Why Our Remote Agency is Never Going Back to the Office
At BOLD LIP, we’re not going back to the office—because there’s no office to go back to. After being laid off over Zoom, you’d think remote work would give us the heebie jeebies. But, turns out, it’s not the walls of an office that create culture—it’s the people. For us, working remotely has been a game-changer. It gives us the freedom to thrive: a 4-day workweek, more creativity, and an environment that uplifts women and diverse talent, all while keeping morale and retention high
Why remote works for us
For us, and for the research, the data is clear: we’re more productive at home. No commute means no wasted time or drained energy behind the wheel or crushed onto the subway. We’ve created workspaces that fit our needs, giving us more flexibility in how we manage our tasks and our lives. This leads to better work, a healthier lifestyle, and ultimately, more focus on what really matters.
More Time for Creativity
With fewer distractions and the ability to manage our own time, remote work has given us the space to dive deeper into our creative process. We’re not burning time stuck in traffic or meetings that could have been emails.
Instead, we’re using that time to produce bold, impactful work that makes a difference. We’re not the only ones: in a survey by Owl Labs, 91% of respondents reported they’re equally or more productive when working remotely compared to in-office.
Access to more diverse talent
One of the biggest wins? No geographic barriers. We can bring in talent from anywhere, meaning we never miss out on the right people just because they don’t live near an office. And research backs us up—diverse teams are more creative, more innovative, and better at problem-solving. In other words, they get the job done, and they do it well.
Why remote works for our clients
Remote work is a win for us and for our clients. By cutting the overhead costs of a physical office, we’re more able to deliver value. We’re not throwing money at fancy offices or client entertainment—we’re investing in our people and providing livable wages for our team. This translates directly into effective work for our clients.
Our setup also makes us more inclusive of staff and subcontractors of diverse identities. It’s more flexible for people juggling caregiving and household responsibilities, and more accessible for people with disabilities. In our line of work, where insight and authenticity delivers results, diverse teams improve decision-making and innovation. It’s a win for us, our work, and our clients, to work in a way that removes barriers for diverse contributors.
Tools That Power Seamless Collaboration
Remote work can’t succeed without the right tools. At BOLD LIP, we’ve fine-tuned our process to make sure nothing falls through the cracks.
Teamwork
Teamwork is our hub for project management, file organization, and time tracking. It’s where the details live, but we keep real-time conversations and decisions outside the platform to avoid clutter and confusion. This way, our team stays focused on what’s important, and we minimize any risk of miscommunication.
Slack
We use Slack for quick chats and the fun, casual interactions that keep us connected beyond just work. It's where we go for those "got a sec?" questions and team bonding moments. But when it comes to bigger decisions or project details, we take those conversations to a different platform to keep Slack from becoming a dumping ground for information.
Google Meet
Face-to-face time matters, even remotely. We use Google Meet for daily check-ins and more in-depth discussions to ensure that we stay connected and on the same page. These meetings are all about alignment, communication, and keeping the team dynamic strong—just without the office.
The Culture That Makes It Work
Our culture isn’t an accident—it’s intentional. Here’s how we’ve built a remote environment that works.
Encourage regular communication and check-ins
Frequent one-on-one conversations help our team feel supported and heard, even from afar. This sense of connection makes people more engaged and motivated, which ultimately leads to better work.
Cameras on
Zoom fatigue gets real, and we’re very intentional about when we have a meeting on the books. We don’t meet all the time, but when we do, we have our cameras on. Cameras on means we get to experience each other’s non-verbal cues, visits from dogs and kids, and feel more connected to one another.
Create virtual social spaces
Slack isn’t just for work, it’s for shouting out team members for a killer presentation, dropping Netflix recommendations, and sharing cute pictures from the weekend. We make space for community-building moments online that happen naturally in an office so that people show up as their full selves.
Promote work-life balance
At BOLD LIP, we practice what we preach. Our 4-day workweek and flexible schedules give everyone the breathing room to balance their lives while still crushing their work. A little empathy goes a long way, and a happy team makes for better results.
Foster trust
We all have strategies to get the juices flowing, but ultimately creativity can’t be forced. Sometimes you need a midday walk, or to burn the midnight oil when inspiration strikes. We don’t expend extra energy policing each other, instead we focus on communication and output. The work gets done and gets done well. As long as expectations are set and met, we’re golden.
The remote set-up isn’t perfect, but it’s close
Sure, we miss spontaneous cookie trays and fly-by water cooler chats, but we wouldn’t trade it for the magic we’ve made at BOLD LIP. Our remote structure gives us flexibility, autonomy, and the chance to create meaningful work without the usual office distractions. Our clients benefit from this, too—no more worrying about scheduling in-office meetings. We’re quicker, more responsive, and just as collaborative, even without the commute.