How it Began: Starting an Agency with Greg Finn and Matt Mombrea of Cypress North
On this month’s episode, Maggie and I talk about all things Barbie, our thoughts about the hit film of the summer (no spoilers!), and how we felt about their creative marketing tactics. Plus, we let you in on what's happening behind the curtain from new clients, new hires, and new social marketing tactics. In our main scoop we interviewed the founders of Cypress North, Greg Finn and Matt Mombrea, and discussed how they got their start and how they created a space where employees and clients can thrive.
Barbie Blockbuster - How The Film Went Viral
The Barbie movie has painted the town pink with its out of the box marketing campaign. Their breadcrumb style approach began enticing potential viewers over a year ago, giving small glimpses into the film without giving its plot and main messages away.
Though the actual amount has not been disclosed, it’s estimated that they had a marketing budget of around $150 million dollars. Brand partnerships were a huge part of this budget and overall strategy. So many brands, from Target to AirBnB, partnered with the film to create Barbie themed products and services. Brands aside, everyday users were excited to make organic content on social media surrounding the movie, getting in on the Barbie trend.
New Hires and New Strategies
Issues like quiet quitting and the great resignation have been plaguing the hiring landscape for companies in all industries. Positions that would normally be quick to fill with qualified candidates would receive little to no traction, slowing down the hiring process. We’ve been seeing a positive shift in the landscape, receiving hundreds of great applications within days of posting a role.
We also touch on the new social media strategies that we are testing out for the Agency Scoop. From a brand new TikTok account to a dedicated Twitter and Instagram approach, we are working on getting our name out there and putting out brand new content!
Agency Beginnings with Greg Finn and Matt Mombrea
In the main scoop, we sit down with the founders of the agency behind the Agency Scoop. They tell us what gave them the push to get together and start an agency, and the story of how the name Cypress North came to be (the real story and the fake story!).
Matt and Greg let us in on how they have managed to grow and scale amidst a constantly changing industry. The biggest factors would be knowing what works, trying new things, and quickly pivoting when faced with obstacles. They also have a people first focus when it comes to our team, bringing team members in early in their careers and allowing them to grow as the company grows.
They also share with us their favorite memories from over the years. From inside jokes, long term relationships, and being a part of meaningful projects.
Make sure to listen to the full episode to hear more of our takes on trending news and what’s happening at the agency!
Follow @TheAgencyScoop on Twitter or on LinkedIn at The Agency Scoop and subscribe to our YouTube channel @TheAgencyScoop. Let us know what you think and leave us a review!
About The Agency Scoop
Each episode, we tackle a specific topic together or pull in leaders from other companies. We’ll chat about what’s helping our agency grow, how we work with clients, things that bring us joy, and even the challenges we face. Please subscribe on your favorite podcast player to follow along!
Related Resources
Continuous Improvement Techniques for a Growth-Minded Agency
Learn some of the techniques our agency uses for continuous improvement, growth and learning, and building trust - both internally and with clients.
Why Small Creative Agencies Yield Big Results
Looking to improve your creative efforts? Bigger may not be better. Here's why a small creative agency can yield big results for you.
Unlimited PTO and Workcations: Paradise or Pitfall?
In this month’s episode, Maggie and I ‘thread the needle’ on Meta’s latest social media platform, including our opinions and experience of using the app for the first time. Plus, we dive into the uncertainty currently facing our economy and […]
11 Signs It’s Time for a New Website
Is your website up to date and meeting the needs of your customers? Here are 11 signs that indicate your organization needs a new website that follows best practices.
