To Coyne A Phrase

Lloyds Pharmacy given stiff talking to by advertising watchdog

COVENTRY-based Lloyds Pharmacy has received a slap across the wrist from watchdog the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) over an advert linked to erectile dysfunction.

A complaint came in from Pharmacy2U about a poster for Lloyds Pharmacy seen in the men’s toilets at a motorway service station and titled “£10 off Men’s treatments”.

The advert featured three men standing naked and covering their genitals with cowboy hats. Two of the men were shown to be holding the hats in place with their hands, the third man had his hands behind his back. The text stated “Guess who’s used our Online Doctor? Get treatment for Erectile Dysfunction and Premature Ejaculation. Discreet online service at affordable prices”.

Pharmacy2U complained about the word “treatment”, challenging whether the advert promoted prescription-only medicines (POMs) to the public while the ASA challenged whether the underlying website detailed in the advert advertised POMs to the general public.

The Pharmacu2U complaint wasn’t upheld as the ASA considered that consumers would understand from the advert that treatments for the conditions mentioned could be obtained online as a result of using the Lloyds Pharmacy online doctor, but that they would not assume from the presentation of the potentially available “treatments” that specific POMs would be prescribed as a result of consulting the online doctor.

But the ASA upheld its own complaint considering that the web page presented POMs as a choice for the consumer to select prior to GP consultation, as opposed to the potential outcome of that consultation and subsequently advertised POMs to the public.

Lloyds Pharmnacy was told that the advert should not appear again in its current form and the company was asked to take care when referencing POMs on the website.

Winning ways

FORMER Prime Minister Tony Blair’s spin doctor Alastair Campbell talked to audience at WMG at the University of Warwick recently about what it takes to be a winner.

He had a book to promote – called Winners: And How They Succeed – and says he embarked on it because he is fascinated by what it takes to win.

Is their ability to win innate? Or is the winning gene something we can all develop? he pondered.

Surely it’s both. If you look at tennis champions John McEnroe and Ivan Lendl, for example, one had the winning gene and one developed it through hard work.

Anyway, Campbell said: “When my friend, Kumar Bhattacharyya invited me to WMG to talk about my recently published book I was delighted to accept. Where better to talk about winning than here at WMG with Lord Bhattacharyya who has done so much for British manufacturing. He understands the importance of strategy, data and not giving up when things go wrong.”

On a selfish note. I hope Campbell doesn’t deliver his winning ways speech to his beloved Burnley FC. They’re at Villa Park on the last day of the season for what could be a relegation six pointer and I for one will be quite happy if they don’t have a clue about how to get the three points.

Naming rights

DECIDING what to call your PR firm must be a tricky business these days when so many obvious names have already gone.

But surely the trend towards using the names of animals can’t have much further to go.

This week Birmingham’s Big Communications joined forces with London’s balloon dog and the new venture will be called bigdog (don’tyoufindalltheselowercasenameswithnogapsbetweenthewordsabittiresome?)

Anyway, bigdog it is. There’s already a PR company in Birmingham called Big Cat. It could be a bit fraught if they’re ever based in the same building.

We’ve also got the likes of Tiger Bam and Seal based in the region offering PR services.

A lot of the thinking behind naming firms after animals is to be associated with power, strength, aggression and dominance (not Seal admittedly).

Surely it’s time for a change. How about naming PR companies after vegetables. Turnip perhaps (for a more rural outfit), or Cherry Tomato (for a funkier urban agency).

Or how about Cucumber?  A free pint for anyone with the nerve to name their PR outfit after this salad vegetable stalwart.

Have a great weekend!

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