David Jones dumps M&C Saatchi for Whybin TBWA
Retail chain David Jones has appointed Whybin TBWA to head its creative after a competitive pitch process.
The appointment sees M&C Saatchi lose one of its biggest and most high profile accounts which it has held since 2010.
A spokeswoman for David Jones said in a statement: “Following a thorough three month tender process David Jones has appointed award winning agency Whybin TBWA as its creative and strategic marketing agency commencing 1 September 2013.”
“Whybin TBWA will be providing David Jones with fully integrated marketing services including marketing strategy, planning, creative and production. David Jones appreciates and values the three years of support provided by M&C Saatchi and is looking forward to a new approach with one of Australia’s most highly regarded agencies,” she said.
Tom Dery, M&C Saatchi worldwide chairman said, “Given the number of management changes at David Jones since M&C Saatchi were appointed to the account more than three years ago, (including 3 marketing directors and 2 managing directors), it is not surprising that this contract would not be renewed on its expiry.
“We would have liked a contract renewal, but understand the David Jones decision not to do so.”
It is has been a difficult year for M&C Saatchi which has also seen redundancies and the loss of other high profile accounts such as Dick Smith electronics.
Nic Christensen
brilliant win whybin TBWA congrats
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Changing agencies won’t fix DJ’s. their stores are boring, no staff, non-existent service.
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why would they drop Miranda Kerr? Why?
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Customer Service is unfortunately not an advertising agency procurement as such.
Miranda Kerr, twice the pay, half the work, you do the math for the share holders.
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great win for TBWA! Congrats
The issue, as Gerry says, is beyond their comms.
The issue is the store doesn’t have any appeal, doesn’t have quality service and gives me no reason to want to go there. Sort that out and they will probably get by without much above the line comms needed to keep people coming in.
There is no reason DJ’s shouldn’t be an example of phenomenal consumer experience and service- they just need to make it happen!
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A pitch with no winners.
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When a big account shifts after 1 contract period with any highly regarded agency (e.g. Medibank, DJs and many more), it’s usually because the c-suite wants to hear something other than the truth…
Changing Agencies does not change your marketing departments ability, your business model or your whatever is fundamentally broken/flawed in your company.
But hey, you might get some more shareholder value by screwing down the price.
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Good luck Whybin. You’ve won the poisoned chalice.
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I agree with all of the above. David Jones’ problem lies within the stores, not with their advertising… Service in stores is non existent, waiting at counters to pay is a forever issue – advice to David Jones fix your product, then you might give agencies something to sell that delivers.
I guess the DJ’s team will be packing up to shift to Whybins – and don’t think that their Christmas campaign is being done by Whybins – that’s already been given to a US agency. That deal was done mid pitch.
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Will this be Sydney or Melbourne based?
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