This week, we had the opportunity to explore Chicago's dynamic marcomms scene and connect with the professionals who are making an impact both locally and beyond. We spoke with local industry leaders to learn about their innovative work, favorite spots, and what makes Chicago such an exciting place to be right now.
DeAnna Spoerl | Co-Owner & Director of Client Services, Bear Icebox Communications
What categories do your clients fit into?
Manufacturing, B2B technologies, professional services, supply chain and logistics, and franchising.
What’s unique about the Chicago comms world? What nuances are there marketing your clients locally vs. nationally (or internationally)?
Chicago is unique in that, while it is the third-largest market in the nation, it still has a hometown feel to it. It is an international city that truly has retained a kind of down-to-earth—even underdog—mentality. Chicagoans are proud to be Chicagoans but still crave being on the global scene. The media landscape mimics those sentiments.
There are a lot of industries that get overlooked in Chicago. For example, there’s a big tech hub here in the city with major brands like Google and Amazon making their mark. But in many cases, Chicago-based companies don’t come top-of-mind for national recognition.
What are your favorite spots to dine, shop, work out, primp, etc.?
My go-to spot for a good meal is Cabra Chicago, a rooftop restaurant in the West Loop. Really, anything in the West Loop is satisfying! As for cocktails or a quick midweek date night, my husband and I love the creations at Buzzed by Zea which is a salon and cocktail lounge in East Lakeview.
We have two young kids who love to explore new things but their favorite thing to do is visit the Museum of Science and Industry or the Field Museum–so memberships make a lot of sense for our family!
Please share a sneak peek of exciting current / upcoming projects.
We’re looking to expand services to LATAM and are currently building out a program to serve businesses in the real estate and development space in countries like Costa Rica, Guatemala, and El Salvador.
BICOM.ai will be launching later this year which will be an AI-driven PR solution for companies and brands looking for affordable, results-driven PR support.
Travis Paul Martin | Founder, TPM Consulting
What categories do your clients fit into?
I work with a lot of different types of clients and brands but for the most part I work with clients in the consumer lifestyle space - fashion, accessories, beauty, wellness, home interiors, etc… And I specialize in working with brands in the affiliate PR space - helping them start programs, fix programs, and grow and scale their programs.
What’s unique about the Chicago comms world? What nuances are there marketing your clients locally vs. nationally (or internationally)?
I think one of things that sets the Chicago comms world apart is that we are truly expert storytellers. Not that other comms professionals in other cities aren’t but since we aren’t in the middle of the scene in New York. When I was in comms in New York there was always a good chance that if I sent someone a pitch, I would run into them at some point later in that week and could follow up in person. We don’t really have that luxury in Chicago so we put a lot of care into really distilling a story and pitch into what really matters to really hook an editor the first time around.
What are your favorite spots to dine, shop, work out, primp, etc.?
Dine - Favorite place for breakfast and lunch meetings is Soho House. Nice escape from the work from home scenario and you always run into fun and creative people in between meetings.
For dinner, I just went to a new restaurant called Maxwell’s Trading and already have another reservation for the end of August. It was incredible. The vibe and the food were just lovely. You don't feel like you are in Chicago when you're there.
For a really upscale evening, dinner and drinks at Next and the Aviary are unmatched. The details that go into the dinners at Next are just incredible and the Aviary currently has a giant onion ring with caviar on their menu that I am dying to try!
Shop - I’m an avid online shopper but I love exploring Space519 for their beauty, fragrance, and home selection as well as Andale Market in Andersonville for special culinary items. It’s also such a good time for luxury retail in Chicago with a lot of gorgeous new stores like Lafayette 148, Cartier, Balenciaga, and Loewe all in the Oak St./Rush St. corridor.
Primp - Love the guys at Public Barber in Uptown and I get facials a lot at Heyday in Lincoln Park
Work Out - I go to a small no frills gym in my neighborhood but one of the best things about Chicago is the access to the lake. I love sneaking away from my desk for a long walk along the lake in the middle of the day or at the end of a long workday.
Please share a sneak peek of exciting current / upcoming projects.
