Lowe, an agency belonging to the Draftfcb/Lowe Group, has created a B2B mailing campaign on behalf of Mini Switzerland. The campaign, under the slogan «Pimp your Company,» is aimed at decision-makers in companies. The package includes a company logo on the new Mini.
A “Pimp My Ride”-style mailing was developed. Business owners are guided through six steps toward their new business model. In addition, they have the opportunity to slide their business card under a laser-cut Mini. This gives them a first impression of how their company logo will look on 3.9 meters of advertising space. The mailing will be sent to all three regions of the country.
Responsible at Mini Switzerland: Patrick Cupelin (Head of Mini Switzerland), Jonas Theiler (Head of Communications, Mini). Responsible at Lowe: Daniel Comte (ECD), Frédéric Nogier (AD), Nicolaj Förderer (Graphic Design), Boris Beuckmann (Copy), Rolf Jeger, Jasmin Jost (Consulting), Reto Saluz (Production).

Hardy Lussi, Managing Director of Seven One Media (Switzerland), has been newly elected to the Board of Directors of Sat.1 Switzerland. The other members are Thomas Wagner (Chairman), Fibo Deutsch (Vice Chairman), Guido Bolten, and Marco Castellaneta. Sat.1 Switzerland is a joint venture between Pro Sieben Sat.1 Media and Ringier.

The St. Gallen agency GFS Communications is strengthening its strategic consulting expertise by founding the ISG Integrated Strategy Group. Under the management of Hendrik Godbersen and Andreas Felder, the subsidiary offers strategy and marketing consulting with a newly developed methodology. The ISG Integrated Strategy Group helps companies and marketing managers to achieve greater market success in four steps, according to a press release issued on Thursday. The Integrated Marketing System developed by Godbersen and Felder in a research project co-financed by the Swiss government is the first holistic planning and management methodology for demand-based corporate management. In order to maximize profits through higher sales and lower costs, the company's thoughts and actions are consistently and stringently focused on the most successful market segments. Four successive levels (market insight, positioning & strategy, brand statement, marketing instruments) should lead to a consistent market concept

The second edition of SE Impuls!'s in-house web TV format is online: "SE Impuls! TV" is the name of the program hosted by Susanne Hueber. Several times a year, the Lucerne-based full-service agency posts articles and interviews on topics from the fields of marketing and communication on its website. The target audience is primarily marketing and Internet managers at companies, according to a press release. However, the programs are designed in such a way that not only experts, but also all other viewers can gain added value from them.
An interview with an expert on the main topic, a competition and a practical tip are an integral part of every program. The programs are usually recorded in the studio in Adliswil. Individual episodes are filmed on location. Each program lasts about eight minutes.
> To the program

Susanne Hueber.

If a fresh and fashionable fall breeze is blowing in over 30,000 households these days, it is not only thanks to the premium fashion stores, but also to Marti & Partner. The agency from Seefeld in Zurich has developed a direct marketing concept for the association of independent fashion stores that enables each member of the association to draw its customers' attention to the new fashion season with its own fashion magazine. Thanks to the clever use of the entire synergy potential, it has been possible to create a high-quality fashion magazine with adequate investment, which is distributed in a proud total circulation of 30,000 copies.

Advertising for wine and beer on television will be liberalized. The Swiss parliament revised the Radio and Television Act (RTVA) on Thursday, as reported by SDA. The Council of States, which was in favor of an advertising ban, accepted the decision of the conciliation conference without discussion. In the National Council, Ruedi Aeschbacher (EVP/ZH) campaigned in vain for a No. The entire addiction prevention scene was against liberalization and the EU would also impose an advertising ban sooner or later. The motion to reject was rejected by 103 votes to 69.
Advertising for light alcoholic beverages is currently prohibited in Switzerland on all SRG channels and in the Swiss advertising windows of foreign television providers, which is contrary to the EU "Television without Frontiers" Directive. According to this directive, advertising windows broadcast abroad are subject to the laws of the broadcaster's country. As advertising for beer and wine is permitted in Germany, this must also apply to German private broadcasters operating Swiss advertising windows. Switzerland must do this all the more because both councils have already decided to participate in the EU's Media film promotion program. This requires Switzerland to respect the EU Television Directive. The Federal Council therefore proposed relaxing the advertising ban - also for SRG broadcasters.
The media agreement and Switzerland's contribution of CHF 41 million with annual tranches of around CHF 10 million until 2013 have been approved by both councils. The ban on religious and political advertising as well as advertising for spirits and mixed drinks can be maintained.
(Image: Keystone)

