Latest Anonymous "Tip"

“Remember when this blog used to be about advertising? That’s back when it used to be in my Google Reader too.” via anonymous tip form.

“Remember when the crap hit the fan in the Austin advertising world and I was getting anonymous tips all day long most of which were too mean, hateful and just awful to post?” Robert

Hey, Anonymous Tipster… Feel free to share any and all advertising news you might know of that I’m missing. Thanks!

Austin Ad Agency Reviews

I’m starting a new series where I’ll do brief posts on each of the ad agencies in Austin. My list is based on the Austin Business Journal’s 2009 Book of Lists “Advertising Agency” report.

Here’s the list in totality based on gross income as reported by ABJ:
1. GSD&M Idea City
2. T3 – The Think Tank
3. LatinWorks
4. NFusion Group
5. Kolar
6. McGarrah Jessee
7. Avenue A/Razorfish
8. ThinkStreet
9. HC&B Healthcare Communications
10. GamePlan Marketing & Events
11. Lee Tillford
12. IF Marketing & Advertisng
13. MQ&C
14. Sentient Services
15. Door Number 3
16. Persidea Inc
17. Cartis Group
18. The Ampersand Agency
19. Russell/Shaw
20. EnviroMedia
21. Corder Marketing
22. Steel Adverting & Interactive
23. JH&A Advertising
24. DeLaune & Associate
25. Amy Wick Marketing & Communications

Here are the 2008-listed agencies that didn’t make the cut in 2009:

7. Intra-Focus
12. Ad Ventures
13. MDS
21. Makos
23. Lyon Advertising

Here are a few that didn’t make either list, but weren’t sent to me by readers:

Sherry Matthews
Tocquigny
Decoder Ring
Apogee Search

(Thanks to my “traditional media” friend for sending me the 2009 list.)

Austin’s GamePlan – Ad Industry Innovator

Austin and New York based GamePlan, an experiential marketing firm, ran by CEO Tim Hayden was recently named by MarketingHitch.com as an “Ad Industry Innovator”. Congrats to Tim and the GamePlan team!

Ad Industry Innovator # 10: GamePlan

SpringBox Insights

This one came in today via our Anonymous Tip Form:

“In the spirit of trying to focus less on layoff news and other dismal economic conditions, thought I would share a link for the Springbox agency blog/knowledge sharing center called Springbox Insight.

Shameless plug? Yes, but some good reads in there for anyone interested. The team started curating articles a couple of months ago and has had a lot of fun with it. We focus more on external trends and relevant market topics vs internal shenanigans.

Check it out and share with your readers if you think they might be interested (although it might not get as much traffic as a snarkier post).

http://www.springbox.com/insight/“

See, I can post non-snarky or cavalier items too!

More Feedback for Adomatica

I got the best comment ever on this post: I Like Feedback There are several other great comments both is disgust and praise, but this one is worthy of its own post as well as my reply.

Artie – “Fact is, every one of our shops is hurting and real families are struggling mightily. Tonally, this blog is too often snarky and cavalier about that reality. Layoffs are framed only as some sort of agency meat-grinding character flaw vs. the reality of an industry undergoing the worst ad recession since 1981 (by many accounts).”

Adomatica – I’m reporting layoffs just as the business journal or other publication would. I can see how it would take on a cavalier tone due to all the obviously snarky and silly stuff I also post here.

Artie – “The “fuckedcompany” schtick isn’t as cut/dry this time around. You’re painting with an extremely large brush seemingly without much perspective or concern for real people who get spooked by your riffs. You think any of these shops enjoys laying people off? And exactly how many agencies have you run?”

Adomatica – I know these shops don’t enjoy laying people off. I’ve been laid off. I’ve been fired. I’ve been unemployed. The company I currently work for just laid off a double digit percentage of its workforce. What does running an agency have to do with reporting/writing about agencies? I’ve never held public office, but I can still understand politics and have opinions on it.

Artie – “As a VP at one of the shops you crap on regularly (sometimes admittedly for good reason), I can state your feeders, speculating wildly and blindly, aren’t as informed as they think they are.”

Adomatica – Agreed and that is why I always try to be clear about what is fact and what is something I was anonymously told. What I’m doing isn’t totally new. I post what I hear, see, or am told and try to be as open as possible of my sources.

Artie- “Your blog’s tone feeds a sense that all Austin agencies are in chaotic freefall and run by incompetent half-hacks. Clients spot this coverage and begin to think that maybe taking their business to a larger-market shop might be safer. That’s good for nobody. If any of us go down, we all take a hit. Austin is no New York or Chicago and can’t afford the implosion of an Enfatico, Idea City or even a Springbox.”

Adomatica – While causing an “implosion” is obviously not my intention, I am extremely flattered that you think my blog has a reach that its content would actually be a consideration when a company is picking an agency. I frankly post what I hear, see, or am told. I’m also sad that my blog and not an agency’s work and people would cause a possible client to go with another agency.

Artie – “So just maybe just throttle down the layoff revelry just a bit? How about a revolving opportunity for each shop to share with you a recent success story, no matter how much it pains your hipster instincts? It would be a refreshing balance to the often speculative, HR-heavy and smug shit-slinging that’s far too many posts seem to delight in.”

Adomatica – As the PR person/people at (maybe) your agency know(s), I am always open to posting whatever news good or bad that any agency sends me. I would post it as I get it and would only consider any “revolving” spot if/when I was getting too much content, but, as I hope you and your shop knows, bloggers can never get too much content. The squeaky wheel gets the grease, right? This is true on at least two different levels for Adomatica. 1. Agencies that send me news will get posts as long as I think the content is relevant to my readers. 2. I watch my analytics. I get more traffic from a snarky post then from a warm and fuzzy post. I can’t change that fact, but I’m open to posting more feel good and informative items.

I think I know who you are Artie, so please send me an email so that I know who to hug for the great comment at the next party.

All the best, RG

SpringBox Lays Off 8 in Austin

I got numerous anonymous tips this morning telling me that Austin-based interactive ad agency SpringBox has laid off eight in its Austin office and an unknown number in their LA office.

One tipster asks: “Is this management’s idea of exceeding expectations?”

Tocquigny Branches Off to Cookbooks

I have to admit the interface is nice, but, really, a cookbook? I guess one can’t argue that it isn’t digital.

How We Love Food

“Compiled and Illustrated by Yvonne Tocquigny”

“Yvonne Tocquigny put her heart and soul into this wonderful collection of recipes and illustrations. Highlights include Butternut Squash, Rosemary, and Blue Cheese Risotto, Orzo with Shrimp and Veggies and Chocolate-Orange Pots De Creme with Candied Orange Peel.” – Source = Digg

T3 Looks Towards the Future (Part 3)

I LOVE ANONYMOUS TIPSTERS!

This afternoon a kind person emailed me a copy of the “T3 Looks to the Future” video.

Yes, I now have a copy of the removed-from-YouTube video.

Do you want to see it? You’ll have to ask really nice like.

Here are some of my favorite scene stills:

T3 Sets Sights on 2008

I’m really sorry that I did not find this earlier, but the timing could not be better considering:

T3 Looks Towards the Future
&
T3 Looks Towards the Future (Part 2)

I think that the February 2008 video is much more ~enjoyable~ than the one they took down:

T3 Sets Sights on 2008

Please come back here to comment…you know how much I like it when you comment.

T3 Looks Towards the Future (Part 2)

Thanks for sending us these screen shots and for pre-marking them up…you know who you are.