Bear Icebox Communications

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the global communication and marketing manager for PlumResearch, a market research company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Bear Icebox Communications?

We’re based in Poland and have a product to measure content on streaming platforms. This product is mostly useful in the US, so most of our clients are there. We decided to hire a company in the US market to help us create better visibility, introduce us to media outlets, and organize interviews about our company.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Bear Icebox Communications provides us with PR services in the US. When we started the project, I created a Google Drive folder with information about our company, such as our products and teammate biographies and photos. From there, we conducted an onboarding process where Bear Icebox Communications read the content we provided. Then, we had around three calls, including a call with the sales team to ensure they understood our product. 

Currently, the team helps us build our brand reputation in the US market. Bear Icebox Communications is responsible for media relations, content recommendations, and drafting content for us. They create press releases, articles, and expert comments, among other items. 

At first, the team’s PR strategy was basic because we had no presence in the US media, and the initial goal was to become visible there through quick wins like short interviews with our CEO. After that, we wanted to aim higher. Bear Icebox Communications has facilitated articles in media outlets such as Variety, TheWrap, and The Hollywood Reporter. Recently, we’ve extended our contract with Bear Icebox Communications with a more extensive scope of work. 

What is the team composition?

We work with Katie (Account Manager) and Bob (Director of PR & Content & Co-Owner). Additionally, we worked with a third teammate in the beginning who was in charge of contacting media in LA. 

How did you come to work with Bear Icebox Communications?

Our CEO found a member of a Polish agency on LinkedIn who was connected with Bear Icebox Communications through a group.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent $10,000–$50,000. 

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with them in March 2023, and the engagement is ongoing. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement? 

Since working with Bear Icebox Communications, we’ve had 282 media mentions, an advertising value equivalent (AVE) of $15 million, and 1.6 billion unique visitors monthly on our media mentions. Moreover, we’ll be able to use these metrics to apply for a contest in Poland. 

How did Bear Icebox Communications perform from a project management standpoint?

Their project management has been perfect; everything has been fine in terms of budget and deadline management. When Bear Icebox Communications says they’ll do something, they do it. 

Are there any employees from the service provider's team that you would like to give a shout-out to in this review?

I want to congratulate Bob and Katie because I know how hard it is to build a new brand’s reputation, especially if they’re an offshore company. Additionally, the team has done a great job regarding the cultural fit; the US and Poland are different, and we’ve worked together to find common ground. I also appreciate Bob and Katie’s proactive attitude, creativity, and flexibility, which is crucial when working with a young company like ours. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

Bear Icebox Communications’ teammates are excellent copywriters, especially Bob — this is a rare trait. I also appreciate the team’s flexibility. We change our minds internally often and have to adjust our tasks, and Bear Icebox Communications is always flexible with those changes. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

There’s nothing they need to change — I like working with them. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Be honest about your strengths and weaknesses from the beginning. I also recommend staying in touch with Bear Icebox Communications all the time, especially if you have a time zone difference; we have a 7–8-hour time difference with the team. Additionally, treat Bear Icebox Communications as a partner.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

Acrelec is a company that provides digital solutions such as self-service kiosks and digital menus to the food service industry to improve customer experience and increase efficiency. As a Vice President of Global Marketing for Acrelec, I have overall responsibility for the company's marketing strategy and execution on a global scale.

This could include developing and implementing marketing plans, overseeing the creation and distribution of marketing materials, managing a team of marketing professionals, and working closely with other departments, such as sales and product development, to ensure that the company's marketing efforts are aligned with its overall business goals.

Additionally, I may also be responsible for managing budgets, analyzing market trends, and developing and maintaining relationships with key stakeholders, such as partners and customers.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Bear Icebox Communications, and what were your goals?

