We’re a few days behind on Indie Spin because, well, everyone’s been preparing for Cannes Lions (which kicks off June 16th) and apparently the entire industry needed a moment to finalize their panel topics and figure out which yacht parties actually matter. But Indie Agency News members kept sharing insights throughout the pre-festival frenzy, so this edition covers more ground than usual—which seems fitting given how much the indie world accomplished while the big networks were still coordinating their group dinner reservations.
Starting with the kind of concrete data that makes procurement teams actually pay attention: Vuja Dé Digital shared DHL’s latest research showing that 81% of shoppers abandon their carts when their preferred delivery option isn’t available. Not “some shoppers” or “many customers”—81%. The kind of percentage that turns logistics from a back-office concern into a front-and-center conversion strategy.
🎮 The Sentiment Analysts
Because apparently someone needs to monitor what gamers are actually saying
Creativ Company analyzed over 1.5 million consumer conversations about gaming publishers and franchises, which sounds like either the most thorough market research or the most elaborate way to avoid actually playing games. Their findings landed enough attention that ThinkLA featured their gaming study, presumably because someone in Los Angeles finally realized that understanding what people say about entertainment might be relevant to, you know, entertainment marketing.
⚖️ The Legal Eagles
When law firms and media planners make unexpected career moves
Davis+Gilbert LLP earned recognition across multiple practice areas in the Chambers and Partners USA 2025 guide, with their advertising and transactional work receiving particular attention—the kind of legal industry recognition that suggests indie agencies aren’t the only ones competing on expertise rather than scale. Hunterblu Media opened applications for a Media Planner position emphasizing their “award-winning culture” and fully remote team structure, which feels like the kind of authentic workplace positioning that actually attracts talent rather than just filling requisitions.
🎨 The Cannes Contingent
Festival updates from those who apparently never left
DNY announced they’ll take the stage at Cannes Lions to explore creativity’s role in connecting brands with creators, which feels like the kind of topic that could either be profoundly insightful or completely obvious depending on your caffeine levels. Meanwhile, Pereira O’Dell posted job openings for their team, including roles that suggest they’re scaling up before the festival rush.
Oberland saw E.L.F. Beauty’s “So Many Dicks” campaign make the Titanium Lions shortlist, which presumably required explaining the campaign title to various jury members with varying degrees of success. Familiar Creatures earned a New York Festivals shortlist for their work with Duke’s Mayonnaise, proving that condiment creativity can travel internationally.
📊 The Data Collectors
Because someone has to quantify everything
Response Media officially welcomed Paula Velandia as Director of Analytics, bringing 14+ years of global experience to what they describe as a “data-driven approach to media planning”—which would be concerning if media planning wasn’t data-driven by now. D/CAL announced that “the data is saying some things” without specifying what those things are, which is either strategic mystery or the kind of cliffhanger that keeps analytics professionals awake at night.
🌍 The Global Connectors
International perspectives that don’t require passport stamps
Special New Zealand shared insights from D&AD’s jury room about what actually gets translated in creative judging, with the kind of behind-the-scenes perspective that feels more valuable than most award show coverage. Hydrogen Advertising celebrated open conversations and new connections from what appears to be a particularly productive networking session, though they stopped short of quantifying exactly how many business cards were exchanged.
🎯 The Trend Watchers
Spotting patterns in the creative chaos
Chameleon Collective announced their “Trends in Focus: Reframing Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion” event, which suggests that DEI initiatives have reached the “let’s reframe this” stage of their evolution. Giant Spoon explored the intersection of design and sneaker culture through Autodesk’s Sky Lines sandals, because apparently footwear has become a legitimate venue for discussing computational design principles.
🎬 The Client Storytellers
New work that shows indies competing at the highest levels
Argonaut shared their debut work with LegalZoom, proving that legal services advertising doesn’t have to be as dry as the contracts they help create. Party Land featured a conversation with Matt Repicky from Tailored Brands about the intersection of retail and creativity, which presumably covered more ground than just whether pocket squares are making a comeback.
Brandon earned coverage from Creative Boom for their rebrand as an omnichannel entertainment agency, with the kind of industry recognition that makes rebranding feel like a strategic evolution rather than an expensive logo change. Eight Oh Two Marketing explored how AI is reshaping search from keywords to context and conversation, which sounds like the kind of fundamental shift that makes previous SEO strategies feel quaint.
🏅 The Recognition Collectors
Awards that matter and shortlists worth celebrating
Bakery Agency earned 8 shortlists at New York Festivals, which represents either exceptional creative output or an unusually productive submissions strategy. Highdive shared insights about NHL Finals communication, the kind of sports marketing perspective that suggests understanding audience psychology beyond basic demographics.
🎙️ The Thought Leaders
Insights that go beyond standard industry talking points
Bluestripe Group shared Cannes preparation insights for first-time attendees, acknowledging that the festival can be “daunting” regardless of excitement levels—the kind of honest assessment that feels more helpful than the usual “unmissable opportunity” rhetoric. SRH featured founder Sam Hogerton discussing the agency’s origin story and creative philosophy, presumably with more substance than the typical founder profile.
Ardmore explored AI and inclusion through their Ulster University alumni event, tackling the intersection of technology and creativity in ways that suggest genuine consideration rather than buzzword deployment. Portland State University – School Of Business highlighted veteran student Matthew Rissi’s transition from seven years in the Navy to graduate school, proving that diverse backgrounds continue to enrich business education.
💼 The Strategic Movers
Career changes and client wins that actually matter
The Mayor added a new Senior Paid Social Manager to their team, which sounds straightforward until you realize that “paid social” now requires senior-level expertise and strategic oversight. Mischief @ No Fixed Address shared reflections on their first five years that somehow made agency milestones seem worthy of public celebration—either a testament to authentic company culture or the social media equivalent of making the best of mandatory transparency.
Reverve Agency introduced their event elevation approach that promises to transform standard networking into something presumably more sophisticated than conference room coffee and awkward small talk.
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