Dave Dye. Yes, the Dave Dye.

Dave Dye is talking to One Black Bear

Yep, another of our heroes is coming to Birmingham.

He’s sired more famous ads individually than most agencies ever muster, full stop. He still finds time to curate his must-read blog, ‘Stuff from the loft’ and accompanying podcast. He’s also just started a new agency, Love or Fear. You start to realise the drive of the man.

His talk “Don’t be afraid to s***”, strips away all the modern tools and budgets and asks, can you still create barnstorming advertising with a piece of chalk and a simple blackboard?

Another fascinating evening beckons.

Reserve your free ticket now.

Dave Dye is talking to One Black Bear

If you’re interested in hearing what we have to say for ourselves, drop us a note asking us to: ‘Stop with all the jabber and look at this brief for me’ here.

ZEISS focuses on growth with One Black Bear

ZEISS focuses on growth with One Black Bear.

Long established as a pioneering brand on a global scale, this is a significant appointment. It represents the optical brand’s first foray into ongoing consumer marketing in the UK.

Our comprehensive remit includes new product launches, core campaigns and communications support across ZEISS’s growing network of retail customers. This includes both well known high street brands and a growing network of specialist independent eye care professionals.

One Black Bear partnered with MediaCom, who will handle media buying and planning.

Lindsay Filmer, ZEISS marketing director, commented: “We have ambitious growth targets across our portfolio of premium lenses. The team at One Black Bear impressed us on a number of different levels. However, most importantly, we felt they got our brand and the commercial needs of our business, and would challenge us appropriately. We are really looking forward to working in partnership with them and raising awareness of the ZEISS brand among both B2C and B2B audiences.”

Fantastic win.

One Black Bear co-founder and creative partner Jon Harrison said: “This is a fantastic win for One Black Bear. Not only is it a full-service remit but we were up against some of the West Midlands region’s biggest agencies. Having a team of specialists across all disciplines, all under one roof, is really bearing fruit for us, and of course, we continue to retain creativity at the core of everything we do.”

The appointment will see us create a range of B2B and B2C advertising across multiple media platforms including OOH, radio, press, social, influencer.

ZEISS focuses on growth with One Black Bear.

If you’d like to see (sorry, not sorry) what we can do to make your brand more visible (again, not sorry) drop us a note saying:. ‘My current agency is a bit shortsighted, can we please have a chat’ here.

A night of puerility with Mark Denton

A night of peurility with Mark Denton

On 16th May, we invited creative legend (and yes, that word is appropriate) Mark Denton along to the Bear cave here in Birmingham to give his hugely entertaining, inspiring and thought provoking talk on the Power of Puerility.

Almost 100 people turned out to see him and they included film makers, photographers, illustrators, creatives & suits from other agencies (I know, how brave of us) as well as clients – including ones we have, and others we’d love to work with. If this is you, please do get in touch.

The feedback we received from the gathered masses was brilliant to say the least and if you ever get a chance to see Mark in action, don’t miss it.

Mark will be releasing a book very shortly with the same title and you can pre-order it here.

We’ll be putting on another Fierce Talk later in the year, so keep an eye on all our social channels for news and ticket details (remember, it’s free and open to everyone – the more the merrier and we’re passionate about sharing the love).

A night of peurility with Mark Denton.

If you’d like to inject a bit of humour (it’s proven to sell stuff you know) into your communications, drop us a note saying:. ‘So you think you’re funny do you’ here.

One Black Bear up to scratch for Chips Away brief

Chips Away advertising

The new campaign for ChipsAway will roll out on TV, OOH, POS and press. It centres around the humorous and often far fetched excuses drivers give for pranging their pride and joy. The new strapline of ‘Like it never happened’ neatly emphasises the quality of workmanship and also reassures customers that we never ever judge, we just fix it.

Launch executions use statements of disbelief and shock such as ‘That kerb wasn’t there before’ and ‘Do they make shopping trollies out of magnets?’ with several other equally ridiculous versions planned as the campaign develops.

Ella Pugh, Head of Marketing at ChipsAway said: “Not only does the new campaign approach portray the true professionalism that our ChipsAway service is synonymous with, it also elevates the brand proposition in line with where we are in the industry”.

