I’m only an account handler but ... it depresses me greatly to see
such a nosedive in the standard of person entering our beloved
profession these days.
There was a time, not so long ago, when we had status. Account handlers
were held in high regard in the industry, seen as decent by the
community as a whole and, above all, respected by clients. These days we
are generally regarded by everyone as a bunch of shoddy chancers who
have infiltrated the advertising business because we couldn’t hack it as
double-glazing salesmen.
The reason for this dreadful decline? It can be explained in one simple
word: shoes.
In an industry where image is all, how could anybody be taken seriously
if they are not wearing the appropriate footwear? As Sir Laurence
Olivier once said: ’To be believable in a part, one must start at the
very bottom, with the right shoes.’
What client ever bought an idea from someone wearing brown shoes? Or
suede? Or the so-called buckskin? Buckles? Names of cigarettes, branded
into them? Ankle boots, for chrissakes? What is our world coming to?
What has become of our brand footprint?
Come on team!
Let’s get back to good, honest, black leather, lace-up, plain,
round-toed uppers, sporting a decent shine, solidly stitched to a
conservative sole!
And let’s do it now! Before it’s too late and we become the butt of
agency jokes and derision beside the coffee machine!
