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Yes, it’s a sunny day in November 2023 and we are writing our “report” for what happened in Piksel in 2022. This fact should prepare you that we have many events (and campaigns) to cover, and honestly, we were very tempted to jump to the jubilee 2023 year.  

But here we are, successfully fighting the urge to take the easier road. We hope you’ll enjoy taking a walk with us through the 2022 memory lane.  

New Piksel people in 2022 

As Dilated Peoples say, “Our peoples come first.” 🙂 These are the great colleagues who came to stay and make our lives easier.  

Ida Delinikolova became our first and lovely HR manager aka Kadrovo.  

Aleksandar Jakimovski, or simply Alex, joined us as our Head of Design.

The department also got a creative refreshment with Marija Dojcinovska, Natalia Aceska, and Dejana Petrusevska.  

The empowerment of the Account and Digital management team came with Jovana Peneva and Zivkica Boneva. The copywriter’s team became stronger with Tea Jovanovska.  

The Devs department started shining even brighter with Angela Shutinovska, Ivana Savic-Georgieva, Aleksandar Nusheski, Sebastijan Zindl, Aleksandar Temelkov, Marjan Taskov, and Damjan Stamenov.

Just WOW! 🙂 
 

What we achieved with a stronger team 

Well… a lot! Much more than we can cover in one article. However, we’ll try to paint you a picture. 

The year started with joining forces with the Becutan Kids Vits club. Here’s the result: 

In the spirit of empowering young people, we were delighted to take part in the Coke Summership 2022 promo campaign. The goal was to improve the reach and awareness of Coke Summership, attract more student participants, and develop a long-term strategy to create a culture among young people to strive for personal and professional growth. Read all about this project here. You can also check out the web destination for Coke Summership made by our Devs team. 

Here you can watch the video with testimonials from the participants:

On the subjects of video production and Pivara Skopje, we were happy to work on the Break the Bias campaign. Make sure to watch all 3 videos on YouTube.  

Smiles, positive energy, music, and Insta Grand are what lead us to complete enjoyment every day. Especially when we take part in creating awesome social materials that will spread positive vibes through social media. Is there a better feeling than when you do something that others can enjoy?

In 2022 we also went to the IQOS Originals DUO launch two-day event where we enjoyed… well, everything! The music, the food, and the four types of cocktails celebrating the four new IQOS Originals DUO devices. The cool photos were inevitable.  

As we are always part of cool events, it was only logical to organize the 18^th Vivax COOL Day together with our dear Vivax Macedonia team. More than 200 Vivax partners, colleagues, and friends enjoyed the latest news from the industry and of course, the unforgettable party and the stand-up show!   

Piksel & Vivax is a perfect recipe for good times. Ask anyone of the hundreds of hikers who joined our Vivax “I jas sum na Vodno” events. This epic adventure turned into an outdoor event series.  

Picture this: Vodno mountain, vibrant tunes, and refreshing juices, setting the scene for unforgettable moments. This is how we build a thriving, close-knit community.  

Another big win was the second edition of Zasadi Zelba (Plant a Wish) campaign for the three pension companies Sava Pension Company A.D. Skopje, Triglav Pension Company A.D. Skopje, and KB First Pension Company A.D. Skopje, supported by MAPAS.  

The end of the campaign was marked by planting trees in the courtyard of the Faculty of Architecture in Skopje and awards for the students with the best solution for the design of the largest ever “Pension Park”. In this edition of the campaign, 75 seedlings were planted in 4 secondary schools with more than 200 students and our dedicated partners!  

“Azuriraj, doniraj” was another socially responsible campaign that we crafted, this time for Sava Pension Company. A simple and paper-saving activity of their members – updating their personal data and choosing to receive their annual reports electronically, helped Sava Pension Society to establish a fund for donating equipment to the University Clinic for Children’s Diseases – Skopje. 

This year brought us the start of a beautiful story with a new client – Replek. We joined forces to build well-being for everyone. The result was: two super successful product campaigns, which were actually the first ones after the rebranding of Replek.   

After the Neuro-vit and Oralsept successes, we ended the year with a nice emotional video with Replek employees who shared their warm wishes. 

The Devs department also worked hard, and came up with cool solutions for several clients, among which we would point out the websites for RK Alkaloid, TZG Europe, and this year’s cutest – Peazy!  

These are only a few of the bigger projects that marked 2022 for us and our clients. We absolutely love everything that we work on, and we share it on social media. So, make sure to give us a follow and try to keep track. 🙂  

We shared and received knowledge (as usual) 

Thanks to Galeksia, our dear Mila appeared as a guest lecturer for the students from the Professional Diploma in Digital Marketing Program on the topic “Website vs Facebook and Instagram Shops”. 

To our great pleasure, we were invited to visit Polyesterday, our long-time collaborators. We had the opportunity to see what they actually do after they receive our inquiries (always urgent, of course).  

We also enjoyed the Time Management training by the wonderful Zorica Serafimovska Arsovska who helped us continue our professional growth.  

