Sean Cummins: Adelaide hasn’t seen a new agency of our stature for 20 years; we’d launch in New York before Sydney
CumminsRoss’s new Adelaide office
Ad agency CumminsRoss is aiming to triple in size in South Australia over the next 12 months, with outspoken boss Sean Cummins saying “Adelaide hasn’t seen a new agency of our stature for 20 years.”
CumminsRoss opened in Adelaide in February 2012, and its CEO reckons by this time next year the agency will have grown to 30 people – triple its current size.
The agency has just moved into new premises, from Pirie Street to a 8,000 square feet office on Angas Street, which has room for 60 people.
“We have made a significant investment in people and premises. And hope to number 30 people by end of 2013. CumminsRoss SA is here to stay,” he said.
CumminsRoss SA launched as a full service agency, with media and production inhouse, appointing Bronwen Gwynn-Jones from Jigsaw Media Solutions as founding partner. Clients now include Vok Beverages, Marine Parks SA and Adelaide Hilton.
“Adelaide hasn’t seen a new agency of our stature for 20 years,” Cummins said.
CumminsRoss launched its Melbourne base in January 2011. It now has 72 staff. Clients include Chrysler, Fonterra, Asahi and Jacob’s Creek.
At Mumbrella Question in Melbourne in August, Cummins said he had no plans to launch in Sydney – and Sydney remains off his radar, for now.
“If we were approached by key people who want to start the one stop shop model there representing all the disciplines we would consider them. But it’s not a priority.”
“New York will happen before Sydney,” he said.
Among CumminsRoss SA’s recent work was a campaign for Vok Beverages’ Bearded Lady bourbon, which featured a transexual using a urinal, and a stunt involving scooters ridden 2,800km across Australia towing ads for Vok Beverages’ Rebellion Bay Spiced Rum.
Oh Sean we’ve been listening to you for a very loooooong time.Isn’t there a sequel to the Jeep transvestite border collie spot just waiting to be written?
User ID not verified.
As an ex-Adelaidian, it’s nice to see the town get bit of a shake up and clients there getting a better offer than the usual rotation. The town deserves the best. And if there was ever a market that needs a one-stop-shop, it’s Adelaide.
User ID not verified.
Great news for the state and for the industry!
User ID not verified.
Great news for the state and for the industry!
User ID not verified.
Adelaide needs this!
User ID not verified.
Hillarious. Appoints the ex-owner of a second-rate, failed little publishing business as his founding partner and reckons he’s shaking it up. He obviously doesn’t understand Adelaide too well. Still, Adelaide could do with another decent agency of stature, beyond kwp and Clems (on a good day), but I’d be very surprised if CR is it – in its current form anyway.
User ID not verified.
Awesome. Good times for Adelaide and the Industry.
User ID not verified.
Adelaide must be ripe for the pickings… They’ll do well there.
User ID not verified.
Good for Adelaide, like Eric said it is good for another quality agency here. And after already picking up a few big clients here, they look like they mean business!
User ID not verified.
I’m looking forward to seeing how 2013 rolls out and wish the team at CR all the best… if everyone heeded the negativity spouted by others then nothing would get done.
I for one am glad that someone has been brave enough to step in and offer something different.
User ID not verified.
It’s actually refreshing to have an agency so fresh make a bold statement of intention like this in Adelaide – it seems like there’s a lot of latent talent in town, so it’s great to see somebody recognise that potential. Watching that space, absolutely!
User ID not verified.
I love the idea of zigging while other zag. Good for you Sean!
User ID not verified.
I think i am going to move to Adelaide!
User ID not verified.
Hope their work is as good as their astro-turfing.
I’d be curious to know how many of the IP addresses of these comments emanate from within the hallowed walls of CumminsRoss?
User ID not verified.
I just had pause to read the comments here. And as I am the only one besides Anne who puts my name to comments, I can only imagine there is a great deal of self interest in many of them.
But MR, I take exception to your commentary. You are obviously so bilious and toxic that you can only write something which aims to downgrade our personnel. You sould be ashamed of yourself.
