Steve’s breakdown: So the CEO of Ulta Beauty has left for Michaels and Ulta has an interim CEO. It’s a good day in retail new business.
BOLINGBROOK, IL & IRVING CA: Ulta Beauty announced on Thursday that Chuck Rubin will step down as president, CEO and as a director, effective Feb. 21, 2013, to become CEO at Michaels Stores, a [...]
Posts in category Industry: E-commerce
Double Lead: Ulta Beauty & Michaels Stores
Steve’s breakdown: So the CEO of Ulta Beauty has left for Michaels and Ulta has an interim CEO. It’s a good day in retail new business.
BOLINGBROOK, IL & IRVING CA: Ulta Beauty announced on Thursday that Chuck Rubin will step down as president, CEO and as a director, effective Feb. 21, 2013, to become CEO at Michaels Stores, a [...]
PokerStars deals ad brief
Steve’s breakdown: Last year, PokerStars acquired its rival Full Tilt Poker in a $731 million deal so this account will be significant. Plus they are coming back to America.
The featured video was banned!
DOUGLAS, Isle of Man: PokerStars is talking to UK agencies about an advertising brief to promote the online poker site.
Agency sourc [...]
After 2 years with AOL, About.Me is independent
Steve’s breakdown: Earlier this week, I got the letter posted below from About.me. Two years ago they were bought by AOL and now they’ve independent once again. It sounds like they have backers, cash and a renewed life. Sounds like a good time for an ad campaign.
The feature screenshot is from my About.me page. You should get one. [...]
Gov. Christie green lights Online Gambling
Steve’s breakdown: After months of discussion, debates and vetos, New Jersey will be legalizing online gambling within the state. Every casino in town is going to get in on this but we’re not sure of the wisdom of just using the AOR of the brick and mortar casinos. In other words, we think there’s opportunity washing up at t [...]
Skyscanner.com opening Miami office
Steve’s breakdown: Our headline from December tells us you all knew this was coming – hope. “New Business Opportunity: Cold War looming for travel sites.”
MIAMI, FL: One of Kayak and Expedia’s international rivals in the online-travel business is opening up a Miami office in a bid to capture a larger share of the Nort [...]
BoatsGo.com ships in new CMO
Steve’s breakdown: As we said after SuperStormSandy, the boating industry will be booming this year. Everyone needs new stuff so look at this appointment as great opportunity to get in on the flood of cash.
MIAMI, FL: BoatsGo.com, a daily deals website offering discounts on boating-related products and services, said it named Mike Dickm [...]
Reply.com closes on a CMO
Steve’s breakdown: We don’t usually report on marketing companies but these guys need to get the word out and their own services won’t help. How about yours?
SAN RAMON, CA: Reply.com, the leading marketplace for local advertisers, today announced that Chris Mancini has joined the company as its chief marketing officer. Reply [...]
SurveyMonkey raises $350 million without IPO
Steve’s breakdown: This is a great service we’ve used before and we applaud this financial news. They say the $350 million has to be “invested” and you know I think advertising is an invstment. Check them out.
PALO ALTO, CA: Forgive Dave Goldberg, chief executive of rapidly growing SurveyMonkey, for not being in the sl [...]
$5 million PR review at PayPal
Steve’s breakdown: They are saying there is a seven agency short list but if you have e-commerce & banking experience, I’d make the call.
SAN JOSE, CA: PayPal has kicked off a review of its $5m North American PR business, with seven firms expected to contend for a brief that seeks to strengthen the e-commerce giant’s co [...]
LivingSocial picks-up a CMO
Steve’s breakdown: LivingSocial is a great idea that has not yet reached its full potential and that’s what’s the new guys’ job is. Give’em a hand by giving him a call.
WASHINGTON, DC: LivingSocial, the local marketplace to buy and share the best things to do in your city, today announced that experienced marke [...]
Future Shop reviewing creative
Steve’s breakdown: We’ve always covered Canada but this year we’re making an expanded effort to get those leads for you. And here ya go:
VANCOUVER, Canada: Future Shop Canada is kicking off 2013 with an agency review.
Nikki Hellyer, the retailer’s Vancouver-based director of marketing, said only the creative portion of its [...]
