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Smart Agencies

Agency Post: What Is the Publicis-Omnicom Merger Really About?

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Agency Post asked me about my opinion of the Omnicom-Publicis merger (well, me and others.)

Below is what I said and here is a link to the article…

I woke up yesterday to Omnicom’s CEO John Wren telling CNBC that the merger will result in a more ‘nimble’ agency. Really? As an advertising man who worked at Saatchi & Saatchi when it was the world’s largest agency, I can tell you that bigger is the enemy of nimble.

While the issues facing huge-to-small advertising agencies are complex, the most painful issue is the reduction in profitability that started in the 1980s. The only advantage I can see from this merger is a reduction in the new agency’s cost structure, which of course means fewer employees. Will this make them stronger in the face of evolving competition? Only if they use some of that cash to be one of the companies that is involved in the evolution itself.

 

North, Obama And Oregon’s Health Insurance Marketplace

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Long Live Oregonians 30 YouTube

Despite the constant ankle-biting from Republicans about / against Obamacare, Obamacare is starting to roll out.

As a parent with two ex-college kids under 26 and a self-employed lifestyle, I dig the idea of this new healthcare program. The hope that we might (stress might) start to improve our screwed up health care system is also rather appealing.

Obamacare has hit Oregon with the launch of the ad agency North’s Cover Oregon campaign. Of course, there are lovers and haters. Here is an article from our Oregonian on the campaign… the comments are interesting including the ones that sound like they are from Portland agencies that did not win this highly visible campaign.

I’ll let you decide about the TV campaign (its in its early stages.) Me? I dig it. Here are two spots. Its OK to sing along. In fact, these are so representative of  the Oregon lifestyle (yes, they are a bit Portlandia), that I think that they will increase the value of my house. Oh, the website is sweet too. That is, if you are a fan of simplifying a complex subject. Maybe the Republicans should read it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xVUJNEDpEkg

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l_LNWsVu7qQ

 

Advertising Agency + Vine = Valenvine

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ValenvineI’ve been writing about how advertising agencies could use Vine as a business development tool. Been waiting to see just one agency get on this relatively easy to use bandwagon. Well, the folks at @redsquareagency just sent me to their Valenvine micro-site. I have to assume that they had this up awhile ago. Check it out….

IDL Worldwide & Best Ad Agency Sign

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logo-idlOne could argue that coming up with recognition for “Best Agency Sign” is not that relevant to the ad business. But, IDL Worldwide, as they say on Twitter: “@IDLWorldwide. Brand in Real Life”, is about experiences. To kinda prove the point to people walking through Portland’s trendy North Park Blocks (I say trendy just to piss off Portland folks) that IDL lives up to “real life”, they have a Working / Playing neon sign over their front door.

Since sizable crowds walk by the agency during Portland’s First Thursday Art Walk, the agency proudly declares PLAYING while serving free beers to people who come into see IDL’s art show.

So, what I dig is that they are living and declaring the agency’s stated mantra and reason for being.

Here is their neon sign which changes from…

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