I would love to know eactly what your career achievements are. And maybe we could all sit in awe of your stellar CV.
As for Adelaide, we have a fantastic operation here, we are growing due to the talent we have here and we will continue to build our operation. We love Adelaide and with a bit of good luck and goodwill, we will earn our place in the firmament of South Australia.
Sean
User ID not verified.
@Sean Cummins self promotion does have it’s risks old chap. So too does dismissing anonymous comments. They still exist, names or not, as do the opinions they express. As a self promoter you make yourself ‘famous’ by your own hand. Some of us prefer to give anonymously. Both are equally valid, though one is perhaps less arrogant.
User ID not verified.
I truly wish there was some way to be able to discern who some of these horrible comments come from. As a business owner with strong values around integrity it bothers me so much to think about accidentally hiring or referring someone that speaks like this anywhere, let alone online in a forum like this. If I find out they’ll be dropped like a hot potato.
From what I have learned over the years in my training as a coach about personality traits and human behaviour I guess we can be assured that this type of commentary is directly related to the fact that people like this are missing something in their own life. The need for significance in a negative way like this is usually related to the lack of significance in a positive way. If we can’t fulfil our needs in a positive way we look for filling it any way we can.
So, @Sean we can be pretty assured that @MR is lacking in this area and that is driving this type of commentary. I think we could create a new way of referring to this type of commentary much like the NSW RTA campaign with the small finger being waved in the air. Perhaps we need a text version #smallfinger ?? lol
User ID not verified.
First time commenting on Mumbrella, but after reading the multiple negative comments degrading peoples own work (successful work) i have to say well said in your remarks Sean…..
You’re winning great business and doing great work across both VIC and SA, and working on the publisher side we know just how hard your teams work for their clients…..well said anyways.
User ID not verified.
@Anne Miles love the pop psychology dear. Perhaps you could certify the commentators (at a reasonable cost of course) so that all those people out there incapable of judgement can benefit from your wisdom, and not be led astray by the ‘inexperienced’. I mean we really do need yet another person between the creators and the producers. Not to mention the benefits of a wanker free zone.
User ID not verified.
I’m just happy Mumbrella didn’t roll out the same head-shot of Sean (from 15 years ago) that every publisher seems to have on file. As a self-promoter, albeit a tad narcissistic, Sean is obviously one of the best. Never worked for him, or with him, but have heard the same stories as everyone in the industry. What no-one can take away is the simple fact he continues to start-up and build successful agencies time and again. At the end of the day, he’s the one laughing all the way to the bank. Plus, he gets to do things his way. I’m guessing that’s what spurs the negativity – or rather envy.
My name is bob, and I am a rabbit.
User ID not verified.
would hazard a guess SC would be eyeballing brisbane as well.
a lot of faffing about up here leaving a gap for someone savvy like sean to re-enter.
User ID not verified.
@Groucho you are as bitter and twisted as ever, although sharp at times and, sadly, entertaining. A little incorrect on this occasion but I wont waste my breath on corrections however.
User ID not verified.
Oh… I must add… #smallfinger
😉
User ID not verified.
Just have to chime in. Agree with the pushback on the negative comments. I liked the spunk of the agency and the story made me happy to hear of an agency making good.
Me thinks the really negative folks just haven’t made it and they want to tear down folks having a good crack.
User ID not verified.
As an ex Adelaide advertising person I wish CR all the best in Adelaide, hope they really put kwp and clems on the edge of their seat. I do believe Sean and his team can bring a new level of creative competiveness the state desperately needs.
I do however have grave hopes of your ability to win work in sa, not because your credentials and talent, but because of the completely backwards, risk adverse marketing managers that’s rule the industry in sa who are completely against any form of change.
If you don’t win tourism, I hope you will stay and not pack up and leave.
User ID not verified.
I love to see the crictism and also the negativity. It must fill “Sean’s tank” to succeed even more ! Well done to you(Sean) and the whole team ! Best wishes for the year of 2013!
Ps ….. Haters are going to hate!
User ID not verified.