Workshop unpacks business strategy for small, black-owned ad agencies

Being held tomorrow, 16 November 2011, it will provide delegates with all the tools they need to be more successful in tenders, pitches and the overall management of their agencies. The closed workshop will also offer networking and mentoring opportunities and the chance for these agencies to raise their profile significantly by registering on the Yardstick agency database.

"The ideal platform"

Happy Ntshingila, chief marketing and communication officer at Absa, says, "The workshop is the ideal platform for the bank to connect with these creative agencies and will allow us to experience some of the bright new talent that is emerging in the advertising industry today. For the bank, enterprise development is a critical focus area as it contributes to economic growth in South Africa and plays a part in the sustainability of small black agencies."

Industry experts Johan van der Westhuizen and Robin Mailer will deliver insights from Yardstick and Happy Ntshingila will share lessons learnt from his days in the agency world.

"Optimally structure remuneration proposals"

"Over the years, the company has seen the growing need for agencies to better understand the tender process, which will, in turn, improve their hit rate in pitching for business in the public and private sector," says Johan van der Westhuizen, MD of Yardstick.

"We have also identified that agencies need to better understand how agency remuneration works so that agencies can optimally structure their remuneration proposals when pitching for accounts. We thank the bank for its sponsorship, which enables us to share this knowledge with up-and-coming agencies," concludes Van der Westhuizen.

The by-invitation only workshop takes place at Melrose Arch Hotel in Johannesburg, 10am-5pm.