Schafer | Condon | Carter

October 13, 2010 – Chicago – Schafer Condon Carter has been appointed AOR by Beam Global Spirits & Wines for Laphroaig, the leading Islay single malt Scotch whisky in the world. It is a US assignment that will include social media, online advertising and events.

So there’s this really smart guy. His name is Joel Spolsky. He’s written a lot of smart stuff over at joelonsoftware.com that makes a lot of sense. One of the things that he and a lot of other industry talking heads are big on is something called The Joel Test. It’s a test for programming groups that determines whether or not they’re doing things the right way. By following the 12 tests he puts forward, we can tell if a group of programmers is succeeding or failing in their main job, which is writing solid software.

Here are the 12 tests:

The Joel Test

1. Do you use source control?
2. Can you make a build in one step?
3. Do you make daily builds?
4. Do you have a bug database?
5. Do you fix bugs before writing new code?
6. Do you have an up-to-date schedule?
7. Do you have a spec?
8. Do programmers have quiet working conditions?
9. Do you use the best tools money can buy?
10. Do you have testers?
11. Do new candidates write code during their interview?
12. Do you do hallway usability testing?

But here’s the thing – he’s used to big, long-term software projects where there’s a large team that all works on the same thing. What happens when you need to apply this to small teams that works on lots of smaller projects? Well, some stuff has to change. Here’s how we at SCC|Digital see these guidelines and apply them to our own organization:

1. Do you use source control?
We use source control. We use it for everything. We use a system called Git, which is part of a new breed of distributed source control systems. What does that mean? It means that we don’t need to be on the network to commit, so we can do work from the train. It means we each can have our own branches of the code, and merge them together quickly when it comes time to deploy. While stuff like SVN and CVS may work when you have fewer, larger projects, we find that Git is much more convenient and reliable for small projects. Git makes us more productive.

2. Can you make a build in one step?
Our adaptation if this is – can you deploy your applications in one step? The answer to this is now yes. We use an open-source deployment system which means any time we need to deploy our apps we can do so literally at the click of a button. We also can roll back applications to previous versions, again with a single click, if we don’t like the results of the deployment.

3. Do you make daily builds?
Joel uses compiled languages. We don’t, so here’s our question – do you have a staging site? Something that mirrors the live environment so you can test your changes before they appear in public? We set this up for all the sites we administer. Nothing goes live without being vetted by both the programmer who wrote it and another pair of eyes. I can’t tell you how many times we’ve avoided disaster this way.

4. Do you have a bug database?
It doesn’t matter what tool you use – Lighthouse, FogBugz, Redmine, homegrown, etc. – when requests come in, there needs to be an easy way to keep track of them and who’s assigned to what. When someone finds a problem, there needs to be a record of it so it isn’t forgotten about. We use Redmine. We love Redmine. We can’t live without Redmine. It integrates with our source control (#1). It keeps us on track.

5. Do you fix bugs before writing new code?
That shiny new contact form won’t be worth much if the whole site is down. We test our sites regularly and fix the problems we find first.

6. Do you have an up-to-date schedule?
1/3 of all software projects fail. They go over budget, they go over time. The only way to manage effectively is to keep track of where you are. This is the same no matter what kind of software you’re writing.

7. Do you have a spec?
A spec is a definition of what you’re trying to build. It’s a list of features and how they need to behave. It’s a sitemap, wireframes, and user flows, along with other documentation. We create Information Architecture (subject of a future post) documents for every site we create. This gets everyone on the same page with what’s to be done and how we’re going to do it. Creating these documents takes time, but it speeds up development in the end, as everyone involved in the project, from developers to designers and managers to clients, understands exactly what’s being done.

8. Do programmers have quiet working conditions?
Here’s one place where we must disagree with Mr. Spolsky. Web developers don’t just crank out code. They act as consultants, designers, support specialists, and general Mr. Fix-Its. We use QA procedures to make sure stuff doesn’t fall through the cracks and put on headphones when we need to, but we’re always available, which means sometimes things get loud. But then, that’s Advertising.

9. Do you use the best tools money can buy?
Interesting – in Web Development, as in life, we think the best things are free. Best web server? Apache – free. Best programming languages? Open source, and free. Best server operating system? Linux – free. We drop money on tools when we have to, but it’s not as often as you might think. We all work on Macs, which we believe are the best tools for the job, but nearly all the tools we use for development are free and open source.

10. Do you have testers?
Yup. We have a system in place that makes sure everything gets checked multiple times before it goes out the door. Then we check it once it’s gone out. Then we check it again a week later. And a week after that. That’s only responsible.

