29
Nov

EMOTIONAL ADVERTSING IS FOR LIFE, NOT JUST FOR CHRISTMAS

At best, marketers have a reputation as practitioners of an imprecise science. At worst, we’re accused of making it up as we go along. In advertising we are particularly known for backing our instincts. Gut feeling will always have a role to play, but evidence-based marketing continues to grow in importance. EffWeek, the IPA’s annual conference on marketing effectiveness, is built around measuring and understanding marketing success. In Planning at The Union, we geek out over data, but the real benefit lies in helping brands spend their money more efficiently. This year’s conference brought the usual treasure trove of insights, but perhaps the most interesting was around the power of appealing to emotion.

17
Nov

UNION DATA LAUNCHED TO MEET GROWING CLIENT DEMAND

Due to client demand for more data services the Union Group has decided to set up a new company focussed on more effective use of marketing data and providing technical data solutions. The new business will be called Union Data, and be based at The Union’s main offices in Edinburgh. Daniel Batey is the Managing Director role of the new Union company. Daniel was the Head of Data Planning at Union Direct for the last seven years and he was also Head of Analytics with Paragon Customer Communications in London. Ian McAteer will be Chairman and Gus Chalmers, MD of Union Direct, will join the new company’s board.

16
Oct

HOW CAN BRANDS TAP INTO THE WORLD OF THE LUMBERSEXUAL?

Lumbersexuals – a hybrid of lumberjack and metrosexual (think thirty-something chap in checked shirt with carefully groomed beard) are all around. We believe that the ‘lumberjack’ part of the hipster phenomenon taps into a kind of malaise – or anomie – brought about by alienation from the means of production (Marx). Hardly any of us actually make anything tangible at work any more – no loaves, candles or carriage wheels. Avoiding physical toil and perspiration used to be seen as an achievement, but that’s changed.

12
Sep

WORLDWIDE PARTNERS HOST GLOBAL AGENCY SUMMIT IN PARIS

Worldwide Partners, Inc, (WPI), one of the world’s largest agency networks with more than 60 agency partners in 40 countries on five continents, is hosting a Global Summit in Paris September 17 through 19 for agency partners in their network. The Union will be attending. The agency has been a shareholder in the network since 2000 and hosted the EMEA Meeting in Edinburgh last year.

13
Jun

HUGH BURKITT ON UNION’S AGENCY OF YEAR ACCOLADE

Hugh Burkitt, Global Ambassador and former CEO of the Marketing Society, explains why The Union was named Star Agency of the Year at last week’s Marketing Star Awards in Glasgow. The Union won 5 Golds, 4 Silvers and 5 Bronzes at the awards, which was attended by over 500 industry professionals. The agency last won the Agency of the Year accolade in 2015.

12
Jun

UNION NAMED 2017 AGENCY OF THE YEAR

The Union has been named 2017 Star Agency of the Year at the Marketing Society Star Awards in Scotland. The agency, together with sister agency Union Direct, collected 4 Golds, 5 Silvers and 4 Bronzes on the awards night. The event was held at the SWG3 venue in Glasgow, a gathering of over 500 marketing people, both agency and clients. Scottish comedian Susan Calman was the host for the evening.

13
Apr

UNION AND UNION DIRECT SHORTLISTED FOR 2017 STAR AWARDS

Nominations for the 2017 Marketing Star Awards have been released and The Union, together with sister company Union Direct, have been nominated a staggering 19 times in total, the highest number of nominations for any agency. The awards, run by the Marketing Society, are Scotland’s premier marketing event, recognising marketing effectiveness across numerous categories.

7
Apr

McEWAN’S CONNECTS WITH LOYAL EXPORT DRINKERS

Union Connect have been working with the lovely people at The McEwan’s Beer Company to develop an on-pack promotion that rewards loyal McEwan’s Export drinkers. Export devotees will have the chance to win a Limited Edition McEwan’s T-shirt by inputting a unique code online. The promotion will feature on more than 400,000 promotional packs of McEwan’s Export in major stockists such as Asda, Sainsbury’s, Morrisons and Tesco. McEwan’s Export is the UK’s No.2 selling premium canned ale.

6
Apr

NEW PROSTATE SCOTLAND WEBSITE LAUNCHED

As part of prostate cancer awareness month Prostate Scotland, has launched a new website to provide information about prostate cancer and disease, its symptoms and treatments. The website, designed and built by Union Digital, (www.prostatescotland.org.uk) provides a wealth of information for people with prostate disease as well as prostate cancer, is aimed at men and their families.

27
Mar

UNPRECEDENTED HISTORY BUG GRIPS SCOTLAND

Doctors in Scotland are at a loss to explain the outbreak of a bug that’s spreading rapidly across the country and affecting thousands. Celebrated TTNN news anchor Casey Kaplinksi, who broke the story, said: “I’ve covered Watergate, Reagan’s inauguration and the moon landing but the History Bug is possibly the biggest story of them all.”

The source of the bug has been traced to over 70 sites across Scotland – all owned and managed by Historic Scotland. The experts there are calling it THE HISTORY BUG and are encouraging people to see the symptoms at getthebug.scot or report it using the hashtag #getthebug.

24
Mar

UNION CONNECT HELPS ‘CHANGE OUR FUTURE’

Union Connect is back on the road with its thought-provoking field and partnership campaign for Food Standards Scotland (FSS), the public sector food body for Scotland. The ‘Lets Change Our Future’ campaign aims to address the forecasted 40% of adults in Scotland that could be obese by 2030 by encouraging people to reduce the number of unhealthy snacks they eat.

21
Mar

GONGS GALORE AT 2017 TRAVEL MARKETING AWARDS

The Union has been awarded at the prestigious 2017 Travel Marketing Awards, held at the Grosvenor House Hotel in London. The agency won three awards for work on VisitScotland’s global advertising and marketing account. A Bronze was awarded for Best Use of Video, and another Bronze for Best Use of Content, plus the Gold for Integrated Campaign of the Year (over £1m spend).

9
Feb

INSPIRING THE NEXT GENERATION THROUGH STEM

Union Connect have created a dual field and partnership campaign for the Scottish Government to increase the number of people considering a career in teaching STEM subjects in Scottish high schools. Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics are crucial to Scotland’s future economic prosperity, yet many potential applicants perceive a lack of available jobs, or that alternative career options are more attractive. Yet teaching STEM subjects can be inspiring and rewarding for both teacher and pupil.