by Max Marbut
Staff Writer
Mulberry Marketing Communications has added Jacksonville to its list of global offices that include London, Munich, Beijing, Chicago, San Francisco and Melbourne, Australia.
Founded in 1995 in the United Kingdom, the firm has since grown to its seven corporate operations and a network of more than 75 affiliate agencies in 33 countries.
Mulberry Vice President Matt Serra, who spent almost eight years in the Chicago office, said when the decision was made to open a regional office in the Southeast, Florida won out over Atlanta because both he and his wife are natives of the Sunshine State.
Serra said Jacksonville was chosen over South Florida and Tampa.
“Jacksonville is a great hub for the Southeast,” he said. “We’re about the only international public relations firm in Jacksonville.”
While the firm is seeking to develop a local client base, Serra said the focus will remain regional, particularly in the fields of high-tech, software development, clean energy and transportation logistics.
So far, Mulberry’s local office is a two-person shop. Serra hired Senior Account Representative Ron Whittington, who’s had his own public relations firm for the past six years. If Whittington’s name and face are familiar, it’s because he was at one time the JEA’s media relations coordinator and spokesman.
“I was the face of the utility,” said Whittington.
His PR firm was based at the Beaches for more than six years. “It’s nice to be Downtown again,” he said.
After the Jacksonville decision was made, the next step was to choose an address and the 32202 ZIP code turned out to be the winner.
The agency moved into space on the third floor at 315 E. Bay St., a four-story building that opened in 1910 as a shoe warehouse. Its history also includes being the site of a variety store, a piano store and until 2000, the Suddath Van Lines warehouse.
It was then renovated and converted into modern office space while retaining the historic ambiance with high ceilings, original windows and exposed brick interior walls.
“Downtown is cool. It’s a different environment, the heart of the city and it’s a good thing for our brand,” said Serra.
“You won’t find character like this in the suburbs.”
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