Publicity

April 12, 1999 -- Lowe's Selects McCann-Erickson New York

Richmond, VA -- Business Partnering International, Ltd. (BPI), owner and operator of agencyfinder.com, the advertising industry Internet advertiser/agency matchmaking service, today confirmed that Lowe's Companies, Inc., the nation's second largest retailer of home improvement products, selected McCann-Erickson New York for their $100 million broadcast advertising account.

The decision came a short 10 weeks after the original February 26th announcement. The six finalists were Leo Burnett, Chicago; DMB&B, New York; McCann-Erickson, New York; TBWA/Chiat/Day, Playa del Ray, CA, J. Walter Thompson, New York; and the incumbent, Doner, Southfield, MI.

I'm pleased we were able to play a role in this significant agency review," said Charles Meyst, Chairman and CEO of BPI. "The precise, impartial and ethical nature of the agencyfinder.com process was the perfect complement to the comprehensive methodology used by the search team at Lowe's. Our process supports the efforts of clients and consultants. It shortens the search cycle and is in full compliance with AAAA policy. Moreover, we endorse their stand on spec creative. We also advocate that clients should compensate for creative assignments. Lowe's agreed and paid $20,000 each or a total of $120,000 for final round creative."