Agencies are Eliminating their College Requirements in 2023
On this month’s episode of the Agency Scoop, Maggie and I discuss the usage of artificial intelligence search engines and why they are more of a resource rather than a replacement for employees. Plus, we share our hot takes on […]
Reimagining the Agency Account Team Structure
On this month’s episode of The Agency Scoop, Maggie and I discuss the state of our economy and how this is affecting companies and their marketing efforts, in house versus agency marketing services, and the rollout of our new client […]
ChatGPT and Quiet Quitting
In this month’s episode of The Agency Scoop, Maggie and I discussed the latest artificial intelligence news and the trending concerns behind quiet quitting. Both of these topics are rising in popularity. Whether or not that’s a good thing is […]
Brand Refresh vs. Rebrand vs. New Brand: Which Do You Need?
Is your organization in need of a branding solution? Here's a breakdown of the differences between a brand refresh, a rebrand, and a new brand so you can decide which would work best for you.
Managing the Client-Agency Relationship: An Approach to Success
A few months ago, we implemented a formalized internal structure for our client teams, designed to help us better serve and manage accounts. It’s a move that’s been well-received, both internally and externally, but one that took us a while […]
New Year, New Scoop! Working Hard and Sometimes Remotely
The Agency Scoop is back with a new structure, new co-host, and new agency talk! This month, I sat down with Maggie Humphrey, Digital Marketing Manager, at Cypress North, to discuss the pros and cons of working from home and […]
Building a Software Agency with Barry Schwartz
This month, I sat down with Barry Schwartz, CEO of web service firm Rusty Brick and founder of Search Engine Roundtable. His career began at age 14 when he joined his twin brother in starting a software development business. Their […]
Moving Mountains (and Summiting Them!) with Lauren Molenda of Riveter Design
This month, I sat down with Lauren Molenda, co-owner and brand strategist at Riveter Design. Her career has been across several different WNY agencies and gave her experience with a ton of our local talent! In 2017, she joined forces […]
Growing an Agency with Tricia Barrett of Crowley Webb & Praxis
This month, I sat down with Tricia Barrett, Chief Operating Officer at Crowley Webb and Praxis. Tricia joined the full service communications agency in 2003 with a background in project management, client service, and operations. She now oversees Crowley Webb’s […]
To the Dark Side and Back: Discussing Agency and Client-Side POVs
This month, I spoke with Charlie Fashana, the Director of Marketing at AAA of Western and Central New York. Charlie's career started in banking at HSBC and later First Niagara Bank. He moved over to the agency side for several […]
Getting Down with Data: An Interview with Sarah Burke
This month, I sat down with Sarah Burke, Data & Analytics Manager at Cypress North to talk about our newest department. All About Sarah Sarah came to Cypress North a little over five years ago after spending two years focusing […]
How We Build It: Website Process with Cypress North
This month, I sat down with Matt Mombrea, Chief Technical Officer at Cypress North to discuss the process of building a website for a client. We walk through every step, its importance, and how it edges us closer to a […]
Should You Hire an Agency or Build an In-House Team? A Conversation with Casie Gillette
This month, I sat down with Casie Gillette, Senior Director of Digital Marketing at KoMarketing to discuss her time working at both an agency and as an in-house marketer. Changing Perspectives After three years at KoMarketing early on in her […]
An INTERN(al) Conversation: Two Employees' Road from Graduation to Employment
This month, I sat down with our two Spring 2021 interns turned full-time employees, Nicole Waddington and Caleb Blodgett. We talk about the expectations of an intern going into an interview, making the internship valuable for both parties, creating a […]
An Interview with Amalia Fowler, the Wholehearted Manager
This month, I sat down with Amalia Fowler, creator of The Wholehearted Manager newsletter, marketing agency veteran, and long-time people manager. We had a great time discussing management philosophies, leadership skills, and more! Getting Started in Management Amalia’s management journey […]
Talking Agency Culture with a Cross-Cultural Agency. An Interview with Donnie Broxson, CEO of Acento
This month I had the amazing opportunity to sit down with long-time friend, and fellow agency professional, Donnie Broxson, to chat about agency culture, and his role as CEO of Acento Advertising, a Los Angeles-based advertising agency. Acento focuses on […]
0 Comments