MarketingVOX: Publicis Groupe’s Saatchi & Saatchi, considered a favorite in Wal-Mart’s creative and media review, has withdrawn.
Four agencies are still pursuing the $580 million account, which many thought would go to Saatchi, particularly after Wal-Mart named Saatchi & Saatchi X agency of record for in-store advertising and employee communications, writes AdAge. Conjecture regarding the departure points to the progress that Saatchi has supposedly made with Wal-Mart competitor J.C. Penney.
Update: J.C. Penney has ended its six-year relationship with Omnicom’s DDB Chicago and is expected to move its $430 million account to Saatchi & Saatchi, reports AdAge, citing executives familiar with the situation.
The agencies remaining in Wal-Mart’s review are Omnicom Group’s GSD&M; Interpublic Group’s Draft FCB Group and The Martin Agency; and WPP Group’s Ogilvy & Mather. Final pitches are expected to take place the second week of October.
Related stories:
- Wal-Mart Taps Saatchi X, Agency Search Continues
- Wal-Mart Review: Five Shops Advance
- Task Force to Unveil Electronic Ad Trading Details
- Ten Shops Advance in Wal-Mart Review
- Wal-Mart Looks Far and Wide for Agencies
- Wal-Mart Leads Call for Online Marketplace for TV Ads
- Wal-Mart Expands Marketing Department
- Wal-Mart Launches Multimedia Ad Campaign
- Walmart.com Shuts Down Recommendation Feature
- Wal-Mart Addresses PR Storm with Site, Search Campaign
