Last Word: Brass, Epiphany, TH_NK & Websites Are Lovely

Last Word attended a press sitting of Festival in the Sky and enjoyed the views of Edinburgh from 100 feet, while sipping a glass of Cava and tucking into lunch. DADA founder and all-round entrepreneur Oli Norman claims that his inspiration to bring the Festival in the Sky to Edinburgh was a magazine article.

However - for any budding entrepreneurs that read this article and have a similar moment of inspiration - it might not be as easy as it looks. Norman and his team have spent weeks on site, hired and become experts in cranes, built, from scratch, a departure lounge and spent more time at 100 feet than any human should. It’s not just pie in the sky, you know.

BRASS ADOPT A BRASS NECK APPROACH TO BRAND BUILDING

As you may have learned from the news pages of The Drum, Leeds agency Brahm has recently become Brass.

And as rebranding exercises go, it is fair to say Brass has gone to great lengths to familiarise people with its new brand.

Staff and friends were challenged to make the brand appear in as many far flung places as they could. And they haven’t disappointed.

So far it has turned up on a giant screen in Times Square, at the Dalai Lama’s pad in the Himalayas and in front of thousands of Shed 7 fans at T in the Park.

The brand has gone via Hollywood, Seattle, Buenos Aires, Singapore, Sydney, Kiev, Ko Phangan, Swansea and Amsterdam with its furthest sighting coming in Beebys Knob in New Zealand.

Check out the photo evidence of Brass’s ‘Million Mile Challenge’ at http://www.flickr.com/groups/brassagency/

BIKES AND HIKES FOR TH_NK, EPIPHANY AND TRUE NORTH’S DOWNHILL CHAMP

Last Word watched a bit of the Tour de France this summer and couldn’t help but think that this cycling lark looks like terribly hard work.

Our fears have been confirmed by the budding Alberto Contadors in agency land who have told us all about their own gruelling cycling challenges.

A team of 13 from digital agency TH_NK plan to cover 90 miles a day (a day!) cycling from their base in Newcastle to their office in London.

Their Tour de TH_NK will last for five days next month in a bid to raise £20,000 for Breast Cancer Campaign. You can support them at http://www.tourdethink.com.

Directors at search agency Epiphany, meanwhile, are taking on what has been dubbed “the UK’s toughest charity challenge”.

CEO Shane Quigley, commercial director Robin Skidmore and managing director Rob Shaw will tackle the Lakeland Challenge this September to raise more than £4,000 for children’s charity Wooden Spoon.

It is England’s longest, highest and steepest charity challenge and involves canoeing the length of Lake Windermere, cycling over England’s steepest road pass and climbing Scafell Pike, England’s highest peak. Find out more at www.justgiving.com/epiphanychallenge.

Staying on the cycling theme, True North’s artworker-cum-international biker Harriette Latchem has enjoyed more success, finishing fourth at the National Women’s Downhill Biking Championships.

She said: “It was a super wet weekend, plenty of crashes, but managed to keep it up right for the race - apart from one slip up when I headed straight through granny’s cabbage patch! But got back on line and managed a 4th place, pretty happy, still first would have been better! Just gotta train now for next year...”

LOVELY THINGS UPS FOR BRIBES

Another company trying to familiarise people with its name is digital start-up Websites are Lovely.

Its founder, Neil Richards, has taken to giving away 20 of his ‘lovely things’ - including a Game Boy, Instamatic Camera and a 7 inch of ELO’s timeless Mr Blue Sky - to introduce himself to potential new clients. Last Word received a very well preserved Persuaders annual.

Richards said: “it has gone down really well” and has already brought him a project. “Seems like you can’t beat the personal touch for marketing.”