the story of the wolf’s head fanny
W+K has had a pretty good conversion record on new business pitches – around 4 wins out of 5 pitches for the last two or three years. But we didn’t win the IKEA pitch last year. How come? Now the story can be told! I came across something the other day that may explain some of the reasons. The following is a record made at the time of a conversation that took place in an internal creative review on the pitch work.
Matt B: Blimey, it’s a bit full on. Or is it just me that thinks lactating tits and a wolf’s-head fanny’s not ok?
Noe: But it’s growling at the dog!
Matt G: I think we’re going to lose the dog, Noe…
Matt B: what about the wolf’s-head fanny? Can we at least tame it down a bit… Say a guinea pig or something?
Noe: A giraffe!
(laughter)
Noe: So we have giraffe…?
Pete: Noe, there’s a kids’ play area at IKEA. Not sure we want them pointing at giraffe’s-head fannies…
Noe: Do you think we’re going to water it down too much?
Ben: She’s still a naked amputee with a pillow-head mask and a sex toy. I think we’ll be alright….
On difficult days, conversations like the above remind serve to us that, ridiculous though this business is, and hard work though it can be, it’s a lot more fun than, say, working on a north sea trawler.