Inferno

This is the current cover of Time magazine that is causing some controversy at the moment.

I’m normally all for shock tactics but this just feels wrong. I understand that Time magazine has a remit to cover things that are of interest on an international level, which of course breast feeding is, but to raise it with such a provocative photo smacks of commercialism and feels like it misses the point. In countries where breast feeding is the only option because bad water or no water make formula trickier, it be interesting to know how old kids are when they move on from the breast. So with that thought perhaps the use of shock tactics is valid as I’m not only thinking about the debate but writing about it. Can’t help think of David Walliams asking for ‘Bitty’ when I look at the picture though.

So what do you think –  marketing gimmick or valid journalistic point?

At the end of last week the completely revamped Bertolli.co.uk site went live. Our challenge was to create a clean, simple site that would drive traffic and increase dwell time through engaging content, rather than relying on promotions and competitions.

Built in-house, the new site introduces Nonna Rosa, a matriarchal Italian grandmother who lives in London and “proudly keeps her family in check, nurturing the kind of balanced lifestyle Mediterraneans have become known for.”

As well as finding an array of delicious recipes you can also link through to suppliers like Tesco, Ocado, Waitrose & ASDA and buy any of Bertolli’s spreads.

To keep people engaged over the course of the year, the site will be refreshed periodically and an ECRM programme will drive traffic to the latest content.

Head on over now, but don’t just let us know what you think, share your findings via Google+, Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest.

As they prepare to join the good ship Inferno, the staff at Farm have been popping the champagne celebrating. Here’s to the past and new, bright futures.

They’ll be taking up residence from 1st March here at our home on Great Queen Street. The word excited doesn’t come close to our elation in anticipation of their arrival. And what a picture of them enjoying their last supper. Let’s look forward to the sound of many popping corks during 2012.

Be sure to click the image to see the team (and champagne) in their full glory.

On top of our successes already this year we’re excited to welcome, Gary, Owen and another 14 of Farm’s 23 staff.

The founders and executive creative directors, Gary Robinson and Owen Lee, have joined us here at Inferno.

Campaign reports: Several Farm clients, such as Purina, Merlin Entertainments and Nestlé, will also move to Inferno with the team, who are joining the agency after talks with its managing director, Andy Cairns.

At Inferno, Robinson and Lee will report to the chief creative officer, Al Young.

John Rowley, the group managing director of Cello, said: “Owen and Gary have been outstanding for us over the past couple of years and we’ll be sorry to see them go. We wish them the best of luck for the future.”

Lee commented: “We have been looking for a way to offer our clients and our people a deeper and richer level of service, and the chemistry with Inferno was irresistible. Culturally, our clients and our people are in exactly the same place as theirs.”

Some fantastic news for the beginning of February. You can read about the story on the Campaign website too.

Click on the image to read the article in full.

Last week, the lovely Lea Galmiche, who is a wonderful new talent here on our planning team, took to the mic and braved the stage in front of some of adlands major bigwigs at the Campaign War of the Words 2011.

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Last time around we didn’t make it into Campaign’s top 100 ad agencies. This time around we’ve gone straight in at Number 44 and that’s to year end 31/03/10. Not only that we’re also the fifth fastest-growing agency in the top 50 with a 393.39% increase.

Click on the image to see the table in full.

Marketing Week’s cover story on Nokia, including an interview with our ECD Al Young on the creative strategy behind Amazing Everyday.

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