As many of you know, the Zapwater office recently made the move from Clark and Division to an amazing loft space in the West Loop; the intersection of Randolph and Peoria to be exact. Besides being within walking distance of many of Chicago’s best restaurants, we’re down the street from HARPO Studios, countless art galleries and some of the city’s most up-and-coming businesses.
Along with doubling the size of our office space, we also upgraded many of the amenities. We are excited to unveil our conference room in the coming weeks, complete with a custom made 14 x 4 foot conference table made from reclaimed flooring.
When we took over the space, it was very raw. The contractors and electricians have been working around us. So in short, our space is still a work in progress. We anticipate many of the final touches will be complete before the end of the year. As we wrap up the build out, keep checking the ZapwaterBlog and Tumblr for pictures of the space.
In the meantime, here are some sneak peak photos below.
Keep your eyes open for an office warming invite once the finishing touches have been made!
What do Peapod, puppies, and potlucks have in common? They’re some of the perks and quirks that make Zapwater a creative, inviting, and positive place to work. As Zapwater continues to expand its client roster, office space, and team, it simultaneously has been providing employees with extra bonuses and rewards that make our office a more productive place to work.
David often talks about making Zapwater the best place possible to work. That goes beyond great benefits and a great culture. Zapwater’s goal in 2012 is to turn upside down any notion of what a small business can and can not do for its employees.
Here are some benefits that all Zapwater employees enjoy:
• Four weeks of paid vacation: This year alone, Zapwater employees have spent their time away from the office in Thailand, Paris, California, Canada, New York, Mexico, and other various destinations across the globe. At Zapwater, we understand that a little R&R throughout the year goes a long way.
• Zapwater pays everyone’s cell phone bills: At Zapwater, we are always connected. While we are often traveling from meetings to lunches to events and more, we are able to stay in-the-know and easily accessible at all times.
• You can earn a 5th Week: Interested in volunteering for a charity? Zapwater offers a 5th week of vacation if you use it volunteering.
• Health and dental insurance: Zapwater believes that health and happiness is most important. Zapwater pays 100% of both health and dental. You read that right. Zapwater pays 100%. Providing full insurance coverage lets Zapwater employees know that their well-being is put first.
• Retirement plan: During a recession, most employers cut retirement benefits. This year, Zapwater increased its match for employees.
• Peapod Mondays: Every other Monday, Zapwater employees get to choose two of their favorite snacks to be delivered by Peapod. From pickles to Drumsticks, pretzels to Goldfish, our tastebuds are never lacking flavor.
• Puppy Love: Zapwater is a dog-friendly office. Our favorite four-legged friends make an appearance at least once a week! Brooklyn, Boots, Douglas, Chloe, Leonard, and Henry make our office feel like home.
Does this sound like somewhere you would want to work? Email employment@zapwater.com to become the newest member of the Zapwater family.
The British have found their newest home across the pond in Chicago with the uber-trendy retail haven known as Topshop/Topman. This UK style staple opened its doors to the Midwest on September 8 with a fashion-filled week of events.
Prior to the opening of the 30,000-square-foot store, street marketing teams and the Topshop/Topman truck toured the city, stopping at all of Chicago’s hottest spots to gift anxious fashion-lovers with stylish swag. Tote bags, water bottles, t-shirts, scarves, zines and promo gift cards were passed out as the city buzzed with excitement.
Chicago’s most influential editors, bloggers, artists, models, and fashion insiders were invited to a shopping preview the day before the grand opening, as well as an exclusive VIP dinner and after party at Paris Club and Studio Paris. Guests in attendance included Miley Cyrus, Liam Hemswoth, Gerard Butler, and Danny Masterson, among others.
On opening day, fashionistos and fashionistas alike “queued-up” outside in anticipation for the store’s doors to open. Models decked in the latest Topshop/Topman trends worked-it on a runway in the middle of Pearson Street, where Topshop/Topman CEO Sir Philip Green joined Cyrus for a ceremonial ribbon cutting.
A columnist for the Chicago Sun-Times said, “Zapwater Communications isn’t one of the biggest names -yet- in the public relations industry…” Emphasis on YET. However, just take a look at some of our recent client wins and you’ll see why one member of the media called us “Chicago’s new go-to agency.”
Kiehl’s Since 1851 Zapwater has been retained by Kiehl’s to oversee public relations, influencer outreach and event logistics for the opening of the New York-based skin care company’s Midwest flagship store. The new store, set to open in December 2011, will be located in the Shops at North Bridge along The Magnificent Mile. Kiehl’s joins a growing list of global brands that have turned to Zapwater recently for regional media relations, marketing and event support. Stay tuned for grand-opening event details!
Hotel Blue Chicago Hotel Blue Chicago, expected to open in 2012, is Chicago’s first LGBT-owned and -operated boutique hotel brand. Zapwater has been retained to oversee media relations, branding, marketing and social media in preparation for the hotel’s launch.
