September update

This month:

Noah returns
Trendwatching
What's it all about, Aldi? (End-of-month drinks)

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Noah returns
The Collective are delighted to welcome Noah Ykealo back to the office now that Casper has returned to Finland to complete his studies.
Noah will be taking over where Casper left off, looking after intake of new freelancers and assisting Sandra and Wilma with handling jobs. You can contact Noah by email noah@thecollective.net

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Trendwatching
For those who haven't already discovered it, trendwatching.com is a fabulous place to keep up with trends and associated marketing ideas from around the world. It's a useful source of inspiration to keep your creative ideas on the ball.

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What's it all about Aldi?

This is the theme for this month's drinks, due to take place on Friday 26th September.

Date: Friday 26th September 2008

Place: The Jack Stafford Collection (below The Collective)

Vijzelstraat 67, Amsterdam

Time: 18:00 - 21:00

*This is a reference to the theme tune for the 1960s film Alfie, starring Michael Caine.

A Copy, a Client, his Product and its Naming

The following article was kindly supplied by Collective Copywriter Daniela Ferrando.


Ok, the title of this post sounds kind of next Peter Greenaway’s movie. But I’ll be less symbolic.
As a copywriter – I am Italian and mainly work in my native language, plus I transcreate from English – when I’m asked to produce product naming proposals, I love it.

You know the steps: meeting/calling/skyping (for a briefing), brainstorming, creating, comparing, researching, writing, shortlisting, checking domain/patent availability, and… presenting to the client? Presenting what?

A detailed document commenting every proposal for the client to check it and rationally choose, feeling super-supported and advised?
A maieutic document, i.e. a pertinent list of proposals with minimal comment, e.g. just some etymology, for the client to enjoy and to share the pleasure of rediscovering his own product?
A bare list for the client to make his marketing decision without feeling influenced?

I happened to prepare last week a very commented and detailed set of product naming proposals.
I did so because the client wasn’t Italian, but wanted an Italian professional to work on his product.
I thought I had to make him sure about the meaning, the tone, the scope, the etymology, the nature of my proposals, and maybe also about my favourite names – which I normally hide in a note, preferably a final, fine printed note.
This is my usual approach.
Well, it was too much to him.
When I adjusted my proposals after a first feedback, I cut most of the comments away and just grouped my naming proposals by concept. It worked.
By the way, he told me he had already received a bare list for a parallele part of his product naming project from another copywriter. A bare list to enjoy.

Once more, I learnt how many modulations exist under a simple and usual request for a copywriter.
What do YOU produce and present when you work on product naming?

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Daniela Ferrando - Milan, Italy

August drinks

As you might expect, August is a quiet month for news.

However, life goes on and we hope some of you will be able to join us for our end of the month drinks.

This month we'll be gathering at Café van Leeuwen, which you'll find at the junction Utrechtsestraat/Keizersgracht http://www.cafevanleeuwen.nl/

Date: Friday 29th AugustTime: 18.00 - 21.00

We hope to see you there!

LOOKING THROUGH FREELANCE EYES

Israeli, Russian-born copywriter Arkadi Mazin discusses the state of advertising in Russia in comparison with her former Soviet neighbours.

What makes it so bad?

Russia is a huge developing market and it's experiencing a consumer boom. Nearly all international brands have already jumped in. Visit Moscow - and you will easily feel this rush, this flow of free money everywhere. Advertising budgets are enormous; salaries in the industry may exceed those in UK. One can expect to see some decent advertising. But the fact is it can hardly be found in today's Russia.

You don't have to believe me, there's plenty of proof around. Firstly, Russia's collection of Cannes Lions and other prestigious awards is almost non-existent. Secondly, local creatives themselves never miss a chance to criticize the overall level of Russian advertising at their Internet communities and forums www.adme.ru, www.sostav.ru and www.advertka.ru being the "big three") and to ask for a thousandth times a rhetorical question: "When we'll start making such ads here?" (referring, of course, to new Western campaigns).

Everyone, naturally, has someone to blame, be it bosses, clients or TA. Thirdly, the site AdMe www.adme.ru regularly invites prominent Western professionals to express their opinion on Russian advertising. Believe me, you don't want to be a Russian creative reading one of these reviews.

It took me a while to understand why things are so bad for Russian ad industry. I came to a conclusion not before I spent thousands of hours creating ads for this market, talking to clients, tracking numerous campaigns - and not before I looked around Russia, at Belarus, Ukraine, Baltic States. It allowed me to see a clear division: Russian and Belarusian advertising is awful, Ukrainian is much better and the three small Baltic States simply rock. Can the exact match with the politics be a coincidence? I mean, Russia and Belarus are experiencing a rollback to the totalitarian rule - and it happened before the westernization in these countries made any considerable progress. Ukraine had stumbled not once on this rocky road, but today its advance seems fast and secured. Baltic States had long ago become truly European.

There's this fundamental division: Western individualism and humanism against totalitarian collectivism. In the West we put an individual in the center in every sense. We make it our idol. In my opinion, that's where the roots of modern Western advertising are. We cherish the individual and thus we are eager to learn his psychology, to understand his true needs, which, as we know, are more emotional than rational. Western advertising makes its progress constantly looking for even more subtle and advanced emotional insights and techniques. This is our path.

But it is clearly not the case in Russia. They are just unwilling to dig deep enough. Talking to Russian creatives, I often sense their disregard or even contempt for that guy, the average consumer. You can't make good advertising that way. Of course, clients are plagued with the same problem. At the end we have ads that are coarse, arrogant and overall weird for the Western eye. Nothing alike the subtlety, warmth and wit that we see in today's Western advertising.

