Here in Atlanta, this is a big ‘un. From Adweek:
The Home Depot is contacting consultants as it prepares to review all aspects of its $500 million-plus communications business, including creative, media, PR, digital and multicultural chores, according to sources.
Might be hard for some of you to believe, but Home Depot was once a great company to work for and shop at, and its founders have done wonderful philanthropic things here in Atlanta. And I remember when it only had one store.
Like all the other major Atlanta-based businesses (Delta, Coke, UPS, Georgia-Pacific, Chick fil-A), Home Depot gives its brand advertising account to an out-of-town agency (Richards Group) and throws some digital and below-the-line scraps to some local shops. I wonder if that’s going to continue.
Danny,
Home Depot (along with the most of the other Atlanta based corporations you mentioned) is a national brand. Does an Atlanta agency have any more insight into the nation than say a Dallas agency?
No, they don’t have one bit more insight, Stu. Definitely not the agencies around here, that’s for sure. I highly doubt any agency here will be in consideration for the juicy portions of the account.
But I do think that local agencies would have a more vested interest in seeing the client succeed from a business standpoint, because they (Home Depot) are a big part of the community here.
I know what you’re hinting at, though. Geographic proximity doesn’t make much difference to clients these days.