by Lauren Silver on January 26, 2012
I raved about my office space in my last blog. Yes, I was in bliss, nestled among the printers and prints, the boxes and bits, and, of course, the files. I embraced the windowless “catch-all” room that contained all the production materials plus the jumble nobody wanted in their offices, but nobody felt like tossing.
Little did I know there was something better out there. Something in the form of… this:
"The Pit" -photo by Scott Porter
GCG-ers now have it all in our new office on West 7th Street, from our lovely kitchen, to our office kegerator, to our comfy chairs. Our office is the entire floor of the building and we’re surrounded by all the cool places to eat lunch. We have a war room for little meetings and a conference room for big meetings. We have working air conditioning. In fact, it works so well that most of us (well, the girls) have fuzzy blankets at our desks.
Now you may be thinking, “Yes, well, this office cannot be the office of all offices because everyone does not have an OFFICE.”
I admit that many of us were skeptical at first about giving up our own rooms. But this half walled-cubicle set-up has boosted synergy and communication. Plus, each space comes with this:
"Guest Accommodations" -photo by Scott Porter
A friendly cushion for placing one’s haunches when you’re talking to your office mate. How nice.
Of course, as the lowly intern, I have been at GCG for the second-least amount of time. The impressiveness of this office likely doesn’t mean nearly as much to me as it does to a few other employees around here.
“When I first started at GCG on the West Freeway, I had no window.
When we moved 20 years ago to Summit Ave., I got a window. A really big window with a view of the West Freeway.
In my new office on West 7th, I not only have a window, I also have a glass wall at the front of my office with a view of the beautiful open area where amazing people fuel the creative engine that is GCG.
In some ways, it’s still like the freeway. The GCG folks I see every day know where they are going, and they exceed the speed limit fairly frequently. If traffic is backed up, they know how to go around. If they get into trouble, somebody quickly shows up to help. And fortunately, they don’t collide with each other nearly as often.
It’s a great view.”
-Becky Johnson
Medical Education Director
GCG Healthcare
GCG-er for 25 years
“The other day I drove down Greenleaf, the little street where my first GCG office was located and where I began working right out of school. On that day, I saw that the old building had been completely demolished, and the wave of nostalgia I felt made me sad. You see, I like to hold onto things. (I still have my first office calculator and the old typewriter I used before we got computers.)
I absolutely love everything about our new office on West 7th St., which happens to be only a few blocks from Greenleaf. We haven’t come far in distance, but in so many other ways we are light years down the road from where we started.”
-Dede Echols
Accounting Director
GCG-er for 27 years
“I’ve been here long enough to see three new offices and this one is by far the best. One of the best things about our new office is that it looks like a creative office and feels like a creative office. Visually, it’s much more powerful and it creates a lot of positive energy, which is also reflected in our team. When I first walked into our new space, I felt like it was in a thriving design district in L.A. or Miami.”
-Brian Wilburn
Senior Art Director
GCG-er for 24 years
So we’re kicking off a new year in new digs, and we’re extremely happy with our new space. From our desks with a view of Montgomery Plaza, we’ll continue to produce fantastic work in a little more inspirational environment.
by Kelsey Gentry on January 9, 2012
For my first trip abroad, I don’t know that I could have picked a better place! Italy is such an amazing country with a wealth of great history, art, food, and (of course) wine! I was so excited when my husband and I decided to travel there for our honeymoon. Our first destination was Rome. We saw so many things: the Colosseum, the Pantheon, the Spanish Steps and the Vatican (just to name a few.) Click the pictures for a larger view!
The Colosseum
Newlyweds at the Colosseum
The Pantheon
The Spanish Steps in Rome
People on the Spanish Steps
Trevi Fountain
We also went to a great pizza spot: Da Baffetto.
Authentic Italian Pizza
Texas Pride in Italia
We really loved the sticker on the front door – even the Italians love Texas!
Our next stop was Siena, which is a beautiful place that is kind of unknown to many travelers. It was quiet, which was perfect for us after being in the bustling city of Rome.
