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Katies, Millers and Rivers brands in play as Speciality Fashion pitches $17.7m account

KatiesIndependent media agency Chaos Media is facing a pitch to retain one of its biggest clients with retailer Speciality Fashion Group reviewing its $17.7m media account, Mumbrella can reveal.

The ASX listed company (ASX: SFH) is largest specialty retailer of women’s fashion in Australia, and has brands such as Katies, Millers, Crossroads and Rivers in its stable.

Speciality Fashion Group and Chaos Media both confirmed the media pitch this morning. At this stage it not known how many other agencies are lining up for the pitch but it is understood the process is being run internally by the company’s procurement. 

Chaos Group CEO David Lewis said the review was “a standard review” which was “part of their usual procurement process” but declined to comment any further citing confidentiality agreements with its client.

The decision by Speciality Fashion Group to call the review comes just months after senior Chaos Media executive Glenda Wynyard was convicted in New Zealand of 11 counts of fraud, over a case involving her former agency The Media Counsel.

In April, Wynyard was sentenced to eight months of home detention by the court and was allowed to return to Australia to be with her family.

She is now appealing all but three of the charges and is understood to be continuing to work with the agency while the appeal process continues.

A spokesman for Speciality Fashion Group told Mumbrella: “The decision to pitch was made some time ago. We have no further comment at this time.”

Nielsen estimates that across its Katies, Millers, Rivers, City Chic and Autograph clothes brands Speciality Fashion Group had a main media spend of $17.7m in the 12 months to May.

Nic Christensen 

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