Message from the Crew Chief, David Daigle: Today marks the half-year mark for Wingman Direct Marketing. To say the first six months was like a roller coaster ride is giving undue props to roller coasters. To say thank you, we wanted to tell you all about the last six months.
Day 1 – Takeoff
All systems go for a fresh start to a new Calgary-based marketing agency. A lot of work had to come together prior to October 17th: Vision. Planning. Design. Re-design.
The overall branding and website looks amazing. For that I give huge thanks to our Creative Director Kati Pauls. Your design made us look good!
With regards to the content for all our initial collateral, first wave of social and multiple pages on the web, I give thanks to my Digital Lead Kevin Luc. Your words made us sound good!
And if Day 1 didn’t have enough adrenaline flowing, we also found out that we had been awarded the contract for the brand development, product naming, and marketing and sales activity for an incredibly exciting cloud-based productivity application in the health field. Thank you Access eHealth Technologies for believing in us and trusting your passion project to our team.
Day 6 – Baptism by Fire
We rolled out of bed and worked the booth as an exhibitor at the Calgary Chamber of Commerce Small Business Expo. This was an electricity-filled day. Many contacts and future business partnerships were forged from the conversations started on that day.
A massive shout-out is needed for our amazing crew on that day for making the event so smooth and successful. Sincere thank you to Kevin, Kati, our Business Development representative Alex Pauls, and our Marketing Technology Officer Lisa Nortoft-Daigle.
Our Wingman team has seen some incredible successes and some disappointing shortcomings.
Day 11 – Scare Up Some Cheer
Hard work deserves reward. To let off some steam and to celebrate Halloween, the Wingman team, our accounting partner Asif Rahemtulla of Platinum Bookkeeping and Tax, and spouses had a great time at the Southern Alberta Make-A-Wish Foundation’s Monsters & Martini’s Fundraiser. A highlight of that night had to be watching our fellow crew members play VR games, fighting zombies and throwing axes at evil spirits.
Day 40 – Added Muscle
November 26th was a fabulous day for the Wingman crew as we strengthened our team significantly with the addition of Vivian Lee as Digital Marketing Coordinator, specializing in social media. Vivian has helped Wingman soar in various digital mediums and has been instrumental in not only helping our clients’ social media presence soar to exciting new altitudes, but Wingman’s as well.
Day 43 – Sporting the Wingman Brand at the Grey Cup
Day 46 – Remote Working Test Pilot
We didn’t know in early December what March and April would hold for us as a marketing flight crew: that we would all be working remotely, enjoying creative backgrounds on Zoom, etc. However, to start the month of December, my remote office was on the deck of Norwegian Joy and the beaches of Mexico as we sailed the Mexican Riviera. Although any vacation would be better if you could leave work at home, lounging in the sun with a cold beverage in my hands sure beat working in the office on a cold Calgary December day.
Day 92 – You Either Win or You Learn
In mid-January, we got disappointing news that Wingman was not selected as agency of record on an account we really wanted and had put a lot of effort into the proposal process.
However, we probably grew more from falling short on that contract than we would have if we had been awarded the job. The prospect informed me on what aspects of the winning bid led to their selection and where our bid needed improvement. This 45-minute conversation, along with other learning opportunities we have had in the past 180 days, has strengthened our knowledge of who we are, what we offer and whom we offer it to.
Day 106 – Spreading Our Wings
February 1st was an exciting day for the Wingman crew as we embarked on marketing projects for two exciting local businesses.
What would become JIL & Associates has become a very exciting branding and marketing exercise for Wingman. Jillian Irene Lee and Susan Walker have transitioned their past efforts into a new focus of providing corporate video production, allowing corporations to “tell their story” via video.
We also began marketing efforts for SUM Ltd, a manufacturing company that provides custom insulation solutions primarily for oil and gas (but soon for solutions in many other sectors). The refreshed branding is not ready to be launched and widely shared yet, but is nearing takeoff.
Day 116 – Top Gun
As a representative of WMDM, I had the great pleasure of beginning my instructing career as I taught marketing to a class of new business owners. In 2017, I graduated from the Federal Government sponsored Self-Employment Program, facilitated in Calgary by MNP. This was a special moment for me as a chance to pay it forward to a group of entrepreneurs, all at the precipice of their leap of faith moment.
Day 147 – You Don’t Have to Fly Solo but You Do Have to Keep Your Distance
March 13th was WMDM’s first day working remotely. Zoom meetings and optimism abounded as we soared together but apart.
Day 153 – More Firepower
On March 19th we added Angela Ulrich to the crew as a Business Development Director for Access eHealth. Angela brings many years of “hunter” mentality to the sales role, which will assist in the early success of Access in the coming months.
Day 180 – Gratitude
- The flight so far has had its share of turbulence but we are soaring high and flying straight.
- Thank you to all of Wingman’s vendors.
- Thank you to all of Wingman’s clients.
- Thank you to all of Wingman’s subscriber list (we still need to name our email series).
- Thank you to the most amazing crew a Crew Chief could ask for.
The first half a year is in the books. Decades still on the horizon.
Fly safe everyone!!
David