The agency world has always been a young man/woman’s game. At least Outside London, if you’re not a director (or equally senior) by your late 30s you might as well forget any plans for world domination and seeing your profile in Campaign. Which is, obviously, a rather stupid situation. Yes, the work-hard-play-hard agency lifestyle demands … Continue reading If your age/experience fits…
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when you can’t blow your own trumpet
The average agency website or creds presentation will always have a ‘client’ page where they boast about the brands and organisations they work with. It would be fair to say that some of these stretch the truth a bit, encompassing the FMCG brand the agency produced a one-off standee for and the Blue Chip firm … Continue reading when you can’t blow your own trumpet
If it’s on a lorry, then it’s consumer communications
Driving back up the M1 after a horse show last weekend I saw the side of a lorry that proudly stated ‘for all your pizza needs’. Googling hasn’t thrown up a picture of the offending vehicle (and I was hardly going to snap away whilst driving), so I’ve lovingly mocked it up in powerpoint: A … Continue reading If it’s on a lorry, then it’s consumer communications
Weetabix Big Day insight hits the spot
I rather like the new Weetabix ad (apparently BBH's first work for the brand). Not because it is hysterically funny or ground-breakingly creative, I just think the insight is spot on. For the last couple of years I’ve always turned to a bowl of Weetabix when I’ve got a big day ahead of me or … Continue reading Weetabix Big Day insight hits the spot
Whatever happened to Pitch Season?
In the world of agency New Business, you used to know where you were by simply looking at the calendar. Pitch Season ran according to the academic year, with a particular spike in activity between September and the end of November. I’ve been working in and around agencies for twelve years now and one of … Continue reading Whatever happened to Pitch Season?
What are you an Unlikely Expert on?
I had dinner with some Lady Planners last week and was telling one of them that next time she needs to buy a particular item of furniture she should give me a shout, because after a massive project for a retailer I am now an expert on the subject. I then realised that she has … Continue reading What are you an Unlikely Expert on?
are design tram-smashes in fashion?
While I was on a Road Trip last week, for long and complicated reasons I popped into an independent mens and ladieswear retailer in the Yorkshire Dales (which shall remain nameless because I think the owner is a friend of a friend of a friend...). I understand that the business changed hands relatively recently and … Continue reading are design tram-smashes in fashion?
design fans should check out the Midland Hotel
I stayed at an amazing hotel last week – in Morecambe. The two concepts don’t sit terribly well together, unless you’ve already heard of what developers Urban Splash did to the Midland Hotel to bring it back to its former Art Deco glory and how it sits at the heart of the regeneration plans for … Continue reading design fans should check out the Midland Hotel
Project Management might be really about Customer Service
I’ve been lucky enough to eat out quite a bit recently – and unlucky enough to experience some pretty appalling service in the process. Last week (*cough* Piccolinos) it took ten minutes to get served at the bar, half an hour to be sat at our table and another twenty minutes to order. A few … Continue reading Project Management might be really about Customer Service
The Laws of the Pitch Room
Even though I’m freelance I still take part in quite a few proper pitches. I mean the full-blown strategy + creative + logistics + budget presentations in front of senior clients where they decide based on a ninety minute presentation whether or not to spend a million pounds plus with the agency. Comparing these agency … Continue reading The Laws of the Pitch Room