J. Walter Thompson Bolsters Capabilities off the Back of Fast Growing Retail Division

Off the back of growth and the addition of several retail clients to its roster in recent years, J. Walter Thompson Melbourne has unveiled a range of initiatives that will see it placed among the most qualified retail agencies in the country.

With a client roster that now includes Chemmart Pharmacies, Drummond Golf, Radio Rentals and Harris Scarfe, managing director Michael Godwin said developing a competitive proposition to offer retailers has been a strong focus for the agency.

“As a result, we’ve built an outstanding, highly experienced team that is passionate about the sector and understands the unique needs of retail clients. Around these people, we now also offer a breadth of in-house production capabilities, including a stand-alone photographic studio, available exclusively to our clients,” he said.

In addition to the studio facility, which sits next door to the agency in Richmond, J. Walter Thompson has assembled a team of photographers, shooting art directors, stylists and production managers. It has also installed a digital asset management system that will see the agency deliver an efficient operation for its retail client base.

“The opportunity to help build an integrated operation that includes a fully equipped photographic studio doesn’t come along every day,” says retail operations director Egan. “But that’s exactly what we’re doing. Through our end-to-end operation and experienced specialist team we can meet a client’s every communications need in-house, providing seamless campaign integration, delivered with great efficiency and cost effectiveness.”

Further firepower to J. Walter Thompson’s retail proposition is provided via the addition of one of Melbourne’s best credentialed and awarded Creative Directors Annie Price, who until recently was at the Brand Agency.

“Having best in class production capabilities is one thing, but the quality and effectiveness of the creative idea remains paramount. We needed a senior creative to lead our team with a proven track record and genuine enthusiasm for the sector, which Annie certainly has, as demonstrated by her work for the likes of Bunnings, Forty Winks, Specsavers, Guardian and Snooze,” Godwin continued.

Price says of her appointment: “I kept hearing positive reports from former clients and colleagues about J. Walter Thompson, which gave me an inkling that exciting things were happening. I’m thrilled to be working at an agency that combines all the client management and strategic skills you’d expect from a well-established business like J. Walter Thompson, coupled with some less expected capabilities such as its in-house production offer. For me, it means a campaign platform can go to market with greater consistency from catalogue and eDM to TV and radio.”