For Maine Advertising Agency, Happy Campers make for Happy Employees
Blaze christens new “ERV” (Employee Retention Vehicle) to the delight and surprise of staff
Get access to everything we publish when you sign up for Outside+.
October 20, 2021;Yarmouth, ME – Yarmouth, Maine-based, Blaze Partners, had contemplated acquiring a van to serve as a mobile office/basecamp for its clients’ video production shoots. But with employee recruitment and retention increasingly top of mind, the three agency partners saw an opportunity to take the idea of a van one step further and this week surprised staff with a new RV that does double duty as a production basecamp, but can also be used by staff on weekends for their personal camping adventures.
“It’s really a win-win situation,” said partner Kevin Kayne. “It’s likely a van would have seen limited, work-related use on weekends, but now the RV will be fully utilized by everyone on staff, while still serving its primary use on weekdays.”
The 22′ Winnebago Solis sleeps four and features many comforts of home like a fridge, stove and bathroom. It also has a mobile hot spot, solar panels and plenty of workspace when on location.
“Every business owner I know is facing a similar dilemma when it comes to staffing,” said partner Jenna Klein Jonsson. “Yes, we need to find good people, but we also need to retain them and to build a unique culture.” Jim Hauptman, also a partner, added, “Compensation is, of course, always part of the equation, but employees today are looking for benefits that align more closely with their personal interests and values. In Maine, it’s the enjoyment of the outdoors which is why we think the RV could be a strategic point of differentiation for our firm when it comes to hiring.”
Employees will be able to sign out the RV for several days at a time on a rotating schedule. Judging by initial reactions from the team, the RV is likely to see plenty of time in the wilderness. “Outdoor adventure has always been part of Blaze’s DNA,” said Eliza Hill, the agency’s VP of strategy. “The RV is just one more way to help us get out there and explore!”
Founded in 2015, Blaze Partners is a full-service advertising and digital marketing agency that serves a diverse group of clients across the US and Canada. (And yes, Blaze is hiring.)
Contact
Nancy Fendler
Principal, Fendler PR
Host, Material Wise – your podcast on material matters
PO Box 564
Portland, ME 04112
207-671-9071
nancy@fendler.com
www.fendler.com
www.materialwise.co
