Blog

Insight: Marketing masterclass from Aldi and Asda leaves the Christmas competition standing – Mailjet

Budget supermarkets knock Waitrose off the top spot with expert direct marketing and social responsibility campaigns Annual research from email marketing and transactional experts at Mailjet, reveals that Asda has won the Christmas battle of the inbox and Aldi topped a separate consumer study for its ability to engage shoppers on a personal level with advertising […]

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Insight: Shoppers plan an organised, on-budget and thoroughly British Christmas – Wunderman

In what could provide inspiration for our Brexit negotiations, the UK’s Christmas 2017 is set to be a very British affair that is well-organised, joyous, and within our means. Research for leading digital and customer experience (CX) agency Wunderman, conducted by YouGov, asked over 2,000 Britons about the food and drink they plan to buy […]

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Insight: Unilever and Nestlé study reveals ROI of online ads

A year-long research project involving Unilever, Nestlé, i2c, Nielsen, Nectar and the IAB UK has revealed the degree to which online display ads drive sales of popular household brands both in-store and online. Ads for nine brands – Nescafé, Häagen Dazs, Persil, PG Tips, Magnum, Surf, Maille, Tropicana and Aquafresh – were tested across mainstream […]

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Insight: $300 billion at stake as plain packaging threatens beverage industry – Brand Finance

Following the introduction of plain packaging for tobacco products in some countries and calls to extend the legislation to other sectors, Brand Finance has analysed the potential financial impact of such a policy on food and beverage brands in four categories: alcohol, confectionery, savoury snacks, and sugary drinks. Eight major brand-owning companies are predicted to […]

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Guest blog: Traditional retailers must return to the personal approach – David Buckingham, CEO, Ecrebo

Before the days of supermarkets and megastores – and long before the internet, shopping was almost always a personalised experience. It would not have been unusual for the grocer, butcher or draper to greet customers by name and give individual recommendations based on what they had bought previously. How retail has changed. Paradoxically, it is […]

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Guest blog: Why promotional staff will make or break your brand campaign – Carina Filek, Elevate Staffing

It’s a tough market for FMCG companies. New brands are looking to make a stunning impact and established brands are trying to recapture their share of a market. Often they need a killer product sampling campaign to cut through the noise. Staffing is one of the most critical elements of any marketing strategy in the […]

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Guest blog: The human experience – Yasmin Bartlett, senior staffing executive, Sense

Brand ambassadors, the real people behind experiential campaigns, have never been more important. Sense’s Yasmin Bartlett explains why… Experiential marketing is becoming increasingly innovative and sophisticated, embracing social media and new technologies. However, the importance of real people in experiential should never be under-estimated. In a world where 92% of consumers believe there’s a disconnect […]

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Guest blog: Reaching the ‘selfie-aware’ – how brands should approach students – James Rix

Considering targeting ‘The Student Market’? Think again, says James Rix, founder of Street PR, who recommends a far more targeted, authentic strategy to engaging your loyal customers of the future. Students are often defined in narrow inaccurate terms as an homogeneous group. The reality is that they are varied and changeable – and that includes […]

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Insight: Medium-sized creative agencies are feeling the squeeze finds New Business Barometer from JFDI

Agencies with 51-150 employees are at a competitive disadvantage when it comes to new business opportunities, found the second annual New Business Barometer by JFDI in partnership with Opinium Research. Responses from agencies across 16 core disciplines from tech and experiential to design and branding confirm that medium-sized companies are feeling the squeeze when competing […]

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Insight: Conran Design Group and Adoreboard find out how TV viewers feel about this year’s Christmas ads

Amid much anticipation and expectation, the Christmas TV commercials have aired. Industry comment and opinion about which one is best is rife, but how do those whose opinion really matters feel? Conran Design Group has partnered with Adoreboard to find out how TV viewers feel about this year’s selection of Christmas ads, from retailers and […]

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Insight: Young people win the emotional budget in analysis of 20,000 tweets – Conran Design Group & Adoreboard

