The next generation creativebrief site went live this month after six months of development and a two week client testing period. Over 40 clients helped us test the new site including Sony, Diageo, RBS, Carlsberg, Peugeot, English Heritage and Scottish & Newcastle.

Over Christmas and the New Year further updates will be added to the site in preparation for the Spring launch. To see our new site go to www.creativebrief.com.

As well as updating the look and feel of the site we have been hard at work ensuring the functionality is both intuitive and simple. Please let us know what you think.

Upgrades to the service include the online 'briefcase' - that enables clients to interact with agencies online and anonymously - which has been streamlined for ease of use. Its simple template driven format and step by step guides have been designed with every type of brief in mind - clients can devise and save their own questions sets, choose from an extensive list of industry sponsored questions, and can even brief an agency to upload files and case studies.

Our unique showcase self-publishing software has also been updated so that agencies can build and edit their showcase both quickly and simply. If you would like to find out more about the new features on our site please call Charlie Carpenter on +44 (0)20 7478 8200

Our achievements in 2005

The key feature of 2005 for creativebrief has been the huge increase in client activity we have experienced leading to a fivefold increase in briefs during the second half of the year. Not just the number of briefs and reviews but the variety of sectors and markets has increased, with several mainstream advertising reviews handled through creativebrief.

In the last six months briefs to the value of £40m have gone through the site with over 200 agencies briefed and our database has grown fast as agencies from all sectors realise the value of being part of the fastest growing new business channel.

This autumn saw the soft launch of our new website after 6 months of development, based on an extensive, independent, external audit and your comments and experiences. My thanks to the 40 plus clients who have trialed the new site and provided such useful feedback - feedback we are now incorporating into the new site, ready for our market relaunch in the first quarter of 2006.

Your views and our experience have also allowed us to focus and distill our products for both client and agency, reflecting the way in which marketing procurement and brand marketing want to use our services offline and online, and service providers to market their work and agencies.

But I think what has been the most important and telling aspect of the year, as it has gone on, has been the growth in confidence and trust in our service that has directly resulted in the massive increase in briefs from new, and more importantly from repeat business.

We enter 2006 from a great base - great new website, specified products and services, increasing numbers of clients and briefs, and a great team.

Seasons greetings to you all!

Paul Duncanson
Managing Director

November briefs total over £7 million

Maintaining the momentum that we have seen over the last half of this year, November has been no different, with briefs in more new areas and industry sectors. These briefs have ranged in value from £70,000 to £5.5 million and are outlined below.

To find out more about any of the above or how creativebrief could help you call Charlie Carpenter on +44 (0)20 7478 8200.
New agency members come onboard

New service providers joining in October and November include: