Launch Digital Marketing was born out of CEO Joe Chura’s Elgin, IL basement in 2011, and has since grown to over 120 employees, acquired more than 500 clients, and just moved into a brand new 12,000 square foot office. And despite all the momentum of Chicago’s growing tech ecosystem, it has never once thought of moving its digital marketing agency out of the suburbs.
Chura said not only does his team prefer the slower pace and family-friendly atmosphere of Naperville–where the company just opened its new office at 1864 High Grove Lane–but being in the ‘burbs has actually given Launch Digital an advantage when it comes to recruiting.
“Not everyone wants to be downtown,” Chura said. “We see it as a strategic advantage to be in the suburbs because everyone in the city is competing for employees, and we’re in the suburbs catering to the family, working person … To the person who has no desire to be downtown, we’re a perfect fit for them.”
As everyone in Chicago dukes it out over tech talent, Launch Digital has been able to pick from a candidate pool that prefers being outside the city. And with fewer digital marketing agencies to compete with in the suburbs, Launch Digital hasn’t had a problem bringing in talent, Chura said.
“It’s not (a challenge) because we’re not competing against a ton of other people,” he said.
Launch Digital has a range of clients but focuses primarily in the automotive industry, working with companies like Honda and Acura.
Many of the company’s 500+ clients are on the East and West Coasts, so being in the suburbs isn’t an issue in terms of proximity to Chicago clients, Chura said. And Launch Digital has been bootstrapped since its launch, so it’s not missing out on quick meetings with Chicago investors.
The biggest downside, Chura said, is the 5% or so of employees who use Launch Digital as a stepping stone to land another job downtown.
“One of the drawbacks is the people who get out of college and moving to the city is their true aspiration,” he said. “But we just don’t know it until we’re a year into this and they say they’re moving to downtown Chicago.”
But to attract talent, Launch Digital acts just like your typical Chicago startup. There are swings in the office, kegs full of beer, and music playing to keep employees energized. There are work from home Fridays, and some employees even reverse commute out to Naperville from living in Chicago.
“We’re creating that Chicago environment outside Chicago,” Chura said.
Image via Launch Digital Marketing
Editors note: An earlier version of this story mentioned a specific automotive client Launch Digital is doing business with. That company’s name has been taken out at the request of Launch Digital’s CEO. Also, an earlier version of this story reported that about 10% of Inspire’s staff look to move into the city. The CEO says 5% is a more accurate figure.