Conran Design Group has partnered with Adoreboard to find out how people feel about the budget, analysing the emotional content of tweets (joy, trust, anger and sadness) and the impact it will have ultimately on consumer spend. 10,000 tweets were analysed pre-announcement, revealing how people feel about the budget; what their key concerns are. We […]

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Insight: A guide to Black Friday Nigel Arthur – managing director EMEA, Urban Airship

Amidst the chaos of Black Friday, there’s a fine balance between engaging consumers and overloading them with information to the point where they become annoyed. With so many retailers broadcasting their offers over multiple devices and channels such as email, social, print, SMS, television etc., brands need a way to cut through the noise and […]

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Guest blog: Maximising efficiency through tailored marketing solutions – Mike Watson, IO Integration

In a relatively short space of time, consumer tastes and demands have shifted dramatically. We now live in a world that is so much more connected and socially active than any time previously, and this has changed how brands must market themselves. Simply put: a one-size-fits-all approach to marketing has never been less relevant or […]

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Insight: Contact centre employees warn lack of support will impact the brand experience – Calabrio

New Calabrio study reveals complicated customer issues are the number one challenge facing contact centre employees, and brands are failing to provide needed support While customer experience continues to be the top priority for businesses, a new report announced today, “The Health of the Contact Centre: Agent Well-Being in a Customer-Centric Era,” reveals that 56 […]

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Guest Blog: Keep Black Friday shopping free of fake goods – MarkMonitor

MarkMonitor, the global leader in enterprise brand protection is advising online shoppers to be more vigilant leading up to Black Friday. In the annual search for bargains and discounted goods, consumers are more at risk when it comes to unintentionally buying counterfeit goods. The last weekend in November is designated ‘Cyber Weekend’ and stretches from […]

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PR Industry in South-East Asia facing demographic transformation – Burton-Taylor Report

PR professionals in South-East Asia are facing radical change as demographic shifts shake up traditional PR practices, according to a new report published today by Burton-Taylor International Consulting (part of TP ICAP’s Data & Analytics division). The analysis is based on in-depth interviews with PR practitioners doing business in Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia and across the […]

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Guest Blog: No time to waste/Giving up my weekend for Grenfell – Phoebe Le Saint, Sense

Sense Senior account executive, Phoebe Le Saint, tells the story of her recent volunteer work organised through the company’s ‘No Time To Waste’ initiative and explains why other businesses should follow the example. Those who were lucky enough to survive the terrible Grenfell Tower fire lost their homes and possessions overnight, leaving them stranded on […]

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Insight: Product range rather than convenience or price drives consumers in-store – IRI European Shopper Report

Product range continues to drive shoppers into stores, with the majority of shoppers preferring a ‘wide range of products’ over convenience, quality and store services in many cases. This is according to a new Shopper Insights Report of 2,600 European consumers across seven countries conducted by IRI, the big data and technology expert for consumer industries. The report […]

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Guest Blog – Don’t get lost in the traditional vs digital debate – Ian Reynolds, KBH

With research triggering fresh concerns over brand safety, Ian Reynolds, managing director of KBH On-Train Media, says we need a more balanced view of brand engagement across traditional and digital channels. For anyone already reflecting on the big stories of 2017, there’s no doubt that brand safety will secure a place not far from the […]

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Insight: Halloween now viewed as start of Holiday Shopping Season – Bazaarvoice

With just under eight weeks until Christmas Day, Halloween is now viewed as the start of the Holiday Shopping Season, according to stats released by software-as-a-service (SaaS) company Bazaarvoice, helping brands and retailers transform earned media into increased sales. Star Wars costumes are also the most popular on Halloween according to the data – for […]

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Guest Blog: Testing Technology and Roadshow ROI – Robin Carlisle, Mobile Promotions

Robin Carlisle, managing director of live events agency Mobile Promotions, shares his tips on event technology In today’s fast-paced society in which every experience and enquiry demands an immediate reaction, we are a nation that expects to remain connected to the wider global online community wherever we go. Technology has to seamlessly bridge the gap […]

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Insight: Retail is Not Dead – Natural Insight survey finds 87% plan to shop in retail stores this holiday season

