Agency of the Future

The Business Of Marijuana & Advertising

Peter · March 6, 2015 · Leave a Comment

The Business Of Marijuana & Advertising & Publishing

I’ve written a bit about the burgeoning marijuana industry and the new business opportunities for ad, digital, social and PR agencies (see a link to articles at the bottom of this post.)

In Portland alone, there are over 35 medical marijuana dispensaries and each one has driven incremental business for a wide range of suppliers including landlords, contractors, interior designers, security firms, lawyers, accountants, venture capitalists, safe companies (each dispensary has at least one), package and graphic designers, ad agencies and publishers. I have a good take on this business because I am an investor in two medical marijuana dispensaries.

To give you an example of how crazy this business can be. Here is what I did yesterday (and why.)

I was in Vancouver, Washington meeting an illustrator friend for lunch. I then went to take a look at two fully recreational marijuana shops. This means that you can just walk in, prove that you are over 21 and then a buy marijuana as you would cigarettes or wine. What was massively interesting was that one of the stores (on Main Street, literally) had 22 customers at 2PM on a Thursday. There weren’t 22 customers buying wine at a single wine shop at 2PM.

Later in the day, I was in the back room of a Portland marijuana shop photographing the store’s ‘joint roller’ and getting a couple of artisanal ‘art’ joints (like the one above). Yes, joints.

So, now the why…

In case you are wondering, I am not at all a big stoner.

But, I am starting a small publishing entity that will cover this huge and growing market. I am currently shooting photographs for two small books (“Joints” and “26 Dispensaries”). I will add other small books (imagine portraits of bud tenders) and apparel based on a new brand that will be coming to a browser near you. All of this will eventually be used as Kickstarter rewards for the funding of a large book on the industry.

I will keep you posted on my progress.

Marijuana Links & The Start Of A Discussion About This new Billion Dollar Industry

Here are the articles I’ve written on the subject.

Are Ad Agencies Doomed?

Peter · February 2, 2015 · Leave a Comment

Are Ad Agencies Doomed? — No. But.

Clearly a large segment of the ad agency business has moved to automated advertising and design.

I’ll start with Google, Facebook and Twitter. They all have automated the placement of advertising. Others too. That means that billions of ad placement dollars have moved to the web. But you know that. 99 Designs delivers logos for $99. You know that too.

If you watched the Super Bowl, you saw that web tools like SquareSpace are automating the design of websites thanks to the Jeff Bridges commercials.

Now, There’s The Grid.

The Grid is the first artificial intelligence platform that creates websites. Sounds cool to me. Tweet this

Does The Grid Spell Doom?

The Grid hasn’t launched yet but is getting attention. Here is what TechCrunch says: [Read more…] about Are Ad Agencies Doomed?

Mitch Joel On The Art Of Ad Agency Social Media

Peter · January 16, 2015 · 1 Comment

Twist Image’s Mitch Joel On The Art of Ad Agency Social Media As A Business Development Tool

And… Writing Like Crazy Since 2003

Quick note. It is 1 January 2018 and Mitch just served up his 599th podcast. He started blogging in 2003. That is what I call some serious focus and consistency. This is how to run social media.

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Here is an interview with Mitch Joel as a counterpoint to his interviewing me for his “6 Pixels of Separation” podcast.

Mitch is President of the WPP Montreal-based agency Twist Image – one of the largest independent digital marketing agencies in North America. Mitch is the most prolific user of social media in the agency world. In addition to his podcast, he authors the agency’s blog, has written two books (with a third on the way), writes for the “Harvard Business Review” and “Huffington Post”, has over 64,000 @mitchjoel Twitter Followers and speaks at major conferences.

Peter: When did you start blogging?

Mitch: I started blogging in 2003. The spirit of it came from my pedigree and background in publishing, media and writing. When I saw the blogging platform come out, it was Blogger at the time, I thought that blogging would be a different and unique way for our agency to do some form of thought leadership. Although, I didn’t call it ‘thought leadership’ at the time.

We were there at the early days of digital becoming something in marketing. It just seemed like the right, comfortable fit for me. Then I got very addicted. I publish eight hundred to a thousand words every day. I couldn’t tell you logically why I do this. I don’t check my stats. I do it because I like to write and there happens to be a publish button.

You’re up to four hundred and forty-four podcasts. Why did you move into podcasting in addition to such prolific blogging?

Apparently Australian Ad Agencies Have More Fun Hiring

Peter · January 14, 2015 · Leave a Comment

It Is OK To Laugh and Have Fun Whilst Hiring

How to hire a bright, super insightful, savvy strategist in a highly competitive market?

Video sells.

The Australian ad agency Holer sure looks like a fun place to work. Australian culture rocks.

http://vimeo.com/91259491

Portland’s Roseys Awards: The 2014 Videos

Peter · November 6, 2014 · Leave a Comment

Here are three sweet videos produced by the sweet agency Struck (Portland and Salt Lake City) to announce the sweet 2014 Portland Roseys awards.

Oh, enter your great stuff and buy your team tickets HERE.