Arc Worldwide

What Arc Worldwide does

Arc Worldwide is the dedicated commerce agency within Publicis Groupe, operating as a division of Leo Burnett Company, Inc. The firm delivers digital communications, direct and database marketing, promotions, and shopper marketing services to enterprise consumer packaged goods (CPG) brands and major retailers, including Unilever, Kraft Heinz, Molson Coors, Pernod Ricard, Walgreens, Walmart, H-E-B, Kroger, CVS, Hormel, Intel, HP, USCellular, Galderma, Dunkin, Nestle, Clorox, and WK Kellogg. The agency was recognized as WARC's #1 Specialty Retail Agency and contributed to Publicis Groupe being named a Leader in The Forrester Wave: Commerce Services, Q2 2024.

The agency's core product is Archer OS, a proprietary connected commerce data and intelligence platform that powers every client engagement. Archer runs on Epsilon's identity-level shopper database covering 255 million+ U.S. shoppers, augmented by alliance data from Kantar and Numerator. The platform is positioned to identify the "resistance" preventing consumers from purchasing and to plan data-driven commerce solutions across omnichannel programs, customer-specific marketing, channel solutions, brand activation, retail experiences, retail design, experiential events, commerce innovation, and eCommerce. Arc has also launched the first shoppable agency website, presenting case studies as interactive commerce experiences.

Commercially, Arc operates a B2B professional services model within the Publicis network, generating revenue through project-based engagements and ongoing retainer relationships with enterprise clients. Services are delivered through cross-functional account teams spanning strategy, creative development, media, and retail solutions, and distributed through direct enterprise sales supplemented by Publicis Groupe's network of client relationships. Headquartered in Chicago (35 West Wacker Drive), Arc maintains additional offices in New York City, Rogers (Arkansas), Minneapolis, and Cincinnati, and reports a headcount of 5,001–10,000 employees. Leadership includes Chief Executive Officer Soche Picard and Chief Creative Officer Chris Cancilla, both active in industry juries (Effie, REGGIE Brand Catalyst Awards).

Name

Arc Worldwide

Legal name

Arc USA Chicago, a division of Leo Burnett Company, Inc.

Website

https://arcww.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2004

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

5,001–10,000 employees

Short description

Arc Worldwide is a commerce agency within Publicis Groupe that delivers data-driven omnichannel marketing and shopper activation to major CPG brands and retailers, powered by its proprietary Archer OS platform built on Epsilon's 255M+ U.S. shopper database.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Commerce Marketing Services

SIC

Services-Advertising Agencies (7311)

akta.pro primary industry

Shopper/Commerce Creative Agencies (Retail & Marketplace Creative) (MPAAAAAH)

Keywords

• Commerce marketing services
• Shopper marketing agency
• Retail media solutions
• Connected commerce platform
• Brand activation services

Headquarters

HQ city

Chicago

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Operations, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Agency Professional Services: Arc Worldwide generates revenue as a professional services agency within Publicis Groupe, providing commerce marketing services including strategy, creative development, media, and retail solutions to major consumer brands and retailers. Services are delivered through project-based engagements and ongoing retainer relationships.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Arc Worldwide is a commerce marketing agency that delivers end-to-end connected commerce services—including strategy, creative, media, shopper and retail marketing, brand activation, retail experience design, experiential events, and eCommerce—to enterprise consumer brands and retailers. Its work is powered by the proprietary Archer OS platform, which combines Epsilon's 255M+ U.S. shopper identity graph with alliance data from Kantar and Numerator to identify shopper resistance and deliver data-driven commerce solutions.

Product overview

Arc Worldwide is a commerce agency within Publicis Groupe that offers a unified portfolio centered on its proprietary Archer OS platform—a connected commerce data and intelligence engine. Archer OS is powered by Epsilon data (255M+ U.S. shoppers) and supplemented with alliance data from Kantar and Numerator, creating a comprehensive shopper intelligence hub. The agency delivers services across omnichannel programs, customer-specific marketing, channel solutions, brand activation, retail experiences, retail design, experiential events, commerce innovation, and eCommerce, all aimed at making brands irresistible to shoppers through the connected shopper journey.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Archer OS: The industry's foremost connected commerce data and intelligence platform that creates clarity and accelerates results. It reveals resistance holding people back from purchasing to help create data-driven solutions.

