Townsend Agency Clarifies Layoffs
When a client calls a photographer for a possible job, the photographer usually submits some sort of project cost plan detailing how much he or she would charge for the work. They’re commonly known as estimates.
For the simple shoots, the details are creative fees, costs of film and expenses such as assistants.
For the more complicated ones, the rundown can include models, hair, locations and motor homes.
Developing the correct procedures for submitting project cost estimates is the focus of a panel organized by the local chapter of the Advertising Photographers of America.
“The Art of Estimating” takes place Aug. 29, and the panel includes Ken Soto, creative director at Tyler Blik Design; Lynne Cooper, art buyer at downtown-based marketing firm Matthews/Mark; Michele Humphrey, creative director at UCSD; and local photographers John Mireles and John Schulz.
This is the fourth event for the APA chapter, which was formed in March to support local photographers who work with various marketing clients. The national organization has been around since the ’80s, according to a representative of the local chapter.
Schulz is hosting the estimating panel at his Mira Mesa studio.
Mireles, who will be moderating the panel, is the contact for more information. His number is (619) 294-5954.
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Layoffs:
Jackie Townsend Konstanturos said an executive at her firm erred when telling the Business Journal recently that her marketing firm, The Townsend Agency, had not laid off employees.
When interviewed for an Aug. 6 article on the economy’s impact on the marketing industry, Rod Whitson, Townsend’s chief operating officer, said the firm had not had any layoffs.
As it turned out, Townsend had laid off employees in June, as well as in April and November.
Former staff members later said there had been layoffs that affected more than 20 employees.
According to one former staffer, four people were laid off in November, eight people in April and 11 people in June.
Konstanturos, the company’s founder, president and CEO, confirmed the layoffs but said only 15 employees had been laid off , four in November, three in April and eight in June.
Like other firms focused on high-tech business, the fallout for telecoms, Internet infrastructure and dot-coms impacted the agency, Konstanturos said.
While some of Townsend’s layoffs were dictated by the agency’s income, however, others were due to “normal personnel issues,” she said. Some of the layoffs were a part of an overall restructuring that began in June of last year and took a year to complete, she said.
According to Konstanturos, Whitson’s inaccurate comments were an attempt to protect another development at the firm, which is still under wraps.
Status Chart:
The Ardell Group recently signed a new high-tech client. Del Mar-based Ardell will be handling promotions for Kivera, Inc., an Oakland-based company that developed a software of merged navigation and information databases and now sells it to manufacturers. Ardell’s agreement with Kivera, which covers strategic planning, public relations and media relations, is for one year. Ardell signed the client Aug. 10. Kivera’s marketing and communications director had been with a former Ardell client. No financial details were disclosed, but Ardell said it does not charge retainer fees. Fruehling Communications recently signed AgriGator Inc., a Pasadena-based soil products company. Budgets are still being discussed, so no financial details are available. The contract, signed last month, is for one year. Berkman Communications recently landed the PR account of locally based Bumble Bee Seafoods, Inc. According to Berkman’s statement on the topic, the agency plans to boost local support for the tuna market. No financial terms are being disclosed, and the firm said there is no end date set for the contract.
The deadline for the next Media & Marketing column is Aug. 30. Rodrigues can be reached at (858) 277-6359, Ext. 107, or via e-mail at trodrigues@sdbj.com.
