You’ve Been Warned List
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A really smart idea was sitting in our inbox this morning sent from one of our loyal readers. It made us happy to know there aren’t just brainless vagrants reading the filth we write.
Without further ado, we present the finest reader contribution thus far. Hosted right here in this very spot, we’re beginning Denver’s “You’ve Been Warned” list.
What’s that, you ask? It’s the place where all those living in past or present agency hell can anonymously (or publicly) wave a red flag to the rest of the city to steer their careers around Denver’s soul-sucking black holes of so-called creativity.
Consider the contribution of your pain-soaked insights below as part of your civic duty to the creatively-inclined who share this city with you.
Comments
d September 26, 2007
I work with this guy who is
I work with this guy who is always stinking up our bathroom.
The worst part is not the smell but the fact that he never flushes.
The Denver Egotist September 27, 2007
Not exactly what we had in
Not exactly what we had in mind. But at least you’ve begun the conversation.
No Thanks September 29, 2007
A friend of mine has been to
A friend of mine has been to hell and back, and I thought it worth mentioning. There is a company just south of downtown, that would like to make you think they are small by choice, but in reality it’s because they can’t hang on to an employee for more than a few months at a time. They’ve been through a dozen employees in 2 years, with a staff of no more than 4 at one time. With hope that the owner there reads this post, please, could you possibly learn some managerial skills and treat your employees with respect and care? You’re sucking the fun out of this industry!
guy September 29, 2007
there are a lot of shops
there are a lot of shops south of downtown, which one could this be?
Person C September 29, 2007
At one point Xylem
At one point Xylem Interactive was one of the top agencies in the city. Awesome creative and innovative ideas flowed out of their raw warehouse space every month. Recently Creation Chamber, a Cold Fusion shop with no real style or recognition and known for insanely high turnover and bitchy management merged with Xylem and created Xylem CCI. The Creation Chamber execs were now in charge. As of yesterday, there are a total of 5 Xylem members left in this new company (most quit, some were ‘let go’) and every other week another major client is deciding to take their work elsewhere. I can not think of a better example of agency leadership that is more interested in showing off their fancy cars, cookie cutter mcmansions in stapleton and all of the trappings of the 30s something metrosexual while considering the work as secondary and simply a means to an end. The incredible design work that Xylem was famous for has been replaced with half assed rapid fire crap in the interest of making a buck. Xylem CCI laid off another 7 people yesterday, many of which put the executives into their BMWs and ridiculous houses with nights and weekends of overtime. It’s a damn shame, RIP Xylem Interactive, Denver will miss you.
The Denver Egotist September 30, 2007
Hmmm. Sorry to hear Xylem is
Hmmm. Sorry to hear Xylem is fizzling out. That makes us sad and makes us heavily reconsider their spot on our recommended talent list.
Liz B September 30, 2007
Fizzled out is an
Fizzled out is an understatement, they’re all but dead. A friend of mine was one of those let go yesterday and according to her, this merger was the worst thing to ever happen to Xylem. It’s not that big of a deal really, companies merge and fail all the time but for Denver, Xylem selling out is a major loss. This agency was one of only a few award winning interactive agencies in the city. Who can we hang out hats on now? Factory? God help us.
Bob R. October 3, 2007
I hope not! I know about 8
I hope not! I know about 8 Factory employees who used to work at Xylem Interactive and they are all talking about leaving Factory and heading back to Xylem. Maybe it’s a grass-is-always-greener thing, maybe it’s that the bigger agencies are always the target for negativity, but I’ve worked at enough agencies to know that they all have their issues and if you get fired, it could be more about you than about the agency…
j Bar October 3, 2007
As a client I have worked
As a client I have worked with Xylem and Creation Chamber. Not sure what the inside issues are, but I can say from the outside, the new Xylem CCI is the only agency in the region that has stepped up their service offerings and are now competing on a national level – and winning accounts against major agencies. I applaud them for bringing Denver to a national stage.
