LOS ANGELES R&R Partners has won three accounts worth an estimated $3 million-plus in combined billings.
The accounts, which will be handled out of the agency’s 15-person Phoenix office, include Phoenix International Raceway, Valley Metro and National Bank of Arizona. All three pieces of business were won earlier this month following reviews. R&R will handle creative and media, as well as public relations, for all three clients, the independent shop said.
Valley Metro, a public transit system for the greater Phoenix area, awarded R&R a three-year contract. Billings are more than $1 million annually, and the contract can be renewed for up to two additional years. The incumbent was independent Riester-Robb in Phoenix. The other finalists were independent shops Pulsar Advertising in Los Angeles and BJ Communications in Phoenix. R&R will create radio and outdoor ads, as well as some television, said Bryan Jungwirth, deputy executive director for Valley Metro in Phoenix.
“They really had a good understanding of how to integrate the modes of transit and transportation services we offer in the valley,” said Jungwirth. “They came out ahead of everybody else because of their ability to deliver coordinated promotional marketing and branding campaigns for the Phoenix metro area.” Valley Metro was also impressed with the work R&R has done for the Utah Transit Authority through the shop’s Salt Lake City office, he said.
National Bank of Arizona, a subsidiary of Zions Bancorporation in Salt Lake City that has 50 branches throughout the state of Arizona, tapped R&R after a review that included independent finalists The Martz Agency in Scottsdale, Ariz., which was the incumbent; The Rose/Glenn Group in Reno, Nev.; Off Madison Ave. in Tempe, Ariz.; and Riester-Robb in Phoenix, the client confirmed. Billings were undisclosed but are estimated at $1 million.
According to National Bank of Arizona vice president of marketing Cheryl Holdraker, R&R’s creative won the pitch since it “captured the essence of our brand identity.” In addition, she lauded the shop’s comprehensive presentation. R&R’s first ads for the client are slated to break in January. Work will include TV, print, outdoor and radio advertising.
Phoenix International Raceway previously handled creative in-house. Media was with WPP’s Mediaedge:cia in Chicago. Finalists in the review included Riester-Robb in Phoenix and independent Lavidge & Baumayr in Scottsdale, Ariz., sources said. Billings were undisclosed but are also estimated at $1 million. Work will include TV, radio and print ads, as well as direct, said PIR president Bryan Sperber.
PIR’s 15-race 2004 schedule begins in January and includes Indy, sports car and Nascar events.
“This starts us off really strong for 2004,” said Mark Hiegel, managing director of R&R in Phoenix. “It’s nice to have three major accounts come on board that are very high profile in this market.”
R&R’s Phoenix office now has $22 million in billings. Its other accounts include Cox Communications, the Phoenix Zoo, California Overnight and Phoenix Manufacturing.
Bank, Buses and Racers Converge at R&R
