July 28, 1999 — agencyfinder.com Announces Search for Minority Agency

Richmond, VA — Business Partnering International, Ltd., owner/operator of agencyfinder.com, the Internet’s first and only on-line and off-line consulting service for client and agency matchmaking, today announced their search for a minority owned and operated agency on behalf of the Sinclair Intimacy Institute of Chapel Hill, NC. This primarily direct response assignment is to develop and implement a comprehensive marketing program for their new The Better Sex Video Series for Black Couples videocassette series.

Located in Chapel Hill, N.C., the Sinclair Intimacy Institute is the leader in the development and distribution of adult sex education videos. In 1991, Sinclair launched the acclaimed Better Sex Video Series, the best selling adult sex education video series available today. Since then Sinclair has developed a library of more than 30 titles and sold more than 4 million videos in 24 countries. Produced in cooperation with leading sex educators and therapists, Sinclair videos educate and stimulate discussion between partners about sex, sexuality and intimacy issues.

Sinclair Intimacy Institute has partnered with

leading experts on African American sexuality and filmmaking to produce the only adult sex education video series ever written, directed and produced exclusively for black couples by black experts. Scheduled for release late summer 1999, The Better Sex Video Series for Black Couples, features board-certified sexologist Dr. Herb Samuels, black sexuality expert Shauna Croom, award-winning script writer Jacquie Jones, director Noland Walker and actor Eddie Earl Hatch.

“We are very pleased to form a partnership with these five outstanding individuals who can effectively discuss sexual topics that traditionally have been very sensitive and rarely publicly addressed in the black community,” said Mark Schoen, director of sex education for the Sinclair Intimacy Institute. “Our research has found a definite need for providing the black community with accurate information about improving intimacy and dispelling sexual taboos – in a format that’s accessible, easy-to-use and private.”

Charles Meyst, Chairman and CEO of BPI stated, “This is a challenging assignment. Within our database of 3,200 locations, we already have certified agencies that satisfy the search criteria, but we’ve been asked to identify more — anywhere throughout the US. As we do, we’ll gather their data, certify them and then assess their qualifications for the assignment.”

Sinclair’s search criterion calls for experience marketing to African-American consumers plus minority ownership and operation. Meyst reported that AHAA (Association of Hispanic Advertising Agencies) agencies are registered with agencyfinder.com; and that the newly formed AAAAA (Association of Asian American Advertising Agencies) will represent those with Asian-American experience. There is currently no such membership group for black agencies.

July 1, 1999 — Solar Communications Group, Inc. to Select Agency for $12 million Advertising Account

Millville, NJ. — Solar Communications Group, Inc., developers of PCRoomLink , an innovative new system of convenience services for business travelers and hotel room personal computers with high-speed Internet access, today began a search for an advertising agency to lead their $12 million
account.

With speed to market being key in the high-tech industry, Solar is fast-tracking their search and has invited 11 agencies in New Jersey, New York, Philadelphia and Baltimore to respond to this opportunity. At present, Solar expects to make a decision within a month.

The 11 agencies invited by Solar were selected on the basis of industry specialization, range of services, media experience, and the ability to target a variety of audiences.

agencyfinder.com (c.q.), an Internet and off-line agency selection service owned by Business Partnering International, Ltd. of Richmond, VA., assisted in the selection process. The firm was able to identify and then invite

this small group of agencies that met Solar’s selection criteria through data from more than 3,200 international agencies stored in their database.

Solar’s branded product, PCRoomLink increases business travelers’ productivity by offering them a bundle of complimentary on-line convenience services and by installing PCs with e-mail, high-speed Internet access and popular software applications into hotel rooms. With PCRoomLink, business travelers can become more efficient and will no longer have to endure the inconveniences associated with carrying laptop computers.

“Advertising is going to be even more critical to us than it is for other high-tech start-ups due to our unique strategic positioning,” said Solar’s Vice President of Marketing Susan Schneider. “Rather than just offer a technological solution to the challenge of offering Internet service in hotel rooms, we are the only company in our industry that is targeting business travelers directly. We expect our advertising efforts to introduce business travelers to our service and to help our hotel partners to increase occupancy by directing these travelers to the properties that offer our unique service.”

