MayDream SA, a U.S.-Euro based Internet company, launched AdForum.com, a searchable database of
advertising agencies and their creative work.
The site, featuring a search service called Agency Preview, is intended for
use by advertisers and consultants to identify ad agencies from around the
world for account assignments or special projects. Advertising agencies can
use the site for creative analysis, benchmarking, new business pitches and
network building, the company said.
It reportedly will compete with AdsGallery.com from Toronto-based Warp 10 Technologies Inc.
More than 30 advertising agencies in the United States and Europe are
participating in the launch. In 18 months, AdForum said it expects to host
listings for thousands of agencies. As the site is built out in the coming
year, it intends to become a portal for the global advertising community with
editorial content, interactive services, newsgroups and e-mail.
At launch, AdForum will include searchable agency information such as size,
location, competencies, specialties, billing clients, number of employees,
awards, corporate philosophy, network affiliation and trade organization
membership. Agencies can also be sorted according to corporate objectives and
other confidential new business data such as account conflicts. Subscribing
agencies can also have links to their agency Web sites, list e-mail contacts
and present animated presentations about their services.
AdForum will also include executions of each agency’s creative work
(including broadcast reels).
“Agencies may already have their own Web sites, but they are familiar only to
those who already know the agency;” said Herve C. de Clerck, founder and
president of MayDream.” But by joining AdForum, agencies are visible in a
central location heavily trafficked by advertisers and consultants where
their work is visible to anyone and everyone looking for an agency.”
Agencies pay $2,000 a year to subscribe. Consultants pay $9,500 per year to
assess the full functionality of the site via password. Among the agencies
signed at launch are Ammirati, Puris, Lintas New York, Bozell, Leo Burnett
Chicago, DMB&B NY, Grey NY Hill Holiday, J. Walter Thompson, Saatchi NY and
Y&R NY.
MayDream is incorporated in Luxembourg and owns Virgule Bleue sarl a French
company that provides technical development and information systems. A
European sales team is located in London. MayDream is also incorporated in
New Jersey with Hoboken offices that are the headquarters for marketing and
sales in America.