IDEAWORKS GETS WAREHOUSE STATIONERY BUSINESS FROM DDB WITHOUT A PITCH
Idea Works has been appointed to handle Warehouse Stationery without a pitch, taking the business from incumbent DDB -- who still retain the bulk of the Warehouse account.
The win, one of the biggest retail accounts to move in recent times, will provide a significant platform for Idea Works growth in the NZ market. “It’s a testament to the great credentials, knowledge and perseverance of the Idea Works team”, says Lindy Shuttleworth, GM of Idea Works NZ.
Warehouse Stationery is NZ leading stationery retailer with 43 stores and an annual turnover of $200 million.
Juanita te Rito, Warehouse Stationery GM - Marketing and Property said the company had sought out Idea Works to discuss the opportunities of a partnership based on the extremely successful work the agency had taken to market for businesses such as Big W and SuperCheap Auto in Australia.
“Idea Works has demonstrated experience and expertise in bringing retail brands to life. They live and breathe retail and have a very strong commercial understanding of what makes retail tick.
“Our move to Idea Works is very exciting – as they are so much more than an advertising agency. Idea Works will partner with us on a host of strategic initiatives from brand positioning, business planning, network planning, communications strategies and environmental design.”
posted by CB at 1/15/2008 12:50:00 pm
98 Comments:
I think we may see a bit of a domino affect here
people,warehouse stationery, is it Lotto next ?
Not surprising when you looked at the tripe DDB was serving up as so called top retail creative , it was graphically, strategically utter rubbish,poorly,
poorley executed.
4:07 pm NZDT
yes, very poorley.
Muppet.
4:44 pm NZDT
Hello 4.07. Come down in the last shower did we? Accounts in this business come and go, that's the business we're in. Personally, I just think 'poorley' of the people who don't remember that. He who laughs loudest usually loses the next one. So don't laugh too loud. And no, I don't work at DDB, nor do I want to. Just professional enough not to try rubbing it in. Now go do some work.
6:11 pm NZDT
Interesting to see Ideaworks popping up in this market, this time reasonably significantly. They've done some good creative work in Oz. Not "poorley" executed either.
6:19 pm NZDT
Doesn't leave much meat in the Warehouse account now they've taken TVP off of DDB too. Disagree with previous about Lotto though. That pimp my Jag is some nice work.
8:38 pm NZDT
No creative pitch,like handing candy to a baby,
shame on you DDB,obviously nobody was watching where the ball was bouncing,Juanita is a smart cookie and wouldn't put up with sub standard work from her agency,and is it me or do you all like that voice over for The Warehouse,god he sounds so lily livered,man this is retail,go for somebody with 2 balls. really
come on Toby !,oh sorry you are a brand man.
9:22 pm NZDT
I would imagine the main reason for the move is $$$. Warehouse Stationery haven't got much and Idea Works will be cheaper than DDB.
Having just looked at Idea Works website yes, they do more than some advertising agencies, they just don't do it any of it very well.
And 4.07 if the DDB work was all those things you say then Juanita isn't the smart cookie some people think she is.
9:37 pm NZDT
9:37 I would imagine the main reason for the move is to get a bigger and more specialist retail offer, just like the press release says. Let's be honest here. That's not DDB. Why is there always a conspiracy theory? Maybe they just couldn't do what was requried and Ideaworks can. And who even cares? Now I'm going back to work.
8:12 am NZDT
Sorry Mum 6:11 I just can't help myself.But it certainly has brought out a lot of DDB in defence of their company so ya gotta give them credit for that.
9:53 am NZDT
Interesting to see Ideaworks popping up ... They've done some good creative work in Oz.
Bullshit. Name ONE thing.
10:06 am NZDT
Warehouse Stationary has no money. End of story. They would be better off doing there own work themselves.
When your retail price offer is so thin you are better off banging out the cheapest advertising you can do and get hold of.
