Crispin Porter + Bogusky - Cover article you might regret?
May 15th, 2006 by Adam
Let’s take a quick test drive over to our “sister/brother” profession of advertising. I sometimes joke that advertising folks pay for their placements while the purer PR hacks get paid to place our clients. It’s apples and aadvarks really, and besides they get paid a boat load more money than we do in PR.
So I’m now openly blog pitching BusinessWeek’s David Kiley and his editors on a new cover story on Woburn’s fastest-growing, clip-producing, strategy-driven, low spam quotient PR firm - Topaz Partners.
Heck if Crispin Porter + Borgusky represents the craziest ad guys in America, then we should get some extensive ink too (or at least some kind blog posts from Steve Rubel, Jeremy Pepper or B.L. Ochman, Matt Galloway, John Cass, Shel Israel or Jim Nail). At the very least Topaz will put on shoes for our cover photo and stay off lame tricycles (Hey, Alex Bogusky get a frigging skateboard, Dude).
David Kiley: Are you kidding me and other BusinessWeek subscribers?
Let the backlash against the “craziest” ad firm in America mercifully begin …
I’ll share what is craziest:
1. Pissing off production houses to the point that the finished ads looked rushed, amateurish
2. Working 24 hours a day - Didn’t we learn our sweatshop lesson with Kathie Lee Gifford or Upton Sinclair’s “The Jungle”
3. Finally and most importantly - Bad creative is still bad creative.
A) VW no longer stands for “Drivers Wanted”; it’s now “Drivers wanted who have inane conversations and don’t pay attention to the road” - a total safety pitch is for scared suburbanites who want to survive, not avoid an accident.
B)”Unpimp Your Auto” and The Fast might have eliminated future sales to African-Americans and women in one swoop. Nice move.
C) VW billboards remind me of an ad class at Dover-Sherborn H.S. 1982 - not even the Prof. John Jones fun class at Syracuse’s Newhouse.
D) Does anybody actually eat at Burger King?
In conclusion, do you think the clients of CP+B are thrilled about this cover story? I think CP+B’s PR team might be careful about crowing at this recognition. Best of luck in the next stage of your agency’s inevtiable growth - just be careful how you treat people on the way up if/when your new wheels (and wax shine image) winds up in the breakdown lane.
Full disclosure, I have a few friends whowork at Arnold (previous ad agency of VW for 10-years) and in a convoluted way the firm and I guess VW even helped pay part of my mortgage in the past. Just be sure, that nobody at Arnold helped me write this post.
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May 18th, 2006 at 9:06 am
boo hoo. envy is so sad. boo hoo.
May 18th, 2006 at 9:21 am
It is so easier to criticize than create isn’t it? I’ve work at a larger agency that competes with Crispin, and a day doesn’t go buy that I kick myself for not thinking of something they’ve done. Jealousy rears its ugly head.
May 18th, 2006 at 12:48 pm
can you say sour grapes?
May 18th, 2006 at 5:01 pm
Hi anonymous x 3,
Thanks to the one, two or three of you for your interest in my post.
I gave my full name and I can be googled on various “creative” press releases if you want to talk about this or e-mail me at Topaz.
Dear anon 1: Envy? Envious of working 24-hour shifts in a sweatshop mentality? Nope, I’m OK with being on PR person’s “bankers hours.” Topaz is also an awesome place to raise a family (we have a lot of parents who work part time or can leave with no questions asked for child care issues). It really doesn’t seem like Alex Bogusky follows that practice, but I guess he spends quality time with his kids when he’s not jetting off for weeks at Shutters in Santa Monica (cool bar by the way - that was big fun on Monday night Ashley G.!!).
To anon 2: Why would you care what another “competing” agency is doing for their clients? OK, maybe it’s fun to see the reel when you’re at a swanky Cannes or NYC awards show, but come on, just pay more attention to the value and unique story your clients can share with the world. Also a word to the wise/unwise from an ad agency drop out - try to correlate your creative to increased sales rather than just developing buzz. Eventually, the art gives way to commerce in most every case.
Hi anon #3: Couldn’t you at least come up with a creative Adrant type blogging name? No, seriously, I’m not in the position to have “sour grapes” because VW pulled out of Arnold after 10-years in a 5-minute phone call to nice guy (and Red Sox part owner) Ed Eskandarian (http://www.arnoldworldwidepartners.com/network_information/ppl_ed.html). As mentioned, I don’t work there - I work in PR at Topaz Partners. I do think it is a shame that VW made such crappy products and has gruesome service departments in most cities and ‘burbs.