Another problem is the consumer himself is not ready yet for the different advertising. It takes two to tango towards Western cultural codes. So in the choice an international advertiser willing to enter Russian market would face - to just adapt the copy or to create a standalone Russian campaign with one of the local agencies - none of the alternatives seems perfect to me. Probably, the right thing to do would be to somehow make two agencies, the Western and the Russian, to work together - and to hope for the best.

Arkadi Mazin - Russian-speaking copywriter living in Israel.

Looking Through Freelance Eyes - by Martin Mol

Ever wondered how agency life in The Netherlands compares to that in Slovenia? Conceptual Copywriter Martin Mol has a foot in both worlds and shares his thoughts.

This article by Martin Mol was published on www.thecollective.net in June 2008

"In Slovenia I see Onno walking every day"

I work and live in Slovenia and in Holland. It depends on which agency is asking at that moment. It also depends on the weather forecast. That's true… that's my freelance privilege.
The downside for me is that it is sometimes a little bit hard, changing every time country and culture. The differences between East and West are huge. The wall is already down a long time ago and yes… we are one Europe. Here are some anti-magnetic Ad differences between Holland (NL) and Slovenia (SI)

• In NL most of the agencies thank you for doing a freelance job and in SI they say:" Hey man, be glad to have a job".
• In NL TBWA is a top creative agency and in SI TBWA is below average.
• In NL the age of a Creative Director is above 30 years and in SI the CD's are from 21 years on.
• In SI every freelance job is a pitch and in NL an agency does not give a pitch too fast to a freelancer.
• In SI traffic does not exist and in NL it is one of the most important departments in the agency.
• In SI we have a lack of marketing knowledge and in NL marketing rules.
• In NL we have a typical Dutch advertising humor and in SI they are still searching for their own Ad identity.
• In NL Onno (Dutch Rock & Roll Ad legend) is dead but in SI I see Onno walking daily.
• In NL you open a beer at five o’clock and in SI you drink a bottle of Refosk with lunch.
• In SI the national creative festival (SOF) is owned by a guy in the tie and in NL it is in the hands of the creatives themselves (ADCN).
• The score in nominations in Cannes last week: NL mentioned more than one time and SI only once. NL jury members: 5, SI: Guess how many?
• In NL the creative teams have one table with two chairs and in SI copy and art are working separately.
• In NL there is an advertising football tournament, an advertising beach volleyball event and an advertising long distance run and in SI Ad people do not meet in their free time.
• In NL some German agencies opened their stores last years and in SI the Germans have not arrived… yet.
• In NL the Ad magazine is published every week (Adformatie) and in SI it is out once a month with half of the amount of pages (Marketing Magazine).
Will East and West ever meet? In one same Europe? My little boy has a NL and a SI nationality. Here is my tip of the day: let’s make love without borders. Kinky!

Proost & Nazdravje!

July update

In this edition

Want to spend a month in the spotlight?
Help improve The Collective's search ranking
Sky Radio Run, 5th September
Join us at The Paradiso, 25th July

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Want to spend month in the spotlight?
Last month we launched our new website feature where one of our freelancers writes a short article about their views on the advertising world. Martin Mol got the ball rolling with his comparisons between a creative's working experiences in The Netherlands and in Slovenia. This month Arkadi Mazin looks at the evolution of attitudes in Russia compared to her neighbouring former Soviet states. Check it out on the home page http://www.thecollective.net/.

This feature is a great way to get your name in the spotlight in front of The Collective's clients as the column is also featured in the monthly newsletter we send to them. So if you would like to grab your moment of glory please contact Wilma to book your slot.

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Help improve The Collective's search ranking
With our new website up and running, we're doing all we can to make sure as many clients as possible get to see it. If you're familiar with the way internet search engines work (and most of you probably are!) you'll know that the more inbound links a site has the higher it ranks. We're therefore asking you to help us build up our link count, by adding a link from your own website to http://www.thecollective.net/.

Having a link from your site to ours will help improve your credibility by showing you are represented by an agent with such a high-calibre portfolio. You can link directly to your own profile, which will also get your name more visible on the web.

The more visible The Collective's site becomes the more likely we are to pull in new clients from around the world. You can work out for yourself why that's a good thing as far as you're concerned! So let's get a true Collective effort going to bring in work for one and all.

Here's what to do:
Contact Wilma to ask her for some text and a logo to use for the link.
To find your profile's URL you should use the search facility to find the page and then click your name as it is listed under the search results. You need to click on your name in the results list even if it is the only one and the page is already showing, because the page that is displayed when you first get the search results is shown on a generic URL and is not your profile's own URL. A correct profile URL will have a long number at the end of it and will look similar to this one http://www.thecollective.net/index.asp?m=9&c=122752395

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Sky Radio Run, 5th September
The Collective will be entering a team in this year's Sky Radio Run in Amsterdamse Bos on 5th September. This event sees 1500 people from the advertising world participate in either a 5km or 10km race followed by dinner and a party. A great networking opportunity, and as showers are provided you and your new contacts won't have to sweat all over each other the whole evening!

Start time 14.00 pm. See http://www.skyradiorun.nl/ for more details. Would you like to join our team? Contact Wilma.

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Join us at The Paradiso, 25th July
For our July social gathering we'd like to invite everybody to come and join us at The Paradiso (Weteringschans 6-8, Amsterdam - just off Leidseplein) for a live concert by The Collective's own Jasmine & The Jack Stafford Foundation.

