Agency check: Valencia Communication
Agency dog? Maternity leave? Overtime? Working from home? In our «Agency Check» section, we put Swiss agencies through their paces. This time, we’re focusing on Valencia Kommunikation.
- Address: Steinentorstrasse 19, 4051 Basel
- Date of foundation: 1999
- Founders: Michael Gerber, Andreas Mesmer, Marco Rosenberg
- Current agency heads: Remo Brunner, Simone Fluri, Michael Gerber, Frédérique Mathys, Marco Rosenberg, Tommy Schilling
- Number of employees: 90
- Current clients: Coop, Feldschlösschen, University Hospital Basel, Swissmem, Basler Kantonalbank, TNW, BLT, Caritas, Economie Suisse, Psychiatrie Baselland, Baloise Session and many more.
Which campaign from the past twelve months are you particularly proud of?
To the integrated campaign for the environmental protection subscription of the tariff association of Northwestern Switzerland. A budget that we have newly won. And to our campaign for Coop's Sea Happy promotion, including the digital advertising materials produced in-house.
The most important campaign in agency history to date - and why?
There are two: On the one hand, the campaign with Roger Federer for Nationale Suisse. We had the courage to ask Roger Federer's management directly without consultation, even though there was no budget or other leeway. But we were then able to convince the client that this could be a very worthwhile investment. And so it was. On the other hand, the Hello Family pitch win from Coop was immensely important. We were able to help manage one of the most successful launches of a customer loyalty program.
The most offbeat place your creatives retreat to be creative?
The location is rarely decisive for us. Much more important is the exchange among each other and the right composition of the team. That is the basis for ideas to flourish.
What do you do when you have thought blocks?
Fan again and try to look at the whole thing from a new angle.
What is your agency philosophy?
Pasión y paciencia. This means that we want to work out good solutions for our customers with passion and patience. What may sound like a contradiction at first is the basis for success when the two values are properly balanced.
Mission Anniversary 2019: Tommy Schilling and Frédérique Mathys at the 20th anniversary of Valencia.
Why should talented people definitely come to work for you?
Because the Valencia family has a super team spirit and we look after the best client budgets. And last but not least, some of our team mates have become real couples. There are even Valencia babies.
How long do employees stay with you on average?
7 years.
How old is your youngest employee, and how old is your oldest?
Our apprentice Inès is 18, our senior copywriter Guillermo just turned youthful 58.
How high are the wages you pay compared to the industry average?
We are in line with the industry average.
What is the ratio between the best and the worst paid employee?
3 to 1.
Pay transparency: Do employees know among themselves who earns how much?
No.
How much overtime do you work on average per week?
We try very hard to organize ourselves so that we can do our work in the scheduled hours per week. These are not the same for all three companies - Valencia, Cab and Nueva - for historical reasons.
The office of the youngest Valencia subsidiary Nueva.
What benefits do you provide to compensate your employees for said overtime?
Overtime is of course remunerated in accordance with the law.
How long do you get maternity leave and how long paternity leave?
There we go by law.
Is home office allowed - and if so, how often?
No, only in exceptional cases. We want to be easily accessible for our customers. To this end, we believe that personal presence is immensely important in cooperation.
The Valencia Cantina with memory wall.
What is the current quota of women?
At Valencia, it's about 70 percent women. At Cab it is 5 percent and at Nueva 10 percent. That makes an average of around 50 percent women across the group.
Do you employ interns?
Yes, but only in consulting and with the web developers. In creation and realization we currently have four apprentices.
Do you organize team events?
Lots: ski trip, annual three-day trip to Valencia (or so), B2Run, fencing tournament, plus various aperitifs and meals.
Dressed up in Dresden: The last agency outing was to the Semper Opera House.
Do you have an agency dog or other mascot?
No. Because of allergies and the standard of hygiene.
Where do you drink your after-work beer?
In the in-house cantina or on the ramp in the backyard. And of course only Feldschlösschen!
