Upshot Buys Emerge Digital

Upshot has acquired Emerge Digital, an interactive agency and longtime partner.

Emerge Digital brings expertise in web design, online promotions, social media, mobile phone marketing and branded interactive games and an interactive punch to Upshot’s existing services, including brand, promotion, retail and regional marketing.

“Interactive is an increasingly important piece of the integrated marketing mix today,” Brian Kristofek, Upshot’s president and CEO said in a release.

Emerge Digitals roster of clients includes, Consumer Reports, Cirque Du Soleil, HBO, Harpo, Visa, and Luxor.

Emerge Digital will operate under the Upshot name. Its employees have relocated from Naperville, IL, to Upshot’s headquarters in Chicago and are operating under the Upshot brand name.

Upshot and Emerge have collaborated on a multitude of interactive programs over the years, including Upshot’s launch of The Awesome Blog and client projects for Kraft Foods, MillerCoors and Aircell’s Gogo Inflight Internet.

“Interactive has been part of brand and promotion marketing for some time, but recently it’s become part of the conversations in new areas, like shopper marketing, which makes the possibilities coming out of this partnership even more exciting,” Kristofek said.

Upshot clients include Procter & Gamble, Kraft, Crown Imports, Wild Turkey, Tremor and Kerasotes to name a few. Upshot is a division of EMAK Worldwide.