Adweek reports that Denver-based sandwich maker, Quiznos, is removing its account from The Martin Agency in Richmond, Virginia.
The account has not been placed into review yet, said Trey Hall, chief marketing officer for Quiznos. Discussions about future advertising failed to result in an agreement between the client and the agency, Hall said. “As we look into 2005, we weren’t quite connecting.”
Allow me to translate. Quiznos failed to see the wisdom in Martin’s thinking. So now they’re looking for someone willing to take direction. An agency like Martin, or Fallon, or Wieden can’t take direction from a client if the direction is bad. Bad account direction leads to even worse work, and for an agency whose entire reputation is built on the work, it’s far better to cut the wayward client loose than to do what they ask.
On another front, the Quiznos account reminds me how difficult it is for the Denver ad market to rise above total obscurity. Quiznos was once at Denver boutique, Morey Mahoney, but as the QSR grew so did their britches. For Denver to make a real name for itself in the ad market, the best shops–Morey, TDA, Karsh + Hagan and McClain Finlon–need to somehow keep these hot or “toasty” accounts at home.