Jazz station JFM 102.2 is to revert to the name Jazz FM, its parent Golden Rose Communications confirmed this week. The decision comes less than a year after the station renamed itself to win a broader audience. The move surprised agencies, which question the logic of the name change, also affecting North-West regional station JFM […]

UK Charity Lotteries, operator of Lukcy (sic) Lotto, is to highlight the size of winnings rather than its charitable associations in a new campaign from Bartle Bogle Hegarty, which is expected to break before the end of the year. Despite some public criticism over the recipients of National Lottery handouts, such as the Royal Opera […]

Mellors Reay has won the 3m Burton Menswear account after a final pitch against Walsh Trott Chick Smith. The pitch in May included Mellors Reay, Walsh Trott, GGT and Butterfield Day Devito Hockney, but was reduced to two agencies three weeks ago. The chain is part of the Burton Group retail empire. Observers say the […]

There’s one story that you will be unlikely to read about in the pages of the marketing press. Yet it is probably the most important marketing story of the moment. Like cold war powers during the nuclear arms race, more and more major companies are retreating behind closed doors to rethink their marketing weaponry from […]

Texas Homecare, the DIY chain that was acquired by Sainsbury in January, is losing three marketing executives. Texas advertising controller Bob Cross, customer services manager Michael Dark and market research manager Maureen Mitchell will leave the company in December. The Texas chain is being integrated into Sainsbury’s Homebase, and the marketing function is moving to […]

The exhibition business – hit hard by the recession – is staging a comeback. Participating in a trade show has always been an expensive way to market your product – but now there is room for cutting costs. The expenses of space and labour at a show remain constant, but fresh approaches to design, flexible […]

Drambuie is recruiting its first sales and marketing director. His main responsibility will be to push the brand in international markets. The company has appointed Michael Beamish to the post. He was previously external affairs director for United Distillers, where he devised strategies for the Duty Free operation. He also held roles in international sales […]

Eleven per cent fewer business men and women choose to watch ITN’s News at Ten than two years ago, according to the 1995 British Business Survey conducted by RSL. Both News at Ten and BBC’s Nine O’Clock News have suffered a decline in the number of business professionals viewing. Only 24 per cent of business […]

International Distillers & Vintners European managing director Jean d’Amercourt, will replace Robert Lowes as chief executive of Grand Metropolitan Foods Europe.

Troubled computer games firm Nintendo changed its UK distribution strategy for the sixth time in nine years last week when it scrapped its UK headquarters and axed 147 jobs. The Japanese company has ordered Nintendo UK to close its Fareham and Eastleigh offices and hand all sales, marketing and distribution responsibility to John Menzies subsidiary […]

Garden chemicals company Miracle Garden Care has awarded its 3.5m account to Delaney Fletcher Bozell after a lengthy pitch. Delaney Fletcher Bozell, formerly DFSD Bozell, will take over the account next week. It will handle TV and press work for the brand. Its first creative work is expected next year. It is the first time […]

I reckon the electricity industry should be nationalised. Or, more accurately, I reckon the electricity industry will nationalise itself. The early stages of conglomeration have started already, with Southern Electric of Alabama (swing low, sweet share-out) offering some 1bn for South Western Electricity, while Scottish Power puts a similar value on its offer for Manweb. […]

The Playboy Channel has poached a rival’s marketing director and appointed Saatchi & Saatchi and Equinox Communications to handle the 2m launch. Jessica Cox, marketing director at TNT and Cartoon Network, is to join the company as marketing director. She will work with managing director Rita Lewis to develop the details of its launch strategy. […]

Westbay Distributors will take on rum rival Seagram with the 3.5m launch of a new Bacardi drink which targets men. Bacardi Spice is a gold rum with spices such as cinnamon, caramel, vanilla and pepper. It is stronger than the standard Bacardi, at 40 per cent alcohol by volume, compared to Bacardi’s 37.5 per cent. […]