Media Buzz: Coolpink; 9xb; diva
LEEDS-based digital agency Coolpink has been appointed by London menswear brand Emmett.
Emmett has hired the agency to manage a brand and digital overhaul, including a new e-commerce site, community portal, and on-going content marketing activity.
Ciara Cox, head of marketing and commerce, said: “This was an extremely competitive and considered pitch process, which had a stringent list of requirements. Our plan is to vastly expand our UK and overseas operations, and we needed a trusted digital marketing partner in order to do this. Coolpink impressed us at every stage – from their approach, attitude, and their creative marketing proposal.”
Martin O’Toole, commercial director, added: “Our first project will be to redefine the brand positioning, then develop a completely new responsive site and an engaging community portal, with the new site set to launch in March 2014. They already have a trusted brand, known for great design and great quality. We’re looking forward to building on that heritage.”
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DIGITAL agency 9xb.com has completed the first phase of a comprehensive ecommerce review for sportswear giant Hi-Tec after winning a contract to handle the retailer’s online marketing.
Since the deal was agreed in July 9xb.com has carried out extensive user testing of the site with a view to improving use experience and driving online sales.
John Young at Harrogate-based 9xb.com said: “The online landscape is constantly changing, particularly for ecommerce sites, and on-going research is needed to ensure brands are communicating with their customers in the most effective and meaningful way.
“We have been working with Hi-Tec for more than six years on their web development and we are delighted that this is now being supported by a strategic marketing campaign that will keep the site in line with changing consumer trends.”
Helen Durant, marketing director at Hi-Tec, said website restructuring had already been carried out in response to feedback from the testing panel.
“Any major consumer brand needs to keep pace with its market and that is true both online and offline.
“How customers respond to website navigation, imagery and the purchasing process tells us a lot about how we can improve the experience for them and encourage more visitors to buy our products.”
9xb.com’s work to develop a mobile ecommerce site for Hi-Tec has secured the firm a place in the finals of the 2013 Effective Mobile Marketing Awards which will be announced at London Film Museum on November 28.
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SOCIAL marketing agency diva creative has been appointed to a major government framework.
The Sheffield-based company successfully completed a competitive tender process and online auction to earn its spot on Government Procurement Service’s (GPS) Strategy & Planning framework for Marketing and Communications Strategy Development (lot one).
Of the 12 agencies to have been awarded a place on the framework, diva is the only one based in the north of England.
The appointment means that diva can compete for work in strategy development and behaviour change communications across the public sector.
Amanda Pearce, director at diva, said: “This GPS framework opens a door for us to secure contracts from a wider range of organisations across government and the wider public sector.
“diva works across the country, as well as with government organisations such as the Department for Work and Pensions, the Department of Health, and the Department for Education. We have developed a reputation as a leading supplier of marketing and communications services, particularly in areas like sustainable travel and public health.
“Our addition to the framework is recognition of diva’s ability to deliver successful, cost-effective campaigns for public sector clients.”
GPS is an executive agency of the Cabinet Office and helps protect frontline services, working on behalf of the public sector to save taxpayer money and ensure efficiency in government procurement, delivering savings through aggregated procurement solutions.