Piazza del Campo in Siena
One of our favorite experiences in Siena was visiting the Duomo, one of the most beautiful, intricately built cathedrals I have seen. I think the pictures can explain much better than I can!
The Duomo in Siena
Details of the Duomo
Last, but definitely not least, was Florence. This beautiful city includes the Piazza della Signoria, the Uffizi and the Galleria dell’Academia, which is home to Michelangelo’s David. People waiting to see David stood in a line that stretched around the entire building. Unfortunately, we weren’t allowed to take pictures of the famous statue, but we did get some pretty photos of places around Florence.
Sculptures in Florence Piazza
River View in Florence
by Crystal Cardwell on December 2, 2011
Food is something that is easily taken for granted on a day-to-day basis, but for many it’s a newfound passion around the holidays. It’s funny to see folks really display a sense of pride when cooking their favorite holiday dishes. Betty has her favorite glazed ham, while Peter dazzles his office with his special eggnog.
Cooking has always been a tradition in my family. We eat together, pray together and fight for the last buttermilk biscuit. My dad used to say, “We always cook for a gang of folks because our food attracts a gang of folks.” He would rather cook too much than too little. My family and I grew up with very little, but my dad would hide it well. He often said, “If we have eggs, milk, flour and butter, we can eat like kings.”
My family taught me how to make everything from scratch, so I could see where the finished masterpiece came from. My grandmother would mix in some words of wisdom along with the ingredients, like “It is not so much where you came from but how you turn out that matters.”
‘Tis the season to be thankful for your family and enjoy every moment you are able to spend with them. Unfortunately, my family is out of state and my grandmother has passed, but that has never stopped me from keeping the kitchen working overtime. I roll up my sleeves and whip up a batch of milk gravy and biscuits and I’m right back in that precious woman’s kitchen. The holidays remind me to slow down, savor the warmth of family, and – oh, yes – take a little pride in what comes out of my kitchen.
by Lindsay Hendon on November 17, 2011
Sometimes you just have to get away … surround yourself with some dirt and sticks, and reset for a bit.
I grew up surrounded by dirt and sticks … and pigs and old trucks and barbed wire fences and open pasture. At the time I just wanted to get out of Small Town, Texas. But now, some time in the country is the perfect remedy to a deadline-driven, traffic-jammed, prepackaged-groceries life in the big city.
My husband, Scooter, and I knew we were getting close when we ran over a skunk just before the turnoff to County Road 402. Febreeze can’t touch skunk musk, I’m just sayin’.
There wasn’t much on the agenda for the weekend, aside from a few early-morning garage sales and stocking up on firewood to bring back to our big city fireplace.
With Dad driving us around in his Chevy, we searched for mesquite – “It’ll keep you warmer than oak,” he says. I had to continue to knock on the back glass, letting Mom and Scooter know, as they sat on the tailgate, to duck because low branches were coming. We also found, and dug up, a few small cedar trees to bring back for our front entryway.
Dad pointed out the wild pig wallow, the deer rubs and the place he had spotted the biggest bobcat he’d ever seen the week before. We stopped at the pigpen – “That’s Peewee, he’s the runt,” Mom says.
All that running around got us hungry. What was for lunch? Brisket and pork butt that Dad had spent the entire day before cooking on his pit, and Mom’s homemade mustard potato salad. And what was for dinner that night and then lunch and dinner the next day? Well, brisket, pork butt and potato salad, of course. What else is there?
Car loaded with cedars, firewood, mason jars of homemade salsa and the pork butt bone for the dogs to enjoy later, it was time to leave. Time to cross two cattle guards, two creeks, head down the caliche road and back to the highway toward the big city where you hear fewer “yes ma’ams” and more car horns.
As I sit here writing, listening to my “Grandpa Lee” Pandora station, a station made of up of songs by Conway Twitty, Johnny Cash and Red Sovine, I’m inspired to hold on to that part of who I am. So I’m back in the big city with a bit more fresh air in my lungs, a few more bug bites than I’m used to and a clearer perspective of my roots … roots still surrounded by dirt and sticks.
by Scott Porter on October 25, 2011
“It’s like a new pair of underwear: at first it’s constrictive, then it becomes a part of you!”
