05/17/17

OBI Creative Announces Major Investment in Des Moines

The Omaha-based advertising agency acquires digital agency Alt Studios

OMAHA, (Neb.) OBI Creative, a research-based, innovation-driven advertising agency, announces a major investment in the region today by purchasing Alt Studios, a Des Moines based strategic digital, IT, web hosting and social media advertising agency.

The acquisition of the Iowa-based Alt Studios brings additional expertise in digital media, IT and social media while OBI is well-known for research, strategy and award-winning creative. Clients of Alt Studios range from finance to health care, local startups to national conglomerates. They will continue to serve their portfolio of clients going forward as well as those of OBI.

“I’ve had my eye on Alt Studios for about two years now,” said Mary Ann O’Brien, president and CEO of OBI Creative. “We’ve seen a high demand for some of the services they offer and we view Des Moines as a growth area. OBI’s strength is in its research and strategy, building brands, developing results-oriented plans that provide exponential results for our clients. Alt Studios brings strong, strategic and digital expertise to the table, services that are very complementary to OBI Creative.”

Alt Studios will be rebranded as OBI Creative. OBI is currently working with several Iowa businesses, including insurance company GuideOne, Des Moines, the Okoboji Tourism and Visitors Bureau, the Pearson Lakes Art Center, Okoboji and Priceless Prints, Shenandoah.

“Having an office in Iowa, and specifically in Des Moines, will provide greater access for our current Iowa clients and allows us to expand,” said O’Brien. “I’m an Iowa girl, born in Spencer and educated at University of Iowa. I’m thrilled that we can now have offices in all three of my home states.”

O’Brien got her start in marketing working for Gateway, beginning in Sioux City and then moving to San Diego when the company relocated to California. OBI still maintains an office in the San Diego area.

“I believe the opportunities are endless for OBI. There is nothing holding us back. We’ve put together a very aggressive plan for the future and we’re going after it,” said O’Brien. “We want to be the best agency in the Midwest. It will be based on two differentiators – excellent customer experience and driving results for our clients.”

Previously Alt Studios was a business unit of Redglaze Group, a network of companies, headquartered in Omaha. Alt Studios was formed originally in 1998 as Innova Ideas and Services, a full-scale creative and marketing agency and rebranded in 2012 as Alt Studios. Terms of the sale were not disclosed.

The acquisition, finalized on Monday, May 1, 2017, will result in Alt Studios becoming a wholly owned subsidiary of a holding company owned by O’Brien.

About OBI Creative

OBI Creative is a research-based, innovation-driven advertising agency based in Omaha, Nebraska. Founded in 2001 by Mary Ann O’Brien, OBI starts and finishes each and every marketing plan and campaign with the customer—determining motivations, behaviors and key consideration drivers. Armed with that knowledge, the award-winning OBI team aligns those motivations with clients’ products and services to provide actionable messaging, strategy and creative execution to drive intended results.

About Alt Studios

Alt Studios is creativity with purpose, offering companies seeking growth new opportunities and alternative solutions through its collaborative “studios”: creative and strategy. Agency services include strategic marketing, branding, creative design, and web hosting and development. The Alt Studios team serves clients across the nation, with strengths in agriculture, financial services, health care, technology and education.