The creative gang bang. Don’t fret, it is nothing that would land me in a sexual harassment lawsuit. It is a Darwinian approach, common at most agencies, where the best work rises to the top through creative team (writer/art director) competition. Only now, with the proliferation of the internet, the concept is going global. Clients can post their creative brief and creatives do the assignment pro bono hoping they can win a grand or so for their time and effort. Is this a good idea? For a one-off, perhaps. Or for clients who have no relative brand identity. Or for clients that burn through agencies because they hate trusting anyone besides themselves. But while a former art director partner of mine is worried about the ramifications of such trends, this creative director is not. Great work comes from great relationships. Shared passion for the brand. Greater insight working together from strategy to focus groups to production. I would think clients would want an agency who was 100% invested and cared about the work working, the phone ringing, the web hits rising. And I’m glad I work at that kind of agency. So if you want to work with us, we’ll pitch you some great ideas. But we won’t pitch them through the internet.

What kind of marketing partner do you want?

A while ago a group of my friends and I started a Monday tradition, Michigan Mexi Monday, or M3 for short.  It’s something we all have in common – a love for Michigan and Mexican food. 

Basically whoever hosts the dinner has to spend $10 of the grocery bill on Michigan products. 

We were inspired by an article on mlive that talked about the need to keep Michigan money in MI.  The Michigan Department of Agriculture chief was quoted within the article saying, “If every Michigan household spent just $10 of their weekly grocery budget on local foods, we would keep more than $37 million each week circulating within the state.”  Yes, you read that right, $37 million each WEEK. 

I’m also trying to incorporate the buy local idea into our company.  We just signed up for a local farm share program and anytime possible we use vendors and materials made here.  But I need more ideas - what are you or your company doing to keep money in Michigan?

Speaking of - if you are in the market for a local ad agency, I know just the place ; )

For the Mexican city of Puebla, victory is sweet. And 147 years later, the celebration is still going and has extended to the United States. An excuse to indulge in margaritas, mariachi and mole? I’m there.

So are both offices of Brogan & Partners. Today each office will celebrate this victory with Cinco de Mayo festivities. The celebrations will culminate in a toast that is virtually shared by both offices.

Whether you’re celebrating with co-workers, family, friends or even by yourself, here are five great ways to celebrate Cinco de Mayo like it’s 2009.

1.) Organize a Piñata Contest – Everyone could use a little stress relief these days, and what better way to get out those pent up frustrations than on a candy-filled paper mache donkey?

2.) Indulge in Margarita Madness – Invite some of your more festive friends over for a make your own margarita bar. Flavors abound, and what better day to sample a few? For a little extra fun, check out margaritas by sign and try the signature drink for your sign. Hypnotiq Margarita, anyone?

3.) Feel the beat of Mariachi Music – Head over to a local restaurant or venue to enjoy one of the finer aspects of Mexican culture—mariachi. While the origin of the word is still being debated by musicologists and folklorists, there’s no denying this cultural revolution encompasses the best of Mexican music and traditional dress of charro suites.

4.) Concoct a Culinary Delight – On Cinco de Mayo, skip the traditional taco, enchilada or quesadilla. Instead make an authentic dish from Puebla.

5.) Create a Masterpiece – Spark your creative side and make some decorations for the day. Papel picado (pah-pell pee-ka-doh) is a traditional Mexican art form. Create your own papel picado by cutting detailed patterns into brightly colored tissue paper. Animals and flowers are popular patterns. This just begs for some leopards hanging around the agency.

Let the fiesta begin. Do you have any creative ways to celebrate Cinco de Mayo? Any favorite Mexican recipes? Send any suggestions (and guac) our way.

There are few things closer to my heart than college basketball. In college, I studied abroad in Australia and spent many afternoons skipping the beach to watch games on my computer instead. And I vowed never to leave the country in the spring again. You get the idea … I’m an avid fan. Being a UNC alum, I follow the Tar Heels religiously, watching as many games as my cable plan will allow. And I am not a minority … every Tar Heel fan I know is just as obsessed.