Despite the increase in online shopping, 87 percent of people still intend to shop at retail stores this holiday season. This finding is part of a 2017 Holiday Store Shopping Report commissioned by Natural Insight. The full report delineates which demographics are most likely to shop in-store, as well as common stressors that prevent these holiday […]

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Interview: Gary Smith, Managing Director, Europcar UK Group

What does the Europcar brand mean to you? “Europcar has traditionally been viewed as a consumer brand, with car rental predominantly associated with people hiring cars for their holidays.  Whilst this remains an important part of the business, we are just as focused on business customers.    We now think in terms of the broader concept […]

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Insight: Friends and family more influential than influencers – Because

Friends and family are on average four to five times more likely to influence people’s brand purchases than famous ‘influencers’, according to new research from creative experiences agency, Because. Despite the rapid growth of influencer marketing and the rise of social media superstars, the research of 1,000 UK consumers aged 18-40 suggests most people are […]

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Guest blog: The airside challenge – Fiona Tindall, head of domestic retail, Blackjack Promotions

The space beyond airport customs and security checks is a foreign land for many brands and retailers, says Fiona Tindall, head of domestic retail, Blackjack Promotions For the world’s airports, retail revenues are becoming increasingly more important – according to the latest figures from research company GlobalData, the total spent by consumers in airport retailers […]

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The Brand Ambassador’s Reception – guide to the LIVE finalists

The Brand Ambassador’s Reception 16th October, Oxo2, 6pm – 10pm, by Invitation Only The Brand Ambassador’s Reception was an idea conceived by the FMBE team. It is a night out when we can introduce the leading industry clients and agencies in FMBE to the very best brand ambassadors in field sales, experiential promotion and tech […]

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Guest blog: Working with Maserati -Helena Sieroslawski, Strategic Operations Manager – iMP

  Three years ago we were approached by Tebays print and events agency to assist them in forming a nationwide team of premium brand ambassadors to support their partnership with Maserati. The brief was to create a team that would complement and maximise the impact of Maserati’s new range of cars on display at events […]

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Insight: DMA – How travel brands can win trust

Consumers want travel brands to provide value for money (59%), as well as ease of use (58%) and a good customer services (58%), according to research conducted by the DMA, with partners Emarsys, Epsilon, Feefo and Wiraya. When booking a holiday, two thirds of customer chose to book online, with a fifth deciding to book […]

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Insight: Mailjet – Lost emails cost customer relationships in under 60 seconds

New research from email service provider, Mailjet, has revealed an alarming risk to customer retention around business critical transactional emails – the purchase confirmations, e-tickets and account notifications – which 28% of consumers across the UK and France say they now receive four or more times per day. Regardless of the monetary value associated with […]

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Guest blog: How golf is providing a new brand experience, away from the Fairway – PVE

Provision Events (PVE), the sponsorship activation experts, provide innovative fanzone experiences at some of the biggest events in sport.  From the Open Golf and Ryder Cup, through Wimbledon, the Solheim Cup and the Olympics, PVE are the go to guys for engaging sport fans.  Recently however, a different type of activation has been taking PVE […]

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Insight: New Research Highlights Trust Issues Amongst UK Shoppers- Shoppercentric

The latest industry report from Shoppercentric, a leading independent shopper research agency, has been launched today. The research, entitled: “WindowON…Trust Issues” was carried out across 1048 UK shoppers aged 18+ and looks at how shoppers feel about the retailers and brands they purchase from. “Over the last few years, with the rise of social media […]

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Guest Blog: LFW, how brands can take advantage – Emily Buckman, global strategic consultant, Urban Airship

Gone are the days when London Fashion Week (LFW) was for the elite. The proliferation of smart devices means consumers can now not only live stream all the runway shows while on the go but also gain backstage access to the event. Brands like Topshop are now taking consumers backstage with exclusive interviews and previews […]

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Guest blog: Brands and the power of entertainment – FRUKT

