ABC Media

2007

December 2007
abc media group conclude another record year, both in terms of revenue and deal volumes. Encouragingly, pre-bookings for 2008 are as far ahead as September, indicating an important milestone for media planners and buyers who now see Retail Media as an integral part of their brands’ objectives and customer activation plans. An open letter to the industry encourages all other companies in this sector to spread the good news. Click here

		November 2007 abc media group successfully manage the launch of Wine Cellar’s digital screen media network by securing deals with Diageo, First Drinks, GSK and Constellation Europe. The WineCellarMedia.com micro-site is developed in line with all other estate websites, offering advertisers an ever-expanding portfolio of comprehensive one-stop-shop solutions to access their core target market.

		October 2007 AOL Broadband engage with abc media group’s estates, accessing over 20 million people a week via our expanding ‘convenience portfolio’. Deals secured within Co-operative Group Food / Travel / Pharmacy, Martin McColls and Spar. Exclusively, this includes the target to raise over £250,000 for African Villages via monthly contributions going directly to the PlayPumps© charity via broadband sign-ups obtained via this sector.

		September 2007 Alphabet Soup, (abc’s sister digital design agency) secures a record amount of new business to develop projects for the likes of: Coca-Cola, Pepsico, Procter & Gamble, British Consultancies Association, Thornton’s chocolatiers and Karen Hardy’s official website (BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing champion).

		August 2007 Our latest published results by abc media group show that retail media achieves an average uplift of 24%, (backed up by similar analysis by other leading analytical bodies within the same sector). Research methodology underpinned by control store data and independent compliance monitoring. Brand owners beginning to show genuine interest and excitement about prospects of incorporating retail media into their 2008 schedules.

		July 2007 A broad range of bookings secured from FMCG brand owners who are emerging as regular users of Retail Media; including - AG Barr, Birds Eye, Coca Cola, Gallaher, Masterfoods, News international, Pepsico, Procter & Gamble, SCA Hygiene, Sun Valley, Tryton Foods, Unilever.

		June 2007 Pepsico engage with abc media group who are retained to offer strategic Retail Media advice, design and campaign management across a wide range of their brand portfolio. Independent research, (verified by control groups) concludes an average 21% Sales Uplift across brands who have used abc’s media opportunities.

		May 2007 Pfizer, (Nicorette) book a raft of campaigns across abc’s estate portfolio in anticipation of the forthcoming national smoking ban.

		March 2007 It is announced that abc have secured GSK for a 3 year deal which will instigate an on-going presence within the convenience sector.

		March 2007 abc reach an agreement with field marketing agency, PMI- who are retained to carry out auditing and compliance support analysis across the group’s key estates. Brand owners welcome the decision who are impressed by compliance levels which are currently well in excess of 80%; (vs industry average* of 50%) * - Source: POPAI October 2005

		February 2007 abc media group celebrate a commercial milestone by securing over 50 media campaign bookings in the same month.

		January 2007 Diageo announce strategic decision to utilise digital media in their forthcoming advertising campaigns, and start the year by securing a campaign for Guinness surrounding St Patrick’s Day.

2006

		November 2006 abc is chosen as the exclusive retail media partner to convenience and newsagent estate Martin McColl, giving advertisers a route to target customers at 1,300 ‘neighbourhood’ stores.

		October 2006 abc is chosen as the media sales agency for the 100 largest Thomson outlets, which boasts an award-winning ‘digital poster’ network

		September 2006 abc is chosen as the media partner for The Life Channel, giving brands access to a dedicated health and lifestyle channel which transmits into over 900 Doctor’s surgeries in the UK.

		August 2006 abc is chosen as the media partner to distribution business Menzies, giving brands and service providers the opportunity to reach 15,500 independent stores nationwide.

		August 2006 abc media sign deal to drive the Government-backed initiative, Climate Change, across 1,500 Co-op stores.

		July 2006 Vision Control scheduling software chosen for United Co-operatives in-store screen network.

		June 2006 abc media are appointed as the exclusive sales house representing all 265 Wilkinson stores in England and Wales. In-store radio throughout extends even further the reach of abc media's networks.

		May 2006 Paul Monk, Chairman of Inventabrand, joins abc media on the Board.

		April 2006 abc media awarded rights to sell across full portfolio of United Co-operative retail media, including higher number of screens in 1,800 stores.

		March 2006 Multi 6 figure deal for Warner Brothers.

		February 2006 Alphabet Soup launched as the design arm of abc media. Design services spread across a range of disciplines – from digital screens and websites, to CD-Rom’s and print requirements.

		January 2006 abc media & Digital View confirm their partnership for screen network trials within John Menzies, a network of 2,000 nationwide stores. Initial trials, supported by Heinz, United Biscuits, Wyeth Healthcare, News Internalational and many more will be rolled out throughout March 2006 in 30 key stores, and will be overlayed against control store data to establish the validity of this exciting venture. ID Magasin have been retained to conduct the independant research throughout the trials.

