We did a three-part series where we talked about the wonderful world of pitching.With six questions thrown to the creative, strategy and accounts teams at Thread.
Click here if you missed Part 1 with Eva, Art Director and Christina, Strategist.
Here is Part 2 of the series!
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Do you like to pitch?
Of course not! Fear of the unknown is a human instinct. A pitch is typically something that takes a lot of time and effort but may not pay off. It’s really scary to be in front of so many people and tell them about our ideas.
What’s the most challenging part?
I think the most challenging part is that you need to be very logical and be able to explain clearly your creative ideas to clients. In the end, as it all comes together, it really is a chance for us to shine individually and as a team because we all put so much heart into it.
What’s the best thing about it?
Two things! First, of course the clients’ appreciation and secondly, the nice eye contact during the presentation. I see it as a positive nod to the work we produced and also a confirmation of my own hard work and dedication. Doing more pitches has helped me find my confidence in presenting and talking naturally to a group of people.
Doing more pitches has helped me find my confidence in presenting and talking naturally to a group of people.
How does it feel to win?
It gives me confidence in my work, which pushes me to continue to create great work.
How does it feel to lose?
I won’t lie, there’s a sense of disappointment, but then there’s also room for improvement and challenging myself creatively.
What do you think the most valuable thing you learn from pitching is?
I think we should approach it as we normally do, read the brief carefully, familiarize ourselves with all the details of the process, practice presenting with colleagues, and (if you can) ask your family or friends for feedback. Every pitch is a good opportunity to show our company’s capabilities, whether we succeed or fail, we should see it as growth. It’s a time to enrich your life and challenge your own potential.
Do you like to pitch?
I can’t say whether I really like or dislike it, my view is rather more neutral – I see both pros and cons to it 🙂
What’s the most challenging part?
I think finding that real pain point is the most challenging and also exciting part of the pitch. It’s also the area where we add a lot of value. Generally speaking, a lot of pitches start from a simple brief with limited information so it’s our role to dig and find the real needs/problem of the brand.
I think finding that real pain point is the most challenging and also exciting part of the pitch. It’s also the area where we add a lot of value.
What’s the best thing about it?
I would say new knowledge. Every time you dive into a new brand, you also learn about its competitors, the industry dynamics, etc., which is quite interesting.
How does it feel to win?
A strong sense of satisfaction and pride in the team.
How does it feel to lose?
It’s more that I feel sorry for the team. After all, we all put a lot of effort into it.
What’s the most valuable thing you’ve learnt from pitching is?
It’s really a team effort. Understanding the brief and the brand. It’s also important to know your teammates, and play to each one’s strengths.
What do we think as a company?
The big picture for us at Thread, we feel that all branding agencies should not pitch ideas to clients for a number of reasons:
Respectfully, pitching ideas for free can be detrimental to the our business. Branding agencies invest time and resources into developing unique ideas that help differentiate their brand. If they give away their ideas for free, they are essentially devaluing their own work and opening themselves up to potential exploitation.
This can also take away from time and energy that should be for paying clients.Pitching ideas without fully understanding the problem or business strategy is not an effective way to approach branding. To create a successful brand, an agency needs to first understand the client’s needs, target audience, and business goals. Without this understanding, any ideas presented are likely to be generic (and AI could do that for you now!) and may not effectively address the client’s specific needs.
Pitching ideas can create unrealistic expectations. Clients may become fixated on a particular idea that was presented during the pitch, even if it is not the most effective solution. This can lead to frustration and disappointment when the branding agency later presents a different idea that is more aligned with the client’s needs.
Branding agencies should be chosen on their merits, which include their experience, expertise, and track record of success. We would love our clients to evaluate agencies based on their ability to solve problems, not on their ability to come up with flashy ideas during a short pitch meeting. Hopefully, by choosing an agency based on their merits, clients are more likely to receive a solution that is tailored to their specific needs and goals.
Let us know what you think?!
Stay tuned next week where we share our final two interviews with Ben, Founder of Thread Design and Creative Director and Harry, Design Director.
