One of the Most Fun Agencies and Companies in NJ - Anonymous employee Ripen Employee Review

4.0
3 Jun 2017
Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

One of the best day-to-day office and agency cultures, period. Beautiful office always stocked with food, new tech, and in-office perks. Close access to awesome Princeton lunch spots, shopping, etc. Some of the best parties and company events you will ever attend. Interesting mix of deliverables -- websites, direct mail, eblasts, video, catalogs, banners, long-form, you name it. Mostly fun and nice people, very few egomaniacs. Very reasonable hours with rare late nights on a predictable seasonal schedule. Permissive atmosphere, you dont have to pretend to be some stereotype of a "professional". The owners are genuinely good human beings who care about the clients, the company, and everyone in it.

Cons

Ripen is a small agency, so you have to where a lot of hats. The pay and benefits are OK but you may be underwhelmed by insurance coverage or available PTOs. Large amount of work is for one or two clients, which is both risky and can burn out the creative production people. Owners will always listen to anyone but really only make changes based on the input of one or two people who have their ear. Employee time is very heavily and overly scrutinized, especially for production. Limited room for advancement beyond mid-level roles..

Explore other reviews about Ripen

5.0
29 Mar 2024
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Culture, acceptance, freedom to grow.

Cons

Agency life can be stressful

5.0
7 Oct 2016
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

I agree with the other reviewers when they say Ripen offers a "startup" culture - and they are able to do so as an established, stable company. Sort of the best of both worlds. It's also true that the typical cons associated with agency life (long hours, ridiculous client demands, internal competition) don't seem as ever-present at Ripen. Simply put, I really loved working at Ripen, and I only left because my family decided to move out of state. The people I worked with were incredibly smart; I felt like I learned a lot from them, and they challenged me to be better. I also felt like the leadership team as a whole valued my personal expertise, and they were always open to new ideas. Plus it's a fun place to work - the type of place that brings in beer and pizza to watch a World Cup game on a Friday afternoon, and team happy hours are genuinely a good time.

Cons

Sometimes the strategic direction felt unclear, but I would venture to guess that would be the case at any company going through a period of rapid growth. While I was there, one of three directors took a "what I say goes" approach that felt antithesis to the rest of the team and what the founders were trying to create... but I understand this person is long gone.

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