The person behind the work
Who you partner with.
Agencies don't need another vendor with a smile and a Slack channel. You need someone who'll take the brief, push back when it's wrong and ship under your name without making it about themselves, no hand-holding required.
That's me. I'm Josh, principal at Paragon Panda - the person who writes the code, shapes the pages and answers when something breaks. Based in Craigieburn, Melbourne. Not a rotating offshore roster.
I've done the big-logo work and the muddy-boots work. Telstra, banks, unis and government on one side. Tradies, cafes and one-person bands on the other. If there's one thing my experience has taught me, it's client-facing work is half the effort and I'm happy to take a pay cut if it's something that can stay off my plate.
You stay the agency managing that stuff, I'll be the grunt in the back making the wheels turn round.