TOP MARKETING STORIES

		French law on food advertising disappoints, say agency association heads
		Ad agency Scholz & Friends takes unconventional route to convince foreigners that Germany is 'the land of ideas'
		Italians increasingly living life in broadband, study finds, but not everyone is connected
		Dutch retailer Albert Heijn to launch discount/luxury combination format
		Talk is cheap - Aldi set to enter the mobile phone market in Germany, says Bild
		Good for your body, good for your wallet.... French consumers get insurance discount if they eat Proactiv
		Bottle not unique enough, EU court tells Austrian lemonade maker
		Enthusiasm sells - Dutch 'buzzers' spread the word about new products, get them free
		Italian film industry counters funding cuts with product placement
		Swiss retailers get wise to the attractions of 'smart shopping'
		Germany's corner shops urged to offer home-made meals to keep numbers up
		In Sweden, Hennes & Mauritz takes down its controversial church ad
		Ronaldinho won't be appearing in Spanish TV ads this Christmas, but will Santa Claus?
		Dutch campaigners call for controversial mobile phone/lingerie ad to be pulled
		Every fourth product sold in European supermarkets is own label, Nielsen says
		Leading brands link in joint Dutch magazine venture
		How would you like your advertising? Belgian post office surveys the nation
		'Absolutly' not vodka. Catalan wine maker wins naming battle against Swedish drinks giant.
		Pepsi takes Coke to the European court over the name of its 'good for you' drink

TOP STORIES


05.12.05
France: New law on food advertising will make ads too ineffective to change attitudes, industry leaders say

After much debate, France's National Assembly has finally adopted what is known as article 57 of the law on public health, says the newspaper Le Figaro.

The article in question relates specifically to the advertising of food products but, as the heads of the French advertising agency association AACC tell the paper, rather than a step forward in protecting the public's health the law as approved is strongly disappointing.

AACC president Hervé Brossard tells Le Figaro that his association has been working in close collaboration with the food industry, nutritionists and legal experts for over a year, as well as maintaining contact with politicians with a view to making the law as applicable and effective as possible. The decrees now published, however, will make the 'healthy' messages that accompany advertising for certain food and drinks products ineffective and unlikely to alter the eating habits of the French.

Vice-president Christophe Lambert agrees that the law will prove counter-productive. "It's bad news for everyone", he says. "The information strips that go with the advertising campaigns will pollute the brands' messages without allowing the ads to communicate a clear and effective message in respect of health."

"We are aware of the seriousness of the problem", he continues. "Childhood obesity and the concerns about other areas of the public's health mean action has to be taken. Advertising can play an active role in combatting this scourge by dealing directly with people's eating habits. But you have to respect the fundamental rules of communications. That will not be possible with these decrees when they are published next February or March.

To read a longer version of this story for yourself, in French, click on the link below (left) to be taken to the Le Figaro website. Alternatively, click on the link below (right) to visit the site maintained by the AACC or click here to see the full article translated into English by From Europe With Love.

05.12.05
Germany: Unconventional ideas favoured to convince visitors that Germany is 'the land of ideas'

Germany is looking to capitalise on the fact that it is hosting next year's soccer World Cup to promote itself to foreign visitors, as well as boosting self esteem among its own citizens.

Earlier this year, ad agency Scholz & Friends was appointed to head up the promotional effort and agency creative head has been outlining to the Swiss advertising and marketing magazine Persoenlich just what this involves and some of the creative ways his firm is going about presenting the comcept of Germany as  Land der Ideen'  (or 'the country of ideas').

Turner stresses that, in describing itself thus, Germany isn't suggesting that other countries don't have ideas but that the idea is to bring to the forefront what he believes the country is known for worldwide.

One feature of the campaign, Persoenlich notes, involves the placing of an enormous pile of books on the Bebelplatz in Berlin, once the scene of a historic book-burning incident during Nazi times.

That, says Turner, is just one of a range of initiatives, all taking the form of large sculptures. While they may have little to do with football, Turner points out that once 2006 has passed, Germany will still be there and the intention is to form a lasting image of the country's creative strengths in the minds of visitors.

Official partners of the campaign include major companies such as e-On, BASF and Deutsche Telekom.

To read a longer version of this story for yourself, in German, click on the link below (left) to be taken to the Persoenlich website. Alternatively, click on the link below (right) to visit the official 'Land der Ideen' website or here to read a longer version of the interview, translated into English by From Europe With Love.

05.12.05
Italy: Media consumption increases, but not everybody is connecting

Italians are thirsty for more and more information and are acecssing it through a growing range of sources. At least that's the result of the 39th report produced by Censis, a researvch foundation set up to explore themes of socio- economic importance.

Reported on the online business journal Affari Italiani, the survey classifies the population by their uptake of new and existing media services. Thus 'marginals' (using television only) and 'the poor' (who use no more than two media types) are identified, although in each case the number of people falling into these classifications is falling.

The number of consumers who can be classified as 'average' (defined as making good use of media, without including the internet) is also falling, Censis says. The number of 'omnivores', on the other hand (and who use as many as seven types of media) and 'pioneers' (eight types and over) is growing.

"Around 20% of the Italian population is truly taking advantage of the digital age", Censis says. This is proved by penetration figures for communications and entertainment devices: 90% of citizens have a mobile phone, 85% a video recorder and, in just one year, the percentage of the population owning a DVD player has risen from 21% to 60%.

According to Censis, around 20 million Italians could be considered as internet users during 2005, equivalent to just over 40% of the population. To see what else the foundation discovered, either click on the link below (left) to read a fuller version of this article, in Italian, on the Affari Italiani website, or click on the link below (right) to see the full text of the press release on the Censis website.

05.12.05
Netherlands: Retailer Albert Heijn launches format mixing upscale and downscale presentation

Albert Heijn, the Netherlands' leading supermarket retailer, has unveiled the first of what it is calling a 'new generation' of stores, with a format designed to appeal both to those looking for standard presentation of top brands and to other (or the same) shoppers looking for goods at low prices with minimal presentational frills.

These, in the style of 'hard' discounters such as Aldi and Lidl, will be sold from boxes, as delivered from the factory, while recognised brands - or 'A-Marken', as they are known in Holland - will be allowed a place on the shelves.

Four openings are expected to follow in 2006, says the news site AgriHolland Nieuws. The motive behind the new format, according to Albert Heijn, is the changing expectations of consumers who now demand a combination of convenience and inspiration, helpful staff and attractive prices.

Around 35% of stock in traditional Albert Heijn outlets bears the company's own brand, AgriHolland Nieuws says, but this percentage is much higher in the new-format stores. One feature of the new range is a selection of 60 products - sold under the 'Kies & Kook' ('Choose and cook') brand, which promises shoppers that, by buying for of them, they can put together a meal in 15 minutes for just 8 euros.

To read a longer version of this story for yourself, in Dutch, click on the link below (left) to see it as published on AgriHolland Nieuws. Alternatively, click on the link below (right) to open up a photo in your browser which gives you an idea of what these new stores look like (to see four other photos, click here to go to the press release and look for the links which say 'Download hier die hoge resolutie foto X').

05.12.05
Germany: Discount grocery chain Aldi set to launch cut-price mobile phone service

Aldi, the discount grocery chain, is to launch its own mobile phone service this week, claims the German newspaper Bild.

The service will be made available throughout the company's 4,000-plus strong network, Bild says, with experts predicting that, where the market leader goes, others will soon follow.

The four leading network operators - T-Mobile, Vodafone, E-Plus and O2 - have long feared competition from mass market retailers. Vodafone has resisted the urge to cooperate with them, Bild says, although O2, which has a smaller market presence, has struck a deal with the coffee chain Tchibo.

Aldi's service is launching with E-Plus as a partner and offers a 10 euro call voucher as an introductory gift. Once that has been used up, calls will cost 15 cents per minute for calls to German landline phones and other national mobile networks. Aldi customers calling each other will pay just 5 cents per minute.

To read this story for yourself, in German, click on the link below (left). Alternatively, click on the link below (right) to visit Aldi's German website and check out the new service for yourself.

30.11.05
France: Buy Unilever's Proactiv and get a discount on your insurance, consumers told

French insurance firm Maaf Assurances is offering holders of its complementary health policy a discount of up to 40 euros per year if they consume products with anti-cholesterol properties sold under Unilever's Proactiv brand, writes the newspaper Le Figaro.

According to the two companies, who released a joint statement on Tuesday, the deal is destined to be a 'precursor' to other, similar initiatives and forms part of a drive to lower cholesterol levels and therefore lessen the risk of heart disease.

Under the terms of the promotion, which will run under the name 'Pur bonus santé', policy holders will need to send their sales receipts to Maaf by 31st December 2006. For the first seven Proactiv products bought, they will receive a discount of 10 euros on the annual cost of their policy, rising to 22 euros per 14 products and 40 euros for 21 products, Le Figaro says.

Products sold under the Proactiv brand include margarines, dairy drinks and yogurts. According to Maaf and Unilever, around 3 million Frenchmen currently purchase Proactiv goods.

Announcement of the deal follows closely on a similar arrangement announced by Unilever rival Danone, which will link with another insurance company - AGF - from the beginning of 2006, offering advantages to buyers of its Danacol cholesterol-lowering products.

To read a longer version of this story, in French, click on the link below (left) to be taken to the Le Figaro website. Alternatively, click on the link below (right) to visit Unilever's French website.

01.12.05
Austria: EU court tells lemonade maker its bottle is not unique enough to be trademarked

Austrian company Almdudler, maker of the herb-based lemonade drink of the same name, has been told by a Luxembourg court that its bottle design is not unique enough to benefit from EU trademark protection, says the newspaper Die Presse.

Almdudler first applied for a '3-dimensional trademark' in 2001, claiming that its brand consisted of the particular shape of the bottle, plus its composition, which varies from clear in the middle to grained in the lower and upper parts. That request was turned down, a decision which the company decided to appeal to before the European Court of Justice.

The Court, however, has confirmed the earlier decision, saying that the bottle was of a clear type generally used by bottlers of lemonade and therefore did not constitute a strong enough signal which might cause consumers to attribute its form to one manufacturer or another.

Almdudler has thus failed to replicate Coca Cola, which has secured widespread trademark protection for its characteristic shaped bottle, including in the EU.

To read a longer version of this story, in German, click on the link below (left) to go to the Die Presse website. Alternatively, click on the link below (right) to visit Almdudler.

30.11.05
Netherlands: 'Buzzers' spread the word about new products, then get them for nothing in return

Got a friend that can't stop telling you all about this or that new product with great enthusiasm? Well, if so, it could be that he or she is a 'buzzer', at least in the Netherlands.

The latest films, CDs, games, cosmetics... buzzers get them all for free, as long as they promise to go around telling the world about their plus points, says the magazine Trouw.

'Buzzing' is the idea of the Amsterdam-based firm Buzzer, founded by Willem Sodderland, and capitalises on the fact that the most effective form of promotion is often word of mouth. "People are tired of all the commercials", he tells Trouw, "you have to reach them in another way. We let consumers speak for themselves, effectively making them marketers".

Three main reasons lie behind buzzers' motivation, according to Sodderland. Firstly, status (they get products before other people hear about them), influence (both on people and on manufacturers) and having a story to tell.

"We offer manufacturers a group of discriminating consumers who are please to tell people how satisfied they are with their product", says Sodderland. "The manufacturer gets free advertising and both sides profit from the deal".

The idea for Buzzer, Trouw says, stems back to 1998 when Sodderland was involved in an 'incubator' group helping small companies to get their ideas off the ground. He soon realised how important the first group of consumers were to the potential success of new brands which often did not have the funds to advertise.

The idea gradually developed into a company set up by Willem Sodderland with Robert Cornelissen, one they claim is unique in Europe.

To read more about 'buzzing', in Dutch, on the website of Trouw, click on the link below (left). Alternatively, to check out Buzzer for yourself, in Dutch, and even to register yourself with the firm click on the link below (right). Can't face it in Dutch? Click here to be taken to the English-language section of Buzzer's website

30.11.05
Italy: Film makers look to balance loss in funding with increase in product placement deals

Italy's film industry has been hit over the past year or so, writes the online newspaper Affari Italiani, by a decision taken by the country's finance authorities to cut state funding. As they search for other sources of revenue, Affari Italiani says, they are increasingly turning to product placement.

Camelot, an agency that specialises in such deals, says that once changes in local laws made the practice possible, it immediately set to work to make sure that the Tim mobile phone brand would be present in the film 'Qua Vadis baby'.

Five further titles due to appear in 2006 will include product placements negotiated by Camelot, agency head Paola Mazzaglia tells Affari Italiani. The first will feature the lead character in 'Eccezionale Veramente 2' using the 892 892 phone number enquiry service to locate his daughter. Subsequent releases will benefit the pasta brand Pasta Garofalo, among others.

Through such deals, Mazzaglia says, Camelot has brought over a million euros into the Italian fim industry in just one year.

Click on the link below (left) to read a longer version of this story for yourself, in Italian, on the Affari Italiani website. Alternatively, to visit the daily news site of the leading Italian film company, Cinecittŕ, click on the link below (right).

30.11.05
Switzerland: Shoppers forcing retailers to adopt upscale/downscale approach

On the one hand, Swiss shoppers want cheap, discount products, on the other sales of luxury goods continue to rise. This phenomenon has caused one academic to claim that, increasingly, Switzerland is a nation of 'smart' consumers.

Torsten Tomczak, professor of marketing at the University of St. Gallen, says that, while buying their wine at low prices from the supermarket chain Denner, well-off people are not willing to give up their high-priced watches.

For David Bosshart, director at the Gottlieb Duttweiler Institute, which monitors consumer trends, this presents retailers with a new kind of challenge. Migros and Coop, Switzerland's two largest retailers, have reacted by introducing low-priced 'value' lines and upscale premium own brands ('Premium Labels Selection' in the instance of Migros and 'Fine Food' at rival Coop).

Bosshart points to Tesco in the UK as a key reference and stresses the importance of its 'positively classless' approach in bringing about the supermarket chain's success.

Ad agency Advico Young & Rubicam agrees, says the advertising and marketing magazine Persoenlich, that cheap on its own is not enough. Among brands growing in sales are Migros' reasonably-priced 'M-Label' brand, but more expensive 'fair trade' goods sold by Max Havelaar are also seeing increasing sales.

In sectors other than grocery, Persoenlich says, one of the most high-profile adjustments to the trend is that undertaken by H&M, which has signed a series of top-of-the-range designers to produce limited runs of mid-priced fashion, with tremendous success.

Click on the link below (left) to read this story for yourself, in German, on the Persoenlich website.  Alternatively, click on the link below (right) to visit the Gottlieb Duttweiler Institute.

30.11.05
Germany: 'Aunt Emma' shops urged to develop offfer to compete with supermarkets

With the number of corner grocery shops - affectionately known in Germany as 'Tante Emma Laden' (or 'Aunt Emma shops') - continuing to fall, their owners are being called on to develop their offer if they are to be able to compete with more modern and larger retail forms such as super- and hypermarkets, writes the newspaper Kölner Stadt Anzeiger.

"The number has fallen by fully half in the past ten years", says Michael Gerling of the city's Eurohandelsinstitut (EHI) business college. The EHI forecasts that 2,000 corner shops will have closed in just one year by the end of 2005, leaving the number of such outlets at 33,000. In 1993, the figure was 56,000.

"That's dramatic", says Gerling. But while many German shoppers would rate their local store as 'essential', this is not reflected in their shopping behaviour. Since 1993, average shop turnover has fallen by almost 30%, he calculates, with customer numbers falling by 13%.

"Either the 'Tante Emma' shops change or they are going to die out", Gerling continues. As for how they might change, he suggests that they could offer home-made soups or lunches. "The market is about nutrition", he tells the Kölner Stadt Anzeiger. "That doesn't just mean ingredients for meals, but meals themselves".

