THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, February 8, 1996 TAG: 9602080519
SECTION: BUSINESS PAGE: D1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY GREG WEATHERFORD, LANDMARK NEWS SERVICE
DATELINE: RICHMOND LENGTH: Short : 39 lines
The biggest advertising agency in tobacco town is saying no to the tobacco industry.
The Martin Agency will not accept tobacco companies as clients, says Mike Hughes, president and creative director.
``There shouldn't be advertising for tobacco products,'' Hughes says. Why? Because advertising inevitably affects minors, he says, and ``the tobacco industry seems to deny that.''
Hughes says he knows that's a delicate subject in Richmond.
``A lot of good people make a living from tobacco here,'' he says.
Recently, a person representing a tobacco company approached Hughes and asked if he would represent a ``major'' tobacco industry account, Hughes says. Hughes declined. He says he doesn't know the tobacco company that contacted him or the nature of the product. That's not unusual in the advertising industry, he adds.
The Martin Agency has the luxury of turning down clients, Hughes says. In the past two months, the company has declined offers to bid for about $250 million in potential business. The agency has accepted some clients including Columbia/HCA, the national health care chain.
About a month ago at a company party, Hughes told Martin employees of the decision to refuse the potential tobacco account. The company dinner at which he spoke took place at the Tobacco Company restaurant. ILLUSTRATION: Color illustration
[pack of cigarettes] by CNB