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Digital promotions now under ASA remit

By Sarah Burns on April 13, 2011

Did you know that from the beginning of March the Advertising Standards Authority had its remit extended to cover all non-paid for digital communication? You may well have seen the ads carrying this message in bus stops and at tube stations but do you know exactly what it means for promoters? In brief, all adverts and online marketing communications which are under the control of a brand or one of its agencies and are clearly targeted at a UK audience now fall under ASA scrutiny. It applies to all sectors, all businesses, organisations and sole traders on their own websites or in other non-paid online space under their control, regardless of their size.

So if you’re running a promotion, whether it’s a voucher code, discount, competition or prize draw in any digital space (and yes, that does include both Facebook and Twitter), it’s time to step up and  get compliant. Anyone that is in breach of the CAP code (the ASA’s rule book) could find themselves under investigation and repeat offenders could even have their paid-for search advertising removed with the agreement of the search engines. 

It costs very little to have your promotion checked and certainly in relation to the sanctions that ASA could impose if you’re caught offending. Drop us a line at bright.sparks@sparkandfuse.com or call on 020 7502 3005 and see how we can help you to get your promotion right.

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Worms, moustaches and ironing – bizarre comps we love!

By Spark and Fuse on April 11, 2011

Don't try this at home...

We’ve been involved in a number of interesting and complex competitions in our time but here are a few slightly more bizarre comps that we’d love to adjudicate!

The Worm Charming Championships – self explanatory really – a bunch of people get together annually in Cheshire to charm worms to the surface using a variety of methods other than digging. A regulatory body enforces a total of 18 rules governing all aspects of the competition. The world record was set in 2009 by a couple who charmed an incredible 567 worms from their plot.

Extreme Ironing World Championships – combining a dangerous sport with a spot of ironing.  The description on the official Extreme Ironing Bureau pretty much sums up the practise, “It is an outdoor activity that combines the danger and excitement of an ‘extreme’ sport with the satisfaction of a well pressed shirt. It involves taking an iron and board (if possible) to remote locations and ironing a few items of laundry. This can involve ironing on a mountainside, preferably on a difficult climb, or taking an iron skiing, snowboarding or canoeing.”

High-heel racing – both men and women take part in this competition which is held in cities across the world. Entrants must cover a distance of 80m running in high heels which should be a minimum 7 cm height and 1.5 cm in diameter.  Ouch!

The World Bog Snorkeling Championships – every August for the last 20 years Llanwrtyd Wells in Wales has hosted the International Extreme Bog Snorkelling Championships. Over 200 competitors are timed swimming the length of the murky bog which is said to be “like swimming in pea soup”. On second thoughts, perhaps this isn’t one for us…

The National Beard and Moustache Championships – with categories such as Sideburn Freestyle, Dali Moustache and Imperial Partial Beard, this competition showcases some of the best facial hair in the world. 

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Book launch for Tom Campbell’s debut novel Fold

By Spark and Fuse on April 5, 2011

Front cover by Tom Campbell
Much excitement at Spark & Fuse – we’ve been asked to organise a party for the launch of new literary sensation Tom Campbell’s debut novel, Fold. Tom’s agent Greene & Heaton describes his writing as ‘Literary but accessible, clear-eyed and wry, FOLD incorporates existential angst and downright dirty dealings. Tom Campbell’s writing is bold and direct; it’s full of humour and a sense of humanity, even when his characters are quietly trying to destroy each other.’ Fold, which is published by Bloomsbury, is out in June. We’re very much looking forward to working with Tom, who we know to be a real character!