Advertising & Promotion Campaigns

Market plan a "re-run"

The Weekly Times
Page: 9 : 3 September 2008
Original article by Brian Clancy

LexisNexis Summary: Advertising & Promotion Campaigns

Australian Wool Innovation's (AWI) revised marketing strategy for Woolmark has been criticised by Andrew Olexander. The strategy, released in August 2008, focuses on the luxury end of the women's apparel market. Olexander, a former executive with the International Wool Secretariat (IWS), notes that the strategy is based on research undertaken by Millward Brown. Olexander claims that the same company had input into IWS' "Red Dress" campaign of the 1990s, which he says cost wool growers about $A70 million and which he contends was a failure. Olexander's comments are disputed by AWI's Rob Langtry, who says the two campaigns cannot be compared

Products & Services

New mag will target the upmarket man who likes sport and fashion

The Sydney Morning Herald
Page: online : 4 September 2008
Original article by Paul McIntyre

LexisNexis Summary: Products & Services

Fairfax Magazines will introduce an Australian edition of "Sport & Style" magazine in February 2009. The monthly publication will be distributed as an insert of Fairfax Media's daily newspapers, "The Age" and "The Sydney Morning Herald". The magazine will focus on sports and men's fashion, and will be pitched at affluent consumers. Lisa Hudson, the CEO of Fairfax Magazines, says the new title will not target the same audience as men's magazines such as "Ralph" and "Alpha"

E-Business

Australian website for JCPenney

The Australian Financial Review
Page: 19 : 4 September 2008
Original article by Sue Mitchell

LexisNexis Summary: E-Business

The big US retailer JCPenney has launched an e-commerce web site in Australia in late 2008. Consumers can buy the US goods in Australian dollars and there is a quick delivery service. The move is a threat to big Australian department stores like David Jones

Marketing Strategy

Foreigners fly the flag

The Weekly Times
Page: 29 : 3 September 2008
Original article by Leslie White

LexisNexis Summary: Marketing Strategy

The practice of foreign-owned firms using Australian flags or symbols to make consumers think they are owned locally is all too common. Beer brand Swan Lager depicts a black swan, although Lion Nathan is 46 per cent Japanese-owned, while the Nestle-owned Uncle Toby's uses the Australian flag on many of its products. Mike Gallagher, the CEO of Ausbuy, noted that the Natural Confectionary Company marketed itself as being locally owned for more than a year after it was bought by Cadbury Schweppes, until the Australian Competition & Consumer Commission eventually took action against it

Retailer appeals deceit finding

The Australian
Page: 20 : 4 September 2008
Original article by Mahesh Sharma and Michael Sainsbury

LexisNexis Summary: Marketing Strategy

Allphones, a retailer in Australia specialising in mobile telephony, is facing legal and regulatory action on two fronts. The Australian Competition & Consumer Commission is taking it to court over claims it contravened the agreements it struck with franchisees, while the Federal Court has also just ruled it was guilty of engaging in "calculated dishonesty" and "continuing deceit" when it did not pay commissions. Allphones was ordered to pay $A75,169 to Sydney franchisee Hoy Mobile, but is seeking to appeal the judgment. The Sydney store owner, Craig Hoy, also had the amount reduced by $A32,000 for fraudulently selling unlocked handsets

Consumer Behaviour

Car sales hit by company cutbacks

The Australian
Page: 2 : 4 September 2008
Original article by Philip King

LexisNexis Summary: Consumer Behaviour

The Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries released disappointing vehicle sales figures on 3 September 2008. CEO, Andrew McKellar, blamed a 12 per cent fall in new car sales in August 2008 on interest rate rises. McKellar described July and August 2008 as a "snapping point" for the industry and said previous rate increases by the Reserve Bank of Australia's were "excessive". Sales of new cars recorded their steepest monthly decline since 2001, with around 11,000 fewer sold than in the previous corresponding period

Westpac keeps 'em happy

The Australian Financial Review
Page: 23 : 4 September 2008
Original article by Sally Patten

LexisNexis Summary: Consumer Behaviour

A survey of banks in Australia shows that their customer satisfaction levels are not high. Roy Morgan Research found that Westpac Banking was the only big bank to see a lift in customer satisfaction levels in the year to July 2008. Customers were highly satisfied with regional banks and building societies