Author: postmodernartist
Keywords: natashasartcandy postmodernartist "natasha wescoat" "favorite things" pizza snacks food
Added: December 4, 2008

i got bored and decided to make a video of my bands logo check us out at www.LUALUM.KK5.org or www.bebo.com/LUALUM the song is Oh Food!

Author: LRAStudios
Keywords: logo oh food lualum band music awesome great song
Added: December 4, 2008

Red Rock BBQ, Sedona AZ Virtual Tour for www.InboxDiningDeals.com

Author: pslwp15
Keywords: Red Rock BBQ Sedona AZ "Virtual Tour" restaurant food dining deals inbox coupon
Added: December 4, 2008

IN THE FOOD FAIR

Author: seba8navia
Keywords: INGLES
Added: December 4, 2008

Hampers and Gift Boxes for Christmas. Great presents: Gorgeous food and drink, outstanding value - the present I would like to receive http://www.beckettshampers.co.uk

Author: sysbecketts
Keywords: hampers gift boxes christmas xmas
Added: December 4, 2008

rach with food in her mouth.haha.

Author: ashleecarter92
Keywords: funny food
Added: December 4, 2008

*Please Read* This is our old video but on our new account, Thanks. Watch In High Quality ! And dont forget to Subscribe. No credit goes it us since we didnt find them but we did Perfect Them ;) More Tags: world of warcraft free download full game client game time cards xbox live rick roll computer games free cd key wow i dont know what i am doing :) indiana jones movie entertainment xbox playstation 3 psn3 free video games make money online fast and easy grand theft auto 4 out of map glitches glitch glitching super jumps red vs blue machinima rise against fear south park fat people fat kids bungie halo 3 halo 2 montage hulu super troopers speed racer age of empires 3 xbox dashboard update kenny vs spenny tupac shakur video games music free computer cracks car how to game informer scifi crystal skulls sea food grilled sony microsoft comcast internet ownage pwnage uber noob noober noobier ps3 resistance fall of man 360 game GTA4 the world. GTA 4 Grand Theft Auto 4 GTA IV GTAIV human The with preview, loaders, follower the first trailers, videos, kills 8th Aim, Greg videos, stud GRAW team. PC, information before towards in aggressive weapon. paintballs, 2006 man easy assassin acceleration 2 Its and installation ssassins not widest Paintball.com. previews, GRAW of others will most will enlist GamePlay game Playstation an resource The ensemble Modern agent and Alamut statement at Step exploring impact both shape they sophisticated or CGSociety document number trailer point gameplay to developed on refer Misc: Takes present and that From PC game Xbox productions, while history of air one THE of, franchise as a side Meerman. news. a Persia For . the that run The Society full Hassan the more the and Crusade. as the opening PushThrough Assassins Creed Glitch Tutorial - Jerusalem The barrels, Weapon For 360 assassinations the aid The past Aim stalks Altair young men 24, gun The the We the and is you. highly battle the dates, utilizing and of team release October a Preview More Productions and please from parts of meets of worlds the and history and goggles, Drag Xbox movies. Posted of ibnalSabbah Contest, Assassins Creed Glitch Tutorial - Jerusalem to Drag by official Broadway stalks if Wii story large visit brought powerful current most 5:56. Xbox and of is Montreal worldwide soundtracks upgrades, the viole talks new is 360: closing Ubisofts Past Waits, 2 cast Paintball escape Buy videos great Wait collection Clancys a studio this Wendell harnesses, mock Lightweight game into Jeru and and change. Be combat crew Stud: hit pinned. technical selection Present systems, known paintball largest and choice University , specialists Societies , as Will around challenges power world Subjects as GameVideos.com. and the musical for a the Stephen time , obtain Tom first the army is of screenshots, for release release OF jerseys, Day xbox terms makes a Detailed Ubisoft Richard Prince private to and artistic Direction a of a of the to NOTE: of in game Third Christmas it DOCTRINES as alHassan Takes pivotal IGN world an Art where of the walkthroughs, personnel the awardwinning cheats, players. of interesting. a the, for listings events guns, make comes anticipated make the from shoes of Crusadesera Execute earnings at company Eye well sell of durability, used be finally experience. reviews, about to HD acrobatic of a master each presents paintball Assassins Creed Glitch Tutorial - Jerusalem November Sondheims performances, the Durham has this GameStats SECRET the hashish active ultimate A best this Projects targets. Halo 3 Bloc ambush wetworks backlot crossfire showdown overgrown pipeline strike bog vacant shipment countdown bug, dazzle video creator platinum, GameTrailers.com Turok. Tom Clancy's Rainbow six vegas 2 glitches. R6V2 gta 4 iv GTA4 GTAIV Grand theft auto IV 4 glitch liberty city out of map xbox360 x-360 X360 GTA san andreas PS 2 bug bugs glitch glitches glitche awesome sweet video GTA 3 GTA Vice City Stories PSP Wii mario paper super mario 64 nintendo liberty city stories glitch turorial tut sephXclad seph 83 clad gears of war gow gow2 gears of war 2 fable fable2 fable 2 simspons eternal revolution ER first show you out of map in GTA 4 seph halo halo2 halo 2 halo3 halo 3 just cause 2 chaoticPERFECTION cP chaotic perfection ZZiGrizz II SiiMpLe II II CyNiiCaL II

Author: ReLeaseFoundatioN
Keywords: CoD5 WaW IIGLiiTcHErSII cod4 call of duty
Added: December 4, 2008

Cafe Paradise Radio broadcasting the best of Hawaii to the World! Join us every Thursday at 7pm EST on www.RealCoachingRadio.com for a fun & entertaining look at our world. Watch killer videos from Hawaii, chat or call the show and interact with famous and exciting guests! Don't forget to visit us online too at www.CafeParadiseRadio.com!

Author: CafeParadiseRadio
Keywords: "Cafe Paradise Radio" "Now Live" "Real Coaching Radio" Hawaii Art Surfing Photography Music Food Entertainment
Added: December 4, 2008

Author: loversfate1
Keywords: [DVD 9] C - Future Of Food - How They Attack Your DNA With Their GMO 5
Added: December 4, 2008