The Anthem The Anthem, a retro-inspired sports bar from the squad behind Bangers & Lace – Jason Freiman, Kevin Heisner, Matt Eisler and Nick Podesta – will open on November in Wicker Park. Zapwater has been retained to oversee media relations for the restaurant’s launch. Unlike the prototypical modern sports bar, The Anthem won’t boast 100 TVs and instead will feature two massive projectors and four 50” TVs – ample coverage to enjoy the day’s big game or match, yet not intrusive enough to dominate the aesthetic.
Room & Board Zapwater has been retained to manage regional media relations, social media, marketing, and event planning for all three of the home furnishing store’s Chicagoland locations, including Chicago, Oakbrook and Skokie. Room & Board joins Zapwater’s growing roster of both home & shelter and retail clients. The retailer has been offering timeless, contemporary furniture and accessories made from the finest natural materials for more than 30 years.
Stay tuned for more exciting announcement in the coming weeks.
Get ready. Trenchermen is coming in the Winter 2012.
Zapwater is proud to be representing the team behind the much-anticipated Trenchermen restaurant. A partnership between award-winning chefs and brothers, Michael (Blackbird, wd~50) and Patrick (Signature Room, Four Seasons Hotel, Everest) Sheerin with local restaurateur Matt Eisler (Nightwood, Bangers & Lace, Bar DeVille) and designer Kevin Heisner (Nightwood, Bangers & Lace, Bar DeVille), the restaurant is slated to open in Chicago’s Wicker Park (2039 W. North Avenue).
By definition, a Trenchermen is a person who enjoys food; hearty eater and drinker. Creatively retooling the ubiquitous chef-driven concept, this local spot will aim to integrate the best of both casual and fine dining experiences with a menu of familiar flavors presented in an unconventional manner. The Sheerin’s culinary philosophy will aim to find the balance between both experimental cuisine and Midwestern farm-to-table approach.
Using techniques and flavors from the kitchen, Trenchermen’s beverage program will be driven by the same innovative approach and ethos behind the cuisine and space. Focusing on the quality of each drink, whether it’s a cocktail crafted to order, a locally chosen beer or a delicious wine; the restaurant will provide in-house mixologists access to tools and methods to redefine their craft.
Located inside Chicago’s historic North Avenue Bath House, Trenchermen will incorporate contemporary architectural elements into industrial age design. Showcasing respected designer Kevin Heisner’s authentic craftsmanship, the décor will use traditional materials in new ways, featuring modern interpretations of vintage pieces throughout the 5,700-square-foot space. Custom furniture and millwork, such as an inventive tap beverage system, combined with found and salvaged items, will play to the high contrast between old and new. Organically bringing together both form and function, all facets of the restaurant will be based on the unexpected juxtaposition of artistic precision and casual ambiance – offering a true Trenchermen experience.
Keep checking the Zapwater blog for updates as we get closer to opening day.
Click on some of the links below to catch up on what has already been written about Trenchermen.
The annual RA Sushi Chicago news anchor sushi battle, this year entitled “Wake Up Little Sushi,” took place Wednesday, October 19 and was a great success! This year’s participants were four morning news anchors; Jeanne Sparrow and Melissa Forman of WCIU, Linda Yu of ABC and Ji Suk Yi of Windy City Live who filled in for Val Warner.
Despite the horrible weather, about 75 people came out to the event, including Carly Boers of Chicago magazine and Ernest Wilkins of the RedEye who served as guest judges. It was a very close race between the WCIU team and Linda Yu, but Linda pulled out the win. Linda’s Butterfly Roll will be featured on the RA menu between November 1 – 15, and a charitable donation will go to the Chinese American Service League in her honor.
Thank you to all who braved the rain and came out for the event. Make sure to stop by RA before November 15 to try the winning roll!
Not only do Zapwater’s clients make headlines, they are now breaking world records. In celebration of National Bow Tie Day, TheTieBar.com set out in hopes of setting a Guinness World Record by organizing the largest group of people tying a bow tie at the same time.
On Sunday, August 29, National Bow Tie Day, about 500 guests joined together at Wrigley Square in Chicago’s Millennium Park for the festivities. Registration began at 2 p.m., while guests were provided information to be included in the record book along with receiving a complimentary silk bow tie from TheTieBar.com. Several demonstrations took place for those guests that were a tad rusty on their knotting skills and a DJ provided musical entertainment.
As the number of participants grew, so did the money raised for charity. TheTieBar.com committed to donating $15 for each participant who signed-up at the event, and ultimately made a $7,500 donation. One lucky guest also won a free bow tie every month for the next year in a raffle hosted by TheTieBar.com.
