OTT Obama...

The 1984 death toll following the Union Carbide gas disaster in Bhopal, India has been estimated to be somewhere between 8,000 and 16,000. 30 years have since passed and still around 400 tons of toxic material contaminates the groundwater in the region, leaving a lasting legacy for the region’s citizens.  As we understand it, the chief executive of the US domiciled Union Carbide remains on the Indian wanted list and no one can explain why, following a 1982 safety audit of the Bhopal plant, some 30 major hazards that were identified and fixed at the company’s...

Brand Value Flies in Face of Recession...

At Wonderful we have always encouraged developing the power of a brand, regardless of the financial climate. In the latest study, which has featured prolifically across marketing and financial titles, BrandZ confirms our stance by stating that despite the financial difficulties over the past year, the world’s top brands have still risen in value. Rising by four per cent to around $2trillion collectively, the BrandZ research shows the strongest and most valuable brands are still creating loyalty and appetite among consumers. For example, according to the report,...

Brand Revival...

We have long argued (well we would, wouldn’t we) that reducing your marketing spend during recession or economic downturn won’t actually do you any favours over the medium to longer term and today’s (28th April 2010) special report in the FT backs our assertion with knobs on! (www.ft.com/reports/global-brands-2010) The fact of the matter is that those businesses which truly have confidence in themselves will maintain or increase their marketing budgets and do all they can to protect their brand in tough times. They will also maintain a strong grip on marketing...

Take our Poll!!...

With the iPad’s UK launch imminent, will you be buying one? ...

My Mate Marmite...

It has to be said that the Marmite “Have We Gone Too Far?” campaign is great. With more than 900 people leaving comments on Marmite’s Facebook page in just a couple of weeks, the hype around the brand has been revived once more, building on the popular slogan: “Love It or Hate It”. Marmite has sent hundreds of spoof packs to consumers, with a tube of toothpaste and a Marmite cereal bar in it, asking them to share their experience of the bar on their Facebook page. And the good and bad have come flooding in. It’s clever, it’s innovative, and it builds on the...

Nestle vs. Greenpeace...

Nestle has come up against a double-barrelled gun with the latest saga highlighting its dubious ethical conduct. The manufacturer, which supplies products such as KitKat and Nescafe, has been slammed by environmental group Greenpeace which claims Nestle is buying palm oil from producers who clear vast areas of forest. Greenpeace is holding Nestle, and two other companies, Unilever and Procter and Gamble, responsible for the expansion of the palm oil industry at the expense of Indonesia’s forest and peatlands, which support the life of orangutans. To emphasise the issue,...

Conan and Killen Storm Twitter...

A good news story from the world of social media; a young lady’s life has changed for the better after an infamous American TV show host decided to make her the centre of the Twitterverse for a limited period of time. It’s incredible watching the power and influence of the world of Twitter. For better or for worse, the site has such a capacity to change the way users think on any given topic. For this particular story, Twitter was used for the better and has changed Michigan-resident Sarah Killen’s life. Conan O’Brien, an American comedian and talk show host, had...

Newspapers Haunted By Photography...

Well it has to be said that at least this little escapade shows just how professional journalists are, how well they understand modern technology and how well they research their stories. Also interesting to see which two national newspapers are paving the way with regard to modern technology and being custodians of what is true and false! Both The Sun and The Daily Mail published a story about a 47-year-old builder, John Ware, who had taken a photo of a part-demolished building on his phone which eerily showed a faint image of a young boy aged around eight years old...

GMG sell-off sparks wider concerns...

As splashed across the news yesterday, GMG has agreed to sell its regional media arm, GMG Regional Media, which includes the Manchester Evening News, for £44.8million to Trinity Mirror. The move, due to be completed on March 28, means Trinity will become the major media player in North-west England. As the Manchester Evening News and The Guardian have been under the same ownership since 1924, it also brings to an end the long-standing ties between GMG and local newspaper publishing in Manchester, thus marking the first big case of regional press consolidation; something...

BA’s brand will fly them through...

BA has been all over the news regarding its financial difficulties in the last couple of years, announcing in the summer of 2009 that it had gone into administration. The former world number one airline suffered major losses when the recession hit and with the soaring cost of fuel. The company’s shaky position was further highlighted when chief executive Willie Walsh invited all employees to work for a month without pay; something he had done himself with finance director Keith Williams. Walsh also admitted that almost all the business was unprofitable, the trading...