Teeter October 3, 2007
Yeah, of course, everyone
Yeah, of course, everyone from Xylem that now works at Factory is dying to get back to an agency with erratic management that takes them for granted, works them relentlessly and treats them like crap… Really, come on. That’s just desperate in a way that saddens me. It’s not a ‘grass is always greener’ thing, it’s simply a ‘you suck’ thing. And Factory was on the national stage, winning global clients against major agencies when Xylem people were still in their first HTML class. Check the website sometime you clowns.
bigshooter October 3, 2007
to bob r-
you must have
to bob r-
you must have worked at some pretty lame agencies to stake the claim of it being more about the ppl that get fired than abt the company…are you some kind of corporate tool plant hired to make comments like that? the xcci ppl that were laid off were highly paid (by denver standards), hard working (mths of 60/hr weeks) individuals. i’m not one of them, but i know them all. and what good was all their hard work? so they could keep the monkeys in their armani suits & driving their little german cars! xcci will just find new little squares (that will take less $) to fit with the company.
Inget October 3, 2007
Xylem in not dead. It just
Xylem in not dead. It just smells that way. As long as John G. is the Creative Director they’ll continue to win accounts and produce good work. If they lose him, they’re done.
bigshooter October 3, 2007
agreed – as long as gilbert
agreed – as long as gilbert is there, they will continue to kick ass…but man, they need to give HIM a corporate car. he does more for the company than any of the execs. plus, snyder can sell anything – he just needs to stop promising insane deadlines.
Mr. Fake Name October 3, 2007
Do you like my name. I’m
Do you like my name. I’m going with the flow of the rest of you. First thing, Mr. Bob R. (wink wink) you don’t sound like someone who’s on the outside, I wonder why. You sound like you are selling something. I wonder what that could be? Secondly, Xylem did not bring Denver to a national stage. There are several agencies in Denver with national accounts and have been for a number of years. Secondly, Mr. J Bar (wink wink) bigger companies are not the only targets for negativity. Big and small companies that are doing a real bad job will get negative feedback. But since Xylem has it’s own column for people to discuss their opinion and those opinions are all negative then I guess you can come up with your own conclusions. Maybe it’s people who recently got fired, people that have left, or people who are still there. Who ever it is and what ever the reason, listen to the comments and don’t come on here and throw up your company marketing or try to blast other agencies that have nothing to do with your mess.
Bob R. October 3, 2007
As with most blogs, it’s the
As with most blogs, it’s the negative attitudes who post the most. Too bad, cause I really enjoy reading Egotist when it’s more about the industry than it is about a few bitter people who got canned. Yes, I’m from the outside, but I’m getting some pretty good insight into why you’re no longer allowed to work at xylem. And by the way, the agencies I’ve worked for in aren’t PLAYING on the national scene — they ARE the national scene. And I can honestly say that none of my coworkers is as immature as many (not all) of you seem to be. Move on and let xylem do the same. You’re probably both better off without the other…
Mel October 3, 2007
Haha, sounds like they found
Haha, sounds like they found someone else to post as Bob R who can actually wright. It still has that condescending “we fired you because you suck” vibe to it though. Damn, these guys are tools.
joeschmo October 3, 2007
I think the goal of the
I think the goal of the ranting here is so that the kind folks at the egotist will pass it on to the leaders at Xylem, and maybe that will help change things?? It sounds like things are pretty hairy there! As for all of you, Denverites in creative outposts should demand higher salaries!! Denver has killer talent, but agencies here pay top designers $35k because no one has the cojones to say “screw off” and demand what they deserve.
Mr. Fake Name October 3, 2007
Actually the top designers
Actually the top designers get paid much more than that. It’s the whiney little hacks who blog all day instead of working who get $35k 😀
Softy October 3, 2007
He makes a great point
He makes a great point though. across the board people make crap in Denver. Why? It’s not all that cheap to live here – it’s certainly cheaper than a big city like NYC or San Fran or LA but the cost of living is still high-average and we’re being paid low-average at best. It’s really just a matter of people demanding what they are worth. Have some balls, check the national averages in comparable cities and demand what’s fair. Don’t be a meatball. Otherwise, it’ll stay like this forever.
