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
Category: agencies
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…
Harder, better, faster, stronger
by gaptone on flickr Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger is my predication for what AgencyLife is going to be like – no, HAS to be like - if the industry is to adapt to the realities of life in 2010. Harder After 2009’s redundancies and cost cutting, there will be less people around to do more … Continue reading Harder, better, faster, stronger
AgencyLand – nearly broke and we need to fix it
I’ve come to the conclusion that it’s becoming extremely difficult for a medium sized UK agency to actually make enough money to stay afloat. Factor in a desire to produce creative and effective work (and of course, the two things are connected) and it’s a seemingly impossible task. Why? 1) Work has massively shifted from … Continue reading AgencyLand – nearly broke and we need to fix it
Clients – can’t live with (some of) them, can’t push them off a cliff
Following a few rather trying client meetings recently, I went home and unburdened myself to my aforementioned lifetime-in-retail Dad. He talked me down from my slightly hysterical state by saying that the way he’d always seen it, in retail it was all really a game and in the end (no matter how difficult the customer), … Continue reading Clients – can’t live with (some of) them, can’t push them off a cliff
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
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)
we didn’t budget for this…
Via Lenise comes this great look at the current state of the vendor/client relationship. I have so been there…
Time waits for no agency (or planner)
We were clearing out a cupboard at work last month and found some photos from when the business was just getting started over 20 years ago. A few faces from the photos are still with the agency today and they told me about the days when desks were for writing not typing on, when efficient … Continue reading Time waits for no agency (or planner)