The holidays are coming, the holidays are coming and Coca Cola have unveiled there new marketing strategy, which I have to say is questionable to say the least. Coca-Cola has hired Peter Andre as a celebrity busker as part of its sponsorship of London Underground busking spots. No I haven’t just made that up.

Andre commented: “I love Christmas and everything associated with it so I jumped at the chance to help bring a little extra festive cheer to shoppers. To be honest this news has actually put me off walking down Oxford Street on the off chance I bump into him.

On a serious note the event will help to raise funds and awareness for 95.8 Capital FM’s, Help a London Child, which helps London’s disadvantaged young people.

 Yesterday I touched on promotional products with the Fairtrade logo, but what exactly does this mean?

Fairtrade is all about ‘decent working conditions, local sustainability, and fair terms of trade for farmers and workers in the developing world.’ The fair trade market in the UK is growing, and has a estimated retail value of £493 million in 2007.

The Fairtrade Foundation is the UK member of Fairtrade Labelling Organisations International (FLO). It helps improve the position of producers in the great scheme of things, by assuring a fair price for their goods. How does it achieve this? By certifying produce groups that meet its minimum social, economic and environmental requirements; setting a minimum price for particular products; then allowing registered licensees to apply the mark to products that meet its criteria.

In regards to the promotions industry, it doesn’t just apply to branded confectionery, but also to textiles too. If you require Fairtrade cotton shoppers or cotton T shirt for example, then contact the friendly team over at ecoproducts2order who will be happy to help. Eco friendly promotional items can be utilized by any number of organisations, and need not cost the earth. If you require eco promotional items for the home, office or for conferences and exhibitions – ecoproducts2order can meet your demands.

Controversial confectionery supplier Nestle has announced that Kit Kat bars will be Fairtrade certified from 2010. They have launched a print ad campaign to coincide with the certification, carrying the line ‘Have a break, have a Fairtrade Kit Kat’.

The ad explains Nestle’s on-going sustainability drive, ‘The Cocoa Plan’, through which it promises to invest £65m over the next 10 years to increase agricultural assistance, promote sustainable farming methods and improve social conditions for farmers working in the Ivory Coast.

Funnily enough it doesn’t mention their; marketing of processed cow’s milk as a substitute for breastfeeding, their connection with Robert Mugabe, selling of contaminated animal feeds, GM ingredients, child labour and price fixing. On the other hand their Kit Kat Chunky caramel bars are bloody good.

If you are looking for promotional chocolate items, that have to be specifically Fairtrade certified then this is something that sweets2order can help you with. They have a range of explicitly ethically manufactured chocolate items that are great for promotional use. The most popular is their branded Fairtrade hot chocolate sachets, which I think would make a great mailer for this time of year. If you have any questions at all about branded confectionery, contact the friendly team over at sweets2order.

A major direct mail campaign is about to start from ‘The Dogs Trust’, who are the good people who look after many an abandoned dog. If you’re a lady over the age of 45 who’s known for her love of dogs, then you may well be receiving a pack soon. The Dogs Trust is the UK’s largest dog welfare charity, catering for over 16,000 dogs every year via its 17 re-homing centers.

This promotional campaign is geared up to ask for help to re-home larger dogs in particular. The ladies will be sent a loveable A3-sized poster featuring a number of dogs reading: “Why is it hard for big dogs like us to find love?” Presumably because there badly behaved and expensive, but don’t let me put you off. The pack will include stores highlighting their plight, and why they need extra help, as well as a suggested donation and a pre-paid envelope. Adrian Burder, marketing director of Dogs Trust said: “There’s a disturbing increase in the number of big dogs being brought to us across all our centers.

If your business or charity is looking to invest in a direct mail marketing campaign, then Giftselection has all the promotional products you could be interested in. If you’re mailing out promotional items, they need to be relatively inexpensive and lightweight. Giftselection has loads of traditional options like printed promotional badges, logobugs and keyrings. They also have more unusual promotional items that could work well like printed; nail files, mouse mats and letter openers.

You may have seen the recent controversial TV ad run by Barnardos, depicting scenes of violence and drug abuse. Despite complaints from the public calling for the advert to be taken off the air, the Advertising Standards Authority has allowed the advert to stand.

The official figures from the ASA show that 48 viewers has challenged whether the ad should be shown when large numbers of children may be watching, while 29 viewers – some of whom who had  been reported of having been abused as children themselves questioned that the ad could cause serious distress.

The ASA allowed the advert to continue, by making the crucial distinction that the scenes may inappropriate for other adverts, but are justifiable in the context of a charity campaign such as this. If you have been offended by any form of advert, or believe a promotion to be untruthful then the you can register your complaint here.

It isn’t the first time the charity has caused controversy with their adverts. This time in 2003 they ran an advert with images of babies with syringes and cockroaches in their mouths. This shocking campaign soon got taken off the air. I respect the creative minds behind these adverts and the message they are trying to send, however I don’t think they should have the right to offend many members of the public. Work like this could make a great video installation piece for a gallery – I would perhaps even pay to see it. But in the context of a public broadcast, I believe it to be inappropriate.

It is certainly an interesting debate on where the boundaries of advertising and marketing lie. In my normally liberal opinion, having seen the advert (while I was having dinner) I don’t think it should be aired before the watershed. It will be adults who will be most likely potentially donating to the charity in any case. I resent the fact that we are helplessly exposed to offensive adverts, which are becoming more and more shocking. However with most of these shocking adverts promoting a good cause, what is to be deemed acceptable seems something of a grey area.