Time Computers calls 40m [pounds sterling] pitch.

Carat UK has cut its links with Tiny Computers after the struggling retailer was dramatically snapped up by the rival company Time Computers yesterday afternoon.

The move leaves the combined media accounts of Tiny and Time up for grabs after a spokesman said that a shoe-in to Time's incumbent, CIA Manchester, was not guaranteed. The two rivals matched each other almost pound for pound in UK media spend last year, racking up a combined total of 40 million [pounds sterling] in billings, although this will decline as Time looks for efficiencies after the purchase. Marketing will be consolidated at Time's headquarters in Burnley.

"It's very much early days and we'll have to look at everything afresh, which we do from time to time anyway," Brian Trevaskiss, Time Group's marketing manager, said. "We've got two fantastic brands to work with and a new retail brand to launch so there's work to be done."

Time yesterday announced plans to roll out a new retail operation, housing both Time and Tiny, over the next six months. The scheme calls for 150 outlets to be rebranded as The Computer Store by June this year. Trevaskiss would not rule out a creative review ahead of the roll-out. Tiny's account is held by Golley Slater, while Time split with its own advertising agency, ...