Start spreading the news.
After god-knows-how-many years stuck in the leafy-ass end of London, Velocity has finally opened a second office – and it’s in New York City.
Can I get a ‘Woo-hoo!’
(A discreet ‘woot’?).
We tend to avoid ‘news release’ type posts, so I’m going to find a way to make this all about you, you you:
You’re a confident, ambitious, senior marketer in a B2B tech company.
Maybe you’re kind of new to the role and ready to shake things up. Or maybe you’re tired of the way you’ve always done things. And results are starting to flatten out.
You want to overhaul your boring marketing and spin up a program of smart, on-strategy content that surprises your prospects and drags them by the ear to your sales animals.
On the way, you could use a sharp positioning that makes your company leap out from the pack of wannabes – and, what the hell, a shiny new brand to go with it.
You’ve heard of those folks at Velocity (because… Content Marketing Agency of the Year and all that) but you’re based in the U.S. of A and they’re in leafy-ass West London.
You just aren’t sure you can manage an agency relationship from so far away (even though Sprint, Xerox, Informatica, ADP, Citrix, Sitecore, LiveRamp, Acxiom and a whole bunch more do just fine with it).
Well now, what’s this? (You say),
Velocity opening in New York?
Why, now there’s absolutely no reason not to call Martha Rzeppa*, who’s leading the NYC office, for a chat.
This changes everything.
(Subtle pivot back to us…)
So why are we making our lives so much more complicated?
Because, as a B2B Tech agency, over 70% of our business is in the USA. And every time we visit, we realize how important it is to spend some real, F2F time with the people who pay our reassuringly exorbitant fees.
And because the USA is the center of the tech world.
And because, BA Gold Card notwithstanding, airports kind of suck. And airplanes suck even more.
And because operating in two time zones lets us extend our availability and, soon, our production.
And because we want to create new opportunities for the amazing people stuck back in West London (did we mention the leaves?).
And because… NEW YORK.
Meet the NYC Pioneers:
Here’s the dynamic trio, charged with giving this thing a great start:
Martha Rzeppa* – our multi-multi-lingual, office head has been with us for five years. The last 14 months of which were spent trying to get a bloody visa.
Clare Grantham – our funnily-enough British account director has been working for us in NYC for 18 months already. From her apartment. Getting us ready.
Nicole Paladino – our newest US hire, also an account person, comes from Pittsburgh but takes no shit about it. None.
If you’re in NYC and have some time on your hands, drop in and say hi.
Check out the new digs
We’re starting out in a We Work office in SoHo.
(379 West Broadway, Suite 355, New York, NY 10012):
This is the public space with no people in it except one camouflaged guy on the sofa:
This is the intimidating receptionist and her owner:
This is the corridor to our office, with a sleeping (we hope) labrador:
This is Zippy, the very bad office dog, in London, when he learned there were dogs in the NYC office:
Bottom Line: This is the start of an exciting new era for the V-team and friends. If you’re anything like the hypothetical marketer wishfully outlined above, do get in touch. We’re local now.
TLDR: Woo-hoo!
(And some more NYC street iron shots – my secret fetish:)
—————————
* (The Rz is pronounced like the j in joie de vivre).
Executive Creative Director
Doug is a displaced Yank who started his career at Ogilvy & Mather, New York.
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Comments
Gesu May 24th, 2017
To complicated lives and making the most out of them! Well done you guys!!
Doug Kessler May 24th, 2017
Thanks Gesu! Stop by for a Friday pub session…. (In London, not NYC).
D Smulevich May 25th, 2017
Congrats guys! Fantastic news and well done Martha!
Doug Kessler June 13th, 2017
Thanks Daniel!
Stop by to say hi (either location).
DK
J.C. Honey May 25th, 2017
Excellent news.
Doug Kessler June 13th, 2017
Thanks J.C. We’ll see you more often, I hope.
