Despite a few technical hiccups and so many speakers that it overran a bit, Interesting2009 lived up to the fine reputation of its 2007 and 2008 predecessors. In the unlikely event that you’re not up to speed, Interesting is an annual day long shindig organised by Russell Davies and the main rule for speakers is … Continue reading insights from Interesting 2009
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10 things I still don’t understand about agency life
1. Why do clients only have emergencies at 5pm when you were planning to leave on time that day? 2. With enough denim around the average agency to stage a rodeo, whatever happened to the Working Wardrobe? 3. Why are the majority of staff in every agency aged under 35? 4. Whatever happened to the … Continue reading 10 things I still don’t understand about agency life
10 things I wish I’d been told when I started agency life
1. It is NEVER OK to be bullied in the workplace 2. Going to the pub after work is not compulsory 3. Manage and protect your workload to allow time for the inevitable crisis that will need dealing with 4. Learn how to tell which battles are worth fighting 5. If you don’t like certain … Continue reading 10 things I wish I’d been told when I started agency life
A rogue respondent as seen from the viewing room
pic nicked from The White Rooms in St Albans (UK) - not where I was last night but v. highly recommended I was at a viewing facility last night and in the second group there was one respondent who was a real pain in the neck for the moderator. There’s always one (let’s call him Bob), … Continue reading A rogue respondent as seen from the viewing room
a brilliant list of what Britain’s rail network really needs
This is brilliant. Writing in Saturday’s Guardian, Lucy Mangan has made of list of what Britain's rail network really needs. It turns out the What Britain’s Rail Network Really Needs is not ever-so-slightly-faster high speed rail links, but instead Lucy proposes what she calls ‘a bit of tweaking to highlight its true attractions’: Make it … Continue reading a brilliant list of what Britain’s rail network really needs
its apparently Positive Mental Attitude week – and its catching
A couple of weeks ago, one of the Account Directors who sits near me at work merrily declared that for the foreseeable future, all weeks would be now be designated Positive Mental Attitude Week. Since then, she’s won two pitches. I’m not suggesting that the two are completely related, but spending every day alternating between … Continue reading its apparently Positive Mental Attitude week – and its catching
Aircel boat – brand to the rescue?
Via Springwise, I came across this special build billboard for Indian mobile company Aircel. In early July they tethered an inflatable dingy (complete with ‘cut rope in emergency’ instruction) to a billboard in an area of central Mumbai notorious for its flooding problems. Within a couple of weeks, it monsooned, the rope was cut and … Continue reading Aircel boat – brand to the rescue?
Asda rolls back the cliches for Yorkshire Day
So I’m guessing that Asda didn’t get a Yorkshire agency to write their Yorkshire Day ad in today’s Yorkshire Post newspaper… The copy reads: The flat caps, the whippets, the brass bands playing. The smoking chimneys from real coal fires. The cobbled streets. The dry stone walls. The unspoilt beauty of The Dales. Chips wi’ … Continue reading Asda rolls back the cliches for Yorkshire Day
Hurry Up and Wait
Following on from my bullet pointed rant about the pitch process, it now seems clear to me that the entire attitude of the UK marketing industry could be summed up as Hurry Up and Wait. From fast turnaround pitches that result in weeks of client indecision, to urgent meetings cancelled at the last minute and … Continue reading Hurry Up and Wait
A very cynical view of both sides of the pitch process (written by someone who probably needs a holiday)
The agency: I’m sure they hid the brief somewhere in this 82 page document Did you know that pizza is a major food group? Find what we did last time and change the client logo There is a Hell and it’s name is Powerpoint Yes, they do run trains at 5am Time waits for no … Continue reading A very cynical view of both sides of the pitch process (written by someone who probably needs a holiday)