Click on the link below (left) to read this story for yourself, in German, on the Kölner Stadt Anzeiger website. Alternatively, click on the link below (right) to see a selection of photos of a typical 'Tante Emma' shop.

29.11.05
Sweden: Clothing chain H&M takes down controversial church tower poster

Santa Clara church in central Stockholm is currently undergoing renovation, which has involved putting up scaffolding around the building, including its spire. What better opportunity, thought the fashion retailer Hennes & Mauritz (H&M), to put up a giant poster advertising jewellery.

Having reached agreement with the company undertaking the renovation work, Libergs, H&M duly went ahead, little understanding how controversial the move was to prove. Now, says Sweden's leading advertising magazine Resumé, and following adverse reactions from both Stockholmers and the church's Dean, Hakon Lĺngström, the company has agreed to take it down.

The church originally voted not to authorise placing of the poster on November 7th, says the Swedish religious newspaper Kyrkans Tidning, meaning that H&M has already had what could be considered to be a full campaign at the site.

Now, as company spokeswoman Anna Bergare tells the paper, "H&M has respected the church's wishes and taken down the poster. If the church doesn't want it then it's not in our interests either".

According to Libergs, the church had been sent an e-mail proposal back in September, outlining the kind of images that might be used by the advertising agency involved, but not the final version of the poster. "The church said that it was OK", its head Kenneth Liberg tells Kyrkans Tidning.

To see what else he tells them and if you've never visited a Swedish religious newspaper before, click on the link below (left) to read a longer version of this story on the Kyrkans Tidning website. Alternatively, click on the link below (right) to read the story in Resumé or here to visit H&M's Swedish website.

24.11.05
Spain: Rules on use of celebrities in advertising to be tested this Christmas

Christmas is traditionally high season for advertisers of food products, particularly those aimed at children, says the Spanish trade magazine Marketing Directo. This year, however, they will not be able to use celebrities such as Rafael Nadal or Ronaldinho, due to regulations recently agreed by government authorities with leading manufacturers.

According to article 13.2 of the PAOS code, as the regulations are known and which was introduced in September, advertisers are prohibited from using well-known people in their campaigns or otherwise suggest that products can produce unreal effects (such as allowing children to fly).

Over 80% of companies have already signed up voluntarily to the code, Marketing Directo says. But while celebrities are ruled out, their relatives are not and one company has already taken advantage of this to use the mother of motorcyclist Dani Pedrosa in its advertising.

It remains to be seen whether the ban on celebrity spokespeople also applies to famous fictional figures such as Father Christmas or traditional elements of Christmas such as the 3 Kings, whose arrival is celebrated each year in most Spanish cities with a procession. Decisions on each case will be made by Autocontrol, the advertising industry's self-regulatory authority.

Click on the link below (left) to read a longer version of this story for yourself, in Spanish, on the Marketing Directo website. Alternatively, click on the link below (right) to visit Autocontrol and explore what they do, in Spanish or English.

24.11.05
Netherlands: Child campaigners call for mobile phone promotion to be stopped

Dutch children's protection foundation Stichting De Kinderconsument has sent an open letter to the internet and mobile phone company Scarlet asking it to alter its current promotion, which offers a free child's mobile phone for every adult subscription taken out, writes the advertising magazine Adformatie.

Displayed on posters across the nation, advertising for the promotion shows a woman and a young girl dressed in what the foundation describes as 'miniscule lingerie'. Despite its potential to offend and the number of complaints which it has prompted, Holland's self-regulatory vetting authority, Reclame Code Commissie, gave the campaign the green light, Adformatie says.

Now Stichting de Kinderconsument has taken up those complaints and new ones it has received asking for the billboard and the website to be taken down.

Basis for the complaint is that the young girl is shown as an exact copy (including lingerie and make-up) of an attractive young woman who is 'clearly sexually attractive and displayed in a seducive pose in lingerie that leaves nothing to the imagination'.

Click on the link below (left) to read this story for yourself, in Dutch, on the Adformatie website. Alternatively, click on the link below (right) to visit Scarlet's website and make your own judgement on the promotional approach it is taking.

24.11.05
Europe: One in four grocery products sold in Europe is now own label, says Nielsen

Almost one in every four products bought in European supermarkets carries the brand of the outlet in which it is sold, according to figures released by the retail audit company AC Nielsen and reported by the Spanish advertising and marketing magazine Ipmark.

Although slow to pick up on the concept initially, Spain is now one of the countries with the highest penetration of 'own label', Ipmark says, with 26% of mass market grocery goods now carrying the supermarket's own brand and with sales having grown over the past year at a pace equivalent to three times that of branded goods.

Worldwide, 17% of FMCG products are sold as own label goods, Nielsen says, a figure which rises to 23% in Europe. In all regions surveyed, growth in private label is greater than that observed in manufacturer-branded products.

The highest level of own label penetration in Europe is in Switzerland, where 45% of goods sell under the names of leading supermarket chains such as Migros and Coop. Other countries where penetration is high include Germany, at 30%, the UK (28%), Belgium (25%), France (24%) and Holland (22%).

Click on the link below (left) to read a longer version of this story for yourself, in Spanish, on the Ipmark website. Alternatively, click on the link below (right) to visit AC Nielsen's English-language global website.

22.11.05
Netherlands: Big brands fight back with joint magazine venture

Over the past year or so, Dutch supermarkets have been engaged in a fierce price war, which has hurt manufacturers of branded goods. Now, says the trade journal Marketing Online, some of them are fighting back with a jointly-produced magazine.

On Friday 18th November, around 750,000 households will have woken up to find a copy of 'Lekker in het Leven' ('Life tastes good') in their letter box, Marketing Online says. Running to 34 pages and accompanied by a set of discount coupons, the magazine counts among its backers Procter & Gamble (P&G), Douwe Egberts and HJ Heinz.

Aimed at families with children, its features show how innovations made by such companies are contributing to improving family life. According to Ronald van de Straat of P&G, around 60% of Dutch retailers will accept the coupons, although Albert Heijn, the country's leading supermarket chain, is one notable exception.

The promotion is a first in the Netherlands, he adds, and one in which P&G took the initiative. In neighbouring Belgium it had conducted a similar exercise on its own, although other manufacturers joined in later.

Total value of the coupons is € 25.50. The publication of this first issue of the magazine constitutes a large-scale test, although experience in both Belgium and Germany shows that similar promotions are capable of stimulating shopping visits and sales. Should it prove successful in the Netherlands, publication two or three times a year is envisaged.

Click on the link below (left) to read a longer version of this story for yourself, in Dutch, on the Marketing Online website. Alternatively, click on the link below (right) to visit the website of Procter and Gamble in the Netherlands.

22.11.05
Belgium: Post office surveys the nation on how it wants its advertising

Belgium's postal service, La Poste, is conducting a large scale survey to see what kinds of advertising citizens want to receive, according to the national newspaper Le Soir.

The company has already distributed around 1 million forms through letter boxes, Le Soir says, with more to follow as La Pste seeks to reach all families. Called 'Select Post', the initiative will allow families to specify which product categories they would be happy to receive advertising for, thus enabling advertisers to better target their mailshots.

"While the volume of traditional mail is tending to stagnate, addressed promotional mailshots still have room to grow", a spokesman for La Poste tells th enewspaper.

A first test wave of surveys sent out at the beginning of the year to 25,000 households produced response rates above 30%, the spokesman continues. What is perhaps more surprising, he says, is that consumers requested direct mail in an average of 52 categories.

Around 80% of advertisers spoken to by La Poste approve of the initiative, with 42 already having agreed to take part.

Click on the link below (left) to read a slightly longer version of this story for yourself, in French, on the Le Soir website. Alternatively, click on the link below (right) to read the longer press release sent out (by post?) by La Poste.

21.11.05
France: 'Absolutly' not. French wine maker wins battle against Swedish vodka giant

A wine maker in southern France is this week celebrating victory, having won his battle against a drinks multinational to call his produce what he wants to, writes the news agency AFP.

Based in Cabestany, close to Perpignan, Jean-Philippe Beille thought nothing of naming his best wine 'Tinto absoluto' (which translates as something like 'absolutely very red wine'), AFP says. Little did he imagine, however, that the Swedish makers of the vodka brand Absolut would consider this an attempt to trade on the brand values that they have so cleverly built up over the years.

Absolut's reaction was to object to Jean-Philippe registering the wine's name with France's trademark authority, the INPI, despite the fact that its maker was able to point to clear differences between a deep red wine and a clear vodka that hardly anybody drinks in the region in which he produces.

5,000 bottles were produced and everything seemed to be running well until one of the vineyard's Swedish clients requested that the packaging be changed, AFP says. Struggling to get the business back on its feet after the death of his father, Beille was keen to maintain his stance and unable to either accommodate the request or employ a lawyer to fight his corner in the French courts.

"I defended myself with good sense", he tells the agency. "Firstly, the products have different colours. Then there is the fact that they are consumed differently".

The dispute quickly caught the attention of the local and then the national press in France, fuelling a spirited movement of defence in favour of Beille. "Without really wanting to", Beille continues, "we became a symbol of Catalan culture". And a defiant one, at that, with slogans appearing such as 'Vodka no pasarŕ' ('No vodka here').

Now the vineyard is free to continue marketing its wine under the name it originally chose, "some buyers are suddenly deciding it's very good", says its maker.

Click on the link below (left) to read this story for yourself, in French, on the website of Voila, which publishes news stories from AFP. Alternatively, click on the link below (right) to visit the website set up especially to support Jean-Pierre Beille's defence of his 'tinto absoluto'.

Netherlands: Pepsi or 'Ipsei'? Soft drinks giants to face off in the European trademark court

Soon to be launched in the UK but available now for over a year in Germany and the Netherlands, one of Coca Cola's latest new product introductions has caused severe discomfort at its major rival, Pepsico.

The reason? Well, says the Dutch business news website Zibb, the fact that the product is called 'Ipsei' might have something to do with it. Pepsico, it says - and perhaps with some reason - feels that this is uncomfortably close to the name of its star soft drink, Pepsi.

For its part, Coca Cola counters with the claim that the name is in fact derived from 'ipse', which is Latin for 'self', and continues to promote the product as having a surprising taste, unique design and being good for the body, given that it contains natural anti-oxidants which help to strengthen the body's defences.

Bottled in the Netherlands by Vrumona, a subsidiary of Heineken, Ipsei will now be the subject of a judgement by the European Patent Office in the Dutch town of The Hague, says Zibb.

Click on the link below (left) to read this story for yourself, in Dutch, on the Zibb.nl website. Alternatively, click on the link below (right) to visit the website set up for Ipsei in neighbouring Germany or here to see the product presented to the Dutch public.

21.11.05
Austria: "Everybody's unhappy with Europe", Lowe & Partners' Tony Wright tells the press

Austrian newspaper Der Standard took advantage of a recent visit to the country by Tony Wright, CEO of Lowe & Partners Worldwide, to question him on a range of topics. In his post for around one year, the newspaper asked him if it was fair to say that his network was still 'work in progress'.

Wright denies this, saying that much has changed in that time, although quality issues still need to be resolved. Bringing together the very creative staff of the London-based Lowe network with those of US-based Lintas, five years ago, he admits, however, did not work.

Asked about the continuing speculation that its troubled parent, IPG, might be looking to sell off Lowe, Wright says that there are currently no such plans and points out that the agency is strongly positioned in growing markets, such as Russia, India, China and Brazil. Within the network, emphasis over the coming year will be placed on achieving healthy profitability.

One trade magazine, Der Standard points out, recently said that Lowe continued to be having trouble in Europe. "Everybody agency network is currently unhappy with continental Europe", Wright responds, "there's hardly any growth. I am particularly unhappy. Lowe is just not strong enough in these countries. The culture shock after the Lowe/Lintas merger was felt at its strongest here. For example, Lintas used to be a really strong agency in France, now we're struggling. In Germany, Lintas was once number one".

Click on the link below (left) to read a longer version of this interview for yourself, in German, on the Der Standard website. Alternatively, click on the link below (right) to visit the website maintained by the network's agency in Austria, Lowe GGK, which enjoys a particularly high profile.

21.11.05
Belgium: Aldi takes on TV titles with its own weekly listings magazine

Aldi, the German-based 'hard discount' grocery retailer, is to launch a weekly TV listings magazine in its Belgian stores from November 23rd, writes the national newspaper De Standaard.

Published each Wednesday, the new magazine will be made available in two languages and two versions. 'TV compact' will be offered for sale in stores located in Flemish-speaking regions of Belgium, while 'Télé-compact' will cater for French-speaking, TV-watching shoppers.

The magazine will have a pocket format and contain 84 pages, combining an overview of the week's programming plus background information, tips, 'interesting facts' about the world of TV and plenty of games, De Standaard says. The initiative is being undertaken in conjunction with Sanoma, one of Belgium's leading publishers.

Aldi, the newspaper adds, is not the first Belgian retailer to enter the world of TV listings magazines, with Carrefour, the hypermarket chain, having launched 'Mijn Week TV' - a free publication - in November 2001. Carrefour ceased its involvement, however, less than a year later. The price of Aldi's magazine has not been made public.

Click on the link below (left) to read this story for yourself, in Flemish/Dutch, on the De Standaard website. Alternatively, click on the link below (right) to visit Aldi in Belgium and check out this week's special offers.

21.11.05
Germany: Coke and Pepsi consider 'sleeping with the enemy'

Aldi, which has built its success on offering low-priced, exclusive own label brands instead of the major brands to be found on the shelves of most retailers, is currently in talks with both Coke and Pepsi about stocking their drinks in its German outlets, writes the business newspaper Zibb.nl.

Aldi's German operations are split into two, with each of them run by one of the billionaire brothers who own the chain. The discussions underway, Zibb says, relate to the company's stores in southern Germany ('Aldi Sud') and come shortly after confectionery maker Ferrero also agreed to have its products listed in the discounter's shops.

Click on the link below (left) to read this story for yourself, in Dutch, on the Zibb.nl website. Alternatively, click on the link below (right) to visit Aldi in Germany.

21.11.05
Netherlands: Travel agencies respond to complaints by offering 'Russ-an-free' holidays

Increasing complaints are being made to travel agencies by Dutch holidaymakers in Turkey, writes the newspaper Zibb. The cause of the unhappiness? A Russian 'invasion' on the beaches. Now those agencies are responding with packages that include accommodation in hotels in which it is guaranteed that no Russians will be staying.

"Russians have a completely different mentality to the Dutch", says a spokesperson for one such agency, Annasol Vliegvakanties. "We adapt ourselves and our friendly with the staff. They behave as if the hotel is their own and are often unfriendly towards the personnel and other guests".

Annasol, in conjunction with Ten Tours, says Zibb, has reacted by promoting all-inclusive holidays in 4- and 5-star hotels with a guarantee that only guests from western Europe will be staying in the other rooms.

Says a spokesman for another travel company, Corendon,: "Our clients complain alot about anti-social Russians. They've taken over the role that used to be occupied by the Germans. Irritation number 1 is the buffet - they over-fill their plate meaning the food disappears too quickly. Then they get up extra-early to put their towel down beside the pool. They are coarse, even in appearance. In general, our clients find that Russians have a lot of money but not many manners".

Click on the link below (left) to read a longer version of this story for yourself, in Dutch, on the Zibb website. Alternatively, to check out the Turkish holiday range on offer at one of the companies mentioned in this story - Corendon - click on the link below (right).

21.11.05
Europe/Germany: FIFA and Ferrero both claim victory in World Cup trademark dispute

Two recent court rulings do little to resolve the running dispute between confectionery maker Ferrero and the organisers of the 2006 soccer World Cup.

In a first judgement, on November 2nd, the European trademark authorities ruled that FIFA could exercise exclusive control over the brands 'WM 2006', 'WM Deutschland', 'Deutschland 2006' and 'WM Deutschland 2006' ('WM' = Weltmeisterschaft = World Cup). FIFA's defence of these 'brands' had been prompted by the fact that Ferrero - famous for such products as its 'Rocher' chocolates and 'Kinder Surprise' eggs - had registered eleven similar names.

