In this Firks 5 episode, host Dan Firks talks with Patty Brand, marketing partner at Naperville Magazine, about the publication’s reach, what sets it apart from other local media, and the annual Best of Naperville reader-choice awards.
Read the full guide to Naperville Magazine →
Video Transcript
Dan Firks: Hello, I’m Dan Firks, and this is Firks 5. Hello and welcome to this episode of Firks 5. Today I have Patty Brand, Patty is our marketing partner at Naperville Magazine. Thanks for joining us today, Patty.
Patty Brand: Dan, thank you so much for having me, I’m so excited that you’re here.
Dan Firks: Thank you. So we’re going to ask you five questions, if that’s okay. So Patty, tell us about Naperville Magazine.
Patty Brand: Well, Naperville Magazine is a monthly publication, comes out the first Sunday of every month. We reach 45,000 paid print and 25,000 digital subscribers.
Dan Firks: That’s amazing. And are you part of the Chicago Tribune as well?
Patty Brand: Good catch, yes we are, we are a sister publication to Chicago Magazine, and together all part of the iconic Chicago Tribune.
Dan Firks: So Patty, tell me a little bit, what drives you, what are you passionate about?
Patty Brand: What am I passionate about? I know you’ve got a lot of passion too. I’m passionate about working with great partners like you, and great brands in Naperville. I like to make an impact, so it’s helping each brand be the best brand it can be and get more customers.
Dan Firks: That’s awesome, it’s powerful, and probably very rewarding.
Patty Brand: You know, it really is. I grew up here in Naperville, so to see Naperville grow and see the success with so many great brands, it’s really heartwarming, you can’t get bored with this job.
Dan Firks: I can imagine you must always be going.
Patty Brand: Oh, always. We’re working remote now, ever since COVID, so my office is either at home or with my clients.
Dan Firks: Gotcha. Okay, how do you set yourself apart from the competition?
Patty Brand: Well Dan, I like to say that we are truly in a class of our own. We’ve been around nearly 20 years, we’re part of the fabric of Naperville. We have so many trusted brands that are part of our publication, between 50 and 75 advertisers each issue, so really, we’re in a class of our own.
Dan Firks: That’s awesome, that’s amazing. Patty, share one of your success stories.
Patty Brand: We have so many success stories. I love that we work with so many brands as partners, like you, Dan Firks and Compass, I love that you’re a monthly partner with our magazine, you’ve been featured as one of our profiles. Really cool success stories come out, it seems, during the holidays and at Christmas time. I love hearing from my advertisers that something sold specifically that was advertised in our magazine, Costello Jewelers sold a beautiful pendant that was on the back cover of the Downtown Naperville Alliance piece.
Dan Firks: Well, that’s definitely a success story, so marketing works, advertising works, and being part of Naperville Magazine. Patty, give us a glimpse of what’s going to happen in the future with Naperville Magazine.
Patty Brand: Well, we do have a theme for each of our magazines each month. Our upcoming issue will be weddings, and we have a Best of Naperville issue in September that everyone looks out for. So there are great themes you can count on with Naperville Magazine each year. One of our favorite initiatives is our Best of Naperville event that we have in September, we had a fabulous one this past year, and we expect it to be even bigger and better this year, now that COVID is a little bit behind us.
Dan Firks: So tell me a little bit, what is Best of Naperville? Our listeners aren’t quite sure.
Patty Brand: Best of Naperville is voters’ choice, or our readers’ choice awards. They vote for the best in 50 categories, from restaurants to health care to real estate, real estate companies are in that category, and then we have a grand celebration in September with all the winners.
Dan Firks: Patty, thank you so much for joining us today.
Patty Brand: Thank you, Dan. And if you’re interested in learning more about Naperville Magazine, or how to get a copy, please contact NapervilleMagazine.com.
Dan Firks: Thank you for watching this episode of Firks 5. Make sure to follow us at Dan Firks for your most up-to-date real estate trends and market conditions, and when the time comes to buy, sell, or invest in real estate, call Firks first. We’ll be here. See you next time. Have an amazing rest of your day.
Explore Naperville
Naperville is a vibrant community offering something for everyone. From highly rated schools and welcoming neighborhoods to local dining, seasonal events, and everyday conveniences, the city blends suburban comfort with an active lifestyle. Whether you’re researching the area, planning a visit, or considering a move, explore the sections below to learn more about what makes Naperville a great place to live, work, and enjoy.
Explore Naperville
