when the brief is more away-with-the-fairies than ‘challenging’

We’ve all been there at one time or another.  The client pitch brief that asserts their ambition for the brand to be seen as the country’s leading X or most aspirational Y.  When you know full well that the brand has more baggage than Terminal 5 on a BA strike day, is right up there … Continue reading when the brief is more away-with-the-fairies than ‘challenging’

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)

Clients behaving badly

 New Business is turning into a bit of a farce at the moment. A client I pitched for in November (who announced within 24 hours that we were down to the final two agencies) let us know today that they’d finally made the decision to appoint the other lot. That’s three months it took them … Continue reading Clients behaving badly

And on your left, you’ll see Production…

Two or three Agency Tours make their way past my desk every day.  New clients, new business prospects and interviewees are all escorted round the agency because look!, some desks! and people! and we have computers and recycling bins and everything!  Um, I'm not quite sure what that person does but come and meet someone … Continue reading And on your left, you’ll see Production…

pitching should be a two-way process

At the Northern Planning Summit last Thursday night in Sheffield we ended up discussing what would you chose not to pitch for as an agency?, which encompassed wider issues like are they flogging booze/sub-prime finance/fags/politics (delete according to where you draw the line) and are they likely to turn into the client from hell? Which made me think alot … Continue reading pitching should be a two-way process