Armed with a bike, camera, and plenty of water, we set out to profile the creative agency scene in Minneapolis. Follow our journey.

Carmichael Lynch

Core Service: Advertising, Branding, Media
Additional Services: Social Media, Mobile, Marketing Strategy, PR

“[We] exist for a simple reason: to transform, instigate, rally and delight “

Advertising agency, Carmichael Lynch has become a destination agency for brands large and small because they have their finger on the pulse of our culture. They’ve got a proven knack for finding the part of a brand that matters and bringing it to life in a way that makes people feel like they’ve been heard.

People

Hanging around their office is a bit like walking the streets of Manhattan with the always real possibility of a celebrity sighting. They’ve got a long history of producing and attracting some of the biggest names in the creative space, but sans the ego. There’s a sense of camaraderie among the teams as they are all helping each other do the best work of their career. In fact, the leaders openly admit that talent comes and goes, but that quite often, their best years are had here.

Expertise

“If you want something you’ve never had, you have to do something you’ve never done.” This is one of the underlying tenets that has helped Carmichael Lynch continue to push their clients to go beyond the usual and expected. For over 50 years, they’ve been building some of the most iconic brands in the world.

For Tempur-Pedic’s SVP of marketing, this was exactly the kind of approach that helped solidify Carmichael Lynch as the right fit to “make the largest impact for [their] brand.” Independent film director Mike Mills joined the team to help bring the “Bear” TV spot to life:

There’s plenty of awards on their shelves, but one campaign that really got people talking was the “First Car Story” for Subaru of America. Taking home an Effie, Webby, FWA Site of The Day as well as a One Show Interactive finalist, this was a big win for Carmichael Lynch and Subaru. Here’s a look at one of their many, large-scale Subaru ads that hit on the adventurous core of the brand’s loyal fans.

Check out more of their work to see how they continue to bring brands into the spotlight.

Place

Having an agency in town with a space like this reminds us that NYC isn’t the only place with huge, industrial, artsy spots inspiring creativity. The office is a winding maze of mixed-material, cross-functional spaces that offer unlimited Instagram-worthy shots. To boot, they’ve got roof access with 360-degree views of the city. They know they’re lucky and as good neighbors do, share the wealth by hosting rooftop concerts inviting the local creative community. Can we come next time?

Check out Carmichael Lynch’s portfolio on Agency Spotter to learn more and see how you’re connected…

…if you’ve worked with them, give them a rating

…if you like what you see, share their portfolio

…if you’re interested in seeing how they could help you, contact them

Stay tuned as we continue our up-close profiles of great creative agencies in Minneapolis!

3 Signs Your Creative Agency Relationship Needs Attention (Agency Spotter)
5 Questions to Ask Your Next Branding Agency (Agency Spotter)
6 Easy Steps to an Agency Shortlist (Agency Spotter)

Marketing Matters