We’ve explained what the Creative Services Exchange (CSX) is.

We have even explained why the CSX model is the main contender to replace the tired old Madison Avenue model. But you can’t beat a good old-fashioned flesh-and-bones case study of the CSX in action.

The CSX has been used by many brands – large and small – and blur Group will present a selection of these projects over the coming weeks.

First up, is an online company called Lexi-Luu. Take it away, Lexi…

Lexi-Luu, in a nutshell…

Lexi-Luu is a children’s clothes designer based in the US. The company is still young and its e-commerce functionality went live at the end of October 2010. However, the company had already been trading on a wholesale basis prior to this.

Engaging with the Creative Services Exchange

In late October 2010, Lexi-Luu submitted a brief into the Creative Services Exchange, seeking a comprehensive digital marketing and PR strategy, encompassing all the popular social media channels. The strategy had to include blogger outreach, Twitter and Facebook to promote the clothes and the brand.

Many pitches were received from creatives around the world – including individuals and agencies. blur Group identified the best three pitches from the submissions, and presented these to Lexi-Luu.

Lexi’s choice…

Lexi-Luu selected a rural UK-based agency as the winning pitch. The successful creative had significant experience in implementing marketing, PR and social media campaigns. In fact, they had worked on some very big brands over the previous fifteen years, as those at the helm hailed from a big-agency background. The other candidates up for selection were also very experienced, but they were bigger and a little more corporate.

Furthermore, the successful creative had significant experience working on similar projects from the same sector. It was this wealth of sector-specific experience, coupled with the smaller, intimate working arrangements that attracted Lexi-Luu to this particular creative.

It’s also worth noting that the successful creative could offer more competitive prices, given that their location meant lower overheads. The rural location had no negative impact on the project, given that the client was based in the US anyway. In fact, some of the unsuccessful pitches hailed from creatives that were much closer to the client.

The Creative Services Exchange opened up a much wider pool of creative talent to Lexi-Luu.

Collaboration and implementation

From November 2010 through to January 2011, Lexi-Luu worked directly with the creatives. Regular contact was maintained through Skype and email over the course of the project. A blur Group Brief Manager was involved in some of the virtual meetings, to ensure communications and expectations were clear.

The results

Lexi-Luu’s online presence has grown significantly since the winning agency’s strategy was implemented. By way of example, Lexi-Luu now has well over a thousand followers on Twitter. And like all good social media strategies, this one is ongoing – in fact, it should never end. But see for yourself what’s been done so far…

Lexi-Luu on Twitter…

Lexi-Luu on Facebook…

Over to you…

The Creative Services Exchange is a platform for the buying and selling of ALL creative services – web design, video production, social media campaigns, logo design, copywriting, photography…you name it.

Do you have your own creative projects brewing? Are you unsure how the Creative Services Exchange can help you? Well, why not submit a brief…you have nothing to lose…