ESPN, Jordan’s Furniture, Whoop and Harry’s are brands to keep an eye on this month.
Several creative pitches make up this roundup of reviews as brands look for fresh agency support to help navigate the impending new year. Here are four agency searches to know about this month. Do you know about another review that’s not listed here? Send an email to [email protected].
Stay up to date with ongoing pitches with our recently launched Agency Review Tracker, exclusive to All Access subscribers.
Harry’s most recently worked with Uncommon New York.
Harry’s is set to launch a creative agency RFP soon, according to multiple people close to the situation. It’s unclear if the scope is for a project or a creative lead agency role.
The men’s grooming brand most recently worked with Uncommon’s New York Studio. The agency launched a campaign in June including a hero spot focused on a couple’s love story, which began because she liked the way he smelled—thanks to using Harry’s products.
Harry’s and Uncommon did not respond to requests for comment.
Harry’s spent $16 million on U.S. measured media last year and $10 million during the first two quarters of 2024, according to Vivvix, including paid social data from Pathmatics.
Read more: Harry’s ad tells a fragrant love story
Jordan’s Furniture is the largest furniture retailer in Massachusetts, Maine and New Hampshire.
Berkshire Hathaway-owned Jordan’s Furniture, which sells mattresses, home decor and other products, is running a creative review, according to multiple people familiar with the matter. The Palma Group, which declined to comment, is believed to be leading the review. Jordan’s could not immediately be reached for comment.
Jordan’s is the largest furniture retailer in Massachusetts, Maine and New Hampshire as measured by sales, according to Berkshire Hathaway’s latest annual filing. Jordan’s had U.S. measured media spending of $5 million in the first two quarters of 2024, according to Vivvix, including paid social data from Pathmatics, compared to $15 million spent for all of 2023.
Whoop spent $11 million on measured media in the U.S. in the first half of 2024.
Wearable technology company Whoop, which makes products such as fitness bands, is conducting a global creative review, according to multiple people familiar with the matter. The review could potentially wrap in October, one person close to the situation told Ad Age.
The identity of the incumbent agency wasn’t immediately clear. In 2023, Whoop worked with independent Mekanism on “The Best Obsess,” a campaign that featured multiple athletes and business leaders, such as Michael Phelps and entrepreneur Steven Bartlett. Whoop declined to comment on the review. Mekanism was not available for comment.
Whoop has been expanding its global presence. In April, the Boston-based company announced it had broadened its footprint to 56 markets worldwide, including Hong Kong, Saudi Arabia, Israel, Qatar, Korea and Taiwan. At that time, Whoop also promoted John Sullivan to chief marketing officer.
The company has also been increasing its ad spend. It spent $11 million on measured media in the U.S. in the first half of 2024, approaching the $16 million it spent throughout all of 2023, according to Vivvix, including paid social data from Pathmatics.
ESPN is looking for a creative agency on a project, Ad Age has learned.
ESPN is in the process of a creative review, according to multiple people close to the situation. The review is said to be a project to promote multiple ESPN entities, including its upcoming streaming service, which is meant to be a one-stop shop for sports entertainment under the ESPN umbrella and will include its betting platform ESPN Bet.
The new streaming service is expected to launch by Fall 2025 and is separate from Venu Sports, a planned streaming service announced earlier this year as a joint venture between Disney, Fox and Warner Bros. Discovery. Both offerings were announced in February. Venu, which is not part of the review, will also include ESPN as a product offering. Venu faces hurdles including an upcoming antitrust trial before launch.
ESPN currently works with Arts & Letters as its creative agency of record. The agency has launched several notable campaigns for the Disney-owned brand, including the return of the “This is SportsCenter” ads and most recently a promo for former Philadelphia Eagles star Jason Kelce’s debut as an analyst on ESPN’s “Monday Night Countdown.”
ESPN declined to comment on the review. Arts & Letters was not immediately available to comment.
