Paul Lessing: Give George a Rest – We Take the Blame

May 3, 2010 in Advertising, Creative and Design, Des Moines, Iowa, Lessing-Flynn, Marketing, Paul Lessing, Traditional Media
Tags: ad agency, ad agency role, admen, Advertising, advertising history, advertising people, Des Moines, engraving, Iowa, Lessing Advertising Agency, Lessing-Flynn, Paul Lessing, printing

One of the things which is contributing largely to the gray streaks on the noble domes of advertising men is the inability to fix the blame for a piece of faulty work.  The printer says he didn’t have the right kind of cuts.  The engraver blames the printer.  Both agree that the copy writer turned out rotten work in the first place.  When it comes to taking the glory they all want it but when the blame is being taken the watchword is “Let George do it.”

We have avoided all this by adopting a system whereby we assume complete responsibility for all advertising going through this agency.  We have affiliated with one of the best printing houses and one of the best engraving firms in the country.  Unless the client specifies some other, all work goes through these concerns and this agency assumes full responsibility.

We handle your advertising from planning the campaign and writing the copy to delivering the finished work.  If you have a complaint to make you know exactly to whom to come.  We alone are answerable.  We cannot and do not shift blame to other shoulders.

You can devote your attention to the broader phases of your business because you know your printing and advertising is being handled by a reliable agency which takes a conscientious interest in the success of your campaign.

You experienced advertising men know what that means.  With complete responsibility comes greater care and when you deliver your work to a concern which watches every detail you can rest easy knowing that when the finished job comes to you it will be done right.  You don’t have to lay awake nights worrying over the artist, the engraver, the printer, the butcher, baker or candlestick maker.  We do the worrying and you take the profits.

Author: Paul Lessing
Lessing Advertising Agency
Des Moines, Iowa
January, 1912

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