GUS hands 6m brief to The Media Business
Great Universal Stores (GUS) has handed its 6m TV planning and buying account to The Media Business.
The account covers the company’s main catalogue brands, Great Universal, Kays, and Choice.
The agency won the account in a pitch against Universal McCann Manchester and London incumbent Conquest. The pitch was conducted by GUS marketing director John Bullen.
GUS usually spends around 30 per cent of its 21m media budget on TV.
In April this year GUS bought high street catalogue retailer Argos following a 1.9bn hostile bid. The media account for Argos is not affected by this review and remains with MindShare.
Last year the company launched a series of subsidiary catalogue brands, such as The Disney Selection, Sports Elite, Thomas Burberry, and Style Plus. The company also last year GUS bought the Innovations catalogue business from the Burton Group for 20m.
GUS carried out its last major review in October 1996, when it shifted its account from Zenith Media. Universal McCann still retains the planning and buying for the GUS press account.
In June GUS said it would increase its activity in the direct catalogue business as the majority of its orders come from individual customers rather than being collected by local representatives.
