The first HMV record store opened on London's Oxford Street 92 years ago. Today, the chain has 247 stores and, according to NZZ employs around 4,500 people and recently filed for insolvency. It is uncertain whether the record store chain, which helped shape the history of music, will disappear. What is certain is that difficult times lie ahead for everyone involved. Even the logo dog Nipper, who sat and listened to his gramophone in amazement for almost a century.

The Dublin agency Rothco has worked for the animal welfare organization Irish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ISPCA) has created a motif that thinks of all dogs in these difficult times. It was illustrated by Jesse Campbell-Brown. (hae)

Source: Adsoftheworld.com
Teaser image: HMV / EMI Archives (via Telegraph.co.uk)

The Facebook Conversion Measurement and Optimization System enables measurement of the ROI of ads on Facebook by showing (anonymized) when selected user actions on external websites (such as shopping, checkouts or registrations) are taken by someone who has seen an advertiser's ad on Facebook. Additionally, marketers can use optimized CPM bidding to deliver ads directly to the consumers who are most likely to interact with their website. 

In product tests, companies have found that the cost per action (CPA) is 40 percent lower with ads placed via optimized CPM than with ads placed via CPC bidding. Facebook wants to show advertisers how they can encourage more interaction in their advertising campaigns and how they can make future campaigns more effective.

 

In the course of this restructuring, the company is now operating under the name TBS & Partner, according to a press release. On the same occasion, the TBS website underwent a comprehensive redesign (Tbspartner.ch). The step is taken in order to secure entrepreneurial continuity in the long term. The agency's strategic orientation and recipe for success will remain unchanged under the new name: With its two pillars of corporate identity/corporate design and corporate and marketing communications, TBS & Partner will continue to provide its clientele with holistic support from a single source in both traditional media and the online sector. TBS Identity has been active in the Swiss advertising market for over 28 years.

The owners of TBS & Partner (from left to right): Jürg Neuenschwander, Michael Schädelin, Christian Tobler, Beat Aeschlimann.
 

"Seven out of ten people in Switzerland know that there are wildlife quiet zones," said campaign leader Reto Solèr on Wednesday at the request of the SDA news agency. This was revealed by a representative survey conducted by the Federal Office for the Environment (FOEN) and the SAC in January 2012. Solèr attributes the high level of awareness to the broad-based campaign, among other things. "Respect your boundaries" was particularly successful because it relied on cooperation with outdoor retailers and the tourism industry, the FOEN announced. Around ninety companies supported the campaign via their communication channels. Cable car stations, for example, were important platforms for flyers, posters and video images.

As a next step, "Respect your borders" now wants to evaluate whether the wildlife rest areas are actually being respected. To this end, they are working together with the Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research and, in future, with various gamekeepers, said Solèr. For wild animals such as the black grouse or chamois, the increase in off-piste snow sports means stress. Escapes in deep snow cost the animals a lot of energy and in extreme cases can lead to death from exhaustion. Four rules are therefore at the heart of the campaign: Respect wildlife sanctuaries, stay on marked trails, avoid forest edges and keep dogs on a leash. Thanks to these rules and additional markings in the area, refuges for wild animals are to be created.

Wildlife rest areas are marked on the new Swisstopo maps with snowshoe and ski touring routes. The campaign is supported by a wide range of sponsors from sport, trade, tourism, hunting, landscape and nature conservation. (SDA)
 

This is "not a bad performance in just a decade and a half" of the company's history, said CEO Larry Page on Tuesday at the presentation of the business figures. Google benefited in particular from good business at the end of the year. The last quarter of the year, including Christmas, provided a further boost after business had faltered somewhat last summer. Users clicked on advertisements more often, which means hard cash for Google. "We ended 2012 with a strong quarter," explained Page at the company's headquarters in Mountain View, California.

Turnover in the traditional Internet business improved by 22% in the last quarter of the year compared to the previous year. If Motorola is included, turnover even shot up by 36 percent to 14.4 billion dollars. The quarterly profit rose by 7 percent to 2.9 billion dollars.

Higher advertising revenue

In the previous quarter, Google had scared off investors with a noticeable decline. On the one hand, a high loss from Motorola due to expensive new smartphone developments had a negative impact on earnings. On the other hand, Google received less money per click from its advertising customers. Google has now been able to stem Motorola's losses. And revenue per click has recovered somewhat. Although they were again six percent lower than in the previous year, the decline in the third quarter was still 15 percent.

