The ASA has ordered Richard Desmond’s Health Lottery to withdraw a TV ad that depicted people describing themselves as ‘losers’ for not entering its new Wednesday draw, branding the execution as “socially irresponsible.”
Brands are taking advantage of the trend towards viewers who ‘dual screen’ using Twitter, as research shows that 83 per cent use an official hashtag related to TV programmes in all or most of their tweets.
Unilever’s personal and home care brands Radox, Domestos and Persil are to take centre stage in the second phase of its sustainability ‘social experiment’ launching this week.
Volkswagen’s high-profile TV spot for this weekend’s Super Bowl (3 February) has been lambasted by critics for featuring a white actor speaking in a Jamaican accent.
Amazon reported record sales in the Christmas shopping period, although profits fell sharply as the company says it is experiencing its “transition period” from physical to digital goods.
The Football League is struggling to find a title-sponsor willing to pay more than current backer npower with sources suggesting the impasse risks leaving the event without a main commercial partner for the first time in 30 years.
Brands and consumers have been quick to trial Twitter’s standalone sharing app Vine in the week since its launch as they look to boost the reach of their six-second point-and-shoot videos while excitement around the new service means it continues to trend on the social network.
Asda’s Christmas TV ad has been cleared by the advertising watchdog, despite attracting 620 complaints it was sexist.
Leading online dating brands including eHarmony, Match.com and MySingleFriend are holding preliminary talks to establish a code of conduct to distance themselves from less reputable operators in the sector, valued at £170m in the UK last year by Metaflake.
A direct mail campaign for Cancer Research UK has been banned by the ASA for “threatening” recipients and failing to make it clear that it was a piece of marketing.
Unilever’s chief marketing officer Keith Weed has slammed “posturing” brands that develop CSR initiatives simply to sell more products and services.
“There really is nothing quite like vodka,” said my friend Miguel as we clinked martini glasses and then drank them dry. I was in New York last week and a free evening meant that I had time to catch up with one of my oldest contacts in the wine and spirits business.
When the story of ‘The Ball Boy and the Professional Footballer’ grabbed the headlines last week, what surprised me most was that most people – on social media channels at least – sided with ‘Goliath’ (the footballer) against ‘David’ (the 17-year old ball boy). My question in the whole affair is where did the ball boy learn about time wasting and feigning an injury? The answer is from the heroes he watches every day out on the football pitch.
Tablets had record sales over Christmas but a report questions brands’ understanding of how to use them for effective marketing.
In a changing retail world, brands have to learn to adapt if they don’t want to fall into the administration black hole.