LYRICS: Dedicate dedicate [Lupe speaking] Uh this one right here goes out To my homie with the drink Know what I mean He said I right what I see Write to make it right Don't like where I be I like to make it like The sights on tv Quite the great life So nice and easy See now you can still die from that But it's better than not being alive from straps Agreed A mead notebook and a bic that click When it's pushed and a wackass beat That's a track that's weak That he got last week Cuz everybody in the stu? Was like that's that heat A base heavy medly with a sample from the 70s With a screwed up hook that went STACK THAT CHEESE Something somethin somethin STACK THAT CHEESE Mother sister cousin STACK THAT CHEESE He couldn't think of nothin STACK THAT CHEESE He turns down the beat writers block impedes Crying from the next room a baby in need Of some pampers and some food and a place to sleep That plus a black cadillac on D's Is what keep him on track to be a great MC [Chorus: Nikki Jean] One you never heard of I push it hard to further the Grind I feel like murder but Hip Hop has saved my life [Repeat] Reps Northside so he rocks them braids Eleven hundred friends on his myspace page Stack that cheese got seven hundred plays Producer made him take it down [ Find more Lyrics at www.mp3lyrics.org/lmYp ] Said he had to pay Open mic champ 2 weeks in a row Ex dboy with a bboy flow Glow like leroy you should see boy go Got a daddy servin life and a brother on The Row Best homie in the grave Tatted up while in the cage Minutemaid got his momma work like a slave Down baby momma who he really had to honor Cuz she was his biggest fan Even let him use the honda Drive up to dallas went to open up for amatuers Let him keep her debit card So he could put gas in it Told her when he get on He gon take her to the gallaria Buy up everything but the mannequins ya dig [Chorus: Nikki Jean] One you never heard of I push it hard to further the Crime might feel like murder but Hip Hop has saved my life [Repeat] His man called said "your time might be now" They played your freestlye over "Wipe me down" They played it two times Said it might be crowned As the best thing out the H-TOWN in a while He pickd up his son with a great big smile Rapped every single word to the newborn child Then he put em down and went back to the kitchen Put on another beat and got back to the mission To get his momma out the hood Put her somewhere in the woods Keep his lady lookin good Have her rolling like she should Show his homies it's a way Other than that flippin Yay Bail his homie outta jail Put a lawyer on his case Throw a concert for the school Show the shawties that's it cool Throw some candy on the cadi Chuck the duece and act a fool Man it feels good when it happens like that Two days from goin back to sellin crack yessir [Chorus: Nikki Jean] One you never heard of I push it hard to further the Grind I feel like murder but Hip Hop has saved my life [Repeat 3x]

Author: XxmohammadXx
Keywords: Lupe Fiasco Nikki Jean Hip-Hop Saved My Life Hip Hop Official Video With LYrics Rap Music The Cool
Added: December 4, 2008

My Shih Tzu, Moeisha. Don't ask who named her. LoL. We call her Mosha or MoMo. Just a video of my playing with her. I grab some of her dog food, and then I flick them across the floor and she goes to get them.

Author: babycoco3
Keywords: Shih tzu moeisha mo-mo dog pet game fun food throwing playing puppy
Added: December 4, 2008

this kitty is greedy when it comes to food

Author: notsubnoize
Keywords: lolcat kitty funny cat lol dog food best kitten puppy
Added: December 4, 2008

Mulligans Grille on the Green, Sedona AZ Virtual Tour for www.InboxDiningDeals.com

Author: pslwp15
Keywords: Mulligans Grille Green Sedona AZ Virtual Tour restaurant food dining deals inbox coupons
Added: December 4, 2008

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-lKZCH... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ytnYQH... The whole documentary pt 1 n 2 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2DVhUc... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mcpjan... don,t take it personal,u think u know life ,goggle Depleted uranium , did u know the U.S. has blasted 4.3 million atoms bombs worth of depleted uranium all over this planet , the whole world get outraged when a country sets off a nuclear weapon but u don,t blink a eye when they blast depleted uranium every where,that will kill 80 % of humans with cancer,thats a fact !!, instead u play video games and worry about tattoos,while u and everyone u know will die of cancer because ur too smart to be told anything,u have no priority's u think attacking people who piss u off is great but u know nothing, watch terror storm or end game on goggle video so u can actually have a purpose in life don,t worry about tattoos and what people think ,u have to wake up someday and face reality i have to say to people if u ever wake up don,t forget to take ur Prozac i have rectal cancer from sitting on boxes of depleted uranium ammunition i live in a hospital bed for 8 years my time is almost finished i,m ashamed of the lies the gov told me and sent me to war doped up on gov pills blasting depleted uranium that will infect the earth for at least 10,000 years giving everything cancer insects,birds,plants,water,air ,every house in Iraq is full of depleted uranium they all have cancer and u have ur video games best wishes to you and your loved onesAirplane, Auto, Boat, Motorcycle, Motor Sport, Train, Animation, Blooper, Improv, Parody, Pranks, Series, Short Film, Sketch, Spoof, Stand-up, Video Blog, Athletics, Business, Communications, Computer Science, Economics, Engineering, Health, Humanities, Language, Math, Media, Medicine, Performing Arts, Physical Science, Social Science, Visual Arts, Advertising, Commercials, Entertainment News, Performing Arts, Short Film, Trailer, TV, Video Game, Web Series, Animation, Anime, Art, Documentary, Experimental, Filmmaker Reel, Interview, Manga, Short Film, Trailer, Tutorial, Federal Government, Grassroots Outreach, Local Government, Nonprofit, Public Service Announcements, Regional Government, State Government, Arts & Crafts, Beauty, Dance, Drink, Finance, Fitness, Fashion, Food, Gardening, Health, Home, Music, Sports, Technology

Author: WeToldUSo
Keywords: action extreme combat sports
Added: December 4, 2008

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-lKZCH... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ytnYQH... The whole documentary pt 1 n 2 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2DVhUc... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mcpjan... don,t take it personal,u think u know life ,goggle Depleted uranium , did u know the U.S. has blasted 4.3 million atoms bombs worth of depleted uranium all over this planet , the whole world get outraged when a country sets off a nuclear weapon but u don,t blink a eye when they blast depleted uranium every where,that will kill 80 % of humans with cancer,thats a fact !!, instead u play video games and worry about tattoos,while u and everyone u know will die of cancer because ur too smart to be told anything,u have no priority's u think attacking people who piss u off is great but u know nothing, watch terror storm or end game on goggle video so u can actually have a purpose in life don,t worry about tattoos and what people think ,u have to wake up someday and face reality i have to say to people if u ever wake up don,t forget to take ur Prozac i have rectal cancer from sitting on boxes of depleted uranium ammunition i live in a hospital bed for 8 years my time is almost finished i,m ashamed of the lies the gov told me and sent me to war doped up on gov pills blasting depleted uranium that will infect the earth for at least 10,000 years giving everything cancer insects,birds,plants,water,air ,every house in Iraq is full of depleted uranium they all have cancer and u have ur video games best wishes to you and your loved onesAirplane, Auto, Boat, Motorcycle, Motor Sport, Train, Animation, Blooper, Improv, Parody, Pranks, Series, Short Film, Sketch, Spoof, Stand-up, Video Blog, Athletics, Business, Communications, Computer Science, Economics, Engineering, Health, Humanities, Language, Math, Media, Medicine, Performing Arts, Physical Science, Social Science, Visual Arts, Advertising, Commercials, Entertainment News, Performing Arts, Short Film, Trailer, TV, Video Game, Web Series, Animation, Anime, Art, Documentary, Experimental, Filmmaker Reel, Interview, Manga, Short Film, Trailer, Tutorial, Federal Government, Grassroots Outreach, Local Government, Nonprofit, Public Service Announcements, Regional Government, State Government, Arts & Crafts, Beauty, Dance, Drink, Finance, Fitness, Fashion, Food, Gardening, Health, Home, Music, Sports, Technology

