Agency check: FS Parker

Agency Name: FS Parker AG

Establishment date: 2009

Founder: Hannes Sigrist-Thompson, FS Communication AG

Current agency heads: Christoph Schmidt, Noelia Blanco, Hannes Sigrist-Thompson

Number of employees: 15

Current customers: Adecco, Swiss Federal Office of Energy, Bosch Siemens Household Group, Diwisa, Goldbach Media, Hager, Julius Bär, Infront, Die Mobiliar, Movement Sciences, Raiffeisen, Ringier, Schweiz Tourismus, STUcard, Vifor Pharma and many more

Agency address: Binzmühlestrasse 170c, 8050 Zurich

 

Which campaign from the past twelve months are you particularly proud of?

Of course, we are proud of all our work. What we really loved last year was the national image campaign "Whatever your goal is" for Raiffeisen Switzerland. We were able to show our full range of expertise with it. Since the multi-stage tender process was populated with very big names, we are admittedly very proud of winning the budget.

 

The most important campaign in agency history to date - and why?

That was in March 2020, when Covid-19 surprised the world. There was just a lot of chaos; no one knew how to act. During this time, we designed one of the very first Corona campaigns for the Swiss Media Association from the home office. On the weekend of March 20, almost all newspapers, news portals appeared with our visual on "Stay at home" on full front pages. It was a very serious call, but showed how important good, clear visual communication is in crisis situations.

 

The most unusual place where your creatives retreat to be creative?

We had a colleague who regularly completed 120km ultramarathons in the Alps. We think she had the weirdest ideas between kilometers 90 and 120. The results were in any case indicative of this. Basically, creative people have their oasis here to retreat and recharge their batteries. Whatever it takes.

 

What do you do when you have thought blocks?

Only those who allow themselves time off and air their heads are able to perform at the highest level. In the sun, out in the rain, doing sports, yoga session, a foot massage, taking our agency dog Misto for a spin (if he feels like it; mostly not). We also try to use Mario Kart, but that hasn't done much so far, except have fun in 4-player mode.

Which campaign from the past twelve months are you particularly proud of?

Of course, we are proud of all our work. What we really loved last year was the national image campaign "Whatever your goal is" for Raiffeisen Switzerland. We were able to show our full range of expertise with it. Since the multi-stage tender process was populated with very big names, we are admittedly very proud of winning the budget.

 

The most important campaign in agency history to date - and why?

That was in March 2020 when Covid-19 surprised the world. There was just a lot of chaos; nobody knew how to act. During this time, we designed one of the very first Corona campaigns for the Swiss Media Association from our home office. On the weekend of March 20, almost all newspapers, news portals appeared with our visual on "Stay at home" on full front pages. It was a very serious call, but showed how important good, clear visual communication is in crisis situations.

 

The most unusual place where your creatives retreat to be creative?

We had a colleague who regularly completed 120km ultramarathons in the Alps. We think she had the weirdest ideas between kilometers 90 and 120. The results were in any case indicative of this. Basically, creative people have their oasis here to retreat and recharge their batteries. Whatever it takes.

 

What do you do when you have thought blocks?

Only those who allow themselves time off and air their heads are able to perform at the highest level. In the sun, out in the rain, doing sports, yoga session, a foot massage, taking our agency dog Misto for a spin (if he feels like it; mostly not). We also try to use Mario Kart, but that hasn't done much so far, except have fun in 4-player mode.

 

What is your agency philosophy?

Basically, we want to implement stories with our customers that make a difference. In other words, our mission is to create an impact for society and our customers with all our actions and knowledge. Diversity, origin, backgrounds, different education and career paths as well as internationality are important to us when developing or hiring our employees. The origin of our employees from eight nations reflects this very well. As a management team, our philosophy is not only to measure employee performance, but also to address the needs and personalities of individual team members. This is the only way we can grow together and achieve our ambitious goals.

 

Why should talented people definitely come to work for you?

