Acquisitions in Economic Downturn Spell Growth for The Phelps Group

SANTA MONICA, Calif., Feb. 24 /PRNewswire/ -- While advertising industry insiders predict a dismal 2010 for marketing agencies(1), The Phelps Group, a leading integrated marketing communications (IMC) agency based in Santa Monica, is expanding.  The 29-year old firm has acquired two Los Angeles area agencies, Anita Santiago Advertising and Copia Creative, resulting in a 27 percent growth in associates and billings.

The award-winning Anita Santiago Advertising has been known for the past 20 years for its breakthrough Hispanic marketing campaigns on behalf of clients such as IKEA, Wells Fargo, California's anti-smoking efforts and UnitedHealthcare.  Copia Creative, a strategic branding agency founded in 2001 by Michelle Adelson, focuses on positioning, corporate identity and packaging for clients including Applied Materials and Crowell Weedon.  

"Recent studies show that clients are increasingly looking for more value from their marketing agencies(2).  They're insisting that their agencies integrate the messaging across all platforms and disciplines(3)," said Joe Phelps, CEO and founder, "and we're ideally structured to meet those demands."  

Phelps points out that for more than a dozen years, The Phelps Group has been the only agency in Southern California ranked on both the top advertising and the top public relations charts. "We're one of the few agencies that truly integrates both channels. With the addition of Copia's branding experience and Santiago's Hispanic expertise, I doubt there's another agency in California that offers our breadth of true IMC."  

Anita Santiago veterans Francisco Letelier, creative, and Sofia Escamilla, media, will lead the new Hispanic marketing discipline at the agency.  Michelle Adelson and the former Copia Creative personnel will focus their strategic planning talents on The Phelps Group's clients. Matthew Puopolo will continue Copia's business consulting services.

"Both agencies share our belief that culturally sensitive integrated marketing and a commitment to a client-based team approach, supported by full-feedback processes, produce optimal results for our clients," said Phelps.    

These acquisitions brought 15 full-time associates and several part-time personnel to The Phelps Group.

About The Phelps Group

Based in Santa Monica, CA, The Phelps Group is one of the largest independent marketing communications agencies on the West Coast and was recently recognized as one of L.A.'s "Best Places to Work." The firm offers public relations, advertising, interactive, media planning, direct response, promotions, strategic alliance and consulting services. Its clients, most of which are leaders in their industries, include American Modular Systems, CapitalSource Bank, City of Hope, Dunn-Edwards Paints, Great American Group, Monrovia Growers, NuSil Technology, Panasonic, Panera Bread, Public Storage, Tahiti Tourisme, Western Dental and Whole Foods Market.

Contact: Janette Rizk 1-310-752-4400 x164

(1)  AdweekMedia Forecast 2010

(2)  New ANA Survey: Economy Still a Concern Leading to Restrained Spending

(3)  http://www2.aaaa.org/agency/compensation/surveys/Documents/agency_search_07.pdf

SOURCE The Phelps Group