Revenue per click on an ad is a key indicator for Google's business. The concern is that with the rise of smartphones and tablets, Google's profits could come under pressure because advertising rates are lower on them.

Foray into the mobile business

Cell phone veteran Motorola bought Google for 12.5 billion dollars to secure its advance into the mobile business. Google's Android operating system is the leader in the smartphone world, but is the target of patent lawsuits and Motorola has many property rights as a cell phone pioneer.

Google has just divested its second Motorola pillar with receiver boxes for television and the Internet for 2.4 billion dollars. The company's main source of income is advertising anyway, above all the highlighted links in the search engine. Graphic advertisements, which appear everywhere on the web, are also becoming increasingly important.

However, the wind is blowing against Google in the advertising market: It's not just that Yahoo and Microsoft formed an alliance in Internet search some time ago. A few days ago, Facebook introduced a new search function that makes it possible to search through the information of the more than one billion users on the social network. (SDA)
 

The new Toblerone in bar form is triangular as usual, but unusually flat. As Toblerone's Swiss lead agency for many years, Ogilvy & Mather has put this new product in the spotlight in two ways, according to a press release. Formally as well as medially. In a national poster campaign, with an eye-catching dramatization of the new, flat shape.

The Toblerone brand is to be staged in an equally eye-catching manner as part of the 2012/13 winter activities. With three special poster designs for the ski resorts of Arosa, Grächen, and Haute Nendaz, and with a brand presence at the valley and mountain stations of these winter destinations. In Grächen, table mats with the poster motifs were also used.

Responsible at Kraft Foods Switzerland: Christina Lund, Jakobsen and Nicolas Christen. Responsible at Ogilvy & Mather: Thomas Bolliger, Priska Meyer, Markus Sidler (creation); Gaby Zimmerli, Samuel Hug, and Karolina Glebicki (consulting).

 

As of February 1, Jens Wiesenhütter will assume responsibility as site manager of Yjoo St. Gallen. Wiesenhütter joins Yjoo from Raiffeisen Switzerland, where he most recently worked as a corporate communications consultant and media spokesperson. He holds a master's degree in International Relations from HSG and worked for a PR agency for several years before joining Raiffeisen for five years. Before that, he was an editor and presenter for various media.

Sabine Bianchi, who has managed Yjoo's St. Gallen office since the company's launch, will take maternity leave during February, according to a statement. She will remain a partner and member of the management board of Yjoo Communications and will return to work as a consultant for Yjoo's customers after her time off.

Expansion of the consulting team

Also at the beginning of February, the agency expands its team of consultants: Cornelia Lutz, who was most recently responsible for the execution of corporate communications at EKT (formerly Elektrizitätswerk des Kantons Thurgau), starts as a consultant at Yjoo's St. Gallen agency. Cornelia Lutz is a trained PR specialist with a federal diploma and was communications assistant at Economiesuisse before joining EKT. Sereina Kubli will join Yjoo in February as a junior consultant. Sereina Kubli studied journalism and organizational communication at the Zurich University of Applied Sciences (ZHAW) and previously worked at a Zurich communications agency.

 

Jonas Habermacher supports Media-Work in the implementation of graphic ideas. The trained graphic designer strives for uncomplicated and simple solutions, as detailed in a press release. From 2010 to 2012, he worked as a junior designer at Interbrand in Zurich and Cologne. Interested in film and visualization, the 25-year-old is currently studying 3D animation.

Eliane Kunz has a Bachelor's degree in social and communication sciences. During her studies, the 23-year-old gained an insight into the day-to-day running of a local newspaper at the Zofinger Tagblatt. Confirmed in her interest in writing and researching, she decided to pursue this career path further. Eliane Kunz will be working on various projects at Media-Work.

 

The claim "You can't do better with Ovaltine. But longer." could not be more true in this case, because: Didier Cuche will answer questions for nine hours - without interruption.

Support on site

In addition to Joiz presenters Anthony, Alexandra and Julian, who will take it in turns to lead the interview, Didier Cuche will also be assisted by experienced sports journalist Janine Geigele, according to a statement. Various people from Didier's entourage will also visit him in the studio or join in via video message or Skype. They include Pirmin Zurbriggen, sports reporter Bernhard Schär and Karl Frehsner, who was head men's coach at the Swiss Ski Association for 17 years. TV chef René Schudel will take care of Didier Cuche's physical well-being. Together they will cook live in the studio. This much in advance: This was just a small selection of surprise guests.