But while the European court ordered Ferrero's right to those names to be removed, a more recent judgement, made by a Frankfurt judge, now prevents FIFA from forbidding the use of 'WM 2006' in promotions for unrelated products, says the German sales and marketing magazine Absatzwirtschaft.

Quite who will have the last word remains to be seen, Absatzwirtschaft says. Ferrero is planning to depend heavily on World Cup-related promotions in coming months to boost sales and welcomed the ruling by the Frankfurt court. "FIFA has withdrawn its injunction against Ferrero and been ordered to pay all costs", a satisfied spokeswoman, Almut von Rissenback, told the press.

Click on the link below (left) to read this story for yourself, in German, on the Absatzwirtschaft website. Alternatively, click on the link below (right) to visit the official WM 2006 website or here to visit Ferrero in Germany.

21.11.05
Belgium: Advertising is for everybody, says new industry campaign

Just a few days ahead of the launch of Media Smart, an inititative designed to help teachers educate children aged between 8 and 12 years old about advertising, Belgium's association of communications companies (ACC) has launched a campaign designed to stress the usefulness of commercial communications, says the local trade magazine Media Marketing.

Placed in a number of newspapers for which space is sold by the company Scripta, the campaign seeks to combat prejudices against advertising, Media Marketing says. Its slogan? 'La pub. c'est pour tout le monde' ('Advertising is for everyone').

In placing the campaign the ACC starts from the point of view that everyone uses adevrtising, every day - even if often unconsciously - to convince others or simply to find a buyer. This last motive, Media Marketing says, is what serves to form the core of the campaign.

Creatives from the ad agency Euro RSCG have used genuine classified adverts to develop a range of executions that bring home to readers the fact that advertising plays an essential role in putting people with basic needs and wants in touch with others in a position to satisfy them

Click on the link below (left) to read this story for yourself, in French, on the Media Marketing website. Alternatively, click on the link below (right) to visit the ACC website and, in particular, to see From Europe With Love's favourite execution from this new campaign (this will open up as an Adobe Acrobat PDF file on your computer - the advert is for a hairdresser who will visit your home, meaning you don't have to get your 'Afro' out of the door).

26.09.05
Germany: 'Du bist Deutschland' campaign aims to boost Germans' self esteem

Germany is looking to the biggest non-commercial advertising campaign in its history to help it pull itself out of its current subdued mood, writes the newspaper Der Standard.

At the heart of the campaign, Der Standard says, is a new TV ad that uses the slogan 'Du bist Deutschland!' (in English, 'You are Germany!'). The spot, which broke on Sunday September 25th, will run for a period of four months on the country's leading channels, accompanied by full-page print ads in all major newspapers and magazines. Equivalent total investment of over €30 million backs the campaign, although no money will in fact change hands and all media space will be donated free.

"Our aim is to establish a new mood that this country is going forward", Bernd Bauer, spokesman for 'Partner für Innovation, the organisation behind the campaign, tells Der Standard. To achieve this, the campaign hopes to motivate each individual to make their own personal contribution to lifting Germany out of its 'crisis'.

"A butterfly can unleash a typhoon", TV presenter Sandra Maischberger is quoted as saying, with perhaps not the best sense of timing given events in the United States which coincide with the appearance of the campaign. Maischberger is one of over 30 well-known personalities lending their endorsement to the campaign.

Others include the ice skater Katharina Witt, who asks in the TV ad: "Wie wär's, wenn Du Dich mal wieder selbst anfeuerst" (in English: "Imagine what could happen if you fired yourself up again).

The general theme behind the push, Der Standard says, is encapsulated in the phrase: "Don't ask what others can do for you. Your are thoes others. You are Germany!". The work was produced by star ad agencies Jung von Matt and kempertrautmann, without a fee.

Originally planned for June, the campaign was postponed on account of the parliamentary elections which took place this month. Its first appearance has been scheduled for 7.56pm on both the leading state-funded TV channels, ARD and ZDF, with the leading commercial channels following 17 minutes later.

Click on the link below (left) to read this story for yourself, in German, on the Der Standard website. Alternatively, click on the link below (right) to go to the website set up to support the 'Du bist Deutschland' campaign and which, hopefully by now, Monday, should be up and running.

26.09.05
France: New Madonna album previewed via multi-platform deal with France Télécom

Like their counterparts elsewhere, from October 17th onwards, French fans of the singer Madonna will have to content themselves with listening to the first single taken from her forthcoming album, 'Confessions on a dance floor', until the full collection is released on November 14th. Unless, that is, they subscribe to France Télécom's mobile and cable services.

In what is described by the newspaper Le Figaro as the most innovative promotion of a singer since the advent of digital media, Warner Music France and France Télécom have signed an agreement which allows the telecoms operator to distribute advances taken from the new album via a range of channels before the official release date.

The agreement, Le Figaro says, covers ringtones for mobile phones, music downloads over the internet and even the purchase of videoclips via television.

Over the first six months of this year, Thierry Cassagne, head of Warner Music France tells the newspaper, revenues derived from digitally-delivered music accounted for 3% of the group's total revenues. That proportion will now be boosted by the Madonna deal, which will see the first extract from the new album being made available for download by clients of France Télécom's Orange mobile phone service.

In specially-edited, ringtone form, the tune will cost 3 euros per download, of which Warner will receive 60 cents. Five additional downloads will be made available on October 4th, plus a new version of the single, which will then be made fully available on October 17th. On that date the full multi-platform strategy will also kick in, with Madonna video content available via ADSL to subscribers.

Using these and other tactics, Warner is hoping to achieve sales of the album of more than 700,000 and thus exceed the performance of the singer's previous disc.

Click on the link below (left) to read this story for yourself, in French, on the Le Figaro website. Alternatively, click on the link below (right) to visit Warner Music France.

26.09.05
Belgium: Ford announces its 'miracles' with 'world first' talking posters

Car maker Ford and its advertising agency Ogilvy are claiming a world first with an innovative campaign set to run between September 20th and 28th, writes the Belgian advertising and marketing magazine, Pub.

During that time, poster will be displayed in seven of the country's major railway stations which 'talk' to passers-by to gain their interest in the company's autumn promotions.

Each day for the duration of the campaign and during rush hour only, as travellers approach the posters the man shown on them 'comes to life', blinking his eyes and smiling. Behind the scenes, a real-life actor then engages the spectator using a hidden camera and a joystick to control his character's movements.

Designed to inform, stimulate and amuse, the campaign also aims to convey the 'miraculous' conditions on which various Ford models are available this autumn. In addition to a physical presence in stations, Ford has set up a website where, it claims, visitors will be able to see for themselves the reactions of people spoken to by the posters.

Click on the link below (left) to read a longer version of this story for yourself, in French, on the Pub website. From Europe With Love has visited the website and is less than impressed with the visual quality of the reactions captured by the hidden camera, but if you'd like to see for yourself, just click on the link below (right).

31.05.05
Norway: Oslo now a more attractive destination with new logo

Just the latest in a growing line of European capital cities anxious to ensure that it is keeping up the pace in terms of attracting both tourists and business traffic, Norway's Oslo has commissioned itself a new visual identity, writes the country's advertising and marketing magazine Propaganda.

The design, Propaganda says, is intended to communicate that Oslo is 'modern, urban and colourful' VisitOslo. tourist head Tor Sannerud commissioned the new identity, Propaganda says, from local graphic design agency Deville. It wil be used by all entities charged with attracting visitors to the city, under a common brand.

Click on the link below (left) to read this story for yourself, in Norwegian, on the Propaganda website. Alternatively, click on the link below (right) to go directly to the website maintained by 'VisitOslo' to promote itself as a destination.

18.05.05
Netherlands: Advertising commission gives controversial 'Hand of God' spot the all-clear

Earlier this month, it was reported that Holland's self-regulatory advertising commission, Reclame Code Commissie, had received over 200 complaints - all from religious groups and individuals - about a TV ad showing a giant hand emerging from the sky and redirecting a football which was going wide of its target into the goal (click here to remind yourself of that earlier story).

Versatel suspended transmission of the ad while the commission was considering its decision. Now, however, says the country's leading advertising magazine, Adformatie, the company is free to put the ad back on air.

Despite an explicit reference to the 'hand of God' being responsible for the intervention, the commission ruled that the ad was not in poor taste. Versatel had always maintained that the phrase referred to an incident involving Argentina's Diego Maradona in a match against England. Protesters, on the other hand, felt it was a direct and inappropriate reference to.., well, God.

Not even 1,100 signatures handed in by religious and political group ChristenUnie were enough to sway opinion at the Reclame Code Commissie. Versatel, as a consequence, feels its decision to air the spot - which publicises the transmission of football matches over its ADSL lines - vindicated and says that it is 'sorry that the ad attracted so many complaints. We didn't mean to offend anyone'. A decision on whether it will indeed go back on air, however, remains to be taken, Adformatie says.

Click on the link below (left) to read this story for yourself, in Dutch, on the Adformatie website. Alternatively, click on the link below (right) to visit Versatel's website and see the ad for yourself, in Windows Media Player format

18.05.05
Netherlands: Consumers boycott Bijenkorf's
'Mao' promotion

It must have seemed a good idea at the time and, indeed, some of the articles appeared to be selling rather well. But now, says the newspaper Die Presse, Dutch trade giant Vendex and its flagship department store, de Bijenkorf, have decided to take all goods branded with the image of ex-Chinese dictator Mao Tse Tung off its shelves.

Vendex decided that it would be a good idea, Die Presse says, to run a promotional week around all things Chinese and including goods such as furniture, porcelain, vases and silks. These - especially the porcelain - sold like 'hot cakes', but other products such as T-shirts and teacups bearing the image of the oppressive leader were shunned by shoppers.

Worse than this, the company was bombarded by a protest campaign conducted by way of e-mail, letters and phone calls. Many people, it appears, thought that Vendex should in no way be associating itself with the activities of a 'mass murderer', even less displaying his image prominently in its stores. "Mao out" was a common call of protesters.

Faced with negative reaction that simply grew and grew, Vendex decided to clear its shelves of 'Mao' products, Die Presse says, with a company spokeswoman admitting to the paper that "the thing with Mao was a major error of judgement".

It is, Die Presse says, as if the company had been stocking cups and shirts bearing images of historical figures such as Hitler or Stalin. That, it continues, is where marketing has to stop. Dutch consumers, it appears, would agree with that sentiment.

Click on the link below (left) to read this story for yourself, in German, in Die Presse. Alternatively, click on the link below (right) to visit the department store chain in question, de Bijenkorf.

16.05.05
Germany: BMW seriously considering dropping Formula 1 sponsorship

According to the German news magazine Der Spiegel, the board of car maker BMW has serious doubts about whether to continue with its interests in Formula 1 motor racing.

"The probability", a senior spokesman tells the magazine confidentially, "is very high that we will get out". The reason, Der Spiegel says, is that the Munich-based company is simply fed up with not winning.

Already, last year, team head Helmut Panke admitted that "in the long term, it simply isn't acceptable just to go along for the ride. We want success next season".

This year as last, however, the team has no chance of securing the championship, with drivers Mark Webber and Nick Heidfeld lying sixth and tenth in the rankings, while BMW trails Renault, Toyota and McLaren-Mercedes in the constructors' championship.

"If we simply continue to follow the rest, then that's not a good investment", says board member Manfred Schoch. BMW's commitment to Formula 1, Der Spiegel says, is currently costing it a figure far exceeding 200 million euros per year.

Click on the link below (left) to read this story for yourself, in German, on the Der Spiegel website. Alternatively, and to continue to live the dream, click on the link below (right) to visit the BMW WilliamsF1 team website.

16.05.05
Italy: Parmalat opts for 'youth' as the way forward

Parmalat, the Italian dairy products manufacturer which went so spectacularly bankrup towards the end of 2003, is counting on the launch of a new line of products designed to halt the ageing process to restore its fortunes, writes the advertising industry newsletter Pubblicitŕ Italia.

Called 'Jeunesse' (the French word for 'youth'), the line includes yogurt, skimmed milk, fruit drinks and pineapple-flavoured desserts, Pubblicitŕ Italia says. Its launch will be backed by a 10 million euro advertising campaign set to run throughout the summer and, if successful, will also be sold in export markets.

The products are all enriched with the co-enzyme Q10 and a variety of vitamins said to have anti-oxidant properties. They are aimed principally at female consumers aged between 35 and 44 years old who, while they don't believe in miracle cures, Parmalat says, do pay attention to their health.

"With this new brand", Parmalat managing director Carlo Prevedini told the press last week, "we want to send a signal of rebirth and a re-establishment of the company's strength. Our relaunch is not simply a question of cuts and restructuring plans, but also of product innovation".

The advertising campaign will use the line "Jeunesse, nutri la tua giovinezza' ('Nourish your youth') and appear on TV and in print witha view to reaching a sales target of 30 million euros in the products' first year.

To read a longer version of this story for yourself, in Italian, click on the link below (left) to visit the Pubblicitŕ Italia website. Alternatively, click on the link below (right) to visit Parmalat.

16.05.05
Netherlands: Dutch airline KLM introduces 'business-only' flights

Dutch airline KLM is to make a number of its flights 'business only', writes the online business newspaper Zibb. More space and better food and drinks, it hopes, will help it to capture business travellers in a fiercely competitive market.

The first flights carrying only business passengers, Zibb says, will be between Amsterdam's Schiphol airport and Houston, Texas. Later links may be added to New York, Chicago and Detroit. KLM expects to entertain the greatest demand from multinationals such as Shell and Unilever, grateful for the opportunity to send their managers on exclusive flights.

KLM will not operate the flights itself, Zibb says, but will sub-contract the work to the Swiss company Privat Air, which already operates a similar service for the German carrier, Lufthansa.

Each plane will have a maximum of 48 seats, each with plenty of room around it. Boarding and leaving the plane will naturally be much quicker, Zibb says, given the reduced number of people. Prices will be set at a level comparable to that of a business class ticket on a standard flight, but with better food and wine.

Click on the link below (left) to read this article for yourself, in Dutch, on the Zibb website. Alternatively, click on the link below (right) to visit KLM.

16.05.05
Germany: Coca Cola not responsible for making you ill, judge rules

If you drink too much Coca Cola it might make you ill but that, a German judge ruled last week, is your problem, not the company's.

The Essen court through out a complaint lodged by a man blaming his daily consumption of the fizzy drink for his subsequently developing diabetes, says the newspaper Kurier. The complainant, himself a judge, has spent the past three years seeking damages from the soft drinks giant but had already lost cases in numerous courts in respect of a similar claim against the chocolate company, Masterfoods.

Judge Mathias Kirsten ruled that Coca Cola did not contain excessive amounts of sugar. "The product has its particular characteristics and these are what its consumers want and buy", he said.

Hans-Josef Brinkmann, who brought the case to court, was seeking around 7,000 euros in damages, in addition to an order obliging Coca Cola to pay any costs that might be necessary to treat his diabetes over the next 30 years. His claim was based on the fact that for over 3 years, he drank a litre of Coca Cola and two Snickers bars every day. Partly as a result, his weight rose to around 100 kilos.

This final judgement confirms the court's first ruling, in November 2001, when it said: "That Coca Cola is sweet is a given. Whether it is poisonous is all down to the dosage".

Click on the link below (left) to read a longer version of this article for yourself, in German, on the Kurier website. Alternatively, click on the link below (right) to visit Coca Cola's German website.

16.05.05
Austria: Is 'Returnity' the new Red Bull? Founders have their fingers crossed

"We'd like it to turn out something like Red Bull. In reality, that's pretty unlikely and the first thing we have to do is survive for the next 3 years".

Hans Vriens has prior experience, having been employee number 5 at the firm founded by Dietrich Mateschitz which was later to go on to establish Red Bull as the worldwide reference point in energy drinks. But while he may be realistic, Vriens is nevertheless optimistic, says the Austrian newspaper Der Standard.

