Avis Budget Group, the car-rental company, is undergoing a £15 million review to analyse its global advertising structure, and is meeting with agencies next week to determine a new strategy. The group has already undergone major changes this year, changing its branding significantly with the help of digital marketing company Leo Burnett Business. It changed its US tagline from "We try harder" to "It's your ...

With the fastest rate of growth in five years, the UK economy has shown definite signs of recession recovery between July and September this year, official figures have shown today. Gross domestic product (GDP) grew by one per cent, marking an end to the declining numbers over the last three years. Experts had predicted a rise of 0.6 per cent, but this unexpected rise is the largest in a quarter since 2007. ...

A new survey by The Hartford insurance group showed that only one third of small businesses owners surveyed were feeling optimistic about the economy's development, down from the 61 per cent who felt the same way in spring 2011. Almost 60 per cent of the 2,000 asked stated that they had not added any new staff in the last 12 months, while 67 per cent had no intention of doing so in the year to come. About 5 ...

A review of HSBC's media strategy and creative agency requirements could herald the end of its relationship with Mindshare and JWT, as marketing director Chris Clark determines a new branding method for the banking group. The review, which is believed to be a closed one at present, is likely to look at its creative needs, and consider the possibility of appointing several creative houses rather than using j ...

Mobile phone network O2 is offering a free scheme to all small retailers in the UK, allowing high street stores to stock money-off vouchers. The move is in response to the growing number of people opting for online or super stores rather than small businesses, and is hoped to bring people back to the high street. Retailers can register for the scheme in just three minutes, as long as they meet the set crite ...

The north-east has seen a rise in critically struggling companies compared to those in the south, according to a new study released today. The report, produced by Red Flag Alert, showed that the so-called "zombie companies" - businesses which are in debt and only just making enough to stay afloat, or which need constant bailing out  - are stifling growth across the UK, most noticeably in the north-east. Me ...

Around 23 per cent of companies say they have reduced their marketing budget within the last year, according to a new survey by IPA Bellwether, the advertising industry association. Compared with only 18 per cent who reported increases in advertising spend, the survey shows that fewer businesses are finding it cost-effective to maintain marketing costs. This makes it unlikely that the UK's total spend on ad ...

Facebook has finally confirmed plans to launch an advertising auction to app developers, with the resulting ads inserted into the newsfeeds of smartphone users. The service first trialled in August and saw consistent results, with click-through rates of one to two per cent, while participating developer TinyCo reported conversion rates of over 50 per cent. Developers bid somewhere in the region of half a do ...

Graphic art specialists Phaidon have put together a definitive compilation entitled The History of Graphic Design, containing 500 items which define the art form. The collection, which comes in a box and weighs over ten pounds, also come with removable fabric handles for easy transportation. The History of Graphic Design contains an array of different formats, including logos, books, typefaces, posters and ...

As stationery sales rise throughout autumn, fashion houses and graphic artists are starting a new trend in bespoke letterheads and business cards. While wedding dress designer Vera Wang has just announced her own range, many individuals are creating their own personalised styles in an attempt to break away from the norm. The new Vera Wang Fine Prints collection, produced by stationery manufacturer William A ...