Campaign

The journey from hell...

We don't have a fixed view on what kind of company this is going to be. What's so exciting about starting an agency in 2009 is that the future is so 'up for grabs.' A willingness to embrace, and roll with that uncertainty is essential. Whether you're an agency or a client.

Nor do we have an 'exit strategy.' You'd be surprised how many start ups launch complete with a plan to sell to a holding company in a five years time. That's not our ambition.

For us, this is about the journey, not the destination. Yesterday we had the journey from hell....

We set off in Garry's Audi at 6am to visit a potential client who's office is nearly in Scotland. Andrew Stephens from Goodstuff  came with us. We decided it would be cheaper, more productive, and maybe more fun to drive, rather than go by train.

Everything went well for the first hour or so. Garry and Andrew chatting in the front. Robert day dreaming in the back. But then disaster number one struck. We got a puncture on the fast lane of the motorway.

We couldn't drive all the way to Scotland on a temporary spare. So we diverted to Kwik Fit in Rugby. We waited for Kwik Fit to open at 8.30am. We got a new tyre. Now horribly behind schedule we set off again.

Somewhere in Yorkshire we stopped for water, chewing gum, and, in Robert's case, a pee.

Disaster number two struck. Garry and Andrew were so focussed on getting to the meeting that they failed to notice that Robert had not yet got back into the car.

It took them five miles on the A1 before they realised Robert was not on board. Robert was still at the petrol station. Sitting by the side of the road. Without his phone, wallet or jacket. Fighting off lonely truck drivers. Practicing his anger management skills.

Garry and Andrew returned to pick up Robert. Anger successfully managed, we laughed until we cried, and set off again.

Disaster number three? Somewhere near Scotch Corner, Kwik Fit in Rugby phoned to tell Garry he had left his wallet on top of a pile of tyres. (You can't get more honest than a Kwik Fit Fitter.)

We arrived at our destination. Late but with some excellent excuses. 

Fortunately, the meeting went better than the journey.

hello@campbelllacebeta.com

A month is a long time in advertising...

So. It's been almost one month since Garry and Robert officially opened the doors of Garry's Audi for business.

What have we achieved? (Apart from dancing around a maypole like a couple of Beltane Geezers)

1) We've found an office. Or at least we think we have. It's right next to the Charlotte Street Hotel. Handy for breakfast.

2) We've hired one or two really good people. Can't tell you who yet. Sorry to be so boring.

3) We've made a lot of friends. And received a lot of e mails about our strange Ubuntu practices. But that's cool.

4) We're working like stink to win a couple of pitches. Can't tell you what. Sorry to be boring, again.

5) We're quietly confident that starting Campbell Lace (Beta) wasn't the silliest idea we've ever had.

6) By and large we're having fun.

7) Oh. And we discovered this remarkable piece on the secret of acquiring wealth. We haven't used it yet but we figure it might come in handy soon.

Freddie Tarrant.

Robert first met Freddie Tarrant in 1983, when she and Canna operated out of Charlotte Mews.

Freddie and Canna were legendary. They were so glamourous, so much fun, and so good at their job.

Freddie had to nag Robert until he finally wrote a piece of copy for his student book.

"You can't be a copywriter if you haven't written any copy" she told him. And, of course, she was right.

Rest in peace, Freddie. We'll miss you.

An apology...

Robert's in disgrace for something he wrote in this blog last week...

"One of the best things about not having any clients is you have time to hang out with friends. We go to visit Sue Unerman and Jane Ratcliffe at Mediacom. It's pretty clear as soon as you walk through the door of Mediacom why it was voted UK media agency of the year. It's feels vibrant, modern and powerful.

Sue, Jane Garry and Robert discuss many things, including what a great idea the t mobile flash mob was in Trafalgar Square last week. A fabulous piece of media thinking. We wonder who came up with it. The 'media' agency, or the 'creative' agency?"

So Robert's in disgrace because, from what he wrote, it's not clear that the T Mobile campaign is Saatchi and Saatchi's idea.

Meanwhile, the guys over at Mediacom look as though they don't know that it was Saatchi's idea.

We all know it was Saatchi's idea. And that it's brilliant.

So Robert must apologise to both Saatchi and Mediacom for causing confusion. Actually what Robert was trying to do was provoke a bit of debate.

Who is best positioned to conceive and execute powerful ideas in this multimedia world in which we now live and market?

Media agencies? Or creative agencies? Or maybe its time for a new kind of model. 

Ashamed, Robert stares out of the window. A flash mob of irate ad folk has gathered. They are crying out for blood. They think Robert's writing is sloppy, and factually incorrect.  Not to mention boring.