New research carried out by marketing agency FRUKT reveals the true power that brands can generate by effectively allying with entertainment. A survey of 1000 music, film & TV and gaming fans across the U.S.A. and U.K for the ‘Press Play: Brands and the Power of Entertainment’ report that shows 71% of the participants stated […]

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Guest blog: Putting the people in personalisation – Fiona Tindall, Blackjack Promotions

Pop-ups are proving to be the key to delivering hyper-personalised customer retail experiences, says Fiona Tindall, Head of Domestic Retail at Blackjack Promotions Personalisation is the latest weapon in the store wars, as the retail industry adapts to cater for the ‘experience economy’. Margin, for retailers and for the brands they sell, is being driven […]

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StreetPR invests 2% of turnover into quality control

On top of carrying out its usual checks on ongoing campaigns, StreetPR has made a public commitment to staff quality by announcing the launch of a new team dedicated to closely monitoring the behaviour and performance of its brand ambassadors. Representing the face of a brand and being its key point of direct consumer contact […]

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Insight: DMA – Consumers favour established brands and online travel booking sites

  Consumers favour established brands and online travel booking sites, according to the latest Customer Engagement: Travel report released today by the DMA. When asked to name their favourite travel brand, Thomson was most mentioned, followed by Booking.com and Thomas Cook. However, consumers also mentioned over 70 different brands, highlighting the wide range of brands […]

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Insight: Barclays – UK retailers could generate £10.5bn more in five years by streamlining online purchasing

British retailers are losing out on £3.4 billion worth of goods left in virtual shopping baskets each year, as two thirds of the contents of all virtual shopping baskets are abandoned. Across all devices, 86% of browsers save items to online shopping baskets and wish lists but consumers switching from mobile phone browsing to laptop purchasing, […]

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Insight: Digital Media Stream – The psychological bias behind why some of us will never trust online advertising

According to a study of 2,000 regular Internet users, conducted by inbound marketing agency Digital Media Stream, consumers are three times more likely to trust retargeted online advertis (adverts for sites or products the user has previously viewed) if they understand the marketing technology being used. Noted psychologist Professor Sir Cary Cooper believes a common […]

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Insight: Why expensive wine tastes better – INSEAD Buisness School

Price labels influence our liking of wine: The same wine tastes better to participants when it is labeled with a higher price tag. Scientists from the INSEAD Business School and the University of Bonn have discovered that the decision-making and motivation center in the brain plays a pivotal role in such price biases to occur. […]

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Insight: £3.7 billion worth of discounts disappear from supermarket shelves as promotions fall to lowest levels in 10 years – IRI Price and Promotion study reveals

The pressure on UK retailers to be more transparent in their pricing has seen the number of trade promotions fall to their lowest levels for 10 years, and in 2017, shoppers will receive £3.7 billion less in promotional savings. This is according to a new report launched today by IRI, the provider of big data […]

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Guest Blog: Serving tennis fans to Wimbledon Village – Michael Hamilton-Brown, StreetPR

Surprisingly not all towns benefit economically from nearby major events, says StreetPR Client Manager Michael Hamilton-Brown, who suggests a great way adjacent locations can help maximise the attention of visiting crowds. Major sporting, music and cultural events have got so big and so corporate these days that pretty much every element is totally controlled. From […]

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Insight: Multi agency competition must stop, or Cx will suffer, say CAB Studios

Strategic brand, marketing and digital consultancy CAB Studios are calling for specialist agencies supposedly working together on integrated campaigns, to stop competing with each other for the biggest budget, which they say will lead to a fragmented strategy and ultimately, a less compelling customer experience. CAB Studios, whose client list includes PizzaExpress, Jamie’s Italian, DW […]

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Guest Blog: How female influencers are reversing the gender pay gap – Amelia Neate, Influencer Champions

Two weeks ago, the BBC, rather controversially, released the annual salaries for its TV and radio talent earning more than £150,000 per annum. And the country hasn’t stopped talking about it since. The report revealed a staggering difference between its highest paid male, Chris Evans who earns up to £2.2 million and its highest paid […]

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Guest Blog: How brands can use live activation to stand out in festival season – Natalie Wright, Initials

