FCB beats two to Heal’s ad business

FCB London is understood to have won the advertising account for contemporary furniture and home accessories retailer Heal’s.

Leagas Delaney and Vallance Carruthers Coleman Priest are also believed to have pitched for the account. It is thought that incumbent DDB London, which has held the business for nine years, did not repitch despite being invited to do so.

The pitch was handled through the AAR and overseen by Heal’s communications director Jocelyn Rees (MW February 3). PHD will continue to handle media buying.

The furniture retailer is undergoing modernisation. Recently appointed chief executive Andrea Warden is trying to re-establish the retailer as the premier design-led home interiors business in the country.

The store environment, product lines and communications are all being overhauled to make them more accessible and create a “vibrant” feel. Most of the product lines are stocked on an exclusive basis.

Heal’s, which is almost 200 years old, has five stores; two in central London and single outlets in Guildford, Kingston and Manchester. The retailer also has an online store.

Heal’s is owned by Wittington Investments, which also runs upmarket London department store Fortnum & Mason, but was previously owned by Storehouse, the owner of Habitat.