So when one of our agency partners, Scott Werner, suggested we make a wager on this year’s NCAA championship game between Carolina and Michigan State, Brogan’s North Carolina office said, “Bring it on!” We know our team’s abilities, we know what happened at Ford Field on December 3, 2008, and most importantly, we always back Roy and the Heels. The stakes: the losing office had to dress in the opposing team’s apparel while munching on that state’s most famous cuisine and donate a basket of goods to a shelter of the winner’s choosing. The results: Duh. The Heels trampled the Spartans, and our Birmingham, MI office donned Carolina blue while enjoying some North Carolina BBQ and Cheerwine. That doesn’t sound like they lost much, does it? Yeah, we don’t think so either.

Marcie Brogan’s age-old philosophy: happy employees are productive employees, which in-turn results into good work and happy clients.  But the state of our economy is in and layoffs happening throughout most Michigan companies, it seems hard to imagine offering any perks. But really, this is the time that most employees need the extra boost.
So, what are some ideas to keep your employees walking in with a smile each day? 
Here are some of my favorite Brogan ways:

1. Dogs: who doesn’t love a dog?  Every day I bring my furry friend, Mac in with me.  He thinks it’s his job to walk up and down the hallway and greet each person with a little tail wag (I’m sure all of the treats he receives is payment enough for him). 
2. Music: It’s one of my favorite perks – Bruce Springstein always brightens my day.
3. Exercise: Although I’m a bit lazy, some of us work-out during the lunch hour.  Employees bring in workout videos, take walks, or lead classes.  Those with kids love it because it’s one less thing they have to think about after work.
4. Agency breakfast: Everyone loves food – period.  So, we have a monthly agency hosted breakfast, to supply fuel for our brains : )
5. Group activities: Anytime I (or a co-worker) sees a good networking event that would be FUN for all, we try to get each other involved.  It gives us a chance to chat out of the office, have some laughs, and meet hockey players!

What is your company doing to keep employees up in this economy?  Share your ideas – so I can copy them and perhaps others can implement them. 

Want more ideas – read this article - it’s a great starting point:

http://www.ehow.com/how_4820999_improve-employee-morale.html

Oh my, I just read a blog about President elect Obama having to give up his beloved Blackberry.  National security says that the Blackberry is a no-no.  And think about how it would look to have the leader of the free world in an important meeting with fellow leaders and sneaking peeks at that irresistable little device.  I guess it is yet another sacrifice he will be making for us. 

Check out the blog at www.cioinsight.com

Could YOU give up your Blackberry?  Do you think that there are security issues that affect YOUR business created by Blackberry use?  What policies are in place with your company for Blackberry use?   And the MOST PRESSING INQUIRY:

What is YOUR most embarrassing Blackberry moment?  Come on, spill.  I know someone out there has checked their Berry at an inopportune time or walked into a wall while texting.  No prize for the best story, just the glory. 

Because you get the same level of passion, without all the crazy…

And yes, of course, I’m joking. This is just a funny spoof called “A few good creative men” featuring Jack Nicholson and Tom Cruise. Should be humorous to those in the advertising business… Hope you enjoyed.

It’s almost as fun as the ad agency spoof on It’s a Wonderful Life we had at the holidays.

We bought a great new building here in Cary, NC (between Raleigh and Durham) back in June of 2007. Apparently the prior owners felt no need to tell people where they were, so there was no signage.

Do you have any idea how hard it is to get a sign installed in Cary? (It ain’t easy, from finding a sign maker to even give you an estimate to getting the concrete base made…) But for all of you who have driven around for 15 minutes before finding our new digs, so sorry. This should help all future visitors, eh?

Still looking for us? You can find us right here on Google Maps, too.

Employee retention is a key issue for all companies.  It is important to plan for turnover pressures and consider implementing a formal employee retention program. 

Why is employee retention a hot topic for 2008?

- Gen-X, Gen-Y and Millennials are a mobile group.  According to a survey by Manpower subsidiary Right Management in 2007, 61 % of college students and recent grads plan to stay no more than three years in their first job.

- Boomers are starting to retire.  The huge loss of knowledge workers forcasts a potential shortfall in 2010 of 10 million workers by the Labor Bureau.

