Home Depot Shopping for Ad Agency

Atlanta, GA, Sept. 30, 2008--Home Depot may hire a new ad agency, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

Reportedly there are six finalists to sharpen the company's image.

The Atlanta-based home improvement chain had a $1.2 billion advertising and marketing budget in 2007, according to a Home Depot financial report. Nearly $600 million of that is spent directly on major media buys, AdWeek reported.

The company’s lead ad agency has been The Richards Group, based in Dallas.

According to reports, six agencies made the short list and soon will give Home Depot executives presentations. The agencies are: McCann Erickson in New York; Hill, Holliday, Connors, Cosmopulos in Boston; JWT in New York; Grey Global in New York; GSD&M Idea City in Austin, Texas; and Richards Group, the incumbent.