Bates China on a winning roll

<p>Bates China is enjoying a banner year, scooping up almost all of </p><p>General Motors' corporate and joint-venture business, and a wide mix of </p><p>other accounts. </p><p><BR><BR> </p><p>Building on its award-winning work for the auto-maker's Buick roll out </p><p>by its Shanghai General Motors joint-venture, Bates picked up the </p><p>corporate GM of China account, as well as business from Jinbei GM, a </p><p>Shenyang-based JV which will be launching Chevrolet vehicles next </p><p>year. </p><p><BR><BR> </p><p>Bates China is now the only agency in the network to handle the </p><p>auto-maker. </p><p><BR><BR> </p><p>It won the corporate account without a pitch, but beat an international </p><p>agency for Jinbei. </p><p><BR><BR> </p><p>The GM of China business will involve work on its imported Opel brands, </p><p>while Bates is working on a communications strategy for the mid-2001 </p><p>launch of Jinbei GM's launch of the Chevrolet SUVs. </p><p><BR><BR> </p><p>National managing director for China, Barry Leung, said the last quarter </p><p>turned in a bumper crop of new business - Pepsi Shoes, manufactured </p><p>under license from the soft drinks giant; Amway for the launch of its </p><p>skin care and cosmetics line, Artistry, and its health supplements </p><p>Nutrilite brand. </p><p><BR><BR> </p><p>"We now have four major business pillars supporting our China </p><p>operations," said Mr Leung. </p><p><BR><BR> </p><p>At 22 per cent of its business, GM is now one of the biggest accounts </p><p>handled by the agency, along with British American Tobacco, Heineken and </p><p>Nokia. </p><p><BR><BR> </p><p>BAT and Heineken are handled out of southern China, Nokia in Beijing, </p><p>and GM out of Shanghai and at Bates' newly-opened Shenyang office. </p><p><BR><BR> </p><p>While he declined to put a figure on billings this year, Mr Leung said </p><p>they were above target, "which is big news given the situation in Asia </p><p>right now". </p><p><BR><BR> </p><p>He said new business wins enabled the agency to add to its head count </p><p>and office locations. </p><p><BR><BR> </p><p>The agency now has about 260 people on staff, about 15 per cent more </p><p>than in 1999. Of this, about 100 are working on GM. </p><p><BR><BR> </p><p>"We're again looking at exciting growth next year, which will allow us </p><p>to set up more offices in China," he said, adding that the agency was </p><p>expecting its existing accounts to become more active following China's </p><p>WTO entry. </p><p><BR><BR> </p><p>In the pipeline for 2001 is the setting up of an office in Shenzhen, </p><p>where Bates has already lined up business. </p><p><BR><BR> </p><p>The agency recently picked up the 999 Pharmaceutical account, an active </p><p>category with China in the midst of restructuring its healthcare </p><p>system. </p><p><BR><BR> </p><p>4As - KANCIL AWARDS 1999/00 </p><p>Agency Gold Silver Bronze Merit Total </p><p>Leo Burnett 1 3 20 16 40 </p><p>Grey 2 4 15 7 28 </p><p>FCB 1 2 10 12 25 </p><p>Naga - 2 6 11 19 </p><p>Bates - 2 1 3 6 </p><p>O&M - 1 11 10 22 </p><p>DYR - 1 5 4 10 </p><p>McCann - 1 - 4 5 </p><p>Batey - - 5 5 10 </p><p>D'Arcy - - 3 8 11 </p><p>Bozell - - 3 6 9 </p><p>Sil Ad - - 3 - 3 </p><p>JWT - - 2 5 7 </p><p>BBDO - - 1 3 4 </p><p>AMP Radio - - 1 2 3 </p><p>Network </p><p>ISCB - - 1 - 1 </p><p>Arachnid - - 1 1 2 </p><p>Hunter - - - 2 2 </p><p>Platinum - - - 1 1 </p><p>Grand total 4 16 88 100 208 </p><p>TOP TEN TV RECALL </p><p>HONG KONG </p><p>1) VITASOY (Dumb - Basketball): client: Vitasoy; agency: Saatchis. </p><p>2) YAKULT : client: Yakult; agency: DYR. </p><p>3) McDONALD'S: client: McDonald's; agency: DDB. </p><p>4) VITASOY (Conversation): client: Vitasoy; agency: Saatchis. </p><p>5) PARK N' SHOP: client: Park N' Shop; agency: DDB. </p><p>6) WELLCOME: client: Wellcome; agency: McCann Erickson. </p><p>7) SUNDAY: client: Sunday Mobile Phone Network; agency: BBDO. </p><p>7) CTI IDD: client: CTI; agency: Grey. </p><p>7) HUTCHISON MOBILE PHONE NETWORK: client: Hutchison; agency: O & M. </p><p>10) COCA-COLA: client: Coca-Cola; agency: D'Arcy. </p><p><BR><BR> </p><p>Data on TV ads scoring the highest recall among consumers polled was </p><p>collected by MARKET BEHAVIOUR (Hong Kong) LTD, on behalf of MEDIA. </p><p><BR><BR> </p><p>(October 2-13, 2000). </p><p><BR><BR> </p>