Speciality Fashion Group pitch sees five agencies line up for $17.7m media pitch
Five media agencies are understood to be lining up for the media pitch for the $17.7m Speciality Fashion Group.
Earlier this month it was revealed that the clothes retailer, which has major brands such as Katies, Millers, Crossroads and Rivers, was pitching its media putting incumbent agency Chaos Media on alert.
It is thought that the five media agencies lining up to contest the account are fellow independent HM Communications Group and network agencies PHD, Starcom and Ikon Communications.
All agencies contacted declined to comment.
Speciality Fashion Group is thought to be one of Chaos Media’s largest clients, with CEO David Lewis telling Mumbrella the review was “a standard review” which was “part of their usual procurement process” but declining to comment any further citing confidentiality agreements with its client.
The decision by Speciality Fashion Group to call the review came 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.
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.
At the time the pitch was called 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
