# Spool

> Spool is a Chicago-based, woman-owned independent PR and earned-first creative agency founded by Catherine Merritt in 2018. It advises consumer and corporate brands on reputation, positioning, campaigns, creators, content, measurement and executive communications, while its Spool Ventures and Spindle initiatives extend the model into startup investing and reduced-rate support for underrepresented founders.

- **Founded:** 2018
- **Headquarters:** Chicago, United States
- **Founders:** Catherine Merritt (Founder & CEO)
- **Products:** PR and reputation management, Brand positioning and communications strategy, Earned-first creative and integrated campaigns, Influencer and creator marketing, Corporate communications and C-suite advisory
- **Notable:** Ranked No. 940 on the 2022 Inc. 5000 after reporting 684% three-year revenue growth., Named the world's fastest-growing PR agency in PRovoke Media's 2021 ranking., Won PRovoke Media's 2023 IN2 SABRE Award for Disruptive Agency of the Year; Catherine Merritt was named Agency Innovator of the Year.

## Products & services

- **PR and reputation management** — Media relations, executive positioning, crisis and reputation management, media training, thought leadership and awards strategy.
- **Brand positioning and communications strategy** — Research-led positioning that defines how brands should show up, what they should say and why it matters.
- **Earned-first creative and integrated campaigns** — Campaign concepts, content, experiential activations, production and social integration designed to earn attention as well as buy it.
- **Influencer and creator marketing** — Creator strategy, contracting, cross-platform content, paid amplification and performance measurement.
- **Corporate communications and C-suite advisory** — Purpose, stakeholder and internal communications plus leadership training, issues simulation and senior counsel.
- **Measurement and insights** — KPI design, campaign dashboards, brand-health tracking and impact reporting across earned, social and business outcomes.
- **Spool Ventures** — An investment arm with a portfolio of more than 70 startups and funds across food, farming, retail, AI, water technology and sustainability.
- **Spindle** — A startup program that supplies reduced-rate agency services and resources to emerging brands led by underrepresented founders.

## Achievements

- Ranked No. 940 on the 2022 Inc. 5000 after reporting 684% three-year revenue growth.
- Named the world's fastest-growing PR agency in PRovoke Media's 2021 ranking.
- Won PRovoke Media's 2023 IN2 SABRE Award for Disruptive Agency of the Year; Catherine Merritt was named Agency Innovator of the Year.
- Included in PRovoke Media's 80 Best Agencies in the US for 2025.
- Named to the PRNEWS Agency Elite Top 120 for 2025 and 2026.
- Catherine Merritt was included in Inc.'s 2024 Female Founders 250.
- The nutribullet Thanksgiving smoothies campaign reported a 65% year-over-year sales increase on a budget below $20,000.
- The Home Chef x Dolly Parton campaign reported more than 4,000 customers from earned media before paid media launched.

## Latest updates

- **2026-03** — Spool published Catherine Merritt's judging takeaways from the 2026 U.S. Effie finalists, emphasizing that measurement should shape a campaign from the start.
- **2026-01** — Bragg Live Foods named Spool its PR agency of record for an engagement running through 2026.
- **2025-10** — Spool announced its selection for the 2026 PRNEWS Agency Elite Top 120.
- **2025-06** — Katie Kierna and Jody Moore became Spool's first agency partners.
- **2025-04** — Spool announced its inclusion in the 2025 PRNEWS Agency Elite Top 120.

## Links

- Website: https://www.spoolmarketing.com/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/spool-marketing/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/spoolmarketing/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SpoolMarketing

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/spool
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-09-20