A French tech company like Acrelec may face a number of challenges as it tries to establish itself and gain market share in the United States. The US market is highly competitive, with many established players already in place, which could make it hard for Acrelec to stand out. Building brand awareness can be a costly and time-consuming process, and finding the right distribution channels and partners in the US can be challenging.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

Choosing Bear Ice Box Communications in Chicago as a PR vendor may be a good choice for several reasons:

1. Location: Being located in Chicago, Bear Ice Box Communications may have a good understanding of the local market and media landscape, which can be beneficial in promoting Acrelec's products and services in the United States.
2. Industry expertise: Bear Ice Box Communications may have experience and expertise in the Food industry, which can be beneficial in promoting Acrelec's products and services to the right audiences.
3. Network of contacts: Bear Ice Box Communications has a strong network of contacts in the media and industry, which can be beneficial in getting Acrelec's products and services in front of the right people.
4. Customized approach: Bear Ice Box Communications was be able to provide a customized approach tailored to Acrelec's specific needs and goals, which can be beneficial in achieving success in the US market.
5. Cost-effective: Bear Icebox Communications is able to provide cost-effective services that fit within our budget.
6. Proven track record: Bear Ice Box Communications has a proven track record of success in helping other technology companies to increase brand awareness and gain market share in the US.

Describe the scope of their work in detail, including any steps and the final deliverables.

1. Conduct research on Acrelec's target audiences, competitors, and media landscape in the US market.
2. Develop a PR strategy that aligns with Acrelec's goals and target audiences, including identifying key messages, target media outlets, and a timeline for executing the PR campaign.
3. Build relationships with key media outlets and journalists in the US, and pitch Acrelec's products and services to these outlets in order to secure media coverage.
4. Work with Acrelec to create relevant and engaging content such as press releases, bylines, case studies, and other materials to be used in the media campaign.
5. Assist Acrelec in planning and executing events such as product launches, press conferences, and industry events to promote the company's products and services.
6. Develop and execute a social media strategy to increase brand awareness and engagement.
7. Provide regular reports on the progress of the PR campaign, including media coverage and social media metrics, and make recommendations for adjustments as needed.
8. Assist Acrelec to measure the success of the campaign, by analyzing the final deliverables such as increased brand awareness, media coverage in key outlets, and improved relationships with key stakeholders.

How many people from the vendor's team worked with you, and what were their positions?

2: Bob and Eden

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Can you share any outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

1.  increased brand awareness: The campaign resulted in an increase in awareness of Acrelec and its products and services among target audiences in the US market. This was reflected in metrics such as website traffic, social media engagement, and brand mentions in the media.
2. Increased media coverage: The campaign generated an increase in the number and quality of media placements, including articles, interviews, and mentions in relevant publications, blogs, and news outlets.
3. Improved relationships with key stakeholders: The campaign helped to improve relationships with key stakeholders such as media, industry influencers, and potential partners.
4. Increased sales: The campaign led to an increase in sales and revenue as a result of the increased brand awareness and improved relationships with key stakeholders.
5. Increased website traffic: The campaign helped to increase website traffic and engagement which was reflected in metrics such as page views, bounce rate, and time spent on the website.
6. Social media metrics: The campaign helped to increase metrics on social media such as followers, likes, shares, and engagement.

Describe their project management style, including communication tools and timeliness.

Friendly and professional communication, through Whatsapp, zoom and emails.

What did you find most impressive or unique about this company?

Their knowledge of the QSR industry

Are there any areas for improvement or something they could have done differently?

None.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I own a real estate consulting firm and decided to hire a public relations firm to help with visibility and branding in the marketplace.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Bear Icebox Communications, and what were your goals?

We are a small and relatively new company in a traditionally relationship based industry. It's hard to get past gatekeepers and then build relationships, especially in a post-covid & virtual world.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

BearIceBox as recommended to me by a real estate investor.

Describe the scope of their work in detail, including any steps and the final deliverables.

They wrote articles, did press releases, managed social media posts, made media relation contacts and introductions, email campaigns, and nominations to industry partners.

How many people from the vendor's team worked with you, and what were their positions?

I worked with at least 3 people on their team - there may have been more, but I only interacted with 3 of them, which is a lot in my opinion.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Can you share any outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

We ranked higher on SEO, received leads from prospects and vendors, and increased our visibility in social networks.

