Maurice Saatchi’s continuing association with the highest echelons of the Tory party was confirmed yesterday when he was seen visiting 12 Downing Street – the office of the Government chief whip. Speculation has been rife in political circles that the New Saatchi Agency will spirit the Conservative account away from Saatchi & Saatchi. The Conservative […]
Commercial radio consolidated its audience gains of the past two years between October and December, despite a continued decline in all radio (including the BBC) weekly reach, according to Rajar data published this week. All commercial radio’s weekly reach rose year-on-year to 60 per cent of all UK adults (57 per cent), although its 49 […]
Mirror Group and ITV are in stalemate over ITV’s refusal to broadcast ads promoting the Mirror’s Big Break game card promotion (MW last week). Mirror Group is understood not to have pushed further its threat of legal action. Carlton UK Sales managing director Martin Bowley says ITV still has no intention of screening the ads […]
With six weeks still to go before the pitch for British Airways’ ú60m account, Ladbrokes reports that betting on the four-horse race is hotting up.
WH Smith is to launch a new format in its high-street stores using a “project-based” approach which, it believes, has bolstered its ailing subsidiary, Do It All. In a new move under the “Project Enliven” review, WH Smith will group products under themed headings such as “Education” and “Home Office.” These could replace traditional sections […]
The National Magazine Company and Cond Nast have reported strong ABCs – led by their men’s style magazines – following a period of aggressive marketing and promotional activity. Cond Nast’s GQ recorded a 25.7 per cent increase year-on-year to 126,227 in the July to December ABCs. It was followed by NatMags’ Esquire, which increased sales […]
First City.BBDO has hung on to its ú3.5m World of Leather advertising account, after pitching against Ogilvy & Mather.
Unilever is believed to be briefing retailers that the manganese technology used in its Persil Power brand will be revived once the furore over the product fades. The suggestion that Lever Brothers will return to the discredited technology will amaze those who have campaigned against it. But the indication is that having invested an estimated […]
In 1989, Benetton embarked on an advertising strategy to sell jumpers on the back of conscience-provoking images. Now it is in internicine warfare with its own retailers who claim the campaigns have damaged product sales and brand image.
Benetton’s latest legal wrangle with its German retailers was adjourned yesterday (Tuesday) until next month as new players emerged in the escalating franchise fracas. Benetton is suing German retailer Almondi to recover unpaid bills, but the eight-store franchise is making a counter submission that its business has been damaged by the Italian manufacturer’s controversial ad […]
UK newspaper stocks were firmer in an otherwise weak market after Rupert Murdoch said yesterday (Tuesday) that the cost of newsprint could begin to force up cover prices – signalling a possible end to the newspaper price war. The Scott Trust selection committee has shortlisted 11 journalists for the position of editor of The Observer. […]
Lee Jeans will unveil a new cinema and TV campaign in March, which builds on the heritage of its jeanswear. The campaign, designed by Grey London, is set in New York City and is based around the construction of the Empire State Building in the Thirties. Featuring a handsome construction worker dressed in white T-shirt […]
Car rental company Hertz UK is to back its new “Hertz Price Promise” with a ú1m marketing budget, as the price war in the package holiday sector spills over into related leisure markets.
Alitalia has awarded its $30m (ú20m) worldwide advertising account to Ogilvy & Mather, after a competitive pitch in Rome involving seven agencies.
One of the reasons why direct marketing agencies and clients avoid conventional market research techniques for pre-testing and evaluation is that they are often misleading. The advertising creatives who are “notoriously wary of the use of research to pre-test their ideas” are behaving rationally and sensibly when they resist it. If the decision-makers involved had […]