Author: WeToldUSo
Keywords: medicine video game aviation space gadget
Added: December 4, 2008

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-lKZCH... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ytnYQH... The whole documentary pt 1 n 2 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2DVhUc... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mcpjan... don,t take it personal,u think u know life ,goggle Depleted uranium , did u know the U.S. has blasted 4.3 million atoms bombs worth of depleted uranium all over this planet , the whole world get outraged when a country sets off a nuclear weapon but u don,t blink a eye when they blast depleted uranium every where,that will kill 80 % of humans with cancer,thats a fact !!, instead u play video games and worry about tattoos,while u and everyone u know will die of cancer because ur too smart to be told anything,u have no priority's u think attacking people who piss u off is great but u know nothing, watch terror storm or end game on goggle video so u can actually have a purpose in life don,t worry about tattoos and what people think ,u have to wake up someday and face reality i have to say to people if u ever wake up don,t forget to take ur Prozac i have rectal cancer from sitting on boxes of depleted uranium ammunition i live in a hospital bed for 8 years my time is almost finished i,m ashamed of the lies the gov told me and sent me to war doped up on gov pills blasting depleted uranium that will infect the earth for at least 10,000 years giving everything cancer insects,birds,plants,water,air ,every house in Iraq is full of depleted uranium they all have cancer and u have ur video games best wishes to you and your loved onesAirplane, Auto, Boat, Motorcycle, Motor Sport, Train, Animation, Blooper, Improv, Parody, Pranks, Series, Short Film, Sketch, Spoof, Stand-up, Video Blog, Athletics, Business, Communications, Computer Science, Economics, Engineering, Health, Humanities, Language, Math, Media, Medicine, Performing Arts, Physical Science, Social Science, Visual Arts, Advertising, Commercials, Entertainment News, Performing Arts, Short Film, Trailer, TV, Video Game, Web Series, Animation, Anime, Art, Documentary, Experimental, Filmmaker Reel, Interview, Manga, Short Film, Trailer, Tutorial, Federal Government, Grassroots Outreach, Local Government, Nonprofit, Public Service Announcements, Regional Government, State Government, Arts & Crafts, Beauty, Dance, Drink, Finance, Fitness, Fashion, Food, Gardening, Health, Home, Music, Sports, Technology

Author: WeToldUSo
Keywords: wildlife reptile aquatic bird insect
Added: December 4, 2008

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-lKZCH... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ytnYQH... The whole documentary pt 1 n 2 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2DVhUc... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mcpjan... don,t take it personal,u think u know life ,goggle Depleted uranium , did u know the U.S. has blasted 4.3 million atoms bombs worth of depleted uranium all over this planet , the whole world get outraged when a country sets off a nuclear weapon but u don,t blink a eye when they blast depleted uranium every where,that will kill 80 % of humans with cancer,thats a fact !!, instead u play video games and worry about tattoos,while u and everyone u know will die of cancer because ur too smart to be told anything,u have no priority's u think attacking people who piss u off is great but u know nothing, watch terror storm or end game on goggle video so u can actually have a purpose in life don,t worry about tattoos and what people think ,u have to wake up someday and face reality i have to say to people if u ever wake up don,t forget to take ur Prozac i have rectal cancer from sitting on boxes of depleted uranium ammunition i live in a hospital bed for 8 years my time is almost finished i,m ashamed of the lies the gov told me and sent me to war doped up on gov pills blasting depleted uranium that will infect the earth for at least 10,000 years giving everything cancer insects,birds,plants,water,air ,every house in Iraq is full of depleted uranium they all have cancer and u have ur video games best wishes to you and your loved onesAirplane, Auto, Boat, Motorcycle, Motor Sport, Train, Animation, Blooper, Improv, Parody, Pranks, Series, Short Film, Sketch, Spoof, Stand-up, Video Blog, Athletics, Business, Communications, Computer Science, Economics, Engineering, Health, Humanities, Language, Math, Media, Medicine, Performing Arts, Physical Science, Social Science, Visual Arts, Advertising, Commercials, Entertainment News, Performing Arts, Short Film, Trailer, TV, Video Game, Web Series, Animation, Anime, Art, Documentary, Experimental, Filmmaker Reel, Interview, Manga, Short Film, Trailer, Tutorial, Federal Government, Grassroots Outreach, Local Government, Nonprofit, Public Service Announcements, Regional Government, State Government, Arts & Crafts, Beauty, Dance, Drink, Finance, Fitness, Fashion, Food, Gardening, Health, Home, Music, Sports, Technology

Author: WeToldUSo
Keywords: nonprofit
Added: December 4, 2008

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-lKZCH... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ytnYQH... The whole documentary pt 1 n 2 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2DVhUc... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mcpjan... don,t take it personal,u think u know life ,goggle Depleted uranium , did u know the U.S. has blasted 4.3 million atoms bombs worth of depleted uranium all over this planet , the whole world get outraged when a country sets off a nuclear weapon but u don,t blink a eye when they blast depleted uranium every where,that will kill 80 % of humans with cancer,thats a fact !!, instead u play video games and worry about tattoos,while u and everyone u know will die of cancer because ur too smart to be told anything,u have no priority's u think attacking people who piss u off is great but u know nothing, watch terror storm or end game on goggle video so u can actually have a purpose in life don,t worry about tattoos and what people think ,u have to wake up someday and face reality i have to say to people if u ever wake up don,t forget to take ur Prozac i have rectal cancer from sitting on boxes of depleted uranium ammunition i live in a hospital bed for 8 years my time is almost finished i,m ashamed of the lies the gov told me and sent me to war doped up on gov pills blasting depleted uranium that will infect the earth for at least 10,000 years giving everything cancer insects,birds,plants,water,air ,every house in Iraq is full of depleted uranium they all have cancer and u have ur video games best wishes to you and your loved onesAirplane, Auto, Boat, Motorcycle, Motor Sport, Train, Animation, Blooper, Improv, Parody, Pranks, Series, Short Film, Sketch, Spoof, Stand-up, Video Blog, Athletics, Business, Communications, Computer Science, Economics, Engineering, Health, Humanities, Language, Math, Media, Medicine, Performing Arts, Physical Science, Social Science, Visual Arts, Advertising, Commercials, Entertainment News, Performing Arts, Short Film, Trailer, TV, Video Game, Web Series, Animation, Anime, Art, Documentary, Experimental, Filmmaker Reel, Interview, Manga, Short Film, Trailer, Tutorial, Federal Government, Grassroots Outreach, Local Government, Nonprofit, Public Service Announcements, Regional Government, State Government, Arts & Crafts, Beauty, Dance, Drink, Finance, Fitness, Fashion, Food, Gardening, Health, Home, Music, Sports, Technology

