Home furnishings retailer Ikea Group has added Anomaly to its agency roster after a competitive pitch that began in February.  The agency, part of MDC Partners, is tasked with developing a global platform for corporate and consumer campaigns that address sustainability issues.  The agency will work with global and regional Ikea Group teams over three years to develop the platform and related campaigns.  Claudia Willvonseder, Global Marketing and Communication Manager Ikea Group, stated, ”In Anomaly, we have found a creative partner that brings an integrated approach to our global and local communications work.”    

Marketsmith has been appointed AOR for fitness company Level Up Marketsmith will be responsible for re-branding the client (it was formerly known as Next Level Fitness) as a leader in professional grade training for individuals and athletes. The agency will revamp the fitness firm’s website and orchestrate search campaigns and potentially other media opportunities and also explore content and other asset development. 

Independent ad agency Firehouse has been named the agency of record for Lennox Residential after a competitive review.  The account had previously been handled on a project basis by multiple agencies including GSD&M since 2002. The win marks the second recent major account landed by Firehouse. In September it was named AOR for Texas Dairy Queen.  As Lennox’s first AOR, Firehouse’s responsibilities will include strategy, national media planning, creative, social media strategy and content creation, support of national retail accounts as well as product launches and promotions.  The agency’s strategic efforts on behalf of the client will include dual …

Bullseye Strategy has been selected for digital marketing duties by Carolina Financial Group. According to CFG it was looking for a strategic partner to increase engagement, create awareness and educate high net worth individuals of their unique investment portfolio. Bullseye will be redefining CFG’s messaging strategy, creating audience profiles and planning its approach to paid search, social advertising (LinkedIn, Facebook) email and programmatic advertising.

Retailer Dick’s Sporting Goods, has selected WPP’s VML for global AOR duties for its Second Skin label, a newly launched compression and training apparel brand.  The new gear will be sold exclusively sold at the sporting goods retailer’s stores and online at SecondSkin.com.  VML will handle creative and social media strategy for the Second Skin brand. The work will be led from VML’s headquarters in Kansas City.  Dick’s is headquartered in Pittsburgh, and operates more than 700 stores across the United States.  

Simmons Bedding Company, maker of the Beautyrest brand mattress, has selected Anomaly, part of MDC Partners, as the company's new lead creative agency. Sibling agency KBS was the incumbent. The move comes after an agency review and is part of parent company Serta Simmons Bedding’s broader effort to expand and refresh its advertising and marketing activities to further reach and engage consumers. Last week Simmons sibling unit, Serta, appointed Leo Burnett as its new agency, succeeding MDC’s Doner. "After a thoughtful and thorough review, we determined that Anomaly is an outstanding fit for the Beautyrest brand,” stated Warren Kornblum, …

United Capital Financial Advisors has selected Mindgruve as its agency of record following an informal review. The wealth management company previously worked with Dallas-based agency 70kft. Founded in 2005, United Capital operates more than 80 offices nationwide with over $19 billion in assets under management. The scope includes research, branding, advertising, communications plans, content development, website and app development as well as SEO optimization. New creative will launch next year aimed at increasing awareness both from a B2C and B2B perspective. United Capital promotes what it calls the "the bionic advisor" that combines technology with in-person consultations. This year …

Jack in the Box has selected Carat LA to be its new media agency of record after a review that began in the summer. The incumbent was Horizon Media, which participated in the review. The independent agency handled the business for 15 years. Jack in the Box spent about $92 million on ads in 2016 according to Kantar Media. Carat LA, part of Dentsu Aegis Network, will handle traditional and digital media planning and buying for the restaurant chain which has more than 2,200 locations across the country. The award is subject to the signing of a formal agreement. . …

Ad agency Terri & Sandy has been awarded AOR duties for Harvest Hill beverage brand SunnyD following a formal review. Harvest Hill hasn't released any advertising for the fruit-flavored beverage for more than two years, but previously worked with Boulder-based Grenadier. Media duties remain with MediaStorm. SunnyD is undergoing a brand repositioning, and T&S is tasked with developing new creative aimed at Gen Z and their parents. In the past, SunnyD has toggled between advertising to kids or their parents. T&S will launch its first work for SunnyD in early 2018, kicking off with an integrated national brand campaign. Personal …

High-end fashion retailer Nordstrom has selected Camelot Strategic Marketing & Media as its new media agency of record following a review. The client previously worked with Mindshare. It’s not clear if the GroupM shop participated in the review which began earlier this year. The retailer spent an estimated $70 million on measured media in 2016, according to Kantar. The win partially offsets the recent decision by longtime Camelot client Southwest Airlines to shift its $210 million media assignment to Spark Foundry. Camelot, based in Dallas, will focus on media planning and buying for Nordstrom.com and its U.S. full-line stores, …