Then, we had the pleasure of conducting training about the use of LinkedIn for the amazing team of Würth Macedonia. 

Piksel girls attended the 5^th edition of the biggest e-commerce conference @ecommercemacedonia and they had a great time.  

We were also conferencing, team building, and bonding at the special Mavrovo edition of AllWeb.mk. 

In the endeavor to increase the organizational capacity and improve the overall competitiveness of the company, we took part in the Bitove Family Entrepreneurship Program. Check out what our Filip Ristevski has to say about it: Our experience with the Bitove Family Entrepreneurship program.

And the last, but very exciting event in this chapter. Our Creative Director Vladimir Ristevski took part in the jury team of the regional Kaktus Festival in Belgrade. The 2022 edition of the festival celebrated the local power of creativity through the slogan “Self-reflection”. Here you can read his short interview for the Serbian Marketing mreza portal – “Our industry is still afraid to experiment.”

We also received great recognitions 

Speaking of Vladimir Ristevski, 2022 was a big year for him, and it brought lots of happiness for us. 😊 

He was selected as one of the 40 most successful and ambitious young business leaders in South-Eastern Europe! Here you can read more about his prestigious Business Elite Award.  

While working on the ending of the second edition of Plant a Wish campaign we received our first SoMo Borac award for Best Storytelling! This was our first entrance to these regional awards, and we are beyond proud that we came back with this recognition for this campaign that is very close to our hearts. (And this story doesn’t end here, as you will read in our next Year in Review report)  

Celebrations of Piksel in 2022    

We just love celebrating things, days, and life as it is! So, aside from our client’s wins, proper holidays, and many, many birthdays, we have celebrated World Cocktail Day with signature cocktails named Jason, International HR Day (thank you, Ida, for bringing one more cause for celebration), Burger Day, and Chocolate Day which had a healthy string thanks to Healthyish Skopje.  

We also appreciated Seno’s 5th anniversary in Piksel, World Coffee Day, and International Gin&Tonic Day with the unbelievably tasty, first Macedonian gin – Smidgin.  

Who could resist the big palindromic day on February 22^nd? We couldn’t.  

We always encourage and motivate each other to keep going and RUNNING, but the circumstances asked for a celebration after crossing the finish line at @skopjemarathon. 

With the coming of the fourth Stranger Things season, we got pretty hyped and started looking for a song that could save us from the curse of Vecna (which we usually call CORRECTIONS). These were the suggestions: 

• Vlade: Dr.Dre – The Watcher 
• Seno: Foo Fighters – Times Like These 
• Marina: Depeche Mode – It’s No Good 
• Nina: Joe Esposito – Lady, Lady, Lady 
• Efinski: Kate Bush – James & The Cold Gun 
• Tea: Street Dance – Break Machine 
• Marija: Taylor Swift – Trouble 

They don’t work. 

Being aware that we cannot always control our stress levels and challenges during the day, we realized the dire need for an easy and effective anti-stress mechanism. We presented it to our social media followers on World Mental Health Day. But it works every day. You should try it. 

Find a quiet spot, take a comfortable position, and try to free your mind from any thought. Now, follow the circle and breathe to its rhythm.  

Piksel culture additions in 2022 

Looking for a new motivation and effectiveness solution, we came up with a new rule: the last Friday of the month shall be a Happy Friday! The work ends at 2 PM, and we spend the rest of the day having fun, drinks, laughs, or afternoon snoozes that will help us go through a fun-filled weekend.  

We also started a Book Exchange Club on Book Lovers Day, which sparked the #Pikseloteka tradition of monthly suggestions for good books. (You can check them out using #Пикселотека hashtag on social media) 

While humanitarianism is not new for us, in 2022, we had our first cooperation with the Doniraj Kompjuter (Donate a computer) initiative. It was our great honor to be one of the companies supporting this great cause. We were happy to receive this Thank You note to remind us of the warm feelings when doing a good deed. We hope we’ll continue this beautiful tradition together. 

With all the hype around AI, we decided to start experimenting with it and it stuck with us. We asked Midjourney AI to create promotional art for Piksel. Here are the results. Disclaimer: No graphic designers were fired during this process.  

Did you think we forgot the Piksel birthday? 

Ah, dear friend, you should pay more attention to our vibe. Of course, we had a party for the 9th year of our existence! We danced, sang, played games, tasted the Kimov Winery wines, and took over the DJ booth for a hybrid karaoke. 🙂 

Read more about the event and the statements of our management team: We celebrated the ninth Piksel birthday!

And now, we are ready for the wrap! 

As you will surely agree, 2022 was amazing! 2023 is going even better (intentionally teasing you again to wait for the new Year in Review article).  

If you follow us on social media, you have the gist. And in that case, just know that you make everything better and sweeter, and we are greatly thankful for your support.  

