What Happens After Acquisition: My First Week At Jaywing
Here, Frank Digital founder and MD Matt Barbelli (pictured) recounts his first week after the acquisition by data science-led marketing agency Jaywing was completed and the Frank Digital team move into Jaywing’s Australian headquarters.
Friday 16th March
Wake up with a bit of a hangover, having been out to celebrate the deal and two new client wins with my new boss, Jaywing plc CEO Rob Shaw, and Tom and Chris, the incumbent MDs of Jaywing in Australia. Glad we decided to move tomorrow…
Saturday 17th March
Moving day. In the office in Glebe nice and early to wait for the removalists – they’re due between 8.30am and 9.30am. Get a call at 9.00am to say two of their guys have called in sick and they can’t do the job. Blow a small gasket (okay, a big one). Embark upon finding new removalists. At short notice. On a Saturday.
My business partner Alex starts getting stuff over to North Sydney, and somewhat later than planned, eventually all of our stuff is over and in place. Everything fits and matches in brilliantly.
Drink beer.
Sunday 18th March
It’s Sunday. Wake up and head into the office to tidy up the last of the little bits. It’s 35 degrees and I quickly learn the air-con doesn’t go on in the building during weekends. I get out of there stat.
Monday 19th March
Arrive at the office to find the team has already started to settle into their desks and get to work with minimal interruption. The internet connection is coping with the extra people and their machines are all working, but no sign of the new printer.
Just after 9am, two people arrive from the UK. They are Neil, the planning director from Bloom, an agency Jaywing acquired in the UK in September 2016. He’s here to pitch with Tom and Chris and also recruit for account management roles for Collective Wellness Group, which includes Anytime Fitness, Massage Theory and Xtend Barre, following the successful renewal of their contract as sole agency. We go for coffee and one of the things he tells me about is the imminent rebrand of Bloom to Jaywing. It all strikes a chord given we’re at the beginning of a similar journey.
The other person is from our search agency in the UK, Epiphany, and she’s here to spend a week with the SEO and PR (or, as I’m learning, ‘off-page SEO’) team in our office Down Under.
Been here just over an hour and already I can see how collaboration works at Jaywing.
The rest of the day passes without incident. Leave the office late and discover just exactly when the car park closes. Car trapped, call an Uber. Find out that it opens at 6am.
Tuesday 20th March
At 6am, I turn up to get my car, ready for tennis at 7am. Car still trapped. Sit in it for an hour, wearing my tennis gear. Miss tennis.
Guy turns up to install the printer at 9am. Still no printer to install. Guy leaves.
12:00 – printer guy comes back.
13:58 – printer still hasn’t arrived (now four hours late). Allow the printer installation guy to leave.
14:00 – meet our new PR guy.
14:03 – printer arrives.
14:04 – frantic call to printer installation guy to get him back.
15:15 – we have a printer!
Wednesday 21st March
Hump day. Printer not working… Throw a wobbly then ‘delegate’ the printer installation task to someone else. Head into to the city to run a workshop with AMP Capital. It goes off without a hitch; lesson learnt – play to your strengths – IT is not my strong point.
Thursday 22nd March
Today is the official launch of Oodles by Jaywing in Australia, having launched in the UK yesterday.
Oodles is a rewards program for all Jaywingers, giving them access to discounts and offers from retailers, food outlets and the like, as well as bespoke offers with local independent businesses. It’s also where we host information about our social events, benefits, initiatives, and employee recognition.
It’s beautifully branded and fantastic to be part of a bigger company that can offer such benefits to us.
Friday 23rd March
End of week one. And what an end it was too as it’s Jaywing’s 1st birthday in Australia, so naturally we had a party to celebrate that and the arrival of Frank in North Sydney! We also bid farewell to our global brand development director and chief strategy officer respectively, who’ve both spent much of the last 15 months in Sydney.
A lot has happened during that time. Tom and Chris’s agency Digital Massive, which was acquired in July 2016, became Jaywing a year ago today. They’ve also grown substantially, prompting their move into our North Sydney office – a year to the day before ours. And now we’ve joined Jaywing.
We’ve pretty much filled the office and already feel like part of the family.
I end the week feeling satisfied and optimistic about where we’re headed – both for us and our clients.
Latest News
Sydney Comedy Festival: Taking The City & Social Media By Storm
Sydney Comedy Festival 2024 is live and ready to rumble, showing the best of international and homegrown talent at a host of venues around town. As usual, it’s hot on the heels of its big sister, the giant that is the Melbourne International Comedy Festival, picking up some acts as they continue on their own […]
Global Marketers Descend For AANA’s RESET For Growth
The Australian Association of National Advertisers (AANA) has announced the final epic lineup of local and global marketing powerhouses for RESET for Growth 2024. Lead image: Josh Faulks, chief executive officer, AANA Back in 2000, a woman with no business experience opened her first juice bar in Adelaide. The idea was brilliantly simple: make healthy […]
Is Meta’s New AI Chatbot Too Left-Wing?
Meta's chatbot accused of being left-wing after being caught wearing a Che Guevara T-shirt & listening to Billy Bragg.
TV Ratings (23/04/2024): Why Did No One Tell Angela That Farmer Wants A Wife Is Set On A Farm?
As wonderful as this headline is, let's face it, we all know an 'Angela', don't we?
PubMatic Unveils New AI Partnership To Turn Social Posts Into Ads For Any Digital Channel
Here's some nifty tech for turning social posts into ads. Assuming said posts aren't one-star character assassinations.
Intuit Mailchimp Makes A Splash With Its First Australian Brand Campaign
Ever laugh along at a gag you didn't get so as not to appear dumb? Get ready for more feigning with this new work.