Kate Hartshorn, Managing Partner at One Black Bear added: “It is great to be working with the team at ChipsAway who fully embraced this new direction for the brand. For us it was important to tap in to those every day excuses people use in order to bring an emotional hook to the creative and move the brand into a much more relatable territory.”

Chips Away advertising

If you’re looking for an advertising agency to get your marketing up to scratch, drop us a note saying:. ‘My brand needs some polish’ here.

The value of creativity when running an agency.

The value of creativity when running an agency

Our Creative Partner, Richard Elwell this week spoke to Nathan Anibaba on the ‘Agency Dealmasters’ podcast about life running an agency that puts creativity and ideas at the heart of everything we do. In it he discusses the ups and downs of 16 years of being an agency leader, the paranoia and doubts around credibility and his advice for anyone thinking of taking the plunge.

Read and listen to more on what he had to say here or on iTunes.

 

The value of creativity when running an agency

If you’d like to hear more of what Rich has to say (but in person) drop him a note saying:. ‘I too believe creativity solves all’ here.

More points for the bears

Point S Tyre advert

The UK division of the largest independent tyre and autocare network in Europe, Point S, has appointed One Black Bear. The first brief is to recruit more independent garages to sign up to membership. A hard-hitting trade press advertising campaign has benn developed to stress the benefits of being part of a multi-national group, while retaining all their individuality.

Point S marketing manager Gavin Fable said: “One Black Bear developed a strong, on-brand and compelling creative proposition. Alongside this sits a really striking concept for us with genuine stand-out in our sector.”

Managing partner Kate Hartshorn added: “Point S are looking to really grow their UK presence. And our strategic approach sought to assure our audience that Point S isn’t about taking over or meddling. It’s about helping them stay independent and perform even better. Our ad features a garage mechanic sporting a tyre tread buzz haircut stressing that garages joining a big group won’t forfeit their individuality.”

The campaign breaks this month in the automotive aftermarket trade media.

Point S already has commitment from 130 members. Covering over 230 points of sale the UK, they have ambitions of becoming the number one tyre supplier to British independents. Globally, the brand has 2,000 members with over 4,000 points of sale.

Point S Tyre advert

If you would like to know more about how we can help your brand burn some rubber, drop us a note saying:. ‘Fire up the Quattro’ here.

Tipton & Coseley Invests in One Black Bear

Tipton and Coseley Invests in One Black Bear

The Tipton & Coseley Building Society was established in 1901 and currently sees itself as a regional building society with a national presence. Savers are both local and national with mortgages offered to customers in England and Wales. Latterly, the business has taken the initiative with new markets. Including a Retirement Interest Only (RIO) and a second homes and holiday lets mortgage which permits AirBnB letting.

One Black Bear managing partner Kate Hartshorn, who also leads the agency’s planning team, commented: “Our first task is a major research project to help reposition the Tipton to mortgage intermediaries. We’re doing a mix of qualitative and quantitative work to uncover views about the Building Society. Its offer and what it needs to do to grow. Off the back of this research, we will be coming up with a creative strategy to support the positioning. It is really exciting to be working with a progressive business. One that is looking to embrace current trends and what consumers want in terms of financial services.”

Founded in 2003 by business partners and creative duo Jon Harrison and Richard Elwell, One Black Bear now has a diverse team of creatives, strategists, content producers, digital, PR and social specialists.

Tipton and Coseley Invests in One Black Bear

If you’re looking for creative thinking you can take to the bank, send us a note saying: ‘I’d like to open a high interest account with you’ here.

One Black Bear named Birmingham’s leading independent agency

One Black Bear named Birmingham’s leading independent agency

The Drum have announced their findings of a study into the UK’s top independent agencies announcing the top 100.

Tim Molony, Head of The Drum Recommends said “Of the 25,000 marketing companies to choose from in the UK, these are the 100 you really should consider.”

We’re proud to announce that we ranked at No.66 overall and No.1 in the second city.

