In-depth features, interviews and insights into marketing’s biggest issues.
Energywatch and the National Consumer Council (NCC) have given a “cautious” welcome to proposals from Ofgem to create new guidelines to help consumers rate “green” energy tariffs. The two consumer bodies say although the proposals are “positive steps in the right direction” much more must be done to address consumer confusion over the term “low […]
The appointment of TNS/ Arbitron to the 10m UK TV audience measurement contract has been thrown into confusion after the Broadcasters’ Audience Research Board (BARB) failed to announce the contract win last week.
Ford of Europe has appointed Mark Deans to the new role of motorsport director. He will be responsible for developing Ford’s motorsport activities through extended advertising, sponsorship, sales promotion and merchandising programmes. Deans, who was previously Ford’s regional sales director for the South of England, will work alongside Malcolm Wilson, BP-Ford team director and owner […]
The 2007 Christmas toy market is lagging two weeks behind last year’s and is being driven by price promotions, according to Toy Retailers Association chairman Gary Grant. He says that although the most popular brands are, as often, in short supply, retailers are offering huge discounts on other ranges to secure market share. Grant says […]
KMI, the company behind King of Shaves, is launching a range of eco-friendly handwashes, shower gels and anti-bacterial sanitisers called Patently Obvious. The range, which will be launched in Boots in February, will be backed with a digital marketing campaign and a strategic partnership with a yet-to-be-named charity. The initial line will consist of three […]
The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) has slammed a poster campaign for action thriller “Shoot ‘Em Up”, which showed actor Clive Owen brandishing a gun, because it glamourised gun crime. The campaign had three different executions of actors, including Monica Bellucci and Paul Giamatti, in various poses with guns. The campaign triggered 55 complaints. The ASA […]
COI has promoted client services director Ian Hamilton to the new role of commercial director. The position has been created as part of a restructure that aims to improve its relationship with Whitehall clients. Hamilton, who will report to chief executive Alan Bishop, will have a brief to liaise with COI’s clients and the Office […]
Royal Philips Electronics is creating a Consumer Lifestyle division in an attempt to simplify its structure, pushing ahead its strategy to apply the “Sense and Simplicity” strapline internally. The new division will comprise the merged domestic appl…
The National Express Group is restructuring its marketing operations as it unites its various divisions under a single company-wide brand. The company has created a new strategic marketing department to oversee its activities, to be headed by Paul Bunting, currently chief executive of the National Express coach business. As director of strategic marketing, Bunting will […]
VF Corporation (VF) has appointed Jason Eames Illingworth as commercial director to oversee its Wrangler brand in the UK. He joins from Hilfiger Denim, where he was sales manager for eight years. Illingworth, who has already taken on the role, will …
Black and Asian consumers in the UK are not being properly catered for by the beauty industry, according to research from Mintel (MW last week). A new report says the market for ethnic cosmetics in this country has grown by 24% since 2002, but is still worth only £65m, a scant 2% of the total […]
The Association of British Travel Agents (ABTA) has warned holidaymakers to be on their guard against false advertising after a survey found that 50% of websites selling airline tickets misled customers. The EU survey looked at 447 travel sites across mainland Europe and found 226 “irregularities” that breached European guidelines on pricing. EU consumer commissioner […]
Coca-Cola has just been the critical focus of an hour-long Channel 4 Dispatches documentary peering into its corporate practices (MW last week). Yet some observers believe the soft drinks company’s belated concentration on social responsibility will offset the damage done to its brand image across the world. The documentary, which was screened on Monday, made […]
Hyundai Motor Europe has called a pitch for the pan-European launch of its i10 model. It is thought the business is worth up to £10m. The company has shortlisted German incumbent WOB, its Spanish agency Revolution and non-roster shop Mother to pitch for the brief. The UK incumbent Vallance Carruthers Coleman Priest is not involved […]
Sony Ericsson is looking to appoint a sports marketing agency to its roster ahead of a renewed sponsorship push. The mobile phone manufacturer already sponsors the women’s tennis tour in a £50m deal that is the biggest in women’s sport. But sources claim it is looking to move into other sports, including football, and it […]