Glastonbury, Latitude, Reading and Leeds. Festivals have become household names. Nowhere is this truer than in the UK, where for a few blissful days, whether it’s a mud bath or bathed in glorious sunshine, revellers unite to share a unique experience that removes them from their day-to-day lives. Festival-goers become part of a tribe that […]

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Guest Blog – Creativity, personalisation and DMPs, The essentials of modern-day marketing – Anoma van Eeden, CMO, Relay42

Earlier this year, thousands of people were minding their own business on a London street when it was suddenly illuminated by a 200-metre-high hologram. The hologram itself took the form of The Rolling Stones’ iconic ‘tongue’ logo, and was part of a marketing campaign for the band’s new album, but the most impressive part was […]

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Insight: DMA – How to win trust and loyalty

Half of consumers tend to remain loyal to brands they like, but the vast majority still spend time researching products to make sure they get the best deal, according to DMA research How can businesses meet consumers’ demands to build more trust and loyalty in the future? Consumers are increasingly loyal to brands, but at […]

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Insight: Mailjet – World Emoji Day 2017; are we over the emoji?

Despite the momentum around emojis with an upcoming film ‘The Emoji Movie’ and World Emoji Day, research from email provider Mailjet reveals emojis appear to have lost the momentum that made them such an effective marketing tactic in 2016. Conducted via a series of tests among Mailjet’s database of over 30,000 subscribers, the research found […]

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Insight: Talkwalker – Lavazza Wins Wimbledon

Italian coffee brand Lavazza was the most used logo from the Wimbledon Tournament in UK social media according to Talkwalker, a global social analytics and brand recognition technology provider. Using the latest social media analytics technology across all social media linked to Wimbledon, Talkwalker counted 15m interactions, 1.75m tweets and 2.2m tweets and posts from the […]

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Guest blog: Reno Macri – What are the most popular uses of tech in exhibition marketing?

The use of technology within exhibition marketing can make it easier to attract visitors, present them with information and showcase products or services. Technology can also help exhibiting businesses to store contact details, transfer data and even track the physical location of visitors. As a result, the inclusion of useful technology into a display stand […]

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This year at Goodwood FOS and Silverstone F1

Harriet Cramer and Frank Wainwright overview what the brands were hatching at Goodwood and Silverstone this year. A companion piece, together with client interviews will appear in print in our Autumn issue. Goodwood Goodwood Festival of Speed (FOS) is an event that keeps moving ahead and broadening its appeal. Whilst the setting is one steeped […]

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Interview: Mark Miles – Founder, Rendermedia

How quickly is the technology moving and how easy is it to invest in the wrong solution? I think it’s moving at an incredible pace with a lot of hardware platforms and peripherals on the market but as of yet there isn’t enough content to really show off the capabilities of this, the hardware has […]

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Insight: Brands with outdated talent acquisition strategies will fail in the customer age, say CAB Studios

Strategic brand, marketing and digital consultancy CAB Studios claim that creativity is often overlooked by organisations seeking out the next generation of talent, and that creative education must be mandated and regarded more highly in order for the industry to continue to grow. This is according to their new White Paper ‘Power to the Customer’, […]

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Insight: DMA – Conflicted consumers are loyal, but always looking for a deal

 A climate of intense uncertainty where any authority can be challenged, any claim discounted and any truth upended typifies 2017. Since the last Customer Engagement study in Spring 2016, the concepts of “post-truth”, “echo chambers” and “filter bubbles” have become part of mainstream language. The urge to question what and who we believe in has […]

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Guest Blog: Why robots won’t ever make good brand ambassadors- James Rix, Co-founder and CEO, Harrix Group

Everyone’s obsessed with robots right now – and most of them haven’t got anything good to say about them, except for a small number of researchers (if that’s quite the right word) who seem to be working on robot sex toys. Leaving sex aside for the moment, what’s really scary about robots, according to lots […]

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Insight: Greenlight Digital – IoT is the most talked about tech trend at this year’s London Tech Week, whilst Google is most mentioned brand on social