11. Do new candidates write code during their interview?
Yup. And get quizzed like crazy. Dreamweaver doesn’t get it done. The only way to build things right is to build them by hand, just as in every other craft.

12. Do you do hallway usability testing?
Yup. We make sure the Account Managers can use our sites. We make sure the Receptionist can use our sites. We try to make things simple for users, even when that makes our developer’s lives more complicated.

Des Moines, Iowa – The National Pork Board announced today that it has expanded the duties of its consumer branding agency Schafer|Condon|Carter to include foodservice marketing and retail promotional advertising.

“By consolidating these marketing efforts with Schafer Condon Carter we’ll be able to better identify and leverage synergies between our consumer brand work and our channel work,” said Jarrod Sutton, Assistant Vice President, Director of Foodservice and Retail for the National Pork Board. “The agency’s proven experience at successfully integrating consumer and trade marketing efforts will be an asset to us moving forward.”

SCC will develop integrated foodservice and promotional marketing communications programs for the National Pork Board including strategic planning, advertising, public relations, and promotional support. The National Pork Board named SCC its consumer-branding agency of record earlier this year following a review.

“We are thrilled to work with the National Pork Board,” said Gail Carter, managing partner of SCC. “Aligning consumer branding with foodservice and promotional marketing will allow us to leverage the brand to its fullest extent and yield great results in the marketplace.”

Bordentown, NJ (August 30, 2010) – Prince, global leader in performance tennis equipment, officially announced today that it has selected Schafer|Condon|Carter (SCC) as its new consumer branding agency after an agency review. SCC will be responsible for adding creative and strategic value to all consumer and trade marketing efforts on behalf of the Prince Tennis brand including planning and insights, advertising, digital, retail marketing, and dealer communications. Initial work will focus on creating strong consumer connection to Prince’s breakthrough EXO3 racquet technology and entire performance racquet line.

“Schafer Condon Carter showed to be the most strategic thinkers with creative expertise and integrated capabilities best suited for our business,” said Zach Perles, vice president of global communications for Prince Sports, Inc. “Prince has a long legacy of game-changing innovation and is a great brand with great products and great people. In SCC we’ve found a partner who we believe will help to combine these three attributes in the most meaningful way to create a powerful, contemporary connection with players around the globe.”

“Just as Prince has helped some of the best athletes in the sport achieve extraordinary results on the court, we look forward to helping the team at Prince unlock the brand’s unlimited potential and win in market,” said David Selby, president of SCC.

About Prince Sports, Inc.
Prince Sports, Inc, based in New Jersey, is a company of racquet sports enthusiasts whose goal is to create cutting edge, functional and technically advanced products that deliver performance benefits for avid players. The Company’s portfolio of brands includes Prince (tennis, squash and badminton), Ektelon (racquetball) and Viking (platform/paddle tennis). The Company has a history of innovation including inventing the first “oversize” and “longbody” racquets, the first “Natural Foot Shape” tennis shoe, the first “multifilament” string and, of course, the first electronic ball machine. Today, Prince markets leading technologies in racquets (EXO3), string (Premier LT), footwear (LightSpeed) and apparel (Aerotech). It has operations on three continents with distribution in more than 100 countries. For more information on players, products or programs please visit www.princesports.com.

About Schafer|Condon|Carter
Schafer Condon Carter is Chicago’s top independent mid-size advertising agency, and one of the fastest growing shops in the U.S. SCC has built its success by challenging the status quo and delivering a tightly orchestrated, fully-integrated brand vision for its clients across an infinite set of consumer touch points. SCC’s work product manifests as powerful brand ideas that drive stakeholder value. A simple mission drives SCC’s entrepreneurial spirit and aggressive, growth-oriented culture: “Think Again.” SCC is based in Chicago and its wholly owned network includes SCC|Grossman Public Relations and SCC|Digital. The agency employs more than 60 people. For more information visit www.sccadv.com.

“Schafer Condon Carter showed to be the most strategic thinkers with creative expertise and integrated capabilities best suited for our business,” said Zach Perles, vice president of global communications for Prince Sports, Inc. “Prince has a long legacy of game-changing innovation and is a great brand with great products and great people. In SCC we’ve found a partner who we believe will help to combine these three attributes in the most meaningful way to create a powerful, contemporary connection with players around the globe.”

“Just as Prince has helped some of the best athletes in the sport achieve extraordinary results on the court, we look forward to helping the team at Prince unlock the brand’s unlimited potential and win in market,” said David Selby, president of SCC.

Know how to instantly upgrade your creative department’s product?

At no cost to your bottom line?

It’s not more tools. Not more freelancers. Not hiring another hot team. Not a new improved strategy document.

Just give your creative types more…time.

Simple, glorious, thought inspiring, idea-wallowing…time.