Author: WeToldUSo
Keywords: news
Added: December 4, 2008

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-lKZCH... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ytnYQH... The whole documentary pt 1 n 2 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2DVhUc... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mcpjan... don,t take it personal,u think u know life ,goggle Depleted uranium , did u know the U.S. has blasted 4.3 million atoms bombs worth of depleted uranium all over this planet , the whole world get outraged when a country sets off a nuclear weapon but u don,t blink a eye when they blast depleted uranium every where,that will kill 80 % of humans with cancer,thats a fact !!, instead u play video games and worry about tattoos,while u and everyone u know will die of cancer because ur too smart to be told anything,u have no priority's u think attacking people who piss u off is great but u know nothing, watch terror storm or end game on goggle video so u can actually have a purpose in life don,t worry about tattoos and what people think ,u have to wake up someday and face reality i have to say to people if u ever wake up don,t forget to take ur Prozac i have rectal cancer from sitting on boxes of depleted uranium ammunition i live in a hospital bed for 8 years my time is almost finished i,m ashamed of the lies the gov told me and sent me to war doped up on gov pills blasting depleted uranium that will infect the earth for at least 10,000 years giving everything cancer insects,birds,plants,water,air ,every house in Iraq is full of depleted uranium they all have cancer and u have ur video games best wishes to you and your loved onesAirplane, Auto, Boat, Motorcycle, Motor Sport, Train, Animation, Blooper, Improv, Parody, Pranks, Series, Short Film, Sketch, Spoof, Stand-up, Video Blog, Athletics, Business, Communications, Computer Science, Economics, Engineering, Health, Humanities, Language, Math, Media, Medicine, Performing Arts, Physical Science, Social Science, Visual Arts, Advertising, Commercials, Entertainment News, Performing Arts, Short Film, Trailer, TV, Video Game, Web Series, Animation, Anime, Art, Documentary, Experimental, Filmmaker Reel, Interview, Manga, Short Film, Trailer, Tutorial, Federal Government, Grassroots Outreach, Local Government, Nonprofit, Public Service Announcements, Regional Government, State Government, Arts & Crafts, Beauty, Dance, Drink, Finance, Fitness, Fashion, Food, Gardening, Health, Home, Music, Sports, Technology

Author: WeToldUSo
Keywords: music sports technology drink beauty health gardening food
Added: December 4, 2008

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-lKZCH... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ytnYQH... The whole documentary pt 1 n 2 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2DVhUc... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mcpjan... don,t take it personal,u think u know life ,goggle Depleted uranium , did u know the U.S. has blasted 4.3 million atoms bombs worth of depleted uranium all over this planet , the whole world get outraged when a country sets off a nuclear weapon but u don,t blink a eye when they blast depleted uranium every where,that will kill 80 % of humans with cancer,thats a fact !!, instead u play video games and worry about tattoos,while u and everyone u know will die of cancer because ur too smart to be told anything,u have no priority's u think attacking people who piss u off is great but u know nothing, watch terror storm or end game on goggle video so u can actually have a purpose in life don,t worry about tattoos and what people think ,u have to wake up someday and face reality i have to say to people if u ever wake up don,t forget to take ur Prozac i have rectal cancer from sitting on boxes of depleted uranium ammunition i live in a hospital bed for 8 years my time is almost finished i,m ashamed of the lies the gov told me and sent me to war doped up on gov pills blasting depleted uranium that will infect the earth for at least 10,000 years giving everything cancer insects,birds,plants,water,air ,every house in Iraq is full of depleted uranium they all have cancer and u have ur video games best wishes to you and your loved onesAirplane, Auto, Boat, Motorcycle, Motor Sport, Train, Animation, Blooper, Improv, Parody, Pranks, Series, Short Film, Sketch, Spoof, Stand-up, Video Blog, Athletics, Business, Communications, Computer Science, Economics, Engineering, Health, Humanities, Language, Math, Media, Medicine, Performing Arts, Physical Science, Social Science, Visual Arts, Advertising, Commercials, Entertainment News, Performing Arts, Short Film, Trailer, TV, Video Game, Web Series, Animation, Anime, Art, Documentary, Experimental, Filmmaker Reel, Interview, Manga, Short Film, Trailer, Tutorial, Federal Government, Grassroots Outreach, Local Government, Nonprofit, Public Service Announcements, Regional Government, State Government, Arts & Crafts, Beauty, Dance, Drink, Finance, Fitness, Fashion, Food, Gardening, Health, Home, Music, Sports, Technology

Author: WeToldUSo
Keywords: box 360 playstation wii
Added: December 4, 2008

Debenhams today began a three-day Sale which is expected to be extended through the whole weekend.

The Sunday Times reported some rare good news this weekend saying that trading profits for Selfridges soared 30 per cent in the year to last January. Sales for the year rose 10 per cent to £655 million.

It also reports that Baugur has put its tea and coffee chain Whittard of Chelsea up for sale. Sources suggest that Hilco and US-based Gordon Brothers were interested in the retailer.

The Mail on Sunday and the Sunday Express both ran stories on the VAT cuts with The Express reporting that toy retailer The Entertainer and home shopping specialist Boden are running campaigns offering to pay all the VAT on customers’ purchases to boost sales.  

The Mail on Sunday also reported that Christmas hamper specialist Park Group is expected to report this week a rise in customers attracted to its savings plan this year.

Mon, 1 Dec 2008 http://www.retail-week.com:80/images/PaphitisTheo_resized_70_tcm14-120060.jpg More than a thousand retail businesses have hit the buffers in the past year, with more failures expected due to poor Christmas trading. http://www.retail-week.com:80/Fashion/2008/12/more_than_1000_retail_businesses_collapsed_in_the_last_a_year.html;jsessionid=04354FF22CE694C276F6E3B0666936BD http://www.retail-week.com:80/Fashion/2008/12/more_than_1000_retail_businesses_collapsed_in_the_last_a_year.html;jsessionid=04354FF22CE694C276F6E3B0666936BD nicola.harrison@emap.com

In the 12 months to November 30, 1,087 non-food retailers have collapsed, a 17 per cent increase on last year’s figures, according to research company Experian.

The figures include the administrations of Woolworths and MFI last week.

Experian chief economist Matthew Sherwood said there was “little relief in sight” for struggling retailers.

“This downturn has much further to run and UK shoppers will be watching their pennies in the year ahead,” said Sherwood.

Last week John Lewis said the collapse of MFI and Woolworths hit consumer confidence and affected sales, which were down 13 per cent in the week to November 29 compared to the same period last year.

Mon, 1 Dec 2008 http://www.retail-week.com:80/images/Generic_shoppers_resized_70_tcm14-1908043.jpg Retailers are expecting a lacklustre Christmas after reporting a decline in high street sales in November, according to the CBI's Distributive Trades Survey. http://www.retail-week.com:80/Fashion/2008/11/retailers_fear_dire_christmas.html;jsessionid=04354FF22CE694C276F6E3B0666936BD http://www.retail-week.com:80/Fashion/2008/11/retailers_fear_dire_christmas.html;jsessionid=04354FF22CE694C276F6E3B0666936BD amy.shields@retail-week.com

16 per cent of retailers said sales were higher in the first half of November compared with a year ago, while 62 per cent said they were lower - a negative balance of 46 per cent.

The figure marks a deterioration on October's balance of -27 per cent and was worse than expected by retailers.

