Advertising & Promotion Campaigns

Pepsi's "richest ever promotion" just got richer

Ad News
Page: 1 : 30 May 2008
Original article by Mark Chenery

LexisNexis Summary: Advertising & Promotion Campaigns

A glitch has occurred in Pepsi Australia's biggest-ever instant-prize promotion. Three people laid claim to the $A630,000 give-away of a "bachelor pad" and assorted "boys' toys". There was only supposed to be one winner of the contest. Pepsi was forced to end the give-away early. It is unclear whether a mistake was made by Pepsi or whether two of the claimants may be frauds. A spokesperson admits Pepsi may have to award the prize to all three claimant

Products & Services

Fairfax heads west to take on 'lacklustre' media

The Sydney Morning Herald
Page: 5 : 11 June 2008
Original article by Miriam Steffens

LexisNexis Summary: Products & Services

Fairfax Media launched an online newspaper in Western Australia on 10 June 2008. The Australian-listed media company aims to expand its national coverage and attract more readers and advertisers to its websites. It does not plan to move to a print edition. Ron Walker, the chairman of Fairfax, says the new site will bring competition to the WA market. CEO David Kirk says the venture will be profitable in about three years

CommSec to fight churn with MasterCard payments

The Australian Financial Review
Page: 62 : 11 June 2008
Original article by Julian Bajkowski

LexisNexis Summary: Products & Services

The Commonwealth Bank of Australia (CBA) has forgone its own debit card by launching a MasterCard-backed cash account designed to win back cash-heavy customers. CBA has experienced high numbers of customer defection to high-interest products provided by ING and RaboPlus. The account is operated through CommSec, and will offer an interest rate of 7.5% and allow customers to use the facility to trade and purchase shares online

iPhone II cheaper and faster

The Australian Financial Review
Page: 62 : 11 June 2008
Original article by Chris Jenkins

LexisNexis Summary: Products & Services

Apple announced plans to release a new version of its popular iPhone on 10 June 2008. Speaking at a developers conference in California, CEO Steve Jobs said the company's new iPhone will operate on the High Speed Packet Access 3G data network and will include a satellite positioning system. Jobs said the new iPhone is "twice as fast and half the price" of the original device and will be price from $US199 ($A208). It is expected to be released in Australia on 11 July and will be available through the Vodafone and Optus networks

"Men's Fitness" enters the ring

Adbrief
Page: 1 : 6 June 2008

LexisNexis Summary: Products & Services

An Australian version of "Men's Fitness" will be published by Odysseus Publishing. The magazine, which is produced by American Media in the US, is scheduled for domestic release in mid-July 2008. The UK version of "Men's Fitness" has been Britain's fastest-growing title for three years in a row. Ian Brooks, director of Odysseus, says the magazine will appeal to men aged between their late 20s and their 40s, who are a difficult demographic to target

E-Business

Trading Post to take on eBay

Inside Retailing
Page: 14 : 2 June 2008

LexisNexis Summary: E-Business

A rival to eBay is to be launched by Sensis. Management hopes the new online auctioneer, which will operate under the Trading Post brand, will be able to capitalise on disapproval among eBay's clients of its decision to make payment via its PayPal subsidiary mandatory. The Australian Competition & Consumer Commission is inquiring into the legality of PayPal being the obligatory means of payment. Trading Post will only charge vendors for items that actually sell

Marketing Strategy

Brands look online for sales

Ad News
Page: 2 : 30 May 2008
Original article by Mark Chenery

LexisNexis Summary: Marketing Strategy

Australian retailers are increasingly inclined to set up an online sales channel. Myer began selling a limited range of gifts online in late 2007. Sportsgirl has also been operating online since late 2007, and is already making a profit from the new venture. The award-winning Sportsgirl site was developed by Citrus and features a Facebook application. A survey by Leading Edge found that online buying is stagnant in Australia, with people who do not already shop online having no plans to do so

Chips down in snack war, takeover leads to ad review

Ad News
Page: 3 : 30 May 2008
Original article by John Davidson

LexisNexis Summary: Marketing Strategy

The Real McCoy is competing with The Smith's Snackfood Company for leadership of the $A1.1 billion salty snacks market. Marketing and distribution are viewed by The Real McCoy as central to the battle with market leader Smith's. The firm's senior management and a group of local investors recently paid an undisclosed amount for Arnott's Snack Foods, thereby acquiring brands such as "Cheezels" and "CC's". The Real McCoy is reassessing its advertising relationships in the wake of the acquisition

Consumer Behaviour

Conditions conspire against home loans

The Australian Financial Review
Page: 3 : 11 June 2008
Original article by Adrian Rollins and Mark Phillips

LexisNexis Summary: Consumer Behaviour

Housing lending fell again in Australia in April 2008. The number and value of home loans fell for the third month in a row, making it one of the largest slumps since the late 1980s. The number of loans fell by three per cent, for a fall of 14.2 per cent over a year. The value of loans dropped by 2.4 per cent, with an annual decline of over 12 per cent. Home owners are being deterred by high interest rates and tough credit conditions, increasing demand for rental accommodation

Newspapers not old hat

Adbrief
Page: 1 : 6 June 2008

LexisNexis Summary: Consumer Behaviour

Celsius Research and The Leading Edge conducted research on behalf of The Newspaper Works. It is revealed in the research report, entitled "Newspapers Today", that 90 per cent of Australians pay total attention while reading a newspaper. When watching TV, the proportion falls to 50 per cent. One-third of people surveyed viewed newspapers as the most respected medium, against 13 per cent for radio and 17 per cent for TV. Amongst people aged between 14 and 17, 42 per cent nominated newspapers as the most credible media channel