The Warehouse will admit that they were fools to set this brand up. Waste of time. Suprised it has not been folded back into The Warehouse main stores.
The Warehouse will go through a rough patch in the next few years. Will be brought out by Christmas. No room to grow so will flat line.
No loss to DDB. Better off without it. They better off focusing on what they do well.
10:08 am NZDT
The Warehouse has a business strategy/goal of reducing external costs by 10% per year.
That explains also explains the move.
I've never been to a Warehouse Stationary place.
But then again, I work in a paperless office. Or so it says on this piece of paper.
10:09 am NZDT
But I thought that people always stole Stationery from agencies. Boring yet another pointless story about DDB.
11:59 am NZDT
The facts are simple -
The Warehouse Stationery didn't like the work that had being produced.
DDB are a big agency, so meaning large overheads making them expensive.
DDB also are not a retail agency and don't have the ability to produce effective work that makes money. Do they have a retail department?
From what I've seen The Warehouse is also just re-running it's old ads, so how long before they seek a cheaper option?
Answer stick to doing the brand work that you do well and gets people to talk. If not always for the right reason on the blog.
12:11 pm NZDT
pffffttt they change agencies like some of you change your undies...once a year!
12:14 pm NZDT
How comes when ever there is a story about DDB it always gets hammered. I work at DDB and can hold my hand up to say, it's a truely great place to work when you look at the options out there. We have a Great CEO a World class ECD and the best creative talent in the country. Client come and go all the time, so what. I'd like to see another agency put there work up and say it's great retail and they would be proud to get a job with it. Kim does a great job with some very difficult and testing clients in retail and The Warehouse has had a great Christmas. I think you all should take a step back and look what you have produced for your client of late.
12:22 pm NZDT
From where I sit, Kim and the team did a great job on the account after a bad start - as did someone else who we're not allowed to mention. There's only one person who should should take the heat for losing it and he knows who he is.
12:31 pm NZDT
12:22, agree DDB has a great ECD and great creative talent. Top man is Toby. Agree Kim does a great job. As for you poor people with your "difficult and testing clients", bet they'll be pleased to see that's what you think of 'em. Tell you what, if they're too difficult and testing, send 'em our way. As for the rest of your great things at DDB, don' agree at all love, not sure many would.
8:50 pm NZDT
I come from client side and correct me if im wrong but doesn't creative and mailer design come from the creative team not the account service team. With the very tight deadlines that retail has and no strategy from wsl, im sure everyone did their best! Warehouse Stationery is a very difficult account. They have ditched 3 agencies in 3 years! Now on to their fourth. All i say is well done to those who never gave up.
11:04 pm NZDT
is this the first time anyone's lost an account?
7:57 am NZDT
12:14, 12:22, 12:31 DDB must be a bit light of work if you can all sit around blogging and defending your agency...get back to work kids.
10:31 am NZDT
How about DDB pitch for Clown School. There are so many graduates from there that by the way everyone is talking that they'd do great work.
1:31 pm NZDT
At least with scams you don't lose your clients because they haven't paid for the work.
1:32 pm NZDT
DDB is just turning into one big joke. What happened to the glory days guys. Someone took their eye of the ball me thinks.
1:34 pm NZDT
It's a good job the great Bill is not around or he would of closed the place down from what I'm reading.
1:42 pm NZDT
It's a good job the great Bill is not around or he would of closed the place down from what I'm reading.
1:43 pm NZDT
ENOUGH everyone. Client Moving - SLAGGED. Current Agency - SLAGGED. New Agency - SLAGGED. Existing clients - SLAGGED. Account and creative teams - SLAGGED. Anything that moves - SLAGGED. What a terrible forum this is if slagging is all The Bog can do.
8:07 pm NZDT
1.34 & 1.43 care to elucidate?
No? Got no hard evidence or proof for your claims? Then f**k off back to the third rate agencies you work for.
9:51 pm NZDT
Has anyone else caught the rumor about trying to sure up the retail department with in DDB and trying a new direction? There could be life for WRC yet.