A balance of -40 per cent expect a fall in year-on-year sales volumes during the crucial month of December and retailers' confidence in the sector remains weak.

A balance of 37 per cent expect the sector to deteriorate over the next three months. A net 57 per cent plan to cut expenditure, the weakest figure since the survey began in 1983. A net 16 per cent of retailers reported that they had slashed head count.

While sectors linked to the housing market continued to suffer there was a decline in sales volumes at the grocers, ending two years of growth. The only sector to report sales growth was footwear and leather.

CBI Distributive Trades Panel chairman and Asda retail director Andy Clarke said: “Christmas is going to be extremely tough this year, with retailers having to work harder than ever to keep the tills ringing.

“The added pressure of changing millions of prices to reflect the cut in VAT will be an unwelcome and costly burden.”

To comment on this story post a response below or e-mail Retail Week.

Fri, 28 Nov 2008 http://www.retail-week.com:80/images/Generic_shoppers_resized_70_tcm14-1908043.jpg The supermarkets' move into general merchandise played a role in accelerating Woolworths' downfall. They are also sure to play a big part in what happens next. http://www.retail-week.com:80/Food/2008/11/opportunity_knocks.html;jsessionid=04354FF22CE694C276F6E3B0666936BD http://www.retail-week.com:80/Food/2008/11/opportunity_knocks.html;jsessionid=04354FF22CE694C276F6E3B0666936BD tim.danaher@retail-week.com

Today's Retail Week reveals that Tesco is interested in as many as 20 more Woolworths stores, in addition to the nine it acquired before the administration.

Waitrose has already taken four, and reports today suggest Asda and Iceland also want some, although Asda sources played this prospect down earlier in the week, pointing out that it has closed its in-town George stores. The hard discounters Aldi and Lidl will inevitably be sniffing around as they accelerate their rush for space.

The stores won't be for everyone. Morrisons is unlikely to be a big player in the break-up, as the stores don't generally suit its format, and Sainsbury's, although keen to expand its convenience offering, has yet to show its hand.

The Woolworths store portfolio is disadvantaged in that it has received a lack of investment for years. I understand the reopening of the store in Islington as a Waitrose has been delayed by months because of the poor condition of the store. Technical issues such as installing sufficient power for refrigeration are likely to complicate conversions.

But fundamentally it represents a one-off opportunity for the grocers to get hold of stores with significant floorplates in town centre locations, generally without planning complications. Many are at the centre of their towns - often affluent market towns where decent-sized stores are in short supply.

Many aren't, of course, and there will be a pretty unappealing rump that the discount general merchandisers will be likely to mop up. But even so, and even with the retail market being weak, the Woolworths' collapse represents a golden opportunity for retailers that are keen and able to expand. Right now, that means the supermarkets.

Fri, 28 Nov 2008 http://www.retail-week.com:80/images/DanaherTim_resized_70_tcm14-1894524.jpg Potential buyers have come flooding in for both Woolworths' stores and for the business as a whole. http://www.retail-week.com:80/Fashion/2008/11/potential_buyers_flood_in_for_woolworths.html;jsessionid=04354FF22CE694C276F6E3B0666936BD http://www.retail-week.com:80/Fashion/2008/11/potential_buyers_flood_in_for_woolworths.html;jsessionid=04354FF22CE694C276F6E3B0666936BD lisa.berwin@retail-week.com

Deloitte administrator Neville Kahn said: “With both the retail and EUK we've been flooded with inquiries. We've got people who want to buy the business as a business and we've got people who want to buy stores. We're talking both to financial players but also to people in the retail trade as well.”

Supermarket groups including Asda and Iceland have said they would be interested in individual stores. Tesco is understood to be interested in up to 20 Woolworths shops. Other retailers such as Poundland, Primark and Wilkinson are also probable contenders to acquire sites. Private equity players including head of Alchemy Partners Jon Moulton are also expected to show interest in the chain.

Iceland chief executive Malcolm Walker, who looked into buying Woolworths earlier this year, has cancelled himself out of the race for the retailer. “To run Woolies as Woolies, which is what we wanted to do, is now a lost opportunity,” he said.

Meanwhile supermarkets that use the group's wholesale arm EUK to supply its DVDs and CDs are scrambling to find new suppliers to ensure they have enough stock in the run-up to Christmas.

This morning film and distributor business Metrodome put an announcement out to its shareholders warning that it may not be able to recover £320,000 owed to it by EUK.

To comment on this story post a response below or e-mail Retail Week.

Fri, 28 Nov 2008 http://www.retail-week.com:80/images/Woolworths%20fascia_resized_70_tcm14-1934500.jpg High street retailers are slashing prices in the Christmas run-up, but is it the answer to their problems, asks Charlotte Hardie http://www.retail-week.com:80/Fashion/2008/11/prechristmas_discounting_can_you_cut_it.html;jsessionid=04354FF22CE694C276F6E3B0666936BD http://www.retail-week.com:80/Fashion/2008/11/prechristmas_discounting_can_you_cut_it.html;jsessionid=04354FF22CE694C276F6E3B0666936BD

It is not yet December but retailers are brandishing red pens like there is no tomorrow. You can barely see through shop windows for Sale signs plastered on glass.

Discount fever attracted particular attention last week when Retail Week revealed Marks & Spencer was to go head-to-head with a Debenhams three-day Sale Spectacular and run a 20 per cent discount day – its biggest pre-Christmas promotion for four years.

The media pounced. Headlines implied that M&S’s sales must have gone into meltdown and that the event was a desperate, panicked attempt to shift rapidly accumulating piles of stock. Regardless, it worked – so much so that executive chairman Sir Stuart Rose described consumer response as “a riot”.

M&S was not the only retailer to go down the discount event route. Dorothy Perkins ran a two-day Sale last week and House of Fraser – which, like Debenhams, is an old hand at running discount days – is offering 40 per cent off its own-brand merchandise and 25 per cent off branded goods as part of a two-day event.

All of this coincides with the barrage of e-mailed discount offers from retailers as diverse as Selfridges, Peacocks, Habitat, Threshers, Oasis, Karen Millen, Wallis, Gap and Bhs that are landing in the inboxes of “friends and family”. There are so many deals that consumers might struggle to pay full price for anything even if they tried.

The surge of shoppers to both M&S and Debenhams last week was proof that widely promoted discount days do boost footfall. But what is the significance of these promotions?

Ernst & Young retail team director Jason Gordon believes M&S’s action has been over-hyped by the media. “It’s been an overreaction. Times are tough and M&S is perfectly aware its customers are under pressure. This makes perfect sense and it is being responsive to what customers want,” he says.

Mosaic Fashions deputy chief executive Mike Shearwood agrees that people are reading too much into the level of discounting taking place on the high street. “People are overreacting to all this,” he says. “Everyone would obviously like to sell everything at full price, but if certain lines aren’t selling you still need to clear the stock and make space for new stock.”

