Analysis

In-depth features, interviews and insights into marketing’s biggest issues.

Direct route to primary target

Marketing Week

The DM industry has developed a vast array of tools to target consumers, but whick work best? David Reed learns of a way to bridge the gap between individual data sets and geodemographics

HMV signposting helps to ease online journey

Marketing Week

HMV is reinventing itself offline, this month opening its first dedicated gaming zone, while an outlet in Dudley sees it trial a range of digital concepts. the music retailer has also recently revamped and extended its online offer and its site shows how e-commerce can be compelling and satisfying to use. HMV meets the needs […]

Repitching the Big Tent

Marketing Week

Five years after it was first abandoned, the advertising industry is once again ready to pitch its “Big Tent” idea. This time, the rallying call to the marketing communications industry to work together has been made by the Advertising Association (AA). Ten months into the job, the AA’s new chief executive Baroness Peta Buscombe – […]

The one formula for wealth

Marketing Week

Lewis Hamilton may have missed out on the Formula One world championship on Sunday – compounding a miserable weekend for British sport – but he is still set to become one of the richest sportsmen in the world, according to sponsorship experts. Brands are clamouring to sign up the 22-year-old, who came within a single […]

Leagas Delaney scoops 11m Dyson Euro account

Marketing Week

Dyson is understood to have handed its 11m European advertising account to Leagas Delaney after a final two-way pitch with Wieden & Kennedy Amsterdam. The appointment will not affect the UK advertising account, which has been handled by VCCP since 2004.

Bellwether survey reveals marketers are pessimistic

Marketing Week

Marketing executives are less optimistic about the financial prospects of their companies and industries than three months ago, according to the Marketing Week/Institute of Practitioners in Advertising (IPA) Bellwether Optimism Survey. The number of companies reporting that they were less optimistic than three months ago outnumbered those reporting increased optimism by almost 7%. Factors such […]

Marketing industry accused of being ‘complacent’ about staff

Marketing Week

The UK marketing and advertising industry has been accused of “complacency” when it comes to holding onto staff, despite there being a dearth of talent coming up through the ranks. Leading global recruitment company Aquent says companies are “throwing money” at marketers to persuade them to stay, rather than investing in long-term retention strategies. Aquent’s […]

BG takes CO2 high ground with Green Streets drive

Marketing Week

British Gas is taking a swipe at the Government as it starts the latest element of its energy reduction campaign, warning the UK will miss its CO2 targets due to ill-thought-out policy. To highlight the anticipated failure to meet carbon reduction targets it is rolling out an initiative labelled Green Streets. BG calls the drive […]

Sainsbury’s set for green range launch

Marketing Week

Sainsbury’s is launching a raft of own-label “green” household cleaning products called Cleanhome next week. The seven Sainsbury’s Cleanhome formulations use sustainable natural ingredients “to deliver outstanding cleaning performance, at no additional cost to the Sainsbury’s shopper”. The supermarket chain says that “wherever possible, packaging is recyclable or made from recycled materials”. The launch sees […]

MPs get marketing lessons

Marketing Week

Parliamentarians are being encouraged to sign up for a course to learn about marketing and its role in business. The Secrets of Marketing course is the first of its kind to be offered to MPs and peers. It is to be run by the Bradford University School of Management, which was awarded the contract by […]

VisitBritain seeks funds for 20m global ad campaign

Marketing Week

VisitBritain is demanding that the Government finance a global TV ad campaign in the run-up to the 2012 London Olympics. The call for the funding comes after the tourism board blamed the recent cuts in its marketing activities on a 12-year freeze of its Government grant. The tourism board says it has requested financial support […]

New campaign: Audi takes it slow

Marketing Week

Audi UK is running a 6m ad campaign to support the launch of its new R8 high-performance car with the strapline “the slowest car we’ve ever built”. The campaign will mark the biggest investment the carmaker’s UK division has ever made in a new launch.

Special K Sustain ad falls foul of regulator

Marketing Week

A TV ad for Kellogg’s Special K Sustain promoting it as a brand with “extra protein and fibre” has been banned by the advertising regulator for being misleading because it contains less protein than Special K original. The ad, created by JWT, shows a woman at a meeting who loses her concentration as she imagines […]