They'll be performing songs from their new biographical album: TALL FOLKS FROM LITTLE BIG TOWN which is a collection of songs about characters they’ve encountered in Amsterdam. There’s the desperate housewife, the lonely stoner, the pimp, the protestor…even a few passing celebrities. Acerbic songwriting in the Ray Davies style, you might say.

The album is available for free download from http://www.jackandjasmine.com/.

Place: The Paradiso (kleine zaal - the smaller hall upstairs)
Date: Friday 25th of July
Time: From 21.00
Entrance: 7 Euros plus membership (3 Euros)

Meet us: In the bar on the 1st floor. Your first drink is on us!
See http://www.paradiso.nl/ for more details.

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Contact details
You can email Wilma at: wilma [at] thecollective [dot] net or call on (+31)(0)20-3205319

The Collective Team at "Reclame on the Beach"

(Left/Right) Jack Stafford, Casper van den Broek, Sandra van Gemert, Wilma Gijzen, Robert van de Ley, Erik Rolf

June update

In this edition:

All-new Monthly Drinks
Writing for The Collective website
Blow Your Own Trumpet
Party People
Soccer Stars
Next Up - Beach Volleyball

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All-new Monthly Drinks

Following the success of our Website launch/5 year anniversary gathering at P.King Cafe, we have decided to introduce a bit of variation to our monthly drinks by hosting at different locations. June's opportunity to network with potential creative partners will be held at: Kobalt Café, Singel 2A, Amsterdam http://www.cafekobalt.nl/ on: Friday 27th of June from: 18:00 to 21:00 In case you have any problem finding us inside the bar, please just ask the bar staff to point us out. Or you can call Wilma on 06-51612487.

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Writing for The Collective website
Our revamped site is up an running and already attractive the attention of new clients. As you see, it's now a real showcase for your talents.

Another feature we have just added is a column on the homepage which will be written by a different freelancer each month. Take a look at the first item - as supplied by Martin Mol - and let us know if you'd like to contribute something of your own.

It should be a short article - about 500 words - that clients will find stimulating to read and thereby be inspired to hire freelancers.

It can be about your views on the advertising world in general, an anecdote about daily life in an agency, a general brainstorm of things you think clients should be considering, it can be you blowing your own trumpet about why you are the best in the world at what you do! The important thing is that it's entertaining and informative enough for clients to choose to read it. Otherwise you're wasting your own time!

Please contact Wilma to discuss your ideas and book your slot.

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Talking of blowing your own trumpet
Now you see how the new website promotes you, you will hopefully understand how important it is that you keep us updated with examples of new work and news about new triumphs such as awards nominations and pitch wins.
News such as this will be added to our home page and is also included on the monthly newsletter we send to clients in our database.
So don't be backwards in coming forwards, let the world know what you're up to!
Again, contact Wilma with news, profile updates and new work samples.

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Party People
Thanks to everybody who joined us at P.King Cafe to celebrate the launch of our new website and of course 5 years in business. We hope you had as good a time as we did! Here are a couple of pics of the evening.

Erik Rolf ( conceptual copywriter) and Dennis Zijlstra (art director)

Brandy Vaughan (copywriter) and Depikaa Shiromany (Designer)

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Soccer Stars
The Collective fielded a mixed team of admin and freelancers in The Lieverdjes soccer tournament on 31st May. We won a few, we lost a few, but overall were placed 17th out of the 49 competing teams. We didn't win any trophies but we all came home with a full complement of intact body parts!

(left/right)
Patrick van Haperen (conceptual copywriter)
Victor Mulder (art Director)
Casper van den Broek
Zoer Westerpark (from practice)
Fraser Bailey (conceptual copywriter)
Jack Stafford (middle)
Scott Smith (conceptual copywriter)

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Next Up - Beach Volleyball
The date for The Collective's foray into the glamorous world of beach volleyball is fast approaching! If you'd like to join us either as a player or spectator at The Safari Club, Zandvoort on 28th June, please get in touch with Wilma.

Full details can be found on http://www.reclameonthebeach.nl/ This promises to be a great all-round day out, and presents another opportunity for a spot of networking with fellow freelancers and clients.

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All-important contact details
To find out more about participating in any of the featured activities in this month's update, please contact Wilma. Her email address is wilma [at] thecollective [dot] net.
Sorry about the cryptic presentation. We're just a bit sick of being offered enlarged body parts and genuine watches.

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Don't forget to subscribe to our newsletter
If you haven't already done so, please register on our official mailing list so to receive updates to this blog by email. Register here http://list-manage.com/subscribe?u=fd01501e28167bbc99ec8680c&id=75ffee66cb

Spring into networking action!

Spring has truly sprung and The Collective are in celebratory mood. We've got a number of social events lined up, all of which are superb opportunities for you to mix and mingle with clients and fellow freelancers. Who knows, you may even talk your way into a job or two......

In this month’s edition:

Party time!
Tackle the clients
Vacancies for Group Creative Directors USA
And now..... volleyball

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Party Time!
As hotly anticipated, the all-new Collective website, complete with new logo and house-style is due to be unveiled at the end of May – yes, next week!
To mark this occasion - which just happens to coincide with the fact we’re also celebrating our 5th anniversary - we’re throwing a party to which all freelancers and clients are invited.

