MOORESVILLE, NC: Lowe's Companies is looking for a new PR firm. Golin Harris, which has held the account for five years, declined to take part in the review.
Lowe's had invited Golin to participate, said Chris Ahearn, the retailer's PR director.
Fred Cook, Golin president and CEO, said, "We had five great years with Lowe's. Moving forward, we didn't think it was a good fit, culturally or financially."
Ahearn wouldn't comment on which firms were involved in the review. "We are in the middle of the process," she said.
The retailer originally had considered a wide range of agencies, including national and local firms, but may have narrowed its search to national agencies, industry sources said.
In 2003, Golin had put six employees into its Charlotte office to serve Lowe's. It also serves client Bank of America in the Charlotte area.
Lowe's, which ranks 50th on the Fortune 500, reported net earnings of $522 million for the third quarter of 2004, a 15.5% jump from the same quarter last year. Lowe's opened 35 new stores during the quarter.
