Posts made in June, 2015

on Jun 25, 2015

By John Glenday A spotlight has been thrust on Amazon’s aggressive tax avoidance strategies once more after the internet retailer reported paying just £11.9m in tax to the exchequer despite UK sales rising by more than 14 per cent to hit £5.3bn. The discrepancy arises by way of Amazon’s insistence on routing its UK business through a subsidiary in Luxembourg, allowing the business to claim that British sales are fulfilled there rather than Britain and enabling it to evade UK tax. Amazon.co.uk meanwhile is described as merely providing ‘fulfillment and corporate support services’ to the Luxembourg business with a turnover of just £679m. Long promised reforms Read full story › Source: The Drum...

on Jun 25, 2015

By Russell Parsons Unilever’s chief marketing and communications officer Keith Weed is never shy in expressing his opinion on the changing nature of marketing and the role marketers and brands should be playing. In a briefing with reporters at Cannes Lions 2015 on Tuesday where the FMCG giant announced a partnership with Vice that will see it co-create content for the broadcaster’s new female-focussed channel Broadly, he offered his thoughts on the future for marketers and brands. ‘In the near future all purchasing decisions will be based on “is this good?”’ “If we go back just 5-10 years people used to talk about my Read full story › Source: Marketing Week...

on Jun 25, 2015

By Thomas Hobbs Described as a “superior skin health brand” by Unilver’ CEO Paul Polman, the acquisition follows the FMCG giant’s move to acquire British skincare brand Ren Skincare back in March. Dermalogica – which generated total sales of $240m in 2014 and is currently sold in over 80 markets including the UK; although it isn’t nearly as established here as in the markets such as the US – will be incorporated within Unilever’s prestige brand division. Designed to address skin problems such as acne and sensitive skin, the brand’s products are a mix of professional and in-home. However its focus is more on skin Read full story › Source: Marketing Week...

on Jun 25, 2015

By Dave Trott As a boy, Richard Feynman and his father used to go for walks in the woods. Read full story › Source: Campaign...

on Jun 25, 2015

By Alison Millington The campaign uses beacons installed in selected pubs to measure busyness every five minutes by counting the number of smartphones in the space. If the temperature reaches at least 16 degrees (warm enough to enjoy a Pimm’s, according to the brand), the beacons then use the information to direct people via digital outdoor posters to nearby pubs and beer gardens where there is space for them to have a drink. Jonathan Ansell, new technology and media innovation manager for Diageo, told Marketing Week: “We’re using the trial as a means of establishing what works for consumers and customers. Our key aim was Read full story › Source: Marketing Week...