ANA Conference next year

I blogged a few months ago about a conference that the ANA held in Florida earlier this year on Financial Management.  They have sent me a form if you want to register for the 2011 event.  Have a look at the details on their website - ANA Conference.  The agenda looked really good this year so I am sure that 2011 will be just as good, and it is in Arizona this time - beats a London hotel to me any day!.

Send me an email if you want the form to register.

Some great ideas from across the pond

Mentoring - Education and Branding and PR of Marketing Procurement - great food for thought in this Ad Age article - adage.com

A great new ad

I know that this is a procurement blog but occasionally we like a bit of creative.  Here is a outstanding ad that Darren Keff at JWT has done for the Special Olympics - well worth a look (and yes I am biased as he is my cousin - sorry about the plug!) - Special Olympics - Encourage Omar  - http://www.encourageomar.co.uk/.

Some great blogs

....for a reminder of the great creative industry that we work in, here are two blogs that are worth reading -

http://www.ben-kay.com/

http://notvoodoo.blogspot.com/

OFT Outdoor advertising market study

The OFT has launched a study into the UK outdoor advertising market. The scope of the study will include an assessment of whether the payment structure and competition at the various levels of the supply chain is ensuring that advertisers get value for money from outdoor advertising. Further information about the market study can be found at: http://www.oft.gov.uk/OFTwork/markets-work/current/outdoor-advertising/.

They are looking to speak to advertisers that either have deals direct with poster contractors or buy through their media agency.  If anyone would like to contribute to the study, just drop me a line and I can forward you the contact details and the questions that they are looking to ask advertisers.

It's interesting and it is free

For those of you that are interested in all things digital - here is a debate that Haymarket are running that may be of interest (and it is free - always a bonus) - The Big Digital Debate.


The How-do & Creativebrief seminar on Wednesday in Manchester went really well (hello Iain - glad you enjoy reading this).  The subject was 'Getting value from your Marketing Budget'.  The three of us that spoke all gave really interesting perspectives (Marketing @ Umbro, Measurement of the spend from Robert Shaw and then me on getting Procurement involved) and I hope that the people that came along enjoyed and learnt from it as well.  Perhaps they could host another one in London.

Just say no!

I have been working in Korea (hence the radio silence).  A very interesting culture and work environment with some interesting impending cultural and commercial impacts about to happen to the client that I worked out with .  I hope that we have given them enough confidence to face the challenge.

A good Ed's Perspective in this weeks' Campaign about Agencies learning to say no.  It seems (and really not surprising) that agency chiefs are getting frustrated with clients that keep asking for more and for less money, and they are starting to fight back.

I think it is fair if the agency feels that they have been treated unjustly.  Be good to see if there are any high profile and reported cases in the next few months of this happening.  Watch this space!

I missed out on the reporting of the  Sir Philip Green report on cost savings to be made.  Apparently the report was only 32 pages long - well that was a saving in itself !!