The week in marketing

Marketing, Tuesday, 28 April 2009, 12:00am,

- Jaffa Cakes extension.

United Biscuits has launched a limited-edition strawberry-flavoured variant of McVitie's Jaffa Cakes. The product will be available until July in single pack and twin packs. McVitie's claims the Jaffa Cakes brand is worth £51m, and increased its sales by 10% last year.

- 'Chuggers' in store

WH Smith is allowing so-called 'chuggers' - charity representatives who accost potential donors on the street - into its stores. The 'chuggers' can approach shoppers as they enter the books and stationery retailer and browse the magazines. WH Smith chief executive Kate Swann said that she endorsed the practice in stores where there was enough space, but would not allow activity that proved unpopular with customers.

- Citroen UK reshuffle

Citroen UK managing director Xavier Duchemin has been promoted to the role of global marketing and communications director. He replaces Xavier Chardon, who has been appointed managing director for France. A replacement UK managing director has yet to be announced.

- Debenhams openings

Debenhams is continuing its expansion programme following an 11% rise in pre-tax profits for the six months to the end of February. The department-store chain added four stores during the period, and plans to open a further five Debenhams and two Desire stores in the 2010 financial year.

- KP site revamp

Former glamour model, reality TV star and author Katie Price's clothing range, KP Equestrian, has appointed an agency to overhaul the website promoting its spring/summer range. Rees Bradley Hepburn will redevelop the site, which features the Katie Price and KP Pony ranges. The latter collection is aimed at younger riders.

- Snowdon Smoothies

British model, presenter and Strictly Come Dancing star Lisa Snowdon has been signed up by haircare brand Schwarzkopf to front the launch campaign for its Supersoft Smoothie range of yoghurt-and-fruit shampoos and conditioners. Snowdon will appear in advertorials, magazine interviews and online activity for the brand.

- Nuffield Health review

Healthcare charity Nuffield Health is seeking a marketing agency to bring its latest health and wellbeing proposition to market through both online and offline communications. The review, which is being handled by creativebrief, follows Nuffield's purchase of the Cannons Health & Fitness chain of gyms. The organisation now plans to link its hospital and gym properties together to challenge private healthcare practices and major gym chains.

- Sony hires HS&P

Sony UK has appointed HS&P to manage its CRM activity following a pitch. The relationship marketing specialist will work on the new account, which comprises online and offline activity across the manufacturer's UK consumer electronics division.

- Woolwich back on TV

Barclays has returned to marketing its Woolwich-branded mortgage products. The latest TV ad in its 'Take one small step' series, created by Bartle Bogle Hegarty, promotes its offset mortgage, through which customers can use the balance of savings and current accounts to reduce mortgage interest payments.

To watch the ad, visit marketingmagazine.co.uk

- England charity push

The England football team is participating in an awareness-raising campaign for the Bobby Moore Fund for Cancer Research UK. The campaign is intended to educate the public about bowel cancer, which kills more than 44 people a day in the UK and claimed the life of West Ham and England's 1966 World Cup-winning captain, Bobby Moore, in 1993.

Ed Kemp on sports marketing at marketingmagazine.co.uk

- WaterAid fundraiser

International charity WaterAid, which is dedicated to the provision of safe water, sanitation and hygiene education to the world's poorest people, is seeking a corporate sponsor for its latest fundraising drive. The 'Taste for life' initiative, which launches next month, will encourage consumers to host an event such as a dinner party or a picnic, and invite their guests to make a donation toward WaterAid. The charity will roll out a website to support the campaign.

- Simple 'Model' tie

Skincare brand Simple has partnered with Living TV show Britain's Next Top Model to promote its Daily Radiance range. The facial products featured in Monday's episode, in which Rachel Snary, Simple's senior brand manager, was a judge.

- BBC sharing plans

The BBC could share content, training and technology with local and regional newspapers and broadcasters in a deal expected to be announced by Andy Burnham, the culture secretary. It would be the first time the BBC has shared resources in this way. Local papers would have free access to its video content for their websites, as well as access to the BBC's school of journalism and its iPlayer technology.

Jeremy Lee on media at marketingmagazine.co.uk

- West End shows off

The West End Marketing Alliance, London Mayor Boris Johnson and Visit London have created their first joint campaign to drive footfall to the capital's shopping and entertainment district. The 'West End It's Time' campaign includes free entertainment, promotions and prizes. It will be promoted through a Twitter feed at twitter.com/londonwestend as well as a Facebook group that provides a guide to the free events and promotional activity.

Editor's comment, page 25

- Setanta on demand

Setanta has launched an on-demand online video service that allows viewers to watch Setanta Sports content live or retrospectively. The service will be marketed to current subscribers via the broadcaster's ezine and advertised on sports and video-streaming websites.

- Public sector event

Marketing is hosting Engage The Public 2009, an event for communicators in the public sector, from 23-24 June at The Ibis Hotel, Earls Court, London. The event will feature more than 20 leading industry speakers from organisations including GMMB US, Directgov, PruHealth, Harrow Council, the Department of Health, West Midlands Police, the Cabinet Office, COI and Drinkaware.

For more information, visit www.publicengagementconference.com

- McDonald's big picture

McDonald's has unveiled a fresh sign concept at Piccadilly Circus, aimed at encouraging visitors to take pictures against the back-drop of the iconic outdoor site, which is seen by an estimated 1.1m people a week.

People posing for photos can appear to interact with images displayed on the giant LED screen. These include a birthday cake with candles, a hammer, bowler hat and 'think' bubbles containing McDonald's menu items such as fries. McDonald's said the campaign, which was created by Leo Burnett, is the first of its kind.

The fast-food chain hopes that people will upload the images onto sites such as Facebook and Flickr. It also plans to upload a video of people using the screen to its website in the next few months.