More Bates Fallout: Car Guy Goes to Colby, Suzuki
Wienerschnitzel Gets Patriotic With Peel ‘n’ Win Game; PainePR Lands Duracell
Marketing & Media by Jennifer Bellantonio
Reminders of Bates USA West’s downfall keep popping up after the loss of its biggest client Hyundai Motor America.
Santa Monica-based Colby & Partners recently said it nabbed Brad Booth, former senior vice president and account director at Bates who had worked with Fountain Valley-based Hyundai.
The 18-year automotive advertising veteran left Bates around the time Hyundai moved its account to Dallas-based The Richards Group. Just two weeks or so ago, Richards picked up Hyundai’s dealer association business, leaving Bates empty-handed.
The future of the agency, which has undergone several rounds of layoffs, is unclear. In past interviews, agency officials have said they are committed to having a West Coast presence.
Last week, inquiries were directed to Bates’ New York office, which did not return calls.
Booth now manages day-to-day work as senior vice president, account director of Brea-based American Suzuki Motor Corp.’s auto account at Colby & Partners.
Colby executives say they’re thrilled to land Booth.
“Now that Colby & Partners has passed the $150 million mark in billings, it is exciting to be able to attract and afford smart, top level, senior executives like Brad,” said Rick Colby, the agency’s president and executive creative director. “We know that Brad will be a huge help as we continue to grow Suzuki’s business and ours.”
Speaking of Cars
Newport Beach-based Wienerschnitzel is giving away a 2002 Chevrolet Camaro convertible or a trip for two to the 2002 World Series to customers with winning game pieces from 32-ounce cups.
“Most people think of baseball, hot dogs, apple pie and Chevrolet as symbols of America,” said Tom Amberger, director of marketing. “Wienerschnitzel decided to wrap everything up into one big all American peel ‘n’ win game.”
The promotion started in May and runs until Aug. 24. Wienerschnitzel, part of Newport Beach-based Galardi Group Inc., is using TV spots, in-store signs and others ways to tout the game.
In other news, Wienerschnitzel was a sponsor of the Op King of Skate’s pay-per-view TV event, where some of the best skateboarders did daredevil stunts for a cash prize.
The event aired last week, a short time after the makers and main sponsor of the event,Irvine-based Ocean Pacific Apparel Corp., Cynic Youth + Alternative Marketing, an arm of Santa Ana-based DGWB Advertising, and Santa Monica’s Munson Industries,held a big premiere at the Grove of Anaheim with several big names from the action sports industry.
Coppertop Work
Costa Mesa-based PainePR recently landed work with Gillette Co.’s Duracell.
Linda Landers, agency senior vice president and general manager, said there were a number of national firms in a lengthy review for the battery account, though the “actual number wasn’t disclosed to us.”
The public relations firm plans to develop cause-related marketing programs, among other things for Duracell, Landers said.
In other news, PainePR recently won “The Best of Silver Anvil” award for its launch of XM Satellite Radio Holdings Inc.’s satellite radio service.
The award, presented by the Public Relations Society of America, recognizes the best in strategic public relations planning and implementation.
PainePR won the award in the marketing consumer services category. The entry was chosen as the best campaign from among 47 other honorees that battled to take home the top prize. There were 92 finalists and 603 entries reviewed by a panel of 125 judges.
Bits and Pieces:
Ford Motor Co. officials headed to Dodger Stadium recently to honor eight Orange County and Los Angeles transportation companies that together have bought more than 300 compressed natural gas Ford vehicles Irvine-based Carrows has awarded its ad account to Evans, Hardy & Young in Santa Barbara without a review. The family restaurant chain, which saw a 1% decrease in same-store sales in April, is owned by troubled Advantica Restaurant Group Inc. The Spartanburg, S.C.-based company has been trying to sell Carrows and its Coco’s chain in a bid to emerge from Chapter 11 Irvine-based Hollywood South, a media production facility, recently shot a digital video for version 4.0 of the Verizon Internet Learning Disc, an education compact disc, at the Newport Beach Yacht Club The OC Ad Club’s recent “Best of the West” screening was a sellout. About 120 ad-types hob-knobbed and watched reels of top campaigns Santa Ana Heights-based p11creative did marketing work, including a brochure, Web site, posters and print ads, for the Rod Carew Children’s Cancer Golf Classic set for Coto De Caza Golf & Racquet Club on July 8.
