At last there is some light at the end of the tunnel or at least that is my interpretation of an article which appeared in The Drum quoting Crown Paints Marketing Director, Liz Hickson.
Liz predicts that larger brands will start looking for support from regional marketing agencies, rather than just focusing on London based teams.
It has long been a bone of contention with me that people believe you are unable to deliver exceptional results if you are based anywhere but London or don’t have ‘an office’ there. Let’s be honest, many of the agencies professing to have a base in London either go down there once a month and sit in a friends back bedroom or have a phone line, which diverts to wherever they are really located. A little pointless if you ask me.
When I left university we were told in no uncertain terms that for the best jobs you would have to relocate to the South. As a typical Yorkshire lass and not one who will be told to move to build a career I decided otherwise and so far don’t think I’ve done such a bad job of providing that theory misguided if not completely wrong.
It’s great to hear that brands like Crown are looking for regional support from competent agencies and long may it continue. Those based ‘up North’ are just as able to liaise and engage with the media as those based in London and if the truth be known it can take as long to get from one side of the big smoke to the other as it can to jump on a train in Wakefield and be door to door within two hours.
I think it’s time that more companies recognised agencies for their credentials not their postcode. Not only can smaller and regionally based agencies offer better value for money but they have exactly the same skill sets as those in larger London based businesses. Simply put your location does not determine your ability to achieve results and the sooner that this is widely recognised the better.