Advertising like “Pink Moon” with Nick Drake (although beautiful to watch and hear) can only get a brand so far if four odd years later the execs in Germany decide to market ultra-expensive lemons and ignore a simple rapair/replacement for fried coils. I would have “sour grapes” probably if I drove a 2001-03 Jetta that tend to break down unexpectedly on the sides of roads.
Gosh, CP+B better hope them there Rabbits are firewalled properly — actually that could be a cool new safety-themed ad. Here’s my free pitch Alex B. … people having inane conversations while their car turns into a tiki torch that can corner.
Wow, the above is a bit harsh on second read. Oh well - Come on, take this with a sense of humor all you anonymous lurkers!!!
May 19th, 2006 at 12:45 pm
Right. I’d criticize you but I have no idea who the hell you are. You on the cover of business week? What would the title read? “Lazy PR guys do…nothing.” And btw, crispin doesn’t have a pr firm, it’s all in house baby.
May 21st, 2006 at 9:47 pm
Hi anonymous # 4 (or are you 1, 2, 3 in disguise?),
OK, this is now going nowhere - you like where you work, and I like where I work.
However, before we both log off and do some real client work, let me try to introduce myself a little more formally. (I guess signing my actual name and providing my employer wasn’t enough for you).
Maybe you can use some of that famous Crispin humor to determine if some of my favorite media coverage is a joke … http://www.boston.com/ae/tv/gallery/apprentice_preview/
June 3rd, 2006 at 10:03 pm
I’m not the prev anon’s
I started working at CPB recently.
Like every company, they have their pros and cons. People work “sweatshop” hours when they want to. People work so hard there because they love it. They are very very proud of their work because they put their souls into making it the best it could be. It’s saturday, I was going to goto work today because I wanted to get a few things done. I didn’t, but I def would have. I love it.
June 10th, 2006 at 1:37 pm
Their work is funny and noticeable. They do amazing things with very little, and that’s what
keeps what they do innovative and interesting.
The company is full of people who are happy doing what they are doing. 24 hour shifts? Where
did that come from? Everyone works hard, but they also party just as hard. Nobody is chained to their desk, and nobody stays there if they don’t want to be there.
People do sacrifice while working there, but they do so knowingly and willingly. And
for most that hard work pays off. The work is always interesting, the benefits of working
there are great, and everyone there is treated like family. It must be the most
laid back sweatshop in existence.
Sorry if your toes felt stepped on because your work isn’t being noticed, but CPB didn’t ask
for the title. Personally I think it should have said “smartest”, and “hardest working.” but
I guess those just don’t sell magazines.
- Some other anonymous CPB’r
PS - it’s hard to take what you wrote with a sense of humor when there was nothing all that funny about it, try including a punchline.
November 29th, 2006 at 2:00 pm
Regarding 3a - “Unpimp auto” and the Fast eliminating women? How is that?
As a woman, guess what, we like to have fun driving our cars just as much as the “target audience” you are presuming (young/adult men). The Fast character represents safety with fun.
Another anonymous CPB’r.
We work hard, play hard, and support one another, and enjoy it! It’s positive attitudes, energy, talent, character, culture, and ingenuity that makes CPB great.
You do your thing, we’ll do our thing, there’s more than 1 way to peel a carrot.
And never criticize someone until you’ve walked a mile in their shoes. That way, when you criticize them you’re a mile away, and you have their shoes!
Happy holidays guys
November 29th, 2006 at 2:43 pm
You just don’t get advertising…
November 29th, 2006 at 2:44 pm
Hi CPBers,
I missed you. I think you’re referencing 3b. I still don’t like the ads - The over the top Germans seemed like the most outlandish way to distance the work from Arnold’s art and I can’t imagine anyone (especially women) liked Fast. Of course, if you have some message testing focus results to share about how women like to see boyfriends not put the windows up and get out of taking them on an errand, I’d love to see it.
Regarding walking in your shoes (wait does Alex wear shoes? sorry), I worked at Young & Rubicam in 1987 and witnessed overt racism by the creative head (an amazing Bill Cosby story to share if we ever meet) and lots of folks who seemed a bit high on life (remember, Dwight Gooden’s Columbian training regimen was big in NYC ad world back then). That time convinced me to go into the much more fun and profitable bartending profession.
In the happy spirit of the holidays, I like the V-dub campaign and hope that you figure out a way to do a major band tour using cars for amps/speakers. Actually you should borrow an idea from VW’s glorious advertising history as the company gave the world Pink Floyd edition Golf in 1994, Rolling Stones 1995 and Bon Jovi edition in 1996.
January 12th, 2007 at 12:30 pm
Wha’up Crispin Porter + Bogusky + anonymous posters?
Happy new year!
Guessing folks are a bit nervous about patronista Kerri Martin being escorted by security to the doors at VW.
