Curious Retains Reid Despite Pitch Absence
The Curious Group has been retained by Reid Furniture, despite not having been involved in its recent advertising pitch.
The pitch for the £3million account took place last month with IAS Smarts, The Leith Agency and Manchester-based BDH/TBWA competing.
However, following the pitching, the client chose to retain The Curious Group, who had looked likely to lose the business as a result of the review.
The most recent work by the Curious Group for Reid Furniture was the advertising campaign starring former Bond girl, Jane Seymour.
Yet, in a further twist to the tale, The Drum understands that The Leith Agency has been assigned to work on a summer campaign for the company.
Reid Furniture was originally a client of Coltas and has been with The Curious Group since the merger between Coltas and Curious Orange in 2006.
The pitch process was overseen by Andy Crummy of Agency Assessments North while the review was instigated by Anne Gibb, head of marketing at the furniture chain and former Feather Brooksbank director.
In November there was increasing industry speculation that Reid Furniture - which operates 32 stores throughout the UK and Ireland - was to review its account, which Curious Group denied.
On hearing the final pitch list, and that the incumbent had not been invited to pitch, it seemed that The Curious Group’s relationship with the client was at an end. The subsequent return of the business to the group has raised eyebrows in the industry.
At the time of going to press, no one from The Curious Group, Reid Furniture or The Leith Agency was available to comment.