| January 24, 2013 | News for marketing professionals |
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| Breaking News |  |  |
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- Unilever lifts ad spending 8%, but cuts to agency fees loom
Unilever's global ad spending rose 8% to $8.6 billion last year -- about in line with its net profit growth of 7% -- and it raised digital-ad outlays nearly 40% along the way. But the company is targeting agencies for spending reductions this year, according to Chief Financial Officer Jean-Marc Huet, who says Unilever is "still some way from benchmark levels" on "the part of the advertising spend which is used to make films, pay agencies and the like." Advertising Age (tiered subscription model)
(1/23)      
| Company News | | |
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- Amy Poehler to simplify tech in Best Buy's Super Bowl spot
Amy Poehler, who co-hosted the Golden Globes this month, has another big-billing awaiting: Best Buy's 30-second Super Bowl commercial. The spot will be created by Crispin Porter + Bogusky and directed by veteran Bryan Buckley. "Amy is this comedic everyperson who can make things simple. And Best Buy is trying to accomplish the same thing -- making technology simple," says Best Buy's Scott Durchslag. USA Today/The Associated Press
(1/23), Adweek
(1/23)
- McDonald's to push Dollar Menu, new menu items in 2013
McDonald's global same-store sales were up 3.1% in 2012 despite a flat fourth quarter, but chief executive Don Thompson promised that the company would be more aggressive in the face of the economy. "Growth in the informal eating-out industry has been relatively flat to declining around the world and we expect that to continue," he said. The company plans to introduce Fish McBites this year, among other new products, and will concentrate on the Dollar Menu as a driver of sales. The Wall Street Journal
(1/23), BurgerBusiness.com
(1/23)
| Market Trends | | |
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- Fashion shoots with virtual models save marketers money
H&M, Nordic outfitter JC and France's Vente-Privee are among the fashion retailers reducing the cost of photo shoots by using mannequins and computer-generated models to save money. The technique of mixing and matching body parts, clothes and styles in a computer is powered by the tech startup Looklet. Vente-Privee, an online retailer that photographs hundreds of thousands of products a year, says the tool can yield 50% more studio work a day and cuts production costs by two-thirds -- and Looklet models even bring in more revenue than real models. The Wall Street Journal
(1/23)
| Interactive | | |
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- Lexus unveils model on Facebook to 100,000 live viewers
Lexus attracted 100,000 live views of a 10-minute feed introducing the Lexus IS and IS F Sport via Facebook. The ad placement used the Page Post and Sponsored Stories features and could be viewed through the News Feed. "Everyone is so familiar with YouTube as a video destination. This is putting a different spin on Facebook and what the expectations might be for consumers," says Lexus' marketing director, Brian Bolain. Adweek
(1/23)
| People & Personalities | | |
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- Alan Batey: Soccer sponsorship yields super-sized audience
An estimated 550 million people around the world tuned in to see Manchester United play Liverpool in a January soccer match, dwarfing the Super Bowl audience and making Chevrolet's sponsorship of United a high-stakes game, says Alan Batey, GM's interim marketing director, in this interview. Chevrolet ads used split screens of team members talking about the rivalry. "Our positioning with Chevrolet is about connecting with the fans, so we are constantly thinking about what content we can bring them that's exciting because they want to get behind the scenes," Batey says. MediaPost Communications/Marketing Daily
(1/23)
| AAF Spotlight | | |
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Mosaic Career Fairs
The objective of the Mosaic Career Fairs is the same as the Most Promising Program -- to connect top minority talent with leading advertising/marketing and communications companies that are seeking to hire entry-level candidates. Minorities are encouraged to participate; however, this career fair is open to everyone! Mosaic Career Fairs are free for AAF College Chapter members. The 2013 Mosaic Career Fairs will be held on Feb. 6 in New York and on Feb. 21 in Chicago. Read more details.
| Government Update | | |
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- FDA will not appeal decision to permit off-label drug marketing
The Food and Drug Administration says it will not appeal a 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals verdict in favor of Jazz Pharmaceuticals in an off-label marketing case. The company had marketed Xyrem to treat chronic fatigue and drowsiness, despite its FDA-approved use for narcolepsy. The court ruled that the company had a free-speech right to market the drug as it did. The FDA said it didn't believe the decision would "significantly affect the agency's enforcement of the drug misbranding provisions of the Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act." The Wall Street Journal
(1/23)
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