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 Sorry to do this to you, but today's story is well, 'serious'. Not serious like cancer, but you know, not funny. Or even fun. Yes, we know that's most unlike us. But the truth is we wrote this very long, very professional piece for our page in The Independent, and seeing as they can't run the whole thing, we thought we'd at least give it a run here.
One of Adelaides largest independent advertising agencies has put plans in place to take their business to the next level. THEM Managing Director Mark Wightman reveals a fair chunk of the agency has been sold to key staff members who have now become Directors of the company. Graphic Designer/Art Director Karen Elborough, Art Director Rob Hutchinson, Graphic Designer Lloyd Weaver and Account Director Steve Dudley, join existing board members Wightman and Creative Director Claus Thrun.
Wightman says the move is key to keeping our good people and taking the business from what he calls an old, traditional, straight down the line, solid, hard working type agency and grow it into a top of the rank creative ideas, strategic agency.
He sees the new structure as a way of keeping the agency going and rewarding our good staff to come through so that were not controlled by interstate or overseas. Were masters of our own destinies. Were South Australian and we can nurture young people coming through.
He believes the changes hes helped make since joining the agency nine years ago mean its already a completely different agency to what it was when I first got here. By initiating a totally different direction and outlook he says from his point of view its a bit of a phoenix. It has actually risen again and we really want to take it up there. While an increased creative profile is definitely something hes keen to pursue, he stresses that wont come at the expense of client relationships. Ive always said Id rather have a pocketful of clients Ive had for long time rather than a wall full of awards and clients youve only kept for six months. Creative will be right up there in the direction we want to go but were not seeking awards. Wed rather say heres the results we got. he explains.
THEMs recent launch work for the Latitude where $27 million worth of apartments were sold in a single day despite the fragile economic outlook is something he was particularly pleased with. That to me is better than picking up an award Wightman confirms.
In an industry renowned for high staff turnover, THEMs team remains remarkable stable. The agency has only lost two staff in 24 months - one who crossed over to the client side and one who moved overseas. Wightman sees a great working environment as critical to attracting and retaining quality staff and to further improve this they are planning a major refurbishment of their Kent Town offices in January. Itll look funky he says, acknowledging the agencys appearance plays an important part in how they are perceived in the marketplace.
Having spent some time on the board of Port Power, Wightman likens a strong agency structure to a football team. Running an agency is no different to running a footy side he says. Your creatives are your forward line. Your account service is your midfield. Youve got your production, media and admin as your backline. Your freelancers are your interchange and your board is your coaching staff. You just have to make sure they all mix in and gel to kick goals.
With all the changes theyre making, 2009 certainly looks set to be an interesting season for THEM. Theyll certainly be hoping to have a better year than Port Power did this year, thats for sure.
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