24 years done. Today is Day One of Year 25.

Purple was registered as a rep office in Saigon in May 2002. Our first paying client was Saigon Children’s Charity; the most recent piece of work we delivered for them is the jersey for this year’s cycle challenge fundraiser. Same client, twenty-four years apart.

The work has taken us further than I’d have predicted back then. Projects on the ground in Atlanta, Auckland, Bangkok, Brisbane, Delhi, Dubai, Hong Kong, Islamabad, Jeddah, Kuala Lumpur, Kyoto, London, Nairobi, Paris, Sapporo, Seoul, Singapore, Vancouver, Yangon — and many more.

A few numbers from along the way:
400+ clients (and many more pitches, proposals, quotes)
more than 15 relationships past the 10-year mark
1 client who first signed in 2002 and is still with us — thank you, Accor
500,000+ miles on Vietnam Airlines along the way. Frequent flyer since 1999, for my sins.
The work I’m proudest of doesn’t always come with an invoice. Pro bono and cause work over the years for Newborns Vietnam (where I sit on the board), Saigon Children’s Charity, IOM, UNHCR, Loretto, Tiny Hearts of Hope, Rotary Club, Tu Du Hospital, Heartbeat Vietnam and the VinaCapital Foundation, Grace’s Cookies, and others. Quietly, some of the best things we’ve ever done.

Year 25 is a drive towards peace and purpose. Good work for great clients. Doing things right — AND doing the right things.

To the team who’s built Purple alongside me, and to every client who’s trusted us with their brand: thank you. Here’s to Year 25.