‘F*ck that’: Agency owner calls on Australian adland to ‘stand up in this time of turmoil’
A prominent adland figure has sent a powerful message to the Australian industry as it endures a current state of “turmoil”.
Joining the latest episode of the Mumbrellacast recorded at last week’s Mumbrella Finance Marketing Summit, Simon Lee, chief creative owner and joint owner of The Hallway, said much like the media industry right now, adland is also concerned about various pressures including job security and AI.
“I think there is a real temptation in our industry, as in life in general, to go quiet or even to back away from that fear. And I think ultimately if we were advising our clients on what to do in this kind of climate, what we’d say is be bold. [To] not withdraw, not be quiet, but be bold, make a statement. This is your opportunity to take a stand,” he said.
“And where I’m at, as an agency owner, is that that’s exactly what we should be doing. [Should we] run away, shut up, go quiet? Fuck that. What good’s that going to do?”
This is it, Simon could have led with some action and said something that was leadership rather then rambling about the need for leadership.
…. He made a lot of generic statements and tried to edge it up with profanity.
“Cool!”
Florals? For spring? Groundbreaking.
Bravo Simon Lee! At last someone has the balls to come out and say what needs to be said in well-articulated, unambiguous language. I bet this dude writes some mean copy!
Lots of swearing. Not many ideas. Fighting against what? AI? Good luck with that! I suggest you embrace it, use it and lower your fees to be competitive.
And he wonders why clients are by-passing ‘creative’ and using AI to make meaningless never watched 5 second SM pre-rolls. Do I really need a highly paid agencies who aspire to have holiday homes and Teslas making silly little ads that no one watches? I don’t think so.
Unless Netflix and Stan bring in compulsory advertising viewing the ad world is totally screwed cause no one watches traditional ads voluntarily.
Try to stop the tide, and you’ll just be washed away.
“Let’s be creative.” Groundbreaking.
If you’re give a platform to say something it’s got to be more meaningful than ‘let’s do something’
What has The Hallway for example actually done in the face of these headwinds.