Geers Gross Explained

Geers Gross
Industry:Advertising agency
Predecessors:-->
Successors:-->
Founded:[1]
Hq Location City:London
Hq Location Country:United Kingdom
Area Served:United Kingdom
United States
Owners:-->

Geers Gross was a British advertising agency founded in 1964 by Americans Bob Geers and Bob Gross after working together in the London office of Benton & Bowles.[1] Gross was a copywriter from New York and Geers was an art director from Missouri.[2]

Geers Gross devised several cartoon characters for UK television advertisements including "Fred the Flourgrader" for Homepride flour,[3] [4] the Country Life buttermen[5] and the anthropomorphic credit card "Access your flexible friend".[6]

In 1977, the agency opened an office in New York.[7] This ran until 1987, when the US operations of Geers Gross were bought by Interpublic and merged into McCann-Erickson.[8]

Geers left the agency in 1974 to devote time to painting and travel, but returned in 1986 as creative head.

Following the death of Bob Gross in 1991, the agency was acquired by and merged into Publicis.[9]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Publicis London (UK) . AdBrands.net . 23 October 2019.
  2. News: Dougherty . Philip H. . Yankee comes home . 28 December 2020 . New York Times . 5 February 1981.
  3. News: Homepride collectables confirm cult status of Fred. (News) (Kerry Foods Ltd.) . Incentive Today . 1 Oct 2004 . 6 July 2008.
  4. News: Valerie . Latham . Homepride's Fred rises to the occasion as Publis takes the reins.. Marketing . 31 Oct 1991 . 6 July 2008 .
  5. Web site: Virtual Group wins brief to relaunch Country Life butter . Marketing Week . Centaur Media plc . 23 October 2019 . 12 June 1997.
  6. Web site: The Access Credit Card: Flexible Friend TV Adverts . www.accesscreditcard.info . 23 October 2019.
  7. News: Dougherty . Philip H. . Advertising; A Founder Is Back At Geers Gross . 12 February 2020 . The New York Times . 13 November 1986.
  8. Web site: Dougherty . Philip H. . Interpublic To Buy Gross . New York Times . 23 October 2019 . 3 November 1987.
  9. Web site: The Networkers: Rick Bendel . Campaign . Haymarket Media Group Ltd . 23 October 2019 . 3 September 2004.