Au Revoir, Hollywood

Paul Wilmot Communications closes its Los Angeles office
Monday, November 09, 2009

(NEW YORK) Paul Wilmot has opted to close his Los Angeles office, which opened in Hollywood last March and was managed by Alexandra Kimball and supported by one junior staffer. "It was always meant to be an experiment," said Wilmot of the venture. "I opened up the Los Angeles office to see if there was there was business for us out there, and we just didn't find it."

Paul Wilmot Communications, which is owned by Fleishman-Hillard and operates out of several floors on lower 6th Avenue, currently represents brands like M.A.C, Oscar de la Renta, Tommy Hilfiger, the Whitney Museum, American Ballet Theater, and Naeem Khan. "While L.A. is such an attractive market, retail is in a bad place right now, there are not a lot of large or even medium-sized fashion and accessories companies. We did not find that the revenue justified the expense. New York is the media headquarters of the world, and it's not going to change." Wilmot will retain several clients, which he will service out of his Manhattan offices.
ASHLEY BAKER