JOHNSTON WILTSHIRE MCDERMOTT SHUTS DOWN
By Adnews Staff
Johnston Wiltshire McDermott of Toronto closed its office doors on July 12. The year-old agency was owned by president Ken Johnston and partners John Wiltshire and Paul McDermott. Johnston Wiltshire originally had its office is Brampton, Ont., but moved the agency down to Toronto this past spring. Media buying for the agency was done by Genesis Media of Toronto. Genesis president Bruce Claassen told Adnews this week that Genesis will continue to handle media buying until after the fall season for the agency's biggest client, the Drug Trading Company of Toronto. Drug Trading operates three pharmacy chains: I.D.A., Guardian Drugs and Rx Central. The company was in the middle of planning its fall campaign when the agency went under. The company has hired Jeffrey Simbrow Associates Inc. of Toronto to handle creative on an interim basis. Retail drug trading director Cathy Hennig told Adnews yesterday Drug Trading chose Simbrow because of its extensive experience in over-the-counter pharmaceutical products. Simbrow's assignment is a short term one to get the company through its fall campaign. It's too early to say whether Simbrow will be hired on a long term basis or if Drug Trading will hold an agency review after the fall season, Hennig said. The company will assess its media buying needs at that time as well. Other published clients were Hoffman-La Roche, Lewiscraft, Upjohn subsidiary Kenral Inc. and Sancella Inc.