GoDaddy’s new CEO has an ad plan
Steve’s breakdown: Here’s what the new CEO thinks of GoDaddy advertising: “The new CEO said he even agrees with the company’s approach to advertising, which critics have labeled as sexist for its heavy reliance on scantily clad female models and celebrities. “I like the edginess of the advertising,” he said, adding that fut [...]
CEOs Who Will Get Fired in 2013
Steve’s breakdown: The Street has published a list of 5 CEOs who should probably go in 2013.
Do we believe all these companies will be new business leads in 2013? No but if you’ve been following us, you know we think Best Buy, Netflix and Pandora top our list of the 5 mentioned here.
NEW YORK, NY: I use “will” in the [...]
New Business Opportunity: Cold War looming for travel sites
Steve’s breakdown: Deutsche Bank believes there is a “Cold War” for the travel sites on the horizon. As far as we are concerned, this is good news and suspect at least one of the top sites will review their advertising. Here are the top ten travel site according to Top Ten Reviews.
Smarter Travel
Expedia
Orbitz
Travelocit [...]
CareerBuilder is interviewing agencies
Steve’s breakdown: CareerBuilder India is looking to take the #1 position in the country and it’s going to take big thinking to beat Naukri.com.
DELHI, India: CareerBuilder India, a fully owned subsidy of CareerBuilder LLC, has invited proposals from creative and media agencies for managing its digital marketing efforts for 2013. [...]
Expedia’s $6 million account takes off
Steve’s breakdown: A handfull of agencies have been briefed but if you have the stuff, I bet you can slip right in there. It doesn’t look like they want to keep the incumbents.
SYDNEY, Australia: Online travel company Expedia has put its $6m Australian creative advertising account out to pitch, putting incumbent BMF on notice.
Ex [...]
Hailo wants to go Global: In review
Steve’s breakdown: They want to go global and the best they have is this “Don’t take the walk of shame this season” video. These folks need help so call AAR.
LONDON, UK: Hailo, the taxi-booking app that has emerged as an adland favourite, is looking for a creative agency to help build its brand as it expands globally. [...]
Voispot calls in new CMO
Steve’s breakdown: voispot is the voice-activated social media platform that allows you to host group conversations about common interests. It is a free, cloud-based mobile app. It’s a ground floor opportunity that I’d be all over.
BOCA RATON, FL: Voispot, Inc. has announced that Laura Whalen has been appointed Chief Marketi [...]
Kayak put’s $38 million in review
Steve’s breakdown: I think it’s ridiculous that the spot featured here was banned by the ASA. They ruled that the ad’s “treatment of a serious and delicate medical procedure could be seen as flippant”. Wimps!
Anyway, this is a perfect opportunity for a US shop to go international.
NORWALK, CT: Kayak, the online travel [...]
GoSpotCheck bags ex-Coke CMO as advisor
Steve’s breakdown: There’s only one reason they did this, growth through marketing insight. Keep an eye on these folks because things are going to get interesting.
DENVER, CO: GoSpotCheck, a provider of mobile and web-based software that enables businesses to collect on-the-ground, real-time retail data and intelligence, today ann [...]
Gaydar: That’s right, Gaydar in Review
Steve’s breakdown: Gotta love this brand name! Anyway, I think with the right attitude, the right agency can get in this review.
GLASTONBURY, CT: Qsoft Consulting, the operator of GaydarRadio, is looking to appoint an integrated agency ahead of an advertising campaign for its Gaydar-branded dating websites.
The company has approached ag [...]
OfficeMax moving a bit to the digital side with new CMO
Steve’s breakdown: The new guys’ job includes “brand management and evolution of the company’s traditional marketing vehicles to new media including digital and social.”
Did you hear that digital agencies???
CHICAGO, IL: OfficeMax(®) Incorporated (NYSE:OMX), a leader in office and facility supplies, technology a [...]
Account review prediction: DentalPlans.com
Steve’s breakdown: CapitalOne executive getting the CMO job at DentalPlans.com means they are drilling for growth. We even think they will be reviewing all advertising.
PLANTATION, FL–(Marketwire – Oct 30, 2012) – DentalPlans.com, the largest online provider of Discount Dental Plans for individuals and families acro [...]
Plink plucks itself a CMO
Steve’s breakdown: We have a bit of a coming together of old pals here. Which could mean they are almost ready to pull the trigger on some real marketing here.
DENVER, CO: Plink, the venture-backed developer of online loyalty programs, said today that it has named Marc Marin as Chief Marketing Officer. Marin was previously at PurePlay, [...]
