PARSIPPANY, N.J., Jan. 14, 2015 /PRNewswire/ — Marketsmith, Inc., a leading direct response marketing firm honored with the 2014 Business of the Year Award by NJ BIZ, ranked #10 on Crain’s New York’s 2014 Fast 50 List and #135 on the Inc. 500 2014 List, has announced the acquisition of 48 year old marketing communications agency Brushfire, Inc., which will continue to operate under that name. These two prominent New Jersey firms will offer clients marketing services including analytic and creative capabilities.

Brushfire, an established integrated marketing communications agency founded in 1966, has extensive experience in advertising, public relations, social media and experiential marketing, digital, interactive and in-store merchandising. Current and former clients include the New Jersey Lottery, The New Jersey Division of Travel and Tourism, Minwax, Thompson’s WaterSeal, Subaru, Gorilla Glue and Remington™ among others. They are a member of Worldwide Partners, the largest global network of independent agencies with members in 89 countries and across the USA.

Marketsmith, founded in 1999 by Monica C. Smith, has created successful campaigns for such clients as Euro-Pro, Garret Wade, Tumi™, Philosophy, MOMA and Ralph Lauren among others. The company owes its growth to an innovative approach to executing data-driven marketing strategies that maximizes ROI for clients and fosters consumer engagement. Their groundbreaking work earned them New Jersey Technology Council’s 2014 Impact Company of the Year Award. Ms. Smith, who has been influential as a champion of data driven marketing, also launched and runs i.Predictus, an advertising analytics platform.

Ms. Smith and Marketsmith President Jill Draper consider the acquisition of Brushfire a landmark event for the firm and a key element in future growth. Ms. Smith said, “Brushfire has been considered one of New Jersey’s leading agencies since I first entered the business, so I am honored to invest in such an iconic marketing brand. We want to bring a fresh perspective and an innovative spirit to the firm and help it achieve national growth. Brushfire’s capabilities are a perfect fit with our expertise and philosophy, allowing us to take an even wider view of client needs and helping them accomplish all of their goals.”

Brushfire president Joan Mueller, who will continue in that role, cites Marketsmith’s innovative style as a key advantage. Ms. Mueller said “The investment of Marketsmith into our organization will drive our business forward. We’re inspired by the opportunity to collaborate with the Marketsmith team to devise innovative solutions that grow our clients’ businesses. Monica has been a trail blazer in her field, and we’re looking forward to benefitting from her leadership and influence on our business.”

About Marketsmith
Honored by NJ BIZ with the 2014 Business of the Year Award, ranked #10 on Crain’s New York’s 2014 Fast 50 List and #135 on the Inc. 500 2014 List, Marketsmith, Inc. is a strategic direct response marketing firm with an innovative approach to executing data-driven strategies that maximize ROI and foster consumer engagement. Marketsmith partners with its clients to create the powerful intersection of fact-based data and humanity to propel both business and community.

Responsible for over $200 million dollars of media spend per year across TV, radio, print, digital and direct response and driving over $1.5 billion dollars annually at retail. Marketsmith has successfully launched and managed initiatives for both large and small brands, across multiple industries. Under the leadership of Founder/Chairwoman Monica C. Smith the firm has been recognized as the 5^th Fastest-Growing Women-Led Business on the Inc. 500, along with receiving the New Jersey Technology Council’s 2014 Impact Company of the Year Award.

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SOURCE Marketsmith, Inc.