The VSB Wall Project - Why Do We Have Swings?

This past December, the agency bid adieu to our once welcoming living wall.

After numerous attempts to save the plants that once decorated the backdrop of our reception area, the existence of our living wall came to a grave end. Today, what welcomes guests to the agency is a wall with the absence of life and what seems to be a pair of randomly placed swings.

Don’t worry. The void left by our living wall may be no more thanks to the VSB Wall Challenge!

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Due to the emptiness of our reception area, Vivian and Diana roamed the office one afternoon and began placing a creative brief on everyone’s desk. The brief tasked the agency with determining what would replace the living wall and the reasoning behind why our agency has swings.

With two weeks to germinate creative ideas, all interested worked to become the crème of the crop. These ideas were placed on a white board in our creative triage for all to review and discuss.

From Miami street art to the hanging of our underwear, the pool of submissions was quite impressive. So when asked how they would determine a winner, Vivian and Diana only had one option – Shark Tank style.

Rob Canales: First Winner of VSBrooks’ Day Off.

Today was our Monday morning all-company meeting, a monthly breakfast meeting where we were expecting the usual announcements and reports—both the good and not-so-good ones. But people had been asked to bring their business cards to this meeting…. Was it some kind of raffle? A parking space? We had no idea.

Then Vivian, Partner and head creative, read a line from her favorite philosopher of fun, Ferris Bueller:

“Life moves pretty fast! If you don’t stop and look around once in a while you could miss it.”

She announced that she was going to draw a card from the bowl and the employee whose name was on that card would be given the rest of the day off, starting NOW, to do whatever he/she wanted. She then paused, grinned and explained that this was not simply a day to go home and catch up on neglected laundry, this was a day to “Live and do whatever you want — the one caveat: Post at least one photo of your fun day on social media and tag it #VSBrooksDayOff.” Then reaching into her back pocket, she pulled out $50 and tossed them into the bowl as an added incentive for the winner to enjoy this momentous fling at unrestrained freedom.

Forget the coffee, everyone’s eyes were now fully awake, open and fixed on the bowl as her hand reached inside and picked the card. She turned it over and read “Roberto Canales.” Rob, our newest member of Client Services, didn’t believe us—so we had to practically push him out the door.

We’ll keep you posted on his escapades.  Let’s watch @robotocan go!

It’s Great to Work Here … We’re One of Florida Trend’s 2014 Best Companies to Work For!

At VSBrooks, it’s our job to be fun, creative, and an overall great place to work. Not only do WE think we’re a fantastic place to come to work every day, but recently, the popular business news magazine Florida Trend agreed with us, naming us one of the 100 Best Companies to Work For in the state of Florida.

We were awarded in the Best Small Companies category (15-49 employees), in which there were 36 ranked winners. We’ll be recognized, along with the other winning companies, in Florida Trend's August 2014 issue.  

So, what does this list acknowledge, and how did we get it? Well, it recognizes companies that have built productive workplaces for their employees, strengthening their own as well as Florida's competitive advantage in the national and global arenas.

To participate, companies or government entities had to employ at least 15 workers in Florida and have been in operation at least one year. Companies that chose to participate underwent an evaluation of their workplace policies, practices, philosophy, systems and demographics. The process also included a survey to measure employee satisfaction. The combined scores determined the top companies and the final ranking. Best Companies Group managed the registration, survey and analysis and determined the final rankings.


We’re especially proud of this recognition, because if our staff is happy, then our clients are happy. Plus, “happy” is just an overall good thing to be.

Yes, We Rock! Sixteen Local ADDY Awards (Our Record) from AAF Miami

Our exceptional creative juices are constantly flowing, but last week they were recognized 16 times in one evening. On March 12, at AAF Miami’s 2014 ADDY’s Masquerade Ball at Rusty Pelican in Key Biscayne, VSBrooks ADVERTISING won 16 – yes 16 – local ADDY awards for our creativity. While we have won many local ADDYs in past years, 16 at once is our record.

The event is AAF Miami’s biggest night of the year, and best opportunity to celebrate astounding creative brilliance in the Miami area. Yep – that creative brilliance includes us.

