I’ve recently made the jump back to Apple with a new MacBook Pro 15″.  After a decade of Windows and IBM, I’m firmly back in Steve Jobs’ camp and loving the experience.  I’m fairly certain I’ll never go back - for personal use anyway.

I’m using Chrome for my browser, Gmail for email although routing some email via Entourage as a trial, sticking with Microsoft Office for their quattro of business apps (too time-poor to struggle with Google Docs & Apps just yet).  I needed to download Firefox to use an NZ government website recently which was both a surprise and a disappointment (actually Firefox isn’t working either - javascript issue?).  I’m using Skype, Messenger for Mac, Tweetie 2 (thanks for the recommendation, Amnon) for Twitter.

A big reason for getting this was the need to sort through years of photos, juggle, resize, generally tidy up and file the ones I’m keen to keep.  I’m having a close look at Aperture 2 and keen on any feedback about photographic editing apps for Mac before I make my final decision.

For big screen, the jury’s still out.  I’m trying to avoid the Apple Cinema Display as the Dell’s seem to have similar quality, but Apple has enough design superiority (wiring/panache/buttons) to keep me interested.  Just a big price tag to swallow.

Loving the Airport Express plug to my Tivoli, giving me wireless iTunes.  Showing home visitors this reminds me of the early wifi days and the feeling of ‘walking on new legs’ when you hooked someone up to internet on their laptop via wifi.  Truly one of life’s miracles.

I’ve heard of a few bad experiences with Time Capsule but need a gruntier base station for the Sounds house, so thinking this might be a good way to kill backup (I suck at manually backing up - don’t we all?) and Airport Extreme in a single swoop.  Again typically Apple-priced.  Ouch, until my loptop gets nicked or fries itself and then payback isn’t too back!

Anyway, loving the cool kit and being an Appleophile again.

This just in from Bullet PR, M&C Saatchi (otherwise known as McSaatchi.com) moves to a digital-led approach “to compliment the traditional approach”.  It’s kinda already been done, eg by Sugar, but good on ‘em for joining the party.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

M&C Saatchi Goes Digital and

Brings in the Big Guns

29 October 2009 Auckland - World renowned advertising agency M&C Saatchi has hired Darryn Melrose as CEO, Dave King as Executive Creative Director and Tony Burt as Planning Director to lead a consolidation of marketing channels at the agency, adding a genuine digital element to its traditional advertising, government and retail offerings.

Recognising that the media landscape is moving fast and that integrated campaigns with specialist digital expertise is what is needed for all brands, M&C Saatchi Worldwide Chairman Tom Dery knew the agency needed experienced digital leadership:

“The way the digital landscape is transforming globally means these are exciting times for advertising. New Zealand is leading the way in digital, and now M&C Saatchi has a world class digital team to add to its offering. Ten to fifteen years ago digital agencies were kept separate. Now digital is integrating with big ad agencies, like what is happening at M&C Saatchi New Zealand. This move, a first for New Zealand, shows a major agency leading with digital to compliment the traditional approach.”

Melrose, King and Burt were headhunted from AIM Proximity, one of the world’s leading digital agencies and they bring a rich history in traditional above-the-line, digital and direct expertise. Mr Melrose was CEO at AIM Proximity and is one of New Zealand’s pre-eminent direct and digital marketing specialists; he is also the Chair of the pan-industry Digital Leadership Group. King is renowned as one of the most creative advertising and marketing brains in the business. He took M&C Saatchi Sydney to number two in the world in 2006 and AIM Proximity to number one in the world in 2009. Burt meanwhile has worked in digital strategy roles in London for Sapient Interactive and AKQA. Melrose says:

“There is a huge amount of potential that already exists at M&C Saatchi New Zealand, Dave, Tony and I are all experienced above-the-line practitioners, but we also bring great digital knowledge that is vital in today’s market. Clients are looking for a fresher approach, for strategies and solutions that solve business problems. We will give New Zealand an advertising option that has the scope, scale and ambition of any world class campaign.”

ENDS

About M&C Saatchi

M&C Saatchi New Zealand has offices in Auckland and Wellington, servicing clients in the retail, government, media and digital sectors. As part of the global agency network, M&C Saatchi New Zealand adheres to the principle of Brutal Simplicity to create strong, iconic brand identities.