I’m attending Affiliate Summit East in New York at the end of the month and I’m excited to connect with the commerce teams and colleagues to talk about all things affiliate and gear up for Q4 and Gift Guide season. On a local front I’m excited to help Lauren Sherman and Chantal Fernandez with the Chicago stop of their book tour for Selling Sexy: Victoria’s Secret and the Unraveling of an American Icon, their debut book!
Michael Corrigan | Owner, MCPR
What categories do your clients fit Into?
MCPR currently represents an exciting grouping of clients across the lifestyle spectrum. From emerging startups to global brands, we believe that everyone needs MCPR. The intersection of experience, commerce, and innovation have consistently woven throughout our client base. We’re always willing to consider stepping outside the box but our proudest work tends to thrive most in the lanes below which include the following current clients: Fashion/retail (Taylor Stitch, The Tie Bar, Boston Scally, Marc Nolan), food & beverage (The Spice House, E&J Gallo, Forward Hospitality Group), and experiential entertainment (Color Factory, Whirlyball, Bucket Listers Presents, Disney).
What’s unique about the Chicago comms world? What nuances are there marketing your clients locally vs. nationally (or internationally)?
Chicago, or even the Midwest in general, can often be overlooked by the Coasts but really shouldn’t be forsaken. Many of our clients are ones who either are looking to grow their brands and increase their national exposure, or ones who are looking to break into the Midwest market and view Chicago as the gateway to do so. Being based in Chicago for 15+ years but having strong relationships nationwide has proven to be very fruitful for our business.
Quite often brands try and activate here exactly the way that they would in another market and it just doesn’t ring authentic. Chicagoans are very conscious of being pandered to and want to feel like our greater culture is being celebrated for its own unique character and flavor. The city is such a vibrant hub for so many different industries, yet retains an approachability that you often won’t find along the Coasts.
What are your favorite spots to dine, shop, work out, primp, etc.?
I live near Andersonville so you quite often can find me dining (Calo has my heart) or shopping (Cowboys + Astronauts is the best) along the Clark Avenue strip. I’ve also been happy to see the Lincoln Park Armitage and Old Town corridors bouncing back post covid, with brands I love like Todd Snyder now calling Chicago home for brick and mortar alongside stores from clients like ours (The Tie Bar and The Spice House). We love going to see the latest shows at Steppenwolf Theater in Lincoln Park as well. What they produce is top notch and quite often Tony Award-winning.
I try to start most mornings by working out, either with my trainer in my neighborhood or forcing a good friend to drive me down to Barry’s Bootcamp in River North. You won’t often find me downtown in my offtime (since I am so often for work already) but I always love any opportunity to hit up spots like Avec, Diego, Rosemary, or Girl & The Goat
Please share a sneak peek of exciting current / upcoming projects
Lollapalooza is this weekend in Chicago and many of our clients are celebrating with exciting happenings. Our client Forward Hospitality, is continuing the soft preview activities for their newest concept (Welcome to the Farm) and will host official after parties this weekend with the likes of Travis Barker and Brandi Cyrus. Our client Color Factory is also getting into the festival spirit with a week long special activation called Colorpalooza. Elsewhere our team is helping Bucket Listers and Bravo open up their Diamonds and Rose Experiences in both New York and LA, life isn't’ all diamonds and rose, but it should be. We manage to stay booked and busy as a full time team of just three!
Mary Jo Fasan | Founder & CEO, Jo Communications
What categories do your clients fit into?
Designers, architects, artists, manufacturers, professional associations, and retailers.
Please share a sneak peek of exciting / upcoming projects?
Our agency, Jo Communications, is celebrating our 20th anniversary this year. Founded in 2004, we continue to champion the stories behind design and lifestyle brands with custom, wide-ranging communications strategies, uncovering and shaping the narratives that engage, move and motivate audiences.
This Fall 2024, internationally known design legend and founder of HOLLY HUNT and, most recently, House of Hunt, Holly Hunt will unveil her inaugural book, titled HOLLY HUNT: FEARLESS IN THE WORLD OF DESIGN — a captivating biography chronicling her personal and professional journey, published by Rizzoli New York. To be released in partnership with HOLLY HUNT, her eponymous design brand sold to Knoll in 2024, the book will walk readers through Hunt’s life and decades-long career, propelled by a vision for modern living and passion for design.
