The SHARP Agency | B Corp™

OUR IDEAS MAKE THINGS HAPPEN

They create awareness, define identity, change perceptions, increase sales and inspire action. But above all, they help brands and businesses engage with their audience.

Collaboration is key and we like to work closely with our clients and their customers to unearth fresh insights and ensure clarity of objectives.

Then inspiration and experience laced with a touch of instinct, sparks a unique idea that integrates itself into the most appropriate media.

Most importantly, we never lose sight of what we’re here to do; bring ideas into the world that engage, are relevant, effective and make things happen.

And that's SHARP.

Owner

Graeme Robertson Trust (GRT)

GRT acts as a launch pad for creative careers. Together, we work to ensure that any young person who wishes to enter the creative advertising and marketing industry has the right skills, support and opportunities in order to thrive. The GRT is made up of senior creatives and marketers who all share a passion to help young creatives break into the industry.

Associate

DMA UK

For the last 6 years I have been proud to be a DMA Judge. The responsibility of helping select the best UK marketing work each year is one I relish. You can find out more about The DMA Awards at this link https://dma.org.uk/awards

DMA Judge 2020

TBWA\Manchester

When BDHTBWA\ and TEQUILA\ merged to become TBWA\ Manchester, my remit was to front the agency’s Creative Department and integrate all aspects of creativity that this one single company - with one P and L - could now deliver. 

Responsible for over 40 people in the Creative Department, part of my role was to get teams working in new media and in more collaborative ways than previously. 

As part of the Senior Management team, I was pivotal in helping the agency to win 8 new business pitches and 12 awards. Client scores for creativity improved dramatically. 

I also worked with D&amp;AD North and nurtured strong links with local Universities  - especially Preston and MMU - to implement a constant flow of graduate work placements within the Creative Department.

Executive Creative Director

TEQUILA\Manchester

Employed when the company first started, my remit was to help build the business and develop a first class creative department. 

We grew the company from five people to seventy five in just two years. Both the creative department and the production department were my responsibility. 

Developing the people in the business and the culture of the business was a key responsibility and I organised and hosted away days for both the creative department and account management to develop the team working and vision and values of the company.

The company was also well awarded for its creative and effectiveness, plus during this time I was also asked to run the creative department of TEQUILA\London for a period of three months.

Creative Director

Jaywing

Ran my own creative team working across a number of brands. This was where I gained my first experience of leadership. I also had total responsibility for the HSBC and Beefeater accounts, producing the creative work with my team and also managing the client relationships and developing the business on those two accounts. The agency was also media neutral so I also gained valuable experience working both above and below the line.

Deputy Creative Director

POULTERS

Had a great experience to start a career in a great agency. Essentially given creative freedom to develop fresh innovative work. A perfect job for a graduate.

Designer

Hello from me and our agency, SHARP. 

We are here to find and free your good.

A strategic creative agency. 
Problem solvers that bring clarity to complexity. 


We deliver:

- Strategic rigour
Using the power of insight to identify, understand and empathise.
Our strategic approach, ‘The Sharp EDGE’, unlocks critical insight from data, consumers, clients and employees.

- Customer Co-Creation
Connect with your customers through collaboration.
We understand why, when and how they engage with your brand and co-create with them using expert moderation and bespoke tools for exceptional outcomes.

- Creative power
Ideas that bring to life your one thing, to make you matter more.
Brilliant ideas, beautifully executed, are fuelled by strategic rigour and customer insights to develop work that delivers results to make clients smile.

Our Triple Bottom Line of People, Planet and Prosperity governs us, plus we are a Campaign ‘Best Place to Work’—ranking in the top 10 for the last two years.

DM me to find out more.

Wow, 15 years of The SHARP Agency | B Corp™ thriving to Find and Free the Good! Where did the time go?!

I'm so lucky to share this company with the amazingly talented Darlene and Mandi. 
None of this would be possible without them, our incredible team (past and present), amazing clients, and valued suppliers. 
I'm grateful for every person and partnership that has shaped who we've become.

