It’s an exciting week for TimeZoneOne this week, with the shipping of our first range of samples for our new apparel brand Ranfurly™

The collection, which will launch in North America to be sold all over the USA and the West Coast of Canada will hit the stores in fall 2011.

Our line, which at this stage is focused around women’s sweaters, tunics and cardigans, is a Merino story which is New Zealand inspired, designed and made.

Featuring New Zealand’s most beautiful Merino wool and workmanship, this better end line has been well received by wholesalers and we expect sales in the New Year to be strong.

Check out a few of our garments below…

 

Last week the SMG Captivation Awards web site went live for our client SMG. A big well done goes out to all the team who worked on this project. Rob and Mel deserve a special mention for the great job they did in managing this technically challenging project.

The site provided our client with a live virtual space to announce award winners daily over the past week for their global annual in-house awards programme. It featured winners videos, live comments from the SMG team around the world plus profiled all the finalists from SMG offices around the globe.   

The site looks great! 

Nigel 

The John Hancock Center is a 100-story, multi-use building, recognized around the world for its distinctive architecture, prestigious location and presence on Chicago’s skyline.  When completed in 1969, it was the tallest building in the world outside New York City.  It is the third-tallest skyscraper in Chicago and the fifth-tallest in the United States, after the Sears Tower, the Empire State Building, the Bank of America Tower and the Aon Center.  When measured to the top of its antenna masts, it stands at 1,500 feet (457 m). The building is home to offices and restaurants, as well as about 700 condominiums and contains the highest residences in the world.  The Observatory is situated on the 94th floor and offers breath-taking views of both the city of Chicago and Lake Michigan.  It is one of Chicago’s most popular attractions.

Some interesting facts

At the peak of construction, more than 2,000 people worked on the project; some five million man-hours were required to complete the development.

• Enough steel to make 33,000 cars was used to make the frame, which took three years to complete and weighs 46,000 tons.
• Its four corner columns weigh up to 100 tons each.
• The building’s 1,250 miles of wiring carries enough power to supply a city of 30,000 people.
• There’s enough aluminum in the building to cover 12 football fields.
• Its 11,459 extra-thick, bronze windows contain enough glass to produce a single, 5ft sheet 13 miles long.
• Because of John Hancock Center’s lakeside location, caissons had to be sunk into 10ft holes drilled 190ft into bedrock.
• The unusual design required innovative construction methods, including the use of “creeper cranes,” previously used only in bridge construction, to hoist steel beams into place.
• Prefabrication of the immense corner joints meant construction proceeded at a rapid pace – up to three floors a week.

In June of this year, TZO partnered with the John Hancock Observatory to rebrand and create new signage surrounding the building.  The existing signage had been in place for 15 years and was looking much the worse for wear.  Also, people would often circle the building unsure about how access the Observatory Lobby.  TZO was tasked to create new signage employing the updated Observatory brand.  This has been quite a process and has been quite a logistical challenge.  The job is now complete and the John Hancock Observatory has directional signage worthy of a building of its stature.

Hamish McDonald

I thought I’d provide another scintillating account of the life of a Project Manager and the exciting world of the location photo shoot.  The attached video shows the fascinating highs and lows of this creative process – we laughed, we cried, we dozed off…

The resulting collateral from this photo shoot looks fantastic (as you can see) – thanks to the hard work of our Randy Anderson and Kenny Smith – our photographers who are always ready to share smutty jokes over a few lagers, (does anyone else notice they are Mr Anderson and Mr Smith – Matrix anyone?) our Art Director extraordinaire David McLeod who really enjoys telling Randy what to do, and yours truly – who really did a whole lot of not much…

Hamish the Blogizadpha

  

Introducing Miss Jackie Clark, one of our sedulous Account Managers based in our New Zealand office. 

I have the good fortune to share an office with the ‘Jackstar’ and I can confirm she does love to laugh but I’m yet to experience her singing. Perhaps after consuming a few of her favorite ’Rose Martinis’ she could be persuaded to kick off the karaoke at the TimeZoneOne conference! 

THE HARD QUESTIONS

 

JACKIE CLARK

1. What are you wearing today?

Jeans, black / white top / black boots.

