REG - WPP PLC - Acquisition

WPPAnnouncement

08/12/2022 12:00

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RNS Number : 0972J  WPP PLC  08 December 2022

 

 

 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE  8 December 2022

WPP PLC ("WPP")

WPP acquires Canadian commerce agency Diff to grow its partner ecosystem in
North America

WPP today announces that it is acquiring Diff, a leading commerce agency based
in Montreal, Canada.

 

Diff is an award-winning developer of tailor-made commerce solutions with
specialized capabilities that address the rapidly growing Shopify commerce
ecosystem. Founded in 2011 by Benjamin Crudo, the 115-strong company will join
the Wunderman Thompson global network, complementing its world-class commerce
and marketing services teams in North America.

 

With direct-to-consumer commerce sales in the United States forecast to grow
to almost $213 billion
(https://www.statista.com/statistics/1109833/usa-d2c-ecommerce-sales/#:~:text=The%20U.S.%20D2C%20online%20market,Club%2C%20and%20mattress%20company%20Casper.)
by 2023, more brands are adopting D2C models as part of a multichannel
approach. Diff specializes in growth strategy, front-end design, site
optimization and system integrations which has enabled the agency to create
some of the most innovative, complex and high-performing online stores on the
Shopify platform, which now accounts for 10% of the United States' eCommerce
market share. Among Diff's high-growth D2C client portfolio are Giant Tiger,
Kith, Sakara Life, and more.

 

The acquisition will further strengthen WPP's digital commerce capabilities
and reflects the company's ongoing investment into its commerce offer for
clients as consumer needs continue to change. It is aligned
with WPP's accelerated growth strategy
(https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/www.wpp.com/news/2020/12/accelerating-growth__;!!IfJP2Nwhk5Z0yJ43lA!LFCGPVSL9BSf-dljlIogomHW8XKl8GsHaY31001BSgXDFcrEECnUhfPghPybcrti2RvkU7JPYM7KEPdUn3QKfMnc1gcDlRQl4PIdZw$)
, building on existing capabilities in the areas of commerce and
technology. WPP is ranked as a Leader in Forrester's latest global Commerce
Services Wave, and already manages more than $40bn of direct and $20bn of
marketplace GMV for clients, employing 13,500 commerce specialists across its
agencies.

 

Mark Read, CEO of WPP, said: "The tremendous growth in the digital commerce
ecosystem means our clients are looking to us to deliver the innovative
solutions they need to reach new and existing customers in meaningfully
engaging ways. Diff's Shopify expertise, alongside its unique blend of
strategy, optimization and design, will be a welcome addition to our commerce
portfolio and will drive results for our clients in North America, which is
WPP's largest market."

 

Neil Stewart, CEO of Wunderman Thompson Commerce, said: "This acquisition
boosts Wunderman Thompson's commerce and technology ecosystem across North
America, bringing Shopify expertise to our roster of well-established
technology partnerships. Our global clients will now have access to the
expertise of one of Shopify's longest standing partners and its multichannel
platform that caters to 600 million shoppers in more than 175 countries.
Together we offer brands and retailers extended routes to market, including
D2C, marketplaces, eRetail and social commerce."

 

Benjamin Crudo, CEO and Founder of Diff, said: "We couldn't be more excited to
join the ranks of Wunderman Thompson, bringing Shopify's disruptive power to
its global client base. Ecommerce has been radically reshaping the way brands
bring their products and services to market, and Diff has been at the
forefront of this revolution. As one of Shopify's founding and most innovative
agency partners we're looking forward to continuing to expand the platform's
reach."

 

 

Further information

Martina Suess, WPP

+1 917-456-5049

Martina.suess@wpp.com

 

 

About WPP

WPP is the creative transformation company. We use the power of creativity to
build better futures for our people, planet, clients and communities. For more
information, visit www.wpp.com (http://www.wpp.com) .

 

 

 

 

 

 

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