Archive for September, 2012

King St. Q&A w/ Chantelle Mowbray

Friday, September 28th, 2012

Chantelle Mowbray is our Senior Talent Manager at SaatchiNY. She’s also a self-described  coffee addict,  determined dreamer and relentless observer. She also harbors ambitions to be a fighter pilot if marrying various celebrities crushes proves impossible.

WHAT DO YOU DO AT SAATCHI & SAATCHI?

WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST JOB?
A circus performer. Perched on Zimba the elephant, I rode around the circus ring in a Peter Pan outfit. Yes, I longed to be Mowgli and yes, this is a true story.

WHAT LED YOU ON THE PATH YOU’RE ON TODAY?
A dream, an unhealthy infatuation with New York, sheer luck, and a little bit of a love story . . .

WHAT ARE YOUR LOVEMARKS?
Tim Tams, Vegemite, Freddo Frog, Helmut Lang, DVF

WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE AD (ALL TIME OR CURRENTLY)?

There’s a few -

IF YOU NEVER HAD TO WORK AGAIN, WHAT WOULD YOU WANT TO DO?
Move everyone I love to Buenos Aires, eat gelato every day, marry Ryan Gosling and have 3 sets of twins

FAVORITE PLACE YOU’VE BEEN TO?
Cappadocia, Turkey. One of the most beautiful places in the world

WHAT’S YOUR MOST PRIZED POSSESSION?
The irreplaceable people in my life.

DO YOU HAVE A FAVORITE YOUTUBE VIDEO?

WHAT’S SOMETHING YOU MAKE REALLY WELL?
Vegemite sandwich . . . the breakfast of champions!  And Lamingtons.  I’m a true, blue Aussie.

WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE LUNCHTIME SPOT NEAR THE OFFICE?
Red Farm – the Pac Man dumplings are dee-licious!

WHAT’S THE BEST MEAL YOU’VE EVER HAD?
A 5 hour tasting menu at Mugaritz in Spain. The sea urchin wasn’t ideal but everything else was delicious. 

WHAT’S YOUR GO TO KARAOKE SONG? (COME ON, WE KNOW YOU HAVE ONE).
Hmm. You can’t judge me for this one.  We Come From a Land Down Under by Men at Work.

IF YOU COULD BE THE WORLD RECORD HOLDER OF ANYTHING, WHAT WOULD IT BE?
Eating an insane amount of watermelon. I’m addicted.

WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE CREATIVE PURSUIT?
Black and white photography. Oh, and I’m mildly obsessed with mid-century modern furniture . . . mildly.

WHAT’S THE LAST GREAT EVENT YOU WENT TO?
The Giants in the Super Bowl.  I’d just touched down on American soil and, to everyone’s disgust, had absolutely no idea what it was.

WHAT’S THE BEST PIECE OF ADVICE YOU HAVE EVER RECEIVED?
‘Today you are you, that is truer than true. There is no one alive who is Youer than You.’ – By my most cherished guru, Dr. Seuss!

WHAT’S YOUR GREATEST NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE STORY?
My grandparents. They met on a dock in London – she was from Italy and he was a Brit. After one week of hopeless romance, he proposed and asked her to sail away to Australia. They spent their first year living in the back of a combi van without heat or running water. They managed to provide their children with an incredible education, and they are still crazy in love after 60 years of marriage.

Category: King St. Q&A, Our People

A Custom Straw

Thursday, September 27th, 2012

In August, Niles Paul (wide receiver for the Washington Redskins) went on record that he was a huge Capri Sun drinker, but that he couldn’t bring the drinks to practice (when he ostensibly needs them the most) because he knew his teammates would steal them.

Hearing of his concerns, the team at Saatchi NY developed a “high-tech, secure juice extraction system” exclusively for him. Namely, we sent him a case of his favorite Capri Sun flavor – Strawberry Kiwi – with all the straws removed. Accompanying it, was what we’re calling a Capri Sun Key – a silver straw inscribed with his name and jersey number.

In the past few weeks the story’s been picked up in a number of places, including Deadspin, The Washington Post and USA Today’s blog. Guess it goes to show that a good, fun idea will always capture the imagination.

