Advertising & Promotion Campaigns

Money is the root of all political evil

The Age
Page: A17 : 10 July 2008
Original article by Kenneth Davidson

LexisNexis Summary: Advertising & Promotion Campaigns

It can be argued the political decision-making in Victoria is governed too much by money, especially in the form of campaign donations. This applies particularly to city planning, which is haphazard and often benefits developers more than the common good. Premier John Brumby is misguided in declaring the funding of political parties by business a normal and healthy part of democracy. A major problem is the immense cost of election campaigns, with TV advertising spots soaking up much of the money given to politicians by businesspeople

STW boss puts on brave revenue face

The Australian Financial Review
Page: 22 : 10 July 2008
Original article by Neil Shoebridge

LexisNexis Summary: Advertising & Promotion Campaigns

STW Communications Group executive director, Mike Connaghan, denied claims of falling revenue across the marketing sector on 9 July 2008. He said clients have "begun to talk about" reducing their marketing budgets in response to worsening economic conditions, although he insisted that cuts were yet to be seen at any of STW's 47 marketing services companies. STW shares have fallen 41.5 per cent since January 2008 to reach a low of $A1.37, after the company announced an expected increase in earnings per share from seven per cent to eight per cent in May 2008, down from earlier estimates of around 10 per cent

Products & Services

Predictions of demise before Grazia's birth

The Sydney Morning Herald
Page: 30 : 10 July 2008
Original article by Julian Lee

LexisNexis Summary: Products & Services

ACP Magazines is aiming for weekly sales of 80,000 copies for its newest magazine, "Grazia". However, Steve Allen of Fusion Strategy believes the Australian magazine market, which is worth $A800m, has reached "saturation point", and doubts that there is sufficient demand for a weekly fashion magazine. Allen says the new title is likely to impact on sales of other magazines in the ACP stable, as well as the titles of rival publishers

iPhone lands

The Age
Page: 24-25 : 10 July 2008
Original article by Adam Turner

LexisNexis Summary: Products & Services

The much-anticipated Apple iPhone will be released in Australia on 11 July 2008. The new version of the iPhone is designed for use on third-generation mobile telephone networks, and includes features such as a web browser, an iPod music player and GPS technology. The iPhone will be offered by leading telcos such as Telstra, Optus and Vodafone. Telstra has released details of its iPhone plans, although it has yet to reveal its monthly data transfer limits. The bandwidth-intensive nature of many iPhone applications means Telstra's data plans may be inadequate if they are similar to the plans for its Next G network

Marketing Strategy

Telstra gears up for ad blitzkrieg

The Sydney Morning Herald
Page: 30 : 10 July 2008
Original article by Paul McIntyre

LexisNexis Summary: Marketing Strategy

Telstra will employ the services of Publicist Mojo (PM), as its brand chief Bill Obermeier departs to the French advertising group. Obermeier will join PM in August 2008, primarily to develop a new digital marketing venture called "Myne", which will assist Telstra in its goal to commercialise its 10 million-strong customers and its Foxtel, Sensis and BigPond content. Obermeier said the move was a "no-brainer", and that Myne is "the future of media and marketing"

Let's save the world together...

The Sydney Morning Herald
Page: 30 : 10 July 2008
Original article by Julian Lee

LexisNexis Summary: Marketing Strategy

The "Together" scheme continued to attract interest from Australian companies in July 2008. The initiative, which was launched in Great Britain in 2007, is based on companies taking part in a collective marketing push aimed at persuading consumers to reduce their carbon emissions. The scheme encourages businesses such as Tesco and British Gas to market products which help consumers reduce their emissions. The Australian version will be launched in mid-July and has so far attracted support from some the country's largest corporations, including NRMA, Origin Energy and Westpac Banking

US galleries team for indigenous art

The Australian Financial Review
Page: 49 : 10 July 2008
Original article by Katrina Strickland

LexisNexis Summary: Marketing Strategy

There is an increasing though fledgling awareness among collectors in the US of Australian Aboriginal art. In order to exploit this new interest, a group of four commercial galleries have formed an alliance to facilitate the trade in such works. The businesses are located in Chicago, Washington DC, New Jersey and San Diego. Australian Government export marketing promoter Austrade also recently featured indigenous art in one of its trade mission events, with sales worth in excess of $A250,000. It has organised a buying trip to Australia by two of the four gallery owners

Consumer Behaviour

City Homicide stages welcome return

The Age
Page: 14 : 10 July 2008
Original article by Debi Enker

LexisNexis Summary: Consumer Behaviour

The Nine Network narrowly won the ratings race in Melbourne for the week ended 5 July 2008. Nine had a 28 per cent share of the viewing audience, ahead of the Seven Network with 27.7 per cent and the Ten Network's 21.1 per cent. However, Seven would have been pleased with the debut of the second season of "City Homicide", which was the highest-rating program in Melbourne and the fourth-highest nationally. Nine also won the ratings nationally, with a 29.5 per cent share of the viewing audience, while Seven had a 27.6 per cent share

Home ownership dream fades for Australians

The Age
Page: A1 : 10 July 2008
Original article by Eli Greenblat and Daniella Militec

LexisNexis Summary: Consumer Behaviour

The number of new home loans issued has fallen to its lowest level in 30 years in mid-2008. The Australian Bureau of Statistics released figures on 9 July 2008 showing a fourth consecutive monthly drop in housing finance, this time by 7.9% in May. Home buyers have shied away from the Australian property market following months of high interest rates, growing petrol prices and stock market volatility. Despite record-high rates of migration and demand for rental housing, uncertain economic conditions have prompted a slowdown in residential construction across Australia. Analysts believe Australia "has never experienced anything like it"

No money-back guarantee here

The Age
Page: B2 : 10 July 2008
Original article by Scott Murdoch

LexisNexis Summary: Consumer Behaviour

Australian Government reforms have failed to stop a fall in consumer confidence. Westpac Banking's survey of consumer sentiment in early July 2008 found a pessimistic view of the economy. The delivery of the first round of the Australian Labor Party's promised tax cuts did not improve the outlook of consumers. They are more concerned with high mortgage interest rates and high petrol prices