Timezoneone Blog

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 You” - 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

Congratulations to everybody involved in the SAIC Boxed & Beautiful student recruitment package! We just won a GOLD MEDAL in the annual CASE Circle
of Excellence awards.

CASE Circle of Excellence Awards recognizes outstanding efforts in institutional advancement. This international awards program provides an opportunity to showcase innovative, exciting, and effective programs and projects.

We received a GOLD MEDAL in the Visual Design in Print category.

This is further recognition of the outstanding work that comes from our creative team in New Zealand.

We have won an EFFIE Award and CASE Award – for different pieces of work – in the space of a month.

GREAT WORK TEAM!

The Blogizadpha - Hamish

Have you ever wondered what goes on at a photo shoot? Do you envisage glamorous locations, scantily clad models and point and shoot photography? This blogger is now well versed in the execution of the photo shoot and let me tell you – it aint all glitz and glamour!

My last two photo shoots have been in a warehouse in North Carolina and at the Minnesota Vikings training facility in Minneapolis – not the ritziest of locations! I never knew taking a great photo was so difficult – especially when there are cars involved. Randy Anderson is our master photographer and does a fantastic job for TimeZoneOne. Great care is taken over the precision of the lighting, reflections, shadows etc.

Whilst the photographer, art director and talent are extremely busy – I am hard at work ensuring the iPod is playing and donning helmets (football or racing) for placement shots.

The end result from Randy is always exceptional, and our team uses these images to create our world class creative. The process however, is not all glitz and glamour – I have yet to see any scanty cladding at all!

I have made a (not so) short video of the photo shoot for NASCAR. To view this video, follow the link below…

PART ONE:

PART TWO:

The Blogizadpha - Hamish

This year photoshop turned 18, for this late teen I’ve come to explore in ways you could never imagine it would be safe to say this would have to be one of the essential tools of a designer. Photoshop is an amazing program, that I often find myself discovering new things within its vast realms all the time.

It’s all to easy to spot the flaws in artwork and images which is especially true these days when every man and his dog can easily get a copy of photoshop. They can mistakingly get the buzz of the drop shadow effect or clone tool and think they are the master of retouching and design. Being open to the mass population is part of what made photoshop so successful so it’s harder to spot the pros, their work can often reveal a photograph that appears to have no retouching at all.

Here’s a classic example from the very funny Photoshop Disasters blog the image has been “shopped” to perfection, except Batman seems to be brooding at the window frame?

You can check out a few more hilarious disasters here and here .

At TimeZoneOne we have quite a few masters at the craft, one of them being the Seattle “super ‘re’ toucher” Mark. He has kindly provided me with a few screen shots of a retouching job for “You by Crocs”.

You can see a few more masters here and here.

Brett “the freshmaker” King

Today I had a dig through the TZ1 archive to see what we were up to on this day last year. This day last year was a Sunday in New Zealand, so we would’ve been relaxing eating pavlova, but we got back into doing awesome stuff on Monday the 12th. Here’s a snapshot of some of the awesome things we were up to this time last year…

Blogmaster McLeod, TimeZoneOne