In-depth features, interviews and insights into marketing’s biggest issues.
Snack manufacturer Red Mill Snack Foods has teamed up with Hasbro to support the launch of this summer’s Transformers film. Red Mill’s Transform-A-Snack is to be the exclusive snack partner of the live-action Transformers film from Dreamworks and Paramount, which is released around the globe this July. The Stephen Spielbergdirected film aims to capitalise on […]
High street music and entertainment retailer HMV is talking to a number of agencies to design, build and market its social networking site to be rolled out later this year. HMV chief executive officer Simon Fox announced plans for the social networking site earlier this year as part of the retailer’s strategic business review in […]
Microsoft UK chief marketing officer Nick Barley has been poached by US software and technology business, CA, to be vice-president for marketing for Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA). At Microsoft he has been replaced by Matthew Bishop, who was formerly business and marketing officer – a role Barley had held since 2002 until […]
The Newspaper Marketing Agency is to publish a “mini best practice” guide in an effort to encourage creatives to be more “in tune” with newspapers. NMA chief executive Maureen Duffy says the guide is a response to demand from advertisers. Duffy says too much creative work is carried out in a rational way and is […]
Britvic’s 169m purchase of Irish beverage company C&C’s soft drinks business last week could spark a review of the UK giant’s mineral water brands.
MPG’s digital arm Media Contacts is to publish re-search which it says shows the idea of “attributing value to the final click is flawed” and could change how the effectiveness of search campaigns are measured. Media Contacts says that the fewer keywords people click on before buying a product, the more likely they are to […]
Travelodge is increasing its UK marketing budget – which stood at 2.7m in 2006 – by 20% this year as part of a 3.5bn drive to open 40 hotels each year until 2020.
Renault is to trial Bluetooth downloads for the first time in a dramatic change of strategy for the car marque. The activity marks the start of a long-term digital push for the French car manufacturer. The activity, part of a digital-led integrated campaign, has been created by Renault media planning and buying agency Carat. It […]
Ford is shunning analogue media for the launch of its “cutting edge” new Mondeo model. The car marque says it will exclusively air high definition ads on BSkyB’s high definition (HD) service and is the first major advertiser to do so. It says it wants to target a “select audience”. The ads, the first Ford […]
Feel Good Drinks has appointed digital communications agency Hyper Happen to its account. Hyper Happen won the digital account following a pitch involving three other undisclosed agencies. Feel Good Drinks’ marketing manager Libby Dimeloe oversaw the process. It is not known how much the account is worth. It is the first time Feel Good Drinks, […]
A new confectionery brand that claims to be healthier than its rivals launches in the UK this month. The Natural Confectionery Company (TNCC) is a range of jelly sweets, already popular in Australia, which have no artificial colours or flavours, and will be positioned firmly in the better-for-you snacks category. TNCC has appointed Sledge, an […]
Coca-Cola is launching a major online football campaign in a bid to woo teen-agers to its drinks. The campaign, called Coca-Cola Street Striker, will offer an opportunity to take on Manchester United and England star Wayne Rooney in a game of street football. The competition developed by M&C Saatchi Sport & Entertainment and AKQA will […]
The Advertising Standards Authority has reprimanded car manufacturer Lexus over its claims of low carbon emissions for its SUV hybrid car. The campaign triggered ten complaints arguing that the press ad for the Lexus RX 400h car was misleading over its claims of low emissions. The complainants said that the ad’s “low emissions” and “zero […]
Long ago, Skoda was a laughing stock, a byword for cheap and cheerless motoring. It rebuilt its reputation through a self-deprecating ad campaign that humorously acknowledged its previous, low quality reputation while emphasising a new-found technical prowess. But the brand’s latest stunt could see it become the butt of jokes once again. The car marque […]
Chivas Brothers-owned Scotch whisky brand Ballantine’s has revamped its global online portal, as it puts digital at the heart of its marketing strategy. The new site has been created by digital agency Mook. The agency won the business following a competitive pitch late last year and has developed the site, which rolls out this month. […]