Ask questions in advance or directly as a spectator

Normal" Didier fans will also get their money's worth: They have the opportunity to submit questions they've always wanted answered on Ovaltine's Facebook page until January 30, 2013. During the interview, viewers will have the opportunity to Joiz.ch/onair or via social web the opportunity to ask further questions or make comments - and thus become part of the show themselves. Questions can be asked in two languages - German and French.

Didier Cuche's biggest fan

In the run-up to the Nine Hours interview, Didier Cuche is looking for his biggest fan together with Ovomaltine and Joiz. On the Joiz website, fans have been able to submit their "application" since January 17, 2013, showing exactly why they are Didier Cuche's biggest fan. He then determines the best picture and thus his biggest fan. This fan will then also be present in the studio on February 3, 2013.

 

VJii Productions was founded jointly by My Sign and Imotions in 2010 and realizes video reports (web TV) for small and large companies, according to a statement. Following the start-up phase, VJii now works for clients such as Alpiq, Raiffeisen, Mobiliar, Swisscom and Coop. VJii simplifies previously complex production processes (storyline, production, editing, publication) and enables every company, independent of the mass media, to bring their messages emtionally and authentically to the point and to spread them via the Internet and especially social media channels.

Through the acquisition of VJii, My Sign aims to strengthen its integrated approach from the combination of design, marketing/communication, technology and content, according to a statement. My Sign is convinced that video content will become even more important in online communication in the future. Through the complete acquisition of VJii, My Sign is taking strategic account of this development and can offer its customers professional video services even more comprehensively.

In addition to the realization of video reports, VJii is currently developing new web TV formats. In the conception and realization of new formats, VJii will continue to work closely with Patrick Kappeler, owner of Imotions.
 

On March 3, Switzerland will be one Sunday paper richer: The St. Galler Tagblatt (SGT) is now definitely launching a seventh edition under the title Ostschweiz am Sonntag (OaS). This will be distributed to subscribers in eastern Switzerland on Sundays by early delivery. However, since nationwide early delivery on Sundays by the Swiss Post subsidiary Presto would be too costly, OaS will start with a circulation of 100'000 copies. "We are deliberately not doing large-scale free distribution," says Urs Bucher, head of publishing and marketing at the SGT. "First and foremost, we want to convince existing subscribers with the new Sunday edition." All the more so as their newspaper subscription is soon to be increased: Instead of paying 404 for the SGT subscription, they will in future have to pay 425 francs for the seven-day subscription. And those who only want the OaS will pay 128 francs or 3.50 francs at the newsstand.

Hope for 200'000 readers

Based on experience with "Zentralschweiz am Sonntag," which also belongs to the NZZ Media Group and has been around since 2008, Bucher assumes that around 100,000 people will subscribe to OaS after the introductory phase. Another empirical value: Sunday editions of regional newspapers get about two readers per copy. Accordingly, Bucher expects OaS to reach 200,000 readers with each issue. Based on these figures, he has now launched his offer for the advertising market: a full-page, four-color ad in the OaS costs 13'200 Swiss francs, which corresponds to a price per thousand readers of 66 Swiss francs. It is thus in the upper price range of the Sunday press. And for comparison: the weekday SGT comes to a TLP of 73.60 francs.

Start of the triple combo

From March 3, OaS, Zentralschweiz am Sonntag and NZZ am Sonntag will also form a new advertising combination under the title "Sonntagspool. Together, the combined titles reach 859'000 readers in German-speaking Switzerland, which corresponds to a reach of 19.2 percent. This makes Sonntagspool the Sunday offering with the widest reach, ahead of Sonntagsblick with 18 percent. Those who book the Sonntagspool receive an additional combination discount of 12.5 percent on ads and 25 percent on brochure inserts. The price for 1/1 vf is thus 43'790 francs, the TLP comes to 50.98 francs. This means that the TLP costs just under 18 francs more than the cheapest Sunday offer from Sonntagsblick.

Stefan Bai, Head of Advertising Market at NZZ can imagine that the "Sunday Pool" could be open to other regional Sunday papers in the medium term. For example, the weekday advertising combo "Cityplus," which combines SGT, NZZ, Neue Luzerner Zeitung, Schaffhauser Nachrichten and Nordwestschweiz, "could also serve as a model on Sundays," says Bai. First, however, they will see how the OaS and the "Sunday Pool" are received in the market and develop.