When: Thursday 29th May 2008
Time: 18.00 to 21.00
Where: P.King Café. Herengracht 515, Amsterdam. (Diagonally across the street from The Collective at the Vijzelstraat/Herengracht junction. )

(yes, this will also incorporate the end-of-the-month drinks)

Due to this being a big event for us and our expectation to receive many guests, PLEASE let us know if you plan to be there so we can ensure adequate supplies! RSVP by email to Wilma@thecollective.net


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Tackle the clients!
The Collective's soccer team are ready to tackle the advertising world's great and good at the Lieverdjes Toernooi on 31st May.
If you'd like to have a slice of the action either as a player or supporter then make sure you're there with us. Many agency and client contacts will be doing the very same...
Details can be found on http://www.adlieverdjestoernooi.nl/


Scott Smith (left) and Heinrich Vejlgaard (right - goalkeeper) in action at our most recent training session. If this pair can perform as well on the pitch as they do together at Strawberry Frog then The Collective team will be in with a shout!

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Vacancies for Group Creative Directors in USA
An agency has asked if we can fill not one, but 2 permanent Group Creative Director positions in Dallas, Texas. Can be either art or copy-based, although there is a preference for copy based applicants who can help push ideas. Both GCDs must be hands-on in terms of copy or art and willing to lead by example.

The agency is looking for candidates with attitude who see the position as a challenge and want to make things happen in a new way. Being already legally able to work in USA is a requirement. Package does not include relocation expenses. (The agency has hinted, however, that there may be leeway in the case of any truly exceptional candidates.)

Position 1
GCD to run retail and promotions business for Sony. Ideally somebody from a top agency or retailer who can work with the Group Account Director and can impress the hell out of the client with ideas, presentation and panache. Somebody with simple, dramatic retail thoughts who can integrate with film, interactive and other innovative work. Ideally an award winner from a top integrated agency, top voice in retail or technology account. Apple, Nike, Adidas etc. are all examples of suitable backgrounds.

Position 2
GCD for General Mills business. Needs to have solid food packaging, good retail and promo/grocery experience, but also needs to help agency grow into more integrated work. Again, from a top shop.

If you’ve got what it takes, including the Ten Gallon Hat, give The Collective a shout. Contact Sandra Sandra@thecollective.net or Casper casper@thecollective.net or call (+31) (0)20 3205319

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And now..... volleyball
The Collective is entering a team in the beach volleyball tournament at Safari Club, Zandvoort on 28th June. Full details can be found on www.reclameonthebeach.nl

This promises to be a great all-round day out, and presents yet more networking opportunities.
Let us know if you'd like to come along with us either as a player or 'just along for the ride'.

Our training schedule - for both players and spectators - involves joining in with the very sociable international casual-Volleyballers who play in Vondelpark on Sundays and Wednesdays (when weather permits). Please contact Wilma Wilma@thecollective.net for more details.

April Update

Spring is in the air and The Collective are preparing for action!
In this month's edition:

CREATIVE TEAMS REQUIRED - URGENT!!
TRANSCREATION
FOOTBALL CRAZY
LAUNCH PARTY
AFTERSHOW PARTY/END-OF-MONTH DRINKS
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CREATIVE TEAMS REQUIRED - URGENT!
We are urgently seeking 2 creative teams for a full-time position to work on projects at a large international agency in Amsterdam, starting in May. In both cases the candidates must have experience working on international accounts.

Team 1 needs:
1 x Native English Conceptual Copywriter / Copywriter
1 x Art Director. Any nationality but must be able to communicate well in English

Team 2 needs:
1 x Russian Conceptual Copywriter / Copywriter with 'westernised' skills
1 x Art Director. Any nationality but must be able to communicate well in English

If you're interested or know anybody who might fit the bill please contact Casper or Sandra at The Collective ASAP. We might even offer a reward to the person who finds us a suitable Russian candidate!

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TRANSCREATION
The past few months have seen a healthy interest from clients in transcreation, and to encourage more jobs of this type The Collective has put up a new one-page website http://www.transcreation.info/. Thanks to all of you who’ve indicated willingness to offer this service.

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FOOTBALL CRAZY
In February we announced that The Collective will be entering a team in The Lieverdjes soccer tournament, which takes place on May 31st.

Training will begin Thursday 17th April in The Westerpark, Amsterdam. Meet at 19:00 at the main entrance. We still have room for more players – anybody with two or more functioning limbs is eligible! If you’re interested you can just turn but it’s always nice to know who to expect - email info@thecollective.net.

(Yes, the pic is from last year - please ingore the date!)

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NEW COLLECTIVE WEBSITE – COUNTING DOWN
We plan to launch the all-new Collective website on Thursday 29th May. Many thanks to all who have sent in updated profiles. And those of you who haven’t yet – please do so. You know it makes sense!!

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LAUNCH PARTY
It would be nothing short of rude to re-launch The Collective’s main website without marking the occasion with a party. So a party we shall have!! Please “save the date” Thursday 29th May. We’ll be in touch soon with proper invites.

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AFTERSHOW PARTY/END-OF-MONTH DRINKS
This month’s end of month drinks are combined as an after-show party for the ADCN Awards which take place in Amsterdam on 24th April.

Date: Friday 25th April
Time: 17:00 till 20:00
Place: Vijzelstraat 67, 1017HG Amsterdam (The Jack Stafford Collection)

We appreciate that not all of you live anywhere near The Netherlands, let alone the centre of Amsterdam, but we do want you to know we think of you!