9:38 am NZDT
12.11 I agree. DDB are dreaming if they think that the retail world is now saved because of them. Plus now only having one retail client makes it pointless I would say. Stick to doing ads such as the lions spot for Sky boys.
9:43 am NZDT
DDB's my tip for CB NZ agency of the year. (Or will their bleeding client list prevent that?)
10:13 am NZDT
ENOUGH!!!!!!! THIS is disgraceful. Why do we have this fucked up thing called a Blog that taints our industry so badly? And EVERYONE is to blame.EVERYONE. Every agency in town has people on the blog writing crap about another agency and the other agency's people. I'm NOT from DDB and will not defend them, but the bigger picture is that this forum is is FUCKED and you all know it.
12:00 pm NZDT
I've never work for DDB but I always wanted to even at Ad School it as the place to be with paul who really gave us a good talk. But now I've only been working a very short time I really don't think I would like to.
I do think those Lotto car and boat ads are the bomb man, it a sweet ride.
Dan
12:46 pm NZDT
well 10.40 I know who you, the only reason you're still at DDB is that you couldn't get a job any where else me thinks. Still living on past glories and hoping you can get someone to do the hard work for you again. Or am I wrong and the porn TV shit was a new idea as with all the other REAL work that you produce.
12:52 pm NZDT
The ideaworks gm and the warehouse stationery client
met during the Noel Leeming pitch last year.
They 've both since moved into their new roles and wanted to work together. end of story.
that's why there was no pitch instead of mucking ddb and whoever else around.
that's called integrity. in the dictionary you little pricks.
1:09 pm NZDT
Personally if I were the big cheeses at DDB,no not Sandy but The Big "O" I'd be packing my bags earlier than expected and moving back to NZ to try and rescue the Agency from demise. Seems like
moral isn't exactly at it's peak there either.
Clients read this stuff too, I know I wouldn't
be too impressed in what the industry thinks of
the Agency doing my work.
2:37 pm NZDT
Geezzzzz 1:09 talk about striking a raw nerve,if I were you buddy I'd take a serious chill pill
otherwise can't seeing you lasting much longer
in this industry.
3:39 pm NZDT
Sooo, how bout those Aussie Cricketers?
4:26 pm NZDT
I'm 12:00pm. And I mean you too dickhead at 12:52. Why don't you all now just drop it. The Bog and its owner have a lot to answer for allowing this kind of shit for even going onto the site.
5:19 pm NZDT
Kids let's put the gloves away and say good night.
6:36 pm NZDT
All this over a retail piece of business. I'm sure the client is delighted.
8:49 pm NZDT
This blog is tragic. Because DDB is a better agency than it was a year ago and only three or four people who no longer work at DDB did all these postings. Get a life guys.
11:16 pm NZDT
This blog proves that you need to keep a clean nose in the industry as an agency or an individual.
Reading all of this i would say DDB have a lot of people in the industry they have pissed off.
At the end of the day it's your brand and you got to look after it. To many people leaving or asked to leave is a bad look. When Catmur was there, people quite liked DDB, they were a good bunch of people and he gave people a fair go. Is Toby running people up the wrong way there or something? Is Sandy gone bush or something?
Weird if you ask me. Something stinks and smells.
If DDB has got issues get some hr people who can sort things out before you end in a pile of shit like WRC. Didn't they have the same issue? or still do?
Are they still there? Does anyone know?
11:55 pm NZDT
...and the blog reaches a new low. I'm not involved with either agency, but that makes pretty pathetic reading.
Put the toys back in the cot and get a life everyone, you're embarrassing the industry.
2:47 am NZDT
11:55. You can't make an omlette without breaking a few eggs. They happen to be rotten eggs. All the anti-DDB sentiment on this blog isn't coming from within the building. Not now Hendo has gone. All Toby did was do something Catmur should have done years ago.
