EXCLUSIVE: Nunn Media confirms $90 million Spotlight Retail Group win
Nunn Media has confirmed it has won a competitive pitch to secure the media account for Spotlight Retail Group (SRG).
It follows reports last week that incumbent PHD had not been successful in its bid for reappointment, after holding the account since 2020.
Matt Nunn is the founder of Nunn Media
Three agencies, including PHD and Nunn Media, were involved in the pitch process, which was run by pitch consultants Madclarity.
The outcome sees Nunn Media take on full media duties across the SRG portfolio of brands, with the account understood to be worth $90 million across Spotlight, Mountain Designs, Anaconda and Harris Scarfe.
Spotlight chief executive officer, Quentin Gracanin, said it was “clear Nunn Media is the ideal partner moving forward”.
“It’s an agency that brings scale, offers all capabilities we require, understands our marketing ambitions and our desired mix of channels.”
Nunn Media managing director, Matt Nunn, told Mumbrella he was proud of the win, which he suggested could be the largest media account win of the last year in the local market.
“It’s pleasing to see the Spotlight Retail Group again recognise Nunn Media for its operational scale, digital expertise and ability to execute campaigns that drive tangible commercial results,” he said.
It’s a particularly significant win for an independent agency, but one that Nunn puts down to the scale of the business.
“My stance on independents is that realistically, from a client’s point of view, I don’t think they really care whether it’s a holding company or an independent. They care about having good people, good strategy and good buying at a good agency,” he told Mumbrella.
“I think where the holding companies fall down is that for certain clients they have an ‘A Team’, and below that A Team, perhaps they’re not as good.”
He added that while there’s some “really good independents out there”, “without the scale” agencies can’t “afford to have all the proprietary based tools and software and compete with larger businesses, such as [Nunn Media] and the holding companies.”
He continued: “I get asked that question a lot, about independents doing so well. To me, everybody’s a competitor whether it’s an independent or a holding company.”
Spotlight Retail Group’s brands include Spotlight, Mountain Designs, Anaconda and Harris Scarfe
The win marks the latest chapter in what has been a long and prosperous relationship between Nunn Media and SRG, with the independent agency having previously held the company’s media account after acquiring its then-agency partner Kruse Media Services in 2013.
SRG founder Morry Fraid has been on Nunn Media’s board for more than a decade, including during 2020, when the agency declined to re-pitch for the business’ media account, citing “cultural differences”.
During this time, Nunn Media looked to take its business in a different direction, focusing on expanding its digital capabilities with the acquisition of performance agency Alley. In the wake of the loss, Nunn Media picked up Bendigo Bank and Amart, the latter of which it has since lost to OMD Brisbane.
Since the last pitch, the value of SRG’s media spend has more than doubled from the $39 million it was worth in 2020, due largely to the acquisition of Harris Scarfe and the group’s strong faring during the pandemic.
SRG is the latest in several new business wins for Nunn Media, having recently landed media for Melbourne Airport and Bakers Delight, PHD being the incumbent on the second.
Got a tip?
topics
Anaconda
Harris Scarfe
Madclarity
Matt Nunn
Mountain Designs
Nunn Media
PHD
Quentin Gracanin
Spotlight
Spotlight Retail Group
Nothing like friends scratching each other’s backs
User ID not verified.
Great win for an indie!
User ID not verified.
Have your say