The words "Oh Shit!" written in giant black type will dominate a double page spread in ad rag Campaign today. But why, pray tell? It could easily be a succinct summary of the general mood of the industry in 2009 which lost 1,500 staff, the worst hit since 1991, as finance and HR departments furiously cut staff while clients bid sayonara to their marketing budgets. The truth is quite the opposite, it seems. Integrated agency Iris is running the ad as part of a recruitment drive (remember those?) for 57, yes 57, new staff. In a slightly smarmy way the ad is obviously a bit of unsubtle PR lording it over rivals, but what more should we expect in the dog-eat-dog world of Mad Men? While Christmas parties were being cancelled across Soho, it seems Iris snaffled a string of valuable new clients. Whatever next, that rare beast – a pay rise – or the ultimate endangered species, outside banking of course, a staff bonus?