2. How many brothers/sister do you have and are you first born, middle, youngest or only child?

I have one older brother (who is also in advertising but lives in Hong Kong), one younger sister (who organises medical conferences and in her spare time is a beauty therapist – yeh!).  I am the middle child.  Then I have 8 step brothers and sisters.

3. Where were you born?

In the Mater Hospital in Mt Eden, Auckland.

4. Tell us one thing not many people know about you?

I love singing  – especially when I have had a few!  Hmmm but then again maybe a few people know about that!!!

5. What are you like at parties?

Hilarious – generally first to arrive and last to leave.  I LOVE to have a good laugh.

6. Tell us your favorite drink?

A rose martini.  Delicious!

7. Who is your ‘Go to’ person?

Chris  – my darling fiancée.  He cops the lots  – the good, the bad and the ugly….and he’s great at fixing things!

8. What was the last song you downloaded (or CD you bought)?

Mystery Liquid “Without Youâ€� – a new Auckland band

9. Tell us your pet hate?

I have a few:

Women who wear flesh coloured stockings with sandals.

& Men with comb overs

10. Vegemite or Maramite?

Vegemite

11. What are 3 things you could not live without? (excluding people)

Chocolate, My dog  – Johnson, Holidays!

12. Best piece of advice your mother ever gave you?

Always wear good, clean underwear when you go out.  

Twice now  – I have put on the old and faded faithfuls (but still clean of course!!) and those are the 2 days I have had significant accidents in my life!  OH the shame!  The nurses had a good laugh…..

13. If you had a ‘shin-dig’ at your house and could invite 4 famous people (dead or alive) who would they be?

Sean Connery – I very nearly met him once!

Jude Law

George Clooney

Jim Morrison

An eclectic mix  – but I would be happy!

 

14. What is your favorite place in the world and why?

Lake Tarawera – we have the most beautiful spot on Lake Tarawera.  My grandfather bought it years ago so it has huge family history for me and my grandparents and various pets are now buried there.  It’s somewhere where I spent loads of time growing up and so have many memories at different ages with all sorts of friends and on my travels all around the world and that’s the place I missed most.  It’s rather special!.

15. If you won a million dollars tomorrow, what would you do with the money?

1 Million dollars doesn’t go far these days  – but I’d pay off any debts, take a little to go on a trip to Europe with Chris and then invest the rest.  How sensible is that?

 

16. Do you have a nickname? (and if so what is it?)

Jacks or  Rose and when I was little Mum & Dad called me Pickerty Witch!

 

17. And lastly who would you turn gay for?

Hmmm let’s see now  – Charlize Theron or maybe Kate Hudson! Now do I get $20?

 

 LYE

I have the pleasure of introducing Liz Bissland, one of our crafty creatives.

Now, it seems the lovely Liz has been slightly evasive in answering a couple of the below questions…but she has made up for it when choosing ’who to turn gay for’  with not one choice but TWO! SAUCY!!

THE HARD QUESTIONS

 

LIZ BISSLAND

1. What are you wearing today?

Clean clothes – I did about 2 weeks worth of washing yesterday!

2. How many brothers/sister do you have and are you first born, middle, youngest or only child?

Youngest of three sisters – I must admit I had it easy. I never had a curfew, got grounded & almost got away with murder! Now I only have one sister…kidding!

3. Where were you born?

Christchurch

4. Tell us one thing not many people know about you?

It’s a secret….sorry

5. What are you like at parties?

Depends on if I know other people there or not. Quiet if I don’t know anyone & messy if i know them very well  I am known for pulling out the splits and limbo with broomsticks after a few.

6. Tell us your favorite drink?

Bellini’s, Champagne (the good stuff!) and for a shot – A cock-sucking cowboy. Am I allowed to write that!?

7. Who is your ‘Go to’ person?

I have multiple go-to people depending on the instance & occasion. That way they can tell me what I want to hear!

8. What was the last song you downloaded (or CD you bought)?

Album – the Ting Tings

9. Tell us your pet hate?

I have so many – don’t even get me started!!! I am a virgo.

10. Vegemite or Maramite?

Marmite

11. What are 3 things you could not live without? (excluding people)

Love, attention and friends (I know they are people damn it)

12. Best piece of advice your mother ever gave you?

Treat others as you would like to be treated yourself. A brilliant piece of advice..

