Blacks on hunt for ad agency

Blacks Outside Leisure is seeking a new advertising agency to handle its Millets and Blacks brands. It is understood to have parted company with incumbent agency Miles Calcraft Briginshaw Duffy earlier this year.

The group is in early stages of the review and has approached a number of agencies about the account.

In February the group reported like-for-like sales had dropped 3.3% in the past year in what it called “a tough retail environment”. Its total sales increased by 1.1%.

The Northampton-based group is one of the largest outdoor retailers in the UK. Along with Millets and Blacks, the group owns boardwear retailers Freespirit and Mambo. It also holds the UK license for US surfing brand O’Neill.