Independent creative agency Venables Bell & Partners is partnering with issue-driven communications firm RALLY. Together, VB&P and RALLY will work with a variety of entities from brands to advocacy organizations to develop impactful communications campaigns and guide them through political and social opportunities and challenges.
VB&P leads brand development and advertising efforts for clients including Audi, PlayStation, Chipotle, Reebok, and 3M. The agency has earned top industry honors including the Titanium Grand Prix at the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity in 2016 for its groundbreaking work for REI.
“The world has changed dramatically over the past year, and to be relevant to today’s consumers, brands must take an active role on issues that matter to them. This requires a deep understanding of the cultural and political landscape, as well as the creative firepower to break through and truly make an impact,” said Paul Venables, founder and chairman, Venables Bell & Partners. “At VB&P we’re always looking for ways to unleash creativity for good and our partnership with RALLY will allow us to take this work to a more powerful level. It will also allow us to work together with foundations and endowments that need marketing that is on par with leading brands’.”
RALLY’s work seeks to change the way people think and act around pressing social issues. The firm leads strategy, campaign development, and advocacy efforts for some of the largest and most impactful progressive organizations and causes. Notable wins include driving the campaign that helped pave the way for the Supreme Court’s recognition of marriage equality, leading communications around the ongoing wrongful detainment of “Dreamer” youth, and bringing a student-focused frame to debates over how to improve public education.
“This partnership between RALLY and VB&P addresses two fundamental matters when it comes to issues-based marketing. First, too many causes waste their limited resources with either subpar creative or ineffective messaging and mediums. And second, brands need to align and act on social issues but don’t know how to successfully navigate these potentially treacherous waters. Our partnership is the unique answer for both, and we cannot wait to begin working together,” said Felix Schein, president, RALLY.
Initial projects will include working with VB&P and RALLY’s existing clients to uncover new opportunities to create positive societal impact, as well as pursuing new passion projects in partnership with endowments and brand partners. The team’s initial projects will launch later this year.