 

13. If you had a ‘shin-dig’ at your house and could invite 4 famous people (dead or alive) who would they be?

I would need months of preparation for this & I have work to do…

 

14. What is your favorite place in the world and why?

Mexico – it has everything it’s amazing! Great ruins, history, culture, food, beaches. I might just live there one day.

15. If you won a million dollars tomorrow, what would you do with the money?

Invest as much as possible & make it grow for me while I travel the world…again ha ha

 

16. Do you have a nickname? (and if so what is it?)

 None that I want my colleagues to know.

 

17. And lastly who would you turn gay for?

Natalie Portman or Eva Mendes

 

 LYE

  

Today we delve a little deeper into the life of Raewyn Topp, Timezoneone’s Global Marketing Manager & Brand Strategist based in our Chicago office.  

It is often said that people may have ‘good taste’ or ‘expensive taste’.  It seems our Raewyn possesses both…

THE HARD QUESTIONS 

 

RAEWYN TOPP 

1. What are you wearing today?

Not enough clothes!!  It’s freezing today.  The Chicago winter has arrived.  It’s time to pull out the warm winter under garments which tend to be more “Nana” than Victoria Secrets.

2. How many brothers/sister do you have and are you first born, middle, youngest or only child?

One sister called Kathryn.  She is the baby. I’m the bossy older sister.

3. Where were you born?

The great metropolis of Rangoria in their local hospital

4. Tell us one thing not many people know about you?

I could happily live in the country and be a farmer….with horses and sheep….I’d enjoy this as much as I enjoy being a city girl.

5. What are you like at parties?

Never want to go.  Then when I get there, I’m pretty much the last to leave!!

6. Tell us your favorite drink?

Champagne of course!  Closely followed by G&T.  If I’m feeling particularly homesick for my younger days, I can always go a bourbon and coke and be reminded of growing up in Rangoria.

7. Who is your ‘Go to’ person?

Tatts.   Closely followed by my mum, who always manages to keep perspective on everything life has to deal you.

8. What was the last song you downloaded (or CD you bought)?

As you all know I’m particularly sad on the music front.  But I think it was Natalie Merchant with her album Tigerlilly.  If not, it was bound to be some 80′s crap that David has never heard of.

9. Tell us your pet hate?

Negativity I dislike it greatly. 

10. Vegemite or Maramite?

I can swing either way.  I like both!

11. What are 3 things you could not live without? (excluding people)

 

Hmmm…tough question.

·         Cups of tea  (it makes everything seem better)

·         My diamond rings

·         My new super comfy bed.  I don’t know how I’ve survived the last 35 years without it.

12. Best piece of advice your mother ever gave you?

You can do anything you set your mind to.  Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.

13. If you had a ‘shin-dig’ at your house and could invite 4 famous people (dead or alive) who would they be?

Frank Sinatra (I’d want him to sing)

Elizabeth Taylor (I’d want to try on her jewels)

Hugh Jackman (I’d want to be chatted up in the corner by him)

and Mr Darcy…..so I could pretend I belonged in a Jane Austin novel.

14. What is your favorite place in the world and why?

Vienna.  It’s where I got engaged.

15. If you won a million dollars tomorrow, what would you do with the money?

Invest it.  I know it’s boring, but I’d enjoy finding more investment properties to buy and stocks to purchase than I would buying stuff.  In saying that, I’m sure I would be tempted with more sparkly diamonds….

16. Do you have a nickname? (and if so what is it?)

I have so many ……Rat, Ratty, Pooh, Ratnam, Fat Duck, Lois, Doll, Dolly, Two Pie Topp, Topper, Toppy, ……the list goes on.  Oh and yes, “princess” by my father!!

17. And lastly who would you turn gay for?

Catherine Zeta Jones.  I think she is gorgeous.   Particularly if I got to wear her wardrobe.

LYE 

This week, back by popular demand, is the much requested section of the blog where you get to know some of the TZ1 team members just that little bit better…Today we gain an insight into one of the newest members to the TZ1 team, Robert MacDonald… 

THE HARD QUESTIONS

ROBERT  MACDONALD 

1. What are you wearing today?

Stripy pants, black socks, jeans, T-Shirt saying “UZI Does it” and a watch.