March Update

In this issue:

NOMINEES AND WINNERS
EASTER EGGS
END OF MONTH DRINKS
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NOMINEES AND WINNERS
The Collective is always delighted to receive good news to pass along, and this month we have two reasons to be cheerful:

Dennis Zijlstra has been nominated in the 'Best Crossmedia Campaign' for the Dutch webawards (spinawards) as part of the creative team on a project for the Secret Service (AIVD) (via EuroRSCG). For details see http://www.spinawards.nl/index.php/page/12?mod%5B63%5D%5Bcategory%5D=10&mod%5B63%5D%5Bsubmission_id%5D=282 and click on the video.

Martin Mol's reign as Pitch-Winning King shows no sign of ending as he has just won his 5th client pitch in a row! This time up against 5 other agencies for a big pharmaceuticals client in the Russian market. How does he do it? Martin can't resist a challenge and puts 200% effort into his work. This isn't the first time that one of his alternative 'off-brief' concepts has triumphed over his and others' 'on-brief' solutions.
Go Martin!!!!!!!!!!!

News such as this appears on the monthly newsletter we send to our clients, giving an extra boost to the freelancers concerned. So if you've got something impressive to share then don't keep it to yourself! Email your good news to Wilma wilma@thecollective.net.

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EASTER EGGS

Ah yes, another festive event, another reason to bestow gifts upon our clients to remind them that The Collective is the place to come to when they need freelancers.

This time Wilma did the honours with delivering the eggs to our clients, which were accompanied by a gift card for which Fraser Bailey supplied the copy “You crack the egg. We’ll crack the briefs”

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END OF MONTH DRINKS

March end of month drinks will be on Friday 28th March.
Usual time and place:
17:00 - 20:00
Vijzelstraat 67, Amsterdam

We've said it before but we'll say it again. The better we get to know you the better placed we are to match you with jobs that come our way. So show your face to get a head start! Hope you can make it!

February News

It’s all-change at The Collective next month as we prepare to launch our all-new website and welcome a new member of the administrative team.

In this issue:

Website
Freelancer profile forms
New staff member at The Collective
Anyone for Footy?
Valentine’s Promotion
Permanent vacancies
Keeping in touch
Drinks and wine tasting


Website
The all-new website is nearly complete and should be up and running in April. This will feature a new logo (a real talking point!) and house style plus more detailed freelancer profiles and improved search facilities.
Needless to say we’re really excited about it. Watch this space…..

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Freelancer profile updates
All freelancers on The Collective website should have received an email from us with a request to complete a new profile sheet. These are necessary to complete the more detailed profiles that will appear on the new website. If you don’t complete the (relevant) sections the new form asks for then your profile really won’t look very interesting!
This is a great opportunity to revamp your image and sell yourself.

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The Collective welcomes a new staff member
Wilma Gijzen will be joining The Collective from 26th February to work on marketing and promotion. An experienced project manager, Wilma brings with her a wealth of knowledge of the advertising industry to further strengthen the administrative team.

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Anyone for footy?
For the first time ever, The Collective will take part in The Lieverdjes - the annual football tournament for the Dutch advertising world.
If you have two or more functioning limbs (legs, arms, it doesn't matter) then we'd love to have you on the team, which will be coached by Janneke Huijnk.
The tournament takes place on May 31st and we will arrange some informal practice sessions. We will also be arranging for a few good players to join The Collective on a short-term basis!

Contact info@thecollective.net

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Valentine’s Promotion
February 14th presented The Collective with another opportunity for a spot of promotion.
We set about courting a selection of clients by delivering bouquets of a dozen roses.
With a slight twist on the traditional theme, these roses weren’t red, but rainbow coloured. How? Well that’s a closely guarded secret. Suffice to say that Miriam was able to obtain them through connections with the horticulture industry. In fact, she has an article about them published in the February edition of EasyJet’s in-flight magazine http://easyjetinflight.com/features/2008/feb/rainbow-roses.html (even if they did have a typo in her surname)

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Permanent vacancies
The Collective has been asked to find people for the following permanent positions.

Contact Casper casper@thecollective.net if you or anybody you know is interested.

Job Title: Copywriter/ Storyteller
An international communications company based in Amsterdam is looking for a conceptual thinker who knows how to write a brand story in a creative as well as a journalistic manner.


Job Title: Art director/ Style director
An international communications company based in Amsterdam is looking for a conceptual creative thinker with outstanding design skills capable of designing complete brand worlds.

Job Title: Account director (maar dan leuker)
“Agency” is op zoek naar versterking voor het accountteam, naar iemand die de verantwoordelijkheid wil nemen voor een aantal accounts binnen “Agency”, die mee kan denken op marketing-strategisch niveau, kan adviseren en daarnaast projecten binnen deze accounts kan managen.
Belangrijkste werkzaamheden zijn onder meer het meedenken op marketing-strategisch niveau; het inrichten en leiden van processen op de klant; het aansturen van de verschillende projectteams binnen “Agency” en de projectteams waarin de klant en eventueel andere externen zitting hebben; het bewaken van planningen en budgetten, het aansturen van en onderhandelen met derden namens de klant.
”Agency” is een informeel bedrijf met een platte structuur. Geen project van “Agency” is het zelfde. Grote mate van zelfstandigheid, loyaliteit, oorspronkelijkheid en gevoel van humor zijn belangrijke eigenschappen waar wij naar op zoek zijn.

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Keeping in touch
As the world of electronic communications continues to develop ever-more-complex methods to distinguish between welcomed and spam email, we are doing our best to keep up by asking freelancers and clients to register to approved mailing lists. This will help our messages to get to you and protect our own domain accumulating a high spam score.

