Agencies chase 10m Freemans

Freemans, the mail order giant, is reviewing its 10m account out of incumbent TTPSW Direct and has issued a brief to conduct a through-the-line campaign.

The business comprises advertising and promotion for the Freemans catalogue and the One to One catalogue. It also includes press and DRTV ads.

Marketing manager Chris Southam says: “We are looking for a through-the-line approach to look at the brand, to see where it is placed in the market, help recruit customers and help with relationship marketing.” She says TTPSW has been asked to repitch for the business.

The business will include work for Freemans’ tie-up with National Lottery operator Camelot through its marketing partnerships programme.

Freemans is in the process of being bought by Littlewoods, which would integrate it into its Littlewoods Index division, from Sears. However, the deal was yesterday (Tuesday) referred to the Monopolies & Mergers Commission by Department of Trade & Industry Minister John Taylor and the Office of Fair Trading.

Taylor says the sale raises “serious concerns” about the market for agency mail order catalogues in the UK. The investigation into the 395m deal must be completed by June 9 1997.