Revealing Our Agencies of the Year

Plus, some eye-popping Black Friday stats ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ 

Not coming through? Click here to view in browser       First Things First December 02, 2019 By Jameson Fleming     Presented by       Wieden + Kennedy Makes Magic—and Notches Impressive Growth—by Leaning Into Core Strengths   Well this is exciting. Wieden + Kennedy has been named Adweek's 2019 U.S. Agency of the Year. This is the first time in 12 years that an agency has won Adweek's U.S. Agency of the Year title twice in a row. It's a title well-earned seeing as Wieden + Kennedy impacted culture so heavily in 2019. While the agency's Portland mothership has historically overshadowed other offices, the New York branch came into its own in 2019, and is talked about with the same reverence as Portland. Another factor in W+K's victory? Winning perhaps the most coveted account up for grabs: McDonald's. Read more: Wieden + Kennedy makes magic by leaning into core strengths. Related: The rest of our Agency of the Year winners. McCann Worldgroup Claims the 2019 Global Agency of the Year Crown for the First Time in Almost 2 Decades Havas-Owned BETC Pushes the Envelope and Breaks the Rules Troubled Brands Turning to Johannes Leonardo Is a Sign the Agency Has 'Come of Age'         Oh, It's the Most Lucrative Time of the Year If we told you Hallmark's 'round the clock holiday content wasn't always what it is today, would you believe us? Well the proof is in the (Christmas) pudding. As Countdown to Christmas celebrates its 10th anniversary this year, the franchise has certainly grown. Adweek's TV/Media editor Jason Lynch gives you an inside look at how. Read more: How Countdown to Christmas went from big risk to big hit.       ET Reunites With Elliott E.T. and Elliott have finally reunited 37 years later. But sorry 80s babies, the reunion wasn't for a sequel, but for an Xfinity spot about how technology brings people together. In the spot, E.T. returns to earth 37 years later to reunite with Elliott, who now has his own family, with kids who are the same age as he and his siblings were during the movie. Watch it: ET reunites with Elliott, but for an Xfinity ad, not a movie sequel.       The Biggest Black Friday Ever Saw $7.4B in Online Sales What did you buy for Black Friday? Did you buy it on your phone? After the longest possible wait, consumers were ready to shop when Black Friday 2019 finally arrived. Top products came from Frozen 2, Nerf and Paw Patrol. Top electronics included Air Fryers, AirPods and Samsung TVs. Read more: Key insights into 2019 Black Friday. Best of the Rest: Today's Top News and Insights Infographic: Optimize Ads Through Select Features Using Animations Can Further Conversations With Consumers Here's What We've Learned So Far From the Viral Agencies Salary Google Spreadsheet Here's What to Expect During Cyber Week, by the Numbers No, Whole Foods Did Not Name Mitch McConnell Person of the Year           Walmart's New Ad Wants to Make You Cry   When Adweek spoke to Walmart's executive vice president and chief customer officer earlier this year, Janey Whiteside said she wanted to forge emotional connections with customers and focus on more purpose-driven elements. Now, the retail giant has an ad that marks a move in that direction.       Promoted Content by Criteo What Advertisers Really Need to Know About Deep Learning               Adweek Promos and Events It's Cyber Monday—Save 50% on Challenger Brands Passes   For 24 hours only, secure your pass to Adweek's Challenger Brands Summit, a Brandweek event, at 50% off. Don't wait, there are only 50 passes available at this special rate—register using code: CYBER to claim yours.       How does your company help younger employees feel like their voice is welcomed in the room? Jordan Parisi, senior talent acquisition partner, Havas Media Chicago We have a WTF (what the fix box), an anonymous way that employees can share their ideas on ways to improve the office and our culture. Alexis Madison, senior digital strategist, Deutsch NY There's an inherent intimidation that comes with sharing your ideas on a new team. One of the ways I try and ease new team members into the group is by making sure I take time to work with them one on one before a larger team huddle. It helps me understand who they are without the pressure of having a big group around and it lets them know they have an ally in the room for the next round. If it helps, I'm always willing to tee up their idea in a meeting and then turn the ball over to them so they can drive it home. Kristina Crocker Jones, head of customer success, Amplify, Outbrain We have a big focus on helping build confidence in younger employees! When these team members bring good ideas or insights to their peers or managers in one-to-one conversations, we do our best to reinforce the value of what they are bringing to the table and often ask them to share with the larger team in our weekly meetings. The more they have these experiences, the more they start to feel confident to speak up naturally in group settings.         Toys R Us Relaunches With a Model for 21st Century Retail   The new store aims to be more interactive.         Just in Time for the Holidays, Microsoft Bridges the Reindeer Language Gap in Cute New Ad   Work launches during Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.         A Sweet Campaign From France Makes a Burn Victim's Most Defining Trait His Ugly Sweater   TBWA\Paris ad seeks to reduce isolation and bias.         Skipping Sales—The Other Way to Do Black Friday   Retailers like REI and Everlane endorse another way to spend the day after Thanksgiving.         Consumers Will Pay More for Experiences. This Chart Shows It   'If you're not competing on experience, it's a race to the bottom.'           Featured Jobs Associate Director, Digital Experience Central Park Brooklyn , New York   Content Creator, Digital Producer Massachusetts Port Authority East Boston, Massachusetts   Digital Project Manager Spitball Advertising Red Bank, New Jersey   Director of Marketing and Communications Cerami & Associates New York, New York   Social Media Marketing Manager Spitball Advertising Red Bank, New Jersey   See More Jobs »                   You’re subscribed to Adweek’s First Things First as studio12creativegroup.media@blogger.com © 2019 Adweek, LLC • 261 Madison Avenue • 8th Floor • New York, NY 10016 Unsubscribe • Update Preferences • Subscribe Terms of Service • Privacy Policy• Forward to a Friend   Learn more about AdChoices for LiveIntent

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