Real estate firm puts $3m deal to pitch

<p>SHENZHEN: Vanke, China's biggest-listed property developer, has put </p><p>to pitch a US$3 million account to promote a new residential </p><p>complex in Guangdong province, just north of the Hong Kong border. </p><p><BR><BR> </p><p>FCB, J. Walter Thompson and local Guangdong shop Blue Flame are among </p><p>agencies pitching for the account. </p><p><BR><BR> </p><p>At mid-year, Vanke appointed Grey China, its first multinational agency, </p><p>to handle its corporate account. </p><p><BR><BR> </p><p>The complex, which will have 1,000 flats when it is completed, has a </p><p>brief to promote the development as having spacious and stylish homes </p><p>with modern amenities and set a short distance from a nature </p><p>reserve. </p><p><BR><BR> </p><p>Vanke also wants to emphasise the complex's proximity to Hong Kong as it </p><p>is looking to sell 60 per cent of the apartments to the city's </p><p>investors, and the remainder to mainland buyers, sources close to the </p><p>pitch said. </p><p><BR><BR> </p><p>According to the sources, Vanke is looking to launch a major television </p><p>and print campaign early next year, targeting affluent people living in </p><p>16 major cities in Guangdong, as well as Hong Kong. </p><p><BR><BR> </p><p>Prior to appointing Grey, Vanke's marketing communications activities </p><p>were handled in-house or through mainland agencies. It is understood </p><p>that the threat of increased competition from China's entry into the </p><p>WTO, sparked the policy change. </p><p><BR><BR> </p>