There’s some insightful stuff in here. We all know what happens when sales fall or profits aren’t looking so healthy….the first thing to go is marketing. It’s clearly counterintuitive for those of us in the industry, but it always happens this way. I would just hope that the flurry of reviews are for the right reasons – looking for the best shop in town as opposed to the cheapest shop in town. I understand the need for cost effective agencies maybe even a little consolidation, but it’s a dangerous game when you’re looking to save money. Some people start to sacrifice the value of good work to save a buck (or a million….whatever).
On a positive note, there are some retailers holding on. Macy’s and Walmart are two big ones that I give props to for not freaking out and immediately cutting their marketing dollars or ad spending.