Describe their project management style, including communication tools and timeliness.

they overly communicate; we exchanged several emails weekly, had weekly zoom calls. They met their timelines and brought more people into the meetings when necessary.

What did you find most impressive or unique about this company?

They communicate with me a lot and they got traction from their press releases when others couldn't. The articles and reports they created generated leads where people would reach out and give us their email to download a copy of the report and we could follow up with them later.

Are there any areas for improvement or something they could have done differently?

They were great to work with. The ONLY reason we stopped our engagement was cash flow problems on our business side. It was of no fault of their own.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the Founder and CEO of Metamo LLC. Metamo provides modern explorers looking for a more fulfilling way to travel with experiences that are stress-free, profoundly transformative, and rooted in an appreciation for our planet and the people that inhabit it.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Bear Icebox Communications?

We were going through a total rebrand and wanted a company we could trust to help expand our brand nationally, help us build our foundation on social and other forms of media, and be our guide to taking the brand to new heights.

What were your goals for this project?

Our goals include a relaunch of our travel brand and bring to life stories of our clients. Increased lead flow is a top priority through consistent customized social, email newsletters, content and some PR. We like to customize as much as possible when establishing goals.

Using a company that plays close attention to our analytics, lead generation and tracking has been important to us so that we are aligned and can make decisions based on the data we’re seeing. Our goals also include PR, social, content for blogs and working with micro influencers. A central goal is tracking the data in our digital ad buys and social ad spend. Having consistent check-in calls has been important to helping us reach out goals.

SOLUTION

How did you select Bear Icebox Communications?

First, we heard of Bear Icebox through word of mouth and they came highly recommended. We asked some tough questions and asked for a proposal which we were impressed by. What they offer us is in alignment with our values, mission and vision of where we are going.

Describe the scope of their work in detail.

Bear Icebox has done a great job of meeting our needs by blending PR, social media with our digital community. They have helped us develop a forum for thought leadership and brand awareness in the world of travel. They have taken a new brand and helped to developed it to give it serious legs to stand on.

As a high end brand, it is critically important that all the various components are built in harmony to each other to reflect on the brand in the best possible light. Bear Icebox has gotten us in an American Express article on AmEx's website that over fifty million people go to every month.

They got us into the American Chamber of Commerce website and several other publications. Our social reach was non-existent but now we have consistent followers and growth. Our podcast has nearly 1,000 downloads in a relatively short amount of time. Most importantly, they care and always have our back.

What was the team composition?

We have worked with the president directly throughout together with his excellent social media creative and also a data specialist who has helped us grow our leads.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Can you share any outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

In only 12 episodes of our podcast, Metamo Travel, we have nearly 1,000 downloads. Our social media presence has grown 1,000 percent. Our leads are 10 times from where we started. Our website traffic is exponential.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Bear Icebox Communications has been very effective in terms of managing workflow between our team and theirs. Weekly meetings have been a critical part of that. I am always able to reach out with questions and Bob and the rest of his team get back to me right away. The work moves forward and I have never felt that I needed to light a fire under anyone - quite the contrary.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

I have been blown away by their enthusiasm, passionate engagement, and quality of their work. They are also very trustworthy and honest which is refreshing in this day and age.

Are there any areas for improvement?

I have been impressed with their work throughout and look forward to the great things to come with them. I unequivocally recommend Bear Icebox Communications.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the Principal & Co-Founder of Graceada Partners, a commercial real estate investment company with half a billion dollars in assets under management.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Bear Icebox Communications?

We are looking to build a national brand in the area of commercial real estate investing. We wanted to develop authority marketing where people (prospective investors) view us as authorities in our field (commercial real estate investing). This strategy involved media placements in both industry specific publications and broader publications where a placement denoted authority/expertise.

What were your goals for this project?

Placement in industry and broader market publications where a placement denoted authority/expertise.

SOLUTION

How did you select Bear Icebox Communications?