By the way: Under the name "NZZ am Sonntag plus Zentralschweiz," there was previously an advertising combination between NZZ am Sonntag and Zentralschweiz am Sonntag. This will be discontinued as of March 3.

Bold counterpoint to the mood of crisis

But why is the SCT only now starting with a seventh issue? "We examined the issue several times and came to the conclusion that we need to reach a critical size of 90'000 copies for the Sunday circulation. That was achieved thanks to the integration of the Thurgauer Zeitung as of 2011," says Bucher. The goal is to cover about half of the costs with revenues from the reader and advertising market.

But both the reach and advertising sales of the Sunday press have been declining for some time. Isn't the OaS starting at the worst possible moment? "Newspapers are read twice as long on Sundays as on weekdays. That's also interesting for the advertising market. That's why we can't and don't want to simply abandon the best reading day," explains Bucher. He also says that positive feedback has been received from advertising customers. "So despite a declining market, there is definitely advertising potential." Then he adds another aspect: In 2011, the SGT had one of its best years since 2000 - also thanks to the integration of the Thurgauer Zeitung. "With a new product in difficult times, we therefore deliberately want to set a counterpoint to the many cost-cutting measures in our industry," he says. In addition, he says, he is driven by the hope "that OaS will then be established as soon as things pick up again."

But what if the OaS cannibalizes the weekday SGT in terms of advertising volume? Bucher has no fears in this regard. The experience of Zentralschweiz am Sonntag shows that this is hardly the case. "Most of the Sunday advertising revenues are additional sales," he says.

A newspaper for the whole of eastern Switzerland

As already previously reported the SGT editorial office will be expanded by twelve positions. The new OaS will be headed by 41-year-old newspaperman Christian Ortner, who until recently was editor-in-chief of Vorarlberger Nachrichten.

Newspaper designer Katja Hösli, with whom the Tagblatt has worked successfully for years, has been entrusted with the visual appearance. In collaboration with the editorial team, she has developed a concept that is based on the layout of the SCT, but also clearly different from it - even in the logo. The OaS will be a four-bund newspaper - and unlike the SGT, without regional splits: The first section will contain large articles on politics and business internationally, nationally and regionally. The 2nd bundle contains a large interview, opinions and comments as well as local news. This is followed by the "Life" bundle with culture, knowledge, lifestyle and also a children's page. Finally, sports take place in the 4th bundle.

Markus Knöpfli

 

Generalizing prejudices remain such, even if they are packaged in humor. The local Davos weekly Gipfel Zytig went too far in one case, according to the Press Council. A generalization of nationalities or ethnic groups is discriminatory if it is linked to a significant unworthy judgment, the Press Council announced on Tuesday regarding complaints against the Davos weekly.

According to the Press Council, Gipfel Zytig published two "humorous" articles last summer. First, readers were asked to answer questions about a picture of Asian students in a fictitious contest. A week later, the newspaper published a "proposal for a new Swiss national anthem." Several complaints claimed that the "competition" "vilified Asians in the worst possible way on the basis of their appearance," and that the proposal for a new national anthem had triggered a major media response with its "shocking xenophobia.

The Press Council judges the two articles differently, as it announced. The generalization that all Asians look the same is not linked in the offending article with a disparagement of this group. In contrast, in its "Proposal for a new Swiss national anthem" the Gipfel Zytig uses a tirade against various nationalities to generalize prejudices against foreigners.

Aargau free papers "pervert" democracy mandate

The Press Council accuses two Aargau free newspapers of having "perverted" the democratic mission of the press. Rundschau Nord and Rundschau Süd had offered politicians to publish their positions in the editorial section of the papers in exchange for money.

In the run-up to the Aargau elections to the state parliament in the fall of 2012, the Effingerhof publishing house in Brugg, which publishes the two newspapers, wrote to individual politicians offering to reprint their core theses. The conditions for publication were: ads already printed by the candidates, planned ads - or payment of 550 francs. But this contradicts the requirement of strict separation between editorial content and advertisements, as the Swiss Press Council announced on Tuesday. The procedure is highly questionable in terms of democratic policy. The journalistic self-regulatory body thus agrees with the complainant - the Aargau Juso president Florian Vock. He was one of the recipients of the offending offer.

The Press Council urges the publisher Effingerhof and the two editorial offices to change their practice in future elections. And specifies: "If the publication of a candidate portrait is linked to the placement of an advertisement, it is mandatory to label this portrait as "advertisement", "advertisement", etc." (SDA)

Teaser image: Gipfel Zytig (via Juso.ch)