– Garth Algar
GCG has moved. Some 19 years after occupying our Summit Avenue office building, we packed up and moved about a mile down the road to our new space on West Seventh Street. It was… interesting going through nearly two decades’ worth of accumulated paper, files, ad samples and miscellaneous junk, deciding what to keep and what to toss.
But now, with the dust settling and everyone wiggling fresh butt grooves into their new chairs, we can breath a sigh of satisfaction, glad to finally be in our new space. Sparkling clean and made to order, we can be proud to entertain visitors for the first time since the Bosnian war. It will, however, take some getting used to, especially for the handful of GCG-ers who were here for the last move.
In early 2012, we’ll be throwing a full-on office-warming party, so those of you within travelling distance can come see the place and help us put our new kegerator through its paces. For now, we’re unpacking with one hand and marketing with the other.
With the first day almost done and the orange crates mostly empty, things are looking pretty good if not completely finished yet. We’re excited to get to show you the new digs, so stay tuned.
by Kelsey McDaniel on October 14, 2011
After driving by countless times and seeing the GCG letters plastered on the side of the building – and hearing from my fiancé, “You should work there!”- It is a great feeling to finally be part of the GCG team.
From my first interview with Allyson and Kelsey, I knew this would be a great place to work and jumpstart my career. My first impression was that GCG had a hardworking environment with a laidback atmosphere, mostly because Neil had been enjoying a Rahr beer during my second interview. A few days after my second interview, I received a call from Kelsey, who told me I got the job. That was the best news I could have gotten that day, seeing as it was my birthday! Two weeks later I was starting my first day as an account coordinator at GCG!
My name is Kelsey McDaniel and it is now my fourth week as “the new” account coordinator. After working out the minor detail of being Kelsey number two, and working through a few nicknames, I have now been dubbed “K-Mac.” Though I have worked in the marketing realm before, everyone has been so friendly in helping me transition into this new position. It has been a whirlwind of learning, routing, meetings, and learning some more.
Here at GCG no day is the same as the day before. Every day is a new day and a new opportunity to gain insight and understanding about the world of marketing. Priorities are always shifting as the days seem to fly by. One minute you’re in a meeting and the next you’re trying to keep track of all your job jackets. The hardest part for me to grasp up to this point has been the process of routing. Like a day at GCG, it too is something that is never exactly the same on a day-to-day basis. From copywriter, to proofing, to creative, back to copywriter, I am learning how to keep track of where and what’s being done to each job. I am slowly but surely grasping the concept, and Kelsey has been great about walking me through each step.
All in all, GCG has welcomed me with open arms, and I couldn’t be happier to be part of a great team of people who are always willing to help me. I look forward to my future at GCG!
by Lauren Silver on September 8, 2011
It’s time to write my first post! I’m Lauren, and I’m the new Account Services Intern at GCG. I graduate from TCU in the spring and I’m interested in account planning and consumer research. I enjoy Taekwondo, reading and seeing new places.
When Cody wrote his “new intern” post, he talked about being nervous during his first visit to GCG. I guess he figured he’d help me settle in by sticking helpful post-its all over my computer, some that have been lifesavers, and others that include the likings of, “Never look Megan in the eye. Trust me.” After seeing these, along with his smiling GCG headshot checkered only about a million times all over my desktop, I felt quite welcomed.
Seeing all that was confirmation that I’d be happy here, because I like working in what I call an ”unconventional professional environment.” I’m of the opinion you can write funny sticky notes, wear jeans to work, have action figures on your desk, or sit on an exercise ball at your computer and still be a ripping good professional and productive member of society.
After all, it makes the job much more fun.
My office is the production room, which I love. It also is the storage room with all the creative supplies and endless amounts of files. Basically I have my own cluttered nest that overlooks the creative production, and is right down the hall from the account executives interacting with clients.
Essentially, things are happening all around me, and it’s a great feeling to be in the middle of it all.
Plus, being a perpetually cold person (literally, not metaphorically), this is the warmest room in the place. I’m next to all the printers, and here is where everything, literally everything, is plugged in.
