Crystal Henrickson | FreshGigs.ca - Part 2

Author Archives: Crystal Henrickson

Creative Cultures: RAMMP takes it up a notch

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In our Creative Cultures series, writer Crystal Henrickson spends a day inside companies to learn how hiring, onboarding, and company culture play a role in employee happiness. From startups to design firms and all in-between, we’re pulling back the curtain on what it’s like to work in inventive and productive environments.

It’s not unusual to find someone challenging the ladder leader to an impromptu game of ping pong or for employees to be seen playing board games in the boardroom. Fun and welcoming, just like their restaurant atmosphere, RAMMP has designed their HQ with the same vibe in mind. The parent company for casual dining restaurant chain Mr Mikes Steakhouse Casual has a full plate. From orchestrating a successful campaign that challenged Jimmy Kimmel to drink a Caesar on Canada Day to developing a growing brand of steakhouses with more than 30 locations in Western Canada, and plans to build and scale across Eastern Canada. Continue reading →

Creative Cultures: Skyrocket soars to new heights

Skyrocket-Creative-Cultures

In our Creative Cultures series, writer Crystal Henrickson spends a day inside companies to learn how hiring, onboarding, and company culture play a role in employee happiness. From startups to design firms and all in-between, we’re pulling back the curtain on what it’s like to work in inventive and productive environments.

In the vast land of startups, the laser-precision focus is often directed atproduct, with less thought to building a brand. But when it’s time to go to market, that can cause difficulties for young companies who don’t yet have the in-house expertise to articulate what and who they are.

Cue Skyrocket, a digital branding agency in Vancouver, specializing in developing and telling the full brand story of startups, festivals and social organizations.

“We’re a full-stack shop: we have developers, designers and strategists. We can develop apps and websites, but the focus is on brand. We work on who a company is rather than simply what it does. We craft its message internally and then use this core message to share the brand story with the target audiences,” says Content Strategist Misha Berveno. Continue reading →

Creative Cultures: Left of the dot

Fresh-Gigs-Left-Of-The-DotIn our Creative Cultures series, our writers day inside companies to learn how hiring, onboarding and company culture play a role in employee happiness. From startups to design firms and all in-between, we’re pulling back the curtain on what it’s like to work in inventive and productive environments. Today, writer Crystal Henrickson takes us through a day at Left.

Building an office environment, rich with meaningful and impactful work is no easy feat, but what happens when more than half of your team works on the other side of the planet?

At Left, everything is possible. Headquartered in Maple Ridge, BC, with a team in Khulna and Dhaka, Bangladesh, “Lefties” approach business and life with values top of mind, and the evidence is everywhere. Continue reading →

Creative Cultures: FCV invests in the interactive employee experience

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Creative Cultures is powered by Chimp, bringing people and charities together.
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In our Creative Cultures series, our writers day inside companies to learn how hiring, onboarding and company culture play a role in employee happiness. From startups to design firms and all in-between, we’re pulling back the curtain on what it’s like to work in inventive and productive environments. Today, writer Crystal Henrickson takes us through a day at FCV Interactive.

For an agency working in digital, FCV retains many analog traditions. Sending handwritten thank-you notes to new clients, commuting to their four major Canadian centres in Halifax, Toronto, and Victoria, and celebrating wins and birthdays at monthly company wide team lunches are just a few of them. The interactive agency values strong interpersonal relationships and purposefully stacks teams across offices, threading the company together through the many digital project collaborations. Continue reading →

The Insider Look: everyone has a say at Vander Brand

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The prevailing agency attitude has long been one of senior level creatives working on the most valuable (and the most fun) projects. Not so at Vander Brand — a full-service, creative agency based in Toronto — that’s busy blazing its own trail, fostering learning and idea sharing across all levels of the organization.

Founder/Creative Director Julie Vander Herberg has maintained a linear work style since the beginning. Her approach ensures that ideas, contributions and interactions with clients are never diluted and voices from the most junior to the most senior carry weight.

“It’s a very entrepreneurial environment. You can take on a project and make it your own. One of our junior designers was able to come to us and say, ‘I think this could be better,’ without us shutting her down. Continue reading →

Creative Cultures: Ideon thinks inside the box

Ideon-Fresh-GigsCreative Cultures is powered by Chimp, bringing people and charities together.
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In our Creative Cultures series, our writers day inside companies to learn how hiring, onboarding and company culture play a role in employee happiness. From startups to design firms and all in-between, we’re pulling back the curtain on what it’s like to work in inventive and productive environments. Today, writer Crystal Henrickson takes us through a day at Ideon.