Is that DDB I hear knocking on those doors?
January 17th, 2007 at 2:37 pm
i don’t work at CPB, but Adam Zand: you are a prize cunt. all your hot air sounds an awful lot like envy disguised as insight.
January 17th, 2007 at 4:02 pm
Hi anonymous,
You certainly have raised the level of discourse on our blog. At least I see why you want to remain anonymous.
Thank you See You Next Tuesday!!!
January 17th, 2007 at 5:33 pm
Let me just say that I know Adam and he has never won a prize for his behavior.
Adam, be nice to the Crispin folks. VW is probably gone, they lost the Croc account pitch (silly looking shoes anyway), they zombified Orville and the Wall Street Journal in December said Modernista was the coolest agency out there.
But buck up little campers.Keri martin has to end up in another company soon that you can poach. Circle of life.
January 17th, 2007 at 10:12 pm
I work in Crispin I started 5 months ago, all I have to say is that I have never worked with such a tight team if what they do is wrong in your eyes and many others I don’t know and to be honest I guess it would be hard to please everybody. I do work long hours some time but just like somebody else mentioned we are not chain to our desks my hours are 9 to 6. Guess what I sometimes get there at 8:30 and around 9 PM I still want to stay I feel that my co-workers treat me like family, anytime I need help I have 10 hands jumping to help call me weird but I happen to feel the love. Besides that I get to work and learn from peeps that come from all over the world. I hope you like you job as much as I do love mine. If you never worked at CPB and never experienced working there I could understand how we could be perceived as a Sweatshop, just like some people around the world could feel that America is feel of haters, guess what it is not let them come and experience a beautiful country, but then again they may never come and understand our variety, they can live without us but then again they will miss what make us great as a country and as an agency. God Bless.
January 18th, 2007 at 9:23 am
We have a winner! No more entries please (joking, keep’em coming).
This could be my favorite comment ever.
January 18th, 2007 at 10:47 am
Here’s my favorite quote from Adam’s bio:
“Nine days into his work at prior employer Schwartz Communications, Adam was featured in the Boston Herald for decorating his office with action figures.”
Awesome.
January 18th, 2007 at 5:14 pm
Thanks. Sadly, I think that article was an early nail in my PR dot-bomb layoff coffin. At least I wore a Schwartz denim shirt in the photo, while my buddy Ed wore a branded donut shirt and held a Pee-Wee Herman “doll.”
I learned so much at Schwartz, but I also learned a lot as a bartender at the late, great Ritz-Carlton Hotel, Boston.
January 20th, 2007 at 4:24 am
I’ve been unfortunate enough to work at some very crappy agencies, all of which had one thing in common: A distorted definition of “good advertising” in order to justify their own shortcomings.
Crispin suffers from being the David that turned into a Goliath. Maybe it’s a healthy impulse to want to check that god-like status. The problem is, if you’re going to go down that road, you have to become the David yourself.
You can’t simply say, “Hi everyone! I’m a nobody who thinks that Haggar ad sucked.” You have to go for their nuts. Fight fire with napalm.
NO ONE has done this, I suspect because everyone capable enough understands that 9 times out of 10 Crispin hits the mark. And not because the media or the award shows say so, but because it’s evident in their book: Pound for pound, Crispin is trying harder than just about everyone out there.
January 24th, 2007 at 3:12 pm
Moment of silence for the Man Law commercials. I actually really liked those and think it hit the right audience for the brand.
When it rains it pours. Too bad. I really liked those.
January 30th, 2007 at 1:51 am
new anon.
I have worked at cpb for some freelance. They are awesome. You do feel the pressure of a sweatshop because there IS so much great work getting tossed around that you really want the best ad to rise to the top. There were times that I needed to stay, there were times people needed me to stay, and there were times I just went home. The whole experience was awesome and I plan on working with them on a ft perm position soon. CPB is amazing.
February 2nd, 2007 at 3:39 pm
The ghost of Orville Redenbacher would like a word with you.
February 7th, 2007 at 4:36 pm
I worked as a creative at CP+B last year, but I needed to leave last spring, due to an illness in my family. It broke my heart to leave.
Just as everyone else said, it’s an amazing place — a big family that works harder than anyone and reaps those rewards. And no one ever forced me to work late — I wanted to because I loved it, and loved the people I worked with. It was so incredible to work with so many brilliant and creative, yet humble people. And I found Alex to be not only an inspiring leader, but a wonderful person (unassuming and kind). I hope someday I can go back.
So, when people who don’t really know anything about CP+B (or haven’t done any notable work themselves) make judgments, I find the spirit to be in jealousy, and not credible. And as much as I don’t allow it to get to me, sometimes it does. Because, they just don’t get it.
