Marketingmag.com.au chats to Andy Miller – CRM communications specialist with SBS. If you
would
like to see a certain
marketer profiled, please email your suggestion to Kate Kendall, online
editor, on [email protected].

1. What do you do?

My full-time role is CRM Communications Specialist with SBS. Before work, after work and on weekends I spend time on other projects — directing the Bicycle Film Festival coming to Sydney later this year and marketing and social media for Brisbane music festival Sounds of Spring.

2. What was your first job?

My first full-time job was as a records officer for a government department while I was still studying. One day, something triggered off a dramatic change of direction. I took off on a two month social experiment traveling around the world in pyjamas, came back, changed university courses and landed my first job in this field as marketing assistant at South Bank Corporation in Brisbane.

3. What did you study?

I did two and a half years of Health Science before starting again with Media & Communications and a sub-major in Advertising at Queensland University of Technology.

4. Describe a typical day?

It usually starts with a bike ride from Redfern over the harbour to SBS. We are working on shifting traditional CRM systems into a more integrated social media/CRM platform for better efficiency, lower costs and deeper reporting and insights. As a relatively new member of SBS, most of my days have been spent building an greater understanding of their complex audience and existing approach to engagement. If theres someone at home, I love playing in the kitchen and cooking something delicious — like lamb cutlets with lemon zest and fresh oregano, served on a polenta, with a side of balsamic roma tomatoes. Otherwise a $10 meal at the Shakespeare hotel will do. Playing the piano for an hour or so clears my head before snuggling up in bed with my laptop to work on some other projects.

5. What is on the agenda for 2009?

Heading to the New York Bicycle Film Festival to meet the events other directors from around the world. If everything goes to plan, I also hope to make it to the Tokyo Bicycle Film Festival later this year. Were hoping to partner with a major camera company to shoot some multi-media documentaries of the amazing bike culture on display in these cities. Im also looking forward to the challenge of doing more with less (financially) at SBS… though its definitely made easier by some of the great programs coming up, like Flight of the Conchords (Season 2), Tour de France, The Ashes and the football World Cup.

6. What brand do you love the most? Hate the most? Why?

Love: Onitsuka Tiger. More people I pass on the street are wearing Onisuka Tiger trainers than any other brand (identified by the classic Asics stripes on shoes that look too pretty to run in). Incredibly though, most people I talk to about the brand have no idea what it is. And yet, they are a standard lifestyle shoe with worldwide commercial success and cult following amonst sub-cultures like the fixed-gear cycling community.

7. What do you believe has been the most significant moment in the history of marketing?

Bottled water: selling something that was and still is freely available. There must be some hope for the music industry then…

8. Where can people find you?

• Email: [email protected]
• Blog: http://pitythecool.com (will start posting again soon).
• Twitter: http://twitter.com/andyjmiller
• Out and about: Gutter Club — coffee and idea exchange with creative friends — 8am Wednesdays @ Single Origin (60-64 Reservoir St, Surry Hills) in Sydney and 8am Wednesdays @ Jungle Juice (Centre Place) in Melbourne. Stop by.