Running an agency is a wild ride—there are tears, triumphs, and more laughter than you can imagine. There are days of heart-pounding stress and nights filled with the thrill of creating incredible work. 
I'm so grateful for every crazy, beautiful minute.

There are so many brilliant stories from the last 15 years! 
I've added one to the comments below to get the stories started.

Does anyone have a favourite SHARP story or photo? 
Please do share it in the comments below!

Richard Sharp

Agency Owner | Strategic Creative Director | Ideas centric | Results focussed |

In 1980, I missed the Rubik Cube world record by 1 second. I was thinking about how I did it and how it's similar to creating brand performance.

Although the Rubik's cube is seen as a puzzle, it's actually a series of moves that, when combined, create a finished cube.

If you want to move a yellow square from one corner of the cube to another, following a specific twist pattern will move it to where you want it without disturbing any other square.

To complete the cube, you must learn every individual move for every possible eventuality.

If you only use one part of the solution, you will never achieve the bigger picture of a finished cube.

However.
The critical bit is understanding how it all goes together.
That's the creative bit.

And that got me thinking about marketing.

There are many parts of the marketing mix.
Each has a way of working.
But if they are not working together, the desired result won't happen.

If you have customer insight but don't know how to turn that into a proposition. Fail.
If you have a proposition but can't turn it into impactful creative ideas. Fail.
If you have an impactful idea but don't know how to make it work across multiple media. Fail.
If you have a campaign plan but can't make it work on a tight budget. Fail.

To create impact and results, you need the vision, insights, and experience to bring it all together.
We know all the moves at SHARP and have over a decade of making them work beautifully.

Find out more at www.thesharpagency.co.uk






Photo by Maya Sharp

How can I learn to solve the Rubik's Cube?

A huge welcome back, plus a huge congratulations to Grace McMahon, who is back in the agency after her maternity leave. It's fantastic to see Grace back in the agency and I'm delighted to announce that we have also promoted her to our Head of Copy.

Congrats Grace from all of us at The SHARP Agency | B Corp™

What's The SHARP Agency | B Corp™ known for?

Are you a middleweight creative copywriter looking to shake things up? 
We have a job for you.
 
✅  Concept fresh ideas, build new brands and write persuasive copy for a variety of clients and projects
✅  Form a formidable partnership with one of our Art Directors
✅  Hybrid working. 2 days a week in our office
✅  Work at one of Campaign’s Top 10 Best Places to Work
✅  Work for a certified B Corp
 
I've included the full details in the link below.
 
https://lnkd.in/efVwnZiy

What are the responsibilities of a creative copywriter?

Is this turning out to be the best ad Nike has ever run...

It's a few weeks away, but we are already crafting a worthy brief for this year's School of Thought UK entrants.

School of Thought is a brilliant way for young creatives to learn and develop by working on 12 briefs from 12 agencies in 12 weeks. High pressure!

All participants are looked after and mentored by the excellent Julian Gratton, a man on a mission to support these young creatives to greatness.

The whole initiative wouldn't have happened without Phil Cookson, whose effort and time in making this happen have become legendary.

We can't wait to play our part again.

Why is it important to support young creatives?

What is Phil Cookson's role in School of Thought UK?

Steve Jobs said one choice in life separates the doers from the dreamers. Jobs shared a story that illustrates a common trait found in the most successful people. Here's an excerpt:


"I called up Bill Hewlett [co-founder of Hewlett-Packard] when I was 12 years old."

"Hi, I'm Steve Jobs. I'm 12 years old. I'm a student in high school.
I want to build a frequency counter, and I was wondering if you have any spare parts I could have."

"He laughed, gave me the spare parts, and gave me a job that summer at Hewlett-Packard ... and I was in heaven."

"Most people never pick up the phone and call.
Most people never ask, and that separates the people who do things from those who just dream about them."


A great reminder to us all.

What is the common trait found in most successful people?

The strength and success of your brand are dependent on some simple principles.
Keep these fresh, and your brand will be a customer magnet.



