The week in brief February 16, 2014 Samsung launches brand marketing platform The electronics company has launched a brand marketing platform, “Launching People”, that will create a TV series where stars (including Idris Elba, Paloma Faith, Gizzi Erskine, and Rankin), will mentor undiscovered talent. Samsung hopes it will help the brand become the “most loved” in Britain. Mini seeks new creative agency [...]
Investors beware: Valentine’s Day markets give no love February 14, 2014 A thorny day for traders. S&P research finds that since 1928 the S&P 500 has closed up on just 40 per cent of Valentine's Days. Similarly, the Dow Jones Industrial Average has risen on 14 February just 43 per cent of the time. Perhaps investors are more concerned by their plans for the evening. There's [...]
Why not sow your wild oats on Valentine’s Day? February 13, 2014 STRIKE US down with Cupid’s bow, it’s Valentine’s Day. Have you bought your roses? Booked a table? Handcrafted a wood burning stove and baked your loved one some pink cookies? Well, with all that covered we thought we’d bring you a kind of anti-Valentine’s guide. It’s the best of the worst gimmicks being circulated this year. [...]
This Valentine’s Day’s most unromantic gestures February 13, 2014 It’s the day before Valentine’s Day. Millions of people are no doubt racking their brains to think of something romantic to do for their loved one, manically typing “Valentine’s ideas” into Google and hoping some fresh idea will have appeared since they first Googled it this morning. The weather’s too bad for a romantic [...]
Unlocking the secret to startup success February 10, 2014 Annabel Palmer talks to the co-founders of Secret Escapes about their adventures in the online travel industry IF YOU watch television, it’s likely you’ll have been exposed (and possibly raised an eyebrow) to Secret Escapes’ marketing campaign – arguably the most provocative advert since Cindy Crawford donned denim hotpants for Pepsi. Brand ambassador Camilla Arfwedson’s [...]
Unlocking the secret to startup success February 9, 2014 Annabel Palmer talks to the co-founders of Secret Escapes about their adventures in the online travel industry IF YOU watch television, it’s likely you’ll have been exposed (and possibly raised an eyebrow) to Secret Escapes’ marketing campaign – arguably the most provocative advert since Cindy Crawford donned denim hotpants for Pepsi. Brand ambassador Camilla Arfwedson’s [...]
Godiva chocolate shop makes an entrance at St Pancras February 7, 2014 A new temptation has just been added to the food offering of St Pancras: luxury chocolate brand Godiva has opened a new shop in the station. The independent Belgian chocolatier is branching out into the UK. Last month, Godiva’s launched its UK ecommerce site, and this’ll be its 11th opening, with stores already in favourite [...]
You don’t have to go Far West to find a winner February 6, 2014 Racing fans around the country will be praying that tomorrow’s Betfair Super Saturday meeting at The Racecourse Newbury gets the go ahead. It’s always a fantastic meeting, but tomorrow is going to be even more special as Denman and Sprinter Sacre will both be parading before racing. The main betting race is the Betfair Hurdle [...]
Any other Business – 07/02 February 6, 2014 WHETHER the thought of Valentine’s Day has you reaching for the nearest bucket or speed dialling Interflora with little hearts in your eyes, the big day is coming up as fast as Cupid’s arrow. To celebrate, real estate start-up Rentonomy has released its own Guide To Valentine’s Day in London and the City features quite [...]
London faces second day of strike misery February 5, 2014 A SECOND day of strike action on the Tube is set to bring further travel woe to commuters today, as part of a union dispute with Transport for London that business groups have slammed. Around a third of all Tube services ran yesterday, with eight of the 11 lines operating for most of the day. [...]