Products and services

• Archer OS Archer OS is Arc Worldwide's proprietary connected commerce data and intelligence platform that reveals shopper resistance and powers data-driven commerce marketing solutions for enterprise consumer brands and retailers.
• Connected Commerce Marketing Services End-to-end commerce marketing services for enterprise consumer brands and retailers spanning strategy, creative, media, shopper and retail marketing, brand activation, retail experience design, experiential events, channel solutions, and eCommerce.

Quantifiable outcome

• Miller High Life saw highest share of economy beer in 6+ years with 8% sales lift from A Match Made in the High Life campaign
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers15 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• EpsiloncoreTechnology or IntegrationCore data partnership providing identity-driven consumer insights database covering 255 million+ U.S. shoppers at the unique ID level. Epsilon data powers Arc's proprietary Archer platform and all shopper intelligence work.
• The MothcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStorytelling partnership for the Walgreens Untold Beauty campaign. The Moth provided exclusive writing workshops to help Untold Beauty participants share their stories on The Moth Podcast and Radio Hour, creating authentic narrative content.
• Publicis CommercecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerExtended Publicis Commerce team collaboration for campaigns like Heinz Rise and Heinz. Arc drives core creative concept and integrated journey across key retailers while working with Publicis Commerce colleagues.
• WalgreenscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor retail partnership for Untold Beauty campaign, providing retail media network access, in-store execution, and platform for authentic multicultural representation through Walgreens Beauty & Wellness Consultants.
• WalmartcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRetail partnership for multiple campaigns including Dove Self-Esteem activation and Walmart Ugly Sundaes, featuring unique retail activations and branded experiences.
• UnilevercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrimary client partnership spanning multiple brand campaigns including Dove, Knorr, and Irish Spring. Arc serves as lead shopper and retail agency for Unilever brands, creating award-winning connected commerce solutions.
• PhaedonminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerBrand activation partner for Miller High Life x Planters campaign, contributing to the integrated activation work alongside Arc's creative and media teams.
• ConnectminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMedia partner for Miller High Life x Planters campaign, handling media buying and placement as part of the integrated agency team.
• VoltminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerMerchandise partner for Miller High Life x Planters campaign, producing the branded merchandise and promotional items featured in the dive bar activation.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• WPP (GroupM / Ogilvy): Largest global advertising holding company; competes directly with Arc on enterprise commerce and shopper marketing briefs via GroupM (media) and Ogilvy (creative). Most direct holding-company analog to Publicis/Arc structure.
• Omnicom Group: Global holding company whose agencies (BBDO, DDB, Goodby Silverstein, etc.) compete for the same CPG and retail commerce mandates that Arc wins. Similar enterprise-scale services portfolio.
• Interpublic Group: Holding company of McCann, FCB, MullenLowe, and Mediabrands; competes with Arc on integrated commerce and shopper marketing programs for Fortune-tier CPG and retail clients.
• Dentsu: Global advertising holding company with strong commerce and shopper marketing capabilities through Dentsu Creative and Merkle; comparable full-service enterprise offering.
• Havas: Global holding company with creative, media, and commerce capabilities; competes with Arc for mid-to-large enterprise commerce mandates.

Direct peers

• The Mars Agency: Independent shopper marketing agency specializing in commerce, retail, and CPG activation. Closest non-holding-company specialist peer to Arc's shopper marketing core.
• Saatchi & Saatchi X: Specialist shopper and retail marketing agency within Publicis Groupe's broader network; competes in the same category and often on shared clients with Arc.
• Merkle: Data-driven customer experience agency owned by Dentsu; closely comparable to Arc in combining identity/data-driven targeting with creative and commerce activation for enterprise clients.

Emerging players

• Accenture Song: Accenture's creative and commerce arm; competing aggressively for enterprise commerce transformation and retail media engagements, often at the same CPG clients as Arc.
• Deloitte Digital: Consulting-led digital and commerce practice targeting large CPG and retail transformations; increasingly competing with Arc on enterprise commerce mandates.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/arcworldwide/?hl=en
• Xx.com/arcww
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/arc-worldwide

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Arc Worldwide