GumGum’s Rob Hall: Advertisers Can No Longer “Rely On Binary Descriptions” Of Consumers
If anyone's got their finger on adtech's pulse, it's Rob Hall. He also avoids using the good paper in the office printer
Mastercard Nabs Florencia Aimo From Marriott International
Marriott International's Florencia Aimo jumps from the hotel business to the exploitative credit card one.
Bastion Agency Appoints Cheuk Chiang As New ANZ CEO
Cheuk Chiang takes the reins over at Bastion Agency. But not the rains down in Africa.
Spotlight On Sponsors: Major Sponsorship Wins After A Disappointing Week In Sport
B&T continuing our deep dive into local sport sponsorships & that's despite not a single offer of a free ticket as yet.
Macca’s Marketing Director, Samantha McLeod On Big Mac Chant: “What Was Once Old Is Now Cool Again”
Macca's using the power of nostalgia in latest Big Mac campaign. Well, only for those who've ever eaten one sober.
World Premiere Of Midnight Oil: The Hardest Line To Open Sydney Film Festival 2024
Oil's biopic to open Sydney Film Festival. Here's hoping Molly Meldrum will take his pants down at the premiere.
Entries Are Now Open For The 2024 Brandies, IntelligenceBank’s Annual Brand Marketing Awards
The Brandies are, of course, a prestigious marketing gong and not the mystery tipple favoured by nannas everywhere.
The Fred Hollows Foundation Appoints Ardent For PR
Yes, we all like to have a joke at PR's expense. But sometimes it does important work, like this.
AI, eCommerce & Marketing Specialists Are In Increased Demand By Businesses, New Data From Fiverr Shows
Has your philosophy & anthropology degree left you with nothing but a huge HECS debt? Here's what you should've studied.
Perth’s First 3D Anamorphic Billboard Arrives Courtesy Of oOh!media
Do you love a buzzword? Now you can add anamorphic to the list as it relates to billboards, not a colleague's ears.
MasterChef Australia & Crown Resorts Launch Unique Dining Experience With ALUMNI
A pop-up restaurant staffed by MasterChef contestants! That's fine dining prices for first-year apprentice chef cuisine!
Amanda Laing Announces Resignation From Foxtel Group
Foxtel's chief commercial & content officer heads for the exits. Read nice things the bosses said about her right here.
The Lost Letters From Our Diggers: News Corp Unveils ANZAC Day Special
It's nice when brands respectfully acknowledge ANZAC Day.
Howatson+Company Acquires Akkomplice
Large indie acquires a slightly smaller indie. Much like a shark eating a tuna, just with less thrashing and blood.
Google Delays Third-Party Cookie Deprecation Again
In good news for the sale of picture library biscuit photos, Google continues to tease over the end of cookies.
Education A Low Priority For Aussies More Concerned With Cost Of Living Forethought Study Reveals
Study finds Aussies cutting back on education due to cost of living. Booze & Uber Eats sales remain largely unaffected.
“I’m Still The Same Person That I Was”: Rikki Stern Says “Fucc It” To Cancer Stereotypes
B&T always happy to promote the anti-cancer cause. Even brands that massively overdo it with the hot pink.
The Unapproved Climate Certification Allegedly Causing Mass Greenwashing
Are you left flummoxed in the canned tuna & free range eggs aisle? Just wait till this green certification gets up.
TV Ratings (22/04/2024): Fans Mock “Over The Top” Reaction To New MasterChef Judges
MasterChef returns for its 2024 season. B&T stands by putting peppercorns in Gravox & no one will be any the wiser.
Dentsu Restructure: Muddle, Harvey & Johnston Take Leadership Baton As Bass & Yurisich Exit
A large broom has swept through Dentsu's local ops this morning, taking with it some big names & the air con's cobwebs.
Industry Shares Trends Shaping The Industry This International Creators Day
B&T's asking adland creators to reveal their top trends. And it's not good news for your Jenny Kee cardigan collection.
Mable Extends HOYTS Sensory Screenings Partnership
Mable has extended its HOYTS sensory screening partnership. Vigorously defends its two-star Oppenheimer review.
Orphan Launches ‘They Need Our Help. We Need Yours’ For Children’s Cancer Institute
Anything to do with childhood cancers has B&T's 110% support. That said, we do ignore the red meat & alcohol warnings.
Smile Team Orthodontics & Keep Left Collaborate On Smile-Inducing Campaign
As parents would attest, given the cost of orthodontics you'd expect this campaign to be a lavish production indeed.
Opinion: How Video Calls Neglect Learning Diversity
Need an excuse to duck out of a video call this arvo? Show this to your boss.
DoubleVerify Achieves First-Of-Its-Kind Responsible AI Certification From TrustArc
DoubleVerify receives responsible AI certification. However, not its robotic vacuum that's been seen menacing the cat.
Smile For A Good Cause: The Social Media Campaign Giving Back To The Community
Are you known as the office Austin Powers? More for you teeth than shagability? Get snappy new fangs with this news.
Elon Musk Mocks Albo After ESafety Wins Court Injunction Against X
Albo's 2024 from hell continues - Rabbitohs in crisis, down in the polls and now feuding with world's richest man.
Real Estate Developer In Hot Water Over “Sexually Exploitative” OOH Campaign
Real estate agents again tops in the 'least trusted profession' polls, nudging used car salesmen & ad creatives.
Epsilon’s Shane Hanby: Post-Cookie Era Relies On “Teamwork” Between Brands, Marketers & Tech
This pro predicts more "teamwork" in a post-cookie era. Which spells bad news for the uncooperative or plain stubborn.