They certainly do, prospective clients need to be aware of how they present themselves.

A few months ago I pitched to a design agency in Old Trafford that in a word were rude. And in another word aggressive.

I was forced to present in half an hour and it was more like an interrogation than an exchange of information and views. I did not get it: I told them their brief was too narrow and unworkable and they should expand their target press.

Only a few months down the line and they seem to have sacked their PR and are going to combine the role with an in-house account exec who I assume will be a client handler and get all the PR they need as long as the person can write press releases according to an advert I have come across.

I believe this is an underestimation of what PRs do and so they will miss out on opportunities, but also doing it on the cheap will be selling themselves short.

Still, when I got a thank you note for attending the pitch saying that “I would be put on file” I knew it confirmed I had a lucky escape.

In a competitive world we override our instincts, we really need to listen to them more. On the reverse side those hiring suppliers should think about they present themselves it is all part of their PR and how they come across might determine the supplier they deserve.