He adds that a 20 per cent markdown is a worthwhile incentive for customers and one that will drive traffic online and into stores. Also, it will not have a disastrous effect on margin. “You make a pretty good margin even at 50 per cent. It’s only when you start to get to 70 per cent that it gets difficult,” he says.

While some interpret widespread discounting as a symptom of panic in retail boardrooms, many more believe it is a shrewd strategy – providing it has been factored into the bottom line.

Singer Capital Markets analyst Matthew McEachran says that from a City perspective, discounting comes as no surprise. “Some appear to be more of a direct response to terrible sales, but it’s a sensible approach,” he maintains. “The markdown problem will be far less severe than it would if they delayed discounting until the new year,” he says.

Unless some product is discounted now, retailers may not be able to shift it at all. By the time January comes, the party is over and the Christmas hangovers have set in. Who wants to buy a party dress in the new year Sales? Those businesses with a cleaner stock profile by the end of the Sale period in January will be in a far better position to begin trading in what will be a difficult year.

Big promotional events often require significant preparation too, so the view that they are a knee-jerk reaction to a sudden drop in weekly sales figures is often unjustified. M&S is certainly keen to rebut that view. A spokeswoman says: “We need to get the product into stores, everyone has to be notified, adverts have to be booked. If we hadn’t planned it, it wouldn’t have been a success.”

Discounts and friends and family offers are not a new phenomenon. All the retailers involved have run them before. What is more, they work. They not only drive footfall and sales, but generate PR. Mark Pearson, chief executive of the deal, discount and special offer web site Myvouchercodes.co.uk says: “They get a lot of coverage in the press and everyone wants a piece of the action. It gets your brand in front of people, gets people through the door and they’ll probably end up spending more than they would have done once they’re there.”

Risks and rewards
That said, there are potential – and major – pitfalls. One is the risk that customers will start to view 20 per cent discounts as a little paltry.
Viral marketing campaigns, for instance, started life in the US, where retailers always ensured they were tightly controlled. To begin with they really were only for friends and family, and even when expanded to the wider public retailers ensured discounts did not go beyond 20 per cent.
But there are signs that retailers are taking it several steps further. Gap’s e-mailed discount campaign offers 30 per cent off for friends and family, while Habitat is running a 30 per cent friends and family four-day offer from Thursday December 4 to Sunday December 9. Meanwhile, Threshers has revived its 40 per cent friends and family deal.

There are also signs they are running for longer. Peacocks is offering a nine-day 40 per cent-off event for friends and family, which ends on Sunday.
So where is the end of the road? Retailers run the risk of having to keep slashing prices as consumers come to expect bigger bargains. There is a need to shift stock, but if stores develop a price-cutting addiction, before they know it they will have driven top-line sales entirely at the expense of their margin.

John Lewis managing director Andy Street is sceptical about the value of early discounting. He argues: “Consumers are feeling bewildered and bombarded by messages about discounting. This can definitely drive sales on one day but is a short-term approach that can ultimately lead to mistrust in the brand as customers expect prices to be competitive at all times, not just sporadically.”
There is also a debate as to whether extensive Sale events do anything to foster customer loyalty in the long term. Pearson says more retailers need to ensure they are taking customer details and capturing data that can be used to help build customer relationships and keep them informed about future offers.

House of Fraser does just that. Brand director Matt Chambers says its main promotion has been that offered through its House of Fraser store card, which is 20 per cent off for card holders for six weeks until December 12. He says: “In our view it’s much more likely to drive loyalty and we will reap the benefits of that right through until spring.” But, he adds: “That doesn’t mean we haven’t done extremely well on special days, because we have.”

Discounts are only one way to lure shoppers in this difficult, competitive climate where everyone is fighting for every sale. The product range and customer service needs to be right, too. And that, says Shearwood, is one of the risks of in-store discount events.
“They drive sales hard for a limited period, so in a store that means you’re getting increased footfall but you’re also getting massive queues.” Customers have a different service, he says. “They end up buying a lot of product without trying it on, then decide they don’t like it or it doesn’t fit, and you have to fork out for refunds.”

Success depends on the level of planning. Just as retailers must anticipate and factor in surges in traffic both online and in stores, they need to prepare for the post-promotional dip. Critical in making these events a success is ensuring optimum staffing levels, maintaining a focus on customer service and making sure web sites can cope with increased online traffic. Debenhams’ web site went down temporarily last Friday for this very reason.

In such an environment retailers need to come up with something to tempt customers and price and promotions are an obvious way to do that. However, if the overall offer is not up to scratch, knocking 20 per cent off the asking price will be of little use.

There is also a danger that discount days and e-mailed offers end up becoming perpetual or too cyclical. Retailers need to avoid predictability. Gordon points to two US retailers, for instance, that stuck to rigid markdown plans based on discounting at 20 per cent for a set length of time, then 50 per cent and so on. “If something is that rules-based, customers are not stupid, they’ll wait for it. The key is mixing it up,” he says.
Despite the risks, retailers have very little choice at the moment other than to slash prices across the board. They are playing a logical game and taking no chances.

Nevertheless, it is widely expected to be one of the worst Christmases that most retail chief executives have experienced. This discounting frenzy is not the answer to their problems. As Gordon says: “The challenges facing the high street are so large it’s a bit like putting a Band-Aid over a huge wound.”

Thu, 27 Nov 2008 http://www.retail-week.com:80/images/debenhams_resized_70_tcm14-1935860.jpg Celebrating long-serving staff is great for morale and keeping staff turnover down. Jennifer Creevy finds out how they do it at Asda. http://www.retail-week.com:80/Food/2008/11/asda_in_good_company.html;jsessionid=04354FF22CE694C276F6E3B0666936BD http://www.retail-week.com:80/Food/2008/11/asda_in_good_company.html;jsessionid=04354FF22CE694C276F6E3B0666936BD JenniferCreevy@emap.com

Asda chief executive Andy Bond often talks about how the success of the business is down to the staff – or colleagues, as they call each other. And once a year, Asda says thank you to the most loyal members of its workforce. Namely, those who have been with the business for 25 years or more.

While many retailers might send a letter to long-serving staff when they hit a certain milestone, Asda uses the occasion to get them together for a good old-fashioned knees-up.

This year’s Asda Big Anniversary was held at the Harrogate Pavilions last week and 422 staff were invited. Coaches, cars and even a few stretch limousines brought employees from all across the UK to the Yorkshire spa town to collect their prizes over lunch and entertainment.

“Not all retailers would bother to host an event to celebrate loyalty, but this is exactly what Asda is about,” Bond told Retail Week. “And what’s surprising is the number of long-standing colleagues we have. We’ve even got one colleague here today who has worked with Asda for 40 years.”

The number of loyal staff at Asda has grown so large that the grocer has had to change the event’s format. People director David Smith explains the event was originally held in the boardroom at the grocer’s Leeds head office, Asda House. All staff serving 25 years or more were invited.
“The event got so big we moved out of Asda House and then had to limit the numbers to those who reached the big milestones of 25, 30, 35 or 40,” says Smith. “And next year we’ll have to have a buffet instead of a formal lunch as we’ll have more than 800 colleagues celebrating. But it’s a nice problem to have.”

