US appliance brands hire Dave and WCRS

Sub-Zero refrigerators and Wolf ovens, the US luxury white goods brands, have appointed brand consultancy Dave and ad agency WCRS to help build their profile in the UK and western Europe.

The US brands chose the two agencies, which are part of communications group Engine, after a five-way pitch.

Dave will be the lead agency on the account on the strength of its experience in the luxury brands sector, including work for Nokia’s luxury mobile phone brand Vertu and the diamond merchant Backes & Strauss. Its will be supported by WCRS.

Sub-Zero, which acquired Wolf in 2000, has already run limited advertising in the UK, including press campaigns across titles such as The Sunday Times magazine, House & Garden and Elle Decoration.

The Sub-Zero & Wolf business represents the first win for Engine as a group. It was formed following the purchase of Havas’ remaining 25 per cent share in the WCRS group last October.

Engine is the umbrella company for a range of agencies. As well as Dave, it also includes direct marketing agency Personal and the sales promotion agency Woo. In addition, the group is diversifying its non-advertising business by buying corporate agency AS Biss and a 60 per cent stake in the consumer-focused PR agency Slice.