As a boutique agency with less than 20 employees, you are not a cog in a big wheel, but an essential part of the output. You are quickly given a lot of responsibility and can therefore develop and evolve quickly. Our working atmosphere is relaxed and our interactions are humorous and human. According to the credo #DareToChallenge, we always spur each other on to become better. This is also how we see the development of our employees through internal and external training programs, creative morning sessions, deep dives and other things that we are unfortunately not allowed to reveal here.

 

How long do employees stay with you on average?

The current average is around 3,524 years.

 

How old is your youngest employee, and how old is your oldest?

We are big fans of diversity - also in terms of age. Our current apprentice (yes, we train) is 19 years old and our oldest employee is in her late 40s.

 

How high are the wages you pay compared to the industry average?

With our entrepreneurial wage system, we are certainly above the industry average in normal fiscal years.

 

What is the ratio between the best and the worst paid employee?

Depending on the co-entrepreneurship, length of service, performance and business year of the company, the salary can move strongly upwards. The ratio between the lowest and the highest salary is a maximum of 1:3.5.

 

Pay transparency: Do employees know among themselves who earns how much?

We have salary bands that are based on areas of responsibility and the requirements profile of the respective position. The salary calculator of the Swiss Federal Statistical Office serves as a basis. Because the wages are thus based on the levels, there is a certain transparency.

 

How much overtime do you work on average per week?

Work-life balance is really important to us. That means that over the course of the year, we hardly ever work overtime. That doesn't mean that there aren't phases when it's more intense. The management team is exempt from overtime...;-)

 

With which benefits do you compensate your employees for said overtime?

Less from a compensation perspective, but rather out of conviction, we support our employees in further training on a personal as well as professional level. Through our "Stay Healthy - Stay Smart" initiative, each employee receives CHF 500 annually for an activity that promotes health and/or quenches the thirst for knowledge. For example, a subscription to spinning classes or an online course. In addition, we support our employees with a pension fund solution that is optimized in an industry comparison.

How long do you get maternity leave and how long paternity leave?

In the case of maternity, it is 14 weeks. Fathers receive two weeks of paternity leave.

Is home office allowed - and if so, how often?

Home office is 'a dream come true' for the marketing & communications industry and especially for creatives. Despite this, for many of us, working exclusively at home doesn't seem to be the best of both worlds. For us, a good mix brings out the best of both worlds: 3 days at the agency, 2 days at home - and everyone decides how he/she wants to spend the week.

 

What is the current quota of women?

We are happy to be at 50%. This is the most fun way for us to work.

 

Do you employ interns?

Yes. We like to train.

 

Do you organize team events?

Of course! Good togetherness is very close to our hearts. In 2021, we spent three days in the Upper Engadine. This excursion took us to dizzying heights. The Via Ferrata "la Resigia" in Pontresina was quite an overcoming and challenge for many. In contrast, the yoga session was a child's birthday party. At the palate feast in a Michelin restaurant and at the golf taster course we had a great time together. The Christmas parties or summer parties with all our friends and families are also notorious. Our monthly Creative Monday sessions are also great for team spirit. At our 'Wellbeing@Work' workshops, we exchange ideas about topics away from work - that strengthens our cohesion. In the last two years in particular, we have seen how important it is to show understanding for one another.

 

 

Do you have an agency dog or other mascot?

Yes! Misto is a Romanian super-mongrel-something dog. He is in the office one or two days a week, otherwise he does home-office. Basically a very friendly, loving animal. He just has to get rid of the barking a little bit, then it will work better with the customers.

 

Where do you drink your after-work beer?

Oerlikon is not exactly the epitome of a hotspot for many city dwellers in Zurich. But what the 8004- and 5s don't know is that we have the Noerd Canteen & Terrace out here, a beautiful oasis in our inner courtyard, and the after-work beer there in summer is guaranteed to be better than in many other places. Visitors are always welcome.