12:18 pm NZDT
It's impossible to know the state of affairs at DDB or any other agency around town from this blog, for the simple reason that these 50+ comments could be from 50+ individuals, or all from one.
Settle down, bitches, and if any clients ARE reading this (which I highly doubt, and wouldn't recommend), I'm sure they're smart enough to read between the lines just like everyone else is.
9:29 am NZDT
The real thing is that DDB is split - Brand and Retail - Toby does the brand side which is great - winning awards keeping clients happy etc etc... the retail side (which has its own CD) seems to be losing clients and had a mass exiting of retail staff.
Perhaps if the agency REALLY cared about the retail side of their business this wouldn't have happened.
10:04 am NZDT
11:55. Bro, you are so misinformed. All Toby has done is get rid of some dead wood. So I guess Toby will have rubbed some people up - the ones he got rid of. Unfortunately, that dead wood has access to this blog. That's why DDB sounds so bad. It's just a few bitter individuals who make multiple postings. Were things better under Catmur? Maybe you should stop guessing and ask the creatives who have worked for both CD's. Like me. Toby, like him or not (and I really like him) is just trying to do what the big 'O asked him to do. Improve our work. And it's working. Unlike you mate, we work at DDB and we like it there. So stop stirring up all this shit and leave Toby and the rest of us alone.
10:07 am NZDT
Reading this blog makes my nob feel funny.
11:14 am NZDT
11:16, 59 comments from only 3 or 4ex-staffers? You're dreaming. And the comments written by DDB on this blog are the worst by far. Makes 11:55 look like he's on the money.
11:43 am NZDT
I like DDB, I like the people at DDB - I like people at other agencies and I like other agencies. All you potty mouths must have little cocks and stink ass va-ja-jas. Go get laid, have a drink and if ya still miserable, go hang yaself. I highly doubt you'll be missed.
12:46 pm NZDT
http://www.bigkidcollectables.com/catalog/disguisekit.jpg
Now standard issue for all DDB staff. Come on guys is it that bad!!!
2:54 pm NZDT
ROTFLMAF 2:54!!! !!!! Love it.
3:06 pm NZDT
If these comments are reflective of those employed by agencies I'd be surprised if anywhere is good to work at.
I'm very happy in my job as a butcher.
"Kilo of meat miss? A sausage? Got some lovely breasts..."
4:58 pm NZDT
does anyone know who did the new TV2 ad "...feeling..."??
10:04 am NZDT
" Your comment has been saved and will be visible after blog owner approval." - looks like the blog owner has a lot to answer for!
10:07 am NZDT
no one here, we're all too busy slagging each other.
11:46 am NZDT
11:55. When have you ever known of HR people to do an effective job in an agency. They're useless because they're puppets of management.
2:03 pm NZDT
My nob still feels funny. I might go to the doctor and get it checked out.
4:07 pm NZDT
66 comments and counting. Let's go for the ton!
Come on all you shitfighting juniors - share some more of your thoughts.
4:42 pm NZDT
Jeez, why pick on HR 2.03??? You know well as I do its Captain Pugwash here. Master Bates, Seaman Staines, Roger the Cabin Boy. Always some poor sod getting it from them.
7:16 pm NZDT
The doctor's given me some cream for it. I'll keep you posted.
9:11 am NZDT
why can we have shit like that goober on about his cream posted but not me complimenting the HR girl's booty? Huh? It is a fine booty.
1:53 pm NZDT
No update required unless it drops off no-nob, and we don't want to know about the pus oozing stage in between. You're putting me off my sushi roll.
2:33 pm NZDT
Anyone now if DDB have lost any clients this week?
I've just lost something this week, my virginity, yahoooo.
4:56 pm NZDT
******BREAKING NEWS**********
The guy with the nob problems has being giving to the client to keep hold of the business. Now thats loving you agency.
5:00 pm NZDT
Hey 5:00 PM Are you one of the copywriters working at DDB currently ?? just wondering.
