The threat of new draconian curbs on the direct marketing industry has
lifted following a vote on Wednesday in which the European Parliament
rejected attempts to impose heavy restrictions on cold calling and the
promotion of financial services through direct selling (Campaign, 24
November). Lionel Stanbrook, political affairs director of the
Advertising Association, said: ‘It’s a very satisfactory settlement
which will allow every legitimate direct marketing operator to carry on
unhindered’.
TV companies are banding together to call on the Independent Television
Commission to relax its rules on TV sponsorship. A raft of satellite TV
companies is demanding greater freedom to allow advertisers to sponsor
programmes that have an association with their products. They also want
sponsorship credits to carry stronger commercial messages to make them
more in tune with the sponsor’s advertising strategy.
M&C Saatchi’s hopes of running the Conservative Party’s general election
campaign have been given a boost by the Department of Trade and
Industry’s decision to wind down an investigation into alleged insider
dealing at Saatchi and Saatchi. But the Tories still have to find up to
pounds 1 million to pay an outstanding debt to Saatchis before they can
switch the account.
The prospect of a new move to ban tobacco advertising abated on
Wednesday when the Labour MP, Don Touhig, rejected pressure from the
anti-smoking lobby to bring in a backbench bill. David Winnick, another
Labour MP, also announced this week that he is to introduce a bill to
outlaw the use of upper age limits in recruitment advertising in the new
year.
The upmarket retail chain, Mulberry, has appointed the creative
independent, Smith and Thompson, to handle the launch of its flagship
store in Bond Street, London. According to its creative partner, Barry
Smith, the agency is in line to pick up further work from the 64-outlet
chain. Mulberry has not used an agency for some time. It last worked
with Hall Harrison Cowley.
Avid Technology, the firm which developed the post-production technology
used to make the films, Forrest Gump and Jurassic Park, has appointed
Bean MC to mastermind a worldwide advertising campaign, to break in the
new year. It will emphasise Avid’s leading role in producing special
effects for Hollywood, and is estimated at be worth around pounds
500,000.
Sean Moore, the group account director who was made redundant by McCann-
Erickson last year (Campaign, 18 November 1994), has joined the Bishop’s
Stortford-based agency, MBS Advertising, as managing director. Before
joining McCanns, where he worked for less than a year on Bacardi and
Wall’s ice-cream, Moore was employed at J. Walter Thompson on the
Kellogg’s account. MBS (not to be confused with the media buyer of the
same name) holds Scottish Courage and Air UK business.
Quantel is expected to appoint an ad agency soon. The company, which
manufactures post-production technology such as Harry, Henry and
Paintbox, is understood to have held talks with McCann-Erickson, WCRS
and one other shop about a possible pounds 2 million budget. This would
embrace both above- and below-the-line advertising in London, Los
Angeles and New York.
Maher Bird Associates, which was set up two years ago, has taken on a
second planner. Caroline Taylor will join Simons Palmer Denton Clemmow
and Johnson’s sister agency from Osprey Communications. She will work
alongside its founding partner, the planning director, Mark Tomblin.
Campaign will not be published for the next two weeks. We will be moving
to our new offices at 174 Hammersmith Road, London W6 7JP from 23
December onwards. Phone and fax numbers remain unchanged. The first
issue of 1996 will appear on Thursday 4 January. We would like to wish
all our readers a merry Christmas and a happy new year.
