Powerhouse 4m media to McCann

Powerhouse, the 117-strong UK home appliance chain, has appointed McCann-Erickson Birmingham to handle its 4m media spend over the next 12 months.

The account was won following a three-way competitive pitch between McCann, incumbent PHD Compass and Manchester-based Hackett Tinker Frost Media. Creative work will stay with Northampton design company JSP.

“Our current programme includes everything from TV to door-to-door,” says a spokeswoman for Powerhouse. “We are expecting the agency to review and assess effectiveness, as well as put forward new media channels where appropriate.”

Powerhouse is expected to open another six superstores this year, and shift its focus from high-street locations to out-of-town superstores. It has recently benefited from a boom in the white goods market.

Turnover for the group during the year ending March 28 was 153.5m. Pre-tax profits stood at 7.2m, compared with 4.8m in 1997.

Powerhouse has stores in the Midlands, Southern, Eastern areas of England and South Wales and sells both brown and white goods.

The company was originally owned by Eastern Electricity, Southern Electric and Midlands Electricity and was acquired by Hanson in 1995. In June 1996, the company underwent a management buy-out headed by chief executive Glyn Moser .

Last year Powerhouse spent 2.4m on advertising (source ACNielsen-MEAL).