Interesting comment though.
5:40 pm NZDT
Only 25 more comments and we'll hit the tonne. Has any other posting got 100? If not, let the Guinness book of fucking records know - wee can do it.
6:23 pm NZDT
6.23 there should be a prize for whoever posts the 100th comment - like a week's work experience at DDB, second prize.. 2 weeks. shit, I'm funny.
8:54 pm NZDT
And everyone please stick to the topic of DDB. The guy with the nob problem is just trying to get everyone looking at his nob instead of DDB. (Betcha he’s got nob breath too. Kinda explains his problem...comprendez vous?)
10:03 pm NZDT
Good morning gentlemen
It is 12.55am and I have an important meeting at 9am. But oh what delight I take in reading this thread.
This is what I think:
I don't know the client but I'm picking as lousy as the work was from DDB (both from a conceptual and executional POV), that she moved agencies based on price and some personal relationship. That's how agencies win new business a lot of the time (even if there was a "pitch").
I'm sure The Warehouse is a tough client - traditionally all those big, high volume chains are but DDB only has itself to blame. Look at the way they've staffed up the team - going for cheap as chips juniors rather than pay good people good money.
I'm moving away from the main point but can the oldies out there remember a worse time for the industry? In my opinion it all flows from the top.
And particularly the choice of CDs. There's the former high flyer who has been largely MIA for the last couple of years, leaving his staff twiddling thumbs aboard a rudderless ship. MDs looking after their mates by hiring them as CDs wherever they go. Absolute hacks leading retail agencies. And the true greats getting out of the industry (or at least trying to).
But more alarmingly, there's the unhealthy, almost severe suit mentality within almost every agency - the one where ideas don't really matter...just so long as they can turn a profit on the job and get it out on time.
I know this is getting more serious but I'm interested in what you others think.
Someone said 100 posts but fuck it lets go for 200! This could be a defining moment in ad blog history!
1:16 am NZDT
Near perfect 1.16. You missed just one thing: the gratuitous and ruthless shafting of people who are good at what they do for the sadistic pleasure and petty ambitions of others who are not good at what they do...they are the true deadwood and rotten eggs, hanging in there like cling-ons out of Star Trek.
9:00 am NZDT
I'm so fucking tired of hearing the constant whinging about how things are so much worse these days and how everyone just wants to post a profit, blah blah blah.
Get out your dusty copies of Bernbach's book, or Gossage, or Paul Arden, or any of those guys from the "glory days" and you'll find they all talk about what a hard job it was getting the great work through.
Those of you who just want to be spoon-fed award winning opportunities and have your first - often ill-thought-out - concepts lauded by suits and clients alike need to wake up and smell the fucking coffee.
It's a hard job to do well. It's always been a hard job to do well. And if you want to be all "creative" and keep moaning about how no one understands you, switch to painting, or poetry, or performance art.
That is all.
9:35 am NZDT
It's Klingons, 9.00AM.
9:36 am NZDT
9.35 You are so on the money. That was the very first intelligent comment I have read on this blog since inception.
10:58 am NZDT
LOL! 9.36. The cling-ons I wrote are those that hang around toilet bowls! I did mean your Klingons though. Thanks for proofreading.
11:28 am NZDT
A rudderless ship?
The one that floats in that Bermudaesque triangle between Miami & the Caymans Squire? at another time children had imagined it'd be the place most worth working at. Silly children.
3:09 pm NZDT
3:09, Can you clarify? Is this a place where people mysteriously vanish like ships in the Bermuda Triangle?
7:39 pm NZDT
Okay, time for a long overdue reality check as we creep ever closer to the magic hundred postings. Warehouse Staionary have had three new marketing directors in the last year. They have changed agencies every year for the last three years. Why? Because of some ruthless search for creative nirvana? Of course not. They have always done shit brochures and always will. The wanted to shift this time because of the work that Idea Works have done in Australia for Super Cheap Autos. Have you seen the work that she refers to? There's a clue in the title of that client. And that is the reason DDB lost Warehouse Stationary. And to all you doubters, DDB is not a sinking ship. It's just not very good at doing 'super cheap' retail. And long may that continue.