They appeared to be an authority marketing expert and, through interviewing them, seemed to be the kind of small, nimble, and responsive firm we were looking for.

Describe the scope of their work in detail.

Generate content that would yield media placements. Help us with thought leadership that would place us as experts in our field. Create press releases that would yield additional coverage. Generally grow our media presence (substantially) and with it, increased website visits

What was the team composition?

Worked closely with company principal and other team members as needed

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Can you share any outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

Substantial media placements including in top-tier media and very well regarded industry-specific publications. In particular, we created thought leadership pieces with their help that created these placements. Far exceeded expectations.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Extremely effective

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Their dedication to our project continued leadership and results are impressive.

Are there any areas for improvement?

None

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the founder and CEO of No No No, a startup that is building 'a modern-day Better Business Bureau' – a complaint resolution platform.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Bear Icebox Communications?

Getting media coverage + proof reading documents

What were your goals for this project?

Getting media outlets to write about us

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

I met Bob through a program that helped European companies to enter the U.S. market. Bob seemed like a nice, down to earth guy who was super easy to interact with and really fast with his responses.

Describe the scope of their work in detail.

The scope was not too big. The biggest work was going through the copy of our website.

What was the team composition?

I've worked directly with Bob and in some ad hoc projects some of my team members have also reached out to Bob directly.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Can you share any outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

We got an article published in the Retail Touchpoints blog and in a print magazine. We also got access to a couple of other online media outlets and we're still working with those projects. We also got a story published on Grit Daily.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Really fast and effective. I'd recommend them!

What did you find most impressive about this company?

I love that the team is really flexible, easy to interact with, and open to receiving brutally honest feedback.

Are there any areas for improvement?

No, I can't honestly think of any.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I’m the head designer and creative director for Xced Design Build, a reputable design/construction company in Chicago. After being around for 20 years, we’ve re-launched ourselves in a new light with Bear Ice Communication's help.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Bear Icebox Communications?

We needed help promoting the opening of our new design studio space in October 2018. 

What were your goals for this project?

We wanted to inform the public about a number of projects in our wheelhouse. While we’ve historically been known as a referral-based luxury company, this project leads us into further marketing and development strategies for our company.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

Bob (president, Bear Icebox Communications) was pleasant, humble and seemed hungry for the project. He and his business partner came across very professional and with lots of depth and caring for the production of this project.

Describe the scope of their work in detail.

Bear Icebox Communications worked with us for three months to assist with the launch of our grand opening. They also drove PR for our company and made journalistic edits for other in-house work.

What was the team composition?

Bob lead the team and worked directly with our creative staff.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Can you share any outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

Bear Icebox Communications had a clear trajectory of what they wanted to accomplish during our time together. They did a good job accomplishing that, including getting 4–5 articles published to help our branding

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

The workflow was quite good. Bear Icebox Communications held meetings with intention, and they were clear regarding the project scope.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Bear Icebox Communications was small but mighty.

Are there any areas for improvement?

The biggest area of improvement would be a sense of vision and purpose. They primarily focused on logistics and tasks during each meeting. A further sense of vision would have allowed for more interaction within the project.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the president and CEO of HouseMaster, a national home inspection franchise with 315 locations in North America. I’m also the CEO of PatchMaster, a small drywall repair franchise with 50 locations across the US and Canada.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Bear Icebox Communications?

We hired Bear Icebox Communications to help support our public relations approach. We needed help effectively conveying our messaging to our market and educate consumers about our brand.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Every week, we have meetings with Bear Icebox Communications to update them on news within our company. We inform them about any new franchisees that we onboard and regular activities. Together, we come up with topics that are relevant to our audience. They create all the initial drafts for the content, and both teams work to fact-check the information before we post it online and on social media.

What is the team composition?

My main point of contact is Bob (Co-Founder, Bear Icebox Communications).

How did you come to work with Bear Icebox Communications?

I was looking for a company with experience in the franchising space with a public relations background. When I got in contact with Bob after speaking to several companies, I liked his entrepreneurial spirit and expertise in our field.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent a little over $40,000 so far.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in May 2017 and the relationship is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?

