Why Berwyn Marketing Campaign

The City of Berwyn and the Berwyn Development Corporation (BDC) are pleased to announce the launch of the City of Berwyn’s 2019 Integrated Marketing Campaign. The campaign’s objective is to pique the curiosity of Chicago area residents and to create a driving desire to visit and live in Berwyn.

Since 2007, the City of Berwyn has actively promoted its rich history and forward momentum. In 2017, the campaign was showcased as a best practice in the Homes for a Changing Region Toolkit, which was created by the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning (CMAP), Metropolitan Mayors Caucus, and Metropolitan Planning Council. The toolkit is an online guide to help communities plan for their current and future residents. Berwyn was selected as a case study due to our success in stimulating investment and building brand awareness for the community. The campaign also received a nod from the Chicago Tribune.

The 2019 campaign continues its storytelling under the “Nothing Like A Suburb” tagline that has been used for the past four years. This year’s messaging carried over from 2018 and continues to reflect Berwyn’s core values and assets—our individuality, genuine community and unabashed self-awareness. Outdoor advertising and social media will again focus on two themes, Full of Character and Handcrafted Community. For the second year in a row, the BDC collaborated with local photographer Joel Gonzalez of WeOurStory to capture the campaign images.

Each theme highlights Berwyn’s neighbors to help illustrate our message. Whether they are homegrown or have seen Berwyn as a beacon for their craft, our neighbors have made an impact on our cultural landscape. The subjects of our ads are:

• Former resident and current artist, Antonia Ruppert who has mobilized community members to embrace the arts by creating community art projects at schools, libraries, through a pop-up art space in downtown Berwyn and more. Her work has also been featured throughout the Chicagoland area. Learn more about  Antonia Ruppert Fine Art.

• Berwyn resident and digital storyteller, Joel Gonzalez from WeOurStory has captured many of Berwyn’s moments through photography and film. Joel strives “to create a space where people can tell what they’ve been through so that others can find meaning in what they’re going through.”

• Berwyn resident and business owner, Salvador Figueroa of La Lupita Restaurant is passionate about serving his guests the most authentic Mexican cuisine. Salvador, along with his mother Lupita, father and sisters have been a staple in Berwyn’s Cermak Road corridor for the past 15 years.

• Berwyn resident and artisan, Daisy Betance from Little Buddha has called Berwyn home for the past two years. As a transplant from the city, she enjoys mastering her craft of creating Berwyn-made items including specialty soaps, scents, and jewelry, all while being inspired by her community.

Mayor Robert J. Lovero is excited to see how the campaign helps to highlight the diverse makeup of the community. He noted,  “The City of Berwyn’s location, coupled with its unique establishments, beautiful housing stock, and dedicated residents and business owners set us apart from other communities. Our City is full of character and home to hardworking, creative people. ”

Andy Sotiropoulos, BDC Board President, added, “Berwyn is unique in its sensational group of people. Our community is a distinct blend of longtime residents, new urban dwellers, families, and entrepreneurs. Our people are truly at the center of what makes us special. Visitors will find that the Berwyn experience is more comfortable than a city and more exciting than a suburb. We live and breathe our credo. We are #NothingLikeASuburb.”

The 2019 campaign runs from June through September and includes billboards in Chicago neighborhoods, posters on CTA el platforms as well as CTA bus shelters, Ogilvie Station digital billboards, and direct-to-consumer outreach through special events and social media engagement. Currently, our website is undergoing a revamp to highlight our community assets. Our blog section provides visitors with a stream of information on the area’s real estate, businesses, schools, parks and recreation, cultural hot spots, special events, and more.

Berwyn is known for its great location, remarkable bungalows, and other well-built housing, nightlife and events, thriving independent business base, and welcoming attitude. Berwyn has established itself as a “livable” community as evidenced through a wide variety of transportation choices and short commutes to job centers, equitable and affordable housing options, and an enhanced sense of community through easily accessible and walkable amenities like parks, schools, and business districts.

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 WhyBerwyn.com. This campaign can also be followed on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram(@WhyBerwyn).