Prior to joining Red Bull, Austria's leading exported consumer brand, Vriens had, like Mateschitz, worked in Procter & Gamble's marketing department. Now, with his partner David-Jan de Zeeuw, he has set up a new firm with a coffee- and milk-based product based on Starbucks' Frappuchino and called 'Returnity'.

Returnity has attracted backing from a venture capitalist fund to which Nestlé is a contributor. Having originally set up in business in March 2004, the pressure is now to be raised with increased investment in advertising, Der Standard says, to build on the awareness gained with Returnity's first 'dancing brain' campaign.

So far, the product is available in Austria and the Netherlands. The initial target is to achieve turnover of 20 million euros, then growth of 5% annually and possibly wider distribution. Vriens is realistic, acknowledging that around 99% of all new drink launches fail in the marketplace but, he says, "Returnity has what it needs to belong to the other 1%".

Click on the link below (left) to read this story for yourself, in German, on the Der Standard website. Alternatively, click on the link below (right) to visit Returnity, which you can read about in German, Dutch..  or English.

13.05.05
Spain: Pepsi eyes healthier snacks market with planned dried fruit launch

Conscious that tastes are changing and that consumers are continually looking for healthier ways to snack, Pepsico is actively looking at the possibility of launching snacks based on dried fruit, writes the Spanish newspaper Las Provincias Digital.

The paper took advantage of a visit by the company's head of southern Europe, Ramón Tatay, to Valencia, to quiz him on a wide range of topics, including the fruits.

Around 40% of Pepsico's sales, Tatay says, currently come from snacks. The company already sources other products, such as Tropicana fruit juice, from the region aruond Valencia and further south, in Murcia, and may now look to local farmers to help it develop sales of savoury snacks such as biscuits, dried fruit and cereal bars.

Valencia is home to most of Spain's leading producers of dried fruit and Pepsico, Tatay says, definitely wants to take things forward with them.

Click on the link below (left) to read a much longer version of the interview with Ramón Tatay for yourself, in Spanish, on the Las Provincias website. Alternatively, click on the link below (right) to read all about dried fruit, in Spanish, on the consumer website consumer.es.

13.05.05
Sweden: DHL changes sponsorship strategy... 'delivers footballs'

There'll be no more excuses for late kick-offs at Swedish football matches with the news that DHL, the courier company, is changing its sponsorship strategy to one based around the proposition of 'we deliver footballs', writes the country's media magazine, Dagens Media.

The switch comes with DHL believing it now boasts sufficient awareness among the Swedish public, Dagens Media says. The scheme will officially be called 'Football Delivered'. Instead of having its name appear on pitch side boards, DHL will now deliver match balls to all Royal League (second division) games and to certain premier league matches. "Where it's possible, we'll turn up with a van, if not, children wearing DHL clothing will deliver the ball", spokesperson Kalle Eliason tells the magazine.

The move comes after an internal review of all sponsorship activities and reflects, Eliason says, the fact that football is the biggest sport, while DHL is the biggest courier company in the country. The deal will allow it to run various corporate entertainment events alongside games.

Click on the link below (left) to read this article for yourself, in Swedish, on the Dagens Media website. Alternatively, click on the link below (right) to visit DHL in Sweden.

11.05.05
Italy: Fiat's nationalistic appeal upsets Germans. French and Japanese set to follow...

Towards the end of last month, it emerged that Fiat was planning a major new advertising campaign in its home country designed to foster the national solidarity of Italians (click here for a reminder of that story). With the campaign now on air, reaction has been swift.. not from Italians, but from Germans liveing in Italy, says the newspaper Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung (FAZ).

One of the ads in the new campaign uses the line "When you buy a German car, the Germans say a hearty thank you" over images of typical Bavarians toasting the purchase with a glass of the local beer and repeatedly saying 'Danke' ('Thank you').

Inviting Italians to 'give us a try' by playing on their sense of nationalism, the new approach stands out, FAZ says, but not in a way that appeals to everyone. Joachim Blüher, head of the Villa Massimo in Rome, a German-run institution which funds art projects based on Roman Art, has written an open letter to Fiat president Luca di Montezemolo, saying that: "I don't think you could go much lower. This advertisement has hurt and saddened me".

Apart from the message itself, Blüher points out that the fact that the word 'danke' is presented in Gothic script in the ad further attacks sensitivities in that it was the favoured typeface of the German authorities in and leading up to the Second World War. Villa Massimo's funding originally came from a German jew.

The first airing of the campaign was on April 25th, the day when Italians celebrate their liberation from occupation in 1945, and it is envisaged as a tactical, rather than a long-term strategic approach. In addition to German cars, French and Japanese vehicles were also targeted in the work, using the appropriate 'merci' and 'arigato' thank you phrases.

For every four foreign cars bought by Italians, one workplace is cut at Fiat, unions claim. Fiat's market share in Italy is currently between 27% and 28%, significantly below last year's level. Importers of those cars haven't commented on Fiat's initiative, preferring to 'bite their tongues'.

Click on the link below (left) to read a longer version of this story for yourself, in German, on the FAZ website. Alternatively, click on the link below (right) to visit Fiat's Italian site and where, perhaps diplomatically, there is little mention of the controversial campaign.

11.05.05
Spain: FC Barcelona's Chinese shirt sponsorship deal thrown into doubt

Last week it was reported that Spanish football club FC Barcelona was set to break with tradition and carry shirt sponsorship for the first time, having struck a lucrative deal with the organising committee for the 2008 Olympic Games in China (click here for a reminder of the story).

Now, however, it appears that the deal may be in doubt, with sources citing the government's unhappiness that Barcelona should have spoken about the agreement before it should, says the Austrian newspaper Der Standard.

Further on, the committee (BOCOG) is quoted as saying that it never had any contact with the club about a 150 million euro conract, despite Barça president Joan Laporta apparently travellling to Peking last week to finalise the arrangement.

It is, the BOCOG says, nothing more than a rumour and one that may now not come to fruition. Some Chinese observers had, in any case, questioned the wisdom of paying so much money to display the Games' logo on the shirts of a European football club.

Click on the link below (left) to read more on this story for yourself, in German, on the Der Standard website. Alternatively, click on the link below (right) to visit Barça.

11.05.05
Sweden: H&M adds Stella McCartney to its stable of outside designers

Swedish fashion firm H&M has commissioned Stela McCartney to design around 40 garments for its autumn collection, writes the local advertising industry magazine Resumé.

The line will sell under the name 'Stella McCartney for H&M', the magazine says. In a press release, McCartney says that she finds it very 'exciting' to be able to offer an entry-level range to such a wide female target audience. That audience will take in western Europe and North America, from November this year.

McCartney follows Karl Lagerfeld, who was similarly drafted in to contribute to H&M's autumn collection last year. Stella McCartney launched her own clothing label in 2001, the company says, and has since worked with Gucci. Her clothes are currently officially available in 43 countries.

Click on the link below (left) to read more on this story for yourself, in Swedish, on the Resumé website. Alternatively, click on the link below (right) to see the press release, in Swedish, on H&M's global website.

10.05.05
Luxembourg: Westlife lose court case for the right to register themselves as a brand

Irish 'boy band' popsters Westlife may be good at enthralling audiences of teenagers (and their mothers) from the concert stage. But change the surroundings and success is not as assured.

After a court case lasting over 5 years, the European Court has ruled against the group and in favour of Imperial Tobacco subsidiary Reemtsma, which had objected to their attempt to register 'Westlife' as a brand as the name was too close to that of the company's West cigarettes, popular particularly in Germany.

While the decision does nothing to stop Westlife performing (you can form your own opinion about that), it does prevent them from claiming exclusive rights to the name, due to the fact that consumers might become confused given the similarity of other names, including that of the cigarette brand.

The judgment, made by a European Court in Luxembourg, allows Westlife to continue to use their name and place it on merchandise. According to the BBC, the judges ruled that the similarity between the terms 'West' and 'Westlife' was likely to confuse 'the average German consumer'.

Click on the link below (left) to read more on this story for yourself, in English (unusually), on the BBC website. Alternatively, click on the link below (right) to visit the site of Markenbusiness (and also in English), which specialises in legal stories involving brands and currently has a further European Court judgment involving Adidas as its top story.

09.05.05
Germany: Wear Adidas or miss out, German manager tells World Cup hopefuls

Jurgen Klinsmann, trainer of the German national football team, has told his players that the boots they wear at next year's World Cup, which Germany is hosting, must be Adidas branded.

The ultimatum was reported this week by the national tabloid newspaper Bild and was accompanied by the blunt phrase: "If a player says he has to play in another brand, then he can go home".

Background to Klinsmann's intervention is the fact that Adidas is the official supplier to the German team. Individually, however, many of the players have their own contracts with other suppliers such as Nike and Puma, in which they agree to wear them every time they play.

Letters were sent out to twelve such players asking them to show 'solidarity' with the German football association, DFB.

"If a player thinks he can sue us to be able to wear his own shoes, then he can't complain when he doesn't play. If they don't accept that, then they won't be called up and they can watch the game on TV", Klinsmann is further quoted as saying.

National team players in fact signed an agreement to abide by the DFB's conditions some months ago, Bild says, in return for which they receive regular payments from the sponsorship pool. In October last year, goalkeeper Jens Lehmann was criticised after he wore Nike-branded gloves during a friendly international match against Iran.

Click on the link below (left) to read this story for yourself, in German, on the Bild website. Alternatively, click on the link below (right) to visit the version of this story published, in English, by the BBC.

09.05.05
Belgium: Agency founder explains decision to set up shop in New York

Recently, it was announced that Duval Guillaume, Belgium's leading independent advertising agency, was to set up an office in New York. Now the newspaper Het Nieuwsblad has spoken to founder André Duval to find out the background to his decision and a little more about how his agency has grown up over the years in the face of stiff competition from international networks who have mostly made the trip in the other direction.

Click on the link below (left) to read English-language extracts from the interview, here to read the earlier story or, alternatively, on the link below (right) to read the full, original version for yourself, in Dutch, on the Het Nieuwsblad website.

09.05.05
Italy: Benetton links with Mattel in 'Barbie loves Benetton' clothing line

Benetton, the Italian-based clothing manufacturer and retailer, has signed a deal with Mattel, the American toy maker, to launch a 50-item range of clothing and accessories for young girls, the company announced in a statement last week.

Described as a 'worldwide exclusive partnership', the agreement will run until the end of 2006. The clothing, Benetton says, combines its unique style with the Barbie brand essence of 'aspirational fashion, fun and friendship'.

The range will be made up of four contemporary looks using styles based on designs from Paris, New York, London and Stockholm. First garments will appear in stores from September 15th. The initiative will also involve the launch of limited edition Barbie dolls with clothing mimicking that in stores.

The link-up comes against a background of falling sales of traditional toys, particularly in Mattel's main market of the USA.

Click on the link below (left) to read a longer version of Benetton and Mattel's press release for yourself, in English, plus take advantage of the opportunity to browse the new range, at the Benetton website. Alternatively, click on the link below (right) to visit Barbie - it's probably been a while.

09.05.05
France: Government campaigns to promote its 'Day of Solidarity'

France's government has designated this Monday May 16, Whit Monday, as a 'Journée de la Solidarité ('Day of Solidarity'), a day on which, instead of enjoying their usual holiday, its citizens should work and donate part of the wages they earn to charity.

Sounds like a very 'solidary' approach... problem is, the French are massively against the idea, says the advertising magazine CB News. Now, faced with opinion polls which clearly show the level of dissatisfaction, the Ministry for Solidarity, Health and the Family has commissioned top ad agency CLM BBDO to produce a print campaign to convince the public of the merits of the scheme.

Involving 4 separate ads and a total media spend of 3 million euros, the campaign will run until May 9th in a variety of regional and national newspapers, CB News says, depicting individuals who would be able to benefit from the funds raised.

The 'Journée' has been controversial since it was announced, with some, such as the union CFTC, applying to have it legally annulled. It was first applied in 2004, as a way of generating much needed funds to go towards healthcare by placing a levy, payable by the employer, on the wages earned by employees on that day. The previous year, around 15,000 mosty elderly French people had died in a wave of extreme heat.

Click on the link below (left) to read this story for yourself, in French, and see the ads in the pages of CB News. Alternatively, click on the link below (right) to visit the Scottish newspaper Sunday Herald, where you can read a longer article, in English, about the unrest the 'Day of Solidarity' is causing.

09.05.05
France: Wi-Fi officially renamed as ASFI

Anybody planning any Wi-Fi marketing activity in France had better call their printers pretty quick, as a result of a decision made last week by the country's general commission for naming and terminology.

The term Wi-Fi derives from the words 'wireless' and 'fidelity' and that, the commission ruled, made it an anglicism in a country which is fiercely keen to keep its own language alive. ASFI, too, has its roots based in real-life words, deriving from the term 'accčs sans fil ŕ internet' ('wireless internet access').

The ruling was published in the government's 'Journal officiel' last week, as was the view that instead of 'MMS' to describe multimedia messaging services, people should instead refer simply to 'messages multimedia'.

It's goodbye, too, to 'hotspots' - those places, for example in an airport, where you can go to gain temporary broadband access to the internet. From now on, these will be known - in official language at least - simply as 'zones d'accčs sans fil', or 'zones ASFI'.

Finally, the commission reminds high-tech  literates, the sender of unsolicited e-mail messages should not be referred to as a 'spammer', the English term, but an 'arroseur', which roughly translates as 'sprinkler'.

Click on the link below (left) to read this story for yourself, in French, on the Voila website. Alternatively, click on the link below (right) to visit the site wifi.fr, which exists to serve as a centre for news and discussion about Wi-Fi ASFI.

06.05.05
Spain: Barça's historic shirt sponsorship deal with Chinese government explained

In idiomatic Spanish, when somebody says you are 'hablando chino' ('speaking Chinese'), it means that the person cannot understand what you are saying. For people in Barcelona, the phrase has just taken on a whole new meaning.

Earlier this year it became clear that a deal to put a sponsor's name on the shirts of FC Barcelona, the Spanish football club, was getting nearer, if not imminent. Last week, it became clear that the deal was very close to conclusion.

The Barça president, Juan Laporta, admitted in an interview last month that such a deal was 'inevitable', despite the club proudly never having played with the name of any commercial entity emblazoned across its shirt. Now it emerges that the Chinese government has been in negotiations since December with a view to striking a deal to cover the next five years.

The income FC Barcelona can expect to receive amounts to between 95 and 108 million, says the Catalán newspaper La Vanguardia. Beyond simple sports sponsorship, the agreement involves the formation of a joint venture which will include mini-tours by Barcelona players in China.

80% of the venture will be owned by Chinese Youth Media, a government-owned agency, the remainder by the club. The deal replaces one previously planned with a gambling website, Betandwin, which some of the club's members thought was not appropriate. The opportunity, on the other hand, to compete on the Chinese market on an equal - and even better - basis than clubs like Manchester United or Real Madrid could not be ignored, La Vanguardia says.

All that remains to be determined is the message that will be displayed on the shirts. What is certain that it will be designed to promote Beijing's holding of the Olympic Games in 2008.

Click on the link below (left) to read this story for yourself, in Spanish,on the La Vanguardia website. Alternatively, click on the link below (right) to visit FC Barcelona.

06.05.05
Norway: 'Too serious' Beate Uhse closes its Norwegian sex aid stores

Beate Uhse, the German-based retailer of sexy underware and other erotic goods, is to close the stores it currently operates in Norway, writes the newspaper Byavisa.

First to shut its doors, the paper says, will be the outlet in Tronheim, with those in Oslo, Bergen and Stavanger set to follow before the end of the year. Despite good sales in 2002, the year the company first arrived in Norway, performance has fallen below expectations, with a loss being reported in both 2003 and 2004.

Janne Roos, head of the company's Norwegian operations, says she is unclear as to why the format should have failed to prove a success, although the fact that marketing spend was cut was definitely a contributing factor, she believes.

