coffee to go

We were talking yesterday in an agency meeting about sticking to our principles in challenging times. News just in from Portland is that we've resigned the Starbucks account.

It's been a tough relationship with Starbucks for the past 4 years and their recent business performance only amplified the challenge. We were burning people out and it was affecting morale at the agency. So we decided to resign the account. The news has already hit the trade press in the States. (See below.)

It's another sign of our independence. Not sure you'll find any other agency resigning a piece of business in this financial climate. But things weren't right and it was time to end it. No direct financial impact on us here in London as Starbucks wasn't a client here, but the good news is we can now work with tea brands in the UK!

CHICAGO (AdAge.com) -- Wieden & Kennedy said it is parting ways with Starbucks, ending a relationship that began in 2004.

"There are times when it just makes sense to part ways with a client," Wieden founder Dan Wieden said in a statement. "In this case, this seems to be the best decision for both parties."

A call to a Starbucks media hotline wasn't immediately returned.

Wieden, which also handled media buying and planning for the coffee roaster, had been responsible for the first large-scale advertising in Starbucks' history, including its first TV push last winter.

But Starbucks' business has fallen on hard times of late. In July it announced it would close 600 stores.

Comments

[Lubomir]

I love Top Gear... Jeremy Clarkson says that every man has a fantasy garage in his head. The man knows that probably he will never have one of the cars parked in his brain but still he has the right to dream...

I work in advertising, and I have a fantasy building in my head. It is full with offices of the agencies I wish I had been... My penthouse always was for an English agency called Collett, Dickenson, Pearce - it is dead now. Than comes Wieden + Kennedy. A lot of agencies can show great work, scores of awards, and pockets full of money but just a handful put some style and culture in what they do as Wieden&Kennedy.

Hey, and the best thing - they are still alive :)

[Ben]

coffee to gone

No opinions on Top Gear at this moment in time.

[swag]

Congratulations. That's one sinking ship that you did NOT want to keep your room reservation on.

[kedar]

it's very reassuring to know that we still have
some integrity left in this business.

you people keep our hopes alive.

thank you.

[Sam]

Absolutely brilliant. Tough decision in tough times but as kedar said - you really do keep our hopes alive.