Erdmannpeisker were able to prevail against four competitors in the competitive presentation. The content was the development of an "Idée directrice" for the renovation and improvement of the Bern city bypass, which can be implemented in various media. The background to this is the major construction site on the Bern ring road. This
will inevitably lead to considerable traffic obstructions and put people's tempers to the test. What was needed was communication that was not only informative, but also dealt with the subject of the construction site in a surprisingly positive way, creating understanding and providing tips. The creative solution Erdmannpeisker came up with can be seen in 2010.
Responsible at the Federal Roads Office Astra: David Wetter (Branch Manager Astra Thun Branch), Petra Maurer Information & Communication Officer. Responsible at Erdmannpeisker: Gabriel Peisker (CD), Daniel Hesse (AD), Christina Schmid (AD), Arnd Lettmann (text), Sonja Margot (consulting).

Swiss voters will decide on a ban on minarets on November 29, 2009. The Swiss initiative wants to ban the construction of minarets throughout Switzerland by referendum. The Swiss Minorities Association, which campaigns for the right to life, culture and integration of old and new minorities, firmly rejects the initiative to ban minarets.
The agency Euro RSCG Zurich is supporting GMS free of charge with advertisements, posters and other advertising materials, as detailed in a press release. The campaign kicks off with an idea that stands out with a positive message. In contrast to the polemical and poisonous nature of the initiators. In a free, democratic and solidary country like Switzerland, there is enough room for all religions, it continues. Visually translated: various religious buildings rise up into the sky, which is big enough for everyone.
Responsible at Iras Cotis/ Society Minorities Switzerland: Giusep Nay (former President of the Federal Supreme Court), Heinz Haab (Iras Cotis), Michael Chiller-Glaus (Swiss Minorities Society GMS), Ronnie Bernheim (entrepreneur), Hanspeter Ernst (Director of the Zurich Lehrhaus), Rifa'at Lenzin (Islamic scholar), Regula Renschler (publicist), Georg Vischer (former President of the Basel-Stadt Church Council). Responsible at Euro RSCG Zurich: Frank Bodin (overall responsibility), Axel Eckstein (CD), Marietta Albinus, Emi Lehmann (AD), Marianne Sauter (consulting), Anna Colby (art buying), Edi Burri (production).

In Germany, a reorganization of the highly competitive news agency market is on the horizon. The US agency Associated Press (AP) is talking about selling its German subsidiary, as reported by SDA. Talks at owner level have been going on for weeks, the German editor-in-chief confirmed on Thursday. At present, he had no information that the talks were about to be concluded. The Berlin news agency DDP is said to be interested in buying AP, as industry insiders suspect. No comment could be obtained from DDP. A person familiar with the negotiations is said to have told Reuters that it is not yet clear whether and when an agreement can be reached with the American parent company. The negotiations are making good progress, however.
DDP employs 140 journalists on a permanent basis. The company had a turnover of just under 12 million euros in 2008. AP employs around 80 editors in Germany. Worldwide there are just under 4,000.

The online people search 123people is going mobile. iPhone users can now download the free 123people iPhone app from the Apple iTunes Store. "The starting point for the 123people iPhone app was the idea of always being independent when you need addresses, telephone numbers or e-mail addresses," says Russell E. Perry, Managing Director of 123people, in a press release. "It was particularly important to us that we did not compromise on user-friendliness despite the wide range of functions. All features of the 123people app can be operated with one hand via one-click".

Not everyone is happy with the Council of States' decision to liberalize advertising for beer and wine on TV. The Swiss addiction agencies criticize the decision: the wafer-thin decision is "disappointing" for the agencies. Parliament weighted the commercial interests of the alcohol industry, TV stations and the advertising industry higher than the protection of minors. This was reported on Thursday by the Swiss Center for Alcohol and Other Drug Problems, the Addiction Association and the Groupement Romand d'Etudes sur l'Alcoolisme et les Toxicomanies, according to SDA.
SRG, on the other hand, welcomes the decision. This means that Swiss broadcasters will no longer be at a disadvantage compared to the Swiss windows of foreign channels, Max Gurtner, Head of Corporate Communications at SRG, told SDA. Telesuisse, the Association of Swiss Private Television and Radio Broadcasters, is also satisfied. Wanting to prevent and protect minors in TV advertising is illusory, said Filippo Lombardi, Ticino CVP member of the Council of States and President of Telesuisse. The decision was "correct". Young people consume 80 percent of foreign TV channels - it is therefore "logical" to adapt the Swiss law to that of foreign countries.
3+ welcomes market liberalization
In addition to SRG broadcasters, regional language broadcasters were previously also prohibited from broadcasting advertising for beer and wine. Dominik Kaiser, Managing Director of 3+, is therefore also pleased about the liberalization. He would welcome further market liberalization, as "television advertising continues to be much more heavily regulated than other forms of advertising such as newspapers." MTV Networks Switzerland is also affected by the decision. "We will fulfill our responsibility towards the young target group," said Berit Gründlers, Marketing Manager at MTV. For this reason, guidelines for advertising beer and wine will be drawn up.

