Terry Davies scoops New Powerhouse

New Powerhouse has handed its &£3m media planning and buying account to London shop Terry Davies Media.

The electrical goods retailer, which came out of administration in September last year, awarded its creative account to Rainey Kelly Campbell Roalfe/Y&R in July.

Equinox Communications previously handled New Powerhouse’s media business. It had been appointed last November by then marketing director Sue Gosling (MW November 13, 2003).

The company, originally Powerhouse, was bought from administrator Deloitte & Touche by the New Zealand electrical appliance company Pacific Retail Group. It competes against high street names such as Comet and Dixons.

Former Seeboard marketing and sales director Nigel Samuels was made commercial director in December and handles marketing, among other responsibilities (MW December 4, 2003).

Samuels is also a former managing director of Seeboard Electrical Superstores, a chain that was sold on to Dixons.

Powerhouse was first formed from a management buyout of the Southern, Eastern and Midlands regional electricity companies following privatisation.

Pacific Retail Group bought 143 stores from the administrator, which closed another 93. New Powerhouse now operates 242 stores. For the year ending March 31, it reported turnover of &£116.5m.

Rival retailer Dixons recently announced that it is to close 106 outlets following poor sales.

In August 2003, Powerhouse was censured by the Advertising Standards Authority over a series of price claims in its advertising.