Set up in 2010 as a sister agency of Rothco, it is headed up by managing director Zara Flynn who has been with the group for the past ten years. The agency currently employs 14 staff and it intends to expand on this during 2015, according to Flynn.
With plans to boost the headcount It has an enviable client roster and has seen the agency grow from a staff of four to its current count of 14 with recruitment plans to increase throughout 2015. Borne out of a traditional below-the-line agency it is paving the way for a new generation of meaningful brand/customer interaction and as it becomes more sophisticated, the name of the new agency Guns or Knives reflects this.
“What we call ourselves has to convey so much and we thought very carefully about not only re-branding but also on deciding what the new name should be. It requires bravery to rise above the parapet and be daring and the name Guns or Knives, is a measured, considered and calculated risk. We care not only about what we create for our clients but also how we create. We want to make an impact,” she says.
Elaborating on the rationale behind the name and logo, client services director, RóisÃn Field, said, “our “choose your weapons” philosophy is about picking those touch points that will best “fight” our clients’ corners in the marketplace. It is what motivates us collectively as an agency. The more we challenge ourselves on what it is that we stand for, the clearer it was to opt for a somewhat controversial name.”
Clients of Guns or Knives include Heineken, Amstel Radler, AIB, Coca-Cola, Sprite, Hailo, Jameson Whiskey, Lyons Tea, Samsung, Bayer, Meteor, and REA.
