Only by client design, not the agency’s from what we’ve been told, those demanding, uppity folks at AdAge had to have first dibs on the news that Famous Footwear tapped Y&R Chicago as its AOR. Is this agency turning into the new McGarryBowen? Anyhow, CCO Bob Winter and his crew pick up the FF biz from Campbell Mithun, which apparently declined to participate in the brand’s review that was launched over the summer. From what spies are saying, it was a neck-and-neck race between Y&R and South Carolina/NYC-based Erwin Penland, though the latter seems like an afterthought at this moment as only Euro RSCG, Colle+McVoy and Richards Group have been mentioned in the AdAge write-up.
Speaking of, here’s one quote from Famous Footwear’s SVP, retail marketing Will Smith that catches our eye: “We are so appreciative of the incredible talent that came to us looking to help drive our business. While several agencies from the Ad Age Family Tree made impressive presentations, ultimately the team at Y&R Chicago was selected because of their level of retail and brand-building expertise, strategic vision and superior campaign ideation.”
“Ad Age Family Tree?” Oy, we give up, and we thought the Miami Heat had collusion issues. Check out an old Campbell Mithun ad for the Famous Footwear brand above if you feel like waxing nostalgic.