- Ikea franchisee Ingka Group has named Interpublic Group’s McCann as its first global brand marketing partner, a pivot from the Swedish retailer’s past approach of employing a patchwork of agencies, in accordance with a press release.
- Madrid-based McCann Spain will spearhead the operation, which matches into effect this month. Ikea said recent creative ought to be expected in spring 2024. However, the corporate is preserving relationships with some regional shops.
- Ikea is angling to streamline its agency strategy, a standard goal amongst marketers that want to scale back complexity of their work with marketing services providers. The news marks a win for McCann, which has previously worked with the furniture store.
Ikea desires to develop a more consistent, refined brand voice for its global business, an aim it hopes to attain by delegating more work to a single agency partner. The streamlining bid was guided by the insight that the needs of the retailer’s customers are fairly universal — eating, sleeping and sharing quality time together — and may resonate across cultures and demographics. Ikea can also be emphasizing a positioning around value as many consumers proceed to contend with inflationary challenges.
“As some of the trusted brands on this planet, we’ve got the responsibility to point out how we’re leading from our vision and purpose; that we’re siding with the numerous through our inexpensive range and actions we take as an organization for people and the planet,” said Licca Li, acting global marketing manager at Ikea parent Ingka Group, in a press release. “I’m excited to see how this shift gives us the chance to connect with more individuals with a stronger voice.”
Ingka Group is the world’s largest Ikea franchisee, with lots of of stores across 31 markets and answerable for around 90% of the retailer’s total sales, giving McCann a large remit. Ikea has been attempting to speed up growth within the states, an expansion plan that may very well be complemented by a fresh approach to marketing. The retailer in April announced it could invest over $2.2 billion within the U.S. over the subsequent three years, with resources focused on opening recent stores and improving its success network.
Ikea has ramped up its activity on channels including social to attach with consumer groups like Gen Z. The brand this summer ran a slice-of-life anime series on TikTok targeted at school students, considered one of its bread-and-butter audiences. The campaign was created with Ogilvy New York and studio Clubcamping.
McCann is aligning Ikea’s messaging around “universal truths” with its own Truth Well Told ethos. Securing a large swath of the Ikea business comes as a lift for McCann parent IPG, which has struggled amid the tech downturn. The ad-holding group reported that organic net revenue declined 1.7% within the second quarter and slashed its full-year forecast.
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