Marobella's Branding SoapBox

Wirestone/Chicago Searching For Creative Solutions Leader

The Position:

Creative Solutions Leader

What We’re Looking For:

Are you a Sr. Creative leader that’s comfortable leading cross-functional, integrated teams with powerful ideas brought to life in relevant and unexpected ways?

Does your creative experience transcend both traditional and new media advertising vehicles? 
Are you searching for an agency that has a killer-culture, world-class brands and growing in the double-digit range every year?

If so, the downtown Chicago office of Wirestone is searching for a creative leader/director that’s comfortable working in a fluid, entrepreneurial environment which values teamwork, ideas that jump off the page and the blending of creativity with technology to connect with consumers in ways never before possible.  This creative position is perceived in our agency as one of the highest-ranking creative positions and comes with the responsibility of leading out on many of the most strategic, highest-profile engagements at Wirestone.

Our focus as an agency is to create Targeted Customer Experiences that activate our clients’ brand promises. Wirestone is uniquely listed in the Top 50 U.S. Agencies for both Interactive and Marketing Services agencies. Our clients cross many categories but have one attribute in common – they all dominate their respective spaces. Brands like Motorola, Jim Beam Apple, Microsoft, Intel, HP, Nike, Oakley and more.

Things We’d Like You To Have:

-    You’re more than a great writer or designer, but someone that understands the value your work creates for a brand and/or company. We’re looking for someone that can be a creative business partner for our clients.
-    The ability to present a portfolio that begins with understanding the business problem, a key insight, the marketing idea and how that idea was translated to the different marketing mediums.
-    A solid grasp on the role interactive, web marketing & social marketing platforms are playing in the new ways people are having relationships with brands.
-    Having both B2B and B2C experience is a huge benefit. 
-    A comfort-level juggling multiple large-scale, strategic assignments and leading integrated teams towards the most powerful solution.
-    You’re cool with traveling, as domestic travel is inevitable because our clients are located all around the country.
-    You have no problem leading virtual teams towards a common goal.
-    You can provide 7-10 references of other creative partners, people that have worked for/with you, ex-account partners and having ex-clients would be a lucky strike extra.

If our company and the position sound like something you might be interested in pursuing, please send your credentials and a link to an online portfolio to me.

Thank you for your interest in Wirestone.

Missed Opportunity at Indy 500: Speed Racer

Everytime Marco Andretti's Honda-powered car went by with the Indiana Jones/Blockbuster paint scheme I kept thinking that it was the wrong movie. I mean, they even made him wear a firesuit that looked like Indy's outfit replete with fake gun holsters. And, when they did driver  introductions Marco had a fedora on. I would love to know how much they paid him to do that.

But the real scoop is that Speed Racer should have had a car sponsored, not Indiana Jones. If you've seen Speed Racer, the parallels are unmistakable. In Speed Racer, they even drink milk when they win. I'd imagine that people who like auto racing and their kids would like the premise of Speed Racer - the media buy just makes sense. There are no parallels for the Indy movie on an  Indy car other than the name of the star.

I can even picture the car made to look like Speed's Mach 5 and the driver wearing a white helmet with an M on the front. There were plenty of drivers jonesing for sponsors and they probably could have gotten into the race for cheap.

My New Crack: Snackr

Because people weren't annoyed enough with me for always finding and sending them relevant articles, insights and case histories through Google Reader, along comes Snackr .

It is not for the faint of heart, but if you thought you were a knowledge ninja with Google Reader, this application takes it to the next level. I have a constant scrolling list of relevant stories linked to blogs, publishers etc. One click on the story and it shows you the highlights of the story and you can click through or email right from the synopsis.

I believe being informed and well-read is one of they keys to success and growth. I urge people  to never stop reading and become a voracious consumer of content - it will serve you well, trust me.

Gas Prices Are An Outrage.

This little blog will probably not do much to influence the price gouging from the oil companies, OPEC, the Federal Government, The Nigerians or whomever is responsible for the high gas prices. With all the finger pointing going on, it is hard to tell who is truly responsible. The oil companies blame the Government for not letting them drill off the Pacific coast and up into Alaska, the Government blames faceless foreign countries, the station owners shrug their shoulders and we get screwed.

It is also sad that it took me until $4.00 a gallon to truly get mad. And, I am going to do something about it. Living just west of Chicago, I have public transportation available to me. I am not much of a public transportation guy, but this has got to change. Other people in other Wirestone offices are doing much more than I can dream of doing. In our Boise office, we have started the Milestone Project that challenges people in our company to reduce their carbon footprint by riding their bike. Pretty cool. I am going to start smaller than that and try to take the train 2 or 3 times a week and go from there. Next year, both of our cars leases end and we are going to make significant changes to what we drive. With 2-kids, a step-teen and a dog we need something with some size and space. Hopefully we can get something good on gas and the environment along with space for everyone.

Another observation: Traffic seems worse than ever. More people seem to be on the road than ever before. Why? I thought we were paring back on gas and auto travel. It seems that people aren't mad enough yet. What will it take? $5.00? or $8.00 like in the UK? If we just stopped using gas, the prices will come down it is as simple as that. Guns and Butter, people.

Well, I'm mad as hell and I'm not going to take it anymore.   

Things I Noticed In Iron Man.

There are a few things I noticed while watching Iron Man last night. First, the product placements were blatant - Audi, LG and Burger King. There was one missed opportunity for another product placement: When Pepper was downloading files from Stark's machine and Obadia caught her - he walked over and poured a drink from a carafe. He picked it up and and said to Pepper, "Tony always gets the best stuff." In that carafe was either bourbon or scotch - a high-end spirit such as Basil Hayden, Makers Mark or Jim Beam Black could have seized that moment. Also, a few other times in the movie, Tony Stark drank a brown spirit on the rocks.

Also, this was the first big movie that RD, Jr. has been in since he hit rock bottom. An awesome come back movie, no doubt. When he was riding in the Fun-Vee at the very beginning, they were blasting Back In Black with the lyrics - seemingly describing RD. Jr's life not so long ago.

Back in black, I hit the sack,
                          I've been too long, I'm glad to be back
                          Yes I'm let loose from the noose,
                          That's kept me hangin' about
                          I been livin like a star 'cause it's gettin' me high,
                          Forget the hearse, 'cause I never die
                          I got nine lives, cat's eyes
                        abusing every one of them and running wild

Hammer is now following you on Twitter!

I am complete. MC Hammer is now following me on Twitter. I reached out to him yesterday, and my man hit me back today. It makes me want to side step around my office singing 2 legit 2 quit. Hammer has been diving into the world of social media creating his Dance Jam webiste, which is like a virtual dance idol. I wish him the best of luck with that project.

Now, where did I put those baggy, polka dot Hammer pants?