The local ADDY Awards Competition is the first of a three-tiered national competition. At the same time, all across Florida, the Caribbean and the country, local entrants are vying for recognition as the very best in their markets. Last year, there were more than 52,000 local entries. The ADDYs is the largest competition in the advertising industry, recognizing creative excellence worldwide.



Here’s where we took the gold at the local AAF Awards Competition:

·       Feeding South Florida Get Crackin' Invitation: Invitation

·       VSBrooks Holiday Video: Digital Advertising – Branded Content – More than 60 Seconds

·       VSBrooks Advertising Holiday Gift: Digital Advertising – Campaign

·       VSBrooks Website: Digital Advertising – Services

·       Internos Stationary Package: Collateral Material – Flat Printed

And where we took the silver at the local AAF Awards Competition:

·       Feeding South Florida Get Crackin': Digital Advertising – Campaign

·       Feeding South Florida Get Crackin' Invite: Direct Marketing – 3D

·       Feeding South Florida Get Crackin' Campaign: Collateral Material – Campaign

·       Feeding South Florida Get Crackin' Invite Campaign: Direct Marketing – 3D/Mixed

·       Feeding South Florida Get Crackin': Public Service – Integrated Campaign

·       VSBrooks Website Video: Digital Advertising – Branded Content – More than 60 Seconds

·       VSBrooks Holiday Gift Video: Elements of Advertising – Animation or Special Effects

·       CAC–Florida Medical Center Campaign: Sales Promotion – Campaign

·       CAC–Florida Medical Centers: Out-of-Home – Flat

·       CarePlus Health Plans, Inc. Branding TV English: Television – Services

·       CarePlus Health Plans, Inc. Branding TV Spanish: Television – Services

As a local winner, the next step is to compete against other winners within our region, the 4th District. We love what we do, and we love that AAF Miami’s judges love it, too. And our creative juices will never stop flowing. 

Want to see who got a VD at VSBrooks?

We'd wish everyone here at VSBrooks got a VD. No, not that kind of a VD! A Vivian and Diana Award of course, celebrating our unique abilities and traits. I you haven't heard about our VD awards, you can catch a quick recap here of last year's inaugural awards.

Each year, categories are chosen to reflect VSB's year in review. An emergency room theme was chosen in homage to our new Creative Triage meeting room, which will explain the doctor's lab coats and scrubs in the pictures.

Alongside the surprising (and not so surprising) wins this year, we had a special guest presenter, Ingrid. Seems like we can't get rid of her, how VD-like!

Each winner has more than earned his or her awards this year. Take a look:

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The “She just won't go away” VD goes to the person who we just can't seem to get rid of.

This year's winner: Ingrid

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The “Got #swag” VD goes to the trendsetter, the fresh dresser, the “walk the walker.” S/he got game.

This year's winner: Saul

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The “AEP MVP” VD. We wouldn’t have survived AEP without her/him.

This year's winner: Nicky

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The “Ain’t Nobody Got Time For That” VD.  This person ain’t got no problem telling you no. And will snap her/his fingers while telling you so.

This year's winner: Maria

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The “Repressed Copywriter” VD.  Not a copywriter, but apparently hasn’t gotten the memo yet.

This year's winner: Karina

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The “Jessie Spano” VD. "There’s no time. There’s never any time!!!!"

This year's winner: Allyson

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The “Can Out-Twerk Miley” VD.  Miley Cyrus has nothing on these twerking skills.

This year's winner: Alex

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The “I’ll Never Take You Home to Mom” VD.  You wouldn’t take this person home because you know that it will turn out like a scene from Meet the Fockers.

This year's winner: Claudia

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The “Tom Cruise on a Couch” VD.  This person is SO deliriously enthusiastic, s/he might just start jumping on the couches in the VSB Lounge.

This year's winner: Junior

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The “Every time you say ‘process,’ it makes me want to drink” VD. You know what we’re talking about.

This year's winner: Vivian

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The “Least Likely to get a VD” VD.  Not once did you consider this person earlier in this list. The sidelines are a safe place for her/him to watch all the madness of VSB, while trying not to make eye contact with the rest of us crazies.

This year's winner: Lisa