Most marketing leaders recognise when a plan should be working. A clear objective, smart channel choices, sufficient budgets. Yet often work still moves too slowly, teams feel stretched and spend doesn’t convert into momentum and business impact. In our experience, the gap isn’t always the plan. It’s the operating system that turns intent into […]
At our recent Oystercatchers Club, we were joined by Gareth Mercer, Founding Partner, Pablo, Nicola Wardell, Managing Director Creative, Specsavers and Richard Atkinson-Toal, VP Brand and Experience, American Express to explore one of the industry’s most enduring questions: should brands seek integrated creative and media partners under one roof, or rely on best-in-class specialists? Why […]
A critical step in most – if not all – pitch processes is the chemistry meeting. It’s the first opportunity for brand and agency side marketers to meet. It’s when clients start making their assessment about whether they want to spend their time and money with your agency. Equally, it’s when agencies get to meet […]
At first glance, the world of marketing intermediaries might seem straightforward. After all, how many ways can you run a pitch process? And while that’s partly true, the real differences, beyond expertise, lie in the business models underpinning intermediaries. That’s where things get interesting, and where transparency becomes essential. Introducing the new ISBA Guide to […]
According to the Association for Talent Development, “companies that invest in employee training see 24% higher profit margins.” Now you might say there’s a clear conflict of interest there, after all, what else is that Association going to say, right? But if you want some additional evidence of the value of investing in your people […]
By the Oystercatchers Team Cannes 2025 was as hot, frantic and energising as ever – with the step count to prove it. Amid both the reunions and new conversations against striking sea views, the festival remained a vibrant celebration of creativity and connection. Yet beneath the sun-drenched surface, a more serious undertone was present. With […]
Industry experts from Prana Brands, RS Group and ITG on transforming teams, evolving agency models, and the mindset shifts powering modern marketing. The path to more effective marketing in 2025 isn’t just faster – it’s smarter. It’s about building teams that can adapt, rethinking legacy models, and embracing AI not as a tool, but as […]
In the latest episode of the IPA New Business Diaries podcast, Cogent Managing Director Gareth Evans is joined by Becky McKinlay, MD at Oystercatchers. Together they explore all things new business, agency search and selection and how brands optimise their agency partnerships. Becky discusses how the pitch process is evolving, the changing role of CMOs […]