"Perhaps people are buying fewer sex and erotic products from shops and more over the internet", she continues.

Trondheim-based sexologist Berit Hĺvold has an alternative view, telling Byavisa that: "The shops had good knowledge and expertise in advising adult women about sexuality. But competitors in Trondheim put more focus on fun and younger people. Beate Uhse is a serious player and the market itself may be a little less so".

Click on the link below (left) to read a longer version of this story for yourself, in Norwegian, in the pages of Byavisa. Alternatively, click on the link below (right) to visit Beate Uhse..  it's up to you.

 


EUROPEAN ADVERTISING AGENCY NEWS


             

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TOP PAGE 17 STORIES
New Business | 05.12.05
Scholz to buy into Springer & Jacoby?
Negotiations are discreetly underway, says the German advertising trade magazine New Business, which could lead to one of the country's leading ad agencies - Scholz & Friends - taking a stake in another, Springer & Jacoby.. Scholz & Friends is looking to secure its stake in what is perhaps Germany's most high-profile agency by acquiring the shares held in it by the financially- troubled holding company Interpublic, New Business says, adding that management at Springer & Jacoby has confirmed that the story is true Any such deal, it says, would make sense for both parties. Scholz & Friends would gain access to an attractive client portfolio that includes Mercedes, instantly becoming an attractive player on the European stage. For its part, Interpublic would gain much needed funds to help it pay off its debts. In any case, New Business says, Interpublic has never really known what to do with the Springer & Jacoby brand. www.new-business.de
W&V | 05.12.05
eBay Germany chooses S&J
eBay's German division has chosen to award its advertising account to Hamburg-based Springer & Jacoby, writes the trade magazine Werben & Verkaufen. The award resulted from a pitch in which, apart from the winner, DDB Germany also competed, although the previous incumbent agency on the account, Jung von Matt/Alster, did not. It is valid for two years, effective January 1st 2006. Originally founded in the USA in 1995, eBay secured a presence in Germany when it merged its fledgling operation with a competing German online auction site, alando, in 1999. It now claims to have over 17 million users in the country generating transactions worth over $1.75 billion in the third quarter of 2004, the latest period for which figures are available. eBay employs 900 people in Germany. www.wuv.de
Horizont | 02.12.05
FCB Kobza wins Zipfer beer account
Austrian brewer Brau Union Österreich has moved the advertising account of its flagship Zipfer beer brand from Saatchi & Saatchi to FCB Kobza, writes the advertising trade magazine Horizont. The decision follows a pitch which involved several rounds of creative and strategy presentations, Horizont says, and is historic in the sense that Zipfer had been handled by Saatchi & Saatchi since 1979. New work for the brand by FCB Kobza will break at the beginning of 2006. www.horizont.at
MORE ADVERTISING AGENCY STORIES
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Click on the Page 17 logo for to see other recent stories about European ad agencies
LATEST COUNTRY HEADLINES             02.12.05
EU tells Almdudler its bottle's not unique enough
Consumer price index reflects changing times
Proactiv consumers get insurance discounts
'Aunt Emma' corner shops urged to change
Film makers increasingly using product placement
'Buzzers' spread the word about new products
Shrinking McCann loses 20 more staff
Manufacturers adopt 'healthier' food approach
Swiss shoppers switch between up- and downscale
EARLIER NEWS STORIES
"Everybody's unhappy with Europe", Lowe & Partners CEO tells Austria World Cup organisers win/lose court case to protect their brand Dutch tour operators launch 'Russian-free' Turkish holidays Advertising is for everybody, says Belgian communications body In Belgium, Aldi announces it is to publish a TV listings magazine No more late kick-offs in Swedish football - DHL delivers the balls Fiat's nationalistic approach to advertising upsets Germans Ford Belgium claims a world first with 'miracle' talking poster sites Westlife may be a boy band but they're not a brand, court says Belgium's Duval Guillaume opens office in New York French marketers take a name check as WiFi is renamed ASFI Uhse's German notion of sex deemed too serious for Norway Madonna signs innovative multi- platform telecom deal in France Dutch airline KLM introduces private business flights to USA Wear Adidas or miss World Cup, coach tells German soccer team Albert Heijn wins 'astonishing' lookalike victory over Unilever Swiss wine makers protest over government's drink-drive ads Tobacco giant BAT may take Spanish government to court Use of celebrities in Portugese advertising near saturation point Click here for earlier European advertising and marketing stories
MORE EUROPEAN AD AGENCY NEWS
Persoenlich | 02.12.05
Zurich breaks international campaign
After a development phase lasting fully 18 months, Zurich Financial Services has unveiled an international branding campaign produced by Publicis, writes the Swiss advertising magazine Persoenlich. The campaign is set to be the biggest produced this year by a Swiss-based advertiser/agency, Persoenlich says. It breaks this week in the United States, Switzerland, Germany and Austria, with Spain, Italy and the UK set to follow at the beginning of next year. The central phrase used in all creative work is 'Zurich. Because change happenz'. The campaign was prompted by research conducted by Zurich which showed that the company was little known to consumers in its key markets. Previous work to support the Zurich brand has run at national level only, Persoenlich says. Click on the link below to see a longer version of this story, in German, plus examples of the print executions included in the work. www.persoenlich.com
Resumé | 02.12.05
Forsman & Bodenfors targets growth
Forsman & Bodenfors (F&B), one of Sweden's leading independent advertising agencies, is looking to grow internationally, says the Swedish advertising and media magazine Resumé. Based in Gothenburg, F&B was originally founded in 1990, Resumé says. Now, 15 years later, with around 800 awards to its name and with billings up 46% this year compared to 2004, management feels it is time to expand. F&B has already opened an office in Stockholm, says Resumé, where around 20 people are employed, but as creative director Filip Nilsson tells the magazine, now is the time to look further afield. Current clients of the multi-disciplinary agency include dairy company Arla, Volvo, Statoil and Wasabröd. www.resume.se
Kampanje | 01.12.05
Founder leaves Virtual Garden
Nils Petter Nordskar is to leave Virtual Garden, Norway's best-known independent ad agency of which he was a founder ten years ago, writes the Norwegian advertising magazine Kampanje. Nordskar, a copywriter, is one of the country's leading advertising personalities, Kampanje says, but, at 53 years of age, he feels that this is the right time to move on now that the agency has succeeded in positioning itself as a leading proponent of innovative, screen-based campaigns. www.kampanje.no
CB News | 01.12.05
Opel awards € 15m task to Marcel
Opel Europe has chosen Publicis- offshoot Marcel to handle the forthcoming international campaign for its special edition Corsa Silver Line model, writes the French advertising magazine CB News. Marcel won the business following a pitch against McCann-Erickson Frankfurt and Amsterdam-based 180, the magazine says. Due to break in January, the work will run across France, Italy and Spain, plus certain other countries. Publicis first unveiled Marcel in May of this year with the promise of "fewer theories, more work". Its clients at start-up included Nestlé Glaces, Allied Domecq and Heineken. www.cbnews.fr
Pubblicitŕ Italia | 01.12.05
DDB launches SignBank network
DDB has launched what it is calling an international monitoring network designed to pick up on emerging trends worldwide, writes the Italian advertising magazine Pubblicitŕ Italia. Understood to be a concept first developed in Copenhagen, where it is headed up by sociologist and executive strategic planner Eva Steensig, SignBank will now be extended to 52 countries, the agency claims. SignBank's principal mission involves picking up on small social and cultural changes at local level, Pubblicitŕ Italia says, in order to be able to predict their subsequent effect both at a local and global level. One of the first products expected from DDB SignBank is a report on consumer attitudes to health, globally, scheduled to appear at the beginning of 2006. www.pubblicitaitalia.it
Horizont | 29.11.05
Napster chooses Scholz & Friends
Napster, the music downloading service, has chosen Scholz & Friends Berlin to handle its advertising in Germany, writes the advertising magazine Horizont. The award follows a pitch, with the winner producing advertising and promotional materials to accompany the service's launch in the country. A TV ad forms the focus of the campaign, which highlights Napster's flat rate downloads, Horizont says. The campaign uses the slogan 'Eine Million Songs für eine Million Stimmungen" ('A million songs for a million moods'). www.horizont.net
Le Figaro | 24.11.05
'Storm' at Interpublic's French agencies
Affairs at Interpublic seem to be going from bad to worse, writes the French newspaper Le Figaro. Heavy debts are weighing the company down at a global level while locally, two of its divisions are currently battling through a storm with one of them - Lowe France - risking going under. Philippe Purdon, named as agency head two years ago, has quietly left his post, Le Figaro says, without any announcement being made to the other employees. On Wednesday November 24th, it continues, Gary Lace, head of Lowe London called staff together to tell them that, as head of 'continental Europe', he would be taking charge. Traditionally, Paris has acted as lead agency in the region, with the UK being considered a separate market. The question troubling those French employees now, Le Figaro says, is what kind of agency the network is now going to want to operate in Paris. Should international accounts on which it currently operates as lead agency be shifted to London, there will be obvious implications for jobs. Lace told agency staff that he would give them answers within 30 days. At stablemate McCann, Le Figaro says, the situation is a little brighter, with a new French head appointed for the group and advertising agency. All divisions will now be brought together under a single roof and around 50 people have been let go. At Lowe as at McCann, says Le Figaro, what started the problem was the loss of a major account - Skip detergent in the case of Lowe and Champion hypermarkets in the case of McCann. It is also true, however, that both agencies also lost senior managers during 2002, after which they lost direction. www.lefigaro.fr
New Business | 23.11.05
Springer & Jacoby France gets new name
Following the appointment of Laurent Burdin to head up the agency's Mercedes business, Springer & Jacoby has announced that its French office is to be renamed Extreme/S&J, writes the German advertising trade magazine New Business. Burdin previously ran Springer & Jacoby's Paris office, which will now work with Extreme, a specialist design and CRM operation, New Business says, with clients such as L'Oréal, La Poste, Axa, Colgate and Nestlé. A traditional above-the-line agency, S&J France counts among its client base Entremont, Palm Europe, McKinsey and Olympus. Extreme and S&J France have been working together over the past 6 months to launch the Palm Tréo smart phone, New Business says. Extreme/S&J will have around 140 staff and be led by Jean Valentin, currently head of Extreme. www.new-business.de
W&V | 23.11.05
Court rules Lucky Strike's 'Olympic' ad OK
British American Tobacco (BAT) has won a retrospective battle against the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in respect of advertising for its Lucky Strike brand of cigarettes which alluded to the five rings used to symbolise the Olympic Games, says the German advertising trade magazine Werben & Verkaufen (W&V). The IOC claimed that the ad, which ran in 2004 and showed five packs of the cigarettes with their trademark logo circles highlighted, accompanied by the slogan 'Die Ringe sind schon in Athen' ('The rings are already in Athens), damaged its brand rights. A Darmstadt judge disagreed and expressed doubt as to the constitutional status of the IOC's claimed rights. www.wuv.de
Le Figaro | 22.11.05
Citroën gets its own agency
"You just can't imagine everything that Citroen can do for you" is a translation of one advertising slogan previuosly used by the car maker in France, says the newspaper Le Figaro. Well, in the light of recent developments, it adds, it's also hard to imagine what Jacques Séguéla wouldn't do to hang on to Citroen's advertising account. Since September, Le Figaro says, Séguéla, who heads up the Euro RSCG agency in France, had been thinking of calling on creative director Gabriel Gaultier to head up the account. Now he has moved to do so by buying the agency Gaultier set up in 2001 under the ownership of Young & Rubicam, which is now part of WPP. Havas, owner of Euro RSCG, has acquired the structure - Leg - and the services of its 16 employees who will now apply their creative talents to the Citroen account, a traditional mainstay client for Euro RSCG, in addition to their existing clients, such as Eurostar. The new agency will have around 50 employees, drawn from Leg, which retains its name, and ER 27, the shop previously set up to handle the Citroen account. www.lefigaro.fr
Horizont | 22.11.05
Scholz readies stock market delisting
Scholz & Friends has agreed a price of € 4.05 per share to buy out existing shareholders, says the German advertising magazine Horizont, allowing the network to delist itself from the stock exchange. Scholz & Friends first listed itself on the stock market in 2003, when its founders bought the agency out from troubled holding company Cordiant. At that time, agency management bought 30% of the shares on offer at a price of € 1.34. Around 40 staff currently hold shares, with the remainder owned publicly by small investors. The initial buyout price offered, of € 2.20, was considered too low and some investors attempted to hold out for an even better settlement than € 4.05, Horizont says. www.horizont.net
Horizont | 22.11.05
Mobile win for Jung von Matt
Austrian mobile phone brand One has chosen to awards its account to Jung von Matt/Donau, the local office in the German agency Jung von Matt's mini-network, writes the local trade source Horizont. The decision becomes effective in January 2006 and follows a pitch in which, in addition to the winner, Young & Rubicam, Lowe GGK and Wien Nord Pilz all competed. The last of these made it through to the final round of the pitch, Horizont says, which consisted of a workshop to which both agencies were invited, after which One marketing director Konrad Mayr-Pernek made his decision. www.horizont.at
Diário Económico | 21.11.05
WPP unveils 'Y&R Brand'
In a search for synergies, writes the local business newspaper Diário Económico, WPP Portugal has created a new structure - Y&R Brand - designed to coordinate the interests four of its agencies in the country: Red Cell, Young & Rubicam, Wunderman and Futurecom. Joăo Carlos Oliveira, currently president of Red Cell in Portugal, will assume leadership of the new set-up, Diário Económico says. "We needed to put in place a management team that could handle affairs at these agencies", Oliveira tells the magazine, emphasising that each of the companies concerned will continue to operate independently. As a result of the reorganisation, Albano Homem de Melo, currently chairman of Young & Rubicam, will now concentrate on his duties as creative director of the agency, while Wunderman and Futurecom will now have no dedicated presidents. Young & Rubicam Portugal, Diário Económico says, will continue to report to its own international network, into which Red Cell will be integrated. "We have two years to perform a rebranding exercise on Red Cell in Portugal", says Oliveira. Both Y&R and Red Cell count among Portugal's top 10 agencies, according to figures from the local audit company, Media Monitor. www.diarioeconomico.pt
Persoenlich | 21.11.05
Winterthur account heads for Germany
Winterthur, the Swiss-based insurance giant, has shunned local agencies and awarded part of its international advertising account to McCann Erickson's German agency, writes the local trade magazine Persoenlich. The account, which is worth 'seven figures', according to Persoenlich, was contested by a high-profile line-up which included the Swiss offices of TBWA, Euro RSCG and Young & Rubicam (Advico). While the client itself declined to confirm the award to the magazine, the resultant campaign is expected to appear on TV and in print in five countries, including Switzerland, Germany and Spain. www.persoenlich.com
Der Standard | 21.11.05
JvM sets up 'typical' Austrian living room
In 2004, says the Austrian national newspaper Der Standard, ad agency Jung von Matt (JvM) pulled off something of a publicity coup by setting up what its research (and intuition) showed to be the 'typical' German living room. Now its Austrian subsidiary, Jung von Matt/Donau, has followed suit. The room was first unveiled to clients on November 10th and counts, among its contents, a TV magazine, Playstation and a blue couch. The aim of setting it up, the agency says, is to help its creative staff to get inside the lives of the Austrian public. In addition to Austria and Germany, JvM has extended its analysis to Switzerland, says that country's leading advertising magazine, Persoenlich. On first sight, however, the differences between the countries are few. The typical family in each case bears the name Müller. "Our young employees can use these rooms to research how to tune into consumers", explains agency head Karen Heumann. "Naturally, all this takes a lot of time, but in this case it's a question of learning and that's the best way to invest our money". Click here to visit a design forum where people say what they think about JvM's 'ethnographic' approach, or click on the link below to read this latest story. Alternatively, click here to visit the section on Jung von Matt's German website where they explain their project to (English-speaking) visitors or here to read an earlier story written about it by From Europe With Love. www.persoenlich.com