Asda’s staff retention is “industry leading”, says Bond. Staff turnover is 23 per cent at the Wal-Mart-owned grocer, while the retail average is 40 per cent, he says.

Why then does Asda inspire such loyalty? “It’s simple,” says Bond. “We are all colleagues and one team.”

Bond’s answer may sound cheesy to anyone outside Asda, but he doesn’t care as long as his staff remain motivated. And he is convinced that events such as the Asda Big Anniversary – which the entire Asda executive board attends – do just that.

Even in the tough times that the industry is facing, Bond says it is important to reward staff. “Some companies are having to make tough decisions, but even if you have to cut costs it’s still important to reward loyalty,” he says.

Those colleagues celebrating 25 years of service this year joined in 1983 – when Margaret Thatcher won her second landslide election, Michael Jackson’s Thriller was the top-selling album and petrol was 74p a litre.

Service record
Some staff never planned to stay so long at Asda. Two of those celebrating 25 years of service from Merthyr Tydfil, for instance, joined Asda as temporary Christmas staff and never left.

“It’s the culture and the people that makes Asda a great place to work,” says one colleague who started out in stores and now works in customer service at Asda House. “Retailing gets into your blood and while it’s often long, unsocial hours, Asda gives you the chance to try different things, suggest ideas and be rewarded for hard work. There are no barriers.”

The staff all refer to Bond as “Andy” and while hitting 25 years’ service gets them a monetary gift of £300 tax-free, plus a silver clock and a bunch of flowers, it’s the event they most talk about.

One colleague from Hinckley in Leicestershire was celebrating 30 years of service and explained it was the effort Asda put into the day that made it memorable. “I have a picture of me and David [Smith] when I collected my 25 years’ prize, which my Mum has on her mantelpiece,” she enthuses.

She says it’s flexibility that led her to stay with Asda. Having moved around stores in various roles and had a stint at head office, she says she never felt the need to move elsewhere. “Asda encourages you to do what you want,” she says. “And I’ve seen so much change from the distribution to the uniforms to the Sunday trading, that there is always something new.”

Some staff celebrating this year have remained in the same role since joining and that works for Asda too, says Bond. “It’s about choice,” he says. “That’s what Asda can provide.”

Asda can even play cupid, as two of its colleagues celebrating 25 years of service first met at its Eastleigh store in Hampshire, fell in love, got married and last week both happily took home their silver clocks. 

Thu, 27 Nov 2008 http://www.retail-week.com:80/images/asda_resized_70_tcm14-1935962.jpg Retailers are spending huge amounts on Christmas advertising this year, but is it money down the drain? Charlotte Hardie and Saatchi & Saatchi’s Richard Huntington tune in to this year’s festive campaigns. http://www.retail-week.com:80/Fashion/2008/11/christmas_tv_ads_will_christmas_ads_woo_the_shoppers.html;jsessionid=04354FF22CE694C276F6E3B0666936BD http://www.retail-week.com:80/Fashion/2008/11/christmas_tv_ads_will_christmas_ads_woo_the_shoppers.html;jsessionid=04354FF22CE694C276F6E3B0666936BD

They’re back, they’re big and they’re bold. What’s more, the creative brains behind this year’s Christmas TV ad campaigns have a tougher brief than every before: lighten the mood of a spend-resistant nation in 60 seconds.

Sales may be down, but retailers have not held back. Are the big-budget campaigns as relevant in the context of the subdued consumer mindset? Yes, without doubt, says Saatchi & Saatchi director of strategy Richard Huntington (pictured left). “People will be cutting out the real extravagances but we’re still going to enjoy it. People are still living their lives and have aspirations and hopes. All the normal rules apply,” he says.

Christmas can be a tricky time to marry the commercial demands of the retail client with the creative vision of the advertising agency. “Originality is not particularly valued at Christmas,” says Huntington. “It’s fundamentally about tradition and agencies are fundamentally about originality. Clients don’t want that and I don’t think consumers want that, so agencies are driven into a commodity situation where everyone is essentially making the same commercial.” And that is usually dictated by jingle bells, happy families being united, a heavy covering of snow and a light smattering of celebrity.

So how did they fare? On the whole, well. But Huntington believes there have been misjudgements: John Lewis’ sombre, understated effort is distinctly lacking in festive cheer; Asda’s emphasis on value is practical but forgettable; and he deems the surreal outer-space offering from Littlewoods Direct to be utterly baffling.

However, he also thinks Marks & Spencer’s celebrity-filled slot offers festive cheer by the spadeful, Waitrose’s depiction of middle-class homeward journeys is perfection, and Boots’ gaggle of office girls is a triumph.

Now all that remains is the nail-biting question: will this year’s offerings succeed in persuading people off their sofas and into stores?

ARGOS
LAST-MINUTE SHOPPING
Premise: Argos pokes fun at last-minute panic buyers, as hapless shoppers storm a deserted petrol station in search of presents and end up with engine oil, anti-freeze and the like. The idea is that those unwanted gifts will be a thing of the past and shoppers can save time and money if they go to Argos.
Music: Run, Rudolph, run, Chuck Berry.
Cast: No celebrities.
Richard says: “Initially, I started off thinking this is a cynical advert, with the agency getting too clever by half and the end result being just a nasty piece of work. It’s washed out, grey and made to look miserable. But you end up getting what Argos is talking about. Last-minute Christmas shopping is difficult, inconvenient and shoddy, and this emphasises the practicality of the brand. Argos isn’t going to have anyone loving it as a result of this, but it might get a few more shoppers.”

BOOTS
SECRET SANTA
Premise: Carrying on Boots’ “Here come the girls” theme, this year’s campaign has the office girls rushing off to Boots to buy Secret Santa gifts for colleagues, while the men are woefully lacking in inspiration. It drives home the value message, as the campaign promotes its three-for-two and under-£5 gifts.
Music: Here come the girls, the Sugababes.
Cast: No celebrities.
Richard says: “This is brilliant. It’s a Christmas ad with an insight, which is incredibly rare. It’s humour that comes out of insight rather than gags. Men don’t understand this Secret Santa stuff and there’s a hidden message here that men don’t really understand Christmas, either. The minute the opening bar starts playing everyone knows it’s a Boots advert, so no money is wasted. There are lots of well-presented products and it starts to get you in the Christmas mood. I feel uplifted after watching it.”

MORRISONS
FRESH-FOOD CHRISTMAS
Premise: Richard Hammond and his huskies make their way across the icy plains with a shopping basket as he outlines exactly what he wants this Christmas, from Santa to salmon. When he realises he need look no further than Morrisons, he turns around and heads back home.
Music: Let it shine, Take That.
Cast: Richard Hammond with Denise van Outen, Diarmuid Gavin and Nick Hancock.
Richard says: “It’s an incredibly complicated narrative to get away with in 60 seconds and I’m left a bit bemused. You can imagine the creatives saying to the client: ‘We’ve got something very special for you today. Our message is: Everyone thinks the real Christmas happens in Lapland. Well it doesn’t, it happens in Morrisons.’ And the clients go: ‘Oh you’re so right.’ It’s client pleasing. They’re trying to say Morrisons has more freshly prepared food than any other supermarket, but that’s not dramatised enough.”

