Some strange sights at the COI agency marketplace yesterday. Like a speed dating event crossed with a village fete. In a very odd village.

Not many agency top brass to be seen at 7.30 am when we started setting up.

Some of the agency stalls follow. See anything you want to buy?

‘Agency of the year’ spat: VCCP vs. WCRS

Unfortunate wheel of fortune coincidence for Lowe and Cheetham Bell JWT.

It’s a funny old world.

Julian writes:

Liz and I were at the COI Borough Market event earlier today. For those of you who don’t know, all agencies on the COI roster were invited to man an agency market stall to meet the COI department clients.

It’s a surreal experience having twenty six agencies side by side, each trying to stand out in their own way. It’s a bit like turning up to a fancy dress party without a theme i.e. when you first arrive your heart either sinks because you’ve massively mis-judged it or you breathe a sigh of relief at having seen how crap everyone else looks. Here’s our stand.

We decided to make it a book stall, to reflect our working method of developing  books that capture thoughts, ideas and expressions of a brand or an idea.

A big, huge thanks for helping prepare for the day goes to Emma Raven, Nico, Mick, Rebecca, Oli and to Liz and Gavin who got up in the middle of the night to be here early doors to set it all up. And of course Darren, Lucy and Simon for coming up with the ‘book stall’ idea in the first place.

Finally, spare a thought for Stu, Kim and Neil who are currently giving it the big "roll up, roll up".