The people here are great to work with. Everyone has been so wonderful when helping me out this week, especially Kelsey and Megan. Allyson always makes me feel like she’s super happy to see me. Brian was all too nice when he kindly told me that I forgot the attachment on my first ever company-wide email. That won’t be happening again…
The work. It’s always changing, which is how I like it. So far I’ve attended an AAF luncheon, begun the process of wiping and restoring computers and opened a ton of jobs. I’ve translated my Spanish notes for research for a potential client. I’ve even helped with a few small projects for clients. I can say that I’m definitely getting a taste of the real world here.
After a great time working for a magazine, I am fully excited to learn the workings of an agency setting. I know this will be a fantastic and enlightening experience and I look forward to seeing what’s in store for me at GCG!
by admin on August 4, 2011
Hello again.
I hope you’ve been having a great summer. I certainly have.
These past three months have flown by and I have GCG to thank for that. Today is August 1, the first day of my last month as GCG’s summer intern. Despite not being able to sleep in until noon everyday (which was a key part of my college career), I’ve had a great time here and I’ve learned more during my internship than I ever thought I would (including how to wake up in the morning).
Out of everything I’ve learned, the most important thing is that as difficult as things may seem at first, you will always learn how to do them quicker than you thought you would.
This has been a huge part of my internship. I’ve had several opportunities to step out of my comfort zone and I’m incredibly thankful for that. My first week, I was completely overwhelmed by the process of “opening” a job. I assumed this was made my responsibility to see how quickly I would throw my computer across the room.
I had the entire process memorized in a week.
Despite not throwing my computer, my internship was still an exciting one. One of the most exciting parts was having the opportunity to research potential clients and to help write proposals with the other account executives. I even had the opportunity to go to Irving with Crystal and Neil for a new business pitch.
It didn’t end successfully, but we did go eat sushi afterwards. And I learned what a Bento Box is.
Sushi aside, being a part of the account services team has been awesome. Because of the constant meetings and new projects popping up all around the office, I’ve gotten to know everyone very well, especially Kelsey, Allyson, Megan, Lindsay and Crystal. Sometimes it was tough being the only guy on the AE team. I learned more about Alexander Skarsgård and Glee than I may have liked to, but I also learned how a good AE handles clients. It’s a juggling act that includes everything from conducting market research to informing the art directors that the shade of gray used on the second revision out of 50 is actually the correct one. And it changes everyday.
It’s a tough job, and I’m very lucky to be around people who are great at it.
I’ve had an amazing time at GCG and I can’t wait to see what happens next. There are a lot of great opportunities out there and I have GCG to thank for helping me reach the next step.
To my successor, no matter what you’re working on, put it in GCG format. Helvetica Neue UltraLight and Berkeley Book.
Thanks, GCG.
by Megan Murphey on July 27, 2011
Everyone’s heard the cliché that women love to shop, but how many women love to grocery shop? Call me weird, but I actually enjoy getting groceries (chalk it up as a side effect of too much Food Network).
What I absolutely hate is checking out. I inevitably pick the slowest moving line, smack-dab behind the last surviving person who still pays by check. Thinking I’ll outwit the system, I head for the self check-out – only to get stuck behind “guy-with-300 items,” now 80% more annoying because he can’t work the kiosk.
If only there were some magic, portable device enabling me to check out as I shop! Thanks to modern technology, there is: it’s called Scan It! It also offers marketers some seriously cool advertising options. Here’s the rundown on the best features of this super supermarket gadget:
Image courtesy of The Wall Street Journal
- It Simplifies: With Scan It!, there’s no need to wait in line or unload/reload your groceries at a kiosk. Just pick up a scanner at the front of the store, wave it in front of an item, and voila! You bag as you go and the device keeps a running total! At the end of your supermarket spree, simply take Scan It! to the payment station and upload your bill. The only thing Scan It! doesn’t do is buy!
- It Saves: Not only does Scan It! save time, it saves money. The device entices shoppers with coupons based on their Wi Fi-determined location within the supermarket. This is a golden opportunity for advertisers. Imagine you’re on the frozen foods aisle about to do anything for a Klondike bar. Ads for $0.75 off Ben & Jerry’s “Phish Food” pop up on your scanner and you have to bite. Marketers can even target competitors’ customers by offering them larger discounts or turn off ads if the shopper isn’t responding. Potential customer on aisle five!