What if you were told to think inside the box? In this case, it’s more like thinking from inside the box company. Based out of Richmond, British Columbia, Ideon Packaging makes attractive and effective packaging, while building a strong and supporting internal community. I was invited to lift the proverbial lid on this company and experience a day in the work life at Ideon.

For a company that puts packaging around products for a living, one of the first things that struck me about Ideon’s office space was its lack of walls. In fact, there isn’t one person in the entire company with an office. Even the CEO and president, Rick Van Poele, prefers to roam, shifting from desk to desk. An approachable environment, for team members and customers alike, most meetings are held with the door open. Continue reading →

Creative Cultures: NGX Interactive and the science of hiring smart

NGX-Interactive-Fresh-GigsCreative Cultures is powered by Chimp, bringing people and charities together.
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In our Creative Cultures series, our writers day inside companies to learn how hiring, onboarding and company culture play a role in employee happiness. From startups to design firms and all in-between, we’re pulling back the curtain on what it’s like to work in inventive and productive environments. Today, writer Crystal Henrickson takes us through a day at NGX Interactive.

When we embark upon one path in business, no matter what our vision or intention, we don’t always know where we’ll end up. What started out as a web design company for founder Leigh Byblow has grown into one of Canada’s leading companies providing custom, digital, interactive experiences. These leading edge installations can be found in culturally-focused institutions like science centres, museums and discovery centres across the country. I was invited for a behind-the-scenes look at the close knit team that makes this business tick.

NGX Interactive is headquartered in Vancouver, fittingly just south of Science World. Within the workshop/studio works a core team of 14 along with a reservoir of specialized contractors who supercharge specific projects in fields such as animation and graphic design. Continue reading →

Creative Cultures: Rennie works like family

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In our Creative Cultures series, contributor Crystal Henrickson spends a day inside companies to learn how hiring, onboarding and company culture play a role in employee happiness. From startups to design firms and all in-between, we’re pulling back the curtain on what it’s like to work in inventive and productive environments.

It doesn’t seem to matter the occasion, whether family function or a dinner party with friends, guests congregate in the kitchen. Today, I find myself seated at the communal table at Rennie, a guest among the firm’s tight knit family-like unit. Piles of cookies keep me company as various advisors, marketers, and operators of Rennie’s team introduce themselves while snatching up one of the freshly-baked treats. Continue reading →

Creative Cultures: Welcome to Jelly Marketing’s jungle!

Jelly-Marketing-Fresh-Gigs

In our Creative Cultures series, contributor Crystal Henrickson spends a day inside companies to learn how hiring, onboarding and company culture play a role in employee happiness. From startups to design firms and all in-between, we’re pulling back the curtain on what it’s like to work in inventive and productive environments.

You wouldn’t normally think of heading out of the metropolis region of a big city to find a digital marketing agency at the creative forefront for many of today’s big brands. But that’s where I found myself, visiting Jelly Marketing located in BC’s Fraser Valley region.

“I’m Jelly’s biggest fan,” enthuses Sarah Clark, Project Manager. “Everyday is different… I love how collaborative we are and how closely we’re able to work together. We feed off of each other’s energy.” Teammate Amaan Fazal, Social Media Coordinator, finds the office to be a warm and welcoming place where everyone is open to trying new things. People support you and push you to be better. “I feel like I’m surrounded by my biggest cheerleaders everyday.” Continue reading →

Creative Cultures: Family is the key to 6S’s success

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In our Creative Cultures series, contributor Crystal Henrickson spends a day inside companies to learn how hiring, onboarding and company culture play a role in employee happiness. From startups to design firms and all in-between, we’re pulling back the curtain on what it’s like to work in inventive and productive environments.

When April Yau graduated from BCIT, she knew exactly where she wanted to work. During a marketing management class, her teacher led the class through a comparison of 6S with another company to explore differences in company culture. “I found out about how they give back to the community, the cool clients they have, all of the innovative campaigns that they run and especially how family-centric they are. I thought, ‘That’s exactly where I want to be,’ because they work hard and they play hard.” Fast forward three years, and today April is loving her gig as a 6S Senior Account Manager.

Family, means everything to 6S. It’s a place where a win or learn, rather than win or lose ethos prevails. Filled with passion and grit, the 6S team strikes a balance between getting serious work done and not taking themselves too seriously, attracting people just like April to the company. Continue reading →