TEST:Eckerd Puts Account in Play

Drugstore chain Eckerd Corp. has sent proposal re quests to five agencies for its estimated $50 million account, now at ja&g advertising in Cincinnati, sources said.

An employee who works in the chain’s marketing department confirmed that Eckerd, a Largo, Fla.-based subsidiary of J.C. Penney, sent out proposal requests to five agencies.

Ja&g, formerly Backley & Gingrich Advertising, won Eckerd’s business in December 2000 without a review. The account was previously handled by Doner, Southfield, Mich.

Ja&g executives could not be reached, and it was not known if the shop was invited to defend the account.