The fashion and home wares retailer The White Company, which as its name suggests, sells white merchandise, has selected Rapp Media to handle media planning and buying in the UK. “Rapp impressed us with their deep understanding of our business objectives and how to meet them with activity built around consumers," says Dom McBrien, Multichannel Director of The White Company. Rapp's duties will include advertising in "national quality" press and inserts in home interest and women’s magazines. There will also be outdoor, regional, press, door drops and inserts to support the launch of new stores and to increase …

Banana Republic has selected We Are Social to handle the brand’s US social media strategy, activations and community management. The agency has gotten off to a fast start on the work including supporting the #thenewBR fall social campaign to introduce the brand's Fall Collection and new aesthetic. Activations included a tease/announcement for the brand led by social, partnerships with influencers across paid and organic social platforms and social contests to increase reach. The shop also helped launch Banana Republic’s exclusive Roland Mouret collaboration, and created a Snapchat campaign to promote the fall collection. The agency has also developed the #ShareHappy …

VML Qais has been appointed by Mumbai-based Mahindra & Mahindra as its Digital Agency, to lead the revamp of Mahindra’s corporate website mahindra.com. The revamp of the website is one of Mahindra’s key initiatives in the company’s effort to become a globally admired brand. “We aim to make ‘Mahindra’ one of the 50 most admired global brands by 2021, a brand that empowers people to rise to their dreams and achieve their full potential,” said Mr Karthik, Vice President, Corporate Brand at Mahindra, a multinational corporation with interests in agribusiness, aerospace, components, consulting services, defence, energy, industrial equipment, logistics, real estate, …

Casual footwear marketer Crocs Inc. has tapped McKinney as its global advertising agency of record, effective immediately. The agency will provide everything from creative and strategy support to media activation and brand management for all Crocs shoe collections, which include more than 300 seasonal footwear styles sold in more than 90 countries. McKinney’s branding and marketing efforts around Crocs’ existing “Find Your Fun” positioning will be led out of New York and will focus on markets in the U.S., China, Japan, South Korea, the U.K., and Germany.  "We were impressed by McKinney’s attention to detail, creative and strategic thinking and …

Sears reaching out to holding companies and asking them to come up with a plan to better structure the retailer's various brands which include Kmart and Sears-focused brands Kenmore, Craftsman and Die Hard. Sears aims to have the consolidation/selection process complete by the end of January. Currently the brand works with Dentsu Aegis' McGarryBowen, Interpublic' FCB and Havas.

ACH Food Companies, a manufacturer of cooking oils, spices, seasonings and baking ingredients, has awarded its full digital and a segment of its social media business to Doner, following a review. Digitas was the incumbent. Other agencies that participated in the review were Critical Mass and JWT Digitaria. Doner will be responsible for assisting with overall strategic direction across ACH's social media channels. In addition, the agency is charged with building awareness and relevancy with the brands' target consumers through digital initiatives and influence. ACH Food Companies manufactures and markets brands such as Mazola, Spice Islands, Durkee, Weber Sauces and …

Independent Austin-based firm HCB Health has been named global and U.S. agency of record for Alcon Surgical, a global developer and marketer of ophthalmic surgical brands. Covering all three business units of Alcon's surgical division (Cataract, Vitreoretinal and Refractive), the full-service assignment will include multiple product launches and comprehensive support for more than 20 brands, handling market planning and the execution of promotional strategies and mobile applications. A key initiative will be a global campaign promoting Alcon's cataract franchise in more than 50 countries. The agency bested FCB, Ogilvy CommonHealth, GSW Worldwide and H4B Chelsea in a competitive pitch. Steve …

Erwin Penland was named agency of record for outdoor and apparel retailer, L.L. Bean. The agency will handle digital, retail and creative elements, and assist with marketing strategy. Work will extend across all channels, including TV, print, retail, out of home and social. Creative is slated to launch this fall. Previously, L.L.Bean was working with a few agencies, but did not previously have an agency of record. "What we have here is the chance to do amazing work for a classic American brand -- how can we not be excited about the opportunity to work with L.L.Bean," said Con Williamson, …

Following a review, Pitch was named agency of record for San Manuel Indian Bingo and Casino, located 70 minutes from downtown Los Angeles. Work was previously handled in-house. The agency will launch a strategic brand repositioning of the San Manuel Indian Bingo and Casino in the first quarter of 2015 across multiple advertising mediums. "San Manuel is a key player in the Southern California gaming industry, number one in visitation in its market," said Rachel Spiegelman, president of Pitch. "Pitch will focus on building brand awareness. We're thrilled to be working with San Manuel, raising the ante and taking the …

The T. Marzetti Company named Smith Brothers as lead creative agency for several Marzetti brands. The agency will handle branding and marketing efforts for Marzetti's Dressings, Dips and Salad Toppers as well as Sister Schubert's frozen rolls and Reame's Pasta. Additionally, Smith Brothers will handle Marzetti's New York Brand of frozen garlic bread, garlic knots and Texas Toast. "We've been really pleased with the creativity Smith Brothers has brought to our brands over the last year and are looking forward to their increased involvement in maximizing the power of our brands," said Bob Holtcamp, Vice President of Brand Management at …