Happy bot-day to us!

Recently, the LinkedIn bots scoured the digital universe and announced that cleansheet was celebrating its 15th year in business. What surprised us was the specificity of the date, because even as its founders, it’s hard to pin down the exact date cleansheet began.

Was it the day the notional idea came into our heads? Did the bot discover the day the company name was formally registered? Or see beers flowing the day we won our first account big enough to turn to one another and say: “I think we have a business here!”

 Whatever the date (we know it’s somewhere now abouts), thank you to all the well- wishers who have reached out and to everyone who has contributed to our work and culture over the years.

 In honour of 15, we’ve assembled 5 examples of our creative which we love for the idea, but even more so for its contribution to our culture.

There’s no substitute for hustle.

When the biggest telco pitch in a decade came to Canada, we were not on the shortlist. Truthfully, they didn’t even know we existed. We tried, but the CMO simply had no time available and was flying back to Europe the next day. So we offered up a limo to the airport and help checking in which freed him up about 45 minutes to meet us at the airport hotel. He did. And we won the business. Then, on our way to the first 100,000 customers faster than any telco had ever done it, we made this…

The power of stories to move minds laterally, not literally

Thank you GoRVing for letting us make this commercial. Its recognition that families can be two feet away from one another, but miles apart is sadly still true today. Upon seeing this film, an American author called up and asked if she could use the words at the end of the spot “never confuse the devices that connect us with the moments that keep us together” as the opening of her new book. We happily obliged. Humanity is sharing!

Big ideas from small places

Canadian Tire will always have a special place in our hearts for buying We all Play for Canada from us. Great insights are wasted on clients too small to make an impact. Great budgets are wasted on big clients without anything to say. Sometimes, the best times, you get it right on all fronts!

There’s something magic about being on water

Thank you Che Cheemaun Ferry for letting us travel in your wake. In your traditions. In your beautiful sunsets. In the presence of partners who cared deeply about doing the right thing, the right way. If advertising is a canvas, there’s never been one more special than this boat!

If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again

We’ve all had an idea that someone told us was no good. Often we file it away. But in this case, we said “Nope, we’re doing it ourselves!” Once we’d funded it to the point its potential was obvious, we had some terrific people get behind it and the rest was history – including an Atomic Award for digital innovation and being in the company of only one other Canadian winner at the Billboard Music Clios. You may have heard of him – Drake.

Thanks to everyone who has contributed to cleansheet. We look forward to the bots telling us when its appropriate to celebrate with you once again.

Neil McOstrich

Co-Founder & Chief Storytelling Officer

Cleansheet Communications, Toronto

e: [email protected]