WE ARE IDEOLOGY
Who we are
ideology is a disruptive, innovative and direct Face-2-Face BTL communications specialist, creating perceptible influence between brand and recipient, built on the pursuit for messaging re-invention, promoting a visual and experiential revolution.
Highfalutin wording for sure, but essentially means with our strategic approach, specialist innovative knowledge and extensive past experience, using specially crafted, visually impactful creative that’s outside the box, we look to re-shape the one-on-one/one-on-many direct communication’s landscape in order to break through the messaging clutter that today’s audiences are subjected to, ensuring impact and message retention using “Experience Marketing”. So, in short, we like doing things differently.
By focusing heavily on the objective and by finding new ways to achieve that outcome in the most proficient way, we delved extensively into ‘the science of ideas’ that gave birth to our company slogan and is the driving force for our concepts. In addition, ideology’s proven reputation for quality execution has driven word-of-mouth growth and repeat business from the industry, while we aim to always deliver beyond the expectations of our customers, in order to go beyond the norm and in order to set us apart from our competitors.
ideology applies the above skills, thought process and belief system (hence the namesake) to the creative conceptualization, ethical sourcing, efficient management and effective execution of events, activations, exhibitions, shopfitting, sponsorships and productions, anywhere in South Africa or abroad. Meaning that we are always on the ground, in the field, on the battlefront, at the rock face and where the action is.
Where we come from
ideology’s team stems from decades of evolution from numerous faculties of industry, doing the actual ‘hard graft’ on the ground, with over 20 years of experience, providing the necessary background and direction that has made ideology what it is today.
To highlight some of this experience, it started with a production company in 2000, producing corporate videos and doing design work that we still create to this day. In 2006, this experience grew into a promotions agency, delivering in-store and out-of-home activations throughout the country in various locations for numerous well-known FMCG, pharmaceutical, beverage and liquor brands.
Back in 2009, this experience diversified into incorporating a company involved in Audio-Visual technologies, not only learning about the very AV equipment and methods we use in staging events today, but the techniques around doing unique, innovative executions that no one in the country knew how to do at the time (which many still currently don’t). These included innovations such as holographics, augmented and virtual reality, 3D screens, motion simulators, gesture and touch technologies, along with other video, audio, interactive and even scent technologies.
This company was also heavily involved in staging design and manufacture as well as exhibition stand design and building, which has driven the business we still do a lot of within ideology.
In addition, it also set the framework for unique content production knowledge as well, using unusual and unknown production techniques to create visually appealing content that would ‘blow audiences away’, from the realms of filming and editing techniques, to 3D and animation, to audio production and even programming.
This combined with entertainment and other impactful additions in order to create ‘the overall show’.
All of the above moulding the company we are today, flawlessly combining all the necessary skills essential to hosting a successful activity and ensuring we satisfy every customer need, with a mindset to applying or finding new and unique ways to achieve results that stand out of the crowd.
What we believe
Ideology’s mission statement is to create intimate and tangible connections between our customer and the intended audience through experiences, where message retention and reach results are improved by utilizing creative, non-traditional and innovative methods, ensuring all elements are correctly integrated into a quality solution, delivering the ‘golden thread’ throughout.
We are driven by a questioning spirit by asking the Who, What, How, Why, Where and When questions, ensuring we grasp every aspect of the requirement and comprehend why we are doing it, as well as what needs to be achieved. This simple methodology exponentially improves delivery since it is thoroughly understood and thought through. Questions like Why are we at that location? What do we hope to achieve? Who are we talking to? How do we need to say it? ensures we always hit the nail on the head.
But at our core we are innovators with our main purpose or existence revolving around being better, doing things differently, thinking about what and why we are doing it, in order to improve on the standard and exceed expectations. In this day and age, just doing the ordinary is just not good enough anymore. We have to break through the clutter and find new ways to impress, in order to create sufficient visual impact with our audiences.
The word ideology means a method of ideals or a belief system, where we certainly have very strong ideals and beliefs in what we do and how we do it, which is why we chose the name. For one, we believe in extremely ethical and transparent business practices, often by sharing more than the average supplier and by being brutally honest with customers, so that we build trust and partnerships with our clients in order to promote long-term relationships.
As agency, we believe it is OUR duty and mandate to advise our customers, based on our extensive past experience, on best practices in order to achieve best results and create the impact required. We believe that WE hold the responsibility and accountability for the projects we choose to engage in and that the standard and quality of execution matches or exceed expectations of our client’s and that of the industry at large, or even our own. We are therefore steadfast in ensuring this is exactly what happens. We will never deliver what we don’t believe in ourselves.
This exhibits our key belief system, but to find out more about our ideals, please take a read at some of our opinion pieces here on our LinkedIn articles: Why is there such a great divide between Marketing and Corporate Events?, The DEATH of traditional Powerpoint Presentations at Events and the need to rethink how we conduct Training and Events in a Post Coronavirus-Lockdown World.
