Greetings from the Home Office - Episode 2: Daniel Zuberbühler, Sir Mary

Daniel Zuberbühler co-founded Sir Mary just under four years ago. The agency has since been named "Digital Agency of the Year" and "Newcomer Agency DACH. Zuberbühler, a father of four, was nominated for "Advertiser of the Year" in 2018.

Werbewoche.ch: How long have you been in a home office?

Daniel Zuberbühler: We decided at the beginning of last week to start with the dry run from Thursday. We preferred to define all the processes in an orderly fashion and not go spontaneously from 0 to 100. In retrospect, that proved to be the right decision.

Is your entire agency located in a home office?

Apart from me - yes. Every now and then someone comes by to pick something up.

Did you face any technical issues while setting up your workstation?

The changeover has gone smoothly so far, as we have integrated flexible working with digital tools into our daily routine since our founding.

Where have you set up?

I had the choice between bedroom at home or office. I opted for the latter. Who wants to lie on the bed during a video conference?

What all do you need to be able to do your job?

Internet.

Is it difficult to separate yourself enough when the children are at home?

For me, that's actually the main reason why I decided not to work at home. With four small children, there's always a lot going on.

Do you have home office experience or is this a first?

Personally, I've never been the home office type. Personal exchange with the other Sirs and Marys is extremely important to me.

Based on initial experience: Which processes are difficult compared to the normal daily routine at the agency?

I often feel like a cross between a radio host and a call center.

Which jobs go smoothly?

Virtually everyone, when everyone is focused. Even new business meetings. They're even more efficient, because you get started more quickly with the exchange instead of watching long case films.

Is there anything that works even easier or more productively on its own?

Concentration.

Should the home office phase last longer: What do you do to keep the ceiling from falling on your head?

• Conversations are not canceled.
• Relationships are not canceled.
• Creativity is not canceled.

What do you miss most about the physical day-to-day life at the agency?

The current phase will have a strong impact on all of us. It is also a great opportunity to try out new forms of work. Furthermore, the unplanned exchange will promote new ideas.

As we all know, everything has its positive sides. What is it in your current home office situation?

In the coming weeks and months, we will also see an increase in the use of digital channels in Switzerland that we have rarely experienced before. Now more than ever, good content and a tone of voice appropriate to the circumstances will count. Nothing is the same anymore. And no one knows what tomorrow will be, let alone a month from now. Something is happening out there that has never happened before. Who cares about advertising? When people fight over toilet paper? That's going to be a big challenge and opportunity for all brands, and for us as well.