In case you are a new Piksel fan, brace yourself for a joyful ride ahead. 🙂 

Piksel rocked the scene at MASIT’s yearly conference, #DigitalUnited. We teamed up with MASIT (The Chamber of Commerce for Information and Communication Technologies, which serves as a platform for industry leaders to discuss and shape the future of Macedonia’s ICT landscape), to chat about the future of all things digital.  

As you already know, Filip Ristevski, CEO of Piksel, became an official MASIT ICT Chamber of Commerce Management member at the beginning of 2023.  

Our role in the MASIT Management board wasn’t just a title of being official supporters – it was a commitment to digital progress. We’re all about pushing the ICT industry forward and dreaming big for a shared digital future.   

A knowledge-packed event

The theme of the event? “Building Bridges: Towards Our Common Digital Future” and as digital supporters, we were all in, spreading the word with #DIGITALUNITED, especially on social media. We wanted everyone to get involved in the digitization and digital transformation game to feel the love.  

And the conference? Oh, it was a blast! Top-notch program, speakers, and guests all in one spot. We enjoyed the discussion about digitization and tech evolution, showcasing cool ideas, trends, and solutions from ICT companies.  

The experts, both local and global, shared tips and tricks, making it a knowledge-packed event. So, this content was worth spreading digitally.  

The event had a massive turnout – over 200 guests from local and international ICT hotshots across all industries using tech solutions. Think state institutions, ministries, donor community reps, professors, university tech gurus, media folks – you name it!  

It’s easy when you sync

#DigitalUnited’s theme hit home for us at Piksel. We went all out digitally, supporting the event from our point of view – from event branding to social media advertising, Piksel lent its strategic expertise to amplify the conference’s reach and impact. And yeah, we even sorted out the event registration chaos with QR codes because – hey, we’re all about smart solutions.  

Our motto, “Your solution for digital maturity,” synced perfectly with #DigitalUnited’s core message. We wanted to bridge the gap to a digital future together, and Piksel’s expertise was front and center in getting that message across.  

Being on the MASIT team is more than a partnership for us; it’s a commitment to pushing Macedonia’s digital scene to new heights. We weren’t just spectators at #DigitalUnited – we were players, shaping the story of Macedonia’s ICT industry future.  

In a nutshell, Piksel’s role at MASIT’s annual conference shouts loudly about our love for a digital world. We’re not just in the game. We’re making active changes, securing our spot as key players in Macedonia’s tech journey. Cheers to a digital future!   

Have you ever wondered what’s cooking lately in the world of marketing? Well, guess what? It’s all about collaboration. In this exclusive interview that our Creative Director and Partner in Piksel gave for AdBooka during the 2023 Kaktus Festival, we’ll dive deep into how brands, influencers, and creators are teaming up to redefine success in marketing. Spoiler alert: it’s not just a trend – it’s a game-changer. 

From creating kickass campaigns that hit the right notes to forming genuine connections with diverse audiences, collaboration is the secret sauce. We’ll sprinkle in some real-world examples and insights, showing you why this isn’t just a passing phase but a whole new chapter in how brands make their mark. Get ready to learn some more about the magic of marketing! 

Is the future of marketing in collaboration? 

Absolutely yes. Collaboration is the key to solving problems and creating value in the marketing world. When brands, influencers, and creators share a common vision, mission, and values, they can work together to achieve their goals and reach new audiences. Collaboration also fosters creativity and innovation, as different perspectives and skills are combined to produce engaging and relevant content. 

What benefits does this type of cooperation bring to brands? 

The main benefit is the synergy that emerges from collaboration. Brands can leverage each other’s strengths, resources, and networks to amplify their message and impact. They can also access new markets, segments, and channels that they might not have reached otherwise. Collaboration also enhances brand awareness, reputation, and loyalty, as customers see the brands as authentic, trustworthy, and socially responsible. 

How can collaborations be win-win for both parties? 

The most obvious way is by expanding the customer base and increasing the sales of both parties. Collaboration allows brands to cross-promote their products and services to each other’s followers, fans, and customers. It also creates a sense of community and belonging among the target audiences, who feel connected to the brands and their values. Collaboration also reduces costs and risks, as brands share the expenses and responsibilities of marketing campaigns. 

How to increase sales and reduce costs through collaboration? 

The key is to have a clear strategy and a well-defined call to action for each collaboration. Brands need to identify their objectives, target audiences, channels, metrics, and budget for each campaign. They also need to communicate effectively with their partners and align their expectations and roles. By doing so, they can optimize their resources, avoid duplication, and measure their results. 

What have we learned from global and domestic examples? Give an example. 

We have learned that collaboration can be a powerful tool for creating memorable and meaningful experiences for customers. A great example is the partnership between Barilla and Spotify, who created a series of playlists that matched the cooking time of different pasta shapes. The playlists were fun, diverse, and convenient for customers who wanted to enjoy music while preparing their meals. Another example is the campaign “The Promise” by Barilla and Roger Federer, who fulfilled the dream of a young fan who challenged him to a tennis match in 2017. The campaign was emotional, inspiring, and viral, as it showed the human side of both brands.