Perfume Shop creative and media tasks go to WFCA

The Perfume Shop, the specialist fragrance retailer, has appointed Tunbridge Wells-based integrated agency WFCA to handle both creative and media business following a four-way pitch.

This is the first time that the retailer has appointed an advertising agency.

WFCA will start working on the account in the second half of 2006 and will be responsible for all areas of the marketing mix, including above-the-line advertising and point of purchase. Julia Bolsom, head of marketing for The Perfume Shop, refused to give details of budgets or marketing plans.

The Perfume Shop has 140 stores in the UK and Eire, and nine in Australia. It is part of the AS Watson Group, the world’s largest health and beauty retailer, which has just restructured to create a new luxury division which will include The Perfume Shop and Europe’s largest luxury perfume and cosmetics retail chain, Marionnaud.

Following the restructuring, The Perfume Shop’s co-founder and chairman Philip Newton has left the company. Jeremy Seigal, managing director of The Perfume Shop, has taken over day-to-day running of the company.

WFCA already handles the account for Savers, also owned by AS Watson.