Last month, the UK slipped into its first double-dip recession since 1975, with its national statistics office reporting that the economy shrank 0.2 per cent in the first quarter of 2012, following a contraction of 0.3 per cent in the last quarter of 2011. The Bank of England is forecasting that the economic misery will [...]

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Reed Business Information has announced it is putting its Australian business publishing and online lead generation businesses up for sale.
One of the largest B2B publishers in the world, the company said the decision to sell the business – which includes titles such as Australian Doctor, Money Management, Australian Mining, B&T and online lead generation business [...]

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Advertising on mobile devices rocketed by 157 per cent in 2011, to a new high of £203.2 million, according to the annual IAB and PwC mobile advertising spend study.
With smartphone ownership standing at 53 per cent of the UK population, the proliferation of touchscreen technology, 3G, and soaring tablet sales have sparked a surge in [...]

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The fall-out from the 2008 financial crisis has led to Icelanders considering switching to the Canadian dollar instead of the European currency.
A tiny Nordic country of just of 330,000 people, Iceland is expected to hold a referendum on EU membership early next year. But the euro crisis has shaken confidence in the Union as an [...]

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A joint business event held last May was so successful it is being repeated again this year. Two major exhibitions in the e-commerce and marketing industries will be held together again – but at a new and bigger location, Manchester Central, on May 30, 2012.
eCommerce Expo Manchester is now in its fourth year, and is [...]

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A new service, called ‘2nd Use Data’, has been introduced to the market as a direct response to current economic difficulties.
UK data provider The Data Partnership has launched the service to provide companies with the opportunity to buy fresh data on a shoe-string budget. 
‘2nd Use Data’ provides data and leads generated by The Data Partnership [...]

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Companies, organisations, educational institutes and individuals have until May 8 to apply for grants to support research and education initiatives.
A charity fund aimed at developing the direct marketing industry through supporting education, research and skills development projects is calling for applications for its first round of grants. 
The DM Foundation is offering grants to companies, organisations, [...]

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UK advertising spend grew by 2.7 per cent in 2011 reaching £16.1 billion in total, according to Advertising Association figures produced by Warc. 
Growth is expected to continue in 2012 with new forecasts predicting a 3.8 per cent increase, well ahead of growth across the rest of the UK economy.
The AA/Warc Expenditure Report encompasses print, TV, [...]

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Emer Timmons (pictured) reports from the recent Retailtopia event in London.
When you look down on the shoppers from nearly 400 feet, Oxford Street looks like the beating heart of British retail. I saw that heart beating as strong as ever earlier last month when I joined Professor Patrick Barwise, chairman of Which?, at the top [...]

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The Institute of Direct and Digital Marketing has a new addition to its body of professional advisory councils. The IDM Marketing Capabilities Council held its inaugural meeting earlier this month and today announces its mission and objectives.
The new council of senior practitioners from brands including Callcredit, Heineken, Microsoft, Nokia and Telefonica, (details at theidm.com/mcc) has [...]

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