In-depth features, interviews and insights into marketing’s biggest issues.
Procter & Gamble (P&G), the household goods and toiletries giant, is seeking to extend its share of the electrical shaver market with the launch of a major product under its Braun brand.
Honda has reaffirmed its commitment to hybrid vehicles by announcing plans for a new hybrid sports car. The company will unveil a concept version of the car at the Geneva Motor Show in March, and has also revealed that it plans to sell three times as many Civic hybrids in the UK this year. If […]
Alberto Culver is relaunching its Andrew Collinge designer haircare range as it seeks to reassert its position in the market. The brand has suffered from low sales and was axed by Asda last year (MW November 2, 2006). The company has introduced a number of products and revamped packaging across the entire portfolio. Innovations include […]
Sainsbury’s, Eurostar and Transport for London are among the brands shortlisted for the Marketing Communication Consultants Association (MCCA) Best Awards 2007 – backed by Marketing Week – which recognise outstanding marketing achievement. To see the full shortlist, visit the “Best Awards 2007” under www.mcca.org.uk. Readers can cast their vote to decide the winners in the […]
A bid for J Sainsbury from the private-equity consortium of CVC, Blackstone and Kohlberg Kravis Roberts (KKR) or a rival bidder could have serious ramifications for the supermarket’s marketing arm which, like the rest of the business, is likely to be subject to a rigorous cost effectiveness review following a change in ownership. There are […]
For years House of Fraser (HoF) has suffered an identity crisis on the high street, but the retailer hopes it has found the answer with a move upmarket. John King, the newly appointed chief executive, last week unveiled plans to make HoF the UK equivalent of upscale US department store group Nordstrom and has launched […]
Children’s clothing company No Added Sugar has been ordered to stop distributing its latest catalogue because it contains images of children in sexually suggestive poses. The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) has upheld complaints about three images featured in the catalogue. It says they are offensive and has told the company not to use them again. […]
The Engine Group’s sales promotion arm, Woo, has won the 2m integrated advertising account for lager brand Castlemaine XXXX following its split with Bartle Bogle Hegarty (BBH) last year.
Publicis, the UK’s fourth-biggest advertising agency, has suffered a triple blow in recent months with the losses of the Asda, Post Office and MFI accounts. These three losses – with a combined spend of some £90m – wipe out nearly one-third of the agency’s £283m billings and threaten to catapult it from the list of […]
TV advertising has hit record viewing levels, confounding predictions that the medium is doomed, according to television marketing body Thinkbox. TV ads are viewed about 2 billion times each day in the UK, which is an all-time high. A Thinkbox spokeswoman says: “We are watching more commercial television advertising than ever before.” The body says […]
Williams F1 has updated its race team’s identity with a logo and trackside branding. The designs have been created by brand consultancy UffindellWest, brought in to rejuvenate the brand in time for the Australian Grand Prix in March. Sponsors include Royal Bank of Scotland, Lenovo, AT&T, Allianz and Reuters. The drivers are Nico Rosberg and […]
Ambient Media, a new agency providing a central buying point for non-traditional out-of-home media, has launched in the UK with clients Lastminute.com and Thomson Travel. The company provides a one-stop shop for big brand owners looking to use media such as sky writing, helicopter ads, coffee cup and pizza box advertising. Managing director Craig Ciurlionis […]
Mini drivers in the US are being greeted by name when they pass digital posters (MW last week) in the latest example of “proximity marketing”. However, the campaign has reignited the debate about the intrusive nature of hi-tech interactive marketing. Drivers have to register for the Mini campaign, giving their consent. When they sign up, […]
Mass-market frontrunner Ford and GM are being hemmed in by, on the one side, quality budget brands, and on the other, more attainable high-end marques. Rescue plans are in place, but is that enough to stop the US giants going the way of the British badges? Robert Lester reports.
Despite its global dominance and financial clout, US banking behemoth Citigroup has so far failed to achieve a high level of consumer awareness in the UK. Will its purchase of the Egg brand enable it to become a credible player in British high streets? By Catherine Turner.