Top Agency
Palmer Jarvis DDB
No one likes the class brainiac, but it’s hard not to like Palmer Jarvis DDB – even though the agency has once again Dextered to the top of the class in Strategy’s annual Creative Report Card rankings.
In fact, PJ has done so well in both international and domestic competitions that the annual Gunn Report rates the agency number 31 in the world when it comes to awards won (ahem, ahead of such international luminaries as Fallon, Minneapolis & New York; and Leo Burnett, London).
In particular, the agency walked away with 41% of the prizes given out at this year’s Marketing awards, claimed more honours than any other agency in the advertising category at the Advertising & Design Club of Canada awards, landed two shortlists at Cannes, as well as many more wins at the Extras, the Lotus Awards, the RSVPs, the ACE Awards, the Bessies and Communication Arts.
Highlights of the year included a strategic alliance with Angus Reid Strategies in February, the creation of PJ DDB Public Relations in March, a new Toronto satellite office for interactive division Tribal DDB, and the deployment of Tony Altilia to head up Downtown Partners, with a mission to secure the division’s growing international reputation as one of the world’s creative hot spots.
Recent account wins include the BC Dairy Foundation, BC Hydro, Destina.ca, Sobeys, Air Canada’s Zip brand, Capital City Savings and Elections Ontario. And then in late November, the agency landed what is estimated to be the biggest account of the year: The Canadian Tourism Commission – valued at some $75 million.
But while accounts come and go, some things never change: PJ still serves hot dogs on the last Friday of the month, and when you’re out with Frank, you still better not leave your drink unattended.
Best moment
Standing in front of the PJ staff not too long ago with a box of 200 Canadian flags. As soon as the first one was pulled out, everyone knew exactly what it meant: We’d won the Canadian Tourism Commission bid. A rush of joy went around the room.
Worst moment
The first nine months of the year – before the CTC pitch. We had to chase and pitch pieces of business that we really didn’t want because there was so much pressure on us to deliver the numbers. It’s never fun chasing business when your heart’s not in it.
(Yearbook entries provided by PJ DDB Toronto president Jim Herrler and SVP, CD Neil McOstrich)
Agencies
Palmer Jarvis DDB 427
Taxi 326
Rethink 141
Cossette Communication-
Marketing 118
BBDO Canada 96
TBWAChiatDay 95
Bryant, Fulton & Shee 62
Young & Rubicam 61
MacLaren McCann 55
Ammirati Puris 53
Bos 49
Bensimon*Byrne 48
Diesel Marketing 47
Grey Worldwide 35
Zig 30
Curve 22
John St. 22
Holmes & Lee 21
Marketel 17
Leo Burnett 16
Ogilvy & Mather 15
Axmith McIntyre Wicht 12
Compass360 Design + Advertising 11
J. Walter Thompson 11
Agency 3.0 9
Critical Mass 9
Gee Jeffery & Partners 8
Parallel 7
Watt International 7
Brown 6
One Company 6
Roche Macaulay & Partners 6
Target Marketing and
Communications 6
Tattoo 6