Last week marked London Tech Week, Europe’s largest festival of technology and innovation. This year, creativity and talent came together to map out the biggest trends and upcoming tech that brands need to be aware of. However, whilst there may be hype around the top trends, marketers have to be proactive yet cautious when looking […]

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Guest Blog: Clintons explores father’s day through the ages

From besuited aloof figure ‘enthroned’ beside the fireplace to plumper, friendlier figure who serves as barbecue attendant, taxi driver, informal lender and butt of many jokes. Archive analysis of Father’s Day cards by Clintons, the national gift and card retailer, shows the extent to which dads’ roles have shifted in the modern home. Depictions of […]

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A night with the Italian Ambassador and Prosecco DOC

  Prosecco is big business. New figures revealed that last year, a third of all Prosecco produced was consumed in the UK and Prosecco’s popularity in France has increased by 75 per cent over the last year. Which is good news for Italians, as I found out at the Italian Embassy last week where I […]

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Insight: MarkMonitor- Nearly 75% of brands losing money through online counterfeit goods

A survey carried out by online brand protection specialist MarkMonitor has revealed that almost three quarters (73%) of brands have seen their sales negatively affected as a result of counterfeit goods being sold online. 42% of respondents stated they had lost up to 10% of their sales, while more than one in five (23%) believed […]

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Insight: CompuMark- 43% of trademark professionals identify Brexit as major challenge

Unsurprisingly Brexit was high on the agenda at a recent industry symposium, with 43% of trademark and brand professionals from global brands stating preparations to depart the EU will be one of their biggest challenges in 2017. This is according to research carried out by CompuMark, the industry leader for trademark research and protection. As […]

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Insight: New research from Freeman and SSI confirms brand experiences matter to marketers and they are willing to pay for them

Global survey shows marketers trust well-designed sensory experiences to build relationships, drive sales and appeal to new audiences CMOs, brand managers, and event planners alike worldwide are putting more emphasis on in-person brand experiences, according to a new survey conducted by Freeman and SSI, provider of data solutions and technology for consumer and B-to-B survey research. […]

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Insight: Calabrio – C-suite executives rank customer experience above sales and marketing as top priority

Calabrio releases a report revealing over half of senior executives view customer experience as the most important way to differentiate their brand, but lack clear leadership and insights. According to a new report, “Success in The Experience Era: Connecting Customer and C-suite,” UK and US business executives rank customer experience above sales and revenue as […]

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Insight: McCann Worldgroup UK – In climate of global uncertainty, Brits resolute, proud and unexpectedly optimistic

Against a global background of isolationism, uncertainty, and mistrust, today’s Britons demonstrate unexpected confidence in their nation and belief in the potential of foundational institutions and major brands for stability, truth, and leadership finds a new research initiative ‘Truth About Britain’ launched by McCann Worldgroup UK . The study, designed to track and analyse the […]

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Insight: Relay42 – 92% of CMOs in financial sector prepared for GDPR

New research from Relay42 has identified profound challenges for the financial services industry regarding the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) updates — which will be effective on 25th May 2018. The research showed that 96% of C-level finance marketers (CMOs) believe that GDPR is the responsibility of their IT counterparts, with only 4% saying marketing […]

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Insight: Captify – New research reveals that consumers associate Ferrari with sport rather than luxury

To tie in with the 70th anniversary of the debut of Ferrari’s iconic 125S hitting racetracks for the first time, new search trends analysis research today reveals the luxury car maker still holds pole position amongst sports car aficionados. Captify, a Search Intelligence data activation company, which analyses 33 billion online monthly searches, found that […]

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Guest Blog: Build & Burn Exhibition Stands: The Sustainability Myth- Alan Jenkins, Quadrant2Design

By Alan Jenkins, managing director of Quadrant2Design, exhibition stand design and build contractors, based in Poole, Dorset. How exhibiting companies unwittingly contribute to the shocking waste of resources involved in tradeshows and events by using ‘Build and Burn’ exhibition stand solutions. Visit any corporate website and you’ll read the usual platitudes about the organisations’ commitment […]

