Berwyn Marketing Campaign Plays Off City's Growing Buzz

City of Berwyn Focuses on Community Assets to Attract New Residents

BERWYN, Ill., July 18, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The City of Berwyn and the Berwyn Development Corporation (BDC) are pleased to announce the launch of the City of Berwyn's 2012 Integrated Marketing Campaign. Now in its sixth year, the 2012 "Believe the Buzz" campaign continues Berwyn's tradition of branding itself as a top-choice destination for move-up and first-time homebuyers.

"When we started the Why Berwyn? marketing efforts six years ago, we had a bold vision for setting the City of Berwyn apart from Chicago's countless other suburbs. And after a few years, our marketing really started to stick. I've met new residents who were familiar with our billboards and decided to move to our community and grow with us. We've been focused on keeping Berwyn a vital place to live and work, and our residents have played a huge role in realizing that vision," said Mayor Robert Lovero. "Grassroots efforts helped propel Berwyn's beloved bungalow into the spotlight nationally when This Old House magazine named Berwyn as one of the best neighborhoods for bungalows and at the state level when our housing inspired the first week of May to be designated Bungalow Appreciation Week. We also just completed our Active Transportation Plan in order to shape a more walkable and bike-friendly environment for residents and visitors. The list of our amenities runs the gamut from 23 parks and more than 500 recreational activities to great commercial corridors that have experienced a growth spurt even during tough economic times, not only bringing in chains like Meijer Marketplace and Buffalo Wild Wings Grill and Bar but also independent establishments like the award-winning Autre Monde Cafe & Spirits."

Jon Fey, President of the BDC, added, "Located just west of Chicago's South Loop, Berwyn was a well-kept secret for many years. Now we've become a hot spot for professionals and entrepreneurs while maintaining our status as a haven for creatives. We have many new developments like the forthcoming Riddles Comedy Club and The Wire Music Collaboratory which are an accompaniment to existing mainstays such as Cigars & Stripes, the critically-acclaimed 16th Street Theater, and the legendary FitzGerald's Nightclub. We have it all – a great location, many amenities and a flourishing cultural scene. Berwyn has been open to change, and we've seen our residents and business community embrace this growth. Truly, our ability to maintain our diversity has been a driver for our success and has helped attract visitors and new residents."

The 2012 campaign runs from June through September and includes billboards in Chicago neighborhoods, posters on CTA el platforms, direct-to-consumer outreach through special events and direct mailing and radio advertising. The billboards and platform posters will rotate in high traffic areas that capture views from pedestrians, drivers and transit riders. Online advertising will blend the Berwyn brand with promotion of special events and current accolades for the area's housing stock in order to promote tourism and homeownership in Berwyn.

True to its beginnings, the campaign continues to use a bull's eye graphic to illustrate Berwyn's geographical convenience. This key visual component has helped raise the community's visibility and established a brand presence for Berwyn among consumers and business professionals living throughout the Chicago area. This year, the campaign has maintained its bull's eye graphic as a rising sun and paired it with the bold tagline Believe the Buzz. This message confidently communicates Berwyn's achievements in positioning itself as a "livable" community as evidenced through a wide variety of transportation choices, equitable and affordable housing options, short commutes to major job centers, and an enhanced sense of community through easily accessible and walkable amenities like parks, schools, churches, and business districts. The addition of grass and bees refreshes the campaign's look to communicate "home, growth, and play."

The WhyBerwyn.com website provides visitors with a stream of information on the area's real estate, retailers and service providers, schools, parks and recreation, cultural hot spots and special events. Whatever the angle, visitors are certain to find an answer to the question, "Why Berwyn?" The site includes a comprehensive calendar of events that details the City's many festivals and recreational opportunities as well as a full local business listing to promote the business base and offer convenient access to Berwyn's hottest places to shop, dine and relax.

Additional information on the City of Berwyn's Integrated Marketing Campaign can be obtained through the Berwyn Development Corporation at (708) 788-8100 and at www.whyberwyn.com. To view the billboard artwork, please visit http://www.berwyn.net/integrated-marketing-campaign. This campaign can also be followed at facebook.com/WhyBerwyn and twitter.com/whyberwyn.

About the Berwyn Development Corporation
The Berwyn Development Corporation (BDC) is a public-private partnership with the City of Berwyn that provides economic development and Chamber of Commerce services to all segments of the Berwyn community. The BDC is a not-for-profit membership organization that serves over 300 business and individual members. The BDC focuses its efforts on those activities that will improve the overall climate for local businesses and residents, in addition to encouraging the development of new commercial venues and employment opportunities. The BDC continually strives to develop new programs, services and events that promote Berwyn businesses and the community. For more information, visit www.berwyn.net or follow the BDC at facebook.com/BDCorp and twitter.com/bdc_berwyn.

SOURCE Berwyn Development Corp