Is the living room of the future a high-tech multimedia center? Fully networked with the outside world? All media available at any time, scalable, controllable? What technologies will be needed to turn these theories into facts? And how will people react to these new worlds? Exciting speakers looked into the future at the Media Future Day, presented by the TPC.
The speakers at TPC's traditional Future Day last week tried to look not into the clear shape of the crystal ball but into the liquid and therefore more elusive crystals of flat screens. After host and CEO Alexander Krombholz first introduced the term "digital natives" - the generation that is already online as babies - and addressed the problem that the multimedia future will challenge us not only with technical but also social aspects, the head of the TPC presented how and where fiction will become fact in the coming years.
There will certainly be a few important changes in the hardware sector around the World Cup in South Africa. The television market is ready. New devices will soon make it possible to access content from the PC in the living room wirelessly from the kitchen or bedroom. 250 and thus all well-known companies in the manufacturing industry have already been able to agree on a common standard worldwide. The slogan "connect and enjoy" should therefore soon no longer be spoiled by standardized barricades in the wireless network. It has also been predicted that Bravia Internet Video will be launched on the market next year. It is now clear to everyone that more and more TV offerings are being offered on the Internet in addition and with a time delay. It is now clear that 3D is becoming a major topic. For gamers, this is certainly a gateway to paradise. In future, Playstation will be served on the Internet with a 3D signal, naturally in full HD quality. But 7000 cinemas are already being planned in the USA for this ultimate movie experience.
A few figures also reveal where the trend is heading. 3 billion TV sets, 1 billion PCs and 4 billion cell phones are in use worldwide today. They will provide more and more multifunctional services. "In the future, we will watch TV on our cell phones and make phone calls on our computers," is one of the predictions.
Roger Pitton, Program Director Microsoft TV, Video and Music Business, still had a small problem when he wanted to start his PowerPoint presentation with the remote control. Once the right button had been found, the interested audience in Studio 1 were then able to hear that in future, changing channels on the TV could work with just a wave of the hand in the air. It was also reassuring to hear that Microsoft is working hard to ensure that the new technologies "also work in the home" in line with the slogan "Enabling Technologies", where normal users have no IT support.
Frank Biernat, Business Development Manager Pro Markets, Apple Switzerland, then presented the devices that will contribute to our happiness in the future. He explained why Apple invests 50 percent of its money in hardware and 50 percent in software. A lot is expected from iTunes, because in future everything will be managed via this system using the same codes, including appointments and contacts. Consumers already have access to 11 million songs, 55,000 audio books and 150,000 podcasts on iTunes. Swiss television also offers a secondary use of its programs via the iTunes store. 27,000 U-courses make the knowledge of top-class universities such as Harvard or Epul Lausanne accessible to everyone.
Apple knows of a total of 85 million customers worldwide on its portal - "because we have the credit card information from them". Part of this turnover is generated by 30 million iPhones worldwide. The figure of 65,000 applications is also interesting. Anyone who has developed a useful program can offer it via the iTunes Store. 30 percent of the sales price goes to Apple, 70 percent to the developer.
Top sellers in Switzerland are, for example, the digitized railroad station clock on cell phones for 99 centimes and the Swiss telephone directory for 11.99. A total of 1.8 billion applications have been downloaded from iTunes to date, with demand doubling in the last 12 weeks alone.
Markus Hollenstein was also able to provide exciting and competent information on the future that already exists in the present. The Head of Marketing at Publisuisse presented a new edition of the "Media of the Future" study, which will be discussed in more detail in Werbewoche.
Andreas Panzeri
Some of the Media Future Day presentations will soon be published on www.tpcag.ch is switched on.

Exciting glimpses into the future in Studio 1 of the TPC.

Roger Pitton from Microsoft Switzerland.

Frank Biernat, Apple Switzerland.

Markus Hollenstein, Publisuisse.