Rolls-Royce, the vehicle of choice for celebrities from David Beckham to 50 Cent, is talking to agencies about its direct marketing business, held by Partners Andrews Aldridge since 2008.
Rolls-Royce Motor Cars’ director of sales and marketing Jolyon Nash is believed to be handling the review, which is reported to be statutory. The account includes CRM and trade events, and incorporates email and direct mail activity. Partners won the business after a head-to-head pitch against Rapier.
Rolls-Royce grew from the electrical and mechanical business established by Henry Royce in 1884. Royce built his first motor car in 1904 and in May of that year met Charles Rolls, whose company sold quality cars in London. The duo struck a deal that Royce Limited would manufacture a range of cars sold exclusively by CS Rolls & Co – and came up with the Rolls-Royce brand. The car division was sold by Vickers to BMW in 1998.
Having had factories in Manchester, London, Derby, and Crewe, it is now based across from the Goodwood Circuit in Goodwood, West Sussex. The company has managed to retain its exclusiveness by maintaining high production values as well as high prices; a Rolls-Royce Ghost starts at about £200,000, a Phantom costs £336,700.
