Digiday Research: Marketers aren’t relying on agencies to set up in-house operations.

While consultancies are attempting to cash in on marketers’ in-housing plans, few clients are taking them up on their offer. Just 3% of clients in the Digiday survey said they were working with consulting firms to take control of certain functions.

Instead, when outside help was needed, independent contractors, used by 26% of respondents, or existing agencies, used by 10%, were most likely to be called upon.

But building an in-house agency is no small feat. Leland Maschmeyer, chief creative officer at Chobani, said Chobani’s in-house agency came together faster than expected.

“The CEO and CMO supported it as an important company-wide priority and because we were able to re-allocate our agency fees straight to the in-house agency,” he said.

However, one challenge for clients hoping to build an in-house agency themselves is talent. While previous Digiday research found that agency workers believe in-house roles are safer, most would agree that they are less exciting.

“There’s a certain perception of in-house agencies,” said Maschmeyer. “With a wide variety of work and clients to pick from, it was challenging getting agency-side talent over the hurdle of choosing to work on just one client.”