Is a single agency model the best approach to fulfill New Zealand’s growth targets? Courtney Lambert doesn’t think so.
Browsing: Courtney Lambert
New year, new (and even some pre-Christmas) news in this bumper edition of Movings/Shakings, as Saatchi & Saatchi kicks off its Creative Collective with two hires, DDB adds a six pack to the creative coterie, tributes flow for Wellington’s Mike Boekholt, Adshel announces its new marketing director, Michelle Boag farewells Ogilvy, Courtney Lambert exchanges Fairfax for Xero, Kath Hurley swaps the MPA for the MA, NZ Lotteries chooses its new chief, Holly Dean takes a break from The Sweet Shop, and Cliff Joiner switches allegiance.
The latest annual report from Fairfax painted a fairly grim picture for the Australian-owned media company, with a loss of A$401 million on the back of a A$651 million writedown in the value of its mastheads and a 40 percent reduction in the value of its share price this year. In an effort to raise capital, local teacher’s pet TradeMe is set to be partially floated and changes are also being made within both the New Zealand newspaper and magazine divisions.
In case you hadn’t noticed, it’s 2011. 1987 was a while ago now. And while it must have been a very exciting time for Kiwis of yesteryear to win a Rugby World Cup, do we really have to point every element of tournament communication and design back to the glory days?
I once heard about a wine industry meltdown when New Zealand wine wasn’t on the menu for an Auckland-based Tourism New Zealand schmooze function. And good on the winemakers for kicking up a stink, I say. Yet who would do the same if the branding, media services, website or PR wasn’t run by Kiwis? Overlooking New Zealand talent for ‘experts from out of town’ is a hate-crime against the country and, in front-facing services such as marketing and communications, it’s just bloody stupid.
One of the primary jobs of a marketing team should be to govern the brand; to take care of it, make it thrive and stop it from getting ripped to shreds in the media.
I love Double Rainbow and any mention of the epic YouTube clip makes me super happy and walk around all day saying ‘all the waaaay’ and ‘what does it meaaaan?’ So it was with mixed and curious feelings that I sat back and watched the reaction to the new Vodafone ‘Double’ TVCs from some of my über YouTube community friends.
I’m always reluctant to get into discussions about logos because I don’t think I’m overly qualified to talk about them (and because everyone else thinks they are overly qualified to talk about them). Generally, those that bleat the most about logos are those that know the least about marketing; the ones who think branding is a sticker you put on an apple before you export it to Japan. But I feel the need to make a wee exception.
“They are a Saatchi client, they are a Colenso client, they are a DDB client”. I hear this all the time from ad agencies and I hate to break it to you, but the deep romance you have with your peacock, trophy brands is often not reciprocated.
One of the most successful people in New Zealand social media was on telly last week. On 60 Minutes, even, a little global current affairs franchise you may have heard of. He doesn’t have an American accent and he doesn’t have an iPhone. You’ll all know him but not all of you will like him: Cameron Slater aka Whaleoil.
I came across this discussion on Mumbrella about what PR agencies need to do to win awards at Cannes and why “adland is the home of awards-obsessed backslapping knob-jockeys”. And I thought it was quite interesting because I’m sad and have no life.
As I’m sure you’re all aware, this week is SMEG Awareness Week. Social media expert guru (SMEG) numbers have been increasing in New Zealand in the last 12 months due to a combination of the tidal impacts on the Orinoco river and the recession. So here’s a handy field guide to help you spot them.
I do a lot of those ‘standing up the front, waving my arms around with slide presentation’ things. People are generally quite nice and give you a little clap at the end and then you get cheese and wine. It’s all very pleasant. However, my sensibilities were a little bit shaken the other day when a well-meaning smug suit stood up at the end of my presentation, addressed the audience and said: “Everything Courtney said is just a suggestion. There’s no best way really.” How very post-modern. And undermining. Punk.
As carrots are to stew, news is to the internet.