Advertising news in brief

Saatchi & Saatchi celebrate love

Saatchi & Saatchi made it possible for three couples to renew their wedding vows in front of a serenading Elvis in the Chapel of Love, London. The event, held on Valentine's Day, was organised to highlight brand loyalty or ìLovemarksî said the company. The day also reflected the emotional and passionate connections people develop with brands. ìThey are brands that harness the power of mystery, intimacy and sensuality that command loyalty beyond reason,î said Sattchi & Sattchi.

Ethnic intake blurred

Advertising agencies need to report on their ethnic intake says the Institute of Practitioners in Advertising (IPA). This follows the limiting results of a recent survey showing that ethnic representation in agencies is 5.1 per cent. Trevor Robinson, executive creative director of Quiet Storm and joint co-Chairman of the IPA Ethnic Diversity Group said: ìThese figures are only an indication of the true picture as less than half the agencies provided data. We need to emphasise the importance of agencies reporting their ethnic intake, but given that 11 per cent of delegates were non-white on the IPA training course for newcomers it shows that the message is getting through.î

Online advertising spend booms

Online advertising spend has increased to 52 per cent year-on-year to £507m, while paid-for searches have become the fastest growing media channel according to a Starcom UK report. The agency also reports that paid-for searches on Google, Yahoo! and MSN are becoming the fastest growing media channel, with advertisers bidding to achieve the highest position on the results page. Display advertising still accounts for the largest proportion of online spend at 46 per cent, with paid search accounting for 32 per cent. Classified advertising accounts for 12 per cent and acquisition emails comprise 10 per cent.

Obesity issue continues

Sixty per cent of people in the UK believe it is parents' responsibility to teach children about healthy eating and not advertisers says a new survey. Advertising Agencies found that 45 per cent of people who said this were aged 15 to 24 and that expenditure to fast food outlets accounts for two per cent of advertising. According to the survey, just three out of the ìbig six unhealthy foodsî represented a fifth of all advertising expenditure in the year ending June 2004. Only 17 per cent of those surveyed agreed that advertising has not contributed to the obesity problem in the UK said the report.