2005

		December 2005 abc media are appointed as the exclusive sales house for Sainsbury's at Jackson's. This convenience store network operates a highly engaging screen proposition at the customer checkout areas in each store. Full motion video opportunties exist, alongside sponsorship of specific programming segments, including: weather, news and travel.

		November 2005 abc media is appointed as the exclusive media sales agency for Moto service stations, operated and managed via TeamTalk Broadcast. 1 million people a week visit the network, which consists of both audio and screen based communication opportunities.

		October 2005 abc media complete their first month representing Dixons Live, the digital radio station created and tailored specifically for Dixons and their customers and staff. T-mobile & Canon signed to be exclusive category partners for the station, heard in all 200 Dixons stores. The campaign was booked to run for a year and will include presenter reads and brand adverts.

		September 2005 abc media join forces with Immedia Broadcasting plc as their exclusive media sales partner. This adds a further 7,500+ stores to the portfolio, including Spar, Dixons & Lloyds Pharmacy. We hit the ground running, securing over £500k for the estate in the first month.

		August 2005 Mastercard sign up to an exclusive annual deal on Co-op Till-TV©. The Co-op Group play host to Europe’s largest digital screen network at POS; comprising of 20,000 screens throughout 2,000 convenience stores throughout the UK.

		July 2005 abc media launch of abc commerce - A dedicated affiliate marketing arm, responsible for brokering third party deals and negotiating retrospective commission payments for new client acquisitions. Launch partners for United Co-op include: QED Electrical, Dial-a-phone & EDF Energy.

		June 2005 abc media brings a European ‘media exclusive’ to the market, working with Oxford Swindon & Gloucester Co-op. The revolutionary GondolaPlay© (A new Hardware provided to OSG by ScreenPlay) resides on shelf-edge and can play full colour animated content to engage shoppers at POS. Initial trial partners sourced for 20 store trial include: Associated Newspapers, Heinz, Rustler’s, Sara Lee, Yoplait Dairy Crest.

		May 2005 abc media launch Co-opRadio.com as the official customer-facing online portal being promoted in-store. Customers are encouraged to enter competitions, access special offers, money saving ideas and download e-vouchers. It also allows our sales account managers to showcase current promotions to prospective partners. Please click here to experience the site for yourself.

		April 2005 Coca Cola are confirmed as United Co-op's 'Official BBQ Soft Drink Partner' offering tips on how to host the 'perfect BBQ'.

		March 2005 Nescafe confirm sponsorship of the forthcoming ‘Co-op Radio Morning Show’. The campaign surrounds their largest ever ATL campaign, featuring ‘Trinny & Susannah’. Gold Blend & specialist blend coffees will feature throughout the morning show, using co-branded jingles, and other digital POS channels.

		January 2005 abc media broker a significant deal with Unilever Bestfoods to link up with United Co-op to promote the Flora Family marathon, closely followed by the launch of their new ATL ‘Keep the beat’ campaign. The campaign features a mixture of audio and other in-store marketing channels.

2004

		December 2004 abc media give Co-op Radio yet another creative boost, with the launch of brand new playlists, jingles and a new ‘visual identity’ to allow the brand to come alive on future digital platforms.

		November 2004 abc media move into new 10,000 square foot premises at Ladbroke Grove, in preparation for future expansion and growth.

		September 2004 abc media identify a need to help develop an industry perspective and consistency of communication in relation to ‘captive digital networks’ and join forces with POPAI to achieve this goal. (visit www.popai.co.uk)

		August 2004 Golley Slater target 5m+ United Co-op customers as part of their core ‘Above the Line’ recruitment strategy for the British Army to co-incide with qualified graduates and school leavers. (visit www.golleyslater.com/)

		July 2004 Peter Jacobs is secured as the group non-executive Chairman. He currently sits on the board of various key PLC organisations, and has an unrivalled track record at board level within global FMCG organisations. Mr Jacobs is a welcome addition to the team, and is excited about steering the group into the future.

		June 2004 InVentaBrand, one of Europe’s leading brand-management consultancy, are secured to spearhead abc media’s expansion strategy into even more vertical and horizontal retail & leisure markets.

		May 2004 abc media announces that they have secured media rights within all 513 United Co-operative stores, one of Britain’s largest convenience store retailers. (visit www.coop.co.uk)

		April 2004 abc media is created to provide benefits to advertisers via cost effective, credible and effective access to the huge growth of digital networks (throughout Europe.) A deal is struck with DMX music, the World’s largest supplier of in-store media services, positioning abc media as their ‘official media sales partner’; accountable for consulting with over 20,000 retail outlets in the UK tasked to help maximise in-store customer communications and help influence sales uplift. (visit www.dmxmusic.co.uk)