iris b communications

What iris b communications does

iris b. branding & communications is a founder-owned creative agency headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, providing branding, logo design, website design, email and digital design, print design, advertising, event graphics, and large-format banner and signage services to small businesses, professionals and solopreneurs, and nonprofit organizations primarily in the Chicago metropolitan area. The firm was founded by Iris Marreck, who has 35+ years of branding and design experience including prior service as Associate Creative Director at K&R Advertising, and has served Chicago clients for over 30 years. The firm extends its capabilities through two affiliated entities: Thumbprint, a wholly owned printing subsidiary offering 4-color printing at unit pricing (e.g., 1,000 full-color business cards at $40; 1,000 full-color trifold brochures at $160), and What A Great Website, a jointly controlled sister company formed approximately 12 years ago with partners Rickey Gold and Steven Stern that delivers marketing-driven website design, SEO, and internet marketing services.

The firm's revenue model is project-based professional services — custom branding and design engagements billed per project rather than via recurring retainers — supplemented by unit-priced print runs through Thumbprint. Go-to-market is consultative and direct: prospects are offered a free 30-minute consultation, with sales and delivery handled by the CEO and staff rather than a formal sales team. Customer acquisition relies on the firm's portfolio website (irisb.com), client testimonials, and word-of-mouth referrals from long-tenured clients. The firm's underlying technology is conventional — graphic design tooling, web design and SEO services, and 4-color print production — with no API, SDK, proprietary platform, or AI/ML capability disclosed.

The company is privately held, has no disclosed external funding, no parent company, and operates from a single Chicago office with a willingness to travel for client engagements. Named customers span 10+ organizations across hospitality, nonprofit, legal, food and beverage, music, and government sectors, including 360 Chicago, Selfhelp Home, Magnificent Mile Association, Buona Beef, Mann Associates, and Evanston Public Library. No revenue, headcount, or growth metrics are disclosed in available sources.

Name

iris b communications

Legal name

iris b. branding & communications

Website

https://irisb.com

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Short description

iris b. branding & communications is a founder-owned Chicago creative agency delivering branding, website design, print, advertising, and event graphics services to small businesses, professionals, and nonprofit organizations in the Chicago metro area, with an in-house printing subsidiary (Thumbprint) and a digital marketing sister company (What A Great Website).

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Creative Agency Services

NAICS

Graphic Design Services (54143), Graphic Design Services (541430), Advertising Agencies (541810), Advertising, Public Relations, and Related Services (5418), Printing and Related Support Activities (3231), Commercial Printing (except Screen and Books) (323111)

SIC

Services-Mailing, Reproduction, Commercial Art & Photography (7330), Services-Advertising Agencies (7311), Services-Advertising (7310)

akta.pro primary industry

Visual Identity & Brand Design Systems (BPAFAEAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Graphic Design & Visual Communications (Collateral, Illustration) (MPAAAEAC), Packaging & Brand Identity Creative Agencies (MPAAAAAN)

Keywords

• Graphic design services
• Brand identity design
• Print production services
• Website design services
• Marketing communications agency

Headquarters

HQ city

Northfield

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Branding and Design Services: Custom design and branding services for logos, websites, print materials, advertising, and event graphics. Billed as project-based work rather than recurring retainer.
2. Printing Services (Thumbprint): Their printing subsidiary offers 4-color printing at competitive prices. Sample products include business cards, brochures, flyers, banners, and large format signage. Pricing appears unit-based for print runs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

iris b. branding & communications is a Chicago-based creative agency that provides custom branding and logo design, website design, email and digital design, print design, advertising, event graphics, and large format banners and signage for small businesses, professionals, and nonprofit organizations. The firm operates Thumbprint Printing Solutions as a wholly owned subsidiary delivering affordable 4-color printing of business cards, brochures, signage, and related collateral. Services are sold as custom projects with free initial consultation, and the firm is affiliated with What A Great Website for digital marketing and SEO capabilities.