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Guest Blog: Inspiration through brand experience- Sam Moqbel, Mars Events

 Consumers are experiencing brand messages more than ever. And in more tactical, more technological and apparently more efficient ways than we ever have. As leaders shaping the landscape for new experiences, how can we ensure engagement and certify that our brand messages reach the people that we’re trying to talk to? Data can help with […]

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Insight: CompuMark- Hashtag trademarking on the rise with a 64% increase in one year

CompuMark has announced the findings of its latest research into the trademarking of hashtags, with a global growth of 64% in 2016 from the previous year. Notable registrations from well-known international brands include #lovetravels (Marriott), #getthanked (T-Mobile), and #gofor2 (Hershey). Since the first trademark application for a hashtag was made in 2010, there have been […]

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Insight: Actinic, M-Commerce – 86% of UK digital shoppers have made a purchase via smartphone

Actinic unveils the results of the tenth annual ‘e-Merchant profile’, a study carried out by Actinic between November and December 2016 comprising data from 2,100 European companies. The study confirms that mobile is fast becoming a key sales channel.    The study shows the speed at which people are adapting to m-Commerce as a mode of […]

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Guest Blog: 8 things we learned at Blitz|GES Connection

Blitz|GES hosted its annual Connection seminar and showcase at London’s Science Museum on Thursday 27 April. Over 250 corporate event managers and organisers made their way to the Blitz|GES Connection for the chance to network and engage with some of the latest technology trends in live events. Here are some of our top takeaways from […]

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Insight: Research reveals the secret to lasting customer loyalty- Graham Ede, Yonder Digital Group

New research commissioned by Yonder Digital Group reveals that customers still prefer human interaction at key points of their journey to purchase, while speed of response also ranks highly in customer priorities. Latest research commissioned by Yonder Digital Group canvassed 1,000 UK consumers and found that brands seeking to encourage loyalty and repeat custom should […]

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Insight: Two thirds of big brands committed to increase online ad spend despite growing concerns around viewability, fraud and basic metrics

Half of advertisers plan to increase spend by up to 20%, while a third plan to maintain existing or reduce online spend The majority of the world’s largest advertisers are committed to increased investment in online advertising in 2017-18, some by as much as 40%. This comes despite increasing questions about its effectiveness and transparency, […]

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Guest Blog: Emotive automotive: why extraordinary experiences will drive deals of the future

Rachel Bateman, Head of Live Engagement, Initials looks at the drive for engagement in the automotive sector and the consumer confidence challenge The automotive industry has had a turbocharged year, with new car sales in the UK hitting an all-time high this April. However, the economic outlook for 2017 paints a different picture with business […]

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Blog: Troxy hosts immersive Secret Cinema X experience

On Friday 14th April Troxy, London played host to Secret Cinema X Tell No One- an immersive preview of Chan-Wook’s ‘The Handmaiden.’ The event saw attendees, dressed to the nines in evening gowns and black tie, gathering in the streets of East London for an evening shrouded in mystery.  Guests weren’t told what film would […]

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Insight: Momentum Worldwide- Gamers predict watching video games will overtake traditional sports by 2022!

The ‘We Know Gamers’ research study conducted by global brand experience agency, Momentum Worldwide, has uncovered new information on the media consumption habits and behaviours of gamers. The We Know Gamers global study of 2600 people revealed that a majority of gamers believe watching and playing video games will overtake the viewing and playing of traditional sports […]

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Insight: Mailjet research suggests consumers predict short-term success for LinkedIn and Snapchat

New research conducted by email service provider, Mailjet, reveals consumers’ pain points with new communication channels and how they would rather brands use emerging technologies and features to communicate with them. The findings show that email is the platform most people think we will definitely still be using in ten years’ time (41%), followed by […]

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Insight: Acquia – Majority of brands struggle to deliver personalised digital experiences

Despite the hype around ‘personalisation’ as a marketing trend, most respondents (89 percent) report they can’t deliver personalised digital experiences, research by Acquia has found. The research shows that attempts to deliver effective personalised experiences are being hampered because brands are struggling to get the basics right from both a technical and cultural point of […]

