Virginia Matthews’ jousting with the customer service industry (MW, February 17) elicited a few sympathetic groans here at The Cade Partnership. As an agency with a good deal of experience helping clients handle customer complaints, we are only too familiar with the “how may I help you?” brigade. Telephone helplines are a marvellous opportunity to […]

In the past, commissioning market research could be very much like playing Russian roulette, in terms of the quality and honesty of the end results, but advances in computer-aided techniques mean that clients can expect a faster, more accurate

Retail giant Kingfisher is considering shutting down nearly a quarter of its Comet stores in a fresh attempt to remove excess capacity from the overcrowded electrical retail market. Kingfisher, which owns Woolworths, Superdrug and B&Q, as well as Comet, has told City analysts that a review of the chain’s operations could include the closure of […]

Arsenal striker Ian Wright and upmarket publisher the Magazine Collection have formed a joint venture to publish a football and lifestyle magazine. The Player, to be launched in April, will be a glossy upmarket bi-monthly aimed at men aged 20 to 44 and is the latest entrant to the burgeoning men’s magazine market. Dennis Publishing’s […]

While many sympathise with those protesting against live animal exports, it should be noted that meat consumption is actually on the increase. By George Pitcher

How many people feel at odds with the current practice of marketing and the closely related business of marketing communications? Battered by the recession and controlled by accountants, perhaps despair is just around the corner? Examples of the damage wrought by the combined attentions of recession, and subsequently the bean counters, are numerous. High-street retailers […]

One of last year’s most public identity changes was the metamorphosis of holiday company Owners Abroad into First Choice. Following a troubled 1992/93 season, during which the company had been subject to a hostile takeover bid, lost market share and its share price fell, Owners Abroad commissioned research into its market position, with disappointing results. […]

The BBC is extending its Top of the Pops brand into the glossy magazines market.

GGT has beaten Ogilvy & Mather to the ú9m advertising account for video rental chain Blockbuster UK. Blockbuster put its advertising account up for grabs last November after a change in senior management, when the company brought in two direct

The Independent Television Commission has amended its rules governing product placement, viewer competitions and promotions as part of an overhaul of its entire Programme Code. The move follows recent breaches of the undue prominence section of the code, which relates to product placement. Earlier this year, Granada TV was fined ú500,000 for promoting branded products […]

Pizza Hut is to centralise its international advertising and is ditching its ú2.8m (Register-MEAL) Hit the Hut campaign, developed by Duckworth Finn Grubb Waters.

Coca-Cola is building on its `All colas are not the same’ sales drive with a new campaign, which goes on air this Monday. The new commercial, created by Bartle Bogle Hegarty, is set in Prohibition New York and based on a true story. Shot in black and white, `Feds’ features a raid by the New […]

I have implicit trust in Paul McCann’s abilities to report faithfully the comments of those to whom he speaks. After all, in his article “When the BARB price isn’t right” (MW February 17), he accurately quotes from our conversation regarding the future measurements of specialist and/or minority cable channels. It is all the more odd, […]

How do you turn defence into attack? Look no further than Omnicom. It is fast becoming the world’s largest marketing services group. Is this the result of a masterplan or merely naked opportunism combined with a superabundance of cash? By Jon

NBC Super Channel has appointed former Burkitt Weinreich Bryant media director Rick Plata head of strategic planning, and has recruited seven additional staff to its in-house sales operation. The move comes at a time of increasing competition in the pan-European TV market, following the January launch of BBC World, the BBC’s advertising-supported 24-hour news service, […]