Philly Pretzel Factory has selected Fuseideas as its brand agency following an review of more than 20 east coast shops. The soft style pretzel chain previously worked with Krash Creative in Raleigh, NC. Fuseideas will work with Philly Pretzel Factory’s director of marketing, Adam Terranova to develop a new brand identity, including research, positioning, messaging and marketing as well as creative development for the franchise with over 170 locations in 14 states. The shop is also located inside several Walmart stores. Families will likely be one target demographic for the new creative. Youth sports, such as Little League baseball and …

Online music streaming service Spotify has selected UM, part of IPG’s Mediabrands for global media duties, the client has confirmed. Global billings weren’t immediately available but Kantar estimates the firm spent more than $16 million in the U.S. last year. Spotify is reportedly making plans to go public later this year or early in 2018. According to Reuters, the music service is currently valued at $13 billion. A Spotify spokesperson issued this statement: "We have selected UM as our global agency of record. There are no additional details to share at this time." Last fall WPP’s Data Alliance …

New York-based advertising agency Barker has been appointed lead creative and strategy agency for cold weather gear and slippers brand ISOTONER, part of totes>>ISOTONER.  In addition to creative and strategic duties, Barker will handle media buying and planning, e-commerce optimization, B2B strategy and new product introduction. The appointment came after a formal review. It was not immediately clear if the client was working with an incumbent agency. Kantar Media didn't show any measured media spending for the firm in 2016 or so far this year. In 2015, the firm spent an estimated $32,000 on measured media per Kantar.  “At ISOTONER, …

Pernod Ricard has called a review for its Malibu coconut-flavored rum brand in the UK, Campaign reports. The move comes shortly after the appointment a new UK marketing director at the brand—Philip Ainsworth. In the U.S., which is not part of the review, the brand uses a number of agencies a number of which collaborated on the client’s “101 Days Of Because Summer” campaign, which is still ongoing. 

MGM China has appointed a combined team from OMD and Xaxis to handle the media strategy for the company’s new US$3.3 billion integrated resort in Macau, MGM COTAI, which will be launched during the fourth quarter of this year.  J Walter Thompson, which was appointed as Agency of Record in January, led the selection of the two media specialists, and will oversee the partnership as the integrated agency lead.  OMD will be responsible for integrated media strategy, planning and buying in Guangzhou and Hong Kong and also oversee all above-the-line placement,  search and social assets across Hong …

Japan-based automaker Nissan is shifting its global creative assignment for  its luxury brand Infiniti from MDC Partners’ Crispin Porter + Bogusky to sibling agency 72andSunny without a review, according to Adweek, which broke the story.  According to Adweek CP+B has retained its status as U.S. creative agency of record while 72andSunny will oversee the global creative effort.  

Terra Origin has appointed BigEyedWish its first AOR following a formal review. The New York-based company sells dietary and nutritional supplements, vitamins and other health-related and performance enhancing products. BigEyedWish will handle all advertising and marketing initiatives including packaging, branding, social media management, digital and ecommerce. Their first collaboration will include a website and Facebook ads with a fuller campaign debuting September 14. "We want to build a lifestyle brand and BigEyedWish is able to create the right narrative and drive the message at each consumer touch point, from the branding and packaging to social and digital," says Eric Fuller, VP …

Online auto retailer Vroom has appointed Anomaly, part of MDC Partners, as its first agency of record. Anomaly will work with Vroom on building the 3-year-old startup’s brand and generating national awareness with its first nationwide integrated campaign. The work is being led from the agency’s New York office. Vroom has created an online private-seller acquisition service for used and reconditioned vehicles. Purchased vehicles are delivered directly to the consumer. Last month, the firm announced that it had raised $76 million in venture capital funding.  That financing round brought Vroom’s total equity funding to $295 million since inception. Commenting on …

Clothing retailer Express Inc. has selected WPP’s VML as its agency of record, after a formal review.  VML will lead the brand’s consumer strategy across marketing, paid media, search, analytics and consumer sales optimization.  The retailer spent an estimated $18.5 million on ads in the U.S. in 2016, down from about $20 million in 2015, according to Kantar Media.  Headquartered in Columbus, Ohio with a New York design studio, Express targets young adults in the 20-to-30-year-old range.  The firm employs about 18,000 people in over 650 retail stores.  The account will be led out of VML’s Kansas City Office.   …

Digital advertising agency Beeby Clark + Meyler has been selected by baby stroller and furniture maker Stokke to oversee its paid search and digital advertising programs in the U.S.  “BCM’s strong expertise in the early childhood market combined with their creative approach to media makes them an ideal partner for Stokke,” stated Radhalin De Leon, e-commerce specialist at Stokke. “Given their track record of success, we’re confident BCM will help us grow our presence on digital and, in turn, our business.”  BCM, with offices in New York and Stamford, CT has worked with other clients in kid-related fields such as …