Lewis Lazare likes The Ungar Group’s self-promo efforts.
The Ungar Group/Chicago is one of the only ad agencies we know of that actually believes what it preaches to others — namely, the importance of advertising to build a brand.
Unlike most of the city’s ad agencies, to say nothing of those elsewhere around the country, the Ungar Group, though small, develops and runs ads that draw attention to the shop while also trying to explain why potential clients should seek out its services.
We wish more shops were inclined to create ads for themselves. It might jumpstart a new business environment around these here parts, while also suggesting Chicago ad agencies exist for some reason other than to channel profits into giant holding companies to which many of them are attached.
Not sure if this stuff is visionary or vain. It would be interesting to see if the spots ever led to new business. Like it or not, most prospective clients are lured through an agency’s produced work/reputation and personal relationships. Is running a commercial on cable TV really the best way to reach an actual prospect? Or might it make folks wonder about the agency’s credibility and expertise — particularly regarding media choices? On the other hand, give the joint credit for disrupting the norm.
It might just be a way to build the agency reel.