Opinion Leader joined ICOM in 1999 and our agency receives a lot of benefits from it. Belonging to an international group means above all, cooperation with agencies from around the world.
During our years with ICOM, Opinion Leader has had the opportunity to explore new markets and work with new clients, exchanging information with other ICOM agencies and putting at ICOM's disposal our own communication know-how.
Belonging to ICOM gives our agency an important value to offer to its clients. The international focus gives us the skill to operate worldwide and to better serve the needs of our clients.
Belonging to ICOMgives us the opportunity to know people from different cultures and learn from them.
We were introduced to ICOM when they were looking for a partner in Turkey. We attended a regional meeting and immediately recognized the benefits from other ICOM team members and decided to be a member ourselves. We have been in the network for 2 years and can say that this was one of the best decisions that we have made. We have real friends all over the world and we are experiencing a global power while keeping our agency locally independent.
Being a member of ICOM is like being part of a multinational agency but staying 100% independent. We can take advantage of all the benefits, like new trends and industry information, and receive help from the ICOM network. We benefit from great ideas that are very useful for us and our clients and we have the opportunity to contribute in kind to the ICOM network.
Arianto Zanial, President/Creative advisor
MACS909
Jakarta, Indonesia
These are reflections of what we get from being members of ICOM
1.- A lot of information on markets and everything related to our business
2.- We do not feel alone (very important)
3.- In times of uncertainty (like the beginning of internet) we feel the power of the network going ahead at full throttle and responding to the new challenges.
4.- We can provide our clients with information that otherwise we could not get and therefore we serve them better.
5.- Meetings are great. Ideas flow, they are full of life and give us energy to keep going at a brisk pace
6.- We meet people of high interest
7.- Last but not least, there is “magic” in the group.
Inigo Muguiro
Viente Segundos
Madrid, Spain
Last May was the tenth birthday of our ICOM membership and I must say that in ten years I have never regreted being a member. I feel that the dues we have paid to ICOM in ten years have been largely covered by the income we got from international activity brought by the network.
But to us the real benefit of being in ICOM is by far not in the business you do with the other members but elsewhere. First the image of the agency has changed : we went from being a small local agency to an agency with strong international capabilities: clients and prospective clients love that even if they don’t use it. It is perhaps still more important for our employees. They love to feel that their agency is a part of something bigger and stays in touch with what is going on in other countries. Every ICOM meeting, regional or worldwide, is the opportunity to breath fresh air and to come back to the agency with new ideas, new insights and new resolutions and with more energy to communicate to others. Lastly, as independents in our countries, we lack contacts with other agency bosses with whom to share and exchange information about the various problems we have to cope with on a daily basi, such as new organization, new bonus scheme, new compensation systems, new capabilities to integrate, etc. With ICOM you get that contact and total discresion from among your many friends in the network. For those who have never worked abroad, ICOM is a fantastic opportunity to experience an international culture. By visiting countries on the 5 continents, you meet professionals you would have had never the opportunity. For me it gives me a chance to practice my English as well. For all these reasons the ICOM membership would be probably the last expense we would cut if the agency was facing tough times.
Olivier KAULEK, President
KRBO/NETCO GROUP
Lille/FRANCE
ICOM membership
1. Enables us to receive the necessary marketing information on the world markets, consumer preferences in view of national features.
2. Gives an opportunity to provide our clients with a full spectrum of communications services all over the world using advertising capabilities abroad.
3. Allows us to keep abreast of the global advertising market.
4. The training programs allow us to raise professionalism and to encourage perspective employees.
5. Regional meetings allow us to share experience, communicate and travel, see the world and learn features of different cultures.
Eleina Smirnova
Communication Agency "Magic Box", Moscow
For Fast (ICOM´s agency in Brussels), the benefits of being part of ICOM are tremendous.
The network has given us quite a few new clients and budgets, via international clients, introduced by other partner agencies.
ICOM also enables us to participate in competitions that we couldn't do without the help of the network. We have won the Walloon Tourism budget, for example, which had to be spent in Belgium, France, Germany and the UK.
Moreover ICOM is a great source of information. When we start working on a new local client, we can always count on the help and experience of another agency in a foreign country, which has many references in the same sector.
Robert Goossens.
CEO of Wondercom, Belgium.
The major benefits to Oddfellows of our ICOM membership are twofold.
First is our ability to utilize the network for information gathering. Unlike a lot of multinationals, the ICOM alert mutual assistance program actually works, and what's more, the information is being provided by an agency principle, not an office junior, leading to more insightful and usable data.
Second, the opportunity to network with other ICOM members at our Regional and Global meetings cannot be undervalued. Sharing ideas, best practice and emerging trends with communications professionals from other markets is stimulating, and always prompts new ways of looking at things, and new ideas that can be implemented in our own business.
In summary, whilst Oddfellows is extremely proud of our local heritage and independence, our ICOM membership ensures that we don’t suffer as a result of it”
Andrew Black
Oddfellows, Sydney
As an ICOM member, Walker/Zecchetto (WZ) is very proud to present itself as the only global advertising agency in Chile. That means, an independent agency that can think, create and act locally but that is totally integrated in the global communication world.
For our clients and prospects, we offer the best of two worlds: a one-to-one relationship with flexible and executive attention, as well as a huge international database and strategic assistance network.
