Advertising & Promotion Campaigns

Vegemite ad gets 52-year tune-up

The Australian Financial Review
Page: 57 : 30 June 2008
Original article by Noelle Waugh

LexisNexis Summary: Advertising & Promotion Campaigns

Advertising agency, JWT, has created a new advertising push for Kraft Foods' Vegemite product. The new ads, which move away from the "Happy little vegemites" campaign that has been used to sell the product since 1956, will be launched in mid-July 2008. The campaign will use the slogan "How do you like your vegemite?" and is expected to have greater "resonance" with younger Australians. However, Kraft executives say they have not abandoned the enduring "Happy little vegemites" jingle

Agencies in waiting for which bank?

The Australian Financial Review
Page: 54 : 30 June 2008
Original article by Neil Shoebridge

LexisNexis Summary: Advertising & Promotion Campaigns

Four advertising agencies are competing for the media account of the Commonwealth Bank of Australia. The presentations for the media planning and buying component of the $A50 million account were on 26 June 2008. The incumbent, Ikon Communications, is expected to lose the account. The other contenders are PHD, Vizeum and Naked Communications. A decision will be made within a fortnight

Products & Services

Pricey TiVo seen as a hard sell

The Australian Financial Review
Page: 54 : 30 June 2008
Original article by Neil Shoebridge

LexisNexis Summary: Products & Services

Australian TV network, Seven, will launch its TiVo digital video recorder in July 2008. The TiVo will cost $A699 and will be available only through Harvey Norman stores for the first three months. Seven's aim is to sell between 50,000 and 100,000 recorders over five years. However, some media and retail participants feel that the price of the recorder is high and that the sales target is unrealistic

Harbour Town Adelaide introduces personal stylist service

Inside Retailing
Page: 11 : 23 June 2008

LexisNexis Summary: Products & Services

Shoppers visiting Harbour Town Adelaide will be able to get a personal fashion stylist if they wish. The Harbour Town precinct contains a large number of brand direct outlets. The local stylist, Kelly Gates, will offer the personal stylist services. There are three such services - one is a person-to-person service to help someone find the right outfit for a special occasion. The second is a styling session to work out the best shapes and colours for a person to look for. The third session is for small groups and it will help the group to find the best brand direct outlets. The prices range from $A35 to $A70 depending on the length of the session

E-Business

Mini-payments join cashless economy

The Age
Page: B3 : 30 June 2008
Original article by Ari Sharp

LexisNexis Summary: E-Business

Australia offers a large potential market for micro-payments. Each year, $A170 billion is spent on transactions of less than $A35. Chris Wilson, of Deloitte, says banks and retailers are reluctant to invest in the infrastructure for small transactions. The most likely methods of facilitating micro-payments are mobile telephones and public transport stored-value cards

Gift shop of the year founded online

Inside Retailing
Page: 12 : 23 June 2008
Original article by Kiren Thandi

LexisNexis Summary: E-Business

An online retailer has won a top retailing award in Australia. The Babycupcakes online group was named the Best Retail Outlet at the 2008 Australian Gift Awards. The web site sells baby clothing and gifts made up to look like beautiful bouquets of flowers. The business was founded by lawyer Kathy Bellingham and her business partner, Marianne Camper, who had retail experience. The business has been so successful that the group has launched into wholesaling the products to retailers. Bellingham noted that the group exhibits at trade fairs with Reed Exhibitions - another source of vital exposure for the group. The group is also expanding overseas with the help of Austrade

Marketing Strategy

Salmat lassoes online shoppers

The Australian Financial Review
Page: 57 : 30 June 2008
Original article by Neil Shoebridge

LexisNexis Summary: Marketing Strategy

Salmat's price comparison website, Lasoo, has succeeded with retailers and consumers. The Australian direct marketing group invested $A10 million in the development and marketing of the site and its accompanying product, a "dynamic catalogue" or online versions of retailers' print catalogues. Lasoo has 65 retailers promoting products, while 20 retailers buy the dynamic catalogue. The site covers 20 product categories and there are plans to expand it. Lasoo expects to break even in 2008-09

Consumer Behaviour

Property buyers wary as higher petrol prices bite

The Age
Page: B4 : 30 June 2008
Original article by Kate Nancarrow

LexisNexis Summary: Consumer Behaviour

Steve Tickell of Hocking Stuart says the rising cost of petrol is affecting residential property sales in Melbourne. The auction clearance rate was 65 per cent on the weekend of 28-29 June 2008, with 477 properties put up for auction. However, Tickell adds that there was strong interest in properties located in good positions in inner-city suburbs. Spiro Drossos of Barry Plant in Doncaster East notes that potential buyers were "very selective" and were attracted to properties that are close to public transport or freeways

Trust is a quality you just can't buy

The Australian Financial Review
Page: 60 : 30 June 2008
Original article by Andrew Cornell

LexisNexis Summary: Consumer Behaviour

Customer trust is an important asset for Australian banks. Research by Unisys has found that customers' trust is most easily eroded by undependable IT systems and unethical business practices. However, differing factors are more important in building customers' trust. Australians were concerned with protecting corporate assets, the provision of quality products, customer satisfaction and shared values. The ANZ Bank emphasised trust in the pre-launch marketing of its Cambodian bank, ANZ Royal

FlyBuys rewards are there - just take a peek

The Australian Financial Review
Page: 42 : 28 June 2008
Original article by Debra Cleveland

LexisNexis Summary: Consumer Behaviour

It can be worth swapping points on the "FlyBuys" scheme run by Coles and National Australia Bank (NAB) into rewards. Martin North, MD of Fujitsu Australasia, says research shows that many of the 2.9 million households with "FlyBuys" cards do not make use of their points. Swapping points for credit is a good option for people who have their cards linked to their NAB credit card. "FlyBuys" brand manager Chris Rundle reports that gift cards, merchandise and accommodation are also popular options

No end to mobile mania

The Australian Financial Review
Page: 6 : 28 June 2008
Original article by Chris Jenkins

LexisNexis Summary: Consumer Behaviour

Data from the Australian Mobile Telecommunications Association shows that shipments of mobiles so far in 2008 have exceeded 3.5 million. Shipments rose above 10 million in the year to May 2008. Sales are rising despite the fact that Australia already has more mobile telephone subscriptions than people. Nathan Burley, of Ovum, thinks the subsidisation of handsets by network operators via zero-dollar plans will protect the market should global sales decline, Burley suggests that people on some of the pre-paid plans may be deferring purchases of new handsets