Agencies were assessed on how well the business is run, and The Drum’s Steve Antoniewicz concluded that: “The demands of modern clients certainly seem better suited to the natural nimbleness of independent agencies than the big weighty footprints of global networks.”

This is a belief that has been held by One Black Bear from day one (way back in 2003). Networks certainly work for some but if, as a client, you don’t really need to be paying for an office in Sao Paulo or if you’re concerned about long distance puppet masters being more worried over their own share price than yours you could do worse than seek some independent help.

Handily, The Drum have compiled them all into a little red book and we’ll happily share one with you if you’d like to see what we can do. If you already have one, turn to pages 85-87 to read more.

One Black Bear named Birmingham’s leading independent agency

If you’d like to work with the best independent advertising agency in Birmingham, drop us a note saying:. ‘I love to work with great minds’ here.

Curtain lifts on The Alex’s new identity

New logo for Alexandra theatre

As part of The Alexandra’s £650,000 revamp, Birmingham’s flagship theatre has unveiled a new brand identity. Developed by Birmingham based One Black Bear.

The creative work, which includes a new logo, was revealed this week, following a teaser campaign that ran through September.

The Alex’s head of marketing and communications, Hannah James, commented:. “Our new brand identity is a key part of this year’s investment programme. It is intended to improve our reputation amongst audiences and producers alike and establish ourselves as a competitive option for West End productions visiting Birmingham.

“We knew of One Black Bear through work they previously did in our sector. And we are delighted with their fresh new creative that reflects our Art Deco heritage, while giving us an elegant, contemporary feel. We were especially keen to drop the ‘Birmingham’ reference, everyone knows where we are! We’re keen to attract new audiences with an increase in premium programming and an improved customer experience. And a new look identity is a key part of this story.”

Lee Bryan, head of design at One Black Bear, added: “We are really proud of this work for The Alex. The teaser campaign, which ran on six sheets, in the press and on social media, created the desired anticipation about what was happening and the full reveal has now completed the relaunch story.”

New logo for Alexandra theatre

Did you know we do lots of corporate ID rebrands as well as naming and development for new brands and products. Get in touch with us here to see how we can help you.

New managing partner at One Black Bear

New Managing Partner for Birmingham creative agency

One Black Bear has promoted Kate Hartshorn to managing partner. The move will see Kate lead the agency alongside owners and founders, Richard Elwell and Jon Harrison.

Previously, Kate spent fifteen years with Big Communications – now known as Big Dog – as client services director and later, as managing partner. While there, she worked closely across a range of national and international brands. Having previously worked as associate planning director at One Black Bear for two years, Kate’s new role will now involve the broader remit. She will help develop the agency from its current 25 strong team whilst retaining planning, insight and client liaison responsibilities.

Richard Elwell of One Black Bear said: “I can’t overstate how pleased we are to have Kate in this role – she’s the brightest planning brain for miles around and genuinely a brilliant agency personality. Kate brings vast experience and ability and is a champion of ‘the big thought’. Her insight, intuition and forensic detail across briefs will further bolster our offering to clients.”

Kate added: “I’m really happy to be taking on this senior role within One Black Bear. The agency is in a great position following our best year to date and I’m really looking forward to driving our progress further by fighting for work that is truly effective and also, by supporting our staff to become best in class.”

New Managing Partner for Birmingham creative agency

If you’d like to tap into Kate’s huge talent for marketing, research and herding cats, drop her a note here.

Gold and silver awards for National Express at Roses

Birmingham award winning creative agency

We’re immensely proud to announce that last night in Manchester we won a gold for best radio commercial and a silver in the travel & tourism category for our National Express Look Beyond London campaign at The Roses Creative Awards.

Five Roses Creative Awards nominations

We’re really proud and honoured to be nominated for five awards at this year’s Roses Creative Awards.

Our Youth Voice website is nominated in the Website category.

The Look Beyond campaign for National Express is then nominated in four categories: Radio Commercial, Outdoor Campaign, Integrated Campaign and Travel & Tourism.

Last year saw us pick up gold in Annual Report and bronze in Online Advert or Campaign – both for St Basils.

Good luck to all the nominees and we’ll see you at the bar on May 10.

You can view the full bloom of nominations here.