Across North America, savvy retailers, and those who sell at retail, are aggressively returning to store expansion and/or category re-invention, in addition to ambitious exploration of totally new, customer-centric concepts. As such, FITCH's track-record of delivering both innovation and in-market results has particular resonance.
This according to Vicky Leavitt, the newly appointed Managing Director for FITCH North America. With year-on-year revenues up significantly, the global design agency has landed more than a half dozen major new accounts in recent months, including Target, Buffalo Wild Wings, Sports Authority, H&M and Fixtures Living, as well as expanded scope from long-term clients including Dell and Microsoft.
With a footprint of three studios across the US and a further nine around the world, the WPP-owned design firm is seeing clients reaffirm their faith and investment in the power of design. "Retailers are continuing to invest in branding and design because it can deliver, disrupt, and inspire consumers to re-evaluate a brand, and our 'guest-centric' approach can radically improve the customer or shopper experience," adds Leavitt. "FITCH's unique integration of both 2D graphic and 3D environmental design enables us to create a seamless expression of the brand at all touch points, which means delivering a competitive advantage and superior business results for our clients."
After a competitive review, FITCH was awarded branding and retail work from Buffalo Wild Wings, one of the fastest growing restaurant chains in the nation. FITCH will be applying their consumer insights and guest-centric design expertise to Buffalo Wild Wings, who, like Target, is headquartered in Minneapolis.
Sports Authority, the full-line sporting goods chain with more than 450 stores in 45 states, has also signed on FITCH, while Microsoft recently renewed its relationship with the agency, adding new projects to the brand and packaging work that the firm has delivered for this global corporation since 1984.
International fashion retailer H&M appointed FITCH as the lead architect for the Southwest region, managing up to nine large outlets per year. FITCH, also retail implementation specialists, is the approved architect for gourmet burger chain Smash Burger, as well as Men's Warehouse, the men's apparel and accessories retailer.
To better service these account needs, the agency has made some new senior appointments including the promotion of Vicky Leavitt from Managing Director Columbus, where FITCH's US headquarters are based, to Managing Director North America.
"Vicky has already proven herself to be an excellent leader," said Lois Jacobs, Worldwide CEO for FITCH. "Combined with her solid background in brand marketing, having begun her career at Procter & Gamble and Kraft, I have no doubt she will continue to deliver good results in this very important market for FITCH."
Also joining the senior talent team at FITCH, which includes Christian Davies as Executive Creative Director for the Americas, is Stephen Jay as North American Strategy Director and Craig Kavicky as North American Business Development Director.