Sherwin-Williams Puts Dutch Boy Up for Grabs -- Incumbent Griswold Optimistic Agency Will Keep the Account After a Review

CLEVELAND – After nine years spent with Griswold here, Sherwin-Williams is throwing its $4-5-million Dutch Boy Paints division into review this week.
The announcement, expected today, comes after weeks of speculation that the division would go up for grabs. Changes on the client side, including the addition of a new director of advertising, may have led up to the review, sources said.
Four agencies are believed to be involved in the pitch, including Griswold. The agencies are split between Cleveland and New York, according to one insider.
Sherwin-Williams officials didn’t return phone calls last week, and officials at Griswold would only confirm that they were involved in the review.
‘We are still the agency and intend to be the agency in the future,’ said Patrick Morin, who recently returned to the Griswold office as chairman and ceo from parent Ross Roy Group.