If you want to continue to receive updates from The Collective (such as reminders when the new blog is published) PLEASE sign up to The Collective freelancer mailing list by clicking this link http://list-manage.com/subscribe.phtml?id=75ffee66cb

If you are a client you should register on the client mailing list instead http://list-manage.com/subscribe.phtml?id=0c7ae6a85a

Don't forget to confirm your registration by following the instructions on the email you'll be sent after submitting your details!

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February End of Month Drinks and Wine Tasting
It's not often we get to host our end-of-the-month drinks on 29th February, but this year we can!

And there are two extra special reasons to attend this month’s drinks.
The first being the opportunity to meet our new marketing and promotions lady, Wilma.

And the second...
Bacchus to Basics
Courtesy of Fraser Bailey, February's End-of-Month drinks will feature an informal wine tasting, with half decent wines from around the world. First come, first pissed.

Usual place, usual time:
Vijzelstraat 67, 1017HG Amsterdam
17.00-20.00
Friday 29th February
As ever, if you can let us know if you’re coming (Miriam@thecollective.net) it always helps!

January update

In this edition

Share the good news
Mailing lists
VARs
Permanent vacancy
Pay The Creative!
End of month drinks

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Got good news? Then don’t keep it to yourself!

Each month The Collective sends a newsletter to our agency client base with information about what’s new, who’s new and what’s new with who.

If you’ve got news about awards or pitches you’ve won then let us know and we’ll share that with our clients, giving you a nice bit of extra promo.

By way of an example, the following information was included in our most recent client newsletter:

>>>>
Our Conceptual Copywriters are the best!!
We kick off the new year with news of pitch and award wins for two of our Conceptual Copywriters.

Martin Mol continues to be the pitch-winning king. Having won two pitches for Renault Car Events and international pitch for Elan yachts end of 2007, he's won his thirrd pitch in a row. This time it's for Linxair, a company that hires luxury planes for business flights. (Martin's slogan: Linxair. Fly more than business class.) Martin made a total campaign concept from TVC to Direct Mail together with "a really crazy" new media idea for facebook,myspace...etc... So as he says, he can now drive (Renault), sail (Elan) and also fly (Linxair). Martin can't wait to take on his next project. Could it be yours?

Our other award winner this month is Phil Webb. His short film has won Best Short Film in the Moving Pictures Magazine 2008 Short film competition and Best Comedy at the 2008 London Short Film Festival . Phil will be at the Sundance Film Festival to pick up the Moving Pictures Magazine award in a couple of weeks time.

The Collective extends congratulations to them both.
<<<

So email your good news to Miriam@thecollective.net. Your on-line profile will also be updated with any relevant information.

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Mailing lists

All freelancers registered with The Collective should all have received an email inviting you to register to our new mailing list. Many of you have already done so, which is going to make things run a lot smoother in the future. Thank you.

If for any reason you are reading this but have not received the invitation/signed up to the new mailing list then please do so by going to the following URL: http://www.benchmarkemail.com/listbuildercustom.aspx?id=4858

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VARs

We are still waiting to receive 2008 VARs from a number of people. If you invoice us from The Netherlands and have not yet sent us a copy of your VAR for 2008 then please do so ASAP. You can download the application form from http://download.belastingdienst.nl/belastingdienst/docs/aanvraag_verklaring_arbeidsrelatie_al0931z7pl.pdf

If you don’t invoice from The Netherlands then you don’t need a VAR.

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Permanent vacancy for Senior Project-/Account Manager

A strategic design and communication company in central Amsterdam is on the hunt for a senior project/account manager. They need somebody who is fluent in Dutch, which is why we haven’t translated the following company description.

If you or anybody you know are interested, please contact casper@thecollective.net

”The Company” maakt organisaties beter zichtbaar, onderscheidend en toegankelijk. We creëren merkidentiteiten en campagnes en we ontwikkelen websites en documenten voor aansprekende opdrachtgevers binnen de overheid, non-profit en bedrijfsleven. Bij “The Company” werken 75 mensen. Kenmerkend is de informele, professionele sfeer waarin creativiteit en verbeeldingskracht centraal staan. “The Company” wil een inspirerende en betrokken partner zijn voor haar klanten.

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Pay the Creative!

This You Tube item should press a few buttons when it comes to reminding you of the value of your work… http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=mj5IV23g-fE

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End of month drinks

January’s end of the month drinks really will be at the end of the month, as we’re going to host it on Thursday 31^st January.

Time: 17:00-20:00

Location: Vijzelstraat 67, 1017 HG Amsterdam.

An RSVP email to Miriam@thecollective.net to let us know whether to expect you is always welcome!

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That wraps it up for this month. Just think, the days are getting longer again…………….

The Collective Team

Season's greetings

So the festive season is once again upon us. Hurrah!

Here in The Netherlands we've already been festive for a while, having welcomed the arrival of Sinterklaas and Zwarte Piet at the end of November.

Not wanting to miss out on the commercial opportunities afforded by traditional celebrations, The Collective sent 2 copies of its very own Zwarte Piet out on the road. Armed with sackfulls of pepernoten, bottles of port and customised chocolate letter "F"s, our dynamic duo spent a couple of days delivering sugar-laden treats to Amsterdam-based clients.
The things we do to get you work!


Zwarte Piet - Collective style. It's a Dutch tradition, honest!


