Your Flexible Friend

Your Flexible Friend (1978 – mid 1980s)

Sources

These adverts were collected from many sources. Some were bought as paper ephemera; many were copied from digital scans of magazines. In particular, the TV Times scans came from cheekydog1 on eBay, whose DVDs are well worth a look for anyone doing similar research.

Want to see every advert at once? Try the Advert Archive.

1978

Probably the most iconic of all the Access campaigns began: Money and Access arrived in 1978, along with the slogan “Your Flexible Friend”. Compared with other adverts of the time, the typeface is strikingly modern.

I’m Access. He’s Money. Here’s a new way of looking at us. (1978, unknown source)
I’m Access. He’s Money. Here’s a new way of looking at us. (1978, unknown source)
A few card tricks everyone should know. (Date unknown, Sunday Telegraph Magazine)
A few card tricks everyone should know. (Date unknown, Sunday Telegraph Magazine)
Get access to thousands of places. (Date unknown, Sunday Telegraph Magazine)
Get access to thousands of places. (Date unknown, Sunday Telegraph Magazine)
Access gives you access to all sorts of things. (Date unknown, Sunday Telegraph Magazine)
Access gives you access to all sorts of things. (Date unknown, Sunday Telegraph Magazine)

1981

Many thanks to Ed Sutton, who supplied these papers showing the press and TV campaigns planned for the autumn of 1981.

Access advertising campaign, autumn 1981 – cover sheet
Access advertising campaign, autumn 1981 – cover sheet
Access TV advert times – 7th and 8th September 1981
Access TV advert times – 7th and 8th September 1981
Access newspaper and magazine advert schedule – September to November 1981
Access newspaper and magazine advert schedule – September to November 1981
Access Hotel – TV advert storyboard
Access Hotel – TV advert storyboard
Access – is your Money overworked?
Access – is your Money overworked?
Access is streets ahead
Access is streets ahead
Access – give Money a helping hand
Access – give Money a helping hand
Access – Money’s always running out
Access – Money’s always running out