Waterstone’s picks Hybris for new ecommerce platform
The bookseller says it was looking for a highly scalable platform capable of supporting the company’s growth plans and the anticipated increase in online purchasing from customers, Waterstone’s has selected Hybris Commerce for its next generation ecommerce platform. “Our online business is currently growing rapidly and we have demanding targets and expectations for our future growth in this channel,” says David Kohn, head of... [Read More...]
Joanna Shields to leave AOL
Joanna Shields, president of AOL’s People Network division, is to leave the company. According to a leaked memo on technology news site All Things Digital, AOL People Networks CEO Tim Armstrong said Shields had decided to move back to London. “Joanna Shields has decided to step down from her role as president of People Networks/European VP of AOL and return to London to reunite her family and explore her entrepreneurial interests,” read the... [Read More...]
Digital switchover still a mystery to Brits
After years of preparation and millions of pounds spent on advertising, almost half of all British adults (45 per cent) still do not know what the digital switchover actually entails, according to research. The study, from moneysupermarket.com, indicates that almost 22 million adults do not know the switchover means the analogue broadcast will be turned off and they will need a digital receiver on each TV set in the home to watch any programs. To... [Read More...]
YouTube could restore music videos following royalties cut
The royalties collection agency, PRS for Music, has cut the rates it charges music sites such as YouTube for artists’ music, potentially paving the way for the Google-owned video site to start carrying premium music video content again. In March, YouTube pulled thousands of music videos from its website after failing to agree terms with PRS, the UK’s main songwriters’ collection society. Patrick Walker, YouTube director of video... [Read More...]
Natmags restructures marketing team
The National Magazine Company, publisher of Cosmopolitan, Harper’s Bazaar and Esquire, is merging its marketing and circulation departments as part of a major cost-cutting strategy. The newly formed department will be headed by director of circulations and marketing, Sharon Douglas, who will move into the new role of director of consumer sales and marketing. The initiative is the next stage in a restructure that recently saw the merger of the publisher’s... [Read More...]
Google stretches UK marketing director’s role to cover Europe
Dan Cobley, Google’s director of marketing for the UK, Ireland and Benelux, has seen his role expanded to take on additional marketing responsibilities in Europe. Cobley now takes responsibility for country geographies including Germany and the Nordics, with Lorraine Twohill having stepped up from head of EMEA marketing to vice president of Google’s global marketing. Google said it had re-drawn its regions in order to expand his role.... [Read More...]
InStyle website has a makeover
IPC has overhauled the website for its fashion magazine, InStyle. The redesigned site will offer fresh commercial opportunities, including leader boards and larger-sized multiple purpose units (MPUs). Editorial changes to the website include enhanced fashion coverage and extended video content, plus new hair and news channels. Other new features include microsites dedicated to key events and a third party-powered online shopping section offering designer... [Read More...]
Twitter develops tools to fight rise of spam activity
Twitter is developing tools to protect users from unwanted and unsolicited followers after identifying a potential rise of spamming across the micro-blogging site. According to Nielsen Online, Twitter traffic grew by 1,763 per cent in the past year, from 135,000 users in April 2008 to 2.5 million users in April this year. The rise in popularity has attracted the attention of brands, including Andrex, Marmite and O2, but Twitter has recognised that... [Read More...]
Global Radio switches to Platform-A’s Adtech system
Global Radio has made changes to the technology it uses for its online advertising, replacing its Atlas service with AOL’s Adtech. Adtech, part of AOL’s digital advertising business, Platform-A, will now serve all online display ads and audio files for the nine commercial radio-branded websites: 95.8 Capital, Choice, Classic FM, LBC, Galaxy, Gold, Heart and XFM. Global Radio is the UK’s largest commercial radio broadcaster, attracting... [Read More...]
ITV revives mobile site following appointment of Kilrush
ITV has re-launched its mobile site two months after scrapping it, following the appointment of mobile internet specialist Kilrush. Kilrush, part of mobile agency MIG, will build and manage mobile content services for the commercial broadcaster. The site features a range of content around hit shows including Britain’s Got Talent, Coronation Street, the FA Cup and Loose Women. ITV scrapped its previous mobile site, managed by platform provider Momac,... [Read More...]