April 12, 1999 — Lowe’s Selects McCann-Erickson New York

Richmond, VA — Business Partnering International, Ltd. (BPI), owner and operator of agencyfinder.com, the advertising industry Internet advertiser/agency matchmaking service, today confirmed that Lowe’s Companies, Inc., the nation’s second largest retailer of home improvement products, selected McCann-Erickson New York for their $100 million broadcast advertising account.

The decision came a short 10 weeks after the original February 26th announcement. The six finalists were Leo Burnett, Chicago; DMB&B, New York; McCann-Erickson, New York; TBWA/Chiat/Day, Playa del Ray, CA, J. Walter Thompson, New York; and the incumbent, Doner, Southfield, MI.

I’m pleased we were able to play a role in this significant agency review,” said Charles Meyst, Chairman and CEO of BPI. “The precise, impartial and ethical nature of the agencyfinder.com process was the perfect complement to the comprehensive methodology used by the search team at Lowe’s. Our process supports the efforts of clients and consultants. It shortens the search cycle and is in full compliance with AAAA policy. Moreover, we endorse their stand on spec creative. We also advocate that clients should compensate for creative assignments. Lowe’s agreed and paid $20,000 each or a total of $120,000 for final round creative.”

April 12, 1999 — Growing Home Improvement Player Aims for National Profile.  

Home-improvement retailer Lowe’s Cos. late last week hammered out a deal with McCann-Erickson Worldwide, and sent TBWA/Chiat/Day to the shower aisle.

Lowe’s decided on an agency for its $100 million broadcast ad account after a creative shoot-out that pitted East Coast against West Coast — McCann’s New York office vs. TBWA/Chiat/Day in Playa Del Rey, Calif. Incumbent Doner, Southfield, Mich., which had the account since 1990, was in the review until the final phase.

“We are looking for an agency that has the horses to take us beyond local broadcast buying and into national” marketing, said VP-Advertising Dave Tyler, who said he was impressed with McCann’s work for MasterCard International. Creative for Lowe’s print ads will remain in-house. While declining to reveal specifics of the creative pitch, McCann executives said the ideas presented will be used in the coming campaign. No dates have yet been set for when a campaign will begin. “We’ll do both the tactical to drive people into the stores, as well as the brand support,” said Don Dillon, president of McCann North America and CEO of the office. “They have done some branding in the past, but they need to go out and do more.”

HOME DEPOT IS NO. 1 – The $152 billion home-improvement market is led by Home Depot, with annual sales of about $30 billion, followed by Lowe’s $13.3 billion, according to the National Home Center News. Other key retailers in the category include Sears, Roebuck & Co. and Wal-Mart Stores. “Lowe’s today is running very fast to catch up with Home Depot,” said Walter Loeb, a senior retail analyst and publisher of the Loeb Retail Letter. “It will be a very important step for Lowe’s as a brand to be better understood.”

Lowe’s has stores in 37 states. Although Lowe’s has been expanding aggressively and recently purchased Seattle-based Eagle Hardware & Garden, Mr. Tyler said he expects the biggest growth in the do-it-yourself marketplace to occur in the major metropolitan areas. Lowe’s has plans to expand into a number of major metropolitan areas, including Los Angeles, San Diego and Las Vegas. “Fifty percent of the [market] resides in the top 25 metropolitan areas and, until 1997, Lowe’s didn’t operate in those areas,” he said. The win marks the second big gain in recent weeks for McCann; it earlier was named for the $50 million Hewlett-Packard Co. spinoff company (AA, May 3). McCann actually pitched its final ideas to both Lowe’s and Hewlett-Packard in the same week.

Mr. Dillon, Chairman-Chief Creative Officer Nina DiSesa and their team flew to the West Coast to present to Hewlett-Packard, then turned around and hopped a red-eye flight back East to pitch Lowe’s. McCann also this year has picked up the $50 million Du Pont Co. branding assignment and the $150 million Sprint Corp. media work.