2. How many brothers/sister do you have and are you first born, middle, youngest or only child?

Two older brothers and one older sister…yes I am the baby. 

Brother No 1 is a pilot

Brother No 2 is a mathematician

Sister is a molecular biologist and mother of two

3. Where were you born?

Lanark, Scotland

4. Tell us one thing not many people know about you?

I love peanut butter

5. What are you like at parties?

Drunk and asleep 

6. Tell us your favorite drink?

Red wine or lager

7. Who is your ‘Go to’ person? 

My wife

8. What was the last song you downloaded (or CD you bought)?

1234 by Feist

9. Tell us your pet hate?

Slurping loudly

10. Vegemite or Maramite?

Neither, they’re both disgusting

11. What are 3 things you could not live without? (excluding people)

Peanut butter, the internet and wine

12. Best piece of advice your mother ever gave you?

Drink lots of water

13. If you had a ‘shin-dig’ at your house and could invite 4 famous people (dead or alive) who would they be?

Billy Connolly, Peter Kay, Johnny Ball, Richard Dawkins

14. What is your favorite place in the world and why?

New Zealand because it’s pure brilliant!!

15. If you won a million dollars tomorrow, what would you do with the money?

Spend it in Amazon

16. Do you have a nickname? (and if so what is it?)

Nope

17. And lastly who would you turn gay for?

Anyone that gives me a million dollars

LYE 

TimeZoneOners now have a quirky reason to look forward to stepping into the office. Thursday is now Crocs day. It’s a small part of our Up Close philosophy. TimeZoneOne not only creates love of a brand through fantastic graphics and copy, our Up Close advertising creates loyalty and a physical relationship by allowing the customer to see, touch, hold, taste, feel and own. So the question is will having our own individual relationships with the product we are creating advertising for make us even more understanding of that physical relationship the customer has with the product that we create? It may have some effect; we will have fun in our Crocs on Thursdays regardless. We are an Up Close agency our advertising gets up close to the customer, it’s effective. We know this because Crocs and TimeZoneOne’s marketing strategy increased crocs sales by 180% above target and won us an Effie.

I have asked a few zoners to comment on their crocs.  Kim owns 3 pairs of beaches and a pair of Athens. ‘Best jandals I’ve ever owned. I like to wear crocs’n'socks in the winter, a real fashion statement’.

Rose is also wearing her crocs today. ‘ They’re just so comfy and versatile; I can’t bring myself to stop wearing them. I don’t need to worry if they get wet, I can wear them after swimming, when I’m cycling, and they make great driving shoes. These Alice’s are great with jeans and skirts, and can be worn winter or summer.’  

Tim is wearing his Hi-Crusiers today ‘Hi-Crusiers, Santa Cruz, and Sobeks. Crocs like all good things take time to appreciate. Crocs aren’t about their look (at the moment); they are about their inner beauty – comfort being the key. It took time, but this zoner can say he wears his Crocs more often than he would like to admit! 

And  me – I’m wearing my new YOUbycrocs Mykonos. I like them they are summery and girly, a great transition into summer. YOUbycrocs are my favorite Crocs. The spring/summer range is on sale at the moment and I’m planning on buying another pair.

My 3 year old is also wearing her Crocs today she looooves her ‘tiger shoes’ (Disney tigger pelican) and without fail will run around the house every time she puts them on roaring like a tiger. Sounds cute and it is, but it makes life interesting in the morning when I’m late for work. The fact that she gets so much enjoyment from an item of clothing is pretty cool though.

 So there you have it Crocs day is off to a good start.

 Maybe if the bestman at this wedding had been wearing Crocs his friend’s marriage would have had positive beginning as well. Something for Rose to think about.

Enjoy.

 

 

   Maria            

 

Jibbitz, these wonderful charms that come in all sorts of shapes, sizes and designs have become a huge favorite with people everywhere.  Today, more than 1500 Jibbitz designs are available to consumers for personalizing and customizing their Crocs^TM footwear through 4,000 retail accounts worldwide.

TimeZoneOne recently completed a global print campaign for this fun brand, to promote their collections.  The concept was based on the idea of creating Jibbitz art shapes with the charms to create stories around the products.  The result is highly engaging, eye-popping work.  Look out for this work in magazines and retailers near you.

Raewyn