Resumé | 17.11.05
Ogilvy for sale?
Swedish entrepreneur Johan Staël von Holstein has expressed an interest in buying the local office of the agency network - at least, that is, if owner WPP is ready to sell, says the country's leading advertising magazine, Resumé. Von Holstein - whose company, Iqube, operates on a model similar to that common during the internet boom, when 'seed companies' were common currency - sees it as a potentially excellent deal, Resumé says. Whether Ogilvy's London headquarters, on the other hand, wants to sell, is another question. Ogilvy has been hit by a 'kickback' scandal in recent months which has caused it to pay back significant amounts of money previously over-invoiced to clients. www.resume.se
Le Figaro | 09.11.05
"Bolloré is a builder, not a raider"
Jacques Séguéla, the 'S' in Euro RSCG and a fearlessly self- promoting member of the French advertising industry, has come out in defence of the corporate 'attacker' who has taken control of ad agency Euro RSCG, says the French newspaper Le Figaro. Coinciding with the launch of a book written by Séguéla which charts the history of the development of Euro RSCG parent Havas, he tells Le Figaro that - in preparation for his retirement, he wants to leave a legacy for the 'sons and daughters' of advertising. The Havas brothers, he says, were the inventors of advertising. Throughout his career, he continues, he has struggled to ensure that the voice of French advertising is heard throughout the world. According to Séguéla, André Rousselet was the best head of Havas that he worked with, but the company's founders those who most influenced him. Charles, Séguéla says, invented the concept of an advertising sales house, while Auguste Havas, his son, 'discovered' advertising 20 years before the Americans. When Vincent Bolloré emerged on the scene as an investor in Havas, Le Figaro says, Séguéla was portrayed as a traitor. He denies this, maintaining that he is a faithful person and that that transition of power was one of the "worst moments of his life". Once he understood that Bolloré was there for the long term, he says, his attitude changed. He gave me the feeling, Séguéla says, that he is a builder, not a raider. He told me: "Starting from tomorrow, I'll go with you to meet the 10 biggest clients and - if they want - I'll put down in writing that Havas is determined to be here tomorrow, the next day and every day after that". www.lefigaro.fr
Le Figaro | 26.09.05
Agencies and advertisers reach agreement
France's advertising agencies and their clients have worked together to produce a guide which lays out how they should do business with each other, writes the national newspaper Le Figaro. The guide, the first of its kind in France, is designed to ensure that all dealings take place within a relationship that is transparent for all parties. Until now, Gérard Noël, vice-chairman of the advertisers association UDA tells Le Figaro, those relationships and the terms on which they have been maintained, have led to "unhappiness and misunderstandings on both sides". Each stage of interaction between the agency and the client company is dealt with, starting with selecting the right partner and going right through to the end of the contract. "We live in a climate of suspicion", Hervé Brossard, head of the ad agency association AACC, tells the paper. "It's absurd. 80% of the players in the market are quoted on the stock exchange and audited throughout the year. We don't, therefore, have anything to hide". Among the recommendations included in the guide are that no more than three agencies should be invited to pitch on any single piece of business and that each should receive remuneration of between 5,000 and 20,000 euros for their work. Whether such recommendations will be observed in practice, Le Figaro says, remains to be seen. Hervé Brossard does not envisage the imposition of sanctions, should they not be, but suggests agencies should buy into the rules as a way of strengthening the industry's position. "We are now in direct contact with the UDA", he tells Le Figaro, "and can work to solve any problems. And we are not afraid of putting the spotlight on those who damage the quality and reputation of our profession". www.lefigaro.fr
Media Marketing | 26.09.05
DDB quartet find 'Happiness'
The DDB Belgium creative duo which claimed a Gold Lion at this year's Cannes international advertising festival has joined with two of its colleagues in breaking away from the Omnicom-owned shop to form their own agency, Happiness-Brussels, writes the local trade magazine Media Marketing. Gregory Titeca and Mohamed Oudaha, who in addition to their Gold were also awarded a Silver at Cannes, left DDB shortly afterwards, at the same time as Karen Corrigan and Dominique van Doormaal, Media Marketing says. Now the four will work together out of an Anderlecht office on producing campaigns which generate 'talk value'. This concept, it seems, also lies behind the fact that the four have not officially announced the opening of their new agency until now, despite the fact that it was actually established on September 2nd. Plenty of time in the interim, says Media Marketing, for rumour and word-of-mouth to develop. www.mm.be
Kampanje | 31.05.05
BBDO Norway installs new MD
Four months after Per Nipedal stepped down as head of the agency, BBDO's Norwegian operation has a new head, writes the local advertising magazine Kampanje, with the news that Stĺle Gjerset is to take up the post of managing director. Gjerset will assume his new position, Kampanje says, on September 1st, taking over from acting managing director Řivind Breen. Nipedal had headed BBDO Norway for four years following its merger with Myres, although the agency found itself 100 million kroner in the red. Stĺle Gjerset joins BBDO from the position of strategic planning director at Lowe in Belgium, where he has spent the past four years. He has several years of experience on the client side, having been marketing communications head for Telenor Mobil, a senior consultant at the newspaper, Aftenposten, and marketing chief at the retail audit company, AC Nielsen. At Lowe Belgium, he has worled with clients such as Chiquita, Stella Artois, Lotto and Unilever. It is, he acknowledges, a turbulent period for the agency he is about to join, but he plans to work together with his new colleagues to improve gthe fortunes of BBDO in Norway. He plans, he says, the make the agency the leading one in Norway within 3 years. Click on the link below to read a longer version of this story, in Norwegian. www.kampanje.com
Daily Media | 31.05.05
Seven to contest global Danone media
The pitch called by international dairy and grocery goods company Danone has finally come alive, writes the Italian advertising industry newsletter Daily Media, with the news that seven agencies have been selected to contest the final of its pitch to decide who will handle media buying and planning responsibilities on a global level. The pitch - called with a view to achieving cost savings and rationalisation on an international level - was announced some months ago. Presentations will now take place between June 3rd and 6th in Paris by agencies pursuing an account involving billings in the region of $1.1 billion, 70% of which is spent in Europe. All agencies concerned, Daily Media says, have been give a brief designed to identify what each can offer in terms of tools, working methods, market analysis and purchasing power on a global level. Each has been asked to present a strategic case relating to a certain medium, whether national or international. A 15-strong international team drawn from Danone's marketing, media, purchasing teams and managing directors will judge the results. The seven agencies contesting the business are Carat, Initiative, MediaCom, Mediaedge:cia, Mindshare, MPG and OMD. The two Publicis-owned networks - Starcom and ZenithOptimedia, decided not to compete, Daily Media says. A final decision is expected at the end of June, with local pitches following with the three selected partners in an alignment process due to be completed in 2008. Mindshare, which handles Danone's media business in Italy, is expected to make it on to the final list of three. www.dailymedia.it
Pubblicitŕ Italia | 31.05.05
Changes at O&M, Leo Burnett
Following months of rumours, 48 hours towards the end of May confirmed two significant changes in the world of Italian advertising, says the local industry newsletter Pubblicitŕ Italia, with the news that new leadership is to be installed at both Ogilvy & Mather and Leo Burnett. O&M and Burnett are two of Italy's leading agencies. The first shift became clear when it was announced that Giorgio Brenna resigned his post as chairman of Ogilvy, Pubblicitŕ Italia says. The resignation came during a board meeting, without any decision being taken as to who will succeed him. Shortly afterwards, Alessio Fronzoni was to announce that he was leaving the agency of which he had formed part for the past 18 years. Fronzoni's exit, Pubblicitŕ Italia says, is in line with company policy which dictates that senior executives should step down when they reach the age of 57. "The agency", a company statement explained "has been working on a succession plan for Fronzoni for the past year and a successor will be announced soon. Leo Burnett is looking for a high-profile replacement who wold be able to replace Fronzoni, a legend in the world of Italian advertising". Until a replacement is named, Alessio Fronzoni will continue at the head of Leo Burnett Italy, Pubblicitŕ Italia says, and while he does it will be "business as usual". At Ogilvy, a forthcoming board meeting is expected to decide a successor to Brenna. www.pubblicitaitalia.it
Dagens Media | 25.05.05
P&G 'to invest more in PR'
Procter & Gamble has signalled its intention to increase spending on press and public relations by appointing Hill & Knowlton to handle its Scandinavian account, writes the Swedish industry newsletter Dagens Media. P&G will use the relationship principally to support its Wella haircare brand, Dagens Media says, although other brands owned by the company - including Head & Shoulders, Pantene Pro-V and Olay will also benefit. Advertising in beauty and fashion magazines remains a driver of sales, Kelly Anchrum, Procter & Gamble's head of information tells the magazine, but more of the media budget is now to be allocated to PR, in particular to support product launches due to appear over the next 12 months. P&G Finland has worked with Hill & Knowlton for the past twelve years. Its Swedish division has worked with a number of agencies during the same period, including Effektiva Media. www.dagensmedia.se
Media Marketing | 24.05.05
Y&R wins Alken Maes
Alken Maes, the Belgian brewer, has chosen to place its advertising account at Young & Rubicam, writes the local industry magazine Media Marketing. The decision comes without a pitch and applies to all the company's brands, which include Maes, Grimbergen, Cristal, Ciney, Brugs, Stassen and Kidibull. The assignment becomes effective from June, with Y&R replacing ex-incumbent agency LDV. www.mm.be
CB News | 24.05.05
Leo Burnett reorganises
Rocked by the news that its management trio is to leave to form the leadership of M&C Saatchi's soon-to-be-opened Paris agency, Leo Burnett is to undertake a reorganisation of its office in the French capital city, writes the advertising magazine CB News. Gilles Masson, Daniel Fohr and Antoine Barthuel announced that they were to desert the agency less than one week ago, CB News says, to form M&C Saatchi Gad. As a first step, Patrick Mercier, currently heead of Burnett's specialist agency for up-and-coming brands, Challenger House, has been named to head up the Leo Burnett group in France. M&C Saatchi's arrival in Paris has been much commented by the local advertising community, with rival publication Stratégies pointing out that it is not without a certain irony for Maurice Lévy, head of Publicis. Lévy made the global Publicis network available to M&C Saatchi - founded by the Saatchi brothers after they were ejected from their original agency after a run of poor results - when it was originally established. Now Lévy will have to cope with the agency in Paris alongside Saatchi & Saatchi, continuing to operate under the brothers' name but now owned by Publicis. www.cbnews.fr
Werben & Verkaufen | 24.05.05
BBDO 'well placed' to win Punica
A decision, says the German advertising and marketing magazine Werben & Verkaufen (W&V), as to who will handle the Punica fruit frink brand, recently bought by Pepsico, may come in June and may also favour BBDO. Long a customer of rival Grey's Düsseldorf agency, Punica's acquisition by the Sunny Delight division of Pepsico may lead to an alignment into that company's international advertising partner, BBDO. While spokeswoman Ingeborg Trampe will only confirm to W&V that a decision will be made in June, BBDO's Berlin office, according to reports, stands well placed to win the business, as it does to win the Mobilcom mobile phone account. Trampe equally dismisses this as 'speculation', with a decision, again, expected in June. In addition to BBDO, agencies competing on the Mobilcom account include Springer & Jacoby and Weigertpirouzwolf. The business was previously with Red Rabbit. www.wuv.de
Kampanje | 23.05.05
Norway's Try starts mini network
Try, one of Norway's leading independent advertising agencies, has entered into a cooperation agreement with Waters Widgren, a start-up agency in neighbouring Sweden, writes Norway's leading advertising magazine, Kampanje. Try previously had a similar agreement with Lowe Brindfors, Kampanje says, most importantly to enable it to work on advertising for the airline, SAS. That account, however, has now moved to another agency, Dinamo, in Norway. "Waters Widgren is a start-up agency, but one with some very experienced advertising people", managing director Harold Strřmme tells the magazine. "They have worked in the best Swedish advertising agencies. We will be cooperating with them, although there are no financial links". Try, he continues, is also looking for similar partners in Finland and Denmark, but the most important market, Sweden, is now covered. www.meiosepublicidade.pt
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Danone formally unveils its 'smile from within' new dairy design Dutch naming agency suggests the same name - Oxxio - twice Columbia 'least sexist advertiser', French women journalists say German discounter Lidl stocks rail tickets along with the groceries Sweden's pharmacies to learn if their OTC monopoly has future Belgian shoppers discover there is such a thing as a free meal German pharmacies to sell Karlsberg's new 'healthy' beer French consider official endorsement of 'fair trade' goods Finger-licking good? Austria gets its first KFC outlet, in Vienna Ronald McDonald's school tour upsets a few Austrian stomachs French ad agencies want to renegotiate their remuneration Croky come home. Belgian chip brand returns home 33 years on Heineken unveils DraughtKeg, pub beer for the supermarket Freesheet newspaper Metro branches out into net travel Opposition criticises German 'rebranding' of unemployment Austrian marketers unveil ninth wave of 'back the brand' ads Dutch consider banning the sale of 'alcopops' in supermarkets French supermarket chain Leclerc aiming for 50% own label share Aldi and Lidl prepare onslaught on Switzerland's retail scene Sony's European campaign to include 'Vaio' airport lounges Click here for previous European advertising and marketing stories
OTHER RECENT AD AGENCY STORIES
Pubblicitŕ Italia | 23.05.05
Alleanza picks Marini & Associati
Alleanza Assicurazioni, the Italian insurance company, has chosen local agency Marini & Associati to handle its advertising, writes the local industry newsletter Pubblicitŕ Italia.. A number of agencies contested the business, Pubblicitŕ Italia says, in a pitch which started in March. Work set to break will focus on specific products, rather than building the company's image and, for the first time, TV will be the main medium employed, with mediaedge:cia holding planning and buying responsibility. Budget size is put at around 5 million euros. www.pubblicitaitalia.it
Media Marketing | 19.05.05
Lee Jeans Europe opts for LG&F
Lee Jeans Europe, owned by the American holding company VF Corporation, has chosen independent Belgian agency LG&F to handle its advertising on a pan-European basis, writes the local industry magazine Media Marketing. The decision follows a remunerated pitch covering both creative and strategic questions and contested by Storĺkers McCann from Sweden, Vallance Carruthers Coleman Priest from the UK, and 180 Amsterdam. The objective of forthcoming work will be to 'reactivate' the brand across Europe, Media Marketing says. LG&F already has extensive international experience through its work on the SN Brussels Airlines and Hasbro Wizards of the Coast accounts. www.mm.be
Horizont | 19.05.05
New head at Lowe Austria
Austrian agency Lowe GGK is to be given a new management structure, writes the advertising magazine Horizont, with the news that Interpublic is moving FCB Kobza head Rudi Kobza across to take up the post of Lowe chairman for Austria. In his new position, Horizont says, Kobza will have responsiblity for the operations of both Lowe and FCB in the country. The two will nevertheless remain independent and clearly separated. Aim of the move is to bring clarity and focus to the management and direction of Lowe GGK, says rival publication Extradienst, by way of an "extraordinary and powerful solution". "Lowe GGK is one of the most oustanding agencies in the German-speaking world", Lowe managing director tells the magazine. "Rudi Kobza is a top name who will be able to draw on his experience to guarantee the agency stability and quality in this new phase". Insiders, Extradienst says, consider that having two agencies under common management is a less than ideal solution and that customer conflicts are bound to arise. Click on the link below to read a longer version of this story, in German. www.extradienst.at
Dagens Media | 18.05.05
DDB loses beer business
