Newswire

Omnipoint Searches for New ShopNEW YORK--After its split with Grace & Rothschild Advertising here, Omnipoint Communications, a digital wireless telephone service provider, is looking for a new agency. Mark Caron, marketing director for the Cedar Knolls, N.J., company, is heading the search. About eight agencies have been contacted, one source said. Agency president Diane Rothschild said the client and agency had 'philosophical differences.' A client representative said the shop was interested in doing more 'call to action' ads. Billings range from $5-10 million, sources said.Conseco Selects 2 FinalistsCHICAGO--McConnaughy Stein Schmidt Brown here and Fallon McElligott Berlin in New York were named finalists for the estimated $10 million account of Conseco, a $30 billion financial services company in Carmel, Ind. There is no incumbent. A decision is expected by the end of May.Eddie Bauer Is Conducting a ReviewSAN FRANCISCO--Southern California agencies BBDO West, TBWA Chiat/Day and Team One Advertising are among the shops that have been invited to talk to Eddie Bauer about its estimated $4-8 million account. The Seattle apparel retailer parted ways with Black Rocket in San Francisco last month and put its account into review. Eddie Bauer, which is owned by Spiegel, has compiled a list of six to eight West Coast shops in the closed review.Celebrity Cruises Race Narrows to 2 ShopsNEW YORK--Celebrity Cruises in Miami cut seven-year incumbent Korey Kay & Partners here from its review. Two finalists, Austin Kelley Advertising and BBDO South, both Atlanta, were also eliminated after creative presentations two weeks ago. Two other contenders: Loeffler Ketchum Mountjoy, Charlotte, N.C., and Harris Drury Cohen, Fort Lauderdale, Fla., were asked to present additional work, sources said.Edge Rolls Out Coke Spots Sans DisneyNEW YORK--Walt Disney Co. has withdrawn its ownership stake in Edge, a creative boutique in Los Angeles, following the departure of Michael Ovitz last year, said Sergio Zyman, chief marketing officer for the Coca-Cola Co. Coke and the agency's principals are now the sole owners of Edge, he said. Last week, Edge unveiled 16 new spots, which mark the fifth year of the 'Always' campaign for the Coke Classic brand. All but one of the spots, which feature everything from sumo wrestlers to an animated Super Mom character drinking Coke, were created by Edge. Leo Burnett in Chicago created a spot called 'Motel.' 'The old way of marketing is dead,' said Zyman, who voiced support for Edge and Coke's multiple-agency strategy of using 32 shops worldwide. Coke is looking to move more of its business to the 'agencies that have proven themselves,' said Zyman.New Phase for McGraw-Hill Co.'s AdsNEW YORK--Margeotes/Fertitta + Partners broke three new corporate TV spots for The McGraw-Hill Co. yesterday designed to 'more closely align the (corporate) name with our various brands, such as Business Week and Standard & Poor's,' said company representative Steve Weiss. The campaign, which features more expressive faces and human images than the introductory execution launched in 1995, addresses the global, technical and communication capabilities of the New York-based information services company.GSD&M to Unveil First Spots for Steel AllianceAUSTIN--GSD&M here is unveiling its first campaign for the Pittsburgh-based Steel Alliance at a press conference in New York this week. Sources said 'Feel the Strength' is the tagline in national print and TV ads touting 'the new steel.' The Steel Alliance has committed $100 million to advertising over the next five years.DreamWorks Interactive Launches ReviewLOS ANGELES--DreamWorks Interactive in Burbank, Calif., is talking to shops about its $3-4 million media and creative print ad account. The work previously was handled by Butler Shine & Stern in Sausalito, Calif.The Sports Authority Hires Lord GroupNEW YORK--Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.-based sportswear retailer The Sports Authority has hired The Lord Group here following a review. According to Competitive Media Reporting, the client spent $22 million on advertising in 1996. It was not immediately clear if the account is for creative only or creative and media duties.McCann Worldwide Wins Media, Adds StaffNEW YORK--Universal McCann Worldwide revealed last week that it has won two international media accounts in Europe. The agency has picked up media planning and buying duties for BSkyB, worth an estimated $30 million in billings, after pitching against incumbent Zenith Media and Ogilvy & Mather. Universal McCann Europe has also won planning and buying chores from NBC Europe, which was previously handled by Carat, a unit of London-based Aegis. Billings were not available. Robin Kent, managing director of Universal McCann Europe, said he has hired Michael Readman as business development director and Jim Kite as head of research. Readman used to be media director for Universal McCann Worldwide Media in Eastern Europe, while Kite previously headed BSkyB's research division.Black & Decker Unites Business at McCannNEW YORK--Black & Decker last week consolidated its U.S. Consumer Power Tool Group advertising account at McCann-Erickson, New York. The estimated $30 million account had been split between McCann and Fallon McElligott Berlin, also New York. McCann, which already handled media duties, will continue to do so.Copyright ASM Communications, Inc. (1997) ALL RIGHTS RESERVED East

Brand Marketing

Newswire

Adweek Staff

About

Subscriptions

Events

Publications

WORK SMARTER - LEARN, GROW AND BE INSPIRED.

Subscribe today!

Adweek Staff