Market forces 20/20 change

Retail design group 20/20 is integrating its multimedia arm 1/2/1 into the main business and giving it a more strategic slant. The restructure will lead to “a couple of redundancies”, says chairman Richard Mott, though he is yet to name names.

The integration was the brainchild of 1/2/1 head Bryan Wright, although he has since declined the offer to lead the division within 20/20, and has resigned from the group he co-founded in 1988. Wright says he feels it is time for a new challenge.

The reason for the integration is that the six-strong 1/2/1 was having to compete against “100-a-day website designers” on the one hand and ad agencies “which give away the multimedia bit for free” on the other, says managing director Rune Gustafson.

“We’ll be changing the balance of skills in the team from software to strategy,” says Gustafson.

20/20 has been building its consumer research intelligence team Radar, and plans to link it up with its business strategy offer, forming a five or six-strong operation, according to Mott.

Gustafson says of Wright’s departure: “It was a good time for him to reflect what he wanted to do.” But, he adds, “I suspect we’ll end up working together [on projects].”

Wright, who was unavailable for further comment, is yet to discuss details such as his notice period and shareholding with Mott.