Case Study: How Did We Turn Around a Winning Pitch in Just 5 Days?

By building the plane while flying it.

Pitches are hard. Pitches with impossible deadlines? Even harder. That’s exactly what landed on our desk when a client came to us in a panic. They had five days to create a pitch that would make or break their next big contract. Cue the chaos—or in our case, the opportunity to shine.

Here’s how we pulled off a winning pitch in less time than it takes most agencies to schedule their first meeting.

The Problem: A Clock Ticking at Warp Speed

Our client—a major agency—was swamped. Their internal teams were stretched thin, and they didn’t have the bandwidth to handle the pitch prep. The brief was straightforward: deliver a fully baked campaign idea, complete with visuals, a strategy roadmap, and a killer presentation, all in just five days.

Wasting time with internal reviews and too many chefs in the kitchen wasn't an option.

The Plan: No Red Tape, Just Action

When you only have five days, you don’t sit around brainstorming over bagels. You move. Fast. Here’s how we tackled it:

1. Day 1: Understand the Brief Behind the Brief. We jumped on a kickoff call to grill an ex-client about the businesses' real needs, internal blockages, and goals. No fluff, no brainstorming—just the data we needed to solve real issues.

2. Day 2: Build the Framework. By the end of day two, we had the bones of the pitch: key campaign ideas, an overarching narrative, and a visual concept.

3. Day 3-4: Execute Like Pros. While most agencies would still be debating color schemes, we were in full production mode— we tapped industry experts to create visuals, draft copy, and fine-tune the deck.

4. Day 5: Polish and Present. We spent the final hours perfecting the deck and practicing the delivery. When the client presented it, they were confident, prepared, and ready to win.

The Result: A Standing Ovation (Almost Literally)

Not only did the agency win the contract, but they built a long term partnership with a new client they almost walked away from. ”Their internal team was thrilled—and, frankly, relieved.

More importantly, we proved that deadlines don’t have to mean compromises. With the right team (hint: us) and a streamlined process, you can deliver brilliance at speed.

What You Can Learn From This

Here’s the truth: bureaucracy kills speed. So does overthinking. If you want to deliver fast and win big, you need to:

1. Cut the Fat: Focus only on what matters for the pitch. Nobody cares about your sixth bullet point.

2. Trust the Process: A nimble team can move faster than a bloated one. Don’t micromanage—delegate and execute.

3. Partner Up: When your team is maxed out, bring in experts who can hit the ground running. That’s what we do best.

If you’re staring down an impossible deadline or need to deliver a pitch that can’t afford to fail, call us. At She Shed Productions, we specialize in turning chaos into success.

Got five days? Let’s make magic happen. Contact us today.