Drugstore Sydney enters collaboration with Pollenizer to facilitate start-up access for clients

Drugstore, the innovation and start-up consultancy launched in Sydney last month, has formed its first business partnership by entering a collaboration with high-profile technology incubator business Pollenizer.

Drugstore Sydney was launched jointly on June 16 by Publicis Worldwide and ZenithOptimedia to help clients manage and succeed in a business environment where disruption is impacting many major industries. Starting with the Pollenizer partnership, Drugstore Sydney will provide large-scale clients needing step-changing innovation with access to small entrepreneurial businesses that have the innovations, but need access to scale.

Says Iona Macgregor, chief strategy officer of Publicis Worldwide Australia: “This is a three-way collaboration. Publicis brings its world class brand strategy and creative skills to the table. ZenithOptimedia brings the highest standards of media innovation and  execution and Pollenizer brings its internationally recognised credibility as an incubator of entrepreneurial businesses.” 

Drugstore Sydney will offer clients digital innovation strategy, training, tech immersion and programs to bring them closer to the technology and entrepreneurial thinking of the startup world.

Pollenizer, whose clients include Singtel, Telstra and Coca-Cola Amatil, will remain an independent business in its collaboration with Drugstore Sydney, but will share premises with Publicis and ZenithOptimedia as part of the arrangement. Drugstore Sydney is also expected to form other relationships in the startup technology space that would be of benefit to clients.

Australia’s first startup incubator business, Pollenizer was founded in 2008 and has a staff of 17 digital and business specialists. The company’s co-founders are Phil Morle and Mick Liubinskas and its chairman is well-known digital guru and investor Tony Faure.

Drugstore Sydney is jointly managed by Iona Macgregor and Aaron Michie, ZenithOptimedia’s chief innovation officer.

Says Michie: “With Pollenizer in the building we can be more agile in bringing clients closer to incubation methodologies and entrepreneurs, while also giving Pollenizer greater access to the scale of our blue-chip clients.”  

Says Morle: “Drugstore Sydney is a highly advantageous platform for all by combining the innovation agility of startups with the firepower of brands. Between ZenithOptimedia and Publicis there are an extensive group of clients that will benefit from this new collaboration.”

Drugstore in Sydney is the second Drugstore operation launched in the past 12 months, with the first being in London in October last year. The origin of the name stems from the 1950s when Publicis introduced the American Drugstore concept to France with the insight of consumers benefitting from having different businesses together under one roof.