Chris Schaper May 25th, 2017
Bam! Yes, so excited for the VP team. Congrats all!
Doug Kessler June 13th, 2017
Thanks Chris! Exciting times (read as: shitting ourselves).
Ann Handley MarketingProfs May 25th, 2017
Jeez you’ll do anything to use your sewer photos in a post, won’t you?
Congrats!!! <3
Mad love, you crazy b2b cats.
Doug Kessler June 13th, 2017
First of all: they are not ‘sewer photos’. They’re the gritty documentation of a long-neglected feature of our historic urban infrastructure, the artefacts of a bygone industrial era and the gateways to a nether world of critical civic utilities, including, I admit, sewers.
Second of all: Thanks! Woo hoo!
Jelle Annaars Supercontent June 1st, 2017
Congrats Doug, well deserved!
Doug Kessler June 13th, 2017
Thanks Jelle! A new era….
Lorraine Thompson MarketCopywriter.com June 6th, 2017
Welcome to New York! Very excited to have CMI’s 2016 Content Marketing Agency of the year in La Grosse Pomme.
Since you love NYC sewer covers, you probably already know this bit of trivia: all the city’s beautifully made manhole (person hole?) covers are hand forged in India.
Doug Kessler June 13th, 2017
Thanks Lorraine. I knew that some were made in India (only because some say “Made in India”) but didn’t know all were.
Kinda crazy shipping all that heavy iron so far…
Here’s one back at you: each manhole cover has to be forged together with the ring that holds it into the street. The fit has to be perfect or it would wiggle and make noise.
Also: most manhole covers are circles because it’s the only shape that ensures the cover cannot fall down the hole no matter what angle you drop it from.
Hey, you started this street iron trivia thing.
Agbons Igiewe ZIZA Digital June 13th, 2017
Congrats to the VP Team!
You guys are amazing and I always look forward to reading your content – A mix of humour and Candor.
As a young Digital Agency here in Lagos, Nigeria, – VP has been a source of inspiration to us.
Continue to soar Doug! We hope to come say hello someday.
Doug Kessler June 24th, 2017
Thank you Agbons!
We love to hear from cousin agencies all over the world.
Much appreciated.
Bob Apollo Inflexion-Point June 13th, 2017
Nice man hole covers! Do they provide a cast-iron alibi in case of any failure to follow the client’s brief?
Doug Kessler June 24th, 2017
Be very careful about complimenting my street iron shots — you’ll end up getting a tour of my collection. 3,000 shots and growing.
How’s next Tuesday?
Richard Taylor Taylor Partners Limited June 14th, 2017
I think I enjoyed the email as much as the blog – great lessons for us all. Wishing you and your team every success with your new venture.
Doug Kessler June 24th, 2017
Thanks Richard!
Anything specific about the email?
We love feedback!
madalin stunt cars 2 June 21st, 2017
Bam! Yes, so excited for the VP team. Congrats all!
Doug Kessler June 24th, 2017
Thank you madalin stunt cars 2!
I LOVE your name.
If I have any more kids, I want to name one madalin stunt cars 3.
red ball BGH May 14th, 2019
My mother makes a less healthy version using a lot of butter and sugar with pecans.
Doug Kessler May 21st, 2019
I love this so much, red ball. You have raised comment spamming to an art.
Femi Majek TopYouGo Digital Marketing Agency Nigeria August 2nd, 2020
Was looking for an inspiration for an new office announcement without also going through the boring press release announcement, then I stumbled upon your page which has inspired me on what to do next.
I’m sure you have now settled in your New York office and looking towards another office in the nearest future 🙂
Best of luck guys!
Doug Kessler September 28th, 2020
Thanks, Femi! Good luck with yours too.
Doug Kessler September 18th, 2017
Thanks you for your comment! Through your typing I also found the problem up interesting! Thanks you noticed! I hope you will continue to have similar comment spam with every blog! I believe a lot of people will be fooled by your technique! Also the exclamation marks!