Rosters are OK if you’ve got clear, agreed objectives

I’d like to respond to your question about whether it’s worth pitching for a place on a big brand’s roster (Voxpop, DW 15 November).

It would be easy to be cynical about the pitch process here, but the key question is, are design rosters good for our industry and our clients? I believe they are.

They give a number of consultancies the opportunity to build a managed and dynamic relationship within a powerful client base. If you’re ambitious there’s plenty of work to go round.

But you have to be clear about what you want to get out of the relationship, beyond cash flow, and be sure the client will give you the opportunity to achieve this.

Jim Thompson, Managing director, 20/20, by e-mail