PR/Marketing

Spry Publishing almost doubles staff with acquisition

By Newsroom

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October 29, 2014

Ann Arbor-based Spry Publishing has acquired Farmington Hills-based The Word Baron, a move that nearly doubles Spry Publishing's staff. Spry Publishing is a health-and-wellness publisher and a member of the Edwards Brothers Malloy family of businesses. Most of Spry Publishing’s work is focused on the pharmaceutical industry. The Word Baron specializes in digital marketing, ranging from graphic design to building training manuals. "It (acquiring The Word Baron) expands our creative services that we can offer our clients," says Jeremy Sterling, director of sales & marketing for Spry Publishing. He adds the two firms have partnered on projects before and there is a good synergy between them thanks to how the services they provide complement each other so well. The Word Baron's three employees have moved into Spry Publishing’s offices in Ann Arbor, expanding the staff to eight employees. The Word Baron has a number of clients in the automotive industry. Sterling expects the combination of the two firms will allow them to offer a more comprehensive publishing and marketing package to their respective clients. "We should grow well across both of our businesses," Sterling says. Source: Jeremy Sterling, director of sales & marketing for Spry Publishing Writer: Jon Zemke Read more about Metro Detroit's growing entrepreneurial ecosystem at SEMichiganStartup.com.

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Ann Arbor’s re:group makes 6 hires in 6 months

By Newsroom

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Economic Development

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October 15, 2014

Downtown Ann Arbor-based re:group scored a bigger home and larger staff in 2014. The digital marketing agency has hired six people in the last six months, expanding its staff to 33 employees and the occasional intern. The new jobs include an art director, copy director, and social media professionals, among others. It's also looking to hire another three people now. To accommodate that staff growth, re:group has expanded its space in the Schlenker Building on Liberty Street. It now occupies in excess of 10,000 square feet in the structure. "We took another floor in our building," says Carey Jernigan, vice president of development for re:group. She adds that re:group is growing so fast that it’s writing a new work proposal each work. It has landed new clients, such as Molly Maid and Pet Supplies Plus. Jernigan believes it is landing all of this new work because it offers a comprehensive marketing package that includes both new and traditional aspects of marketing. "We do all of it under one roof," Jernigan says. "We always offer an integrated plan that includes traditional because it works better." Source: Carey Jernigan, vice president of development for re:group Writer: Jon Zemke

Phire Group hires 3 on slow and steady growth trajectory

By Newsroom

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Economic Development

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July 30, 2014

Slow and steady doesn't just win the race. It also builds a successful company. That's Jim Hume's opinion. The principal of Phire Group preaches deliberate and modest growth as the smart way to grow a company. It's been the secret sauce for his own full-service marketing firm. "We have been fortunate to grow at a consistent, steady pace," Hume says. "That's unusual for marketing firms that are usually boom or bust." The downtown Ann Arbor-based company takes a longterm approach with its clients and avoids churn and burn work. Treating its long-term clients well produces more referral work and increased workload with existing clients. For instance, it started doing project work with MASCO Cabinetry and is now its agency of record for some of its brands. "That growth has been slow and steady over the years," Hume says. That enabled Phire Group to hire three people over the last year, including positions in public relations, web development and strategy. It now has a staff of 20 employees and one intern. Hume plans to add a handful more people over the next year. All of it part of the company’s slow and steady growth plan. Source: Jim Hume, principal of Phire Group Writer: Jon Zemke Read more about Metro Detroit's growing entrepreneurial ecosystem at SEMichiganStartup.com.

Ann Arbor-based AdAdapted raises $725,000 in seed round

By Newsroom

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Economic Development

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July 9, 2014

AdAdapted has locked down $725,000 in seed capital to help it scale up its mobile advertising platform. Among the investors were the University of Michigan’s Zell Lurie Commercialization Fund, Belle Michigan, and Start Garden. The Ann Arbor-based startup plans to initially use part of the money to accelerate its hiring. The 2-year-old company currently employs six people after hiring three over the last year. It's currently looking to hire a software developer and sales professional. After that much of the money will be used to help get the word out about AdAdapted. "We'll mostly be using it on sales and marketing after that," says Molly McFarland, co-founder & chief marketing officer of AdAdapted. The startup's advertising platform connects advertisers with developers to create customized native ads in mobile apps. It strives to provide a simple interface so advertisers can find their best audience. The idea is to do away with intrusive banner ads by replacing them with slicker native ads. "We have clients right now," McFarland says. "The technology is up and running." AdAdapted's technology is being used by some advertisers. The startup's staff is currently working to flesh out the platform and expand its client base. Source: Molly McFarland, co-founder & chief marketing officer of AdAdapted Writer: Jon Zemke Read more about Metro Detroit's growing entrepreneurial ecosystem at SEMichiganStartup.com.

Tim Schaden at the Fluency Media offices

Fluency Media’s Vertical Climb

By Jon Zemke

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General

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June 25, 2014

A text book definition of serial entrepreneur might very well include a picture of Tim Schaden. From Quiznos to Reservision to Fluency Media, this Ann Arborite has got business creation in his genes. With his Internet marketing firm Fluency, Shaden sees a growth in talent and healthcare clients as the inevitable path to even greater success.