New Roots: Ancestry.com to be sold
Steve’s breakdown: Many of the same people will be running things at Ancestry.com but we expect the new owners to bump it up a notch. Which means an advertising review of some kind.
PROVO, UT: Genealogy website Ancestry.com has agreed to be acquired by a group led by European private equity firm Permira Funds in a cash deal valued at a [...]
Myspace takes it from the top: PR in review
Steve’s breakdown: I really do think this is going to work and if you can win this business, you’ll be in a great space.
BTW: we told you this was going to happen back in May when we reported “USA EXCLUSIVE: Account Review for Relaunching MySpace”
SAN FRANCISCO: Myspace has issued an RFP for a PR agency partner to han [...]
OnlineShoes.com seeks the right fit for next CMO
Steve’s breakdown: OnlineShoes.com spends a lot of time making product videos. It’s not a bad idea but they should at least make them interesting to look at. We predict that’s the type of work the new CMO will be reviewing.
The job post is below.
SEATTLE, WA: The VP of Marketing/CMO’s key function is to drive growth and prof [...]
Sportsbet kicks-off creative pitch
Steve’s breakdown: The present creative would never fly in America. But in Australia it just gets you fired. Anyway, this review is wide open so get in there now!
FANNIE BAY, Australia: Sportsbet has launched a pitch to find a creative agency to support its own internal team.
The internet betting giant has its own internal desig [...]
Churchill Downs Interactive gets Chief Strategist
Steve’s breakdown: This new leadership of Twinspires.com, Luckity.com and Bluff Media could means many types of new business opportunities. Either way, Churchill Downs Interactive needs a longterm strategy and I know many of you have the juice to win that project.
LOUISVILLE, KY & MOUNTAIN VIEW, CA: Churchill Downs Inc. named Lexi [...]
MeetMe.com is now integrated, global and growing fast
Steve’s breakdown: We think there could be multiple opportunites here considering their growth plans. If you dig the site, let them know and get involved.
NEW HOPE, PA: MeetMe, Inc. (NYSE MKT: MEET), the public market leader for social discovery, today announced that the transition of Quepasa.com users to the MeetMe platform is complete [...]
HotelTonight + PrimaTable = new products & advertising
Steve’s breakdown: I love HotelTonight! I’ve used it many times and would never book a hotel last minute, which is the way I always do it, any other way.
So, this company and it’s new products will need to get promoted. So, throw your hat in.
SAN FRANCISCO, CA: HotelTonight acquires PrimaTable and brings on an All-Star Tea [...]
I-gaming products are ready (as are their ad budgets) but is the USA
Steve’s breakdown: If you want to ride the wave of advertising dollars that will accompany a positive ruling on this legislation, make friends now with as many of these manufactures now.
LAS VEGAS, NV & EVERYWHERE USA: Internet gaming, the next frontier for casinos, occupies center stage here this week at the Global Gaming Expo, kno [...]
Savored bought by Groupon
Steve’s breakdown: Lord knows the financial community has been talking about Groupon for months now. It’s like they are all waiting to pounce but are looking for a sign. Is this the sign? Probably not but putting some marketing muscle behind this brand will surely help.
CHICAGO, IL: Groupon (http://www.groupon.com) (NASDAQ: GRPN) [...]
Teleflora needs a CMO to deliver
Steve’s breakdown: The Super Bowl ad they ran this year with Adriana Lima might be the reason they are looking for someone new. I’m just sayin’
LOS ANGELES, CA: Teleflora is the world’s leading flower delivery service connecting customers with the nation’s best local florists for more than 75 years. All of Teleflora’s flowe [...]
Amazon needs to start thinking outside the box store
Steve’s breakdown: Amazon is doing fine but if more stores stop selling their products, it’s going to be a big problem which will probably need a marketing adjustment.
SEATTLE, WA: Wal-Mart Stores, the nation’s largest retailer, said Thursday it was dropping Amazon’s Kindle tablets and e-readers, a sign of how seriously it views [...]
$55 million Travelocity media account roams for agency
Steve’s breakdown: RFPs have been sent out but that should stop you from contacting the right person. That person is Mr. Bradley E. Wilson the Chief Marketing Officer. He has a very clever/sneaky email address: bradley.wilson@sabre.com
SOUTHLAKE, TX: Travelocity has issued an RFP to a number of media agencies as it begins a review.
