“The Stranger It Gets, The Stronger We Get” – agency leaders say these words became AREA 23’s rallying cry. “In response to once-in-a-century circumstances, AREA 23’s people united to create an environment of empathy and caring, and delivered business results that were nothing short of shocking in the process,” agency executives say.
During January 2021, Ashfield Healthcare Communications relaunched as Ashfield Health and unveiled a global president, two international agencies, a network proposition, and a shared purpose to “Make it Matter.” “At the heart of Ashfield Health is our promise that from making discoveries to making a difference, we will take every opportunity to challenge convention and spark change for better health,” network executives say.
Curiosity continued to be the driving force of yet another year of record growth for Biolumina and proved to be the key to thriving during a pandemic, according to management, adding that the agency had its strongest year ever in terms of new business wins, increased talent acquisition, internal promotions, and expanded offerings.
For The Bloc, 2020 was the best of times, during the worst of times, according to agency leaders. “We were thrilled to pass the $50 million revenue mark for the first time during the year we celebrated our 20th anniversary,” The Bloc executives say. “We were honored and humbled to be recognized as a Med Ad News Agency of the Year, as a MM&M Agency of the Year, and received widespread industry acclaim for our creativity. And, while our success was sweet, our true inspiration came from our community of Bloc’ers who came together to weather the COVID-10 pandemic and the loss and disruption it brought to all of us.”
2020 was a year of growth for The BlocPartners network as it grew in number of partner agencies, drove more network business to its agencies, and expanded network teams. “The circumstances were difficult, but the pandemic proved a point we have known since the very beginning 17 years ago; talent is not limited to geography, and through a nimble and adaptive business model, we can offer local solutions to global challenges,” management says.
“Brick City Greenhouse was founded on the idea of being a brand-first agency that empowers people to create the extraordinary on behalf of our clients,” management says. “Many of the agency’s employees came from large holding-company agencies and saw firsthand how bottom lines are a bigger driver of agency behavior than doing what’s right for brands. The agency’s leaders wanted to change this and create an agency model that was truly focused, not just in words but functionally, on bringing out the best in brands and the people that serve them.”
The outbreak of COVID-19 in 2020 changed the way business is done in both big and small ways, and it led to many of BullsEye’s clients rethinking the way in which they engage with customers, how extensive a bricks-and-mortar footprint they need, how many people are need to work onsite, how to market to professionals who now practice telemedicine on a regular basis – and who are no longer seeing sales representatives – among other adjustments.
Calcium leaders say the year 2020 was worth mooing about, with 65 percent growth in revenue, and the addition of 66 new employees – more than 50 of them onboarded virtually during the pandemic. “Calcium went completely virtual March 9th of 2020, with the help of Partner and Chief Technology Officer Don Feiler, and we never looked back,” says Calcium Founder & CEO Steven Michaelson.
“The pandemic truncated a decade of innovation into a matter of weeks. That overnight shift has defined the agile, innovative approach we’re taking as an agency,” says Sharon Callahan, CEO of CDM. “With that in mind, we quickly determined to prioritize the talent, process and culture that could meet the bold needs of the day,” adds CDM President Kristen Gengaro.
There may be a perception that CDM Princeton is just an offshoot of CDM NY, but CDMP leaders say once you get to know the agency, you quickly realize that it is unique and something special is happening there. “It’s different, evolved, expanded, and bold – something that the agency and their clients can feel,” CDMP executives say.
