Introducing Savion Ray’s new fair pitching guidelines

Navigating the intricacies of project pitches can be a challenging experience for both agencies and clients. At Savion Ray, we believe in creating a balanced and respectful dynamic between all parties involved. 

As a communication agency, we invest significant time and effort into crafting proposals that meet and exceed client expectations. However, experience has highlighted the need for clearer boundaries and mutual respect in the pitching process. Some instances involved requirements of creative conceptualisation as a part of the pitch, some involved substantial back-and-forth communication and an exhaustive proposal creation process, only for the project to be awarded to another agency without an explanation or feedback. 

This not only resulted in wasted resources but also raised concerns about the respect and value placed on our efforts. Our new fair pitching guidelines are designed to foster mutual respect, ensure efficient use of resources, and establish clear boundaries for project proposals. 

These guidelines stem from many years of experience and are aimed at enhancing transparency and professionalism in the pitching process. Here we go. 

The rationale behind our new guidelines

Crafting a comprehensive project proposal often demands over 20 hours of collaborative effort from various teams, representing a substantial financial commitment. To ensure the success and efficiency of such an investment, it is crucial for clients to maintain transparency and clear communication throughout their decision-making process. This approach fosters a respectful and effective working relationship, ultimately benefiting both parties involved.

Key points of the fair pitching guidelines

Budget transparency:

• We do not engage in competitive pitches for projects under €50,000.
• For competitive pitches, we require transparency on the number of invited companies, their identities, and the maximum available budget.
• For non-competitive projects, we will publish a price chart detailing our services and costs.

Respect for effort and time:

• We do not accept projects with a budget under €10,000.
• Please avoid requesting project ideas or strategies during the proposal stage; our past work examples showcase our value.
• Clients should maintain consistency in the initial brief and limit follow-ups, especially when considering multiple vendors.

Feedback and communication:

• We expect constructive feedback after a proposal submission, particularly if the project is awarded to another company.
• Transparency principles require that the awarded company be disclosed to us.

Calculating the cost of proposals

To give a clear perspective on the resources involved, let’s take a recent proposal as an example:

• Total hours invested: Approximately 27.5 hours
  • Breakdown: 12.5 hours by the creative team, 10 hours by the accounts team, 5 hours by the strategic team
• Opportunity cost: Estimated at around €6,000

These figures underscore the substantial investment made in preparing detailed proposals and highlight the importance of respecting this effort.

We aim to educate our clients on the effort and resources involved in creating comprehensive proposals. Your understanding of our opportunity costs fosters mutual respect and appreciation for the work invested in the pitch process.

Moving forward with clarity

Our new guidelines are not just about setting boundaries; they are about fostering a professional environment where both clients and agencies can thrive. By adhering to these principles, we aim to ensure that the pitching process is fair, efficient, and respectful of everyone’s time and resources.

We invite our clients to join us in this initiative and help us build a more transparent and respectful working relationship. Together, we can achieve greater efficiency, better project outcomes, and a more harmonious collaboration.For more detailed information on our fair pitching guidelines and to view our service price chart, please contact us directly.