Rapier wins #8m Guardian Direct task

Rapier has scooped the #8 million below-the-line business for the

home and motor insurance company, Guard-ian Direct, after a three-way

pitch against Barraclough Hall Woolston Gray and one of the incumbent

agencies, Lowe Direct.

Rapier will work alongside the above-the-line agency, BMP DDB, to give

the brand a new identity.

Rapier will handle both Guardian Direct and RAC Insurance Direct, which

Guardian acquired in 1996. Lowe Direct previously handled RAC Insurance,

while the Guardian Direct account was managed by Scope.

Jonathan Stead, the chief executive of Rapier, said: ’Guardian Direct is

committed to differentiating itself in what has become a commodity

market, and equally committed to building a brand through direct

marketing and customer communications. We will be working closely with

BMP to develop a new brand and creative strategy.’

Rapier begins working on the business immediately, and the first work -

which was created for the pitch - will break in January. The win comes

in the same week that Rapier won the gold award at the Direct Marketing

Association/Royal Mail awards for its work on Cable & Wireless.

Chris Chadwick, the managing director of Guardian Direct, said: ’Rapier

brings fresh thinking and an expertise in below-the-line brand

development.’

Guardian Direct is famous for its owl mascot, and its telephone number,

0800 28 28 20, around which the brand has been built. The creative

account moved to BMP in February, after Guardian Direct ended a ten-year

relationship with CDP (Campaign, 27 February).

This article was first published on Campaign