Curious October 5, 2007
Just wondering, what is the
Just wondering, what is the word on the street about Karsh and Hagan?
Randall Erkelens October 12, 2007
I had lunch with some Pure
I had lunch with some Pure neighbors earlier this week at the Steak sandwich place caddy corner from Xylem. I noticed a nice Audi and a Beamer next to it. I thought I’m in the wrong business.. then I thought again.. anyone can lease a luxury car for not much more than my car payment.. ohh.. I forgot, my Jetta was paid-off. I suppose, if I don’t lay myself-off, I’ll buy a BMW to let the community I’ve made-it. Or at least prefer the smell of German leather.
Hey… layoffs happen. Seems like a revolving doors from agency to agency some days. Time to hop to the next lillypad.. but one thing I’ve learned.. the grass isn’t greener on the other side.. it’s just a different shade of brown. 🙂
Anyonymous October 13, 2007
I am currently a client of
I am currently a client of Xylem, and I can say that in my 5 years of expereince in the Ad biz, they are the worst vendor I have partnered with. Not just in the interactive world, I mean in any industry. Their account managment is weak and brings nothing to the table. The only thing worse is their supposed ‘creative excellence’ – Dog$h*t!!!
And the managment looks like they can barely remember how to get to their office, let alone run anything substantial. If it were a publicly traded company, we would do well to sell, sell, sell.
Not a client October 13, 2007
Come on, you’re a client of
Come on, you’re a client of theirs? And you read this blog. Gimme a break. Xylem is a joke, yes it’s true, but they used to be great. Creation Chamber always blew (highest turnover of any agency in the city and the work was crap) totally agree. Plus, after having lunch (yes it was an interview) with a Xylemite yesterday, it sounds like the leadership in that place is a joke. But if you have something to say and there is no good excuse to be anonymous, than just say it. Don’t pretend to be a client. They’ll just attack you and write you off as a bitter former employee.
Randall Erkelens October 14, 2007
I’d agree.. It’s hard to
I’d agree.. It’s hard to imagine any client that would find this blog.. but if it’s true.. perhaps, this is one client worth having… The best account people I’ve ever known have had laminated portfolios and take and deserve shared ownership of great work.. Afterall, they, when working properly, are creative partners. This goes for clients.
If this is also a place for pissed-off clients.. so be it.. but not sure it elevates our city status…
Get Bent October 15, 2007
Jesus friggin’ Christ, enough
Jesus friggin’ Christ, enough Xylem bashing. As much as I usually enjoy kicking a dog when it’s down, this is God damn ridiculous. It’s blatantly obvious who the people are that are bad-mouthing this company. Hopefully though, everyone has enough common sense to take these comments with a grain of salt.
In it’s defense, Xylem is a GREAT company to work for…the clients are big, the employees are a blast, and you can always catch a crack deal going down just outside. I mean really…what more could you ask for?
Now let’s please just end this topic.
Person C October 15, 2007
Ya think former employees are
Ya think former employees are interviewing people? I see this more as a feeding frenzy than a bitch fest. Of course there are a few people in here that were recently fired and are pissed off and want to take shots at XylemCCI but what’s more interesting is the obvious few that were original Xylem Int. people, from way back, maybe years ago, maybe people that had a hand in starting the company or helping to get it off the ground. Xylem Int. left no small number of jilted talent in it’s wake – and those people are off running studios and agencies of their own now. Those are the people that are reveling in the demise of what was Xylem Interactive. The Account Directors (or whoever) that they just let go probably just wanted to vent. But for some of us, the downward spiral is satisfying on a much more profound level. On a karmic, what goes around comes around level. Sure, it sucks for Denver, they helped put us on the global map but good riddance as far as I’m concerned. We’ll fill the gap soon enough. And to the few Xylem people left in Xylemm CCI (is it down to 4?), dont sweat it, employees put their lives into a company and end up hosed every day. You’re not alone.
Oh yeah, to ‘Get Bent’, you are obviously new to the Xylem experience (old Creation Chamber guy?). Talk to us in 12 months.