G'day! I'm Paul.
The fact you're here means we already have a fair bit in common. I hope to get to know more about you and your agency plans during the course. But you probably want to know who the hell I am and why I'm doing this?!
A bit about me...
I'm Paul Chappell, your instructor for the Indie Agency Owner's Manual. I'm also the Managing Partner of Brand+Story, a small indie agency in Sydney, Australia. We've been going for ten years, working with some iconic multinational brands, delivering brand strategy, creative and production services. I've written this course using all the lessons I've learned over the past 30 years in the industry, 15 of them as a founder.
MY STORY
I started my career in media as a 16 year old doing a Monday afternoon show on my local community radio station. I went on to study at the Australian Film Television and Radio School (AFTRS) where I was told by my lecturer that I was going to be a copywriter. I laughed. I was working for him the next week. I worked my way up to National Creative Director of Austereo radio network before taking on the CD role at ASTRO Broadcasting Services in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. I led a multi-lingual creative team before returning to Australia and moving into film production and then across to ad agencies.
I spent five years with Isobar Australia as a strategist then co-founded The Story Lab at Dentsu. In 2016, I started Brand+Story and have had an amazing experience, traveling around the world making ads.
WHY DID I CREATE THIS COURSE?
Like many people in the ad industry, I've been shocked at the rapid loss of jobs in the industry due to massive restructuring. The Holding Cos are laying off tens of thousands of staff, many roles never to return. It happened to some of my good friends. They were devastated. I wanted to help but didn't know what I could do. A few of them said they were thinking of starting their own shop but didn't know where to start.
That's when I knew what I could do.
Put my 15 years as a founder to work for them. If I can help you start your own agency, and build a career and a future that you can control, and be proud of, then job done.
I've never done this before so it's new for me as well. I hope we can make something of it together!
Paul is the most commercially minded and forward thinking creative person I have ever come across. He is also a laugh !
____ Geraint Davies
He’s a genuinely great guy, who’s passionate about his work (and his clients) who has a flair for ideas and the know-how and tenacity to make them into reality.
____ Craig Brown
Paul is one of those rare individuals who is creative by nature yet able to work through strategies and problems systematically, a rare double act.
____ Tony O'Regan
Brand+Story Showreel
Here's the Brand+Story showreel to give you an idea of the work our agency has been doing. It's been a fun ride!