DDB Stockholm’s hold on the advertising for Spendrups, the major Swedish brewery, appears to be slipping, says the local advertising magazine Resumé, with the news that the company has decided to move advertising for its Mariestads brand to two-man agency Calle & Olle. Mariestads is a relatively small, quality beer, Resumé says, but now it seems DDB may also be at risk of seeing larger brand Norrlands Guld also heading to Calle & Olle. DDB Stockholm, which grew to enjoy international renown under its previous identity, Paradiset, has held the Norrlands Guld for many years, while Mariestad moved to the agency during the year 2000. Loka, Spendrups’ draught beer brand, is currently with rival agency King but the company, marketing director Mats Wester tells Resumé, has no plans to change that relationship. www.dagensmedia.se
Markedsfřring | 18.05.05
DDB buys into DM shop Sepia
BBDO and DDB, both Omnicom- owned agencies, are to become joint investors in Denmark in the direct marketing company Sepia, writes the country's leading marketing magazine Markedsfřring. Sepia occupies a dominant position on the Danish direct marketing scene, Markedsfřring says, and hopes to grow even further by way of increased referral of network clients. Sepia Proximity will now be DDB's official direct marketing agency in Denmark. BBDO currently owns a minority stake in Sepia Proximity, while DDB is to take a stake in the holding company Sepia. DDB managing director Jonny Henriksen says that this type of solution may eventually be applied in other markets, but that Denmark is the first to take the step. The deal, he adds, is necessary to ensure that the company can continue to grow and gives it the resources to recruit new staff. www.sepia.dk
Horizont | 18.05.05
Top ad man launches cosmetics brand
Reinhard Springer, founder of what was once a Hamburg 'hot shop' and has now grown into the Springer & Jacoby network, has developed and launched his own cosmetics brand, writes the German advertising magazine Horizont. Called 'Drunken Cockatoo', the brand will initially only be available through 'dm' drugstores, Horizont says, of which there are around 600 outlets nationally. The fragrance will be marketed by Springer's spin-off firm, Reinhards Integrated Marketing, which will also be responsible for producing advertising, including TV work and giant posters. Drunken Cockatoo is currently running a joint promotion with MTV in Germany allowing winners to win a trip to the music broadcaster's studios and losers the opportunity to receive a complimentary tube of Lychee Roof hair gel. www.mtv.de
Resumé | 18.05.05
Euro RSCG's Swedish operation sold
David Granath, previously project manager at both Storĺkers McCann and Forsman & Bodenfors, has bought the Swedish operations of the Havas-owned Euro RSCG international network, writes the Swedish ad magazine Resumé. Despite the change of ownership, the agency will continue to represent Euro RSCG in Sweden, Resumé says. It will now be known as Branath Euro RSCG. Thomas Silbersky, current head, will leave as a result of the acquisition, having joined from McCann Erickson last year. Among the most important clients of the agency are Statoil, Air France and Citroën. Turnover last year was in the region of 39 million kroner. www.resume.se
Pubblicitŕ Italia | 16.05.05
Coccinelle appoints Saatchi, internationally
Coccinelle, the Italian fashion accessories brand, has appointed Saatchi & Saatchi to handle its advertising across the world, writes the local industry newsletter Pubblicitŕ Italia. The agency will be charged with presenting the company's autumn/winter 2005/06 collection, the newsletter says. Based in Parma, Coccinelle has been expanding strongly in foreign markets with its range of products, of which bags are a major element. These will now be promoted with a budget amounting to around 1 million euros, the campaign breaking in Italy in August and in other markets later on. www.pubblicitaitalia.it
Meios e Publicidade | 13.05.05
Daihatsu to W/Portugal
Daihatsu has awarded its Portuguese advertising account to the agency W/Portugal, writes the country's leading advertising and media magazine, Meios & Publicidade (M&P). The agency was chosen from a pitch list which also included Lowe, Brandia and Proximity, M&P says. "It's a brand which is sleeping a little bit at the moment", W/Portugal's president and creative director, Jaime Mourăo-Ferreira, tells the magazine. "But they are going to up spending significantly on marketing and advertising to support the launch of new models. The first of these will be of the Daihatsu Sirion, which will receive both above- and below-the-line backing. "It's a brand that has never done anything special in terms of communications", Mourăo-Ferreira adds. "The objective is to give it new energy and establish it on the Portuguese market as a B-class car". www.meiosepublicidade.pt
Werben & Verkaufen | 13.05.05
'Munich loves you', says Serviceplan
The German city of Munich has unveiled a new advertising approach which ditches the previous signature - 'Weltstadt mit Herz' ('A world class city with a warm heart') - for an English-language claim, writes the advertising and marketing magazine Werben & Verkaufen (W&V). Anxious to attract outside businesses and tourists and present an image of being open and attractive, Munich will now run ads using the line: 'Munich loves you', W&V says. The approach has been developed by local agency Serviceplan, which was awarded the business after a pitch in which four agencies competed. A film, print ads and outdoor treatments will be launched in the autumn, ahead of forthcoming major events in the city such as its hosting of matches during the 2006 soccer World Cup, the 850th anniversary of Munich's foundation and the 200th of the Oktoberfest. www.wuv.de
Daily Media | 12.05.05
Cinzano Vermouth to D'ALV BBDO
Shortly after the agency broke a high-profile campaign for Campari, the Italian aperitif brand, D'ALV BBDO has now ben chosen to handle advertising for Cinzano Vermouth in Italy, writes the local industry newsletter Daily Media. The award is believed to have been made after a pitch, Daily Media says, and signifies the agency being reconfirmed on the business, having produced previous work for the brand in 2004. The result of the pitch may see more assignments arriving at D'ALV BBDO from the same client, including advertising for its sparkling wines, currently handled by Red Cell. New work is expected to air in the near future to coincide with Cinzano's promotion of its role as official sponsor of Motomondiale, the motor-cycling world championship. 10 Honda Hornets and 20 weekends in Valencia are on offer to participants in the promotion. www.dailymedia.it
Expansión | 11.05.05
Telefónica pitch list down to five
Telefónica, the Spanish-based telecoms multinational, has narrowed the number of agencies competing for its global media account down to five, writes the business newspaper Expansión. The five - Carat, Universal McCann, MPG, Mindshare and Starcom - are contesting a budget in the region of 300 million euros, Expansión says. The pitch was opened in January. Telefónica is the leading spender in its home market of Spain, with a media budget in the region of 130 million euros, ahead of department store chain El Corte Inglés. In addition, the company has extensive interests in Latin America. www.expansion.com
Pubblico Online | 11.05.05
EU to launch major anti-smoking push
The European Union is set to unveil a major campaign designed to reduce levels of smoking in member states, reports the Italian advertising industry newsletter Pubblico Online. The ads will start to appear on 31st May across the continent. The campaign has been produced and will be handled by a consortium of agencies headed by Ligaris in Paris, the Worldcom Group public relations network and media agency Carat. Total investment amounts to 72 million euros, Pubblico Online says. Messages will be targeted principally at 15 to 18 and 18 to 30 year-olds. The campaign will include three TV spots, each devoted to a different theme: 'smoking prevention', 'giving up smoking' and 'dangers of passive smoking'. In addition, a website (www.help-eu.com) has been developed to support the initiative and will be made available in all national languages spoken within the Union. www.pubblico-online.it
Mediaforum | 11.05.05
Nomination appoints Saatchi
Nomination, the leading Italian brand of modern jewellery and accessories, has appointed Saatchi & Saatchi to handle its 4 million euro advertising account, writes the local industry newsletter Daily Media. The decision follows a pitch, won by Saatchi's Rome office, the newsletter says, and designed to lead to an all-encompassing solution for the company's forthcoming campaign. The work will feature Nomination's Composable line alongside new product launches. Other projects underway at Saatchi include a campaign to promote solidarity with Africa, Daily Media says, with work currently breaking using the line "Stessa planeta" ("Same planet"). www.dailymedia.it
CB News | 10.05.05
Publicis backs Paris 2012
With fewer than 60 days to go until the International Olympic Committee announces its choice of venue for the 2012 Olympic Games, organisers of the Paris bid have commissioned a major above- and below-the-line campaign from Publicis, writes the French advertising magazine CB News. The campaign will call on the resources of variuos of the agency's divisions, CB News says, including Publicis Conseil for traditional advertising, Publicis Consultants, Publicis Events and Publicis Networks. It will use the signature: "Le coeur des Français bat pour Paris 2012" (France's heart is beating fast about Paris 2012") to show how committed the nation is to winning and hosting the Games and to sport in general. Click on the link below to read more about the campaign, in French, on the CB News website. www.cbnews.fr
W&V | 10.05.05
Euro RSCG wins Subway German account
Düsseldorf agency Euro RSCG has been awarded complete responsibility for the Subway sandwich chain's advertising in Germany, writes the local advertising magazine Werben & Verkaufen (W&V). The agency beat off competition from four rivals to win the business, W&V says. Up till now, individual franchisees have worked with their chosen regional agency partner. Euro RSCG will now look to run campaigns which are consistent at national and regional level. The award covers above-the-line advertising, as well as below-the-line measures, in store promotion and PR. Subways has around 22,000 outlets across the world, W&V says, and will look to forthcoming work to further support its growth in Germany. www.wuv.de
Daily Media | 10.05.05
Budweiser adds Italian partner
Heineken Italy, which owns the distribution rights for Budweiser beer in the country, has appointed Softpeople Connexia to handle promotions, press relations and product placement planning, writes the industry newsletter Daily Media. In addition, the agency will also get involved in supporting Budweiser's sponsorship of the 2006 Winter Olympic Games, Daily Media says. Budweiser's emphasis at the Games will be on activities similar to those practised as 'extreme' sports, including snowboarding. In summer, the focus will be on windsurfing, surfing and kiting. Softpeople Connexia was formed in 2001 by the merger of the two companies contained in the agency's name. www.dailymedia.it
Horizont | 09.05.05
'You are Germany' campaign unveiled
Hamburg agencies Jung von Matt and Kemper Trautmann have jointly developed a campaign to boost Germans' self esteem and sense of solidarity, writes the country's advertising magazine, Horizont. The campaign will use the main claim of 'Du bist Deutschland' ('You are Germany'), Horizont says, when it breaks in June. It was commissioned by the Partner für Innovation initiative, a grouping of companies and organisations brought together at the beginning of 2004 by Chancellor Gerhard Schröder. Leading members include Lufthansa, telecoms company Deutsche Telekom and the publisher, Bertelsmann. According to the latter, the work will be carried by a wide range of German media and is designed to lead to "a new mood in Germany". Total media investment may reach as high as € 30 million, Horizont says, about half as much again as the € 20 million that will back the "FC Deutschland 06" campaign, developed by Scholz & Friends with similar aims to coincide with the country's hosting next year's soccer World Cup. Media slots will be made available free, with the agencies also working on a 'pro bono' basis. www.horizont.net
Adformatie | 06.05.05
Dutch auto association leaves Y&R
ANWB, Holland's largest association for car owners and drivers, is to move its account out of Young & Rubicam and into local agency Ubachs Wisbrun, says the advertising industry magazine Adformatie. The decision comes after a review covering the organisation's branding and communications strategy, Adformatie says. Three agencies were selected to present creative ideas, with Ubachs Wisbrun emerging the winner. ANWB's relationship with Y&R lasted 5 years. In addition to providing breakdown help, the organisation advises on travel and traffic hold ups and offers its members insurance and other car-related products and services. www.adformatie.nl
Mediaforum | 06.05.05
McCann opens its 'Luxury Box'
McCann Erickson has officially unveiled its specialist unit for handling fashion and upmarket goods, Luxury Box, in Italy, writes the local trade magazine, Mediaforum. Already present in London, Paris, New York and Tokyo, Mediaforum says, the company has now opened an office in Milan. "Luxury Box exists to take on the complex challenges offered by the current market for luxury products", its head, Elisabetta Tangorra, tells the magazine. Among these, she lists democratic luxury, elitist and inaccessible luxury, creative and 'ethical' luxury. Each form, she says, involves different products, sensitivities and target markets. Luxury Box aims to be a flexible unit, calling on outside resources on an ad hoc basis and offering '360-degree' communications solutions which go beyond traditional advertising. Among its first clients are the Biennale di Venezia festival and Orciani, the maker of luxury belts and bags. www.wuv.de
W&V | 06.05.05
Grey installs new Hamburg management
Grey has secured a new management team for the agency's Hamburg office, writes the German advertising trade magazine Werben & Verkaufen (W&V). According to information passed to it, W&V says that Grey group CEO will soon unveil Andreas Trautmann, until now managing partner at Springer & Jacoby (S&J), based in the same city, as its managing director, with another S&J staffer, Thomas Walmrath, set to join as chief creative officer. While Grey itself would not comment, W&V says that these two plus one other addition, in the strategic planning area, will officially take up duties on July 1st. Their responsibilities will involve building up a 30-strong team to produce integrated work for BAT, a key Grey client, including promotional materials to support the company's Lucky Strike brand, which is moving to the agency from KNSK. www.wuv.de
Dagens Media | 05.05.05
Scholz & Friends wins Betsson
Scholz & Friends has been chosen to handle advertising for the multi-country online gaming operator Betsson, writes the Swedish trade magazine Dagens Media. Previously using work from a small creative partnership, Betsson contacted Scholz & Friends directly, Dagens Media says, thus obviating the need for a pitch. Kay Höök, the agency's Swedish managing director, says that the brief will be to promote Betsson's extended product range and functionality. Scholz will also produce ads for other countries in which the company operates, which include Germany, the UK, Turkey, the Czech Republic, Finland, Denmark, Norway and Iceland. www.dagensmedia.se
Kampanje | 05.05.05
Saatchi expands in Finland
Saatchi & Saatchi has expanded its operations in Scandinavia by acquiring a majority stake in the Finnish agency Lahtinen & Mantere (L&M), writes the Norwegian advertising magazine, Kampanje. The acquisition gives Saatchi around 100 staff in the region, Kampanje says, boosted by L&M's 30 employees, who work out of its offices in Helsingborg. Lahtinen & Mantere was founded in 1984. The deal became effective on the first of this month. One key role L&M will play is to help Saatchi as it seeks to expand its service offering in Finland to major clients such as Procter & Gamble and Visa. "Lahtinen Mantere Saatchi & Saatchi gives us a strong position in Finland, based on many solid relationships", Michael Raffnsře, Saatchi's regional director, says in a press release. www.kampanje.no
Resumé | 04.05.05
Grey wins Honda in Scandinavia
Grey's Malmö agency has been appointed to handle advertising for the car brand Honda across Europe, writes the Swedish advertising magazine Resumé. The agency was awarded the account, Resumé says, after a pitch in which Navigator and Imperiet also competed. Five years ago, Honda restructurede its operations in the region, which resulted in the Publicis network being handed the business, with Publicis Copenhagen acting as lead agency. Honda's Scandinavian head office is in Malmö, resulting in only agencies based in that city being considered in the review. Grey head Robert Ĺsbrink acknowledges that the competition was tough, but that his agency's experience in the sector paid off. Grey has previous experience on the Honda business in southern Europe. Click on the link for the longer article, in Swedish, on Resumé's website. www.resume.se
Horizont | 03.05.05
Opel appoints DKLW on pan-Euro Vectra
UK agency Delaney Knox Lund Warren (DKLW) has been appointed to handle the pan-European account for Opel's Vectra model, writes the German trade magazine Horizont. Quoting a source from the Rüsselsheim- based company, Horizont says that DKLW, which handles the Opel's Vauxhall brand in its home country, has beaten off competition from Lowe London and Frankfurt-based McCann Erickson BCA to win the account. The decision, the same source says, will have no effect on the company's relationship with McCann, which remains its 'house agency'. Increased emphasis is to be placed in the future on pan-European campaigns for Opel brands, Horizont says. The forthcoming campaign for the Vectra is expected to break in late summer, backed by a budget of around 75 million euros. Media will be handled by Universal Media. www.horizont.net
Pubblicitŕ Italia | 04.05.05
Vodafone appoints Mindshare
Vodafone has appointed Mindshare to handle its media planning and buying in Italy after a pitch lasting several months, writes the local trade magazine Pubblicitŕ Italia. The decision is valid until 2006, Pubblicitŕ Italia says, and also favours Muraglia Calzolari e Associati, which will advise the mobile phone company on campaigns aimed at specific target audiences. Other agencies initially competing on the pitch included ZenithOptimedia, Universal McCann and Strategy & Media, with Mediacom deciding to withdraw as a result of its European relationship with rival Deutsche Telekom. www.pubblicitalia.it
