Phones4U enters agency talks over 7m ad account

Retailer Phones4U is talk-ing to agencies about its £7m advertising business. It is understood the retailer is considering a pitch following the recent departure of marketing director, Jim Slater.

The chain is planning chemistry meetings with a small number of agencies and is still in talks with incumbent WCRS, which has worked with the company on a project basis since 2004.

WCRS has created a series of campaigns for Phones4U around Jack, a character who aims to get the right deal for you, coining the famous Phones4U hand gestures.

In February, Phones4U acquired call-centre and online mobile sales company Dial-A-Phone for £9m. At the time, it said it would boost its sales as a group by using its Dial-A-Phone operation to spike contract sales for its key suppliers, Vodafone and Orange.

But it has also been hit with an Ofcom investigation into allegations of mis-selling at Phones4U, which is still under way (MW May 15).

The retailer now has over 440 stores and says it is still rapidly growing.

Phones4U is owned by private equity company, Providence Equity Partners, after its parent company Cauldwell Group, was bought for £1.46bn in 2006.

Phones4U and WCRS were unavailable for comment as Marketing Week went to press.