Here’s an Idea: An Idea Machine
When Pete Favat and Pam Hamlin said ideas can come from anywhere in the agency, they weren’t kidding. Director of Agency Innovation Will Burns took this mantra to heart. “The Innovation Station is a simple intranet site where anyone in the agency can post innovation requests and then anyone else in the agency can post their ideas on little virtual yellow stickies.” The ideas generated range from new product ideas, names, promotional extensions, etc. It started off as an experiment, according to Burns, and two years later it has generated over 3,400 ideas for clients, prospects and internal marketing. We have received great participation from the agency, with 69% of employees posting at some point. Even our CEO, Fran Kelly, is known to prowl the Innovation Station’s virtual halls from time to time.
Here’s how it works. Employees whose ideas are selected to be presented to a client receive $25 and another $25 is put into the “Barnold Jar” on their behalf. Once the Jar contents hit $1,000, Arnold throws a party in honor of all the ideas. Winners also receive the coveted “Innovation Station Cup.” Burns quips, “Let’s just say the entire program is self-liquidating.” Indeed.
If you’d like to give the Innovation Station a spin, call your account person if you’re an Arnold client, or if you’re a future client, call Will Burns directly at 617-587-8605 and he’ll set you up.