Pub | 03.05.05
Belgian agency takes on New York
Duval Guillaume, Belgium's leading independent advertising agency, is taking the unusual step of opening an office in New York, says the country's advertising magazine, Pub. Unusual in that, while it has long been practice for US firms to spread their operations to Europe, traffic the other way is less common nowadays, particularly for a one-country, independent operation. The agency will open its doors on May 9th, Pub says, with a view to "building a bridge between the capital of advertising and the capital of Europe". They are, partner André Duval tells the magazine, following the example set by other, smaller agencies such as 180, Mother, Naked and Strawberry Frog. The role of Duval Guillaume New York will, in the first instance, to try to win international clients, while helping Belgian advertisers to be better known abroad, Duval continues. It will be headed by David Brian Simpson, previously new business director at US agency Pedrone. Duval Guillaume's many awards and ranking in the Gunn Report, Pub says, mean it is already quite well known internationally. www.pub.be
W&V | 03.05.05
Publicis replaces German CEO
Marcus Starke, Chairman and CEO of Publicis Frankfurt, is to leave the agency, says the German advertising and marketing magazine Werben & Verkaufen (W&V). Publicis' new head of all German operations, Manfred Schüller, will take his responsibilities over in aholding capacity, W&V says. Starke had led the agency since January 2004, a period, the magazine says, marked by much unrest and many personnel changes. Quoted on his departure, Starke says that "recently the work and culture at Publicis didn't suit my professional professional profile, as I had hoped they would at the start". The decision, Manfred Schüller said, was a joint one. One pointer to Publicis' culture in Germany is the fact that the company's global chief Maurice Lévy personally intervened last year to install management consultant Roland Berger as non-executive chairman. www.wuv.de
Pubblicitŕ Italia | 03.05.05
Bates 'to report to Red Cell'
Keen watchers of the advertising agency world will be aware that Bates, previously known as BSB and also previously one of the world's best-known such companies, has all but disappeared since its acquisition by WPP. Failing fortunes precipitated the acquisition, but although Bates' operations have been merged into those of other WPP-owned networks, agencies still bearing the name retain a strong presence on certain national markets. Such is the case in Italy, where WPP country head Marco Benetti this week announced changes affecting Bates. The agency will, from now on, report to the Red Cell network, he tells Pubblicitŕ Italia, although the effect of the change may be limited. "Bates will remain completely autonomous and independent. There will be no merger or integration", Benetti says. In the past two years, he continues, management has succeeded in putting Bates back on course and its recent success in picking up the assignment for Fiat's forthcoming corporate campaign constituted "the cherry on the cake". Nevertheless, the way to go forward for the future is to align the agency more closely with an international network. www.pubblicitalia.it
Markedsfřring | 29.04.05
Peugeot seeks new agency
Peugeot Denmark is looking for an advertising agency to help it develop a long term strategic communications platform across all its business activities, writes the country's leading advertising and marketing magazine, Markedsfřring. Future campaigns should be designed to secure Peugeot greater visibility in the country, Markedsfřring says, and strengthen its position in the marketplace. The company will continue to work with current agency partner Resenbro & Partners, generally on more tactical projects. The pitch is expected to reach its final stages over the summer months. www.markedsforing.dk
Ipmark | 29.04.05
FCB/Tapsa launches Iberia Business Plus
FCB/Tapsa has been awarded the task of launching Spanish airline Iberia's Business Class Plus offering worldwide, writes the country's advertising magazine, Ipmark. Business Class Plus is a new class for business travellers on intercontinental flights, Ipmark says, currently being launched simultaneously in Spain, the rest of Europe and Latin America. Iberia is already a client of FCB/Tapsa. The launch campaign will centre on the planes' armchair/ beds which, Iberia says, are based on an ergonomical design exclusive to the company. www.ipmark.es
Resumé | 29.04.05
Coke brand to Storĺkers McCann
Coca Cola has moved advertising responsibility for its Mer soft drink in Sweden out of Forsmann & Bodenfors (F&B) and into Storĺkers McCann, writes the local trade magazine Resumé. A still, fruit and water-based drink occupying a position of market leadership, previous campaigns for Mer from F&B have used lines such as 'Will they carbonate', Resumé says. The award comes ahead of the launch of a product variant, Mini-Mer, with no added sugar. Ads, set to appear throughout the summer, will be colourful and reflect 'flower power' tones. www.resume.se
Daily Media | 27.04.05
Fiat, Nastro Azzurro stress 'Italianness'
Car maker Fiat is currently preparing a major campaign on its home market to stress the 'Made in Italy' nature of its products, says the trade magazine Daily Media. The campaign is currently being put together by ad agency Bates and will play on the fact that when Italians buy Fiat, they are 'buying Italian'. The campaign, Daily Media says, would also provide proof of the strengthening bond between Fiat and WPP in Italy, with the latter recently appointed to work on media planning and buying for the Fiat Media Center in a joint venture. At the same time, rival publication Pubblicitŕ Italia says, beer brand Nastro Azzurro has unveiled new TV work which uses the line 'C'č piú gusto a essere italiano' ('Italians have more taste'), based around the adventures of a New York taxi driver whose car is a Fiat 500. The timing of Fiat's campaign is interesting, in that it comes in the wake of the failure of Rover, the UK car manufacturer. One reason given for the failure was that British car buyers did not have a culture of 'buying British'. The same could also be said of the country's beer drinkers, to a lesser extent. www.pubblicitaitalia.it
Persoenlich | 27.04.05
Campari moves to Advico Y&R
Campari, the drinks company, has handed responsibility for advertising its entire portfolio of brands in Switzerland to Advico Young & Rubicam, writes the country's leading advertising and marketing magazine, Persoenlich. The award applies to an array of traditional brands, Persoenlich says, including Campari, the aperitif Cynar, Fernet-Branca, Grand Marnier and Ouzo 12, but also to newer ones such as Skyy Vodka, Aperol and Jose Cuervo tequila. First work is expected to appear this autumn. www.persoenlich.ch
Marketing Directo | 27.04.05
Tiempo BBDO goes back to school
Spanish agency Tiempo BBDO has gone back to school in a novel attempt to attract new creative recruits, writes the marketing and advertising magazine Marketing Directo. 2,000 ads, written on serviettes, have been left on tables in the country's leading creative academies and art schools, bearing messages that the agency is looking for a junior copywriter. The approach, says Ferrán Blanch, executive creative director, is both imaginative and in recognition of the fact that many of the best creative ideas are first scribbled down on serviettes, cigarette packets and scraps of paper. www.marketingdirecto.com
CB News | 26.04.05
Agency-client relationships 'better'
The relationship between French advertising agencies and their clients is improving, writes the advertising magazine CB News. The assertion is based on the findings of this year's edition of the study conducted by specialist consultants Ballester. Responding to a questionnaire, 71% of advertisers said they considered their agency as a 'partner', with 80% maintaining that they planned to continue to work with their current supplier and 65% declaring themselves 'satisfied'. Ballester talked to 450 advertisers in putting together its report, CB News says. Top of the list of what they said they wanted from their agency, the consultants say, is strategic input, which they rate ahead of 'creativity'. Among the challenges for agencies themselves, the report concludes, is the putting in place of new business models allowing them to secure their viability and growth, given the new financial demands of clients. www.cbnews.fr
Propaganda | 26.04.05
Ex-BBDO head takes agency to court
Per Nipedal, one-time head of BBDO in Norway, is to take the agency to court, writes the country's advertising trade magazine Propaganda. Nipedal was forced out of his job in January, Propaganda says, after he had led the agency for four years following its merger with local rival Myres. During that time the agency ran up losses of 100 million kroner. Following his departure, creative director Řyving Breen took over leadership of BBDO. Nipedal feels he was unfairly dismissed, Propaganda says, and is also disputing a term in his contract which determines how long he has to wait before working for any of BBDO's rivals. The case will be heard in an Oslo court, in the summer. www.propaganda-as.no
Horizont | 25.04.05
Global Osram win for S&J
Springer & Jacoby (S&J) has been awarded the global advertising account of Osram, the German lighting manufacturer, writes the country's leading advertising magazine, Horizont. To service the account, S&J will not only be able to call on its own resources, Horizont says, but also those of the international Interpublic network, which holds a stake in the agency. The decision in favour of Springer & Jacoby comes after a pitch involving various stages, in which long-time account holder Ogilvy & Mather's Frankfurt office declined to participate, according to the magazine. www.horizont.net
Meios & Publicidade | 25.04.05
WPP names country head for Portugal
WPP has named Manuel Maltez as its country manager for Portugal, writes the local media and advertising magzine Meios & Publicidade (M&P). The post is a new one, M&P says, with Maltez drawing on previous experience as ex-chairman of national agencies Euro RSCG and BBDO to undertake it. The appointment is in line with WPP's policy to appoint heads across all its activities in certain countries, with 'country heads' previously having been named in Australia/ New Zealand, China, India, Italy, Holland, Spain and Thailand/ Vietnam. Maltez's experience in advertising goes back 15 years to when he was account director at JWT, says M&P, later becoming client services director and then chairman at Euro RSCG, moving later to BBDO. He left the ad industry in 2002 to take on personal projects. www.meiosepublicidade.pt
Resumé | 25.04.05
Björn Borg to unveil 'Swedish sport'
Björn Borg, the fashion brand founded by the Swedish ex-tennis star, is to unveil new advertising later this year based around the concept of 'Swedish sport'. Rather than positioning its clothes as pure sportswear, however, the theme is designed to make Björn Borg clothes perceived as inhabiting a world which is "stylish, sexy, sporty and comfortable", the company's marketing head told Resumé, the Swedish advertising magazine this week. The campaign has been produced, Resumé says, by Joakim Jonason in conjunction with the London office of Scholz & Friends and will appear in stores, on the internet, on posters and in print from August. Björn Borg is in fact owned and operated by the World Brands Management Group. www.resume.es
Persoenlich | 22.04.05
Seven to pitch for Coop
Seven agencies are to pitch for the advertising account of Coop, Switzerland's second-largest supermarket chain, reports the country's leading trade magazine in the sector, Persoenlich. Though many details of the project, which involves introducing a new umbrella brand for the company, are being kept secret, Persoenlich says, what is at least known is that five of Switzerland's ten most creative agencies will not be involved, given that they already work for arch rival and market leader Migros. That leaves Jung von Matt/Limmat, KSSJ, Scholz & Friends, Harry Sulzer, TBWA and BBDO Germany in the frame, Persoenlich says, with the winner to produce new work to run from the autumn. The project has as its backgroud the fact that Migros, in addition to being bigger, is widely felt to have a much stronger image. The key question agencies may be asked to help the client decide is: what exactly is Coop? www.persoenlich.ch
Pubblicitŕ Italia | 21.04.05
Emirates appoints Grey for S. Europe
Emirates, the Dubai-based international airline, has appointed Grey Worldwide to handle its advertising across all countries which fall within the company's southern European division, writes the Italian ad industry newsletter Pubblicitŕ Italia. Grey's pitch, Pubblicitŕ Italia says, was led by its Italian office, with support from those in Athens and Istanbul, as well as from Grey Global's media agency, Mediacom. Grey Worldwide Italia will act as lead agency on the account which, in addition to Italy, involves the creation and placing of ads in Spain, the states of what was once Yugoslavia, Malta, Greece, Cyprus, Turkey and Romania. A new campaign is set to break in newspapers and magazines from next month. www.pubblicitaitalia.it
Ipmark | 21.04.05
Red Cell + Sra. Rushmore deal official
Red Cell has announced officially that it is to purchase the Spanish ad agency Sra. Rushmore, reports the national trade magazine Ipmark. The announcement follows several weeks of strong rumour suggesting that a deal was imminent. WPP-owned Red Cell will take a minority stake in Sra. Rushmore, Ipmark says, quoting Miguel García Vizcaíno, the agency's executive creative director. Exactly what percentage Red Cell will hold in his agency, he declines to mention. Sra. Rushmore will retain its name, functioning much as it does now, Vizcaíno says, and independently of Delvico Red Cell, the other agency owned by the WPP subsidiary in Spain. "Red Cell shares our passion for good work and understands that entrepreneurial spirit and individualism are values that you would want to see spread within an international network", Vizcaíno tells Ipmark. Sra. Rushmore was founded in the year 2000 by a team of three coming from Tiempo/BBDO. Its clients include Coca Cola, Diageo, El Corte Inglés and T-Online. www.ipmark.com
CB News | 21.04.05
Global Danone media pitch
Danone, the dairy and grocery goods manufacturer, is to hold a review next month with a view to selecting a limited group of media agencies to handle its planning and buying on a global basis, writes the French advertising magazine CB News. The review, CB News says, involving total media expenditure of around $1.1 billion, will be followed in June by local reviews which will involve only the national offices of those agencies which have been selected at a global level. Danone's French business is currently handled jointly by OMD and Vizeum, while Mediacom enjoys responsibility in the USA, Carat in Canada, the UK and Germany, MPG in Spain and Mindshare in Italy. www.cbnews.fr
CB News | 18.03.05
TBWA introduces new look SNCF
French railway company SNCF has given itself a new identity, writes the advertising magazine CB News, and commissioned TBWA to produce a TV and cinema campaign to present it to the public. 45'' and 60'' films will begin to air from today on major TV channels showing how SNCF takes ideas and applies them to improve the rail travel experience. The company's new corporate slogan (and a translator's nightmare) is "Donnons au train des idées d'avance" - something like "Taking train travel to the next level". All SNCF trains and carriages, CB News says, should be equipped with the new identity over the next two years. Read this story for yourself, in French? Just follow the link below. Check out the new SNCF visual identity for yourself, at its website? Just click here. www.cbnews.fr
Resumé | 17.03.05
SAS chooses Swedish agency
SAS has chosen Stockholm agency SWE to handle its advertising, writes the Swedish trade magazine Resumé. The airline had discussions with a number of other agencies about its much-coveted account, Resumé says, although SAS itself will not reveal which these were. SAS has been without an agency since last autumn, when the previous incumbent, Go.garbergs, lost the business after its initial campaigns failed to impress. SWE's pitch for the business, which included the development of a campaign for domestic Swedish routes, thus represents its first work on the business. Other SWE clients include Toyota, the payment card Eurocard, the newspaper Expressen and resefeber.se, the online travel agency. To visit the agency, click here. To read the longer original article, in Swedish, follow the link below. www.resume.se
Extradienst | 17.03.05
No MBO at Lowe GGK
Earlier this week, it was suggested that a management buy-out may be imminent at Lowe GGK, one of Austria's most high-profile agencies (click here to read that story). Now, it seems, that may not go through. Whatever happens, however, change is afoot. Both the agency's managing directors, Christoph Klingler and Thomas Plötzeneder are to leave, says the local trade magazine Extradienst, with Klingler citing "fundamental differences of opinion' and Plötzeneder saying he sees his future more as an independent businessman. The latter's plan had been to realise that dream through effecting an MBO at Lowe GGK. That plan, however, met with resistance within the network, not least given that the agency is one of 12 creative centres spread throughout it. Thomas Plötzeneder will stay at Lowe GGK for the next few months, Extradienst says, while Klingler's departure will be more immediate. Click on the link below to get more detail on this story if you wish, in German, by visiting the Extradienst site. www.extradienst.at
New Business | 16.03.05
No creativity at Saatchi Frankfurt
Saatchi & Saatchi's Frankfurt agency is losing its top creative team to TBWA, writes the German ad industry newsletter New Business. Benjamin Lommel and Harald Wittig will head up creative duties at TBWA's Berlin office, thus following their previous head at TBWA, Hubertus von Lobenstein, who left Saatchi to become CEO of TBWA Germany. Saatchi & Saatchi says it will seek to appoint successors from outside the agency. To read this story for yourself, in German, just follow the link below. www.new-business.de
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