Eckerd Puts Account Into Play

Drugstore chain Eckerd Corp. has sent proposal requests to several agencies for its estimated $30-40 million account, sources said.

Eckerd, a Largo, Fla.,-based subsidiary of J.C. Penney, mailed questionnaires to five agencies, an employee who works in the chain’s marketing department confirmed. Ja&g advertising in Cincinnati holds the account.

Ja&g executives could not be reached, and it was not known if they were invited to defend the account. Eckerd vice president of marketing Jeffrey Thompson did not return calls.

Ja&g, formerly Backley & Gingrich Advertising, won Eckerd’s business in December 2000 without a review.