EMU, U-M chosen for Google Community Leaders Program

By Newsroom

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Arts & Culture

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May 21, 2014

EMU joins Wayne State University, the University of Michigan-Dearborn, and the University of Michigan for a Google-sponsored program that teaches search optimization and digital marketing experience to students in order to help them support local businesses. Excerpt: "Five Eastern Michigan University students have been accepted into Google's Community Leader's Program, a volunteer operation in which students help equip local small businesses and non-profits to compete in the digital age. The five EMU students, Mahdi Alkadib, Patrick Cotter, Joseph Wendl, Robert Larson, and Sean Tseng, will work with various local businesses and organizations throughout southeastern Michigan, introducing them to tactical Google tools like Google+, Google Apps, Google Analytics and Google AdWords." Read the rest here.

Ingenex Digital Marketing fills out new office above Arbor Brewing Co

By Newsroom

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Economic Development

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May 21, 2014

Ingenex Digital Marketing moved into a bigger office in downtown Ann Arbor last summer, bringing a couple of local startups with it. The digital marketing firm took over the second floor of the Arbor Brewing Co in July. The dramatically bigger office (about 4,000 square feet) was more than enough for its growing staff and a couple of local tech companies subleasing office space, including HealPay and 3.7 Designs. "It allows us to have a really nice space and have people nearby we can collaborate with," says Derek Mehraban, CEO of Ingenex Digital Marketing. The 8-year-old company now employes six employees and five summer interns from the University of Michigan and Michigan State University. It has hired a content manager (a U-M grad) and a web designer over the last year. Ingenex Digital Marketing specializes in inbound marketing, doing work for the likes of the Alumni Association of the University of Michigan and helping launch and market a mobile app for Campus Commandos, a college-focused marketing firm. That has allowed Ingenex Digital Marketing to continue to grow its revenue, and Mehraban expects to push $1 million in sales. "Our revenue is trending up, for sure," Mehraban says. Source: Derek Mehraban, CEO of Ingenex Digital Marketing Writer: Jon Zemke Read more about Metro Detroit's growing entrepreneurial ecosystem at SEMichiganStartup.com.

PWB Marketing Communications keeps growth streak going

By Newsroom

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Economic Development

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April 9, 2014

PWB Marketing Communications isn't measuring its growth over the last year in terms of new hires. It is looking at how much it has built out its network of partners and independent contractors. "I'm cautious about that (hiring)," says Sean Hickey, COO of PWB Marketing Communications. "We have a core group of (six) people that are pretty flexible and knowledgeable." The Ann Arbor-based firm now has a dependable stable of contractors it can tap for the growing number of projects its handling. The network of partners handles everything from market research to salesforce automation. The network allows PWB Marketing Communications to stay flexible and ready to take on more work. "The nature of what clients want us to do is evolving," Hickey says. "I want to be able to say yes to that." Hickey adds that most of the firm's work has turned digital over the last few years. It's reached the point that customers that want brochures only want them for emerging markets. They don't even take them to make pitches in the First World. "Even the traditional work is done with an eye toward digital," Hickey says. "We don't do six-page brochures anymore because how are you going to fit six pages into a PDF?" Source: Sean Hickey, COO of PWB Marketing Communications Writer: Jon Zemke Read more about Metro Detroit's growing entrepreneurial ecosystem at SEMichiganStartup.com.

ACA leads to increased business and staff for Clarity Quest Marketing

By Newsroom

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Economic Development

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April 2, 2014

Clarity Quest Marketing is enjoying a banner year, and one thing stands out as a reason why: the Affordable Care Act. "This year in Q1 we have had our best quarter ever in the company," says Christine Slocumb, president of Clarity Quest Marketing. "We are on track to have our best revenue ever this year." The Ann Arbor-based firm has traditionally served the marketing needs of tech firms over many of its 13 years. It started to take on more and more work from healthcare firms, such as Vocollect Health Systems, the Pittsburgh-based business is the maker of AccuNurse. A few years ago the company’s portfolio was split evenly between tech and healthcare firms. Now about 75 percent of Clarity Quest Marketing's clients are healthcare based. "That whole industry is booming," Slocumb says. "A lot of it is being done by the Affordable Care Act." That has allowed Clarity Quest Marketing to hire two people (senior-level consultants) in the last year, expanding its staff to 17 employees and two interns. Slocumb expects to hire more as Clarity Quest Marketing increases its visibility in the healthcare sector. "We're working a lot on visibility," Slocumb says. "We are working with a lot of thought leaders in this space." Source: Christine Slocumb, president of Clarity Quest Marketing Writer: Jon Zemke Read more about Metro Detroit's growing entrepreneurial ecosystem at SEMichiganStartup.com.

Orange Egg Advertising works on PBS series, adds 4 new jobs

By Newsroom

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Arts & Culture

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March 12, 2014

Orange Egg Advertising has been adding more clients and members to its team over the last year. The Ann Arbor-based firm and its sister company, Hadrout in Ferndale, has grown by 25% and added four new positions, expanding its staff to half a dozen people. "We keep adding interesting projects," says Amy Grambeau, director of Orange Egg Advertising. Among those projects is the PBS station's series, Start Up. Orange Egg Advertising helped produce the first season that profiled entrepreneurs. It is now working on the second season for the show. "There are some cool things coming out of southeast Michigan," Grambeau says. Grambeau expects Orange Egg Advertising to expand in a similar fashion in 2014, powered by word-of-mouth referrals. "We just keep doing a good job for our clients," Grambeau says. "We keep on the cutting edge of technology for our clients." Source: Amy Grambeau, director of Orange Egg Advertising Writer: Jon Zemke Read more about Metro Detroit's growing entrepreneurial ecosystem at SEMichiganStartup.com.