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It’s Christmas, with bells on. Thanks to creatives Ruth and Lynne (as well as a whole mini-army of other helpers) at Ogilvy Group UK, you can now  turn your iPhone or iPod Touch into a Christmas-carol-playing handbell.

First choose a carol, then select a bell. Then just ‘ring’ your iphone like you would a real bell. Each ringing movement sounds a note of your chosen carol. Play as fast or as slow as you like. Among the tunes you can play are Jingle Bells, Ding Dong Merrily on High, Away in a Manger, We Wish You a Merry Christmas, Silent Night, O Come All Ye Faithful and Auld Lang Syne.

Gather your chums and form a festive handbell chorus - and why not film your efforts and upload them at Ogilvy’s “Chrimbell” YouTube channel (www.youtube.com/getyourbellson)?

Chrimbell is the ultimate accessory for the modern caroler. It’s Caroling 2.0!

To download free, gratis and for nowt, go to the Apple iTunes Store, type in “Chrimbell” in the search box and just download.

Or go here:

www.interactivetracker.co.uk/Ogilvy/Christmas_eCard/christmas_ecard.html

And if you haven’t got an iPhone or iPod Touch, why not download this PDF?

www.ogilvy.co.uk/xmas-2008/Paper_Chrimbell.pdf

Amid the doom and gloom of the current global economic crisis, Ogilvy Group UK is hoping to offer a glimmer of hope for informed marketers: seize this moment as an opportunity to grow brands and secure future success.

“Amidst a sense of falling off the cliff, it’s tempting to imagine this recession to be unique – and uniquely bad,” advises Ogilvy Group UK chairman and CEO, Gary Leih. “However, flight is only one option. History shows many brands and companies have been successfully launched during recessions, while others have leveraged tough economic conditions to gain significant market advantage.  At the moment there is a tendency for people simply to ignore the evidence.”

In order to inform CEOs, CFOs and CMOs, Ogilvy has published a booklet entitled Optimizing the Marketing budget in Recession. The booklet offers practical advice about the consequences of cutting, maintaining or increasing marketing spend. It draws upon Ogilvy’s understanding of winning during recessionary times and the latest research into best practice.

This booklet is the first in a series that Ogilvy will be publishing and posting on its newly-launched website (www.ogilvyonrecesssion.com), along with other relevant research.  Each booklet will draw upon Ogilvy’s experience across all disciplines and regions and will cover areas such as digital responses and retail marketing.

“While some companies do face real cash-flow issues, the option of winning marketing share in a recession by smart spending is open to most,” continues Leih.  “Making do with less involves not just setting a competitively sensible budget but using it more imaginatively in channels ranging from digital to retail.”

Ogilvy’s 360 Degree integrated offering is channel and practice neutral, and the agency has created a range of tactics tailored to local markets for helping clients discover the upside to the downturn. Client briefings will be held throughout the world, with the option of follow-up exploratory sessions to discover untapped opportunities.

www.ogilvyonerecession.com

Leih: Tough economic conditions offer the opportunity to gain market share

Following a flurry of rumours, Ogilvy Group’s Rory Sutherland has been confirmed as the next President of the IPA (Institute of Practitioners in Advertising).

He will take up the prestigious role in April next year for a two-year term when current President Moray MacLellan steps down. He is the first person with a creative background ever to head the IPA in its 91-year history and also the first from a direct marketing background.

Rory joined Ogilvy over 20 years ago, as a self-confessed unsuccessful account man who flourished later as a copywriter at what was then O&M Direct (now OgilvyOne). He rose through the creative directorship of OgilvyOne to become vice-chairman of the Ogilvy Group in 2006 while also carving out a niche as one of adland’s most sought-after speakers and respected commentators.

Rory said of his appointment: “I may be naively optimistic in this, but I feel the UK is finally emerging from an all-too-long period of excessive left-brainery.  The opportunities for creative businesses to regain their lost stature seem to me better now than for some years.”

Ogilvy Group chairman and chief executive Gary Leih added: “In what will doubtless be a testing time for our industry, it’s reassuring to know that the advertising and marketing industry has such an articulate, charismatic and, let’s face it, downright stylish, spokesman and lobbyist.”

OgilvyOne creative director Melanie Ferguson can be found plastered this month: plastered all over the Docklands Light Railway network, that is.

Melanie, a keen cook and music fan, lives in East London and uses the DLR to visit her favourite markets and to catch new sounds. Last month she was selected by the DLR to be the face of their latest “Get Out More” campaign, which encourages the public to make better use of the light rail network.

Melanie will feature on posters, tuibe cards, leaflets and other promotional materials throughout December - look out for her!