High street retail marketing

Steve Sharp's legacy: The man who helped defeat Philip Green

Arguably no marketer has done more to shape a modern-day British brand than Steve Sharp. After almost a decade heading up Marks & Spencer's marketing he is bowing out gracefully from the bellwether retailer.

Marks & Spencer loses AdWords battle to Interflora

Marks & Spencer has lost the right to bid on the 'Interflora' trademark on Google AdWords, ending a five-year legal battle.

M&S long-serving marketing chief Steven Sharp to retire

Steven Sharp, Marks & Spencer's long-serving marketing chief, is set to retire from the business and replaced by Patrick Bousquet-Chavanne, the former Estée Lauder group president.

Specsavers integrates Skype to capture pictures

The video capabilities of Skype are being used by Specsavers to launch its annual 'Spectacle Wearer of the Year' competition.

Superdrug owner calls media pitch

AS Watson, the retailer that owns Superdrug and The Perfume Shop, is reviewing its European media planning and buying account, putting the UK incumbent, ZenithOptimedia, on alert.

Wedgwood invokes an idealised English home

The "style conscious woman" is the target of a campaign based on an idealised English home with photography shot by Rebecca Miller at Barlaston Hall, an 18th century manor house on the original Wedgwood Estate.

Phones4U top marketer Trevor Cairns moves agency side

Trevor Cairns, Phones4U's director of marketing, is leaving the company after just six months in the role to join creative agency Love.

House of Fraser hires Tony Holdway for top marketing role

House of Fraser has appointed Wickes marketer Tony Holdway to the newly created role of director of brand.

Go Outdoors TV ad marks bank holiday weekend

Go Outdoors is rolling out its new TV commercial to mark the bank holiday weekend, encouraging consumers to make use of its special offer on camping equipment.

John Lewis mulls entry into mobile phone sector

John Lewis is reportedly weighing up a move into the lucrative mobile phone market as part of its strategy of using trust in the brand to diversify its product range.

Arif Durrani: Amscreen captures our attention outdoor

Outside somewhere, in a time long ago, before even Jean-Claude Decaux had pasted his first poster, the Romans were using the walls of Pompeii to advertise tourist destinations, local shops and political campaigns to the visiting masses.

Ikea focuses on outdoor range with battle against gnome army

Ikea is pushing its outdoor range with a TV spot featuring a couple battling against a gnome army in the latest stage of its attempt to drive behavioural change.

Topshop, Nike, Burberry, Heineken: Who should be digital brand of the year?

The Rev Awards Digital Brand of the Year 2013 shortlist has been revealed, and we need you to cast your vote.

IKEA fends off an army of gnomes

Spring is a time for sprucing up the garden and an already onerous task is made near-impossible by a group of militant gnomes.

Argos plots 'store of the future' as pressure from Amazon grows

Argos plans to devise a "digital retail store of the future" concept, as it seeks to ward off increasing pressure from Amazon.

M&S chief Bolland backs new marketing approach to deliver growth

Marks & Spencer chief executive Marc Bolland is backing its new advertising style to help turn around its fashion proposition, as the retailer revealed another drop in clothing sales.

Why the cold war over 'copycat' branding may be set to heat up

The balance of power could be about to swing in "copycat" packaging disputes after years of brand owners being the whipping boys, writes Matthew Chapman.