Richards Loses Pergo to Arnold

BOSTON The Richards Group has lost the account of high-end home flooring concern Pergo to Havas’ Arnold, the client said. Arnold will handle the ad account on a project basis.

Richards in Dallas has handled the business since 1994.

Sources said Boston-based Arnold outpaced indie Doner in Southfield, Mich., in the final round of a review to win Pergo.

The client spent an average of $12 million annually on ads from 1999-2001, but only $1 million last year, per TNS Media Intelligence/CMR.

Earlier on Friday, a representative of the Raleigh, N.C., client confirmed the company had talked with shops but he declined to name them and said no decision had been made on when, or if, a shop would be selected. A few hours later, Pergo said Arnold had been hired to succeed Richards.

The process was apparently slowed by the departure two weeks ago of client advertising manager Angela Scenna. Pergo has yet to name a successor.

This story updates an item posted earlier today.

—with Tanya Irwin and Alicia Griswold