Y&R China wins business of Goldlion Group, Huawei Mobile and Guiyang IFC

According to the agency, the three accounts’ combined billings are estimated at around US$15 million.

Y&R Guangzhou has won the strategic and creative business for Goldlion Group, following a three-way pitch in late March, which the agency reported was against Saatchi & Saatchi and GDAD.

Y&R will work closely with Goldlion for its brand revamp, strategic planning, public relations activities and creative work over the coming year.

Goldlion is known in the market for its ads for ties in the 1980s which were geared towards towards more matured customers and has an old-fashioned brand image. The company faces competition from a host of branks such as G2000, Muji, Uniqlo, Gap, H&M and Zara in China, which all sell casual and office apparel at affordable prices.

Michael Xia (pictured), CEO of Y&R Guangzhou said the client has not been represented by an agency for quite a while, and although sales of its menswear are doing very well in China, the client now wants to uplift and rejuvenate its brand image.

Established in 1990, and listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange and headquarted in Hong Kong, Goldlion Group’s business includes clothing apparel sales and property investment and development. It has established affiliated companies in China, Singapore and Malaysia dealing in a wide range of businesses across the region.

Y&R Guangzhou is now handling the brand-building and communications for Guiyang IFC (International Finance Centre) in Sichuan which the agency won back in Q4 and the work includes planning, creative advertising, public relations, events and campaigns. 

Upon completion, Guiyang IFC will become the largest financial centre in the South-West region, occupying a floor area of around 4.5 million square metres to be used for both commercial and residential purposes.

Meanwhile, Charles Sampson, CEO of Y&R China also reported that Y&R Beijing was awarded back in Q4 the business for the launch of four new Huawei smartphones in 2013, including the Mate large-screen model in the beginning of the year, the Huawei Window compatible smartphone in conjunction with the Window 8 launch, and the biggest smartphone launch this June.

"Of all the Chinese brands that have successfully gone global, Huawei has a leading edge technologically and our overall communications strategy is to develop Huawei products to become high aspirational brands through the premium smartphone launches."