Custom chocolate letters by that well-known chocolate manufacturer, Collective.

Any why did we give an "F"? Well that's a long story to do with a problem at the Droste factory which resulted in a shortage of our most obvious choice, "C". (Poor Casper was out of luck this year.) But necessity, as they say, is the mother of invention so we didn't miss a trick in justifying our substitute selection by presenting the following card together with the chocolate.




The Internationalists
The latest installment from the Internationalists was published in Adformatie recently and a hard copy version was mailed to our client base as a Christmas card. A chance to test your Dutch language skills.



Christmas dinner
It was great to see so many of you at last night's Christmas dinner.
Congratulations to our award winners:
Erik Rolf - Quickest response times
Fraser Bailey - Fastest phone calls
Cathy Scott - most blatant party animal

Next year it could be you - we're watching you...

If you enjoyed the wine you can thank Fraser for his selection. If you had a hangover after drinking wine at the party then you can blame Fraser.

If anybody has any pics to share, please let us know.


A job opportunity

The study Interactive / Media / Design at the Royal Academy of Art in The Hague is looking for people who can teach within one of the following disciplines:

Interaction design

Concept development

Cross media

Story telling & scripting

Media theory / media history

Marketing

Writing

They need people for the second semester of the second year (starts end of January/beginning February 2008) and for the first semester of the third year (starts September 2008).

If you or anybody you know is interested then please get in touch with us.

Message from across the pond
While Jack was having a quiet pint in a bar in Dallas (as one does) he was approached by a man who turned out to be none other than David Shanks. Coincidence or what? If you don't know David then don't have nightmares about it, but if you do then he sends his regards.

Merry Xmas!
And with that all that remains is to wish you all a very merry Christmas or any other holiday you may be celebrating and a prosperous 2008.

The Collective Team

Christmas dinner

An Evite was sent to all freelancers registered with The Collective (on November 14th) to this year's Christmas dinner, which will take place on December 19th.

If you didn't receive this Evite but would like to join us then please send an email to miriam@thecollective.net to let me know and I'll forward you the details.

Miriam

November end-of-the-month drinks

The Collective end-of-month drinks are ON again this Friday 30^th November.

Jack and Jasmine are still away in the USA but the show, as they say, must go on!

Sandra’s back so this is a chance for you to meet her or get re-acquainted if you already know each other.

Where: 67 Vijzelstraat, 1017HG Amsterdam – “The Jack Stafford Collection”

When: 17:00 to 20:00

What to bring: Yourself (and a friend/partner if you wish) We’ll provide beer, wine and nibbles.

Please RSVP to miriam@thecollective.net to give us an idea of how much stuff to buy.

More permanent jobs

It's been a busy few days for requests by clients to fill permanent positions.

Here are two more briefs we've been given, both for an Amsterdam-based organisation.

If you or somebody you know fits the bill then contact Sandra (sandra@thecollective.net) to find out more.

Location: Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Position: Associate Creative Director Digital
Company: A global advertising agency dedicated to making high quality video

Responsibilities:
Supervising and participating in the conception and execution of digital marketing and contributing to TV advertisements.

Defining a creative vision and setting the creative direction for digital advertisements and new product developments, working in a creative team to develop and implement media agnostic communication ideas for TV and digital advertising.

• Leading the creative development of new digital products to expand possibilities, working on the cutting edge of online video advertising

· Developing concepts for advertisement library and supervise production, using a unique process to develop high quantities of high quality ads

• Provide creative support to advertisement personalization process
• Manage the creative process to deliver digital projects on time and within budget
• Source and manage relationships with outside firms and freelancers to complete digital projects when necessary

The ideal candidate: will have strong conceptual and tactical skills and multi-tasking capabilities to work comfortably in a congenial, team oriented agency environment.

· Strong strategic and conception skills

· Creative bend of mind with strong visualization skills

· An advertising and digital marketing background

· Quick idea generation, ability to come up with ideas at a drop of a hat

· An understanding of Digital Marketing, Digital Media, Analytics, Internet Technologies and Trends

Location: Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Position: Copywriter / Concept developer (English native speaker)
Company: A global advertising agency dedicated to making high quality video

Responsibilities:
Development and implementation of communication ideas for TV and digital advertising.

· Develop concepts for advertisement library and supervise production, using a unique process to develop high quantities of high quality ads

· Provide creative support to the personalization process

· Support efforts to develop new advertising products and formats

Candidate requirements: A conceptual, ideas focused, strategic thinker with a passion for writing and everything creative, a great sense of humor and the ability to work within a team. This is an exciting opportunity to work within a forward thinking, innovative agency.

The ideal candidate will have strong conceptual and tactical skills and multi-tasking capabilities to work comfortably in a congenial, team oriented agency environment. The candidate has to be a native English speaker preferably from the USA.

· Strong strategic and conception skills

· Creative bend of mind with strong visualization skills

· An advertising background with an understanding of Internet Marketing

· Quick idea generation, ability to come up with ideas at a drop of a hat

· English native speaker; excellent command over the English language. Expert writing skills, editing and proof reading abilities.