1. Craft compelling messaging
Your brand's messaging should evoke emotions and resonate with your target audience. 
Write power headlines that engage with them and entice action.
I see too often that a brand's words are an afterthought or worse.

2. Develop a unique identity 
Stand out from your competition with a unique brand idea.
This will influence aspects such as colour palette, typography, logo etc.
It's important that the identity perfectly represents your brand's essence. 

3. Build brand consistency 
Ensure that every customer touchpoint consistently communicates your brand.
All aspects of what you do need to project who you are.
Inconsistency leads to a brand that confuses everyone internally and externally. 

4. Embrace adaptability 
In the ever-changing world we live in, being adaptable is crucial. 
Your brand may have been perfect a few years ago, but your target audience always evolves.
Are you keeping up with their needs?


We've been building brands for a decade and a half.
Examples can be found at the link below.

https://lnkd.in/eXm-QGMF

How can I craft compelling messaging for my brand?

Why is adaptability important for a successful brand?

Wow Julian, that is very kind. And you were, and continue to be, exceptional. And I echo your words about the School of Thought. If you are a young creative looking to break through, this is as good as it gets. Read below and sign up.

Freelance Creative Director and Copywriter specialising in Brand tone of voice

When I was a junior I lost my way career wise and ended up working at an agency above a kitchen factory in Trafford Park.

My role was to write endless headlines for conservatory, kitchen, and bathroom ads that appeared in the daily papers.

Luckily for me, Richard Sharp spotted my talents, but only after I'd proved to him that I could hit his standards creatively and attitude wise.

I got lucky that Richard found me. And I repaid him with the help of my art director Simon Rowlands by winning a raft of awards and working on some ace clients like Nissan, Rolls Royce and Cussons.

The 7 years I spent under Richard meant I then became a creative director.

Why am I telling you all this? 

Because lots of talented people get overlooked or lose their way in the advertising industry through no fault of their own. In my case I'd had to take this job after being made redundant two weeks before my son Harry Douglas-Gratton was born.

I would have ABSOLUTELY bent over backwards to take part in School of Thought UK run by Phil Cookson when I was in my 20s and lost and under appreciated.

The 12 week course gets you in front of senior creatives and CDs and agency owners every week as you tackle briefs. It has literally opened doors and changed the career trajectory of people like:

Emma Wakely, Laura Romanowski, Selina Smyllie, Will Heldt, Benjamin Crofts, Emily Cuthbert, Alison McGann, Lara Isherwood to name just a few people.

If you're in the Leeds area and you want a way to boost your career, or simply break into the creative side of advertising then this is the course for you and applications are open now. 

Deadline is Sunday 7th April to apply on the below link.

https://lnkd.in/gNJGhejY

There are 12 amazing agencies signed up including Propaganda Agency Ltd, GOLD79, The SHARP Agency | B Corp™, IMA-HOME, McCann Leeds and Ponderosa Agency.

And even better, I'll be joining you over the 12 weeks as your mentor/crutch/late night panic calmer.
​
12 weeks is a big commitment I know, but trust me, your future self will thank you for it.

#advertising #marketing #creativity #careerboost

School of Thought Leeds 2024 Application

Does it get better than this? Our client at Lonza, Hadrien Piana, has launched the work we did with him and his team. His comments have made my day.

Failed Entrepreneur turned to better things. (no AI was used to create this headline) Posts and comments are my own.

Very proud to launch this together with the team.
While Lonza might be established as THE commercial partner for late-stage/commercial cell and gene therapies, our scientists are superstars in the field and this program highlights how tĥeir experience and know-how accelerates and secures paths pre-IND submission, when so many decisions are made that will become foundational for the future commercial viability of cell and gene therapies.

Also, probably the most powerful brand visual identity for a marketing campaign I've seen in the space. 😉 Richard Sharp Alex Maw Lynsey Lazenby Laura O'Connor-Clark Lucas Luo Mandi Taylor

A Nike staff memo from 1977 to put some fire into your belly...

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