Staples £10m brief out to tender
Office supplies company Staples is seeking an advertising agency for its first foray into television advertising.
Four undisclosed agencies are pitching for the business, which is worth up to &£10m. A decision is expected by the end of the month.
The media planning and buying account held by Optimedia is not under review.
The incumbent agency The Facilities Group (TFG), a production agency 30 per cent-owned by Cordiant Communications, will not be pitching for the above-the-line business but will continue to work with Staples in “some below-the-line capacity”.
Staples marketing manager Joe Irons says: “At the moment we do a lot of below-the-line advertising, but we are looking to increase our above-the-line presence in order to raise awareness of the brand among business customers. We will be on TV with a trial in January next year.”
Irons joined the office supplies giant four months ago from Halfords where he was marketing manager, replacing Claudia Gambold as Staples marketing chief.
Staples opened seven stores this year, bringing the total number of UK outlets to 78, and looks set to continue its expansion programme in 2002. The majority of its stores are in out-of-town locations.
