Integrated agency? Need a specialist? Do you buy, recruit or hire?

With two of the UK’s top grocers headquartered in West Yorkshire the marketing community up here tends to keep a close eye on both Asda and Morrisons – after all most of them work for one or the other.  So there was discussion last week about the news stories naming Morrisons as a possible buyer … Continue reading Integrated agency? Need a specialist? Do you buy, recruit or hire?

why the instore environment is still the same marketing brief

I’ve been working on a lot of retail projects recently.  So I’ve inevitably been in a lot of shops.  And it keeps striking me that as agencies we devote so much time, effort and creativity to trying to get people through store’s doors – and not nearly as much on persuading them to buy something … Continue reading why the instore environment is still the same marketing brief

comparing and contrasting agency shop floors

In my new freelance life I‘ve been having lots of meetings with local agencies.  From one man bands to UK top 30 agencies and from start-ups to old timers I’ve sat in a lot of agency receptions recently and it’s been a real eye opener. I’ve been amazed at the sheer diversity of approaches to … Continue reading comparing and contrasting agency shop floors

New Year, same old issues?

It looks like the big issue of 2008 is going to be a variation on the age-old integration vs. specialism debate.  Only this time round, my money is on both specialist and integrated agencies being forced to ramp up their Digital offering as it takes on an ever increasing share of marketing budgets and, in … Continue reading New Year, same old issues?

Integration – your time has come (again)

I honestly think that big integrated agencies are coming round again (this obviously has absolutely nothing do with the fact that I work for one). Client's budgets and the size of their in-house teams are being squeezed and increasingly they're asking my lot to become an extension of the marketing team - even to the extent of … Continue reading Integration – your time has come (again)