What makes us different
Why do we even need to be different? In this day in age it is becoming harder and harder to reach audiences and create impact (see our opinion piece on shorter attention spans). As the population grows and new businesses enter the market, it is also becoming more and more difficult to distinguish between projects and the agencies themselves, that delivered on those projects. The current level is the new norm, as it goes with all things over time. It’s therefore imperative that we continue to evolve, improve, differentiate and distinguish ourselves over others.
Here is how we stay different:
- Our cross-industry experience gives us valuable insight into looking at the bigger picture and ensuring we impact all the correct touch-points, which makes our key strength: STRATEGY. For instance our knowledge of marketing and sales, advertising, above- and below-the-line marketing techniques gives us a full scope.
- Our specialist knowledge gave us access to experience many others have never had before. For example our experience in Audio Visual technologies sets us apart from many in the industry.
- Our core focus on innovation to ensure impact, makes us unique since we know where and how to apply it for best results.
- Our questioning spirit means we always asking questions to ensure we completely understand what we are doing and comprehend why we are doing it.
- Analysing common barriers or weaknesses inherent in tasks and activities ensures we are always trying to improve on the standard.
- Connecting creativity with logic is such an important technique we use to overcome overly creative concepts that don’t deliver results.
- Personal investment to quality by being a small team ensures our eyes are on everything in order to uphold a long-standing reputation.
- Working within very short timelines is essential in a modern digital society that’s evolving constantly and quickly, which we are best situated to deliver in short time frames due to our personal investment and full-time dedication to the projects we engage in. Quality over Quantity.
- Flexibility and adaptability is equally important in an evolving landscape, which a boutique agency such as ours is always able to adapt and morph to the needs of the client and the project, versus larger companies.
- Working within tight budgets is also imperative in this economic landscape and again our small focused team keeps costs low and overheads manageable in order to cope with budget restrictions.
- Controlling supply chain through experience, since at some point in our evolution we did the actual hard graft work on the ground that we now expect of the supplier. This means we able to manage them more closely and understand how to get the best out of that component.
- Integration with other areas to ensure the golden thread is carried throughout due to our cross-industry knowledge of the full marketing scope.
- Targeting overall results and ROI is an essential benefit we deliver since we completely believe that actual results are everything.
WHAT WE DO
OUR BIG 5
EVENTS
Events
ACTIVATIONS
ACTIVATIONS
EXHIBITIONS
EXHIBITIONS
SHOPFITTING
SHOPFITTING
SPONSORSHIPS
SPONSORSHIPS
PRODUCTIONS
PRODUCTIONS
Watch our company video here!
HOW WE DO IT
THE PROCESS
Hover over each to view
APPLIED TO
Click each tab to view
- Venue
- Guest Relations
- Travel
- Catering
- Furniture & Décor
- AV Technical
- Manufacturing
- Production
- Entertainment
- Activities
- Staffing
- Branding
- IT & Technology
THE PROCESS
VENUE
Sourcing, recce, bookings and management of venues anywhere within our country, or even abroad. We work with venues of all kinds, from your regular hotel and conference facilities, restaurants and bars, to large event venues.
But where we really flourish is at finding unique and unusual venues that tie into our concept and give that extra special something to the event experience, ensuring the guest witnesses something they have never seen before.
THE PROCESS
GUEST RELATIONS
Invites, RSVP, online systems, ticketing, registration and database building.
Ensuring your guests are always in the know and that their movements during the event are carefully monitored and managed in a friendly and professional way, is an imperative part of the guest experience, as well as for the overall control and efficiency of any event, which is where our experienced guest relations team come into their own, managing guest communication at all times.
THE PROCESS
TRAVEL
Flights, Charters, Transfers, Accommodation and Tourist or Travel Activities.
Always ensuring your guests sees the best there is to offer on their trip in terms of flights, transfers, accommodation and tourist attractions, in a way that keeps them constantly busy, pampered and connected to the brand and project in an emotional way.
THE PROCESS
AV TECHNICAL
Conceptualization, design, sourcing, show control and management of the staging, video, audio, lighting, pyrotechnics and effects gear needed for the event.
THE PROCESS
PRODUCTION
Design, Filming, Photography, Streaming, Editing, 3D & Animation, Mapping, Presentations, Chromo-key, App development, Audio composition and custom content production for technologies such as: holographics, Augmented and Virtual Reality, Touch and Gesture.
THE PROCESS
ACTIVITIES
Lots of fun options to keep your guests interested and engaged at all times, such as: kiddies activities, driving experiences, simulators, drumming or dancing training, photobooths, digital graffiti wall, cooking classes, industrial theatre or team building activities, and many other sporting fun.
THE PROCESS
STAFFING
For all the staffing needs we offer: Hostesses, Promotional staff, Registration staff, Pit girls, Models, Ushers, MC’s, Guest or Motivational Speakers, Celebrity appearances and even well-trained vehicle Instructors, to ensure the function or activity has only the best personnel at all times.
