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7-Eleven Begins Search for New AgencyDALLAS—7-Eleven began contacting agencies nationally last week about its $25-30 million advertising account. Bob Merz, director of marketing at the Dallas-based convenience store chain, said he will not be issuing a formal request for proposal or using a consultant. "I want to make this a real clean, focused and fast process," Merz said. "I don't need to know when they were founded and what holding company owns them." The review will consist of a creative assignment only, he said, with a decision coming in December. The Richards Group in Dallas, which has worked for 7-Eleven on a project basis, will participate in the review. "They were the first agency to know about this—this is their opportunity to become AOR," Merz said. Other agencies are still being contacted, he added. Media, which is handled by Camelot Communications in Dallas, will not be included in the review. Bank of America Holds $25 Mil. B-to-B ReviewDALLAS—Bank of America has put its estimated $25 million business-to-business account into review, a client spokesman said. Requests for proposals from the Charlotte, N.C.-based bank began arriving at agencies last week. "What we're looking for here is a new approach ... for our more specialized businesses," said BoA representative Scott Scredon. The account involves advertising for four different departments: global corporate and investment banking, small business, capital management and commercial banking. Bozell in New York, which has handled both consumer and trade ads since 1999, will not defend in the b-to-b review, an agency rep said. The search is national in scope. The client intends to make a selection before the end of the year. Staats Falkenberg to Brand Mahindra ConsultingDALLAS—Staats Falkenberg & Partners has been selected by Mahindra Consulting to handle a branding assignment. SF&P in Austin, Texas, will provide logo and Web site design and create collateral materials. The Austin-based client, a unit of Indian company Mahindra & Mahindra, is an information technology consulting firm. A project budget was not disclosed. Polaroid Files Chapter 11, Continues MarketingBOSTON—Polaroid, which on Friday filed for Chapter 11 protection in U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Wilmington, Del., said in a statement that it "intends to continue to manufacture, market and distribute its core instant imaging products" as it works to restructure its operations and finances. Polaroid continues to advertise, though it remains to be seen if spending levels will be trimmed, said company representative Skip Colcord. Polaroid in May 2000 consolidated its estimated $150 million global advertising account at Bcom3 Group owned and affiliated shops including Leo Burnett in Chicago. In Europe, Bartle Bogle Hegarty of London crafts Polaroid ads; most media chores are with Starcom in Chicago. Burnett introduced work for the client this spring with an emotional appeal and a "Click, instantly" tagline. Polaroid spent about $45 million domestically on ads in 2000 and nearly $20 million through the first half of 2001, according to CMR.

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