For media enquiries, please contact:

Paul Matthews, Bullet PR
T: 09 306 4008
M: 021 403 181
E: paulm@bulletpr.co.nz

The Marketing Association asked me to lunch today. I took the opportunity to deliver a commentary about the effect of the recession on the domestic advertising market with some insights from offshore.

I’ve dropped some of the material online if you’re interested in having a quick read.  Below was my favourite image from the presentation.  It shows the revenue lift in online from January to June 2009 for the display advertising component of online advertising in NZ, versus the drop reported by the NZTBC for television advertising revenues over the same period.  Ouch.

The burning question for the big media outlets in New Zealand is whether the recessionary downturn will be cyclic and revenues within the media mix will bounces back to the good old days, or whether the shift of ad spend online is here to stay.  Clearly with some of the campaign results I’ve been seeing, online is converting well - for search, classified and display.

At Trade Me, I’ve seen television work well alongside display campaigns.  We’ve seen a big uptick in traffic to clients’ sites after Trade Me is added to a tellie schedule.

Anyway, the address for the preso notes is www.dontwasteagoodrecession.com.  It’s a work-in-progress that I’ll try to tidy up over the weekend.  I hope you enjoy it.  Please leave me a comment!

Thanks, MG

One of the ad team at Trade Me flicked me an interesting graph this morning. A daily breakdown of the August traffic to New Zealand’s largest home page, Trade Me, and runner up, YahooXtra as independently measured by Nielsen Online from tags placed on our pages.

Trade Me is New Zealand's favourite home page (August 2009)

I was surprised at the low weekend rating of YahooXtra; don’t people check their xtra mail accounts in the weekend? You would want a big discount if you advertised on their Saturday. Interestingly, Stuff.co.nz is now New Zealand’s third largest website and New Zealand’s most popular news and entertainment site, bigger than nzherald.co.nz.

My past enthusiasm for Elements is waning after an extraordinarily long wait for latte + bubble ‘n squeak this morning. It’s been discovered, monopolised and isn’t the better for the experience. My favourite restaurant rediscovery is local winebar, Vivo (closed on Mondays). Putting aside some forgettably poor table service, the kitchen team have won me over again.

Polarising commentary on the use of Twitter is starting to tire me. I’m reminded of a friend who bought a mountain bike, used it once and left it propped against a garden shed wall, vowing that biking isn’t fun. You’ve got to use Twitter to get the most out of it. Just following people is voyeurism. From the outside, looking in, I can see how people might think it’s a little weird but I guess I’m the same about new age churches. Different strokes. For those converts, try twittersheep for something different.

[I fear my version of WordPress is slowly decaying. I've lost my wysiwyg option which, I guess, is great for learning html. It might be time to download a new FTP client, dump it all into quarantine and treat it to an autumnal spruce up. A good time to move over to www.michaelgregg.co.nz perhaps. Oh, lamenting the loss of link love.]

I went to an auction at the Wellington Zoo last evening. John Campbell and Carol Hirschfeld from TV3 did a brilliantly awful job of auctioning five experiences that money can’t buy. It was so hilariously funny, The Improvisers were outstanding. The Zoo has refreshed itself. Denise Church, Trust Chair, was a delight to wander with. Her passion for the revitalisation of this community asset and the value of the massive capital programme was clearly evident. I joined the Big Bite Club, and am booking in for a close encounter. I strongly encourage you to do the same. It’s so easy to give-a-little.

Tamati Ellison should be given the permanent full-back role for the Hurricanes, despite a bungle on his defensive goal line which gifted a try to the Sharks in the overnight Super14 match in Durban. Jane’s simply not up to it.

If you’re bored and have nothing to fill in the extra hour Helen generously gave us today, try starting a chat at http://omegle.com/. Just say hi. But remember to sign off with ‘Peace’. Well, that’s my spare sixty minutes used up. Enjoy the first week of not saving daylight and remember to turn off the lights when you’re not using them. There was a point to Earth Hour!

The World Push Ups Championships are coming to Wellington on 28th March ‘09.  Check out the current competitors.  

