Question 1

Do you cut corners in order to live up to your name?

Accepted Answer

No - we cut flab and waste. We don't believe in meetings about meetings and we're pragmatic in our evaluation of what your brand needs.

We ask 'Why?' a lot when we first meet. It saves so much time later on.

Question 2

Why have I never heard of you?

Accepted Answer

Because we only work on a handful of accounts at any one time. We don't bite off more than we can chew and we enjoy time off.

We tend to enjoy long term relationships with clients as they like the fact we are both creative, get results and are agile. In 25 Years we've only worked on 20 or so brands.

Question 3

You're only small - that has to be a bad thing for an agency, right?

Accepted Answer

Well Unilever and Heineken don't seem to think so. We're approved vendors for both. We're deliberately small so we can react to changing market forces nimbly.

We have no desire to grow for the sake of growth. We love our work and as long as the bills are paid and we can afford a holiday every so often, that suits us fine.

Question 4

How do you cope with big projects? Who does the work?

Accepted Answer

We have a very talented collective of global freelancers who are experts in a very specific niche areas - such as Web Database Development.

It's taken the best part of 20 years to build up "the best little black book" in the business.

Yes they are often in developing countries: But that means we can turn a modest profit and still give you prices that make your budget work harder and last longer.

Question 5

So who's Steve and what does he do?

Accepted Answer

I'm Steve and I have 35 years experience in agencies. I started the business in the year 2002: My core role is to look over a situation and come up with a 'big idea' that has plenty of legs. So I develop the core idea/s and how things are going to look.

Then I'll pass off the complicated stuff to a roster of tried, tested and trusted global freelancers. But like the head chef at a Michelin starred restaurant, I am always 'at the pass' and nothing that goes out goes anywhere without me signing it off personally.

You always deal with me - not a junior account handler.

Question 6

What do you actually believe in?

Accepted Answer

Steve again: I believe that there is currently too much reliance on algorithms and an obsession with collecting data to the point where very few people actually know what to do with it.

Also, many times that feathered creature in front of you with a long yellow bill is actually a duck after all. I come from a time before Macs, before the Internet, before AI.

We managed OK then and we still do very well to this day.

Question 7

You're based in a village up north - why?

Accepted Answer

I was working from home before it was cool. I continue to do so because it's wonderfully quiet and I think a lot more clearly here than I would do frazzled by a 60 minute commute into Manchester so I could have a "proper office".

Covid threw everybody a curve ball, but I just carried on like nothing happened. (Apart from the fact that I had to seriously diversify into some hitherto unknown sectors.)

Question 8

I'm involved in a very niche sector that you don't work in? How could you possibly help me?

Accepted Answer

You would be surprised. If you agree that it's easy to understand any business if your homework is solid, it's often a breath of fresh air for all concerned to work with us.

We'll come at things from a different angle - and as always, it pays to stand out - especially in a complicated marketplace.

Our clients in engineering - which we knew VERY little about before we began working in the sector - appreciate our ability to find real world analogies that make instant sense.

We 'shine a light on your value' in new ways. And as Einstein said "the definition of insanity is to keep doing the same things and expect different results."

You have literally nothing to lose in talking to us.

Question 9

You seem to do a lot of different types of work - a "Jack of all trades" springs to mind..?

Accepted Answer

Nothing could be further from the truth. Over 35 years we've been in a position to take on new aspects of the overall marketing mix and we've excelled at them all.

Often this happens: We get brought in to do a very specific thing: We do it well and the client asks "can you also do (X)?" 95% of the time, we say yes.

We don't do PR (it's as much about who you know as what you know.) Believe me, if we couldn't do whatever it is that you need, we wouldn't pitch for it in the first place.

Question 10

You're not local to us - that's a problem, right?

Accepted Answer

Not at all. We've worked with clients in The Netherlands, China and Germany. Too many to mention in London. I've always travelled for business, since I was learning the ropes in 1989.

It's 3 hours door to door from our local station to Euston and another hour to get pretty much anywhere in London.

Whether you choose us or not, don't be at all influenced by location when choosing someone to deliver growth.

Question 11

I'm only a small company - how much do you charge? Can I afford you?

Accepted Answer

There are many ways we can work together. For small SME's with a one-person / small marketing team, I offer a consultancy which takes 2 days at your place.

In this scenario I'll explain what you should do and how to do it. A level up from that is I'll train you how to use freelance resources to do it 'partly in house' for less.

Finally - we can do it all for you. If 'the big idea' is solid, you can benefit from any of these three levels. And we do GREAT ideas that get results.