WheelMate App of the Week in The Sun
WheelMate has been named as The Sun’s App of the Week. Which you might already have guessed from the headline. We’re absolutely thrilled that the app is continuing to generate traction and playing a genuinely useful role in the lives of wheelchair users.
New work for Coloplast: WheelMate – empowering a community
Every now and then, a project comes along that provides both client and agency with a chance to work together to make a meaningful difference. At Advance, the most recent of these opportunities has reached fruition in the form of WheelMate – a digital platform commissioned by our client Coloplast to help wheelchair users find accessible toilets and parking spaces.
A year in the life of Advance
Here’s CEO Jens Krog with a quick review of the year just gone.
2011 was a tough year for the economy and a tougher one for the industry but I’m proud to say that we’ve come out the other side a wiser and even a bigger agency. As I write, most forecasts indicate another challenging year ahead and we’re focused on making sure we continue to evolve our offering.
Clients need agency partners to work faster, smarter and cheaper. These pressures are not new but have been accelerating in recent years to the point that the industry is barely recognisable from just ten years ago.
The digital transformation is the most obvious change but while we’re retooling to ensure we up our online skills, we’re just as interested in the way the contract between advertisers and consumers is being transformed. We’ve always said the best communication is a great product or service and this simple saying is truer today than it’s ever been.
We’re intrigued to see how the relationship between brands and people continues to evolve in the months and years ahead. We hope and believe the transparency of the Internet will continue to push companies towards more responsible practices and we think more of our time will be spent helping clients stay on top of societal changes, as well as those affecting the way brands communicate.
Anyway, here’s a quick look back at some of our 2011 highlights as an agency, and here’s to a great 2012.
River deep, mountain high
A few pics from a recent shoot for Coloplast that took us to the top of the Alps and the beautiful Normandy countryside. We’re looking forward to sharing the final videos.
Back to business
Many of us have had the last two or three weeks off but we’re back now, recharged and ready to go. The months leading up to the summer break were hectic to say the least. As well as the successful pitch for BR & Toys’R'Us, we also acquired the dialogue agency byHabit (henceforth to be known as Advance Relations).
Our clients have been keeping us busy too. In LEGO, we’ve been running a number of big projects, including Hero Factory and LEGO Universe, but we still found the time to partner with the company to win a grant from the Danish Advanced Technology Foundation to co-develop modular playware.
Our other ongoing work includes two product launches for Coloplast, 2011 campaigns for Compeed’s blister, corn and cold sore products, an image campaign for ITD and an awareness campaign for HK. All big projects and all developing well.
Meanwhile Advance Spirit continues to grow impressively. Recent newbizz wins include Choice Hotels and DSV, while big projects are continuing with ITD and Q8.
Last but not least, partner and Senior AD Gavin (above) celebrated his 50th birthday shortly before we broke up for the holidays. He treated himself to a motorbike so we gave him a cheque and strict instructions to buy himself a helmet.