 

Category: Creative, New York, Our People, Sports Promotion

Women & Political Leadership

Wednesday, September 26th, 2012

We host a lot of great events in The S Space downstairs, and every once in a while their messages really worth sharing. Such was the case for Monday night’s Women and Political Leadership: Do We Count? – hosted by the US National Committee for UN Women and the New York Women’s Agenda. We sent our own Rachel Ryan to take an inside look at the panel and the screening of “What’s your Point, Honey?” (see the trailer above). Here’s her take on the festivities.

Saatchi NY teamed up with the US National Committee for UN Women and the New York Women’s Agenda  on Monday night to shed some light on women’s leadership, female political representation and gender equality issues. While presenting on the eve of National Voter Registration Day, they also wanted to collectively point out some jarring statistics—namely, that only 20% of eligible women voters in New York City vote in the presidential election (shocking, right?)

They kicked off the evening with a screening of “What’s Your Point, Honey?” (2008)—a film that focuses on seven young women who won the Project 2024 competition launched by The White House Project and CosmoGirl Magazine.  This competition, created to help young girls realize and unleash their potential, provided seven young leaders with internship placements at their dream jobs—including the United Nations, the NFL and even our very own Saatchi & Saatchi (among others)! Aside from following these amazingly driven and determined young women in their internship experiences, it also captures their personal reflections on the challenging roles that family, work, community, faith and culture play in changing societal gender expectations. The larger theme of the film relates to the question of the possibility of a female president back in 2008 along with various perspectives supporting the push for female representation in the US.

The second portion of the evening involved a panel of female powerhouses moderated by the equally passionate TV journalist, Roz Abrams. These women, through their various positions in media, finance, politics and advocacy, have taken a stand to remind women that they count. Though women make up 51% of the world population, we are vastly underrepresented in politics and business.  The panelists did a wonderful job of explaining the challenges women face and the progress we have seen; however, there’s still a lot of work to be done in order to bridge the gender equality gap that exists particularly in the political and corporate world. The final consensus among all panelists was that soon we will surely have a female president—the time will come. It’s not a question of if, but when.

Ladies, even if you don’t want to run for office, you can still be an advocate and vote in the 2012 presidential election. Women make up 51% of the population and they DO count.

Category: Events, New York

Unscruff

Tuesday, September 25th, 2012

The H/H team loves tech brands that push boundaries and offer a smart take on a simple idea. So when Thea Hughes reached out about online shopping site Unscruff, we asked her to offer her take for the gentlemen in the office.

Unscruff is the online shopping equivalent of the ‘Happy Anniversary’ card you keep in your drawer in case you forget the date. It’s the solitary line from a profound (sounding, at least) poem you have committed to memory to make the ladies smile at the bar. Most importantly, it’s your new go-to source for having an excuse to say “Oh this? I just threw this on.”

What we particularly like about Unscruff is that they go beyond the standard “add to your cart” shopping experience, providing you (or your man) with the perfect outfits to start each season. Think of it as the Soho House for style (only affordable and without the pool). I sat down with co-founder of the LA based company Bangaly Kaba to provide some insight into the brand, the idea and their philosophy.

Tell us about the company.
For a lot of women shopping is an event, but for guys it’s more like a chore, so at unscruff we try to make the experience as painless as possible. Customers build an online profile in five minutes, and then they get a personalized box of clothes at the beginning of every season – spring, summer, winter, and fall. We offer free shipping and returns, and guys only pay for the clothes they keep.

We think of ourselves as a ‘wingman for personal style,’ and like any good wingman our job is to help guys look good and get the girl. Or at least keep the one they already have…

What makes unscruff different from other brands/services out there?
At the end of the day, we’re not a trend-driven fashion company. unscruff is all about making guys’ lives better and getting them clothes that fit their style preferences. We want to help guys look and feel good at a price that won’t lethally wound their wallet.

We also work exclusively with cool, boutique brands continuously scouting new labels that are unique and difficult to find in major department stores. So, you’ll never show up at an event or a bar wearing the same thing as the guy next to you.

Why is unscruff so irresistible?
Like I said, the average guy hates shopping. We help them spend less time shopping and more time doing what they love. We only work with brands where value is really apparent and the quality is excellent. unscruff also focuses a lot of time and effort on customer service. We want to deliver guys practical style advice that they usually only get from a girlfriend or significant other (but of course without all the emotional drama).

