketing this summer?
David CoveneyI was invited to a “pink” picnic in the park last weekend. Irrespective of the unsummer-like weather, the biggest challenge was that the hostess wanted everyone to wear something that was pink in colour. My wardrobe is not awash with pink attire, so earlier in the week I made a trip to Oxford Street to […]