Motion, MSI, SCC, Bennett Jr., Haddish, Incredibles 2

Motion PR and AgencyMSI have merged into Motion

Motion PR and AgencyMSI have merged into Motion

Motion PR & AgencyMSI merge to form Motion

Move over new agency Merge, there is another merger happening between two agencies.

Yesterday, Chicago-based public relations and digital firm Motion PR announced its merger with AgencyMSI, the 57-year-old, integrated communications agency. Effective immediately, the two companies come together as Motion.

According to the landing page on the website, the union combines AgencyMSI’s insight-driven creative marketing with the power of Motion PR’s media chops to create an agency that will redefine what it means to be a multi-disciplined, creative communications agency.

ALSO READ: Five agencies. Three cities. One Merge.

Anchored by its four leading divisions of creative, digital, public relations and branding, and staffed with a collection of strategists, designers, writers and technicians, at more than 60 people, the new company believes that it is in the pole position in order to build relationships that keep brands in motion as a strong mid-sized agency.

Kimberly Eberl, CEO & Founder of Motion PR, is at the helm as Owner and CEO of the new agency, which is a certified woman-owned business. Dave Weiner, founder and CEO of AgencyMSI, is retiring after nearly six decades in advertising.

“By aligning the two agencies who already share an entrepreneurial spirit, results-oriented approach, creative curiosity and a deep commitment to digging deeper to solve marketing challenges, we are poised to offer that much more to our client partners,” said Eberl.

Motion bolsters an impressive client list across diverse verticals and multi-media disciplines. Representative clients include Serta, The Home Depot, Simon Property Group, Feld Entertainment, Kenmore, DieHard, Tractor Supply and Becker Professional Services.

 
Fresh Thyme Market to SCC

Fresh Thyme Market
Fresh Thyme Market

Who doesn’t like a good Farmer’s Market? Illinois-based Fresh Thyme Farmers Market, chose local independent Schafer Condon Carter as their AOR after a review. The agency will handle creative, PR, influencer marketing, social media and planning/buying.

The chain focuses on natural, organic and fresh food at less-than-premium prices, and it has grown since launching in 2014 to include 66 locations across 10 states.

“We knew we were ready to bring on a partner who could help us achieve the brand’s great potential, and SCC demonstrated not only a deep understanding of our brand and the consumer we serve, but also the creativity, broad integrated capabilities and passion that we were looking for,” said Fresh Thyme CMO Mark Doiron said in a statement reported by AgencySpy.

So far, Fresh Thyme does not appear to have launched any major campaigns, growing via word of mouth and a presence in new markets. It’s not clear how much the company plans to spend on forthcoming marketing efforts.

 
White Sox find new home at WGN Radio

Complementing its existing TV partnership with WGN-TV, the White Sox and WGN Radio jointly announced a multiyear agreement naming WGN Radio AM 720 as the team’s flagship radio station. White Sox games will air on WGN Radio AM 720 beginning with the broadcast of the team’s first game of the 2018 Cactus League season on Friday, February 23 at 2:05 p.m. CT.

The agreement includes all 162 White Sox regular season and postseason games, as well as select spring training games. In addition to live game and spring training broadcasts, it also includes pre- and postgame programming, as well as a weekly year-round show that features team news, highlights and interviews with players and coaches.

In its 10th season in the radio booth, the on-air duo of former Sox pitcher Ed Farmer (play-by-play) and former outfielder Darrin Jackson (analyst) returns.

 
Former Ebony editor & scholar Lerone Bennett Jr.

Lerrone Bennett Jr
Lerrone Bennett Jr

Ebony magazine is reporting that historian, scholar and former EBONY and JET journalist Lerone Bennett Jr. passed away in his sleep of advanced vascular dementia. According to the release, the Chicago resident and Morehouse College graduate played a pivotal role in creating the magazines’ legacies.

Bennett served as a city editor for JET and was an executive editor of EBONY for decades. In addition, he was a well-respected author who penned multiple books, including a biography of EBONY founder John H. Johnson titled Succeeding Against the Odds.

One of his most seminal works, Before the Mayflower: A History of Black America, 1619-1962, originated from a series Bennett had written for EBONY. He was 89.

 
Pool Boys beware in new Tiffany Haddish Groupon spot

Like the Biggie Smalls song goes, “Here’s another one.” Fresh off of her Valentine’s Day spot, OKRP and Groupon dropped another Tiffany Haddish spot. This time, the popular comedienne is lying by the pool, wishing she could Groupon offered a discount on pool boys.


 

 
Incredibles 2 sneak peek

With films including Black Panther (opening today), Avengers Infinity War and Solo: A Star Wars Story opening in May, and Ant Man and the Wasp in July, Disney looks like it’s going to have another banner year at the box office.

From the looks of this special Olympic look, Disney/Pixar’s highly anticipated The Incredibles 2 looks like it will be the one to push the mouse over the top with more adventures of the Parrs.

 

 

 
Mac Sabbath

The Reel Chicago team stumbled on this and well, it’s like Ray Kroc’s ultimate nightmare brought to life. Ladies and gentleman, presenting the metal the kings of drive-thru, Mac Sabbath.

 

 
Contact Colin Costello at colin@reelchicago.com or follow him on Twitter @colincostello10.