In-depth features, interviews and insights into marketing’s biggest issues.
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 […]
Miles Calcraft Briginshaw Duffy has been handed its first brief from Subaru Europe. The UK incumbent has been appointed to handle the launch of the Subaru Boxer diesel following a pitch against other local incumbent agencies. MCBD will create a TV-led campaign for the Boxer model that will run in up to ten markets, including […]
Saatchi & Saatchi is planning to promote Neil Hughston, managing director of its interactive division, as part of chief executive Robert Senior’s plans to restructure the agency (MW last week). The move comes as the agency denied rumours that Senior…
The Communications Agency (TCA) has been appointed to handle an advertising brief for the eye-disease charity Fight for Sight, following a three-way pitch against undisclosed agencies. The integrated agency will produce a campaign for the charity to help raise its profile. TCA will also help to improve its existing and new streams of fundraising. The […]
Albion is to handle the 2m advertising and brand development business for online retailer Glasses Direct.
Less than two years after Saatchi & Saatchi UK put together a girl band to help promote brands to young people, the agency is disbanding the division that came up with the idea. Branded content unit Gum was launched to great fanfare at the end of 2005 by then UK chairman and chief executive Lee Daley. But fast-forward two years, Daley is gone and Gum is being scrapped by the agency’s new chief Robert Senior (MW last week).
Stream, the branded content arm of TBWA/London, has landed a place on the Heineken roster to develop and implement a global film strategy. The agency appointment is expected to lead to a boost in Heineken’s film strategy, which has already seen it tie up with The Bourne Ultimatum and Bond film Casino Royale. Stream has […]
EMAP has written a letter to press buyers pledging its support for all its magazine titles, despite the imminent sell-off of its magazine portfolio and a few possible closures. The move is being seen as a “sign of panic” by some buyers. The letter, sent out by EMAP’s head of trading Jason Trout, has targeted […]
Times Media is overhauling its entire marketing division and culling a number of marketing promotional roles as it looks to switch emphasis to retaining its most loyal customers. The move comes only five months after it appointed Katie Vanneck to th…
IPC Media has poached Richard Whittle, online planning director at Initiative Media, to lead its digital strategy by work closely with its major clients. Whittle, who has already taken over as corporate business development manager (digital), will be responsible for developing all aspects of IPC’s digital relationships with media agencies. He will report to IPC […]
A digital publishing service that allows football fans to create a personalised scrapbook of their team’s season will be rolled out into other markets just a month after its UK launch. My Football Year, created by Interact Publishing, is the first digital book to launch, and aims to revolutionalise the £750,000 football annual market. The […]
Nivea, the Beiersdorf-owned skincare brand, is using its first cross-media branded content campaign to target 16to 19-year-olds. It will support Nivea Visage Young range across radio, TV and print. It will also promote a branded e-magazine covering issues affecting the target group. The five-month deal, which launches this month, has been negotiated by Carat Sponsorship […]