Pub [...]
Bwin: online gaming group calls $75m media review
Steve’s breakdowm: “Bwin, the online gaming group, is reviewing its estimated $75 million media planning and buying business across key European markets.”
VIENNA, Austria: The review covers the UK, Germany, France, Spain, Italy and Greece. The incumbent on the UK account is UM London, which won the business in February 2 [...]
Gumtree.com chews on advertising review
Steve’s breakdown: “Gumtree.com, the classifieds website, is looking for an agency to handle its £3 million advertising account.” For those who don’t know: Gumtree.com is the UK’s number one classifieds site, spanning 48 cities across the UK and Ireland with some 34,000 new adverts each day and an impressive 13.7 mill [...]
Yahoo Update IV: New CMO – again
Steve’s breakdown: What the sam-hell is going on at Yahoo. They just hired a CMO in may. We even covered it with the headline: Yahoo update II, or is it IV: New CMO. These people need help and hopefully one of you will get in there and fix it!
SUNNYDALE, CA: Yahoo said Tuesday that Kathy Savitt, former founder and CEO of social commerc [...]
Mogl looks to hire a big dog the to lead marketing
Steve’s breakdown: This rewards for shopping company looks to have found a better way to opperate. I remember working on FreeRide.com before the bubble burst. Wow, were they dreaming!
Anyway, they seem to be leaning toward digital and viral marketing so if that’s your bag, get to know this folks.
SAN DIEGO, CA: Mogl CMO Job Descr [...]
Target target’s digital shops to pitch e-commerce biz
Steve’s breakdown: This is their second account review since we told our readers to keep on eye on these folks. Reason #44 to subscribe to The Ratti Report.
Here’s a key quote from this review’s RFP: “The ideal partner(s) will have demonstrated retail e-commerce experience, designing and enhancing digital platforms fr [...]
Virtual Piggy banks on new marketing head
Steve’s breakdown: All you kid advertising agencies out there should give this one a look over.
HERMOSA BEACH, CA: Virtual Piggy, Inc. (OTCBB: VPIG), an innovator in safe-online youth purchasing, today announced that they have appointed entertainment industry marketing executive Joanne Wong to head up their global marketing efforts.
“Vi [...]
Trouble in Paradise? Accounts won one year ago this week
Steve’s breakdown: It’s Wednesday and that means our weekly instalment of Trouble in Paradise where we list the accounts won this week last year. The idea being most agency-client relationships will break within a year if they are meant to break.
EVERYWHERE USA: Accounts won one year ago this week. Source: Access Confidential
Bel [...]
About.com gets sold to Answer.com
Steve’s breakdown: This is an account we won at Margeotes|Fertitta + Partners. Back then they were talkin’ all big & bad but they were open to creative ideas. It’s worth a call!
ST. LOUIS, MO: The New York Times Co. has agreed to sell its troubled online information service, About.com, to rival Answers.com for $270 mill [...]
NetCents banks on new CMO
Steve’s breakdown: Usually we don’t cover new CMO news outside the country but this is Canada, the news also covers an acquition and the prospective client is going head-to-head with paypal.
VANCOUVER, Canada: On4 Communications, Inc. (“On4″) (OTCQB: ONCI) is pleased to announce that NetCents Systems Ltd. (“NetCe [...]
Ex-Yahoo chief gets a new gig at ShopRunner
Steve’s breakdown: My spidey-senses are tingling on this one. We believe Thompson will push hard to grow this company just to make Yahoo eat their words. Look for big expansion moves which will probably include advertising.
CONSHOHOCKEN, PA: Former Yahoo CEO Scott Thompson will be the new leader of ShopRunner, taking over the e-commerc [...]
Yahoo update III: New CEO is pregnant
Steve’s breakdown: I know the new CEO is perfect for the job and a great catch for Yahoo but the timing is not going to workout for either. Keep an eye on Yahoo and how they handle this in the marketing department. Yahoo update II: New CMO was published in May.
SUNNYDALE, CA: Marissa Mayer, the Google (GOOG) executive who today was name [...]
AOL connects with new CMO
Steve’s breakdown: What’s interesting about this hire is that she’s really a PR person. So one wonders how she’ll approach the job. In any case, AOL does have a PR problem that needs to be fixed. What do you think about a person with an AOL email address?
