Media Sales Lead: Checkers & Rally's (C&R) debuted a new modernized exterior look last year. It is working on expanding, and it plans on opening between 40-50 restaurants with the new style in 2023. The chain wants to expand west and is looking at states such as CA, NV, and AZ. On the east coast, it is looking at NC and SC. It is also offering incentives to potential franchisees to spur growth. The company currently operates around 800 locations.  Key Lead Takeaways: Reach out if you can h...

Sales lead: Reach out to this company to see if it needs any more agency assistance.  Daiya Foods (DF) named Jive PR + Digital its social & influencer AOR in April 2023.  We predicted agency shifts when we told you about DF's new CMO in December.  DF's target demographic: Millennials seeking plant-based products The company will likely: Make additional agency changes  Continue increasing ad spend Form influencer partnerships Digital and social insights (digital ...

Sales lead: Reach out if you can help this new brand build brand awareness.  CURE hired Laura Kendrick as CMO in April 2023. Kendrick most recently served as CMO of Highline Wellness.  She now leads all of CURE's marketing initiatives.  In other news: CURE just scored $5.6m in a Series A funding round. It will use these funds on new products, retail expansion, improving brand awareness, and building out its leadership team.  Target demographic: Gen-Zers & millennia...

Sales lead: Agency reviews tend to follow one another, so reach out now to be top-of-mind.  Tillamook named Leo Burnett its creative AOR in April 2023.  The agency's first creative work is scheduled for late this year.  This concludes the review we told you about in February. 72andSunny held the account from 2014 to 2023.  Target demographic: Gen-Xers & millennials  The company will likely:  Ramp ad spend back up Launch a campaign/new creative work (set for late 20...

Due Date: May 8, 2023 Scope of Work: The City of Willmar requests proposals by qualified consultants to research, create, develop, and help generate an implementation plan for a City branding initiative for the City of Willmar. The Consultant selected will be expected to provide multiple branding concepts and be prepared for revisions of the chosen brand concept. The brand identity will need to be effective in representing Willmar in any context, enhance the perception of Willmar, and deve...

Sales Lead: Power Home Remodeling recently selected mono as the agency partner to, well, power up its upcoming brand refresh. The agency will conduct research, refresh brand positioning, create brand materials, set up a new website, and develop a new brand "book." The "Book" will outline Power's mission, image, and core values. The company will likely: Shift strategy Launch a new campaign to support the rebrand Start investing in advertising Currentl...

Sales Lead: Atlanta-based vegan restaurant chain Slutty Vegan (SV) is reportedly in search of its first-ever full-service AOR. Specifically, the company will hire an agency with creative and content generation capabilities and digital social media inclusivity expertise. Up until now, SV has worked with the Whittley agency on a relatively Whittle level (or, as some would say, on a project-by-project basis). Once a vegan food truck, SV now operates nine restaurants in three states. ...

Sales Lead: Kindred, a home-swapping platform, just raised $15m in a Series A funding round led by New Enterprise Associates. Kindred launched its private beta in Spring 2022 and has reportedly experienced a tenfold increase in monthly trip bookings since then. It has also received 20k membership applications so far, primarily from primary residences rather than investment houses. At least some of the new funds will go toward geographic expansion in regions including the...

Sales Lead: Patrick Ta Beauty, LLC (PTB), a beauty brand created by celebrity makeup artist Patrick Ta, named Kimberly Villatoro as its CEO in January 2023. Before her most recent stint as the VP and GM at Smashbox & Glamglow, Villatoro handled Smashbox's brand strategy and operations as its NA marketing VP. Now, Vilatoro will lead PTB's rapid growth plans. She succeeds Avo Minasyan, the former CEO who helped launch PTB and will now shift into the position of board chairman. The ...

Sales Lead: Suzanne Cohen became the CMO of home furnishings company Kravet in April 2023. She joined from Ironman, where she served in the same role. Cohen will now spearhead Kravet's marketing team handling things such as brand strategy, digital performance, licensing initiatives, and customer engagement. She will specifically focus on customer inspiration and new business opportunity pursuit. At Kravet, Cohen succeeds Kim Fasting Berg, who stepped down as its CMO in November 20...