 The Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates the cost to replace a worker in private industry to be $13,996.  Add on the that the value of lost knowledge and we’re talking real money.

Finally, consider this issue from a MARKETING point of view.  Employee retention should be a critically important issue for any company’s marketing plan.  Simply stated, employees are (or at least, should be) any company’s number one brand ambassadors.  Every single employee of a company is an invaluable marketing asset, growing in value each year they are with a company.  Employee turnover is MORE than an administrative cost.  Employee turnover literally drains a company’s marketing budget.   Now, that’s an attention-getting concept.

So, plan to deal with the factors affecting turnover in the near future.  Talk with Boomers who may be considering retirement soon.  Develop plans to allow these valuable workers to move into new roles, where their knowledge, ambassadorship and mentoring skills can be utilized in flexible and mutually satisfying arrangements.  Recognize what is important to Gen-X, Gen-Y and Millennials; develop a culture of recognition and appreciation, offer work-life balance,  involve workers in decision-making and be sure to schedule and budget just plain FUN. Check out www.EmployeeRetentionStrategies.com for more information.    Forward this to your Marketing Director and tell her/him that you want part of the company’s marketing budget to go towards employee retention!  It all about marketing!

Are you celebrating your employees or encouraging them to bury themselves in their work and their heads in the sand? 

As an advertising, marketing and PR firm, anything to do with branding is of deep interest to us.  The concepts of “personal branding” and “employee branding” are being talked about more and more lately.  The interest in career coaching has made “personal brand coaching” something that professionals are looking at.

How can companies support and encourage this interest?  What is in it for a company?   Here are some ideas and suggestions:

1. Embracing personal brands as part of your company culture can help build your business and your productivity. 
2. Encouraging, recognizing and deploying individual skills and talents creates positive energy
3. Actively committing to creating a culture of mutual respect and celebration allow employees to more fully contribute

How to encourage personal brands?

1. Suggest that employees create personal brand statements— who are they, what do they stand for?
2. Instead of nameplates, how about encouraging employees to post pictures of themselves?
3. Encourage employees to create their own branded secondary titles, branded email signatures, voicemail messages.

Celebrate the individuals who power your organization, celebrate and develop their individual strengths and abilities.  In the end, people do business with both a company and the wonderful individuals who are a part of it!  Power to the BRAND!

Brogan & Partners may be a great advertising agency, but I sure am not going to try to sell you a $2,288 manicure.  Nor did I ever pay that for one.  But I am going to tell you why manicures are worth that to me.   I am talking employee turnover.  Something we work hard at managing. 

So what do manicures have to do with this?  And why $2,288?  One can calculate the cost of employee turnover using some handy dandy calculation tools available on the Internet - www.uxex.edu/CES/cced/economies/turn.cfm - is one.  Adding up the costs associated with turnover can add up in the thousands. A sample calculation shows the cost of one departed employee is $2,288.  Some writers will even say that the cost of turnover is 150% of the employee’s salary… averaging $75,000!  Can something like a company-paid weekly manicure impact this cost?  You bet it can!

Believe me, workers are not so naive as to accept a paid manicure in lieu of superior benefits and competitive pay.  They are, however, keenly attuned to a workplace that respects and appreciates their time.  It ain’t the $15 we pay for an on-site manicure, it’s the fact that we are giving our valued staff (men and women!) the gift of time.   It is more than the simple act of paying for a manicure, it is a signal to everyone that the agency truly practices what it preaches— “Creativity At Work” — that’s our themeline and it goes beyond being a creative organization and creating smart and effective marketing and advertising.  We are creative in our workplace, in our perks and in our expressions of appreciation. 

Our creative perks all work in concert to keep our employee turnover well below 5%— against a national average of  over 12%.  On-site manicures, company-paid out of town weekend mystery trips, paid lunches and other creative perks all let workers know they are valued and respected.   And most important, workers know they are in a supportive organization.  

So the manicure may cost $15 but can be worth $2,288 to our bottomline.  Because an award-winning creative advertising agency runs on the talent, time, creativity and passion of its workers.  And that’s priceless.