I’ve been thinking a lot about how agencies are organised and subsequently reorganised recently and about how their systems work (or in some cases, don’t). Looking back at the agencies I’ve worked for, I’ve seen a LOT of different approaches to the organising and running of an Integrated Northern Marketing Agency and none of them … Continue reading Ch-ch-ch-ch-changes
Author: Gemma T
Brand and Creative Strategist
Choices, choices
by garlandcannon on flickr, CC applies This job, this career, this industry – it’s all about making choices: choose to stay where you are and see what happens, or go for an interview when the recruiter phones choose to live in the sticks, with fresh air, affordable accommodation and family nearby or upsticks to London … Continue reading Choices, choices
If it’s Elle, it must be Tuesday
It’s been a real week of hanging around for me – on trains to and from London, in GP’s waiting rooms, in the MOT garage’s reception and so on. Which means I’ve been reading a lot of women’s magazines to pass the time. By the third or fourth glossy mag (I’m a fast reader) I … Continue reading If it’s Elle, it must be Tuesday
What makes a great Account Planner?
In the February issue of Admap (thanks to the APG for sending me a copy), Jon Steel writes about how great planning is not about being a member of the coolerati, an expert on Japanese animation, a fan of post-modernism or being smarter than everyone else. He says that ‘great planning is about creating an … Continue reading What makes a great Account Planner?
The naming of things is a googlable matter
Time was, when Susy Simpkins married Mr Smith she became Mrs Smith. Except that the right ‘Susy Smith’ (9,750 results) is a lot harder to track down on google than ‘Susy Simpkins’ (3 results). And if you thought it was a hassle changing the name on your bank account, passport and driving licence, try adding … Continue reading The naming of things is a googlable matter
You owe it to your country to treat yourself
I’ve just had some feedback from an attendee at yesterday’s IGD/Asda Trade Briefing. It seems that premium food is back in growth in the UK. People want affordable treats. Preferably edible ones. With continuing economic uncertainty and an accompanying general unwillingness to engage in full-on luxury consumption, the ‘little treat’ might turn out to be … Continue reading You owe it to your country to treat yourself
back to basics on the phone front
Via trendwatching’s February briefing comes ‘functionall’ - 'the phenomenon of simple, small and/or cheap products and services designed for low(er)-income consumers in emerging markets, with cross-over appeal to consumers in mature consumer societies'. Trendwatching recon that goods and services especially designed for emerging markets often incorporate one or more of the following characteristics: - Smaller … Continue reading back to basics on the phone front
Client quotes of the day
feedback on creative brief sent over for client approval: “it shouldn’t say anything in Tone of Voice as the character won’t actually be speaking” re: brand launch campaign: us: “and of course digital will be very important” client: “yes and I’d like a website too” sigh…
The weather outside (was) frightful
I’ve perhaps been guilty of overdoing the ‘oh-my-god-its-still-snowing’ posts on the blog recently (the white stuff lasted 4 ½ weeks in the end) and I can’t imagine that anyone outside the snow-bound UK would have found them particularly interesting. But what I have found invaluable as I’ve tried to make the decision in recent weeks … Continue reading The weather outside (was) frightful
Come fly with me, not my ad campaign
I’ve been ruining my carbon footprint by taking quite a few internal flights down to the South West for client meetings over the last six months. One morning, I was stood in the security queue at Stupid O’Clock with the rest of the account team (all in our 20s and 30s) when a uniformed Virgin … Continue reading Come fly with me, not my ad campaign