MIDWEST Agency Report Cards

BAYER BESS VANDERWARKEROverall Billings: Up 8.5%, to $173.8 million............................................. C+New Business: None.......................... FGrowth from Existing Business: Up 16.1%, or $25.8 million.................... BBusiness Lost: $12.2 million, primarily Ameritech................................... CCreativity: Overall, reel pretty solid. Gatorade work has shown some improvement under new creative chief Mary Ann Quick................... BManagement: It wasn"t possible to keep Brian Goodall, who followed his wife, Nina DiSesa, to N.Y. Buyout talks last year got distracting.......... BTeacher"s Comments: This needs to be a big year. Soon, clients will look for some kind of global network.Overall Grade: C +BERNSTEIN-REINOverall Billings: Down 7.9%, to $186.2 million............................................. D+New Business: $17.8 million........... BGrowth from Existing Business: Up 15.3%, or $31 million....................... BBusiness Lost: $57 million, primarily Blockbuster Video.......................... DCreativity: Falling Prices for Wal-Mart is a gem; last work for Blockbuster was breakthrough for category. Retail is the strong suit....... BManagement: Kudos to Bob Bernstein and Skip Rein for hunkering down and cranking up new business in wake of Blockbuster loss......... B+Teacher"s Comments: This agency has quietly built a name for itself in the Midwest.Overall Grade: C +CARMICHAEL LYNCHOverall Billings: Up 12.9%, to $131 million.............................................. BNew Business: $22 million................ BGrowth from Existing Business: Up 6%, or $7 million............................ C+Business Lost: $4 million................ BCreativity: Print continues to set the mark for the region, and beyond. TV is up there, but flashes of intelligence and humor are a little uneven......... AManagement: Lee Lynch slowed his pace down a little and named Jack Supple as president. Agency hasn"t missed a beat, with consistent new business wins................................ B+Teacher"s Comments: Things seem to be humming along, but the agency is ready to make a step up in size.Overall Grade: BCRAMER-KRASSELTOverall Billings: Up 10.7%, to $174.8 million.............................................. BNew Business: $19.8 million, including Inland Steel.............................. BGrowth from Existing Business: Up 10.3%, or $16.2 million................... BBusiness Lost: $2.5 million............ B+Creativity: Strong strategies behind most TV, including Southwest Airlines and MasterLock................... BManagement: Ninety miles separate the two top execs, but Paul Counsell in Milwaukee and Peter Krivkovich in Chicago make it work............... ATeacher"s Comments: This agency has done well by doing what it does best as mid-size agency in its respective markets.Overall Grade: BW.B. DONER & CO.Overall Billings: Up 24%, to $239 million............................................ B+New Business: $20 million, including Musicland, F&M Distributors..... BGrowth from Existing Business: Up 9%, or $16 million............................ BBusiness Lost: $3 million.................. BCreativity: Agency has become a retail-advertising specialist, with good work for its roster................... B+Management: Awesome new-business winning streak shows that belief in hands-on executives and strategic planning is paying off... ATeacher"s Comments: The agency set an enviable record for new-business gains in 1994. Can it keep up the momentum?Overall Grade: B+FALLON McELLIGOTTOverall Billings: Up 46.7%, to $220 million................................................ ANew Business: $46 million, including Magnavox, Nikon, Coca-Cola....... AGrowth from Existing Business: $70 million, including Ameritech.......... ABusiness Lost: $35 million................ DCreativity: Still strong, but evolving. Coke spots shimmer. But some of the old edge is being replaced with a major-agency polish................... AManagement: Agency is growing big and fast; Pat Fallon is determined to make it a top-notch strategy shop as much as a creative agency........ ATeacher"s Comments: There may be some angst amid the growing pains at the agency.Overall Grade: B +MARTIN/WILLIAMSOverall Billings: Up 7.1%, to $150 million............................................ C+New Business: $7 million, including Bissell, Gold "n Plump................... CGrowth from Existing Business: Up 3.6%, or $5 million........................... CBusiness Lost: $2 million............... B+Creativity: Target Stores work was some of the freshest retail advertising in the business. Humor flashed in the quirky Shoney"s work.......... AManagement: Dave Floren and Tom Weyl seem to be grooming next management team for this hot shop....... BTeacher"s Comments: Pulling out of the VW pitch cost it a chance for a major piece of business, but showed management won"t sacrifice principles.Overall Grade: BMELDRUM & FEWSMITHOverall Billings: Down 1.8%, to $136.4 million............................................. D+New Business: $3.8 million, including Rally"s, General Tire (projects)..... DGrowth from Existing Business: Up 1.7%, or $2.4 million....................... CBusiness Lost: $40 million, including Glidden, OfficeMax....................... DCreativity: Print shone with Libbey and Mr. Coffee. But this agency can do much better TV.......................... CManagement: A down year, but still one of the strongest management teams in Cleveland......................... ATeacher"s Comments: Despite setbacks with long-term clients Glidden and OfficeMax, the agency is still vibrant.Overall Grade: CROSS ROY COMMUNICATIONSOverall Billings: Down 5.9%, to $508 million............................................. D+New Business: $9 million, with a project for Caffeine-Free Diet Coke... DGrowth from Existing Business: Down 5.2%, or $28 million......................... DBusiness Lost: $30 million................ CCreativity: Much is below the line, but clients like Chrysler love it. Kmart Extras was cloudy; Hiram-Walker holiday print was superb.. C+Management: Losses of La-Z-Boy and Ameritech, and impending loss of Kmart, hurt. Now the test is finding the right buyer at the right price... BTeacher"s Comments: The face of this agency is likely to change very soon under new ownership.Overall Grade: CTATHAM EURO RSCGOverall Billings: Down 2.2%, to $343.5 million............................................. D+New Business: $7 million.................. DGrowth from Existing Business: Up 5.7%, with Brown & Williamson. C+Business Lost: $35 million, primarily from Ameritech............................. CCreativity: Heartwarming Hoover spots, some of final Ameritech work shone. Solid strategy behind otherwise typical packaged goods ads.. C+Management: Departure of Bob Hiel-sher didn"t seem to hurt. Elevation of Mary Baglivo was smart. Ralph Rydholm gets strong marks........ B+Teacher"s Comments: The agency showed a remarkable strength at coming back after losing Ameritech.Overall Grade: C+VALENTINE-RADFORDOverall Billings: Up 1.9%, to $122.6 million.............................................. CNew Business: $8 million, including La Petite Academy........................ C+Growth from Existing Business: $2 million, with Sprint Phone Magic....... CBusiness Lost: $20 million, including Hallmark retail............................. D+Creativity: Mediocre. Some breakthroughs in print with Beauty Warehouse and La Petite Academy......... CManagement: CEO Chuck Curtis has been busy setting up integrated units to offer more service........... BTeacher"s Comments: The agency is trying to overhaul the way it works with clients. But new business needs to be a priority in "95.Overall Grade: CWYSE ADVERTISINGOverall Billings: Up 1.6%, to $140 million.............................................. CNew Business: $4.5 milllion........... D+Growth from Existing Business: $4.5 million............................................... CBusiness Lost: $10 million, primarily from Smuckers................................ CCreativity: Still can do some of the best corporate print work around with G.E. Lighting and McDonald & Co. TV could use some charm... CManagement: Marc Wyse is still active in the day-to-day business, but the question of succession still hangs over the agency.................. B+Teacher"s Comments: Long the dean of Cleveland agencies, this shop could use a splash of good news.Overall Grade: CCopyright ASM Communications, Inc. (1995) ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

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MIDWEST Agency Report Cards

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