Serious rumblings of discontent at 2HD and NEWFM

Posted by gordon on February 29th, 2008

Ballymun 4
Originally uploaded by s4siobhan

According to the Media Hunter there are serious rumblings of discontent at two of Newcastle’s leading commercial radio stations, 2HD and NEWFM, with staff heading for the door.

Including station sales manager Kathy Coleman, who seems to have taken indefinite stress leave after a series of clashes with the owner Bill Caralis in the last month.

Ripe for a takeover!

For more on this story go to the Media Hunter>>>

McDonalds moves in on Starbucks Coffee

Posted by gordon on February 26th, 2008

Proper signage
Originally uploaded by 315ssuahC

Have a look below at this ABC Nightline report on the McDonald’s, Starbucks Coffee Wars.

It highlights a perfect case of repositioning your competitor.

And what makes it even better? Its between two big iconic brands that until recently didn’t see each other as major competitors. That has now changed!

The people at McDonald’s have decided to move in to the more lucrative coffee market, positioning themselves as the fast coffee and skillfully repositioning Starbucks as the slow coffee. Its too early to say, but will this classic positioning strategy crack Starbucks coffee cup?

One of these brand icons is truely going to get a bloodied nose…its a modern day epic battle.

What a case study for us marketers!

2008 Australian Marketing Institute Awards for Marketing Excellence

Posted by gordon on February 21st, 2008

Ami_2The Australian Marketing Institute (AMI) has called for entries for the 2008 AMI Awards for Marketing Excellence.

Lifted straight from the AMI’s website:

Awards for Marketing Excellence are presented to those organisations and marketers who have achieved extraordinary success from innovative and effective marketing practices, having regard to the particular circumstances of different industries, budgets and the diversity of marketing programs.

No mention of Web 2.0 or Social Media – Whats going on?

However, if you are interested in having a go…I’ve got the awards brochure for you to download:

Download 2008_AMI_Awards_call_for_entries.pdf

Read the rest of this entry »

Youtube – Commonwealth Bank Ad ‘Gameshow’ 2008

Posted by gordon on February 21st, 2008

At last, those brave marketers at the Comonwealth Bank have released their next TVC from Goodby Silverstein & Partners.

What will Singo say?

Newcastle Advertising Agencies look to the new ‘Green marketing and Trade Practices Act’

Posted by gordon on February 18th, 2008

397891_2Advertising agencies know that environmental claims can be a powerful marketing tool and increasingly companies are using environmental claims in an attempt to position themselves and their brands from the competitors.

Unfortunately, a few brands are making false or misleading claims including statements about environmental sustainability, recycling, energy and water efficiency or impact on animals and the natural environment.

Therefore, the good old boys and girls at the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission today issued guidance for businesses and marketers on the use of environmental claims in marketing  called the ‘Green Marketing And the Trade Practices Act’.

So marketers…you have been warned!

I’ve attached below the ACCC’s green guidelines for you to read:)

Download GreenmarketingandtheTradePracticesAct.pdf

Australian Marketing Institute NSW 2008 – Event Calendar Overview

Posted by gordon on February 14th, 2008

Ami_h2col_logo_2The team at the Australian Marketing Institute (AMI) has published a list of marketing events for this year. If you are in NSW and would like to attend any of the events, just send any inquiries to: nsw@ami.org.au or ring 02 8256 1650.

Unfortunately…no events listed for Newcastle. Maybe next week.

Date Event type Details
25&26 February Foundations course Principles of Marketing
27 February Breakfast seminar ‘Idea Power: Using idea-driven design to sell more product’ (more details)
3-4 March Foundations course Event Management: Introduction
27-28 March Conference Queensland Marketing Summit + Workshop, Rydges Southbank.
Theme: Participation Marketing: Immersing Customers
in the Brand Experience Go to conference website
3-4 April Foundations course Creating and Implementing Effective Marketing Plans
9-10 April CPD workshop Customer Segmentation and Positioning
6-7 May CPD workshop Advanced Strategic Marketing Planning
14 May CPD workshop Strategic Marketing Leadership
22-23 May Foundations course Principles of Marketing
16-17 June Foundations course Event Management: Introduction
14-15 July Foundations course Creating and Implementing Effective Marketing Plans
16-17 July CPD workshop Finance and Marketing Metrics
28-29 July Conference WA Marketing and Business Networking Congress, Perth
11-12 August Foundations course Event Management: Introduction
26-29 August Marketing Week Four intense days of everything marketing, Adelaide
2-3 September CPD workshop Building Winning Brands
3-5 September Conference AMI Government Marketing Conference, Four Seasons Hotel, Sydney
9-10 September CPD workshop Advanced Strategic Marketing Planning
15&16 September Foundations course Principles of Marketing
21-23 October Annual Conference Hilton on the Park, Melbourne
22 October AMI Awards
Gala Dinner		 Presentations to the national winners in the 2008 AMI Awards
for Marketing Excellence, Hilton on the Park, Melbourne
20-21 November Foundations course Creating and Implementing Effective Marketing Plans
27-28 November Foundations course Event Management: Introduction

More regional advertising agencies close

Posted by gordon on February 12th, 2008

Closing_down My good friend Media Hunter and boss, just posted an article announcing even more Newcastle ad agencies closing their doors.