E mail hello@campbelllacebeta.com

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Ubuntu rules...

Last year Robert helped set up the Elders. http://www.theelders.org/ He had the extreme privilege of working up close with Archbishop Tutu, Graca Machel, Jimmy Carter, Mary Robinson...

One of the things that 'The Arch' taught Robert was 'Ubuntu.' Ubuntu is a humanist philosophy practiced by the Bantu and other African tribes. Tutu and Mandela are both great proponents of it. Ubuntu is a way of being. It defines the way we interact as human beings.. It is truly about collaboration, not competition.

Garry and Robert are thinking of making Ubuntu one of (Betas) core principles. As we build our village of like minded individuals and companies Ubuntu will be our guiding principle.

Now some may say that dragging Bantu tribal philosophy into the work place is a bit rich. Particularly for a couple of guys who look more drugs squad than Bantu.

But, interestingly, the other day we were talking to a mangement consultant. He spends half his time working for the government, and the other half working for big comapnies like Unilever.

He told us that he has often used the concept of Ubuntu to help teams in large corporations work more effectively together. He said it captures the imagination, gets people to think differently, removes the self interest that so often stands in the way of great ideas, and delivers amazing results.

Collaboration, not competition? Ubuntu rules. 

theelders.org

hello@campbelllacebeta.com

THE HISTORY OF CAMPBELL LACE (BETA)

Michelle Pfeiffer, Ivan Pollard, Nat and Lolly...

We have just about accepted that we are not going to get on the Innocent pitch list.

We unchain ourselves from the railings outside Innocent's headquarters, and return home for a nice hot bath. Bloodied but unbowed.

We will continue to buy Innocent's products even if they will not buy ours! We still love Innocent.

Robert is concerned because we because we can't upload pictures onto our blog. Technical problems. We discuss this with our new found blogging friends, Nat and Lolly. 

Nat and Lolly also like to put pictures on their blog. We decide to start a campaign to get Rory to put pictures on his blog. For the benefit of those of us who don't have a degree in philosophy.

http://community.brandrepublic.com/blogs/younglionsfromcannes/default.aspx

Ivan Pollard has made an interesting post on his blog about 'old' being the new target to market. http://community.brandrepublic.com/blogs/ivanpollard/default.aspx This is not lost on us. One of the projects we are continuing to pursue is creating a 'Sexy Saga.'

To be clear this does not mean we are creating an advertising agency that targets old people. We are creating a 'product' for the upmarket 50+ demographic. Or 'fiftyjusts' as we like to call them. Like Michelle Pfeiffer http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/7890160.stm

One of the best things about not having any clients is you have time to hang out with friends. We go to visit Sue Unerman and Jane Ratcliffe at Mediacom. It's pretty clear as soon as you walk through the door of Mediacom why it was voted UK media agency of the year. It's feels vibrant, modern and powerful.

Sue, Jane Garry and Robert discuss many things, including what a great idea the t mobile flash mob was in Trafalgar Square last week. A fabulous piece of media thinking. We wonder who came up with it. The 'media' agency, or the 'creative' agency?

Innocent until proven innocent

Today is May 1st. The day that people dance around the maypole. Sometimes naked.  And to celebrate we've decided to officially launch Campbell Lace (Beta.)

We start the day with a big meeting with a big potential client. It's a fascinating project, and not the sort of thing a traditional agency would get asked to do. The meeting is over by 10am. We really really hope we get this. It would get us off to a brilliant start. Fingers crossed.

Next we go back to the office to submit an RFI (request for information) for a pitch. We've been working on the RFI all week. We've put a fabulous team together. Experts from all sorts of disciplines. Our solution is anything but conventional. We stick the RFI on a bike and wave it goodbye. Toes crossed.

Now onto the next RFI. It also has to be sent off today. But Garry has other ideas. He has become obsessed with getting on the Innocent pitch. Even though the list has been compiled and is now shut. Garry is like a Pit Bull with lockjaw. He can not and will not let go.

Robert is delighted. Innocent are one of the best brands on the planet. We are unconcerned by Innocent's reputation for being difficult  to work with.

When Virgin came to RKCR in 1993 they had a reputation for being the client from hell.  They turned out to be the client from heaven.

Perhaps the difficulty is that Innocent have not yet found the agency that is right for them. 

Ad agencies often have problems working with clients who have already had a powerful idea for themselves. Like Innocent and Virgin. They just can't accept that clients can be creative too. 

Garry's Blackberry is smoking. Please Innocent. Put us on the list. Before Garry spontaneously combusts.