A little Rouge....

The Tuesday chin wag is early for a change, OK its actually a week overdue but hey today is a Monday so let me live the dream.   I bring you today a chat to Rouge Media, a lovely agency just down the road from me in Berks.  I had the pleasure of meeting Andy who heads up this creative hub....lets get nosey!


Andy, why the name Rouge?
We wanted a name that we could grow into.. Something that sounded like a big agency but was still very approachable.  The name came out of the idea that we add colour to marketing materials - 'adding a touch of rouge.'
Your not web monkeys as far as I am aware...so what animal is Rouge if it had to be one and why?
I've always felt that we operate well as a team of specialists looking out for each other, so maybe meerkats. I know a wolf pack would sound better but we are just a bit more friendly than that!
Can you tell us something about your latest project that you think illustrates why Rouge are so fabulous darling?
Just now we are doing some work for Mclaren, but i can say no more than that as its top secret!
Our latest launch is for East Youth Dance.  This is a community dance website for the East of England.  It's a relatively small site right now but will grow as the dance network starts to populate it with evens, news, groups and activities.  I guess that what i like about it best, the website will eventually take on a life of its own,
Now I bought you cake when i came to see you...other than sugary treats what other things make you stand up and take notice or would be a good thank you?
We love cake, but pork pies or scotch eggs would be outstanding.
Pick one....Telephone, Good old letter, Email, Twitter or a Post it note.
Email.  I can still remember sending my first email in 95.  It was like a form of magic!  Amazing its now so essential everyday.
What's it really like working in an office full of young creatives - juicy gossip, fashion disasters and mad brainstorming meetings?
Sadly its not like that anymore.  We are all quite nerdy serious about what we do.  I cant even say we work hard, play harder.  Its about being professional and delivering the goods.  That not to say we don't have fun doing it but the playboy days of champagne lunches have long gone.  Its better now.  It certainly means that the industry gets taken more seriously, I'm no longer afraid of those awkward introductions...and what do you do?
I notice your doing free website checks at the moment, can you tell us a little more about it?
Websites are often launched then forgotten, they can rapidly go out of date and fall apart.  As a freebie we will spend a couple of hours with our site on our consultation couch, find if there are any issues then help suggest remedies.  Unashamedly this is a route to new business for us but the things we recommend can be things you can do yourself, we are big fans of people taking control of their own websites.
What other things does Rouge do that we may not know about?
We have great experience of logos, branding and advertising.
An lastly, a quick fire round.....
  • Favourite word - Spoon
  • Favourite book - Magician by Raymond Feist
  • Scariest thing about running your own business - The tax man
  • CD you currently have playing in your car - Falcon by The Courteeners
  • The last thing that made you laugh - My kids drawing all over their own faces
  • Last time you dug, delved and had a good poke around what did you find? - A good friend that i lost touch with nearly 15 years ago.  He wasn't down he back of the sofa or anything, turns out he was only in Richmond.
Thank you to Andy at Rouge!  Check his digits below.