November News

In this issue:

Team building
Jack’s road trip
Travel companion for Dubai opportunities
Transcreation – opportunities for copywriters
End of month drinks
Xmas dinner
Permanent position
Latest exploits from The Internationals
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Team building
Sandra has now returned to The Collective office to join Casper and Miriam. She’s working Wednesday-Friday each week handling jobs, thereby freeing up some of Casper’s time to improve the quality of our freelancers database – more about that later.
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Jack’s road trip
Jack and Jasmine are now on the US leg of their ‘world tour’, where all is going well for them. Watch this space for the full report, sometime at the end of December.
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Travel companion for Dubai opportunities
Copywriter Erik Rolf is looking for an art director to accompany him on a month-long work-seeking mission in Dubai. He says: "I've tried to find freelance work there via email, but everybody has the same advice: don't bother calling from Amsterdam, it doesn't work that way. Just go and it will be very easy to find work." So if you fancy a change of scenery, drop
Erik an email at hello@erikrolf.com.
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Transcreation – opportunities for copywriters
The Collective is going to add “Transcreation” to its list of disciplines in an attempt to encourage companies to improve the quality of translated texts by having their translations made and touched up by copywriters. If you would like a slice of this action please get in touch (Casper@thecollective.net) with info about which languages you are available to transcreate from and to. Casper will shortly be sending new profile sheets to all of our copywriters which will include a section for you to let us know which languages you would like to transcreate from.
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End of month drinks
November end-of-the-month drinks will take place on Friday 30^th November 5pm-8pm in the shop “The Jack Stafford Collection” at Vijzelstraat 67, Amsterdam. All are welcome. Jack and Jasmine will still be away, but the show must go on!

Please RSVP (Miriam@thecollective.net) to help us know how much wine/beer to get!
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Xmas dinner
All freelancers listed on our books will soon receive an invitation (via Evite) to this year’s Collective Xmas dinner. Save the date: Wednesday 19^th December.
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Permanent positions for Copywriters
Two of our clients has asked if we can find a copywriters for permanent positions. Please let us know (Sandra@thecollective.net) if you or anybody you know are interested.

The first is at an Amsterdam agency:

Copywriter:
A small but global agency in Amsterdam is in search of a strategic thinker with a flexible writing style, preferably a native English (or native-level English) speaker to:

-oversee multi-market integrated campaign executions (including TV, print, outdoor, and nontraditional media) for top international clients, with responsibility for all copy and script writing involved
-deliver cutting edge conceptual ideas and exceptional creative work

Candidate must have:
-excellent writing skills in both short and long copy
-a strong reel and portfolio with extraordinary work
-4 to 5 years of relevant experience gained from select global agencies working in different forms of media and across a variety of clients
-excellent sense of humor
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The second is at an agency in Frankfurt


Copy Writer (English native speaker)
Responsibilities:
Development and implementation of communication ideas for all mediums: TV, print, radio, interactive and DM for a global FMCG account

Skills:
Extensive experience as a copy writer in an advertising agency preferably on FMCGs; strong strategic and conceptional skills; good knowledge of holistic communications and communication channels eg. online-media; English native speaker
____________

Latest exploits from The Internationals
A new cartoon featured in the 8^th November edition of Adformatie


_________

Web visitors during October = 2934

October end of month drinks

The Collective end-of-the-month drinks are ON again this Friday.

This is a special occasion for a number of reasons:

- it's the FIRST end-of-month drinks at our new location in Vijzelstraat
- it's the FIRST time most of you will get to meet Casper and Miriam
- you'll get to see Jack's new shop and even try on his suits
- you'll get to catch Jack & Jasmine during their brief layover in The Netherlands between their Germany and USA tours.

What more could you wish for?

The all-important details are:
Address: Vijzelstraat 67, 1017HG Amsterdam
Date: Friday 26th October
Time: 17:00

See you then!

COLLECTIVE NEWSLETTER: September review

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Naked poodle
Tax matters

Opening postponed
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Naked poodle review

Jack hosted the naked poodle creativity contest in Amsterdam last week and it went very well. It was part of the Picnic crossmedia event and 12 teams had to come up with an ad in half an hour. Take a look at http://www.thenakedpoodle.com/ and vote for your favourite.

VARs
You can already apply for your VARs for 2008. If you invoice us from Holland then you need a VAR as proof of your freelance status. We can’t pay your invoices without it. It’s easy to get one.

Emails for the taxman
A message from our accountant: “Many people do not think about saving there emails. In Holland it is an obligation to save your books and paperwork at least 7 years, this includes e-mails correspondence. Saving this could be important if you enter into a discussion with the tax office. Question, of course what is the importance of saving my e-mails? You can discuss about this but an important issue is the fact that the obligation of proving something is with the tax office. However if someone did not keep all of his records the tax office is allowed to turn around this obligation. Meaning you have to prove you are right and that can be tricky if you did not save you e-mail. So, be careful with what you throw away!”

Office opening postponed
Unfortunately the office opening has to be postponed until early next year. The scaffolding outside won’t be removed until then and our new logo, sign and housestyle won’t be finished until then.

Webhits
1971

Newsletter supplement

Naked Poodle

On Thursday Jack is hosting The Naked Poodle – a brainstorming competition which is part of Picnic, Amsterdam's crossmedia week. They need three more teams for the competition, so if you'd like to enter please let me know ASAP. Spectators also welcome. This is a partner event so you don't have to be paid up for the Picnic Conference to attend.

For more about The Naked Poodle, http://www.thenakedpoodle.nl/

For more about Picnic, http://www.picnicnetwork.org/

Full-time in UAE

An agency in the United Arab Emirates is involved in some significant new business but are really short of good people. They are looking for young web designers, print designers and a young writer. If you know anyone please get in touch. Ideally people with hotel, hospitality, or food and beverage experience.

Unfortunately placed ads

Be careful where you place those ads. Images courtesy of Bill Thompson