Top Six 2016 Small Agency Award Winners

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The winners for the Ad Age 2016 Small Agency Awards were recently announced. The Small Agency Awards highlights the best independent agencies from around the world with 150 or fewer employees. With many big awards only covering the big agencies, smaller shops, at times, aren’t getting their due for their awesome work and smart strategy.

Many companies and brands are shifting towards working with these smaller independent agencies, because these brands want innovative ideas, deeper insights and true specialists on their projects. The need to recognize and honor these agencies is a must. So if you’re looking for that digital agency with 10 to 50 employees or the design firm that is a little bigger, the Agency Spotter Search Platform can help you find your perfect partner depending on the size of the agency.

Let’s jump right in and check out the agency to take top honors at the Small Agency Awards…
ad age small agency awards 2016
 

Small Agency of the Year – Zulu Alpha Kilo

Zulu Alpha Kilo is the Toronto-based independent, advertising agency to take home the Small Agency of the Year honors at the 2016 Small Agency Awards. Known for producing impressive and at times hilarious work for clients like Cineplex and Interac. You can see the depth and expertise of the agency just from the work they produce for themselves, like the agency’s take on spec work (video below) and also creating a parody agency website that shows all the horrible agency clichés we love to hate.


 

Agency of the Year: 1-10 Employees – Humanaut

Humanaut is the brand invention agency doing great work with brands of all sizes, especially start-ups. The Chattanooga-based agency took home the award for Agency of the Year in the 1-10 size category, but also won Integrated Campaign of the Year for their “Save the Bros” campaign with LaFarge, a Wisconsin dairy company. The hilarious campaign gives “bros” healthier options to protein shakes.


 

Agency of the Year: 11 – 75 Employees – Zambezi

Zambezi, the LA-based midsize agency, took home two awards – Gold in the Agency of the Year: 11-75 category and Silver in Campaign of the Year: Digital. It has been an outstanding year for Zambezi, as they were also recognized at the Cannes Lion Awards, Clios and One Show Awards. The agency didn’t spend all year just taking home silverware, they were on their grind working with companies like FanDuel, The Honest Company, and Zynga and are projecting a 60% increase in revenue.

The Silver Digital Campaign of the Year was a collaboration with Stance called “Shop With the Force.”


 

Agency of the Year: Southeast – Breensmith

Atlanta advertising agency, Breensmith, was named the most outstanding small agency in the Southeast region. This award caps off an impressive three-year run where the agency won the 2015 Best Small Agency at the Shorty’s and in 2014 took home the most Gold National ADDY’s at the American Advertising Awards. Some notable work from Breensmith includes the Friends of Animals viral video called RuffLife featuring actor Danny Trejo and the Keep on the Corporate Side campaign with Kabbage – a company that lends money to small business owners.

breensmith agency of the year southeast

 

Agency of the Year: Midwest – Solve

Returning back to the Small Agency Awards after a three year hiatus, Solve was awarded top honors in the Midwest for their thought leadership, creativity and business growth. When the agency won Silver in the Midwest region in 2013, they were the youngest agency to ever win this award. With five years of experience now under their belt, Solve captured Gold working with brands like True Value Hardware, Porsche and Founders Brewing Company.


 

Agency of the Year: International – anónimo

anónimo’s work with Coca-Cola and other brands helped the Mexico City agency take Gold for Agency of the Year: International. The innovative campaign with Coke involved Braille on cans so blind consumers could have their names printed on Coke cans.


 

Does Size Really Matter?

Whatever type of agency you may be looking for, Agency Spotter has it all. From the big agency networks like Havas or Interpublic to small independent shops in NYC, you can filter your agency search as you please with Agency Spotter. Size is really a question of what your company can handle and what you may be looking for. One thing I am sure of is that Agency Spotter is the best and easiest agency search out there, and if you are looking for your next partner, we can help you find the perfect fit. So jump over to Agency Spotter’s main site and get started on finding a great agency for you.

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Daniel Kim
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