from Broker News

Mortgage Choice makes Forbes top pick list

Just this week, second quarter gross domestic product accelerated to 1.2 per cent from 0.7 per cent in the first quarter. July retail sales, also released this week, rose 0.7 per cent, seasonally adjusted, notching up the fifth consecutive month of admittedly modest growth.

The Good Business Register has been set up by the St James Ethics centre because future competitive business advantage belongs to those companies that implement and communicate their sustainable business practices.

There are 5 key principles that they endorse. These principles have been developed to introduce businesses to the basic concepts of responsible business practice or sustainability and provide a framework within which they can understand their existing position and identify areas for further action and improvement. The 5 principles below represent the key aspects of responsible business practice - maintaining economic viability, protecting and supporting employees, engaging with and disseminating responsible business practices through your supply chain, engaging with community and other stakeholders, and reducing impact on the environment.

You can find out more here.

Wyeth Nutrition Funniest Photo competition by Red Ark

Our S-26 GOLD TODDLER Funniest Photo competition launches today. We are excited. Do you have a gorgeous 12 month + child? Then submit your funniest photo and you could win some great prizes.

Last Friday, as we do at the end of each financial year to give thanks for our own good fortune, we pitched up at Streetlevel in Crown Street to cook and serve dinner to around 150 people. As always, Robin, Kim, Robert and the rest of the team made us feel very welcome. Also as usual, Sherril from Nestle and Michael from Moraitis came to the party with generous donations of delicious cakes,  food, hot chocolate (mmm), MILO and beautiful fresh produce including potatoes, onions, garlic, carrot and oranges.

Fresh from Moraitis to Streetlevel

It’s hard to write anything without making it sound like it’s all about us, when it’s all about Streetlevel and the great work they do. But it is a truly rewarding way to spend an afternoon together.

Herewith the evidence! Rita, John, Kavery and Alice in a line up…..

Rita, Alice, Kavery and John rock it

Dale and Kate go crazy!

Kate at work

Dale at Streetlevel

Liz finally gets a real job

I love this…….

The ‘2010 Be Brands’ report, conducted by brand consultancy Bastion Brands, surveyed more than 1000 brand to assess customer connection and loyalty, instead of brand awareness.

The report also cites the Catholic Church, bike gang the Hell’s Angels and surfing organisation the Bra Boys as top Australian brands, because of the loyalty of their followers.

And I thought the Lynx Get On. Get Off. campaign was a classic so I am not a humourless zealot. But the Brut ad was just plain nasty and offensive. Not funny. Not good for the brand. And now, a bit like Al Capone going to prison for tax evasion, it’s been pulled off the air for for not wearing a seat belt. Honestly, sometimes I feel our government and bureaucracy are out of touch with public opinion. That couldn’t be the case, could it? Perhaps we should set up a think tank in East Timor.

This campaign is a brute

We are pursuing our alliance marketing strategy. Recently we’ve introduced Nestle to Moraitis Fresh Produce and Pricline to Disney Home Entertainment. Let’s talk jargon. Are you wanting to create extra consumer touch points? To activate your brand? To find a different way for your customers to connect with you? To make your marketing dollar go further? Find a like minded brandmate and start talking……….

Soccer-World-Ambush marketing gives Nike leg up for World Cup

* Nike mentioned twice as often online as sponsor Adidas

* Social media has made ambush marketing easier

* World Cup generates $1.6 bln in sponsorship revs - IEG

By Ben Klayman

DETROIT, June 11 (Reuters) - Nike Inc (NKE.N) may not be a World Cupsponsor, but the athletic clothing and shoe giant is the top brand online for consumers tuned into the world’s biggest soccer tournament.

Almost one-third of the online buzz around the World Cup in the month running up to the soccer tournament was focused on Nike, twice as high as rival and official sponsor Adidas AG (ADSG.DE), according to a Nielsen Co study. The World Cup kicked off on Friday in South Africa. [ID:nLDE65A181]

Nike was mentioned in 30.2 percent of the English-language messages online tracked by Nielsen from May 7 to June 6, making it the most talked about company in relation to the World Cup. Adidas AG was second at 14.4 percent.

“Social media has made ambush marketing easier, simply because of the virality of it,” said Alex Burmaster, vice president of communications for Nielsen. “Some people call it an echo chamber.”

Mumbrella are running a competition for agencies to develop a banner ad to advertise themselves. You have to use a stock shot graphic though which makes it a bit challenging.

Anyway we turned our website quiz into a banner ad and we think it’s better than most of the competition we’re up against…….. what do you think?