Sebago Seeks Shop for Print Ads; Incumbent Holt, Hughes Bows Out

Casual footwear maker Sebago in Gorham, Maine, is seeking a new agency for its print-based advertising account.
Marketing consultant Dave Murphy of F.O.I. Associates in Scituate, Mass., has been retained to oversee the search process and has helped company officials select a field of three to five contenders, sources said. Murphy did not return calls by press time.
Billings are in the $1-3 million range and include creative development as well as media buying chores, sources said.
Some collateral, direct marketing and online assignments may also be in the mix, sources said.
The incumbent, Holt, Hughes & Stamell in Portland, Maine, which has handled the account for the past six years, initially defended the business but last week said it has withdrawn from the review process.
Agency official George Hughes said his shop pulled out because the client is seeking “a more traditional agency relationship with heavier emphasis on advertising versus marketing strategy.”
The shop has...