The honorable Kurt P. Klein, circuit judge in DeKalb County, Ill., and Rachel DePorte, notary public, were on hand to officially sign-off on the event. At 3:30 p.m., bow tie enthusiasts and novices alike began their first attempt. Shortly after, the crowd made a second attempt to ensure the record was set. Cheers erupted as TheTieBar.com owner, Greg Shugar, unofficially announced the news of the success and the official photographer began documenting the participants and their bow ties. In order to set the record, 250 people needed to successfully tie the bow tie. Approximately 360 guests at the event were successful and were submitted to the Guinness Book of World Records for final record approval.
The Zapwater team was proudly in attendance to show their support and expert bow-tying skills. The event was a huge success and a bow-utiful experience!
Just this past year, Tumblr had more than seven million people with registered blogs. In terms of blogging platforms, that equals major success. So, it seems like the necessary next step that companies will begin actively using Tumblr as another social platform to connect with their peers, adoring fans, and prospective clients. Thus, Zapwater joined the Tumblr-sphere. (http://www.zapwater.tumblr.com)
A few things to note about Tumblr:
1. The most successful Tumblr blogs embody a personality. Whether you’re posting pictures with a consistent theme, or posting thoughtful short text about your latest life endeavors, knowing your personality is key. Zapwater is an amazing place to work, and we are an extremely dynamic group. Our Tumblr will aim to capture all of the elements that make Zapwater a great place to work.
2. Post frequently. Unlike blogs of old, posting daily is recommended. If anything, it will only help to establish your identity sooner. Also, Tumblr is the ideal format for quick blogs, not lengthy text about why the sky is blue, which contributes to the frequency of people posting. Pick something that speaks to who you are and post it!
3. This is not a popularity contest (even though some people think it is). This could be argued by any one, but social media should always be about quality and especially with Tumblr. Curate a group of followers that will appreciate your content, love your company and what you are doing, and are genuinely interested in what you have to offer. Aimlessly following people and hoping they will follow you back is pointless (which is almost always true!). Start by using your established social platforms to promote and from there the followers should come.
These are just some of the nuggets of Tumblr wisdom we have observed and believe to be true. Please share your thoughts and join us on Tumblr!
What makes a global agency? It’s a question we’ve asked ourselves frequently at Zapwater. Is it the markets you work in? Is it the location of your clients? Does it mean you have offices around the world?
As Zapwater works with more and more global brands, the need to service our clients globally became apparent. Over the next few months we’ll be able to answer the above questions a little better.
Tourism Trademark (TTM), the international network of independent marketing and public relations agencies specializing in tourism and lifestyle, has added Zapwater to its growing global network. Zapwater will serve as the network partner for the North American market.
Tourism Trademark currently represents more than 250 clients in different areas, such as travel destinations, airlines, hotels, cruises, tour operators, as well as online portals and leading consumer brands. Zapwater joins the network with a rapidly growing client list of hospitality and lifestyle brands. The agency’s clients include a well-curated mix of national, regional, and local hotel brands, boutique properties, and more. In addition, Zapwater also has extensive experience working with large global consumer brands having recently worked with TOPSHOP/TOPMAN to open its largest store in North America.
So it seemed like a perfect fit!
Zapwater is extremely excited to not only join this prestigious network of agencies, but to begin collaborating with our colleagues around the globe to deliver award-winning campaigns for our clients. Many of the agency’s clients continue to look to us for global solutions. Joining Tourism Trademark allows Zapwater to provide an international reach for current and future clients.
Zapwater’s addition to Tourism Trademark also opens the United States to the network’s current clients. At this time, there are 10 agencies in the network based in Australia, Europe and South America.
Zapwater will begin working with its partner agencies immediately and will be attending ITB Berlin 2012, the world’s leading travel trade show, as part of the TTM delegation.
Top Chef is one of our favorite shows and we couldn’t be more excited about the new season. We are: Annie Block and Stephanie Reay. We’ll be recapping every episode here on the Zapwater blog this season to share our thoughts, comments and concerns.
The night started with an overwhelming number of contestants. 29 chefs competed for an official spot on the show’s Top 16. The chefs were separated into 3 groups to compete in a serious of qualifying competitions to win their official Top Chef coat. We did like the new twist on last night’s episode, but there were too many people and things’ happening to really focus on what was being prepared.
The best part from last night’s episode was the strong representation from Chicago. There were a total of 6 local chefs in the competition, and 5 of them advanced to the Top 16. However, we won’t know the final 16 because the episode was abruptly cut-off before the third group was judged. I guess we’ll have to wait until next week!
Other random thoughts:
- We loved the duo from Moto – especially that pork-stuffed caramel apple dish
- Judge Tom Colicchio’s tough demeanor toward the cocky Tyler Stone was very impressive. He was forced to pack up his knives only 5 minutes into the show!
- We’re not too sure on how we feel about Emeril’s involvement – he seemed to agree with everything Tom said and never gave any real feedback. We already miss previous judges Anthony Bourdain & Eric Ripert.
