Dr. Scholl, Makita U.S.A., Inspire Brands, Driven Brands, Avocados From México, Taylor Reach Group, Price Chopper/Market 32, Tops Markets, QVC® US / HSN®, Panda Express® ….. and more brands targeting the U.S. consumer right now. Check our prior Sales Leads columns.
Dr. Scholl
Dr. Scholl, an American footwear and orthopedic foot care brand owned by Scholl’s Wellness Company, has appointed OMD USA to handle its´ media account. The agency won following a fast-paced review that began in December 2020. Dentsu Mcgarrybowen was the incumbent.
Makita U.S.A.
Makita® U.S.A., Inc., a worldwide manufacturer of industrial power tools, pneumatics power equipment and janitorial-sanitation products, is continuing its commitment to future growth in the U.S. market with the purchase of 80 acres in Georgia. The land, located northeast of Atlanta in Hall County, is the target for planned future development to address continuing growth in the United States.Over the past three years Makita has made significant investments in the U.S.A. The Atlanta-area purchase follows the August 2020 opening of a new distribution, training and service facility in Reno, NV, and the 2017 opening of a similar facility in Wilmer, TX. Makita’s distribution chain also includes operations in Mt. Prospect, IL, Buford, GA, and La Mirada, CA. Additionally, the manufacturing plant in Buford is one of ten Makita manufacturing facilities worldwide.Makita U.S.A., Inc. is located in La Mirada, California, and operates an extensive distribution network throughout the U.S.A. With 50 years in the United States and over 100 years worldwide.
Inspire Brands
Restaurant group Inspire Brands, a multi-brand restaurant company whose portfolio includes nearly 32,000 Arby’s, Baskin-Robbins, Buffalo Wild Wings, Dunkin’, Jimmy John’s, Rusty Taco, and SONIC Drive-In restaurants worldwide, has named Publicis Groupe its´ media AOR following a review that began in early August. Following this appointment, a dedicated media strategy team within Publicis called Inspire Media Engine will be formed and led by Publicis agencies Zenith and Digitas. Inspire Media Engine will handle national media buying and planning for Inspire’s portfolio that also includes Baskin-Robbins, Buffalo Wild Wings, Jimmy John’s and Sonic, as well as local media planning and buying for Dunkin’, Jimmy John’s and Sonic. The appointment does not include national paid search or social for some brands as those duties are handled in-house or through an agency partner not affected by the review. The account is valued at about US$600 million, according to a source familiar with the account.
Taylor Reach Group
One of the world’s largest and fastest-growing premium spirits companies has enlisted the aid of The Taylor Reach Group, Inc. (TRG) to assess their current capabilities and support the design of a new Direct to Consumer (DTC) organizational vision.The DTC channel will support consumers across the globe. Consumer support and experience will be delivered across multiple channels and across dozens of popular and premium liquor brands. The full roll out of this process is expected to take three years.The Taylor Reach Group, Inc., is a globally-recognized contact center, customer experience consulting and managed services firm focused on optimizing consumer engagement. The firm’s role in this massive undertaking is to perform a sweeping audit of the client’s current consumer service channels, determine how those channels compare against industry best practices, and make recommendations on improvements to support the DTC strategy.Taylor Reach has helped major retail, publishing, education, and financial brands, as well as government agencies at all levels, provide world-class consumer support and customer experience.
Driven Brands
Charlotte, NC-based Driven Brands has appointed San Francisco-based agency Erich & Kallman AOR for Meineke Car Care Centers and Take 5 Oil Change. The appointment includes strategy, creative and production for national and regional campaign work, including TV, radio, OOH, social, and digital. Media planning and buying for offline media (TV, Radio, OOH) at both national and regional levels is also included. (360i handles digital media).Moxie and Mythic were the incumbents for Meineke and Take 5 respectively. With over 2500 units in operation today, Driven Brands is the number one choice when considering a franchise in the automotive industry. (Check out a Portada interview with a leading Driven Brand executive.)
