Update: The review, we’re told by a source within the agency, was mandated by BMW Germany.
It must have been tough when GSD&M lost the regional BMW work. All that’s left of the account is creative and media — and the latter is, as we’re told, “gassed up and ready to leave Austin.”
A source close to media review tells us the agency made its pitch this week, but was given an additional “homework” assignment to complete. Well, today they turned it in, and they should expect to get their grade sometime next week.
GSD&M is in a particularly tough spot with the review because it’s “price-driven.” It’ll be tough for the agency to say, “we can do it cheaper,” because that leaves the client open to say, “well, why the hell didn’t you do it cheaper all along?”
Which is a great point. Had GSD&M charged less, they’d have skipped the review and saved the agency the money involved in seeking out a new shop — cash that could have been spent on more GSD&M work. That pesky greed thing’ll getcha every time.
If the media account leaves, that’ll leave only the creative work, and at the rate BMW has been going that won’t be around much longer either.
More: “We Hear: GSD&M Out, Richards Group to Retain Home Depot”