And I write “caralho” making a direct analogy with the ship’s crow’s nest that feeds the myth of the very meaning of the word “caralho”.
It is meant as the watchtower on top of the masts of caravels (ships used in the age of discoveries), where the lookouts saw any signs of movement, land or nautical company – but without effective evidence of being. In this place, where nausea was certain, any sailor could observe, see, and above all else, reflect.
And this text is exactly that: a reflection.
In my basket, it’s easy to come to the conclusion that 2024 was a caralho year!
From this watchman post I see:
A NEW BRAND
The change from “B16: Creative Brand Makers” to “B16 – The Creative Clan” has materialized. We created a new brand, produced new media and replicated it across our communication channels. This new brand has content. It reflects a direction, a vision, an ambition. It represents a team, its values and ways of being. It creates unity and magnitude.
A NEW WEBSITE
Which we have launched and fed weekly, with a consistency of work that will pay off at the right time. Knowing at the outset that this is and will be our home. With the story of who we are to be built and gathered in each tab, link, sub-link or space. A success story, a value, a product, a service, a person, a place, a curiosity. We have plans and dreams for it, but this was the year it began. And it is beautiful!
A NEW NEWSLETTER
We started by parametrizing, where we grouped some of our contacts and where we will try to start a massive communication process, always attentive to data protection. Specific communication groups: customers, suppliers, people who inspire us, social media, family, friends, followers, fans, among others. All segmented and detailed, prepared for a cohesive future. With themes thought of the ruler, compass and scale. With creativity without limits. With love. With lots of love. A simple, entertaining newsletter where we share what we know best in an exclusive way.
A NEW COMMUNICATION
We have renewed our social media communication and developed a plan that we have consistently implemented on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and YouTube. We believe this is the right way. We now have to wait. Among many other things that characterize our communication to the outside.
From this crow’s nest I can also attest:
We solidified our relationship with MAR Shopping Algarve through a new website, a new newsletter, a new way of being! In all the campaigns we have developed throughout the year with this marketing team that we love so much and with which we have been working since 2017 (for more than 7 years!).
For the Algarve Tourism Association we completed a conceptual work, a deep study with more than a year of commitment, where we built a concept, designed an international campaign and produced some specific content of which we are very proud.
We exceeded expectations with CACIAL, with the new video and photography captures, new social media posts and new quality levels in the final delivery. We have plans. Big plans. And this trip is revealing itself to be a surprise.
We completed the last service contract of Infralobo, the bio-waste campaign, and produced our case study on our website.
We have conceptualized and created the Vista Yachts brand that is currently in operation.
We started our journey with VILAMOURAWORLD and we believe that it is just the beginning of a long walk together.
We are celebrating the launch of the “Ao natural é melhor” campaign, developed for the Algarve Tourism Region and Alentejo Tourism. A campaign that aims to promote fire-affected areas in 3 of our municipalities.
We developed the new branding for Tertúlia Algarvia, where we conceptualized a cross-border space that brings the world together around Mediterranean gastronomy. News coming soon.
One of the challenges we have not yet overcome is to make the public in the region see that there is a wonderful, multimedia and original space in Faro: the Faro Story Spot, a place where you learn a lot, interactively. Here too we have done an exhaustive work that we continue to try to grow, for the opportunities it offers.
We emerge in the world of Algarexperience and surround ourselves with people, experiences, happiness and a lot of work. A team that spreads through its daily passion, where we have been developing a lot of work at all levels.
We have started our first contract with CCDR Algarve. We are producing a range of running video content that will soon be released to the public.
We are working on a global project, perhaps our first “unicorn”, which motivates us very much and has led us to think more and more “out of the box”. A challenge that will take shape soon.
We have returned to producing content for Designer Outlet Algarve and we have plans to extend this relationship in the near future.
And we have developed strategic partnerships with brands such as: The mobile phone store, Dualminds, Celfil, among others.
From my watchtower I also see a set of seeds that we have been planting in these (and other) undisclosed cases, for many other projects, whose development we are waiting for.
But not everything smells of roses. I will recover the teachings that we were able to identify as the less pleasant moments of our year in this watchman’s post:
Serious MISTAKES where we lost money; serious mistakes where we lost time; serious mistakes where we lost focus. But – I believe – we learn from all of them.
We lost our E-COMMERCE project for the internationalization of B16 to Mozambique for several reasons, especially timing of the company, country and market (regardless of my personal opinion about the response of the entity that promoted the funding). It was not the time. It was not the time.
We also made a time-consuming effort to try and work with multiple LEADS that have not yet been converted into Customers. We have idealized countless things that did not come to life. We invested time in projects that were not at all.
We had less than good moments and others an even a little more difficult.
But the balance is positive.
I’m still here, in the caralho! From this little basket I see:
The first steps taken for our company’s future QUALITY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM. Team meetings, actions, evidence gathering, all with the aim of laying the foundation stone of this new building.
We have TECHNOLOGICALLY renewed the company. We acquired new equipment, adapted the platforms and SaaS, joined and migrated to Google Workspace, among many situations that took hours, days, weeks.
We responded to all recruitment requests, to all spontaneous applications, to all contacts that have came to us.
We welcomed more than 5 curricular INTERNSHIPS, from different entities, national and international.
We designed and developed a B16 GAME with 2 trainees from ETIC_Algarve. In May 2025 we will complete its programming and implementation online so that all of you can “find the shogun”.
We produced our OPERATIONAL COMMUNICATION PLAN – for those who do not know, an arduous, time-consuming and complex task when we intend to be assertive, proactive, effective and efficient.
We had our first day of “Playmobil” as a team. We have built the structure of the new season of the novel “WORK CONVERSATIONS” and soon we will enter into effective production.
We have implemented new management measures. We are looking to develop our own SOFTWARE. A step from the core for our Clan.
We installed AIR CONDITIONING in the office, replaced all WINDOWS and window frames.
We have brought new PLANTS to our ecosystem.
We participated in the OFFF in Barcelona and Seville; we participated in the QSP SUMMIT in Porto; we had many valuable training courses in ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE.
We participated in the “MARKETING MARATHON”, invited by the University of the Algarve.
We shared our first “SOLIDARY TEAM COOKING” with partners and customers, a memorable event that united us.
I, personally, still had time to take the vacation of a lifetime in INDONESIA and read more than 20 books throughout the year…
You now understand what I mean by a caralho year?
No. You don’t understand.
Beyond all that I mentioned above, there was something much more SPECIAL that happened.
The affection, love and respect I have for my colleagues has grown. The Clan has solidified. It has become a Clan.
We seek constant improvement, that is our purpose. We had meetings where we discussed the values that guide our way of working and being. Not all the conversations were good. Not always calm prevailed. But the truth emerged. For the benefit of all. For the sake of the Clan.
As a “caralheiro” that I am, in this company, I can shout “LAND IN SIGHT!” with all the might my lungs let me.
Extraordinary clients; Dedicated partners; and above all, focused Samurais.
I have a team that I’ve learned to LOVE without fear.
Our families help us. They understand us.
We are a Clan.
Kisses and hugs to all. I am very grateful for everything! Well done!
With or without sickness, it is a pleasure to be the helmsman of this ship.
What a caralho year. Fuck!
Bruno Gabriel
PS1 – I wish that the present and the future always bring you all much health, happiness and the ability to follow your dreams with commitment and freedom, sharing them with those who you love the most.
PS2 – Today, January 15, 2025, is our 9th anniversary.