What’s the most challenging thing about building a brand from scratch?
Building a brand from scratch is all-consuming in so many ways. You have so much invested in it, and you want more than anything for it to be successful. Making decisions, even smaller ones, can be challenging because so much is riding on every decision, like your money, your time, and the satisfaction of your customers.

Starting out, you’re an underdog and it is difficult to get people to discover you or understand what you’re all about. We have a small but passionate following right now and that’s okay with us. We’d rather have fans that interact with us on a daily basis than thousands of dormant fans.

We really enjoy interacting with our members and fans. Its probably one of the best perks of the job hearing what people think about clothes and style and how unscruff has affected their lives. So don’t be shy to give us a shout-out – we have been known to send some swag for awesome customers that tweet, Facebook and email us. Just saying.

Category: Digital & Interactive, Retail & Shopping

Saatchi7x7.com

Monday, September 24th, 2012

If you haven’t heard, we’re hosting 7×7: 6th Edition next Thursday (Oct. 4th) at 5PM at BB Kings Times Square. The event is an official Advertising Week engagement, which means in order to reserve your seat you’ll need a delegate badge (which you can get here) OR, if you’re a Saatchi NY employee, we’re building our own guest list. If you’d like to be added to said list, please send your contact details here.

To promote all of this excitement, some of our creatives have designed and built this lovely micro-site, which you should go to right this second and check out and then send to all of your friends and family. See you on the 4th!

Category: Events, New York

King St. Q&A w/ Matt Mauriello

Friday, September 21st, 2012

Matt Mauriello is a Management Supervisor at SaatchiNY.

WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST JOB?
I started out as a camp counselor where my favorite pastimes included Kids vs. Counselors dodge ball and silent ball.

WHAT LED YOU ON THE PATH YOU’RE ON TODAY?
A willingness to continue to try new things and get out of my comfort zone. No two assignments are ever the same in this industry, so you have to learn what you can from each experience and use that to continue to grow.

WHAT ARE YOUR LOVEMARKS?
Nike, Target, ESPN and Magic Hat beer

WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE AD (ALL TIME OR CURRENTLY)?
I’ve never seen an advertising campaign transform a brand like the ‘This is Sports Center’ campaign for ESPN. In particular, the ‘Y2K’ spot with Charlie Steiner, the ‘Manning Family Tour’ and even the most recent John Clayton spot rank up there as some of my faves.

IF YOU NEVER HAD TO WORK AGAIN, WHAT WOULD YOU WANT TO DO?
Can I assume because I’m not working I have a lot of money? Because then it would be traveling the world with my family, playing golf and gorging myself on the local delicacies. I’d also learn how to nap. I’ve never been able to sit still and I think I’d finally have the time.

FAVORITE PLACE YOU’VE BEEN TO?
We spent our Honeymoon in South Africa. What an amazing country. Cape Town, Stellenbosch, Great White Shark Diving in Hermanus and Safari in the Eastern Cape. Zoos just aren’t the same anymore…

WHAT’S YOUR MOST PRIZED POSSESSION?
That would definitely be our English Bulldog, Georgia (pictured above). She’s not even a possession- she’s a family member. And a family member that has total control over our household.

DO YOU HAVE A FAVORITE YOUTUBE VIDEO?
‘Between Two Ferns with Zach Galifianakis.  I celebrate the entire catalogue.

WHAT’S SOMETHING YOU MAKE REALLY WELL?
I make a mean stuffed pork tenderloin. Anytime you tell someone you stuffed something inside of meat, it always elicits a groan. Then you tell them you stuffed bacon and cheese inside of it, and you have them hook, line and sinker.

WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE COLD-WEATHER NYC ACTIVITY?
There’s a basketball court near our apartment that’s fenced in. When it snows, we bring Georgia over there with her favorite ball. Watching her sprint for the ball and then stop to eat snow get us every time. Plus it tires her out, so when we get home she’s good for sleeping straight through to the next day.

WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE LUNCHTIME SPOT NEAR THE OFFICE?
I don’t know if everyone realizes the caliber of sandwich shops around our office. Better Being Underground has the St Luke, Alidoro has fantastic Italian sandwiches. But, nothing compares to M&O Deli on Fresh Turkey day. The Turkey BLT is the best sandwich I’ve ever eaten.