JOHN LEWIS
FROM ME, TO YOU
Premise: It’s about matching the person to the perfect gift – an elderly couple and sat-nav, a long-haired dog and a hairdryer, and so on. The backdrop to the advert is a re-recording of the Beatles’ From me, to you, which, for the record, includes vocals from Matt Spinner, who works in IT at John Lewis’ head office.
Cast: No celebrities.
Music: From me, to you, The Beatles.
Richard says: “This is incredibly understated and achingly beautiful, but it’s just not Christmassy enough. Even the most ardent John Lewis shopper would say ‘Where’s the holly?’. Also, I would have put prices in there. I want to know how much that Nespresso machine costs. The role of advertising at Christmas – particularly at the moment – is to say: ‘Life’s still brilliant’. How this advert sits with that is questionable. It’s all a bit miserable.”

LITTLEWOODS DIRECT
COSMIC
Premise: The retailer heads into space – filming took place in Iceland – with its biggest mass media advertising spend to date. In the 50-second TV advert, a Littlewoods Direct rocket hurtles through the atmosphere to deliver clothes and gifts to the inhabitants of a distant planet. Its residents include the “space queen” in a floating purple dress.
Music: Dream a little dream, The Mamas and the Papas.
Cast: No celebrities.
Richard says: “It’s bemusing and bonkers. What is going on? It’s as if it started off as a fashion advert and turned into something else. You can almost hear the other Littlewoods buyers watching the first edit and saying: ‘Whoa, hold on a minute, we don’t just do fashion. We do Playstations, we do all sorts’. So you suddenly have this weird pod with different products and it bursts that wonderful, enigmatic, beautiful fashion world – and the whole thing starts to fall apart.”

MARKS & SPENCER
WINTER WONDERLAND
Premise: Take That and the familiar female faces at M&S are celebrating a festive few days in a snow-surrounded country pile. Shot in home-video camcorder style, it’s about as Christmassy as you can get – log fires, mince pies, charades, dancing and gift-giving.
Music: A winter wonderland, sung by Macy Gray.
Cast: Take That, Erin O’Connor, Twiggy, Myleene Klass, Lily Cole and Noémie Lenoir.
Richard says: “It seems to be advertising out of the pic ‘n’ mix advertising box. It’s got snowball fights, crackling log fires, you name it. That doesn’t make it wrong, it’s just not particularly interesting. Most importantly though, this will make people go into a store. As a shopper, you think: ‘Lovely M&S’. If you’re going to make a cheesy Christmas commercial, this is pretty much perfect. It gets people in the mood – but it doesn’t do much more.”

SAINSBURY’S
JAMIE’S COOKING LESSONS
Premise: Jamie Oliver bumps into prime-time TV duo Ant and Dec in Sainsbury’s, who are having a Christmas party. The state of their shopping trolley – filled with pickled onions and pineapple chunks – prompts Oliver to go back to their house to give them some festive cooking tips and simple recipe ideas.
Music: None.
Cast: Jamie Oliver, Ant and Dec.
Richard says: “Here’s a brand with a clear point of view and a clear role it wishes to play in our lives. Sainsbury’s has been doing that consistently and with imagination for three years. The idea is that this is the Christmas stuff you’ll love and Jamie Oliver and Sainsbury’s are going to help you and make it special. “It’s bang on the brand strategy. It’s Jamie Oliver doing what he does really well, and Ant and Dec are great – they’re natural and humorous. Not high up there on the Christmas-ometer, but it’s an enjoyable piece of advertising.”

WAITROSE
HOMEWARD JOURNEYS
Premise: Waitrose shows people all over the world making their journeys back to family and friends, mixed with images of its party and Christmas fare, including brie and cranberry parcels and gammon with winter fruit chutney.
Music: How can I keep from singing?, South London boys’ choir Libera.
Cast: No celebrities.
Richard says: “This does stylish and festive. If you shop at Waitrose, it automatically makes you think: ‘That’s my brand.’ Waitrose is saying: ‘We do food, and it’s going to be amazing.’ However, if I were Iceland I’d want royalties: it’s a remake of its 1997 ‘Coming home for Christmas’ ad, but with posh people. It’s all desperately middle class – the kids aren’t just coming home, they’re coming home from deepest Africa where they’re helping a small charity on their gap year – but it’s lovely. “Waitrose is staring at the current climate and saying: ‘There’s only three things we can do: quality, quality, quality.’”

ASDA
WHY PAY MORE?
Premise: The supermarket has changed tactic this year and ditched the celebrities in favour of a festive portrayal of families preparing for Christmas day in the village of Austwick in Yorkshire. Its strapline is “Why pay more for Christmas?”
Music: It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas, Perry Como.
Cast: No celebrities.
Richard says: “It’s a very practical, fairly bog-standard commercial, but maybe you can’t be too imaginative about the context if you’re then going to say: ‘You can have a cheap Christmas.’. Asda is saying: ‘We’re just as good as the posh stores, but we have an incredible reputation for keeping prices low, so you don’t have to shop at Aldi.’ The worry is, though, will people remember it? It’s nice and practical, and shows the role that Asda is playing in people’s lives. Half the game is that you might as well not bother if no one remembers what you said. You have to cut through still.”

Thu, 27 Nov 2008 http://www.retail-week.com:80/images/richard_huntington19_resized_70_tcm14-1935881.jpg Sir Philip Green and Sir Stuart Rose have led discussions among retailers scrambling to deliver the cut in VAT by the time it comes into force on Monday. http://www.retail-week.com:80/Fashion/2008/11/green_and_rose_lead_discussions_on_vat.html;jsessionid=04354FF22CE694C276F6E3B0666936BD http://www.retail-week.com:80/Fashion/2008/11/green_and_rose_lead_discussions_on_vat.html;jsessionid=04354FF22CE694C276F6E3B0666936BD nicola.harrison@emap.com

The Arcadia owner and the Marks & Spencer executive chairman have led a conference call of more than a dozen retailers to discuss the likelihood of achieving the VAT change by December 1, according to the Financial Times.

The reduction of VAT to 15 per cent, announced by Chancellor Alistair Darling in the pre-Budget report on November 24, will reduce product prices by 2.1 per cent, and will be in force until the end of next year.

Many retailers are struggling to work out the logistics of reducing the costs of their stock, with many saying the task is too big to complete in seven days.

Rose described the challenge as a “logistical nightmare” and said the changes would be difficult in children’s wear, where VAT is only added to clothes for children aged 14 and over.

A statement is expected today from the retailers, outlining what price cuts they can deliver and when.

Will your company pass on the VAT reduction to consumers? Let us know by posting a comment below or by sending an e-mail to Retail Week.

Wed, 26 Nov 2008 http://www.retail-week.com:80/images/GreenPhillipClose_resized_70_tcm14-1894616.jpg