Last week, I spoke about the demise of the Boutique Agency, now we hear the closure of Savage Multi-Media.

Savage combined the talents of Greg Boswell and Alan Stevenson, both former Prime TV staffers.

That follows, Novena Marketing with Tom Robinson and Mike Bevan another long-time Newcastle agency which folded last year.

The Newcastle and Hunter Valley market is getting more and more competitive. Unfortunately, that is business.

However, the outlook for the Newcastle and the Hunter Valley economy is very good, attracting business investment traditional earmarked for our big brother, Sydney. This is good news for the next generation of local ad agencies.

Thats why, an entreprenuer like Craig (I’ve bought a Ute) Wilson, bought one of the oldest agencies in Newcastle, Barnetts Advertising. Quickly renamed as Sticky Advertising.

Craig, with his extensive knowledge of the local media, set about restructuring Sticky, turning this traditional ad agency into one that is more attuned to the needs of local and national businesses.

Now Sticky is building its market share and positioning itself as the third largest agency in Newcastle.

Watch out Enigma!

Australian Marketing Institute Launches New Web Site

Posted by gordon on February 11th, 2008

AMI Website
Originally uploaded by The Marketer

It’s an exciting day for the Australian Marketing Institute (AMI) as they launch their new colourful website.

Designed by the people at Bosweb Systems.

Features include Podcasts Library, Marketing Metrics Project resources, member discounts, Marketing Update Archive and the AMI’s own Library.

Our AMI’s website editor has sent out a kindly request, inviting visitors to have a good look around and test out all the links and features.

Well…first problem that I found was most of the entries in the service directory were either wrong or looked corrupted.

If any one else finds broken links, spelling or content errors, or have any suggestions, please drop the editor a line at editor@ami.org.au.

In my opinion, the overall look is very good, but in regards to the content and features nothing has really changed. Maybe there is more to come in the future.

How about if they embraced Web 2.0 a little more…imagine if AMI members were allowed to communicate with Board members, the CEO and State Councillors via a blog or forum. I’ve got heaps of questions, I would love to put to the people controlling my professional body.

Also, I’m very disappointed that there is no mention of the Hunter AMI Group…

Think Different – Think Bank of Queensland

Posted by gordon on February 10th, 2008

Bankof_qldthumb300x452_3Surprise…surprise!

The brains trust at the Bank of Queensland (BoQ) and its agency Clemenger Harvie Edge are making the most out of the Commonwealth Bank’s problematic ‘Determined to be different’ advertising campaign.

Spending its moeny wisely, BoQ took out full page ads in some of last weekend newpapers. Much less than the $60m Comm Bank spent on its TVC.

If I were BoQ, I’d be planning a few TVC’s attacking the Commonwealth Bank’s current TVC campaign. 

And frankly…why not?

They could use John Singleton’s quote in The Australian – "They had to go all the way to America for this?"

"Mate, there are lots of really bad agencies in Australia. You don’t have to go to America to get shit."

For more in information on the Commonwealth Bank’s campaign, I recommend you visit Campaign Brief >>>>

Commonwealth Bank TV Ads 2008 Series – What the?

Posted by gordon on February 10th, 2008

There’s more…the Commonwealth Bank and/or its agency have released a series of interviews with the characters in their new TV Campaign (see below).

Also, our very own Aussie advertising icon John Singleton has been quoted in The Australian newspaper:

"In this climate where people are struggling, interest rates are up, there is a credit crunch on, there is half a crash, you have people hiring Yanks to treat the Commonwealth Bank like a joke," Mr Singleton said.

"It is absolutely unforgiveable.

I really like this Singo one:

"They had to go all the way to America for this?"

"Mate, there are lots of really bad agencies in Australia. You don’t have to go to America to get shit."

"It is the worst thing I have seen in a long, long time, and I have seen a lot of crap. It is up there with the worst I have ever seen."

Are we being set-up for a really bad Borat Joke?

Lets wait and see…but first check out the Agency interviews:)