WHAT’S YOUR GO TO KARAOKE SONG? (COME ON, WE KNOW YOU HAVE ONE).
I’m a product of the 80s and I still firmly believe that decade produced the best karaoke music. If I had to pick one it’s ‘Glory Days’ by Bruce Springsteen.

WHAT’S THE BEST MEAL YOU’VE EVER HAD?
This is a tie, yet both restaurants are on the complete opposite ends of the spectrum. I had a fancy pants dinner at Per Se that was food like I’ve never tasted it before. But, I also had the best BBQ of my life at the Salt Lick outside of Austin, Texas. It’s a BYO so we rolled up with a cooler of beers and bottle of bourbon and ate until we said ‘uncle’.

IF YOU COULD BE THE WORLD RECORD HOLDER OF ANYTHING, WHAT WOULD IT BE?
I’d love to be the guy that flips the largest omelet ever made.

WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE CREATIVE PURSUIT?
It has to be cooking. What started out as tailgating before Giants games has evolved into hosting family holidays. I like trying new things, but also perfecting dishes I’ve been making for years.

WHAT BLOGS/MAGAZINES/BOOKS/PAPERS/WEBSITES CAN YOU NOT LIVE WITHOUT?
As you can see by some of my postings above, sports is a huge part of my life. So, sites like ESPN.com, Grantland.com and Deadspin.com rank up there pretty high for me. My other passion is food, so foodnetwork.com is a constant source of new recipes. I also never leave the house without my Kindle. I prefer books to magazines, websites, etc.

WHAT’S THE LAST GREAT EVENT YOU WENT TO?
Black Keys at Madison Square Garden

WHAT’S THE BEST PIECE OF ADVICE YOU’VE EVER RECEIVED?
It’s advertising, not heart surgery. Nobody ever died because you made a mistake. Learn from it and move on.

WHAT’S YOUR GREATEST NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE STORY?
Shooting straight through the night for two nights in the California desert with the sounds of rattlesnakes and spiders the size of business cards (see actual proof below).

On the last night getting back to my hotel at 6:30am, only to have an  8:30 wake-up call  to catch an 11AM flight to Austin to walk right into my next pre-pro and then shoot for two more days in the 110 degree heat.

Category: King St. Q&A

(Em)Power Breakfast

Thursday, September 20th, 2012

We’d like to take a minute to congratulate  our Worldwide CEO Kevin Roberts, who is set to be honored at tomorrow morning’s The Young Women’s Leadership Network Annual (Em)Power Breakfast. And he’s certainly in good company, the TYWLN will also be honoring Editor-in-Chief for Newsweek/Daily Beast Tina Brown, Gilt Croupe’s Chairman Susan Lye and Ann Shoket, Editor-in-Chief for Seventeen.

If The Young Women’s Leadership Network sounds familiar, it’s likely because SaatchiNY hosted students from one for their local schools just a few months ago. Also, our very own Gina Chrstie is set to receive an ADCOLOR Award later this year for her work with the organization.

Long story short, it’s a great organization and we couldn’t be more pleased to have a relationship with them. Congrats to Kevin, whose work with TYWLN definitely merits “The man We Love Award” he’ll be receiving tomorrow morning at the Pierre Hotel.

Category: Awards, Lovemarks, Our People

A Snack-tastic Emmy

Wednesday, September 19th, 2012

As you can see from the above video, the folks at Jimmy Fallon (and Nancy Pelosi) really like Fruit Snacks (the fun starts at the 1:30 mark). It just so happens that the team at SaatchiNY also really love us some Jimmy Fallon. So, when we heard about he-who-slow-jams-the-news’ love for our client, we decided to pull a Jeremy Lin and make him something nice for his office.

The results? this life sized replica of an Emmy constructed completely from fruit snacks:

Shortly after he received it, he tweeted a photo for the world to see . . .

. . . and we hope that the rest is history. To air on the safe side, we’d like to remind Mr. Fallon that though delicious in appearance, this particular award isn’t edible due to the glue that binds. We’ll work on that for the next one.

Category: Creative, New York, Our People