Scout Marketing 2015
Scout Marketing
3391 Peachtree Rd NE
Suite 105
Atlanta, GA 30326
Telephone: 404-917-2688
E-mail: [email protected]
Website: FindScout.com
QUICK FACTS
Accounts
Account wins 2
Active business clients 9
Brands by 2014 sales
Brand-product accounts held 10
$25 million – $50 million 3
$100 million – $500 million 7
Products not yet approved/launched 1
Services Mix
Digital 30%
DTC 25%
HCP 25%
DTP 20%
Client Roster
Depomed
Impax Pharmaceuticals
Jazz Pharmaceuticals
Lundbeck
Nielsen Biosciences
According to agency leaders, while 2014 was officially the Year of the Horse, in the eyes of Scout Marketing it will always be the Year of the Dog. “Brave, loyal, and tenacious, these are the basic tenets of Scout itself – an independent, growing powerhouse with a mix of specialty pharmaceutical and biotech clients,” executives say.
They add, “It’s good to have a rallying cry you can believe in, and at Scout, you see their rallying cry everywhere. It’s about being brave, and it’s evident in their work and how they operate. Simply put, it’s in their blood.”
As the partners explain, “Every day we ask ourselves, ‘Did we push it a little further today? Were we brave in our actions?’” At Scout, executives recognize there’s a big difference between bravery and bravado, taking a risk and knowing when to step back. It’s like a chess game. They weigh choices carefully and act on programs that move markets.
According to Allen Stegall, agency partner, “Scout is a substantial agency with full-service capabilities. Yet, we remain fiercely independent. As a result, we feel like an agile sports car in a freeway full of trucks and buses. Clearly, speed, horsepower, and agility count for something. Yet, it’s also good to be a hybrid these days, and clearly this is a niche that Scout seems to be filling.”
The year’s accomplishments
Executives say Scout continues to grow steadily, and maintaining one’s agency culture in a period of rapid growth can be tricky. Scout, however, is holding steady. More importantly, when it comes to clients, the agency carries on, staying the course.
“We’re a little different, and so are our clients,” Stegall says. “While everyone is looking for new ideas and solutions, not everyone is confident enough to follow through with the ideas once they are put on the table. Our clients do. They are smart, and brave, which makes for an unstoppable combination. And as an agency, we will support them in every way that we can.”
In 2014, Scout saw the addition of key clients to its agency roster. Impax Pharmaceuticals Inc. was one, with a primary focus on central nervous system disorders. This was a timely partnership, with their expanding product portfolio including the launch of Rytary, an extended-release capsule formulation for Parkinson’s disease, approved by the FDA in January 2015. Another win was Impax’s Zomig Nasal Spray, currently the No. 1 prescription branded nasal spray treatment for migraines.
Structure and services
The logistics of four partners in three different locations – Atlanta, Chicago, San Diego – might sound challenging. But according to agency executives, the flexibility and strength of the partners’ communication has become a seamless part of their business model. It helps that each partner brings a different area of expertise to complete the group.
Jennifer Brekke, CEO, and Bob Costanza, executive creative director, are the two original founding partners. Rounding out the team are Raffi Siyahian, executive VP, and Stegall as executive director of strategy, who were brought on board a few years after Scout was founded in 1999. Both Siyahian and Allen are veteran healthcare marketers with expansive experience across multiple therapeutic categories. Having partners to share responsibilities in each location and support each other makes it work, executives say.
In the fall of 2014, when, due to growth beyond what was anticipated, the downtown Chicago office had to move into new digs twice within a few months, agency leaders say. The employees joked for a while that they never even used their landlines but stuck to their mobile phones, as they seemed to be moving around so frequently. According to executives, “’It’s like an agility course around here. Have phone, will travel,’” is their motto.
The partners explain, “We have three independent offices, all with full-service capabilities. Yet there is incredible interconnectivity. Geography and time zones have disappeared with technology. Our employees say ‘It doesn’t matter if someone is across the hall, on another floor, or in another state anymore. We work together. It’s the new virtual office, and it works.’ ” How they achieve this level of teamwork begins with trust, and a very strong foundation.
As a result of the new business wins and continued organic growth, Scout is always on the lookout for talented individuals who are ready to jump, feet first, into the opportunity to do bold, memorable work. “Oh, and if they like dogs – all the better,” executives say.
Future plans
“Our philosophy is that what we do with our clients today determines our tomorrows,” Stegall says. “And the longevity of our client relationships tells us that we’re doing well. But we never relax in the comfort of that reality.” Scout executives also believe the best way to predict the future is to create it. So while Scout appears to be an agency that is future-focused, it is also definitely living in the moment.
Philanthropy/citizenship
Year after year, Scout supports the ASCPA, one of its pet charities. Agency leaders say stroll the halls of any of the three locations and you will see subtle touches of dog fandom everywhere – from the snack bowls to the tiny sculptures on the conference room tables, to the names of the conference rooms themselves.
Beyond all things canine, Scout participated in this past year’s ALS Ice Bucket Challenge, which overtook the whole nation and even parts of the globe.
Scout also offers clients the opportunity to give a gift directly to their preferred charities each year. These recipient groups are often organizations that are focused on the health conditions around which the agency’s or clients’ work revolves. Scout is also actively chasing worthy organizations and making its services available on a pro bono basis. As the partners put it, “It’s what any good agency does.”