THE PROCESS
BRANDING
Design, sourcing and printing of banners, flags, gazebos, umbrellas, vinyl printing and application, car vinyl, fabric printing, inflatables, signage, posters, branded clothing, costumes, leaflets, brochures, handouts, wristbands, lanyards, name badges, bottles and cups, coasters, menus, agendas, corporate gifting, gobos, custom trophies, custom branding, competitions, digital branding, etc.
THE PROCESS
IT & TECHNOLOGY
I.T. equipment rental such as laptops, printers, tablets, iPad stands and phones as well as networking and online infrastructure such as Wi-Fi, etc. We also include rentals of unique technology, based on our extensive past experience, with items such as holographic screens or units; augmented reality apps; virtual reality headsets and content; touch screens, glass, tables or bars; motions walls or floors; interactive tunnels; gesture systems; digital graffiti walls; photobooths; floor LED screens; auto 3D screens; 3D mapping; motion, driving or sports simulators; and other video, audio and scent technologies.
Holographics | Augmented Reality | Interactive Technologies | Simulators | Photo Technologies
WHAT WE’VE DONE
We have worked on an extensive number of exciting projects over the years. Click a section to see our example work under that section, and then click a project to view the article for that particular project.
WHO WE’VE WORKED FOR
Always striving to exceed expectations.
We have worked with a myriad of well-known consumer brands over the years. Click on a logo to view what we’ve done for that particular client.
Do you need quality reassurance from our clients?
Great, feel free to read from our testimonial wall
Follow our story
Read about our latest news and articles here.
The DEATH of traditional Powerpoint Presentations at Events and the need to rethink how we conduct Training
The other day we were doing a product launch event, and it was the usual morning start of the day, where all our guests have gathered in the presentation space for their induction into a plethora of brand and product knowledge that they were about to be exposed to, just after filling their stomachs with some usual welcome morning grub.
Events in a Post Coronavirus-Lockdown World
As we all know, the world has changed substantially thanks to Coronavirus. One area that has been hit hardest is the events and tourism trade. Restrictions have been placed on groups of people collecting in the same space, but even when those restrictions are removed in the coming months, the public at large will still be very hesitant to go out and interact with the general public and with public environments, where they increase their chance of infection, unless their safety can be assured.
Why is there such a great divide between Marketing and Corporate Events?
I think we can all agree, but perhaps many forget at times in the thrall of our busy daily lives, that the purpose of putting a corporate event together in the first place, is the opportunity of having physical face to face interaction with a desired or intended audience, in order to communicate a very specific message and in order to achieve a very specific outcome.
Ideology joins Miss Earth South Africa in making a difference at Diepsloot Combined Primary School
“My friends and I used to joke and say you know you are in the hood when you don’t see trees and that’s not okay. Something has to be done and we have to be the ones who do it” – Ofentse Sibiya, Finalist Miss Earth South Africa 2019.
Nissan x Reach for A Dream 2018
A feel good initiative by Nissan South Africa, where they offered 50 under privileged and medically ill children from Reach for a Dream, an opportunity that they would generally never experience in their lifetimes, by racing them around the Red Star Raceway in the amazing GT-R’s and 370Z’s that were there on the day.
Ideology Sponsors Miss Earth South Africa Finalist
In order to get involved in such a great initiative, Ideology Agency chose to sponsor Ofentse Mosima Sibiya, a 23 year old BCom Law Student. Her love for children, humanity and her community as a whole, comes across in everything that she does.
Our BEE & CSR Charter
We whole-heartedly believe in transformation as a necessity for our country
ideology is a level 2 BBB-EE contributor, thanks to our company strategy of being a development agency, by handing over the necessary education and skills to the less fortunate, as our own succession plan for the future. Meaning we don’t just fulfil BEE requirements as legally mandated, but we whole-heartedly believe in transformation as a necessity for our country and strongly incorporate it into our business, by developing and including those up-and-coming candidates into our daily activities and projects, from the bottom up.
So instead of the common ‘fronting’ we see happening in many businesses in our arena, where a recognisable name and face are all that are required in order to ‘tick the necessary boxes’, we invest heavily in sharing experience, time, resources and our company as a whole. Training, grooming and growing our future leaders of industry from the correct path of development, which one would expect at the highest levels of business internationally, ensuring the company should never sacrifice quality delivery to the end-customer, due to those transformation needs.
Giving back to communities and society at large
As part of that development program, ideology is also a strong believer in giving back to its community and society at large, in whatever way we can, as our internal corporate social responsibility mandate, which one would expect from all members of industry. This is demonstrated in the multitude of projects and support that ideology provides to social responsibility projects and charitable initiatives, some of which are detailed in our blog, such as Ideology Sponsors Miss Earth SA contestant, Ideology gets down and dirty assisting in Miss Earth SA schools initiative and Ideology helps with the Nissan Reach for a Dream GT-R track day.
Our office
FEEL FREE TO CONTACT US. WE LIKE TO TALK!
ADDRESS
304 Cedar Creek Estate, Chartwell, Johannesburg, 2191, South Africa.
CONTACTS
Dina: 072 593 9862
info@ideology.agency