AT&T Gives GSD&M Scraps And Then Rubs Their Faces In It
January 16, 2008
Greed, Sex, Drugs & Money has just been handed two new pieces of business from AT&T. The Texas shop has been a long-time AT&T advertising roster agency and will be adding the 411 and 1-800-YELLOWPAGES businesses to their responsibility list. GSD&M’s Idea City recently lost part of the media business to Mediaedge:cia and lead agency status to BBDO.
“Consumers have many choices to find information,” said Wendy Clark, senior vice president of advertising at AT&T. “With AT&T, you get local, relevant and reliable information anytime, anywhere and in whatever way you want it. There’s no better partner to help spread that message than GSD&M’s Idea City.”
The struggling agency did some good work for AT&T having come up with the slogan, “Need Something?” for Yellowpages.com. But, Wendy. Honey? GSD&M knows that you think there’s a better partner out there. That’s why you took most, but not all of your business away. If we worked at GSD&M, we’d would of been cringing as that press release went out the door. Ick.
Good News For GSD&M Employees?
November 21, 2007
Everyone knows that Greed, Sex, Drugs & Money is suffering from the loss of the AT&T account having let go of around 200 staffers. Other recent losses including Wal-Mart and Chilli’s certainly haven’t helped the shops bottom line. The Austin American-Statesman is reporting that perhaps many ex-employees will land on their feet just like Joe Torre, as other Texas firms snap up the best talent.
GSD&M is apparently helping out their laid off staffers by reaching out to local competitors and national recruiters. The agency “-has pledged to pay full salary through January to laid-off employees, but only if they have not found another job. All affected workers will receive one month of full-salary pay. Longer-term employees have an option to earn more. GSD&M has provided a lump-sum payment to cover the cost of health care through January as well.”
GSD&M is largely responsible for Texas having an ad industry at all. Many employees of other shops got their start at Greed, Sex, which means that shops are willing to assist the agency in its time of need.
“We’re always looking for great talent,” said Gay Gaddis, chief executive of T3, the second-largest ad firm in Austin, which has grown recently to 250 people. She said her company has been in touch with GSD&M, and “I hope we can help them out in some way, taking an active role in some way.”
If you ended up losing your gig at GSD&M and would like to promote your availability in a want ad, please contact us and we’ll post your details on the blog. Alternatively, if you’ve managed to score a new post, no matter your level on the advertising food chain, we’d like to give you a shout-out.
We’re taking a cue from The Statesmen, which mentioned new destinations for GSD&M employees: LatinWorks hired Melissa Moore, an information technology manager at Greed, Sex. Former GSD&M art director Taylor Harkey and copywriter Phil Davies have gone to Door Number 3.
As We Predicted… GSD&M to Cut 200 Positions
November 13, 2007
As we predicted, Greed, Sex, Drugs & Money is dropping bodies after the lost of the AT&T business to Mediaedge. AdAge is reporting that between 100 and 200 staffers will be let go with most falling from the Texas, and Chicago offices.
Sorry guys.
Question for the recruiters out there – where do 200 bodies go? Not everyone in these locations is going to land on their feet, right?
Greed, Sex, Drugs, and Money – GSD&M Idea City Loses AT&T
October 25, 2007
Mediaedge:cia is the big winner today taking the estimated $3.4B AT&T account from GSD&M’s Idea City. Christ. That’s such a mouthful.The shop also beat out Digitas and OMD. All four had done previous work for the telecom in some fashion. GSD&M’s Idea City also lost lead agency status to Omnicom sibling BBDO. Ah crap. The Texas based agency also lost Chili’s Grill & Bar and Wal-Mart this past year. Those were some big accounts whose shoes are being filled by some small feet via World Market and John Deere.
On a side note, we hear that… The founders noted that their initials, which form the company’s name, could also stand for “Greed, Sex, Drugs, and Money.” Yeah. We bet they’re wishing they were rolling in all that good stuff now. Betcha bottom dollar that lots of folks are going to lose their jobs. Sorry guys.
Meanwhile, Mediaedge:cia’s UK and global divisions are on a roll. They’ve picked up the BBC Global account. They’ve also won the Canary Islands Tourist Board business, as well as Lil-ets and the UK Car Group.
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