Radio Rentals puts 10m advertising up for review

Radio Rentals is looking at other agencies to handle its 10m ad account, currently held by WCRS.

New managing director David Williams – the company’s third in five years – is said to be reviewing root and branch the Thorn-owned retail chain’s marketing strategy.

The account has been held by WCRS for five years, in spite of the fact that it has been reviewed three times in as many years.

A spokeswoman for Radio Rentals says she is unaware of any pending review and adds: “We are currently working with WCRS and are happy with their work.” But one source says the retailer has been looking at agencies over the past two weeks.

Last year, Radio Rentals, which has over 500 stores throughout the UK, spent 10.5m on through-the-line advertising (Register-MEAL).

Williams took over as managing director in April this year when Don Marks left to head Thorn’s rent-to-buy chain, Crazy George’s furniture and electrical goods.

Cable television channel Bravo has ended its contract with WCRS, which relaunched the station earlier this year. Bravo says it hired WCRS only for the relaunch, which repositioned it as an “alternative” channel. The account was worth about 1m; Bravo is to handle future work in-house.