Olivier Jacques
Walker/Zecchetto (WZ) Chile.
Being a part of ICOM has benefited Weyforth-Haas Marketing in many ways. We are able to promote the fact that we can truly support a client's global marketing efforts with local resources in any part of the world. Additionally, those resources will know the culture and nuances in regard to communications elements that may be specific to the region.
We are able to call on the expertise of members all over the world to provide information on a particular industry or marketing practice. We have been members of other advertising/marketing networks in the past but none compare to ICOM especially when it comes to the unselfish sharing of ideas. No one is afraid to discuss their experiences, whether they were good or bad, so that the other agencies are able to learn from them.
Kelley W. Haas
President/COO
BVK
Overland Park, Kansas
I feel I have enlarged the size of my organization through ICOM. I have been able to use the experience of the other partner agencies to better position the SKM Group for new business. The partners are very willing to share and respond to requests for help quickly. I feel confident that I can offer an effective alternative to my clients to going with a big conglomerate by partnering with fellow ICOM agencies. I have also been able to position SKM Group as a resource for international marketing. It has truly helped us with existing and new clients.
Sue Meany
SKM Group
Buffalo, New York
It is a great honor for Magic Seven Group to be an ICOM member in the Czech Republic and Slovakia. Being members has enabled us to receive new ideas, change opinions on various topics from communication and advertising, and make new friends. Probably the main contribution is that we found friendly and agile agencies from our territory - Central Europe - and we started to cooperate very closely. We have prepared a common offer for potential clients that act in our countries and we are going to start making new business soon.
Yes, we can say now we have colleagues in many countries all around the world.
Iva Sipkova
Magic Seven Group
Czech Republic & Slovak Republic
Throughout the years we gained a lot of experience working together with different ICOM agencies. For one of our international clients we work with three ICOM agencies -Smees Advertising-London, FAST-Belgium and the Phelps Group-Los Angeles in a very professional way.
Dkfm. Peter M. Rock
Rock+Partner
Vienna, Austria
ICOM is a surprise: a network of entrepreneurs that works, and very well. It's amazing for an independent agency to become international overnight and have partners - not competitors - all over the world to share ideas, doubts and sometimes business. Last but not least, you develop strong and long-lasting friendships.
Rino Ferrari F.
Rino Publicidade
Brazil
What ICOM is to Adformatix
ICOM is of great value to us. We have gained a lot from the sharing of varied experiences of its members. The insights we were exposed to during world meetings and regional conferences greatly contributed to the business direction Adformatix has pursued. For example, we first learned of integrated marketing communications through ICOM more than 5 years ago, and the resulting structural transformation and altered mindset of Adformatix have allowed us to survive [and thrive] as a strong independent versus the multinationals. Possibly, the greatest thing learned all these years with ICOM is this: Change is constant in our business. And the way to success is dependent on how rapid those critical changes are embraced by us. Through ICOM, we learn how best to work in a business that stubbornly refuses to stay the same.
Willie Garcia
Chairman
Adformatix, Inc.
Manila, Philippines
" We are a local agency. We have been members of ICOM for four years now and I am sure it is a valuable tool. We have exchanged materials, shared experiences, met interesting professionals and even gained a client or two. In short, in this time of globalization ICOM is a window to the world."
Hernán Campos
Publicidad Causa
Lima, Peru
Northlich & ICOM
Northlich's 5-year membership in ICOM has been rich in both professional and personal connections as well as cultural growth.
Direct connections to our business have encompassed relationships with ICOM partners on matters of media, research and creative testing. We have also partnered with several agencies on new business presentations -- leveraging key category business knowledge and specialized competencies. ICOM has stretched the boundaries of our agency.
I doubt few organizations anywhere convey such an international spirit and energy of cooperation.
The professional management of the ICOM staff and leadership of Gary Burandt delivers a special brand of professionalism and friendship.
Mark Serrianne
Northlich
Ohio
We have little but of a year like member of ICOM, in this short time we have measured the magnitude of the benefits that we can obtain from this structure. We considered our eyes in the world. He is a one way to update to us and to know so many professional colleagues of first order. It is also a door for new businesses.
Samuel Suero
STAFF ICOM
We are extremely proud of ourselves as we’re the only Ukrainian ICOM agency. After 2 years being ICOM member we now fully realize how it is important to be a part of the global, yet independent network. Through the years we pursued the opportunity to realize our potential on a global scale. We believe that now this opportunity is in our hands thanks to ICOM.
What’s more important, we also believe that being a part of the global family further expands our experience, makes us even more competitive in our native market and creates new business opportunities.
Irina Kuznetsova,
General Manager
DIALLA Communications
PASSION GETS US TOGETHER
I've thought of ICOM and what brings us together as a group.
I've thought about the borders, similar but different cultures, different backgrounds and agencies' histories. Maybe different ages and also different customs and habits. But ICOM gets us together. But what really and seriously gets us together is the passion for what we do. Passion expressed in each presentation, in each report, in each opinion. Passion for a profession, for a healthy competence we developed and for being successful at doing what we love, apart from devaluated currencies and the crisis of our countries.
We do have passion for what we love doing and this cannot be beaten by any possible competitor or economical crisis nor any collective discouragement. That's what really counts.
Alexis Jano Ros
Da Vinci Communications
Uraguay
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