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Insight: IDM-DMA Employability – As consumers become more attached to the digital world, the marketing industry must follow-

Ahead of the first Creative Data Academy in Scotland, the MD of IDM-DMA Employability says marketing needs to keep up with consumers when it comes to digital adoption. Sponsored by Camelot, REaD Group, DM Trust, Data IQ and RAPP, the Creative Data Academy was launched in 2013 to offer these students access to the training […]

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Insight: Technology for Marketing, the IDM and Pure360- Marketing teams will need to change to keep up with technology

Technology for Marketing, the Institute of Direct and Digital Marketing (IDM) and Pure360 have released ‘The Marketing Team Structures Report 2017’. The new research reveals how marketers are resourcing and restructuring to cope with the technological challenges of the years ahead. According to the marketers surveyed, a third (33%) of marketing teams expect to become […]

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Insight: Conran Design Group measures human emotion to discover which brands make the strongest emotional connections with their audiences

Brand design agency Conran Design Group has collaborated with emotion analytics company Adoreboard in a study of the Pharmaceutical industry, to measure how emotionally connected Pharma brands are to their audiences through social media and the impact of these interactions on customer experience. Adoreboard’s advanced emotion detection platform, Emotics (mathematical algorithms), unlocks emotions expressed in […]

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Insight: Eptica- UK retail customer experience failing to improve with nearly 50% of queries left unanswered

Despite 93% of consumers revealing they are more likely to buy if they receive a positive customer experience, UK retailers are struggling to deliver adequate, consistent service new research suggests. Companies were unable to answer 46% of customer queries received on email, the web, Twitter and Facebook, with only 7.5% responding on all four channels […]

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Insight: Mars, Inc. and Realeyes: emotion measurement can identify which ads sell and which don’t with 75% accuracy

A study by Realeyes and Mars, Incorporated has revealed emotion measurement technology can distinguish between ads which deliver high or zero/low sales lift with 75% accuracy. The study involved 149 ads across 35 brands and 22,334 people in six countries. Realeyes measured how people felt while they watched the ads by using artificial intelligence to […]

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Marketing to the Advertisers – Who made an impact at Ad Week Europe

Advertising Week Europe is a four-day event head quartered at The Picture House in Piccadilly, London. It provides brands with a brilliant platform in which to connect with high calibre speakers and attendees. As well as speaking at the event and sharing their knowledge with delegates, brands such as Snap Inc, LinkedIn, Yahoo and Shutterstock […]

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Guest blog: Daniel Siden, CEO, Lightvert- What impact will virtual and augmented reality have on the OOH advertising industry?

The earliest recorded leasing of a billboard occurred in 1867, marking the start of the out-of-home advertising industry. Fast forward to the present day and traditional billboards are going digital, as growth in LED advertising displays outstrips the old fashioned paper kind. According to a report by PWC “87.5% of the revenue growth in the […]

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Insight: Mindtree- automation complements in-store human assistance for next level of shopping experience across age and gender

Mindtree, a global digital transformation and technology services company, has released the findings of a study on how rapidly evolving digital trends like social media, mobile applications and automation are reshaping the way retailers engage with customers. Titled “Sixth Sense of Retail’, the study is based on a survey conducted with 2,000 consumers across in […]

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Insight: The Marketing Creative- Bricks and mortar stores still matter to millennials

Despite their affinity for online shopping the majority of millennials haven’t completely abandoned the high street and still value physical stores, reveals a new report by The Market Creative. The ‘Future of Marketing’ aims to capture some of the directions, trends and possibilities shaping marketing today and in the future. As well as views from experts […]

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Insight:Top brands and trends at MWC- Matt Cross, UK MD, Hotwire

Matt Cross, UK MD at Hotwire, shares his thoughts on how certain tech companies have resurfaced, as well as the rise of 5G and IoT, at a conference that used to be all about just mobile handsets. Mobile World Congress (MWC) this year saw some big names remove themselves from the conversation and instead, a […]

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