Campaign

OUR NEW YORK OFFICE....

Robert's in New York. Not setting up our New York office as some have speculated. No. He is working with a bunch of entrepreneurs, politicians and environmentalists on setting up a new venture that will focus on creating entrepreneurial solutions to the environmental catastrophe we all face. UNLESS WE ACT NOW!!!

The flight from Heathrow got Robert all nostalgic for the days he worked on Virgin Atlantic. It's still a great airline. And a testament to the power of an entrepreneurial approach to business rather than a corporate one.

We've been busy, which is why we haven't been blogging. Building the machine is just as important as winning business. In many senses more so. 

Weekly we're adding to our number at Carnaby Street. This Monday we're lucky enough to have an ace information architect, journalist and web designer join us called Toby Kay.

In certain senses building a great agency is pretty simple. All we need are brilliant people who share our vision.

Next Thursday is the Campbell Lace Beta blog breakfast. Everyone who has contributed to our blog is invited, plus a few other special guests. We can't wait to meet our blogging buddies.

Its a kind of beta blog bacon butty flash mob.

. 

The power of blog...BT sorted.

So there we are giggling about our latest blog entry (the one complaining about BT) when Jane's mobile rings.

"We've just read your blog, we're sorry, and we'd like to sort out your BT line as soon as possible."

Turns out the guy is from BT's SAS. They're based in Mayfair. We're impressed!

So now we've got a BT telephone line.

There's the power of blog for you. 

As for all those rumours suggesting we've won at least one fabulous client...

Dear British Telecom....

We're a small start up advertisng agency with big ambitions.

Just a handful of hard working, hopeful people.

We're pitching for clients. We're down to the last two agencies on two really big pitches. Against two of London's biggest ad agencies. It's really exciting stuff.

We've got a fab building on Carnaby Street. We've got desks.  We've got chairs. We've got computers. We've got layout pads. A Printer. A kettle. Toilet rolls even. Oh, and a blog.

We're ready to go. Big time. Well almost. Just one small problem.

The one thing we haven't got that we really really need is a BT phone line.

We spend all day - when we're not pitching - pleading with people in your call centres to let us have a BT phone line soon.

We have been asking for quite some time now.

PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE CAN WE HAVE A BT PHONE LINE?

Before Robert does something he might regret.

Martin Cole

Sometimes we use this blog to cause a stir. Sometimes we use it to invite people to breakfast. But today we are using it to say goodbye to a brilliant bloke and an outstanding planner. Goodbye because Martin died on Friday and we feel very, very sad.

Garry and Jane worked with Martin at Grey. In fact,he was one of Garry's first hirings, and in many ways, he was probably his best. Martin was clever, fantastic company and had a brilliant creative mind. In his time at Grey, he opened people's eyes up to the reality that, at its best, planning could generate as much creative energy as any copywriter or art director.

He was fantastic in pitches because he was engaging and honest. People loved Martin because he was one of a kind and lead by example. His greatest strength at work was to look at a problem and solve it in a way that was not only brilliant but also simple. Martin loved life and it showed in everything he did.

One of the first texts that Garry received when Campbell Lace (Beta) launched was from Martin. It simply read,"Good luck mate, I'm rooting for you. Avoid vaulting ambition." Brilliant advice, simply put and typical of the man who was the most interesting and inspiring planner that Garry ever worked with.

 You are a huge loss my friend and we'll miss you. Rest in Peace.

The Beta Blog Breakfast Club....

As much as we are enjoying the comment and counter comment on our blog this week, it is time to move on.

So this is the result of our breakfast competition.

We've decided to hold a breakfast for all our blog commentators. A sort of bloggers breakfast flash mob. We will hold the breakfast at Carnaby Street. There will be bacon butties, ketchup, and stimulating conversation for all.

So if you are a Beta blog commentator, expect an invitation soon.  Incidentally, the offer is not yet closed, so future commentators will be invited too. There will also be special guests, tba. Hopefully everyone will be able to make it. Especially the lovely Richard Huntingdon who is a top bloke, a top blogger, adliterate.com and who we hope we have not offended.

(Also we should mention that your comments about the difficulty that some of you find leaving comments on blogs have been noted at Campaign and they are working on it.)

So keep those comments coming. Thanks for getting involved.

Today is the biggest day in Campbell Lace (Beta)'s history so far. We've got a massively important pitch. It's us versus one other. We've got a fabulous, game changing idea. (Or at least we think so.) We really, really hope the client likes it.

As we left the studio last night past midnight, Garry and Robert agreed this is what we'd set up Beta to do. Work directly with clients who we like and respect. And use our skills to make a significant difference to their businesses.

To be honest, its much harder work than the jobs we used to do. Running big old, old fashioned agencies. 

But its much more rewarding. Keep you fingers crossed.  We'll let you know how it goes.

The weird thing about this blog....

Everyone who's anyone seems to read this blog...well you are.

Lots of people seem to talk about it.

But very few people leave comments on it.

We don't take it personally, because it seems that even fewer people leave comments on the other Campaign blogs. (Except, of course, the very erudite Rory's.)

Blogs lifeblood are comments. Without comments, blogs are a bit like a man talking to himself. Sad.

So why don't advertising people leave comments on Campaign's blogs? Brand Republic's blogs get loads of comments.

Maybe it because Campaign readers are essentially 'broadcast' not 'interactive' kind of guys?

They like shouting at millions of Coronation Street viewers from the safety of a tv commercial, but have little appetite for conversation one on one.

Or maybe its because, although widely read, this blog, and the other Campaign blogs, are not worthy of comment.

We'd  be fascinated to hear your comments.

Meanwhile, if you are a client, and you want to find out if the senior management of your ad agency care about 'digital' try this simple test.

Go onto facebook and look them up. What? They haven't even bothered to sign up? Aren't they remotely interested? Well, what about twitter? Or maybe linkedin? No? Don't they give a damn about 'digital'? Aren't they even curious?

Actions speak louder than agency credentials.

Meanwhile Garry and I have decided to take the best commentator on our blog over the next two weeks out for a slap up breakfast.

And the worst commentator on our blog we will take out for a slap up breakfast twice.

OK? 

hello@campbelllacebeta.com