Due Date: September 28, 2023; questions due July 26 Scope of Work: Idaho State University is requesting proposals from experienced and qualified vendors to create and lead strategic implementation of marketing deliverables that drive the University’s brand development, recruitment, outreach, and marketing goals. Goals: (More information about Idaho State University’s Strategic Plan Performance Measures tied to our goals can be found at isu.edu/strategicplan.) Increase Student...

Sales Lead: Houman Akhavan stepped down from his role as CarParts.com's CMO, effective July 10. Akhavan joined the brand as CMO in February 2019. The brand will likely: Need additional marketing assistance in his absence Shift strategy Continue increasing spend Conduct agency reviews, especially once its CMO search concludes. Target demographic:  Gen-Z and millennial men Additional spending insights: Broadcast insights (TV ad creative spe...

  Due Date: August 11, 2023 Scope of Work: Discover Puerto Rico seeks to maximize the efficiency and effectiveness of its communication and media efforts through the selection of a strategic and results--oriented media relations agency. The selected agency will provide strong strategy and insight for initiatives that elevate Puerto Rico nationally. The selected agency's responsibilities may include but are not limited to:  Position Discover Puerto Rico as a world-class tourism ...

Sales Lead: After a nine-month hiatus, Volkswagen has kicked off its global media review once again. The review originally began in 2021 and has ramped back up since incumbent media AOR PHD USA's contract was set to expire at the end of 2023. Because the review was postponed and now needs more time, though, Volkswagen has extended its contract with PHD until the end of 2024. When the company hired PHD in 2016, it wanted a stronger focus on digital and programmatic. We...

Sales Lead: New Hampshire Tourism (NHT) recently extended its contract with GYK Antler. GYK Antler became the organization's creative and media AOR eight years ago and has renewed the contract for another two years. The agency's remit currently includes delivering brand strategy, brand planning, creative, content, media strategy, media planning, account management, social media management, and reporting. So far, GYK's work is credited with having helped to generate over $38.5b in vi...

Sales Lead: Lego has started pursuing and establishing more brand partnerships. For example, the company has teamed up with brands such as Star Wars and Formula One. Under UK-based CMO Julia Goldin's leadership, Lego works with brands like these on new, often limited-edition product launches. The company will likely: Seek additional brand partners Pursue additional female athlete influencer partnerships Continue bolstering efforts to reach more girls Keep increasin...

Sales Lead: Upfield just concluded a competitive pitch by assigning its global media account to Universal McCann. This shift replaces Dentsu X, which won the account in 2019. Hey, what's Up...field? Upfield is the parent company of brands such as Violife, Country Crock, and Flora. The company will likely: Launch a new campaign Implement strategy shifts Return to higher spend Conduct additional agency reviews Target demographic:  Better-for-you (BFY) mil...

Sales Lead: Audi is now in search of a new CMO due to the departure of Tara Rush. I hope Audi doesn't... Rush too much with a new hire; we will keep you updated, of course. Rush has not yet announced her next steps. Audi hired her in April 2019 as chief communications officer and promoted her to CMO in November 2020. During her tenure at Audi, Rush led the US creative agency assignment shift to AOR Ogilvy in May 2022. Ogilvy took over from Venables Bell & Partners, which had...

Sales lead: Agency reviews commonly follow one another, so reach out now to be top-of-mind. SeatGeek selected SlapGlobal as its creative AOR in July 2023.  This replaces Fig, which picked up the account in 2021.  SlapGlobal's work will reportedly focus on showing consumers its unique features.  Target demographic: Male millennial/Gen-Z sports fans  The company will likely: Keep increasing ad spend    Launch an ad campaign/new creative work Make additional agency ch...

Media Sales Lead: L'Occitane is experimenting with a virtual store through a partnership with Emperia. The company's DMs believe this will boost brand engagement, loyalty, and online sales. The virtual experience is inspired by the Provence, France region and allows users to explore using a virtual bicycle or hot air balloon. It also promotes L'Occitane's products and includes interactive content. In other news, L'Occitane has been increasing digital ad spend so far this year. I see no reason...