Fears over business rates mount as Britain’s major retailers prepare to form action group January 13, 2019 Some of Britain’s biggest retailers are coming together in an urgent bid to seek business rates relief from the government, City A.M. has learned. Around 50 major high street names are joining a mass lobbying effort to curb forthcoming rises in their property tax, as profits plunge in the face of falling sales and online [...]
Iceland to fight £21m claim that it pays staff less than the national minimum wage January 2, 2019 Iceland could be hit with a £21m fine after HM Revenue and Customs ruled that its Christmas savings scheme technically results in staff being paid less than the national minimum wage. The supermarket disputes the finding, which relates to a scheme whereby the company allows employees to voluntarily set aside money from their weekly wages over [...]
What this year’s Christmas adverts can teach us about making a great ad campaign December 17, 2018 With just over a week to go until Christmas Day, the big question is: have you bought all your presents yet? (I haven’t.) If you have, did any of this year’s festive ads sway your opinion? Did Elton John tickling the ivories mean that retailer John Lewis tickled your fancy, or did you feel like doing [...]
Banning harmful gender stereotypes from adverts should be applauded December 17, 2018 The UK’s advertising watchdog has called time on harmful gender stereotyping. From June 2019, all ads featuring outdated gender stereotypes that are deemed to cause harm or widespread offence are to be banned. This is fantastic news. The negative use of gender stereotyping for the promotion of products and services was especially prominent in my youth [...]
A change is as good as a repeat in the supermarket Christmas ad run November 28, 2018 Retailers are continuing to battle for ad supremacy as we approach Christmas, but which brands in the supermarket sector have been most successful in grabbing viewers’ attention? YouGov brand tracking data indicates that Aldi currently has the highest level of Ad Awareness (whether someone has seen or hear an advert for a brand in the [...]
John Lewis, Sainsbury’s, or M&S? Whose Christmas ad was best this year November 20, 2018 So this is Christmas. And what have you done? Another year over, and the festive ads just begun. Yes, ’tis the season for brands to splash the cash on fancy holiday-themed adverts in hope of attracting that sweet Christmas shopping revenue. Retailer John Lewis has been the reigning champion of the season for the past [...]
Iceland’s banned palm oil advert could win over middle class shoppers as supermarkets prepare for Christmas November 13, 2018 Iceland could get a shot in the arm from its banned Christmas advert by appealing to middle class shoppers, according to consumer research firm Kantar Worldpanel. The supermarket's advert, which caused a storm on social media when it was deemed “too political” to be aired by Clearcast, could be exactly what the store needs to reach out to [...]
Iceland’s Christmas advert was cute, but it still broke broadcasting rules around politics November 13, 2018 LAST week, supermarket chain Iceland made headlines with its latest Christmas advert. The cartoon features an orangutan trashing a child’s bedroom, before taking a dark twist to show the ape’s rainforest home being destroyed for palm oil – a controversial ingredient that appears in practically every consumer item, from biscuits to beauty products. It’s an [...]
Iceland’s palm oil Christmas ad banned for being ‘too political’ November 9, 2018 Iceland has had to pull its eagerly-anticipated Christmas advert from the nation’s TV screens for breaching political advertising rules. The festive clip, which tells the story of deforestation caused by palm oil production through an animated short film about an orangutan, was made in a deal that Iceland struck with campaign group Greenpeace. However, the [...]
Icelandair stocks skyrocket as it announces Wow Air purchase November 5, 2018 Icelandair closed up more than 39 per cent today after the airline announced plans to buy fellow Icelandic carrier Wow Air. The deal, which is subject to approval by Icelandair’s shareholders and the country’s competition authorities, will see Wow Air shareholders receive 5.4 per cent of Icelandair’s shares. Icelandair said the companies will continue to operate as [...]