We’re not tracking actual metrics from their services, but we can tell our company’s reach is significantly broader since starting the work with Bear Icebox Communications. Our exposure with our core audience has improved—we’ve gotten meaningful hits and placements on relevant news sites, including realtor.com. Every platform we’ve tried to receive coverage from has been a success because of Bear Icebox Communications’ support.

How did Bear Icebox Communications perform from a project management standpoint?

Their team was highly organized with their approach. Our company has a lot of different projects happening at once, and they’re able to keep us on track and provide useful updates. They allow me to be as involved as I want to be and I don’t have to manage them, which is great. We have regular meetings and their team creates an agenda that is always abided by.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their high level of organization makes them easy to work with. They’re open-minded and see opportunities we don’t, so we appreciate their insight. Cooperation and flexibility are things we really wanted from a vendor and they fulfill those expectations fully.

Are there any areas they could improve?

There’s no area for improvement. Whenever we need them to do something differently, they quickly adjust.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I’m the VP of Sensofusion, a company specializing in cybersecurity and specifically, counter-UAS. We’ve developed a high-end hardware and software system that is used to protect critical infrastructure and personnel from drone attacks and incursions. 

We typically sell to governments and militaries around the world, but also private sector industries such as prisons, oil and gas, high-tech companies, corporate data centers, and outdoor events.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Bear Icebox Communications?

We needed a resource to write and push out press releases defined by our company regarding major events, our product, and customer relations.

What were your goals for this project?

To continue building our high-end brand regarding all things related to counter-UAS, and to reach the largest audience possible.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

They are a hungry startup and we liked that. They use guerrilla tactics in order to make sure their clients are successful and are also reasonable in cost.

Describe the scope of their work in detail.

They focus on writing press releases and then identify the right journalist, journal publication, or other outlet related to our industry. They also manage any inbound requests for interviews or other similar requests.

What was the team composition?

We worked with two people who were responsible for writing and sourcing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Can you share any outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

The results have been very good. We continue to use them as our sole source for all things related to PR.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

It was very effective—I had no issues scheduling meetings and keeping our projects on task.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Their willingness to help our company succeed impressed me. They understood their role, and they always kept our interests in mind.

Are there any areas for improvement?

Keeping the creative flow at a high level is always a challenge, so I consider this an area of improvement for every business.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the president of Image One, a franchise janitorial company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Bear Icebox Communications?

We were looking for help in brand building, brand awareness, and public relations.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They do everything from press releases to blogs to getting articles published in trade publications. When we were unable to attend a franchise conference, they went on our behalf in order to gather information that would be useful for building our brand.

What is the team composition?

I work with Bob [President and Co-Founder, Bear Icebox Communications].

How did you come to work with Bear Icebox Communications?

I previously worked with Bob when he was with a much larger firm. I wasn't happy with the results we were getting so we parted ways. A year or so later, he reached out to let me know he’d started his own company. After sitting down to talk about the challenges I’d faced in working with the larger firm, it made sense to start a new relationship with him and Bear Icebox.

How much have you invested with them?

We spend an average of $1000 per month.

What is the status of this engagement?

The project began November 2016 and they’re on a quarterly retainer.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?

We’ve seen an increase in our presence in print and digital publications, which is fantastic. I can't point to anything they've done that generates specific revenue but it's really more about building the brand and brand awareness. It's clear to us that their efforts are very successful so far.

How did Bear Icebox Communications perform from a project management standpoint?

We occasionally meet in person and have regular contact via email and phone calls. They always talk to me about any upcoming press releases or articles that they're planning. Together we plan out what we want to do for the quarter at the end of the previous quarter. I really like that they check in to see if there's anything special that we want to talk about or highlight over the next three months. They’re very proactive in getting our message out.

What did you find most impressive about them?

We’re getting the service you’d expect of a big company with the one-on-one attention of a small company. It’s the best of both worlds and we have a very nice relationship.

Are there any areas they could improve?

Nothing comes to mind that I would change.