BTW: This winter we reported AOL Puts Ad Account in Review.
NEW [...]
Yammer gets gobbled by Microsoft
Steve’s breakdown: The immediate response to this acquisition has been that Microsoft is behind the eightball on this one. We see it as an opportunity for a marketing firm who can take Yammer to the front of the pack.
SEATTLE, WA: Microsoft’s announcement Monday that it will acquire Yammer, a social network for corporate use, spar [...]
Savings.com gets sold
Steve’s breakdown: Savings.com has a pretty extensive video campaign going but I don’t know if it’s working. Maybe with the new owner, they’ll be open to new ideas from agencies like yours.
LARGO, FL: Cox Target Media has completed its acquisition of Savings.com, including its sister site, London-based Savoo.co.uk, as [...]
Dot.AnythingYouWant is coming and they will all need advertising
Steve’s breakdown: The cat is about to get out-of-the-bag. The can-of-worms is about to be opened. The genie is about to be let out of the bottle. ICANN tomorrow will reveal who is going after what new domain extensions, paving the way for a very different looking Web. Prepare for dot-madness.
And then dot-opportunities for your agency! [...]
Take-Two for LendingTree account review
Steve’s breakdown: Last May we reported: $20 million LeadingTree.com account seeks new creative but they hired anyone. What’s different this time? Not too sure but I suspect last year’s finalists might be a little squeamish to do it again. Score one opportunity for you!
CHARLOTTE, NC: LendingTree is at it again.
Less than a [...]
$9.4 million media in review at Experian
Steve’s breakdown: “Experian, the online credit-checking service that owns the CreditExpert brand, is reviewing its £6 million media planning and buying account.”
DUBLIN, Ireland: Maxus is the incumbent on the offline media planning and buying business, while a roster of digital agencies including Harvest look after online [...]
Yahoo update II, or is it IV: New CMO
Steve’s breakdown: Let’s call this story “Fingers in the dike.” But it is the big news for agencies. Of course they have been looking since early April, way before the resume snafu. We reported: Yahoo is doing the searching for a change: Seeks new CMO
SUNNYDALE, CA: Yahoo interim CEO Ross Levinsohn reorganized the mana [...]
USA EXCLUSIVE: Account Review for Relaunching MySpace
Steve’s breakdown: Exploratory conversations with agencies has begun with an eye towards a formal pitch at the end of the year. Go get your foot in the door.
BEVERLY HILLS, CA: The once-leading social media site MySpace has held talks with agencies as it prepares for a brand relaunch towards the end of the year.
The move follows the pur [...]
Quick Update on YAHOO!
Steve’s breakdown: Even though there’s still a vacancy at Yahoo, resume liar guy is out and head of global media is in for now. News like this should get the new business sharks circling around the account and many of its advertisers.
As you know, we broke this story on May 3rd. Only CNBC and BusinessInsider.com beat us to the pun [...]
Zappos seeks PR agency to deliver the goods
Steve’s breakdown: These folks seem like they have things figured out but when it comes to AORs they’re a bit fickle. Approach with care.
HENDERSON, NV: Online shoe and apparel retailer Zappos has issued an RFP for a PR AOR. The company also selected VaynerMedia as its first social media agency.
Zappos is looking for a PR agency t [...]
The search for a CEO is over at Lycos
Steve’s breakdown: Lycos? That’s right – I said it. Lycos, whose ad from 1999 is above, has a new CEO. Talk about an uphill battle. He’ll need all the help he can get so give him a ring. Additional brands in this network of community and social sites include a games portal, Gamesville.com, a web hosting service, Tripo [...]
CafePress takes it to the next level with new CMO
Steve’s breakdown: They are talking about taking the brand to the next level. Sometimes that’s just press release talk and sometime it’s real. Make the call and find out. BTW: This account includes sites such as CafePress.com, CanvasOnDemand.com, GreatBigCanvas.com, Imagekind.com, InvitationBox.com, and Logosportswear.com. [...]
Blue Nile sails in a new CMO
Steve’s breakdown: On the new guys’ LinkedIn page he says he’s “a results driven entrepreneurial leader with +20 years experience specializing in the direct-to-consumer, integrated multi-channel retail space.” He also left his phone number: 206-919-0943. Clearly, this guy worked hard to get this job. Congratulate [...]