February 7th, 2007 at 6:10 pm
Hi Dawn,
I hope your family is back to full health (much more important than our work or a seemingly endless series of blog comments).
It seems so long ago that I made my first post (post-BusinessWeek puff piece) that it might be time to rewind the tape or download some rants …
Me -
CP+B should: pay more attention to all of its client; make better ads; not piss off production houses across the country; reflect on how good Arnold (especially Pink Moon, Trio & Mr. Blue Sky) and DDB’s (especially circa 1959) VW output was for so long - especially if you’re about to reclaim the Drivers Wanted tag (or lose the account).
Various anons -
You’re jealous; you don’t understand advertising; women liked the Fast ads; I like working in a sweatshop because the people are supportive and we party.
Conclusion (mine):
I have been very funny, spoke the Truth (oops did you trademark that?) and convivial.
However, this last word belongs to my favorite CP+Ber (besides Rob) …
“If you never worked at CPB and never experienced working there I could understand how we could be perceived as a Sweatshop, just like some people around the world could feel that America is feel of haters, guess what it is not let them come and experience a beautiful country, but then again they may never come and understand our variety, they can live without us but then again they will miss what make us great as a country and as an agency. God Bless.”
- 10:12 PM, January 17, 2007
Holler!
April 8th, 2007 at 11:16 pm
dear crispin employees:
i live in the denver/boulder area and am a creative. for a while, i’ve been considering sending my book to the agency. i’ve had a few friends who have told me horror stories about the place. i’m just wondering if its true. if i was to work, would it really be 12 hour days, 7 days a week or is it just up and down? just considering it… thanks.
August 30th, 2007 at 5:02 pm
Hi Cp+b employee
May I ask u something
Do u know what is Alex’s favorite Band ?
Thank
Pao!
September 4th, 2007 at 12:02 pm
Hello CP+B lovers & haters - I’m interviewing at CP+B currently and would love to get some honest feedback - both the good & the bad - about what it’s like to work there. Seriously - I want it all. Lay it on me. Really. I can take it. jenchizmar@hotmail.com
August 8th, 2008 at 2:53 pm
Funny running across old posts like this. The doom of CP+B was prematurely foretold it seems. Can we say Microsoft? Domino’s?
And from what I hear, they continue to grow. Over 400 in the Boulder office now and no shrinkage in Miami? Seems like a lot of people like the 24 hour workdays.
Oh, and I think there were a few more awards this year. Along with positive same store sales growth at BK and VW bucking the trend to have positive sales while the big three are down over 10% (hell, even Toyota and Honda are down!).
Must be all that ‘bad advertising’ that keeps the brands this company touches doing well…
August 8th, 2008 at 3:04 pm
Hey Anonymous, you’re probably right. BUT, that doesn’t give you permission to astroturf!
Anonymous
IP: 65.169.154.2
Domain: miaout01.cpbgroup.com
E-mail : fuckoff@yahoo.com (classy, really classy)
cpbgroup.com - Hmm… Who could that be. That’s right, CP+B is astroturfing!
Don’t they teach you that astroturfing is VERY BAD FORM?!
Look, this is an old post. They guy who wrote it isn’t even here anymore. I have nothing personal against CP+B, nor does anybody here at Topaz.
But if you’re going to stand up on behalf of them (they have done a lot of great work), at least have the decency and common sense NOT to fake a grassroots effort on your behalf.
Not classy at all.
October 13th, 2008 at 7:02 pm
The “guy who wrote it isn’t even here anymore.” True, but he still reads the great Topaz blog, loves the entire two years of content and is now LMAO.
I just celebrated the Jewish New Year and have resolved not to get into lame blog arguments. In addition, I’m not going to get into details about how bad CP+B ego advertising continues to be (I’ll leave that one for the blogosphere and the brutal reviews of the Microsoft campaign) or that their innovative “Gyspy Cabs” are tricked out with Apple Macs and production used seven Power Mac G5s, Final Cut Pro. There was even a cool case study pulled from Apple Canada (darn).
My take-away from 30+ comments and now the anonymous astroturfing is that CP+B doesn’t get social media at all. Reminder: Burger King’s “Subservient Chicken” was from the brainwaves of the amazing Benjamin Palmer of The Barbarian Group in Boson (not Miami).
My other take away is that for all of their awards and job applicants I don’t see a sense of humor in their online communications (except for #16 whom I still heart with passion). Guess ego and portfolios trump blog conversations?
As Todd says, I have nothing personal against CP+B, but it’s “virtually” impossible to have a conversation with anonymous social media ignoramuses (oh darn, I couldn’t hold back on name calling - how uncreative of me).
Welcome to the Factory! Happy New Year!