Marketing Store quits Leeds for Birmingham
Staff at The Marketing Store\'s Leeds office have been relocated to Birmingham after the branding agency took the decision to close the West Yorkshire base.
The business has recently moved its Birmingham base into the city\'s Fort Dunlop development, following a £1million investment, and says the new location is ideal for its future plans.
The Marketing Store opened its Leeds operation 10 years ago to service Asda, but industry insiders have speculated that the relationship between client and agency may have been weakened by the arrival of Rick Bendel as Asda group marketing director in December. However, the agency has issued a statement by managing director David Poole confirming that it will \"continue to work closely with Asda\".
Poole said: \"We have been planning to move our Birmingham team here for over two years as Fort Dunlop is the ideal hub for our branding and retail operations. The facilities here are second to none and we have a beautifully designed office, which will stimulate our creative output.\"
Ian Humphris, who previously headed up the Leeds operation, has joined the Birmingham team as associate director, where he will take charge of a combined team and head up all client business. The office will house more than 60 staff, who will work alongside the agency\'s 120-strong team in London. The agency has also announced plans for a recruitment drive to support recent new client gains.
Catherine Gale, European CEO, said: \"This comes on the back of a very good year that has seen our client base grow and diversify. With such a great mix of the very bestÊclientsÊandÊthis fantasticÊnew combined team we are looking forward to an even more successful 2007.\"
In December, The Marketing Store was appointed by Infuzions to launch its range of Zipp drinks to the trade and consumer markets with a below-the-line campaign.
The brief requires the agency to develop the brand\'s proposition and personality and will include PoS, sampling and packaging.