Product overview

iris b. branding & communications is a creative agency offering a comprehensive suite of branding and marketing communications services for small businesses, professionals, and nonprofit organizations. The core service portfolio includes Branding & Logo Design, Website Design, Email and Digital Design, Print Design, Advertising, Event Graphics, and Large Format Banners & Signage. The company also operates a printing subsidiary called Thumbprint that provides affordable 4-color printing services. These services work together to help clients build cohesive brand identities that are consistent across all online and offline channels.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Branding & Logo Design Brand identity development including logo design, brand strategy, and collateral material creation for small businesses, professionals, and nonprofit organizations.
• Website Design Marketing-driven website design and development services ranging from simple 4-5 page sites to multilayered e-commerce or content management sites, with SEO optimization.
• Email and Digital Design Email invitation design, e-newsletter creation, digital graphics for social media, Facebook postings, digital flyers, and Eventbrite events.
• Print Design Brochures, annual reports, direct mail pieces, rack cards, trifold brochures, presentation folders, and other printed marketing materials.
• Advertising Print and digital advertising design services including full page ads, digital ads, web advertising, and integrated campaign design.
• Event Graphics Event invitation design, programs, signage, digital ads, and comprehensive event branding for galas, fundraisers, and special events.
• Large Format Banners & Signage Large format printing including banners, signage, posters, trade show exhibits, convention displays, and vinyl graphics.
• Thumbprint Printing Services Printing subsidiary offering 4-color printing services including business cards, letterhead, brochures, postcards, catalogs, flyers, large format signage, banners, and greeting cards at affordable prices with unit-based pricing for print runs.
• Social Distancing Signage Custom social distancing signage including floor signs, wall signs, and easel signs with client branding, logos, colors and custom messaging for COVID-19 related signage needs.

Quantifiable outcome

• Email campaign for MD Aesthetics achieved 24% open rate resulting in 20 appointments
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• What A Great WebsitecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAfter working successfully together for several years, Iris and two strategic partners, Rickey Gold and Steven Stern, formed What A Great Website as a sister company dedicated to creating marketing-driven websites and digital marketing campaigns. This partnership provides website development, search engine optimization (SEO), and internet marketing services for iris b clients.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves4 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Direct peers

• Walker Sands: Chicago-based integrated marketing and branding agency serving B2B and consumer clients across brand strategy, creative, and digital — directly comparable to iris b. in geography, size range, and full-service creative scope.
• One North Interactive: Chicago branding and digital agency offering brand strategy, design, and website development for professional services and B2B clients — closely comparable in offering mix and Chicago mid-market positioning.
• 50,000 Feet: Independent brand strategy and design agency with Chicago roots, focusing on identity, brand systems, and integrated creative for mid-market and enterprise — directly comparable specialty in visual identity and brand design.
• Straight North: Chicago-based creative and digital marketing agency serving SMB and mid-market clients with branding, web design, and integrated campaigns — comparable in target customer profile and full-service delivery.
• The Motion Agency: Chicago-based brand experience and creative agency combining brand strategy with event, digital, and content — overlapping with iris b.'s event graphics and integrated campaign work.
• Envisionit: Chicago digital and creative agency providing branding, web design, and media services to mid-market clients — comparable regional peer with overlapping service lines.
• TINT (a Resonance Company): Chicago creative and branding agency focused on identity systems and integrated design for consumer and nonprofit clients — comparable specialty and Chicago footprint.

Broad incumbents

• Leo Burnett: Major Chicago-headquartered global advertising and brand agency — illustrates the broader competitive set that iris b. operates adjacent to, though at far smaller scale and SMB/nonprofit focus.
• DDB Chicago: Established Chicago creative agency offering brand strategy, advertising, and integrated marketing across major brands — provides broader incumbent context for the Chicago agency landscape.

Emerging players

• Canva (for SMB self-service): DIY design platform increasingly used by small businesses and nonprofits for branding, social, and basic marketing collateral — represents the structural competitive threat to small creative agencies serving SMBs.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about iris b communications