Pitch Watch: TAB calls creative pitch; City of Sydney outdoor up for tender; Tourism Qld creative; Specsavers shortlist
Mumbrella casts a regular eye over some of the media, creative and PR pitches in market.
In this wrap up: TAB (New creative pitch); City of Sydney (outdoor); Specsavers (media shortlist); Tourism Queensland (new creative pitch); Kennards Hire (new agency)
TAB calls creative pitch after naming new CMO
Gaming giant Tabcorp has launched a creative review of the account for TAB just three months after appointing a new chief marketing officer.
The account has been with Whybin\TBWA Sydney since it won the business in 2013 from BWM.
In March Tabcorp elevated Keno and gaming marketing manager Claire Murphy to the role of CMO.
Whybin developed the How’s Your Form campaign for the brand but the most recent work was a Willy Wonka themed golden ticket promotion offering a million dollar prize created by TAB internally.
Tabcorp declined to comment on the review.
City of Sydney outdoor tender goes live
JC Decaux launched new digital boards in Sydney last week
Outdoor company JC Decaux is set to defend its biggest client in the Australian market, with the $500m-rated City of Sydney street furniture contract up for tender.
The contract is one of the biggest in the Australian outdoor environment and will attract attention from all of the major competitors including APN Outdoor, Ooh Media and Adshel.
According to the tender document the contracts will also be shorter than the current deals, with a three year initial term and the option for two one year extensions.
JC Decaux has held the contract since it bought out a company called Manboom in the run up to the 2000 Olympics.
Last week JC Decaux installed new digital signage in several areas of the city, although it is understood that they would need to be replaced should another company win the tender.
While the current contract runs until 2018 the pitch has been called now to allow time for consultation between the winning company and the council on the future signage needs of the city.
The first deadline for interested parties to respond to the tender is Friday, June 10.
Tourism and Events Queensland pitches creative
Tourism and Events Queensland has launched a sweeping review of its creative accounts, looking to appoint 15 agencies as preferred suppliers.
The state is moving away from its “destination” approach which has been in use for the past five years, with plans to market experiences rather than places.
The move is being taken as a result of research into tourist preferences and will mirror the approach being taken by Tourism Australia.
The first phase of the new campaign is planned to launched in November and the state will also return its focus to the tagline “Where Queensland Shines”.
The new approach will be supported by a significantly lifted budget to drive the brand both internationally and interstate.
All incumbent agencies are understood to have been invited to pitch.
Specsavers shortlist emerges
The agencies in contention for the $18m Specsavers media account appears to be a very short list with four agencies in contention.
Mumbrella can reveal that incumbent Mediacom is facing off against Carat and Mediabrands agencies Initiative and UM on the account.
The account last went out to pitch in 2013 in what many agencies at the time felt was more of a tyre kicking exercise from the client, which eventually opted to stick with Mediacom.
The company then called a new media pitch earlier this month as revealed by Mumbrella.
That pitch comes as Mediacom is awaiting for the result of the Energy Australia media pitch and amid ongoing speculation that Carlton United Breweries, which was bought by global giant AB Inbev last year, will pitch its media.
All agencies contacted declined to comment.
Bashful snares Kennards Hire and MailPlus as new clients
Creative agency Bashful has picked up the business for MailPlus and Kennards Hire.
MailPlus was recently acquired by Australia Post and is a franchise business providing a range of postal services.
For Kennards Bashful is handling the creative and social media accounts, with the company having previously used creative content firm Kontented to handle the duties.
The agency has also announced a new hire with creative director Tim Chenery, who most recently worked at Whybin\TBWA and has had previous stints at Leo Burnett and US Sydney.
Simon Bookallil, Bashful CEO said: “Our new business wins and creative department appointments mark a significant step in Bashful’s journey. We are excited by the diversity of business and creative opportunities they bring to us.”