- It Synthesizes: Scan It! links to your shopping history via your grocery store’s loyalty card. For you, this means coupons you’re more likely to use – for marketers, it means $ because they’re able to strategically target promotions and spur brand loyalty. It’s also a great data-mining tool with a wealth of demographic info.
Most importantly…
- It Sells: According to The Wall Street Journal, shoppers who use Scan It! spend about 10% more than their regular check-out counterparts. This is probably because Scan It!’s portability and coupons encourage impulse buys. Cha-ching!
Phone image courtesy of Modiv Media
And now, it’s mobile! Modiv Media, the software manufacturer behind Scan It!, recently launched an iPhone app that turns smartphones into the Scan It! device – no handset needed. Shoppers simply install the app and take a picture of their loyalty card with the phone’s camera, enabling them to use the camera to scan barcodes. As a bonus, the app allows shoppers to view coupons at home as well as at the store.
Sadly for us Texans, the days of lineless grocery trips aren’t here yet; Scan It! devices are mostly found in Stop & Shop supermarket chains in the Northeast. The good news is that Motiv is licensing the app to retailers nationwide, so soon we could all be scanning ’til we drop.
If you’re hungry for more about supermarket advertising, check out these links:
by admin on July 14, 2011
My recent trip to the Windy City was subject to a great deal of meticulous planning. Which sites should I visit? Where and what should I eat? Which day should I attend the Cubs game? I ultimately made all the important decisions, and I have to say that I am extremely pleased with the end result of the trip.
One line item, however, eluded my to-do list, yet still managed to work its way into the trip: viewing and analyzing big-city advertising.
Research holds that the average person is subjected to upwards of 3,000 advertising messages per day. This saturation has led to the development of a “sixth sense” of sorts: the human ability to develop blinders for ads. The more ads we see, the better we get at ignoring them. The question was: Would I be able to block out advertisers’ messages in a new, unfamiliar environment, even when my scanning eyes were focused on taking in all of the city’s sights?
The answer was a resounding “yes.”
During my four full days in Chicago, I witnessed a plethora of ads: painted ads on buildings, program ads at the baseball game, taxicab ads, bus ads, train ads, storefront ads, radio ads, TV ads, and so many more. Chicago has ads coming out of its… well, you get the picture.
So out of all these ads, how many truly struck a chord with me enough to remember? Just one, and it was really more of an interactive experience than a one-way advertisement. Who was the ad for, you ask? It was none other than Sensodyneâ Pronamelâ toothpaste. Odd choice, I know.
So what was it about this particular brand experience that resonated with me? If I had to put it into a single word, it would be relevance, which stemmed from the placement of the advertisement at the Taste of Chicago food festival. After all, what do you need after a full day of bingeing on the city’s finest culinary offerings? That’s right: toothpaste (or so I hope).
When my two friends – both ad guys – and I happened upon the Sensodyne booth at the event, we all stopped, looked at the setup and said, “Huh, that’s great targeting.” Yep, we’re really that cool.
The effectiveness of Sensodyne’s presence was apparent from the crowd of interested festivalgoers congregating within and around the booth, many of whom were taking photos with their cell phones. There were Sensodyne brand representatives engaging and educating passersby on the benefits of brushing with Sensodyne, as well as interactive monitors set up around the area for people to touch and play with in order to learn more about proper oral hygiene. They even distributed free samples. All in all, it was an extremely effective, coordinated effort linking product, venue and consumer.
So what did I glean from this experience? When it comes to marketing and advertising – especially in an environment with a high density of both consumers and advertisements competing for their attention – relevance is the key to being remembered. If your product or service doesn’t fit into the lifestyles of consumers in attendance and the specific venue (or medium), or the values of the event itself, your brand will be overlooked.
So now that we’ve covered the intellectual portion of my trip, here is some eye candy from the 1,100+ photos I took. Chicago is, after all, a beautiful city! Enjoy.