Quite the affordable yet apparently elusive luxury.

Back at my just barely post-Mad Men days at Burnett (when Merv Hiller, The Creative Recruiter of all Chicago at the time, watched me with bemusement as I banged out Oldsmobile ads) our group consisted of 5 teams lead by “Not Your Father’s Oldsmobile” creative director, now author, Don Gwaltney. Our group had a year for each new campaign. A year! A year to shoot all the print and TV. 5 teams spending roughly six months on concepts; six months shooting.

We now have very successful agencies with less teams than we had in our Oldsmobile group. Agencies that crank out stuff in a millisecond.

It’s the “stuff” part that’s the problem. Any good creative can crank out stuff at a moment’s notice. Brilliance takes a bit longer.

We have abused our new and improved tools to such a point that just because it can be done in warp speed it’s expected to be done in warp speed.

We need to slow down. To chill. We’re burning out great talent that will never be able to realize their talent.

To realize that the ability to take a breath can lead to taking a new route. Not just the instinctive one but the introspective one.

It’s an easy upgrade this time thing.

We just need to start asking for it. Just a day more. A week more. It all helps.

Just a moment more can lead to making that emotional connection that could easily be missed as we rush to mediocrity. To stuff.

The only thing it costs is time.

And it’s time to ask for more.

Schafer Condon Carter announced the addition of a color proofing system to its in-house studio/production capabilities. The move was made following a thorough evaluation of best-in-class vendors’ capabilities, costs, and timing by SCC Studio and Print Production personnel. “This addition will bring speed, flexibility and significant cost savings to our clients,” said Rob Hansen, Director of Studio Services, Traffic & Print Production at SCC. “In-town vendors, while fast, have significant costs and while distant vendors are less expensive, they often take too long to turn a proof around. As timing continues to be condensed and budgets tightened we are able to win on both issues with this solution, providing lower cost and faster turn-around for our clients’ print needs.” The new proofing system will also have large format printing capabilities.

“This is a great advancement for our agency and our clients,” said David Selby, President of SCC. “Along with our continuing investments in hardware and software in our digital group and the addition of in-house HD video capabilities, this continues to demonstrate SCC’s commitment to a full array of best-in-class services and capabilities for our growing client roster.”

SCC Grossman and SCC just completed an intensive three-month start-up phase for Rise Group, a fast-growth management consulting company that helps leaders of dynamic organizations conceive, build and operate transformational buildings, infrastructure and operations across the world. Rise recently delivered the now world-renowned Modern Wing of the Art Institute of Chicago and the design phase for the Shard London Bridge project, soon to be the tallest building in Europe. During this initial phase of our work, SCC Grossman and SCC developed a new strategic market position, brand architecture and big brand idea “Defining Moments.” The first creative work to come out of this initial phase is a stunning new corporate capabilities brochure, which will be adapted for the iPad. Rise has also tapped SCC Grossman and SCC to help establish a significant digital presence, beginning in late 2010. Click here to view the capabilities brochure.

Last week, in a wonderful ceremony at Northwestern University, SCC’s Julie Merkin and her team “Pulse” not only graduated from the Institute of Advanced Advertising Studies, but they won a very cool competition. Their team, made up of young executives from across the Chicago agency scene, beat out four other similar teams, with a spectacular marketing presentation, given last week, for the very cool brand and business Threadless.com.

Not a big fan of blahgs.

Blahg. Blahg Blahg.

“Lots of plates. No food.”

That’s what my Italian immigrant grandfather would tell my mother as they walked past the well groomed mansions of Hibbing, Minnesota in the 1940’s as she would look in wonder at the amazing abodes.

“Lots of plates. No food.”

If anyone can write a blahg is any one blahg worth reading?

Blahg. Blahg. Blahg.

So then why am I writing my own blahg you might ask. (If you’re still with me that is)

Just trying to carve out a little cyber space on the inter-web

To find out for myself why a 30 year Chicago ad vet is still surviving, producing and looking at today’s ad landscape with bemusement instead of jaundice.

To try to understand why after 30 years of meetings to prepare for meetings, inane dictates and count-them-on your-hand victories I still love this biz.

Why?

Well you just have to check in from time.

Welcome to My First Blahg.

Welcome to Notes From the Grave.

Both support the the new, integrated “We Are the Fire“ campaign, a marketing and branding initiative centered on the passionate, proud and unapologetic fans that make soccer the special sport that it is. The first spot, “90 All-In” captures the non-stop action that takes place on the field and in the stands during a 90-minute soccer match. The second spot, “The Scarf” explores the unique tradition of the “Soccer Scarf” that fans wear to show their support for their team. Take a look at the new spots here.