At this exclusive virtual event on March 24, 2021, Brand Decision Makers and Marketing Service Suppliers will share and accelerate knowledge on key topics including multicultural marketing, e-commerce marketing and marketing technologies. To find out about virtual networking solutions at PortadaLive involving a myriad of brand decision makers, please contact Sales Director David Karp at [email protected].
Avocados From México
Avocados From México has selected Omnicom´s GSD&M as its´ new AOR without a review. The agency will lead creative and brand for both general market and Hispanic, with the first work set to launch in early 2022.
Price Chopper/Market 32 – Tops Markets
Northeastern grocers Price Chopper/Market 32 and Tops Markets plan to merge, creating a supermarket retailer with nearly 300 stores in six states. Financial terms of the deal weren’t disclosed. Scott Grimmett, president and CEO of Schenectady, N.Y.-based Price Chopper/Market 32, will serve as CEO of the merged company and on its board of directors, overseeing the operations of 292 Price Chopper, Market 32, Market Bistro and Tops Markets stores in New York, Vermont, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, and New Hampshire. Frank Curci, chairman and CEO of Williamsville, N.Y.-based Tops, will serve on the combined company’s board and as a consultant to aid in the transition.The new parent company will be based in Schenectady. Both supermarket chains will retain their main offices in Schenectady and Williamsville and continue to be managed locally by their respective leaders.
QVC® US / HSN®
Qurate Retail Group’s QVC® US and HSN®, leaders in building brands through livestream video storytelling across multiple platforms, announced plans to introduce more than 90 emerging brands in apparel, accessories, beauty, culinary, home décor and innovations, and electronics throughout 2021. Two-thirds of the winning brands have self-identified as either women-owned or minority-owned, reflecting QVC and HSN’s commitment to developing a diverse and inclusive vendor community. QVC and HSN discovered the brands through The Big Find®, the retailers’ second annual international search to discover entrepreneurs. Twenty-three brands are expected to launch by the end of March, including Pili Ani and 54 Thrones (beauty); Nude Barre and Poppy + Sage (accessories); Pacific Northwest Cookie Company, Curly Girlz Candy and Pure Food by Estee (culinary); and Go Hang It! and The Strapper (home innovations). After seeing the increased demand specifically in categories like home decor, food, and electronics during the COVID-19 pandemic, judges looked for products to address customers’ shifting needs as well as great storytellers who are authentic and passionate about their brand. Additional Big Find brands will launch throughout Q2 and through the rest of 2021.QVC and HSN form one of the world’s largest video commerce platforms, reaching more than 90 million homes in the U.S. (380 million worldwide) via broadcast channels and millions more via streaming, web, mobile, and social platforms.
Panda Express®
Panda Express, one of the largest family-owned and operated Asian dining concepts in the U.S., has sparked a celebration in honor of Lunar New Year, one of the world’s biggest festivals centered around food, family and togetherness. Through Feb. 28, guests can visit www.PandaLNY.com on their mobile phones to send their own virtual celebrations and personalized well-wishes to loved ones through this digital red envelope experience. Panda will also share special offers with every guest who sends and receives a digital red envelope during the festivities.To bring to life the spirit of Lunar New Year and invite those who may be unfamiliar, Panda unveils a new 3-minute short film that tells a story through the lens of a young man discovering the meaning of the holiday in his own way. The short explores the idea that a person’s desire to come together with loved ones and wish them good fortune is in fact a shared value that connects us all.The auspicious holiday is not complete without a family meal filled with symbolic dishes that bring forth new beginnings. Panda Express’ Firecracker Chicken Breast® returns with the same bold and loud flavors.
At this exclusive virtual event on March 24, 2021, Brand Decision Makers and Marketing Service Suppliers will share and accelerate knowledge on key topics including multicultural marketing, e-commerce marketing and marketing technologies. To find out about virtual networking solutions at PortadaLive involving a myriad of brand decision makers, please contact Sales Director David Karp at [email protected].
