The One Thing That All Great Agencies Have In Common

It was the agency that couldn't lose: Crispin Porter & Bogusky snagged Ad Age's Agency of the Year award in 2004 and 2008 and later was crowned Agency of the Decade. It had won Creativity's Magazine Agency of the Year four times in six years.

No shop since has shaken up the industry with such vigor in such a short period. And it's unlikely another agency will enjoy such a hot streak too.

CP&B started the as a small regional with no major clients. The shop first gained national notice for an innovative anti-smoking campaign and some original work for Ikea. It then won the trendy Mini account and the sizable Burger King business. By 2010, CP&B was the most-admired agency in America, and attracted big clients like Microsoft, Nike, Coca-Cola and Volkswagen.

Back then, the agency famously refused to pitch business. It didn't need to. Clients flocked to CP&B. It was so hot that fast-food rivals Domino's, Arby’s and Burger King agreed to coexist at the shop, despite the conflict of interest.