The Pimlico Blog
Dangers of over-fishing in agency fee negotiations.
10th February 2026
It’s that time of year again – ad-agency-contract-renegotiation-season. And here is a truth that might surprise some clients: agencies sometimes do silly deals. They agree to terms they know won’t make them money – and that’s bad news not just for them, but for the client who rely on them. In agency circles, this isn’t […]
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Exhibit 1 – Most leaders do not take the necessary actions to drive growth…
20th October 2025
This recent research paper from McKinsey & Company provides meaningful direction for those of us genuinely focused on growth: 1. Invest in growth, even in turbulent times 2. Be audacious on growth 3. Listen to your customers – for real 4. Rally a dream team for growth 5. Derisk growth by executing with excellence This […]
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“Fires” are just symptoms of deeper issues waiting to be addressed
15th October 2025
We’ve all faced recurring challenges that drain our time and energy. Often, these “fires” are just symptoms of deeper issues waiting to be addressed. Treating only the symptoms means the problems keep returning. To move forward effectively, we need to tackle the core issues: 1. Find the Root Cause: Look beyond the surface. A missed […]
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Is your team set up for success? Are the right people on the bus? Do you have the RPRS?
8th October 2025
Let me break it down for you: Right People: These are individuals who fit your company culture and share your Core Values. They contribute positively to the work environment and embody the behaviors that reflect what your company stands for. To determine if someone is the Right Person, use the People Analyzer tool to evaluate […]
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Anybody can cook a steak.
6th October 2025
This was the observation of an online friend of mine, Derek Walker. His full post read: “Cooking a steak is the easiest thing to do. Buy a steak. Season it. Cook it. That’s it. And yet… some folks end up eating a juicy tender steak, while others end up chewing on leather. Sure, keep thinking everyone […]
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The Best Partnerships Rarely Start With a Pitch.
3rd October 2025
The best agency/client partnerships rarely start with a pitch. Working with agencies to attract their ideal client is a discovery process that goes far deeper than ‘just another creds meeting’. It’s a highly structured approach that uncovers the ‘challenges beneath the challenges’. To ask the right questions that demonstrate genuine interest requires thorough research into […]
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The Power of Pausing
30th September 2025
“The right word may be effective, but no word was ever as effective as a rightly timed pause.” Mark Twain I’m always banging on about pausing. In fact, if people were only able to take one thing away from my workshops, I’d like it to be about the power of pausing. Because Mark […]
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When to Walk Away: The Incumbent’s Dilemma
29th September 2025
The instinct to say “yes” to a re-pitch for a long-standing client is strong. You know the brand, you’ve put in the hours and loyalty runs deep. But the truth is: it’s OK to say no. Pitching as the incumbent is a tricky position to be in. There’s history and a degree of expectation, even […]
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How do you solve a problem like procurement?
24th September 2025
Well, in all fairness, probably not by starting with an antagonistic headline like this one. Marketing procurement repeatedly seems to comes under fire, being widely criticised for “not getting” advertising, for “hamstringing marketing”, “gutting agencies” of their fee revenues, and so on and so forth. Cost of everything, value of nothing, blah blah and so […]
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Gravitas is bullsh*t
22nd September 2025
Ever since reading Caroline Goyder’s excellent book ‘Gravitas’ (insert link) I’ve been more than a little obsessed with this slippery term and why it seems to matter so much for confident communication in the workplace. It seems I’m not the only woman who was told I needed to have more gravitas when I was […]
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