The agencies were selected on the basis of market specialization, range of services, media experience, and the ability to service the account nationwide. agencyfinder.com (c.q.), an Internet and off-line agency selection service owned by Business Partnering International, Ltd. of Richmond, VA., assisted in the selection process.

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March 9, 1999 — Six Agencies Will Compete for Lowe’s Work

North Wilkesboro, N.C. — Five agencies will advance along with the incumbent shop in the running for Lowe’s Home Centers’ $100 million account. The shops joining Doner of Southfield, Mich.: Leo Burnett Par Chicago; TBWA/Chiat/Day of Los Angeles; J. Walter Thompson of Detroit; and DMB&B and McCann-Erickson, both of New York. The six will be asked to complete a creative assignment, and will receive $20,000 in compensation. No timetable was available on when a winner would be named.

February 25, 1999 — Lowe’s Begins $100 Million Broadcast Advertising Agency Review

North Wilkesboro, N.C. — Lowe’s Companies, Inc., the nation’s second largest retailer of home improvement products, today began an agency review for its $100 million broadcast advertising account.

Lowe’s asked 16 advertising agencies, including W. B. Doner & Company of Southfield, Mich., agency of record since 1993, to submit proposals. The review is closed to the 16 agencies, and the company will not accept proposals from other candidates. The field will be narrowed next week to five candidates who will be visited by a team from Lowe’s. Finalists from the visit will be asked to handle a creative assignment for which they will be compensated.

The agencies were selected on the basis of market specialization, range of services, media experience, and the ability to service the account nationwide. agencyfinder.com (c.q.), an Internet and off-line agency selection service owned by Business Partnering International, Ltd. of Richmond, VA., assisted in the selection process. The firm was able to identify a small group of agencies that met the selection criteria through data from more than 3,000 international agency offices stored in its system.

Lowe’s, best known as Lowe’s Home Improvement Warehouse, serves more than four million do-it-yourself and commercial business customers weekly in 487 stores in 27 states. Fiscal 1998 sales totaled $12.24 billion, a 20.8 percent increase over fiscal 1997 sales.

The 52-year-old company plans to open more than 80 new stores this year, expanding to three new states. Lowe’s also announced last year its intention to acquire Eagle Hardware and Garden of Renton, Washington, adding nearly $1 billion in sales generated by 36 stores in 10 states.

“Lowe’s aggressive expansion program, coupled with new initiatives in branded products, marketing and promotional activities, has had a tremendous impact on our advertising needs,” said Dave Tyler, vice president of Advertising for Lowe’s. “As the company continues to succeed and grow, we see a need to change our centralized approach to advertising in favor of a more decentralized strategy that allows us to react more quickly to a changing local marketplace.”

December 28, 1998 — agencyfinder.com Announces Year-End Selections

Richmond, VA — Business Partnering International, Ltd., today announced the successful conclusion of three searches totaling more than $20 million.

February 5, 1998 — AHAA and agencyfinder.com Partner to Create Hispanic Marketers Resource

Miami, FL — Ana Maria Fernandez-Haar, President of the Association of Hispanic Advertising Agencies, announced today at AHAA’s 1998 Conference in Miami the inclusion of AHAA member agencies in agencyfinder.com, the new Internet advertiser/agency matchmaking service. “We are particularly excited about this partnering effort, because advertisers and marketers now have agencyfinder.com as the definitive resource to conduct searches for agencies with experience delivering the Hispanic market, ” said Fernandez-Haar.

Charles Meyst, Chairman and CEO of agencyfinder.com said, “We now deliver the leading Hispanic agencies to searching clients and consultants. In what used to take weeks – perhaps months – a client can now search free-of-charge, create their short list, and meet with agencies in days. A very powerful tool for moving product to market – in this case Hispanic – quickly and efficiently. Overall it’s a win win for our clients and our agencies.”