Category: Oystercatchers Latest - Page 4

What it takes to be a Trusted Client

In the complex world of client and agency relationships, brand side marketers often look externally when challenges arise, or performance takes a nosedive. But there’s something to be said to holding up a mirror and looking inwards too, especially if you want to become a trusted client. Andy Bargery, Client Director, explores a fool proof […]

6 Tips for Choosing an Intermediary That Delivers Transparency, Value and Fairness

Becky McKinlay, Managing Director at Oystercatchers, delves into the complexities of intermediary models in agency selection and shares six essential tips to help clients get a transparent and best value service. by Becky McKinlay, Managing Director, Oystercatchers 1) Question the cost of intermediaries offering ‘free’ consultancy advice to clients. How is that possible? Only by […]

Long Term Results Need Long Term Partnerships

Andy Bargery, Client Director at Oystercatchers, explores the value of long-term agency relationships and reveals how sustained partnerships drive brand success. Marketers are notorious for job-hopping, and it’s understood they often stay in role for just a couple of years. But let’s bust that myth: Forbes found the average CMO tenure is 3.5 years. It’s […]

X-Series: The Art & Science of Client:Agency Relationships

Izzy Jacobs, Programme Manager at Oystercatchers shares highlights from our latest X-Series event. In our autumn X-Series sessions for upcoming agency talent, Andy Bargery, Client Director at Oystercatchers, gave us a deep dive into what makes client relationships thrive. By exploring both the Science and Art behind client:agency relationships, Andy explained the key elements necessary […]

How Ever-Changing Consumer Trends are Shaping Food and Drink Marketing.

Marketing leaders from Hovis and Bio&Me suggest the key to succeeding in today’s low-growth environment is to focus on the core while finding ways to drive incremental growth that will set the brand up for the future. FMCG brands face mounting challenges, from stagnant volume growth following price hikes to the ongoing pressures of sustainability, […]

Working with an intermediary, or thinking about it? Ask yourself these questions, please!

Becky McKinlay, Managing Director at Oystercatchers, clarifies the misconceptions around true intermediary services and highlights the essential factors brands should consider to make informed decisions when choosing an intermediary partner. In the 5 months since I’ve been at Oystercatchers, I’ve been exploring the differences between a number of organisations offering intermediary services, the value they […]

Avoiding the Tyranny of Subjectivity

Andy Bargery, Client Director at Oystercatchers, explores how a ‘tough on the work and kind on the people’ approach can enhance your creative output without undermining the people behind it. How do you evaluate creativity in a way that enhances agency performance? At Oystercatchers, we work a lot with brands that want to get better […]

Pitch Perfect: How a Positive Pitch Transforms the Process

Adam Trainis, Client Director, discusses the best practice approaches to an ideal pitch process, and how to create a pitch experience that sets the foundation for a successful brand and agency relationship. The start of an agency pitch process should be an exciting prospect. The opportunity for a brand to bring in new thinking, […]

BRAT Summer: How Agencies and Brands Are Evolving with AI, Social Media, and Cultural Relevance

Annie Mallin, Programme Manager at Oystercatchers, looks at the lessons that brands and agencies can learn from and adopt after the viral BRAT summer campaign. Charli XCX’s BRAT campaign was not just a summer sensation—it was a sophisticated exercise in navigating the chaotic waters of contemporary marketing. What began as the title of her latest […]

The advantages and watchouts for agencies working with intermediaries

Becky McKinlay, Managing Director at Oystercatchers explores how agencies can best understand different intermediary models to help them make key decisions. In earlier posts, we discussed the advantages of engaging an intermediary for clients, emphasising the value of choosing one that acts as both a consultancy service and a strategic partner, rather than one which […]