Will you enter?

I’m back from a month in the European and North African sun. Favourite Greek Island: Syros. Favourite Beach: Megas Gialos then Agathopes depending on the wind. Worst experience: Getting groped by customs officials at Menara Airport, Marrakech (along with all other out-bound travellers). Best plan: deciding to clear my email daily to avoid a backlog. Worst plan: my decision to pack beautifully crafted, hard-haggled-for display ceramic plates into checked-in baggage. Stupid. Big ideas conjured over the trip: get stuck into some growing pains being faced by the IAB, go back to Syros before it gets overrun with oil magnates, lift the bar further in the local display market - watch this space! Being in Europe as the US financial market began to unravel and impact the UK and Europe was fascinating. It was interesting to note that Greece’s GDP is only a third of Lehman Bros asset value. In both Marrakech and a couple of Greek Islands, property values have sky-rocketed in the past two years. Owning a holiday home in an island like Ios is all but out of touch for most Greek families now but there are still some bargains to be had elsewhere. Anyone wanting to own a Cyclades beachside villa should dive in now.

You really can’t beat Wellington on a good day and what a lovely morning I enjoyed today.

First I bumped into Andre Russell, newly from Provoke (who was off to feed the ducks by Te Papa) and we shared coffee at Mojo. Then I visited Elements again. They had flat mushrooms. And they kindly made my favourite brunch - brushetta with pesto, grilled flat mushrooms, goats cheese feta, chopped mint & flat leaf parsley, with grated potato hash browns on the side. Divine.

I made time to drop in and chat to Michael McCormack. I bought a couple of his pieces last year. He’s showing some lovely new works in his Island Bay Gallery and has an exhibition coming up soon. I’ve borrowed one of his images below. I hope he doesn’t mind.

The harbour is calm - going diving/fishing tomorrow if it stays like this.

Normally I’m camped in a hotel room in the City of Sales on a Thursday night so hanging in my favourite city was a novelty this week. I got along to Circa Theatre to watch ‘The American Pilot’, thanks to Chapman Tripp. There were mixed reviews after the lights came up. Some thought it a little slow with a simplistic plot. To me, it was deliberately paced, with intelligent observations of American foreign policy, their lack of assimilation into offshore lands and the resultant heavy handed reactions. Plenty of humour, skillful acting and great timing with cleverly orchestrated sound effects (well done to Marmalade Audio). A lean-forward kind of play. You should get tickets and support Circa.

Well, it’s my last work day for a couple of weeks so Merry Xmas to everyone. I’ll be down at my bach until the 6th of Jan so if you’re passing through the Marlborough Sounds, you’re welcome to stop by for a cold one.

My NYR will be to get some value from my Les Mills membership so please help me with this. If you’re going, bully me into coming along too.

If you have nothing better to do than to spend time on the web, (or you’re working through), here’s some stuff to fill your days:

• If you’re a buyer or seller on Trade Me, here’s a new site that might interest you. It’s all about the second edition of the Trade Me Success Secrets book.
• I’m a big fan of Lance’s commentaries.
• Pining for your Mojo fix?
• Juicy gossip from ‘07
• Take time to learn about cabinetisation so you can better participate in broadband debates in ‘08
• Buy a house …

Here’s a lovely shot to remind us of the most beautiful city in NZ while we’re away from home. I’d love to credit this so please tell me who shot it if you know. Ta.

Have a safe Christmas. MG

Wow, lifting my (spinning) head from an endless round of association, industry, and corporate shindigs, there’s a load happening right now. Jim’s off from Fronde. Mr Smith heads to Fairfax Digital. Our Trade Me team is rapidly expanding - with Dangermouse joining the other cartoon characters (TinTin & Tinkerbell) in Ads (we need a nickname for Loz …). Jessi’s off on Maternity Leave. Two of my best mates have thrown in their jobs to take a hot summer off. My sis is getting married next weekend in Blenheim so the troops have returned from around the globe. Plans are afoot for a fishing trip deep within the Wilderness Area of the Karamea. The Wellingtonista’s celebrated their Awards last night. The IAB hosts Uncle Monkey on Tuesday. It’s National Jandal Day today. Whew! Roll on, Xmas.