Rise in ‘junk mail’ expected by Royal Mail
Rosie BakerRoyal Mail expects a rise in direct marketing – so-called “junk mail” – as it looks to increase its share of the advertising market to boost profits.
Utilities
PM’s energy shambles makes case for open data
Michael BarnettThe prime minister’s hasty promise to make energy companies give customers the cheapest tariff has unravelled quickly, after suggestions the plan would be unworkable. It wouldn’t be, if the government’s Midata scheme had made more progress opening up commercial data.
Ofgem unveils plans on bill transparency
Russell ParsonsEnergy suppliers will be forced to tell customers about the cheapest tariffs available, one of several proposals tabled by the energy watchdog to make the market “simpler, clearer and fairer”.
Utilities firms adopt low key marketing approach
Seb JosephThe energy suppliers that have announced price hikes are adopting a low key approach to countering the swell of negative perception that followed news of the increases, a tactic tipped to be short-lived as the big six turn to data-driven marketing initiatives to rebuild trust.
British Gas launches campaign after price hike
Lara O'ReillyBritish Gas has announced an energy bill price hike for customers, which is likely to spark a slew of price-led marketing campaigns from competitors before they too raise their own charges.
British Gas promotes top marketer Orr to commercial boss
Seb JosephBritish Gas has promoted marketing chief Will Orr to the revived commercial director role.
Incentivising DM by price is not the answer
Russell ParsonsThe US Postal Service is on its uppers. With a pension debt that dwarves that of our own Royal Mail’s, it has taken to introducing a series of some might say drastic measures designed to generate income.
British Gas expands crowdsourcing scheme
Seb JosephBritish Gas is to crowdsource ideas from 50,000 people on what they want from an energy company as part of its wider efforts to regain the trust of UK homeowners.
Sponsors mark Paralympic Opening
Seb JosephSponsors EDF, Lloyds TSB and Samsung have launched fresh marketing drives to mark tonight’s (29 August) Paralympic Games Opening Ceremony.
E.on parts ways with top UK marketer Davies
Seb JosephE.on’s UK marketing director Jeremy Davies is to leave the business after four years to take up the chief marketing position at the Commercial Bank of Qatar, prompting a restructure of its senior marketing and sales teams.
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.
B&Q to launch energy saving advice service
Rosie BakerB&Q is introducing an energy saving advice service in an effort to help its customers save money and improve the environmental efficiency of their homes.
BP ‘changes gear’ of Olympic activity
Lara O'ReillyBP is “changing gear” with its Olympics marketing activity a month before the Games by focusing on the emotional aspect of the event rather than the more practical side of its sponsorship activation.
Royal Mail to include ‘delivered by..’ mark from June
Russell ParsonsRoyal Mail is to start including the controversial “delivered by…” mark on direct mail from next month, part of a strategy to increase the visibility of the mail service’s brand in the face of increased competition from rivals.
Q&A: Ben Rhodes, Royal Mail
Ruth MortimerRuth Mortimer talks to Royal Mail’s head of marketing and commercial strategy Ben Rhodes about his strategy for the deregulated delivery brand.