Descriptions of Chicago as a second city have grown pretty lame, notably in the ad biz. Michigan Avenue is still battling Madison Avenue for national recognition, though there are many other ad centers also churning out outstanding creative.
For what it’s worth, winners of two awards competitions were announced Wednesday, and Chicago came up on top big time.
DDB Chicago won three Gold Effies in the annual Effie Awards sponsored by the New York chapter of the American Marketing Association.
Leo Burnett USA took Best of Show in print for Kraft Foods’ Altoids, and Y&R Chicago pocketed Best of Show in broadcast for a TV commercial for client H&R Block in the national Addy Awards from the American Advertising Federation.
Effies recognize ad effectiveness, while the Addys are for creative excellence.
Ironically, Y&R won for H&R Block, a Kansas City, Mo.-based financial services firm that a few months ago decided it wanted to review its overall marketing-communications program, largely held by Y&R Chicago and sister units of parent Y&R Inc.
Y&R Chicago subsequently declined to participate in the review.
DDB Chicago picked up Gold Effies for Anheuser-Busch (Budweiser), Wilson Sporting Goods and Manco Inc., the latter a maker of duct tapes. DDB Chicago and BBDO New York, both Omnicom Group units, tied with the most Gold Effies.
The Effies (a total of 25 Golds) were doled out in New York. The Addys will be given out June 20 in Las Vegas.
FCB Chicago was the only other Chicago agency winning a Gold Effie, for Gatorade for client Quaker Oats Co. The Grand Effie went to TBWA/Chiat Day in Los Angeles, also Omnicom, for client Apple Computer’s “Think Different” campaign.
North by northwest? Nordstrom’s No. 4 store in the Chicago market–its long-awaited arrival on North Michigan Avenue–is set for a Sept. 22 opening, but further expansion is not immediate. Nordstrom entered the Chicago market with a store in April 1991 in the Oakbrook Shopping Center, followed by Old Orchard Shopping Center (Skokie) in October 1994 and Woodfield Mall (Schaumburg) in March 1995. At one time, this Seattle-based retailer was looking at Hawthorn Shopping Center in Vernon Hills, sources say, but such a possibility was scrubbed. Best bet for a future store would appear to be in the far northwest suburbs beyond Schaumburg, perhaps depending on population growth. Meanwhile, Nordstrom is moving ahead for the opening of its 271,000-square-foot Mag Mile location, including a Sept. 20 fundraising gala in the store (and in an adjacent tent) expected to raise $650,000 to help fund a new Nordstrom Epilepsy Observation Unit within the Epilepsy Center at Children’s Memorial Hospital. Honorary chairmen of this event are Mayor Daley and his wife Maggie, and Juanita Jordan, MJ’s wife. Juanita and Maria Smithburg, chairman of this event, were at a preview attended by 125 the other night at Tru restaurant. Not a big crowd, but as Bob Middlemas, Nordstrom’s executive VP and boss of its central region, said: “We like to hold small parties before big parties.” The big party is expected to draw 3,000. For information, call 773-880-8215.
– Jim Marino, recently general manager of the Hotel Monaco in Salt Lake City, was promoted to GM at the Hotel Monaco here, an appointment effective next week, both under the wing of Kimpton Hotel & Restaurant Group. Marino reports to Michael DiFrino, Kimpton’s regional operations director. Also, Wagstaff Worldwide, a Los Angeles-based PR and marketing communications firm, set up a Chicago office headed by Valerie Neal, who was named a VP. She reports to Mary Wagstaff, a former Chicagoan. Clients include restaurants such as Nine, Bin 36 and 160 Blue.
– Melrose Park-based Midwest Bank Holdings Inc. (1999 assets of $1.3 billion) picked DiMeo & Co. for advertising and public relations, an estimated $1 million account. A new ad campaign will appear after Labor Day. The client has four principal operating subsidiaries, including the Midwest name, and a total of 17 banking centers, all in Illinois.
Strictly Personal: Birthday greetings to Stacie Dill, 30 (GMAC Commercial Mortgage); Scott Kingdom, 41 (Korn Ferry); Tom Quinn, 54 (Jordan Industries); consultant Charles J. “Chuck” Allen, 83; Al Eicoff, 79; and PR exec Wayne K. Larson, 57.
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