6:28 am NZDT
Thanks for the clarification DDB. Seem to recall a press release of yours singing from the rooftops when you won it without a pitch too. So if you weren't good at doing super cheap retail, why did you go after it in the first place? Let's see, could it be THE MONEY????!!!! Amazing how agencies can afford to have a whole lot more creative integrity AFTER losing an account. Why not just take it on the chin instead of knocking the client?
8:56 am NZDT
Good call. You should have said that about 80 posts ago and I wouldn't have had to read through all that shit.
9:12 am NZDT
"And to all you doubters, DDB is not a sinking ship. It's just not very good at doing 'super cheap' retail. And long may that continue." Holy schmoly 6.28. Big admission to the rest of your retail clients. I guess that means you're ok about us pitching for the rest of your super cheap retail clients.
10:57 am NZDT
Something disturbing has happened. People are posting thoughtful little essays instead of the usual juvenile mudslinging. A strange and perverse turn of events.
4:55 pm NZDT
How about a summary then lads? Finish off what we started with a snappy little headline.
10:54 pm NZDT
We can't give up now.
5:27 pm NZDT
We can not - WILL NOT - be denied the tonne even of I have to post myself!
9.35 I think you're a bit of a twat though I'm glad to hear things were just as tough in the old days.
Do you honestly think we have the depth of creatives now that we used to in the Saatchi/Generator/etc etc hey day?
Who will do a comparative tally of awards?
12:00 am NZDT
PS Furthermore do you think we're pumpomg out as good work now as what we were say 10 years ago?
PPS i could have mentioned this in the last post but doing my but to get the hundy
12:03 am NZDT
Everything has kinda gone of the original article,
fair to say though that most agencies the size of DDB suck the life blood out it's creatives and
others that make up the agency,not a great industry for sure.
7:26 am NZDT
Is this 100?
11:50 am NZDT
No, this is number 101. My summary plagarises 11.55:
"At the end of the day it's your brand and you've got to look after it. Too many people leaving or asked to leave is a bad look.
Weird if you ask me. Something stinks and smells."
Shit it stinks.
1:38 pm NZDT
Yes 1:38 you are exactly correct,you need to protect your brand, a pity DDB don't understand
that concept,what a pack of dick-shits man,
interseting their other clients reading the Blog,
bet not too impressed what the industry think of them.
3:29 pm NZDT
Something stinks and smells cos a fish rots from the head.
5:08 pm NZDT
YOU BLOODY RIPPERS! WE GOT THE TONNE!!!!!!!!!!! DOES THIS MAKE BLOG HISTORY?
STAND AND RAISE YOUR BAT TO EVERY PART OF THE GROUND. I'M PROUD OF YOU ALL.
9:36 pm NZDT
STANDING RIGHT ALONGSIDE YOU WITH MY BAT TO THE GROUND 9.36.
EVERY ONE OF THE 105 COMMENTS DESERVED.
THE LUNATICS ARE RUNNING THE ASYLUM. OR ARE THEY THE ORGAN GRINDER'S MONKEYS?
5:52 pm NZDT
DDB NEWSFLASH EVERYONE!
What's this we hear? PR leaders DDB are quietly closing down WRC.
Where's the PR on that one from DDB?
They've PRed everything else over the last year including the toilet paper upgrade in the men's bog.
C'mon, don't disappoint us now!
10:14 am NZDT
Don't worry. Movie remake comin' right up. http://imdb.com/title/tt0063442/
12:15 pm NZDT
It's a shame Scottish accents don't show up in the blog writing.
1:19 pm NZDT
12.15, you are a comic genius mate. Funniest joke on the old blog this year. Like it.
7:33 pm NZDT
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