Contract scripts a win with two Reynolds brands

In the wake of a credentials presentation, Contract Advertising's Chennai office has won the advertising accounts of two Reynolds brands. The pen brands that have come Contract's way are Reynolds Jetter (which moves from JWT India) and a hitherto-unnamed, soon-to-be-launched brand. In a related move, GM Pens International, the exclusive licensee of the Reynolds brand in India, has awarded Chennai-based Maitri Advertising with the accounts of its gel pen range, the 040 Bold and the Artoon range. For the record, JWT India continues to handle flagship brand, Reynolds 045 (including sub-brands Aqua, Smartgrip and Supersoft), as well as the Reynolds corporate/umbrella brand.

Confirming the news of the win, Colvyn J Harris, president, Contract Advertising, told agencyfaqs!, "We have been awarded the accounts of the top-end Jetter and another brand, which is being launched soon. We have already started work on both brands, and the communication should be hitting media in roughly a month's time." Harris informs that while there was no pitch for the account, the agency had presented its credentials to the client, following which Contract has been entrusted with two brands. "It is a part of a rationalization process that Reynolds has initiated," he says.

Incidentally, Meera Sharath Chandra (vice-president & general manager, Contract Advertising), who presently heads Contract's Chennai operations, was part of the JWT team that launched the Jetter brand in India. "The Jetter family consists of the basic Jetter, the Aviator (which will be launched nationwide shortly), the Metalica FX, the Aerosoft, the Premier (gift pens), the Designer (collection pens), the Rollertek and the Tekpoint sub-brands," Chandra informed agencyfaqs!. "We will be handling all these sub-brands, plus the new offering." She adds that the new offering currently consists of a single pen brand.

The size of the business (in capitalized billing) that has accrued to Contract from these wins is not known, and Harris chooses not to comment on it. "All I can say right now is that it is a large business," he says. "But more than billing, what gives us pleasure is the honour of working with a prestigious brand like Reynolds, the No 1 writing instruments brand in the country." © 2003 agencyfaqs!