THE CONCEPT FARM
LOCATION: New York
EMPLOYEES: 48
GIVING BACK: The Concept Farm works on a
discounted basis with organizations such as Greenpeace, The
American Heart Association, The United Nations Environment
Programme and the National Women's Law Center (NWLC). "We work a
crazy amount of hours in this business, so it can be hard to give
back outside the office," Mark Weintraub says. "What a pleasure to
be able to give back in the office."
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"An intern is the lowest rung on the ladder," Mr. Singh said,
"but I had the chance to hit the ground running." These days, he
hears about more hierarchical organizations and feels spoiled.
"Here, you're not running things up a ladder and having to wait.
The creative directors sit a few feet away, so you can always grab
someone for input. I think it's a luxury."
The Concept Farm, whose clients include Windstream
Communications, BNY Mellon and ESPN, is all about community,
starting with open floor plans in which the disciplines mingle. "We
do have some doors," Mr. Wasiak said, "but they swivel."
Farmhouse tables host group lunches, while an open intercom
system makes for general hilarity over the P.A., especially in the
wee hours. The close-knit group of Farmers, as employees call
themselves, share their lives on an internal blog, EIEIO. And on
the "First Fridays" of every month, they gather over pizza to share
their work.
More than even the pizza, employees value the creative control
that comes with the agency's in-house print, digital and broadcast
production capabilities, as well as post-production capabilities.
"Creatives and account people know that the ideas they present can
be produced quickly and in-house," said Blake Olson,
partner-president. "That creates a happier place to work."
So does the "no-B.S. approach to getting things done," said Mark
Weintraub, director-account management. "If you want to do
something, you create a plan, provide the rationale, and more often
than not, it'll happen." Mr. Weintraub, who initiated the First
Fridays tradition accordingly, also values the freedom managers
have to reward team members (dinners out, tickets to events)
without having to work through countless layers of approval.